"Closing Time" DX Test from KDWN 720 in Las Vegas NV – February 28 2023

[Mike-CT]

On February 13 2023, Audacy announced that KDWN 720 would be signing off on March 1, while the translator would remain on air
with the same programming. In November 2022, Audacy sold the land that the AM transmitter sat on for $40 million. KDWN is diplexed with
KXST near the Las Vegas Motor on the same day; Audacy also announced that KXST would also go dark.

For many DXers, KDWN 720 is their only Nevada log, and the loss of the signal will make it even more difficult to log the Silver State.
But in the midst of this bad news, there is a brief silver lining for DX hounds. KDWN and KXST Chief Engineer Tracy Teagarden announced on the “I Love AM Radio” Facebook group that “K-Dawn” would be going out with one last hurrah:
KDWN DX Test on February 28 2023, at 23:59 Pacific Time (7:59 UTC) for only ten (10) minutes. The test will be conducted at the full
daytime power of the station, which has been 25,000 watts since 2020. We don’t have information about the station's antenna pattern, but this is the best chance to log K-Dawn in years.

Programming will be “unique” but will not feature Morse Code or sweep tones. The Courtesy Program Committee did inquire about adding some of this material and possibly extending the length of the test. Neither could be arranged in the short time frame available. Mr Teagarden has been very helpful and open to hobbyists, so please don’t complain. It’s not his decision.

I just wanted to let you know that there's no QSL information currently available. If you seek a QSL from the test, please be polite in writing the station, which will continue as an FM translator. Please don't send multiple requests, call the station or be rude. The CPC would strongly suggest sending a pre-filled card or letter, requiring only a signature from station personnel. Include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE).

Remember this test begins at 23:59 on February 28 Pacific Time.
This is March 1st 01:59 Central Time or 02:59 Eastern Time.

Don’t miss your last chance to log the Talk of Las Vegas and the last whisper of KDWN.
73, Les Rayburn, N1LF, les@highnoonfilm.com 121 Mayfair Park, Maylene AL 35114 EM63nf

[antennanut]

It's a shame so many corporate owners are shutting down AM signals. The FM translators don't have the same coverage area, and definitely not the history of the AM station.

It also appalls me how AM stations are given, at best, second-tier status. WLAC in Nashville is a perfect example. They now "ID" as 98.3, the FM translator's frequency, with not even a mention of 1510 on AM. Clear Channel (or whatever name they have these days) should be ashamed for degrading this historic station in this manner.

[Russ-PA]

Unfortunately, there are two major reasons why this is happening, and will continue. First, the audience listening to AM is shrinking fast. Many young people don't even know if exists. With small audiences, advertisers aren't interested in spending. The second reason is that many larger AM's, as well as others with complex directional antenna systems find themselves with the value of the real estate the antenna system occupies is worth big money to developers. So with small audience size comes reduced revenue, so either downsizing ( lower power, non-directional, duplexing ) or going off become more attractive.