Purpledevil

The biggest negative I forsee there is the return of "mom and pops" controlled stations would not be what you, I, and other older folks so fondly remember from years past. If we take a quick look at what those stations here in Houston are currently doing as far as programming, we find a large amount of Christian teaching and preaching programming, both in English and Spanish language. The rest are brokered.

A perfect example of this is the recent sale of KCOH. Owned by Liberman, it was a Regional Mexican music format. It's off the air now, but when it returns, it will be yet another Spanish language Christian preaching station. Same thing happened to KMIC when the Villarreal brothers bought it from Disney. 

The one main exception is KGOW/KFNC, owned by David Gow. There we have two low rated sports stations that garner little notice from listeners. KGOW rarely even pulls a .1 share, KFNC does some better, but no matter where the COL for 97-5 is moved to, it's still a Beaumont station. It says quite a bit when Gow, a local owner, runs two different sports formats that "compete" with each other, as opposed to expanding the company's horizons and giving an attempt to a secular music format. Can anyone honestly say with a straight face that KGOW wouldn't do better as a classic hits station than what it currently is? It wouldn't have ANY competition whatsoever. Instead, it is the perennial worst rated sports station in this market.

The other side of the argument is, of course, that if it does well, someone else would jump in and do it on an FM signal, robbing all of its listeners and rendering it obsolete. Ok, so then wouldn't that prove to everyone that all of the consultants that have constantly stated that the format can't succeed because they can't sell it to advertisers are dead wrong? Am I really the only one that see the oxymoron in that?

You're a member of the other board, stan. You've read it time and time again, as have I. Listeners don't matter, only the advertiser buying time. Where I get lost in the whole of the equation, is that I have never figured out how the advertiser ever expects to peddle their product through the medium, when the day comes that no ear is there to hear it. As long as that's the attitude expressed by those that control the radio airwaves, the medium will continue to decline and eventually AM and FM radio will be as useless as shortwave. I'm not convinced in any way that local ownership can reverse the course, or that the dials would be any more appealing to Houston listeners if returned to local operators. The big conglomerates are the only ones providing secular, mainstream music. If they go away, I fear our FM dial will look a lot like our AM dial currently does. It's already happening with these FM translators like 94-1, 95-1, 98-7, and 106-1. Giving control of the full power FMs to locally owned broadcasters will lead to them into much of the same format offerings as we've recently been exposed to, in my humble estimation.

I do indeed. Don't know how many Houstonians know this, but CBS is attempting to divest itself of its entire radio division. More of a national story, so I didn't post anything referencing the event. CBS owns KKHH, KHMX, KLOL, KILT AM & FM, and KIKK. The FMs will likely go to a more known radio corporation, as they will command big money to obtain them. Think Cox, Cumulus, Alpha Media. 

The two AMs, 610 KILT and 650 KIKK will most likely be spun off if acquired by one of the big boys, or sold off separately to independent LLCs or "non profit" operator(s). That doesn't bode well for either of them. KIKK is certainly the first one to change to foreign language, I mean, it's already running the CBS Sportsradio bird feed, which is basically a computer in a closet at the Greenway Plaza studios running 650. It's a sure fire goner, given that it's a Class D, only operating at 250 watts. Think of what just happened to KCOH. That's the future for 650, and unless Cox or Alpha gets a hold of 610, its apparent future isn't going to be much different.

Not only will there be a complete and thorough house cleaning at KILT, Blue Dogs, I forsee walking papers being handed out clear across the 6 station Houston cluster and beyond.

Not the best time to be employed by CBS radio, in my estimation.

On Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 3:39 PM, Ross said:

The one on Shepherd is at 5210 North Shepherd and is owned by the Fingers. It looks like it used to be a Pilgrim.

For many years it WAS a Pilgrim Cleaners, which I assumed is what it originally was built as. After Pilgrim closed up shop there, it took on the more generic "North Shepherd Cleaners" name and continued operating for another couple of years. It is currently vacant and the last business that occupied it, I believe, was a low end used car lot. 5210 North Shepherd was still a fully functioning Pilgrim within the last 10 to 15 years. I pass that building just about every day...and it's still appalling to me that Chirp's greasy fried rice goodness is no longer available right down the street.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 8:46 PM, ArchMemoH said:

is 1230 merging with 1480 am

Nope...but Siga has bought an FM translator for KLVL. Now, if they only had an available frequency to put it on the air here in Houston...

"...and, who are you???" 

I couldn't have said it better myself, coach.

Nick Wright is doing his job. It doesn't matter how many listeners get "pissed off", Blue Dogs, it only matters that they are still listening. I mean, Howard Stern built an entire career on schtick.

Of course, none of this will matter once CBS sells off KILT and it starts speaking in a language other than English, and that day is coming...

It's an endless saga, mrtejano. In these carriage disputes, one of them highballs the price, while the other one lowballs it during these negotiations, and ultimately they meet somewhere near the middle. 

That is, unless you're Lenard Liberman. There's a man that said enough is enough and lost all cable coverage for Estrella TV. Now, the question is whether or not it hurt him. He just sold that graveyarder at 1230 for a million eight, and it's really not even worth a dollar eight. You think he's losing any sleep over the cable provider's greed? It sure doesn't appear so.

Surprisingly enough, some light has been shed on the bit of spectrum darkness that is New York Spectrum Holding's doing. Just saw KQHO-LD on the air a couple of days ago. It was back to airing that Diya TV programming.

I suspect it's a goner in the reverse auction, as we know KTBU is, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the KZJL and KUBE licenses returned as well. Liberman is in seling mode, and NRJ is known for the spectrum bait game. It's what they do.

Heck, we may just end up feeling like we're back living in the 70's, here in Houston, with only 5 or 6 licensed television signals available to your set in the next year or two. I'm like a kid in the candy store, just itching to see which gumball drops from the gravity bin next. 

I'll take D, none of the above. I'll even go a step further for you, Blue Dogs. By this date, in one calendar year, Paul Gallant, N.D. Kalu, John Lopez, Nick Wright, and the rest of the line-up will be gone...and 610 won't be "Sportsradio" anymore, to boot.

What???

Yeah, I'm crazy...or so you might think. We'll just have to wait and see.

Goodness Joe, you're really starting to fill the old girl out. You know what's amazing to me? This TV facility sells for $300k, while the 1kW radio facility of KCOH netted $1.8 million.

Go figure. Any word to when this bad boy is going to light up from Neyland?

Nothing much up here, Señor. Sounds like I can faintly hear something in the background, but definitely not listenable here in Acres Home.

You obviously aren't going to get this information out of a radio discussion board, or one that has "insight" within the industry. So, as a courtesy of your truly, when they finally get around to reporting it, you now don't have to pay for this golden, top secret information...and you read about it on the HAIF. Anywhere else, is second place.

KCOH "La Ranchera" AM 1230 has been sold for $1.8 million to Pueblo de Galilea, and is pending license reassignment, as of yesterday. Looks like there's more than just frequency issues for KCOH now, the whole facility has been sold right out from under the Ben Hall group.

Obviously premature to speculate on any new format, but as for the sale, it's another step in the journey of one by one Liberman is still unloading in Houston.

Congestive heart failure is noted as cause of death. RIP, Mrs. Reagan.

http://www.thewrap.com/nancy-reagan-former-first-lady-dies-at-94/

Yep, no más Mega TV. KTBU-DT will shut off the transmitter, Spanish Broadcasting System will return the license, and Conroe will lose one of its two licensed digital TV signals. The same thing will happen to the other Mega TV outlet in Miami, and that being the case, SBS won't be a potential suitor for KIAH.

As crazy as this might sound, I've been wondering if CBS might be a player in the bidding for a suddenly available KIAH. With a Fox O&O, NBC O&O, and an ABC O&O station already in the market, why wouldn't CBS make a play for CW39? Tegna would find itself with a suddenly independent KHOU 11 on its hands, CBS affiliation then moves to 39.1, CW drops to 39.2, and 39.3 is reestablished with Antenna TV. It is a plausible scenario, but the first domino has to fall, and that is Tribune putting the stations up for sale. Currently, they're only exploring the options available to them.

Not sure where the link ran off to when I posted this article, but I guess the old age is catching up. My apologies to anyone interested in the topic and wondering, what the hell?

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/tribune-media-sale-1201718095/

That's correct, Señor. The station still images as "K-TRU" although the callset no longer has any association with Rice University's student operated station. They, of course, are required to use the KBLT-LP call assigned to the facility, which is why you hear the usage of "K-TRU on KBLT-LP" over the air.

Edit to add: there is absolutely no association with the actual 91-9 KTRU-FM licensed to La Harpe, Kansas.

That's very interesting. KQHO, I suspect, will have its license surrendered in the reverse auction. Must be an effort to keep the license active until NY Spectrum can get paid to turn it in.

KTBU-DT 55 will succumb to the same fate by the end of the year.

Can't verify anything from KUVM-LD. I am unable to receive it from the 4-4.

That is correct. Licensed as KAHO-LD Aldine on channel 4. It tested at reduced power from its north side tower briefly, then returned to dark. From Joe's past statements, KAHO will eventually become "Joe FM". Not sure when that will occur.

Uh...no, that's the Rice University low power FM at 96-1. This would be KBLT-LP, from high atop Rice Stadium, which is the continuation of the former KTRU 91-7, which was sold to U of H in 2011. I coined it Rice's "Lunch Special" due to the unique callset they received.

The coverage area reaches into the Heights, albeit a little on the weak side. Up here north of 610, where we are, it's a tough, tough catch. Usually being stepped on by either the Lake Charles or Madisonville country station. The coverage map from the FCC is fairly representative of the real world application of the Lunch Special.

http://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=kblt&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&arn=&party=&party_type=LICEN

Noticed earlier that KYND, which had been airing Texas Country/Americana music since China Radio International concluded their lease of the Cypress licensed daytimer, seems to now be airing classic hits from the 60's on at 1520 AM. Not sure why the switch in genre, given its temporary availability until Pro Broadcasting signs a new leasee for the airtime, but I know quite a number of Houstonians that will be pleased to hear the classics going across our airwaves once again.

KYND is a daytime only facility, running 25,000 watts at 1520 AM, for anyone unfamiliar with the station. A map of its coverage area is linked below.

http://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=kynd&ccode=1&city=&state=&country=US&arn=&party=&party_type=LICEN

Torimask, thank you. The pictures of the boat brought a literal tear to my eye. It is a carbon copy of the one at NW, and these eyes really appreciated seeing it once again, after all these years. What a spectacular and sensational job you are doing with the historical documentation of the southside. A standing ovation for your efforts, and I sure hope you'll dedicate some time to the other aspects of Almeda Mall, the opening of J.C. Penney's and the Shopping City itself, in a future entry.

Never even heard of this news station!!!!

It's not a news station. If it's on, as Joe stated, then it's acting as a repeater of KLTJ at miniscule power.

GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!

Not your cup o' tea, eh Blue Dogs? The guy had a ton of energy for that early in the mornings, and I enjoyed his entertainment pieces. He'll prosper in California, I believe, and I wish him well. Hopefully, though, he'll lose those pink slacks in the move.

I'm glad you are keeping up with all this, Purple. As you know, I did, for awhile. Some days I felt like my head was spinning...

Certainly isn't an easy thing to do. Too much free time on my hands after work, it seems. I need to take up building bottled model ships or something...

KTXN Victoria is your English language station mixing in, mrtejano. It's been giving the translator hell the past couple of nights. We had a big opening from San Antonio last night, with everything from the non-comm band, clear up to 107-5 KXTN battling it out with our own KGLK. For the 1st time in my recollection, KBBT Schertz "98-5 The Beat" overtook La Raza last night. I had a hard time nulling KBBT to receive KTJM last night, and that's just not normal for our area.

Welcome to spring time. This is the high point when we find out just how much interference these new translators are going to take from co-channel facilities. 98-7 is in trouble. So is La Nueva, which has been blanketed by KTFM the last two nights, here in the north side.