The Infinite Dial

It has local character. It is rivaled only by Boston and Chicago for quality and variety of News/Talk programming. And, despite a few key absences, San Francisco radio offers a lot of listener choice. Most San Jose stations are audible here and many show in the ratings, thus qualifying them for consideration among the overall programming offerings, as do a number of Santa Rosa stations. Those choices include:

* Preeminent NPR outlet KQED, whose midday host Michael Krasny is praised by one local as "the smartest person I've ever heard on the radio" for his agility with a wide variety of topics.

* Citadel Talker KGO, which wins without the big syndicated shows (which are on sister KSFO);

* CBS' KCBS, which has withstood the ravages of the All-News format better than many others;

* Entercom AC KOIT, the market's consistent music leader during much of the year and an even bigger presence at holiday time.

* Cumulus' longtime Triple-A KFOG: Edison's Tom Webster is a frequent visitor for the themed "10 At 10" -- often organized by year, but sometimes centering around the likes of "10 songs with handclaps." And it's not the only choice in that arena since CBS' Hot AC KLLC (Alice 97.3) took a more eclectic bent.

* Entercom's KDFC: The most mass-appeal commercial Classical station, both in intent and ratings;

* Two very good, very different Country choices in Entercom's Top 40 flavored KBWF (the Wolf) and Empire's more traditional KRTY San Jose; (both KATM Modesto, Calif., and KFGY Santa Rosa, show up in the ratings here as well).

* The best Urban radio west of the Rockies, particularly CC's R&B/Hip-Hop KMEL, which saw Bay Area rap emerge as a force in recent years, and Inner City's KBLX--a little more uptempo now than its "Quiet Storm" handle might indicate, but still doing successful, music-intensive Urban AC without the syndicated shows;

* Mapleton's KPIG-AM: An AM simulcast of Monterey's roots music/Americana showcase;

* A large-market showcase for Clear Channel's Mexican Oldies format, La Preciosa, on San Jose's KSJO as well as Univision's version of the format on "Recuerdo" KBRG;

* A rare remaining terrestrial outlet for current dance music, KNGY (Energy 92.7);

* The availability of two Alternative outlets: CBS' KITS (Live 105), which after several years on the "true alternative" side is moving back toward the center, and CC's recently relaunched KCNL (Channel 104.9), with its heavy gold component;

And more choices: Clear Channel's heritage Smooth Jazz outlet, KKSF;; two Regional Mexican outlets (KSOL and KRZZ); a surviving Latin Rhythmic outlet in KVVF.

The talent honor roll also includes: Ronn Owens (KGO), Renel (KISQ), KSAN's Lamont & Tonelli, Dave Sholin (KFRC), Sarah & No Name (KLLC), Saint John (KYLD), Greg Kihn (KUFX), Don Bleu (KIOI).

What's not here? The gaping hole is Mainstream Top 40, which one has to piece together, 1995-style, from Rhythmic Top 40 KYLD (Wild 94.9) and Hot AC KIOI (Star 101.3), and which has been more often absent in the market than not over the last 20 years. "Classic Hits" KFRC tilts far enough into the '70s and pop/rock side that you could still make a case for Oldies here.

And the countdown so far:
10 - Louisville
9 - Salt Lake City
8 - Austin, Texas
7 - Washington
6 - Los Angeles
5 - New Orleans
4 - Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
3 - San Francisco