Purpledevil

Is this legit, or are you "foolin'"?

I eagerly await you to say it...I feel it coming, but if this is true, what a bunch of rear ends at Cox. Gimme a break, KKBQ hasn't been top 40 in 24 years. I suspect no one under 40 even really remembers it. Top that off with how cool CBS was about the 101 KLOL reunion you just did last week, even though KLOL has been speaking Spanish for the last 13 1/2 years, and it certainly makes Cox appear to be living up to its namesake...

...if, of course, you're not just foolin' around, Joe. This just can't be serious.

For my own selfish reasons, hopefully never.

I love me some Simone Eli...

Hey look, now we have a general idea of what it will look like sans Pierce Elevated. Man, give me a jackhammer. I'll take it down myself after seeing this pic. Sooooo much better.

Height is everything, Mouse. If you were to stand on top of Joe's 197 foot tower with a good receiver, or even run a long antenna wire all the way up to the top, you'd pick up stations from San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont, Lufkin, and Bryan/College Station with little effort. It's not that hard even sitting on ground level. Increasing the height of the receiving antenna would only make things much easier. 

I've often wondered what kind of reception those that live or work in the downtown skyscrapers can receive. Wish I knew someone that had access to a Chase Tower office to do a little testing.

Hell, I'd settle for knowing someone who lived in Houston House that would allow me to set up my equipment and whirl the dial. Especially on AM, with my loop. I figure Mexico City's XEW and other big signals from central America would be there day and night. 

KPRC Channel 2 adds Lainie Fritz to the sports desk. She is the daughter of Willie Fritz, Tulane University head football coach.

http://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2016/03/lainie-fritz-joins-kprc-2.html?m=1

She's going to Kentucky in efforts of becoming an anchor. Great opportunity for Gianna, but it's also another pretty good reporter being lost by channel 2. 

http://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2016/03/gianna-caserta-leaves-kprc-2.html?m=1

5 hours ago, 93Q.TV said:

So folks can listen to what? The weak translator stations pumping out spanish Christian programming and other foreign programming...  I think not.

I'll be there, Mouse. Houston has nothing I'm aware of that it can be compared with. We have several festivals over here, but nothing on the scale of SA's Fiesta Week. I couldn't even imagine Houston shutting down huge areas of downtown streets during the entire week.

It starts April 15th, for any Houstonians wanting to make the 181 mile trek west to experience it. I'm coming just for the weekend, you know. That pesky thing called a career gets in the way of staying the whole week, lol.

You know, I've heard about them for years, but never considered listing any of my receivers. Don't they list the coordinates for the unit's location, or at least document them internally? That would be a deal killer for me, because that would tell everyone where I live. You just never know who might use that info for the wrong reasons, and it's a lot of hassle with the police if you give someone lead poisoning for showing up to the house uninvited. Maybe if I had a receiver at a warehouse or something...

2 hours ago, Blue Dogs said:

Will we see any of the employees from KILT-AM Sports Radio 610 move to other Houston sports radio stations ?

Well sure, at some point down the road. Like any format in radio, employment musical chairs is part of the game. Even Charlie Pallilo crossed the street at one point in his career.

6 hours ago, stan said:

Do we have too many sports stations in Houston? I can see a need for each of the pro teams (Dynamo, Texans, Astros and Rockets) needing a broadcast outlet and the colleges (UH and Rice) but are too many stations diluting listeners?

Yes. God, yes.

KILT and KBME are doing alright, no arguments there. KGOW is a damn wasteland, and an absolute waste of the money Gow spent to upgrade the hell out of it back in '07. Then there's KFNC, which I have no qualms with, but that's the wrong facility for FM sports, given the signal limitations here in Houston. Lest we forget the third Sports outlet coming from West Alabama, 1180 KGOL. In what universe are Spanish dominant listeners tuning in to hear national talk shows about American football and basketball? Or NASCAR?? I mean, I could see it if KGOL were to carry soccer games, either Dynamo or from the Mexican leagues, the World Cup, Gold Cup, et al., but endless babbling about what trouble Blake Griffin has gotten himself into over in L.A.?

Puhleeze...I've tried KGOL from time to time, and find myself tuning out inside of 5 minutes. ESPN Deportes is as bad as trying to watch WWE in SAP. Not even worth attempting.

Well see, the latter is what most younger people my son's age tend to call it, and is also the name you see on the sign in the median as you travel down Cavalcade, "Brooke Smith". My son has a friend that lives on Walton and needed a ride home a few months back. When I asked where he lived, he responded "**** Walton". I said "oh, you live over in Montie Beach" which caused an absolute dumbfounded look to creep across his face. He'd never heard the neighborhood referred to as such, and he's in his early 20's. I thought that I shown just how out of touch I was, but apparently it's all on him. Thanks for that, mkultra. Makes me feel just a little less old. 

16 minutes ago, stan said:

Too much movement of translators causing clutter and interference. 

Yes sir, but as BTO once sang, you ain't seen nothing yet. There's a load more to come, like K297BT, K268CW, & K287BQ.

K297BT really piques my interest. The Pastor is cuckoo for cocoa puffs if he truly thinks that translator can co-exist with KQQK on the same channel. All he has to do is contact the owners of KQLC in Sealy to learn why they now operate at 90-7 instead of 107-9, and KQLC is just up the road in Brookshire. Trying to light up K297BT on channel 300 down in Simonton is going to prove to be an absolute effort in futility. Maybe someone can talk some since in to him poste haste.

Of course, K297BT really ought to light up on its licensed facility on 107-3 in Sealy first. Yet another one with a License to Cover but not covering the first square foot in SE Texas. Just like sister translator K287BQ.

I can't wait until the God's honest truth is revealed on all of this tomfoolery. I've been following radio for way too long to not see that the hammer is about to drop and drop hard on this group and all of those associated with their hoppin' translators. 

Well, never mind. I no more than hit the submit button and within two minutes the audio abruptly stopped and after around 30 seconds the plug got pulled. Now, just an extremely weak Rice Lunch Special @ 241. Testing on Easter day? Now, that's a dedicated engineer.

You hear anything about this, Joe? I know you speak to Chuck Tiller from time to time. When did Salem build this out, and begin testing? Did I just happen to catch the tail end of the initial testing for KTEK's new FM translator? Is KTEK/K241CM going Christian Contemporary? That would be a marked and welcome improvement over the current format of 1110, especially on the weekends.

Happy Easter to all my fellow HAIFers! It appears that our latest translator has lit up here in Houston. K241CM Kerrville (will receive new COL) has come to life, as I am picking up a listenable signal at 96-1, playing English language Christian pop music. No identification whatsover, just wall to wall music. Sounds a lot like KSBJ's NGEN format, minus the rap. 

If this is K241CM, it has to be wreaking havoc on the Rice Lunch Special (KBLT-LP), as I'm significantly north of K241CM's proposed coverage area.

As always, reception reports from around town are most appreciated.

The FCC's map of 96-1 K241CM's coverage area: 

http://fccdata.org/?facid=140620

Actually, it did return. It reopened down by Town & Country with a significantly smaller footprint. You are correct, the original Katy Freeway 59 Diner met the same fate as Courtesy Chevrolet, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad's ROW, REI, an large swath of homes, and so many others; demolished for the behemoth that is I-10.

Where is Pearville?? Anywhere near Sugarville or Clear Sea City?

I jest, of course. Welcome to Houston, Scott. Have you looked in Friendswood yet? Not a bad area, but let me caution you about one thing you won't know since you're an out of towner. The Gulf Freeway (I-45 south) is perennially under construction. Has been ever since they built it way back when. If you can handle the freeway being shut down over and over, and endless detours here, there and everywhere between the island and downtown, you'll be fine. Those areas have really developed nicely in the last couple of decades and are convenient to pretty much anything you need to live comfortably.

Stay away from the City of South Houston, though. It's kind of a hellhole, IMO. That title used to go to Webster, but it has gotten significantly better in recent years.

Just another example of one of those places that conjur up fond memories of years past, but had become a mere shell of its past heyday. The South Shepherd location had been Phil's for years prior to the 59 Diner name change. When you walked in, there was Mr. Phil waiting to greet you with a warm smile, and a genuine appreciation for you choosing his diner to eat at. He remained, even after he sold the diner, standing right there at the host position doing his thing. At that point, there were only two. Katy Freeway and S. Shepherd. Both were absolutely fantastic. After his passing, S. Shepherd just wasn't the same. The food was still good, but the atmosphere began to slowly change little by little. 

I had the opportunity to go eat at 59 a few weeks before the place was shuttered. Completely and thoroughly disappointed. The chicken fried steak was a greasy mess that was more breading than meat. The chocolate malt I ordered was instead  a chocolate shake that required me to flag the waitress and ask to have the malt syrup added, and the mashed potatoes were cold and bland. I knew right then that 59 Diner was living on borrowed time. Quite a shame, and hard to replace its rich history. I sure wish we could find out if there is to be an auction at some point to sell off all of the memorabilia. The little red peddle fire truck at S. Shepherd is almost exactly like the one I had as a little boy. Would be realy neat to obtain a few items from the old girl, before the building is likely extensively remodeled or torn down altogether.

If only he'd take John Lopez with him, or at least drop him off in San Antonio on his way down I-10.

Something tells me that the most common reaction you're likely to receive is "who cares?", Blue Dogs.

One of the better reporters/anchors on our television sets is leaving the market to head up 45. Sure hate to see her go, she is one of the best at what she does. Good luck, Courtney, you will certainly be missed by this viewer.

http://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2016/03/courtney-gilmore-kprc-2-houston-nbc-5-kxas-dallas-fort-worth.html?m=1

Acres Home. The major Metro bus line that runs through the area is the #44, and as a result, the "4-4" is used to identify the neighborhood within the community. I've heard it referred to as such since I was a young man, and that's been quite a few years ago now. When Metro revamped the system, the #44 was one of the few lines that didn't change the heart of its route. I guess Metro realized the significance of the line being identified with Acres Home for such a long time that they left well enough alone. It's an oldtimers thing, much like me and my generation still calling Independence Heights "Studewood", or the neighborhood around Cavalcade and North Freeway "Monte Beach". That's just what I grew up knowing the places as, and still use them to this day.

Heck, there's another one. Newer Houstonians know them as 45, 290, 610, and 8. They'll always be the North, Northwest, North Loop, and North Belt to me because that's what they originally were and what I associate them as. Same for South Park Boulevard, N. & S. 69th St., and Stuebner Airline Rd. You know them better as what they are currently are: M.L.K., Sgt. Macario Garcia, and Veterans Memorial Drive.

I'm old, Señor, and old habits die hard. Besides, right by my house, Stuebner Airline still is Stuebner Airline. The 2 lane section between Tidwell and Lil' York never changed because it no longer connects to the major section of the road that passes by the Veterans Cemetery due to the North Freeway disconnecting it off directly in front of Denny's..which, btw, is still addressed as "Stuebner Airline" although it faces the southbound feeder road of 45.

2 hours ago, Anonymouse said:

I mentioned you leaving, and I wasn't banned.

Glad to hear that, but the good Señor wasn't so lucky. Check your inbox, Mouse. 

Please use them as you wish, and you're most certainly welcome. I don't really care about being personally credited, sev. Make them your own. To me, it's just a small token of my appreciation for the website and my fellow HAIFers. 

Noticed it first on 91-7 at a 21:30 check. Turned on the analog set to 8.5 and it, too, is silent. Should we be getting prepared for the KSBJ takeover, or is someone at U of H asleep at the wheel? Now 22:40 and both are still running a dead carrier this Saturday evening. 

Well someone must've passed along my posting, because suddenly and mysteriously K231CN is now lighting up my stereo indicator. That certain someone really works fast !

Nice pic, Joe. The back story here, for those that don't know, is the illustration you're viewing, courtesy of Joe, shows an array that cost a significant amount of money to build for an insignificant amount of listener shares within the market.