UPDATED: “The Spy” returns today to Oklahoma airwaves
UPDATED: The triumphant return of The Spy was actually delayed a day, but the alternative station now is up and running. Again, George Lang very diplomatically explains the delay and rightly reminds us all that this is a home-grown radio station bringing culture to our fair city. We should be supportive. Click here to read more.
Oklahoma City alternative radio station “The Spy” goes back on air today, reports my colleague, Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang.
Five years ago, 105.3 FM was replaced by a Spanish language station. Now Ferris O’Brien, the morning disc jockey on The Spy, has bought the station from Citadel Broadcasting and plans to return The Spy - complete with its deep-alternative format – to the airwaves today.
“I’ve been working on this at least since March — actually physically working on this deal,” he told George. “But in all actuality, this has been something I’ve been thinking about doing, wanting to be doing, for the last 10 years.”
After KSYY changed formats in June 2004, O’Brien continued to work with Citadel, hosting a “Spy Radio” program on KATT-FM. But his dream has been to run his own station, and he reached a deal earlier this year to buy the station from Citadel with his own money and investment from family members.
O’Brien is filling his equipment with digital song files, ranging from classics by The Smiths and Talking Heads to local bands such as Pretty Black Chains, George reports. Former Chainsaw Kittens singer Tyson Meade, one of the regular DJs on the station, will resume his show on The Spy, even though he now lives and teaches in Shanghai.
OKC radio hasn’t been the same since The Spy received its burn notice, and it will be great to have our alternative alternative back.
-BAM
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Thank Jesus!! It has returned!