BIOS

Orchard Media Services:

Ken Orchard and Kelly Orchard are father and daughter team with combined 65 years of broadcasting experience.  After building, owning and operating several AM and FM radio stations for more than 15 years, Ken and Kelly share the experiences of broadcasting in every aspect.  This unique quality, along with education and an entrepreneurial spirit have enabled Orchard Media Services to earn the respect and confidence of broadcasters all over the country.  Ownership has given the Orchard’s a unique and extensive knowledge of sales, programming, production, promotions, Public Affairs, Engineering and management.  They really DO understand the daily job of broadcasters.  Electing to specialize only in the area of FCC Compliance, Orchard Media Services is set apart from other industry consultants.

     Currently, Orchard Media Services is also the Program Directors for the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program through the California Broadcasters Association and the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, a program endorsed and encouraged by the Federal Communications Commission.

     The Orchard’s also write many articles for industry trade magazines and their clients, and have been asked many times to speak before Radio Groups and other Organizations.  Additionally, the Orchard’s attend all the NAB Conventions in Las Vegas each year and make it a priority to attend the FCC sessions, ask questions and meet and speak with broadcast lawyers and Enforcement Bureau representatives to keep up-to-date with the latest in the industry regarding the FCC.

     Orchard Media Services is available to travel anywhere in the country in order to help your station(s) with your FCC Compliance Plan.  Just call or email your inquiry.

Ken Orchard:

Ken attended college in Los Angeles and graduated with Radio and Television Broadcast Degree.  This program also included classes in engineering.  Ken currently holds an FCC General License with radar endorsement, a Ham Radio License and a California Real Estate Brokers License (excellent for assistance in Real Estate acquisitions for broadcast ownership). 

     After college, Ken went to work in the engineering departments for a major AM-FM-TV group in Los Angeles in 1959.  That group was RKO General and included 93 KHJ, K-EARTH FM and Channel 9 Television.  After 20 years with RKO, Ken was ready to operate his own station.

     Over a 16 year period, Ken built and operated three FM radio stations and two AM stations.  All of which were built from “the ground up”.   One by one, the stations were sold and thus began another venture in the world of broadcasting.

     Orchard Media Services was founded due to one station manager not knowing what a Public File was.  After explaining to him that it was a “$10,000 fine”, Ken recognized a need in the industry that hadn’t been met.  With the changing rules, and all the requirements for keeping Public Files up to date, it didn’t take long for Orchard Media Services to gain a reputation as the leader in working with stations in the area of FCC Compliance.

Kelly Orchard:

While still a High School student, Kelly’s father turned on the transmitter to their first radio station.  In the years to come, Kelly would help her Dad build and operate several stations, including her namesake, “Kelly 95” in Bakersfield, California.  

After operating radio stations for over 16 years with her family, Kelly set out to experience broadcasting from a different perspective, spending a few years in the Sacramento market working for Entercom and Infinity as an account executive.  She felt it was a great learning experience to have, working in a different culture of a corporation as opposed to sole ownership. Always seeking new and creative opportunities, Kelly quickly learned about Non-Traditional Revenue opportunities and started a small marketing company of her own.

     After a few years, Ken asked Kelly to help him write some articles about his FCC Compliance work, and thus began a new venture, working with Dad once again, and helping to build Orchard Media Services. 

     Kelly also holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Chapman University.