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KJOZ "gone"? Has diversity lost its voice?

M

Mediafrog+

Noticed on the morning and evening commutes today that KJOZ 880 was back to Spanish language religion, simulcasting 1590 (and 980 in the evening.) Not sure if the usual programmers are having technical trouble, or whether DAIJ has given them the boot. Would be ironic, following a similar fate for KCOH's programming on 1230.

Nothing about this on the KJOZ website.
 
...and KRCM, too.

What the heck? It was there just last night. This just happened today, I guarantee it. You are right, Aleluya under the static on 880 in north Houston.

Damn...there goes Michael Harris and Don Sam off the air again.
 
purpledevil said:
...and KRCM, too.

What the heck? It was there just last night. This just happened today, I guarantee it. You are right, Aleluya under the static on 880 in north Houston.

Damn...there goes Michael Harris and Don Sam off the air again.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention while I was all concentrated on backyard radio 95.3 topic that Radio Aleluya 88.1 was dead as well .
 
Diversity has found its voice again, or maybe the rent check. KJOZ is back to the normal format as of Thursday evening. Was still Spanish language religion this morning.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Diversity has found its voice again, or maybe the rent check. KJOZ is back to the normal format as of Thursday evening. Was still Spanish language religion this morning.
Click to expand...

They seem to be having some major audio issues this morning, Frog. They're currently running the SRN sports update at 12:20, and the audio is real choppy. Sounds like they are having major issues. Ok, at 12:22 it just returned to music, and the chop is even more noticeable. The only way I can explain it is that if this was on TV, it would be called pixelating. It's horrible, and likely explains why the Villarreals took the proactive approach and pulled the feed and replaced it temporarily with KMIC's audio.
 
KJOZ had dead air during several checks during my Friday morning commute. Friday evening the choppy audio Purpledevil mentioned was present. Saturday morning 880 is back to dead air. Obviously they are having major problems.

I have the feeling we are witnessing the death rattle of "full-service" African-American AM radio in the Houston market, given KJOZ's issues and the banishment of "KCOH" to an FM HD.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
KJOZ had dead air during several checks during my Friday morning commute. Friday evening the choppy audio Purpledevil mentioned was present. Saturday morning 880 is back to dead air. Obviously they are having major problems.

I have the feeling we are witnessing the death rattle of "full-service" African-American AM radio in the Houston market, given KJOZ's issues and the banishment of "KCOH" to an FM HD.
Click to expand...

Still having some problems this Saturday afternoon. What it sounds like is that something is causing interference between the studios and the tower out in Conroe. It makes the audio sound like it is digitally stuttering. Not as bad as it was yesterday, but still very much noticeable.

I fear that you are right. We have been fortunate enough to have full service African-American owned and operated facilities in this City longer than most. Look no further than our neighbors up in Dallas for a glaring example. One day, KKDA is humming along normally as Soul 73. Suddenly, it's speaking in Korean the very next. With no warning, whatsoever. Everyone in Houston knew for months that KCOH was for sale, and the line of suitors for the 1430 facility wasn't very long. KCOH was bought an extra two and a half years stay of execution due to the efforts of a man named Jesse Dunn. Had he not stepped forward, La Ranchera would be going on 8 years of continuous service on 1230 KQUE, and the KCOH calls would currently be sitting dormant on some class A FM construction permit out in Cisco, Texas. No surprise, it's this man's continued vision and unwavering desire to serve this community of listeners that affords us the continued lineage of the format, now on 880 KJOZ. You have to applaud the effort, whether or not you agree that the model is sustainable with its ever aging listener base. They've got a tremendous day signal now, way better than anything that KCOH or KYOK ever had. 880 makes a great place for some proving grounds for Dunn to bring the full service facility into the next couple of years and beyond.
 
Bumping this thread to report that KJOZ is back to Spanish language religion today, so either more technical problems for the regular programmer or a missed rent check. This last happened a couple of months ago. The death spiral continues for African-American targeted full service AM radio in Houston.
 
KJOZ is still running Radio Aleluya eight days later, so I think it may be safe to assume that the African-American targeted format ("Where Diversity Finds Its Voice") is gone for good. Guessing they ran out of money to pay the airtime lease, just as the KCOH programmers did on 1230.

I suspect the audience for both KJOZ and KCOH was tiny and very old, and these are poor signals on AM radio. Most of the audience has moved on to FM or other audio platforms, or has died off.
 
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Mediafrog+ said:
KJOZ is still running Radio Aleluya eight days later, so I think it may be safe to assume that the African-American targeted format ("Where Diversity Finds Its Voice") is gone for good. Guessing they ran out of money to pay the airtime lease, just as the KCOH programmers did on 1230.

I suspect the audience for both KJOZ and KCOH was tiny and very old, and these are poor signals on AM radio. Most of the audience has moved on to FM or other audio platforms, or has died off.
Click to expand...

Money was the key factor and the inability to promote and sell the airtime, promoted it's demise. Some people who worked there in December 2015, were not paid. However, there were assured that would get some money as soon as possible. Thus, far, it has not been possible. The KKBQ HD channel which broadcasts "KCOH" programming is on the air. However, (and since I don't even own and HD radio), many of the former listeners to KCOH (1430 and 1230) most likely were not in a position to buy an HD radio. Having stated that, the cheapest radio I could find was this one for $39. at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-hd-radio-tabletop-radio-black/4635744.p?id=1218505477073

I have 2 Sony, 1 AIWI and 1 Nakamichi receivers. I do not plan on buying a new receiver just to have FM-HD. I might consider the $39 model. After taxes, 40 plus bucks is 40 plus bucks. Those on limited income would not even consider it.
 
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