Astros Radio Network

[The Rimshot]

Daytime coverage between Houston and Victoria is fine, but there is a huge gap between Edna and Rosenberg during nighttime coverage, which is mostly when the Astros are on the air. Seems to me like an El Campo affiliate is much needed to fill in that gap. If there is a demand for Astros on the radio, it seems as if it would be within a two hour radius of Houston, which is where this area lies.

KBME 790 (The Astros Flagship station out of Houston) fades away by the time you get to Rosenberg, while KVNN 1340 (the Astros' Victoria affiliate) fades away in Edna.

Any thoughts on what efforts need to be made to fill in this gap with a clear signal?

The only present solution is to DX 98.3FM (Astros' affiliate in Columbus), from El Campo to Kendleton, but even then there is quite a bit of static.

 

[LibertyNT]

I guess KULP 1390 or KANI 1500 could carry the Astros but that doesn't solve your nighttime problem. KHTZ 94.9, KIOX 96.1, and KMKS 102.5 all have coverage in Victoria which would cause problems with KVNN's affiliation.

 

[johndavis]

Any thoughts on what efforts need to be made to fill in this gap with a clear signal?

Subscribe to MLB's app and stream the games there?

You'll still get the crappy production values that are Astros Baseball on KBME but the signal won't fade.

Bonus: when you subscribe to MLB Premium you get to watch Vin Scully's last games, which is more than most in LA can do.

 

[stan]

KLVI used to carry Astros games. It could help somewhat.

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KLVI&service=AM&status=L&hours=N

 

[purpledevil]

KLVI used to carry Astros games. It could help somewhat.

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KLVI&service=AM&status=L&hours=N

Now that they are back to winning more games than losing them, I'd assume the bigger series will air on 740 KTRH once we get closer to any potential playoff run. They used to air on KRTH all the time, but they were also winning 90+ games a year. Let them start doing that again, and you'll hear them on the blowtorch again.

I thought KULP was an affiliate. Guess not.

 

[schmave]

Not so sure the Astros would suddenly start airing in 740 if a playoff spot is in the balance. 790 has aired the games all year, and of course for the past several seasons. Personally, I think they never should have left 740 in the first place but I understand why it happened.

 

[purpledevil]

Not so sure the Astros would suddenly start airing in 740 if a playoff spot is in the balance. 790 has aired the games all year, and of course for the past several seasons. Personally, I think they never should have left 740 in the first place but I understand why it happened.

I disagree, schmave. Look no further than the Rockets for an example. KBME is the flagship, KTRH aired the bigger games.

 

[Mediafrog+]

KBME is the flagship, KTRH aired the bigger games.

Anytime there is a conflict, the Rockets move over to KTRH, which is probably why you've heard them there. Also, for the past couple of seasons Rockets Saturday night games have also been carried on KODA.

KBME has a nighttime null to the southwest that causes problems for them. Also poor coverage in many northern parts of the metro area. They also suffer nighttime interference from a couple of Radio Reloj transmitters in Cuba.

Charlie Pallilo frequency complains on-air about KBME's nighttime reception issues.

 

[stan]

I really don't understand why iHurt radio doesn't use KLVI to compliment / assist in their Houston coverage issues.

 

[The Rimshot]

KLVI has a strong nighttime signal that I believe would make it in to Edna with little to no static. So yes, KLVI would be the answer to filling in the gap from Edna to Rosenberg, in terms of the Astros Radio Network's lack of nighttime coverage in the Southwest region.

Of course, having an AM affiliate with a 50kw nighttime reach would be the answer I would hope for.

WWL airs local programming from 8pm-12am and they do pretty good with that so I think they are out of the question.
WOAI airs the Spurs all the way to late May and early June, and I believe the Joe Pags show airs until 8pm during non-Spurs evenings, and I don't see them giving that up.
KWKH carries LSU baseball during the spring, but once that wraps up they could carry the Astros every night over Fox Sports syndicated shows with low ratings.

XEG out of Monterrey would be a nice "border blaster" pick up for the 'Stros, which is listenable throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas during nighttime broadcasts (not daytime broadcasts, of course, but local AM Astros affiliates could handle daytime coverage).

 

[purpledevil]

Anytime there is a conflict, the Rockets move over to KTRH, which is probably why you've heard them there. Also, for the past couple of seasons Rockets Saturday night games have also been carried on KODA.

KBME has a nighttime null to the southwest that causes problems for them. Also poor coverage in many northern parts of the metro area. They also suffer nighttime interference from a couple of Radio Reloj transmitters in Cuba.

Charlie Pallilo frequency complains on-air about KBME's nighttime reception issues.

Actually, Frog, I've heard 790 simulcast Rockets games on 740 numerous times, regardless of a conflict existing or not. It really does depends on who they are playing, and how well they are performing over the season. Didn't realize KODA was still doing the Saturday game night broadcasts, though. You are spot on correct in your assessment of 790's signal. Where I'm located, it's a flamethrower day and night. Get up north much past 1960, and the problems begin for KBME after dark.

It may have been the best music ever at one time, but the signal certainly has never been. The OP may be interested to know he might have some success with Skeeter's games from KBRZ around Rosenberg, if he just needs his ⚾ fix.

 

[The Rimshot]

This probably isn't a popular response for listeners who love local programming, but I would like to see a KLVI/KBME nighttime simulcast, effective 7pm (or 6pm for Astros' games on the east coast) everyday.

 

[purpledevil]

This probably isn't a popular response for listeners who love local programming, but I would like to see a KLVI/KBME nighttime simulcast, effective 7pm (or 6pm for Astros' games on the east coast) everyday.

There's not a whole lot "local" left on the mighty 56 KLVI, Rimshot. I've been calling it KTRH-E for a few years now. I don't know, the folks over in Jefferson county may very well consider our KTRH their KLVI-W. They've pretty well become one in the same over the years.

 

[The Rimshot]

You could call WOAI "KTRH-W" as well. Same five talk show hosts during the critical hours, the only difference is Michael Barry is in the four spot on KTRH and Joe Pags is batting fourth on WOAI.

 

[schmave]

I disagree, schmave. Look no further than the Rockets for an example. KBME is the flagship, KTRH aired the bigger games.

Were those simulcasts or KTRH-only? If they're simulcasts, I can see that.
I remember driving home from Sugar Land to League City after work assignments and almost completely losing 790 for a few miles on Highway 6. By the time I got home, it was its usual powerful self (though the Radio Reloj beeps could be heard occasionally). I'd say KBME and KLVI are of just-about equal signal strength in the Bay Area, at least as I remember, a tick below 610 and 740 (easily the best AM nighttime signals where I used to live).

 

[robertsez]

There's not a whole lot "local" left on the mighty 56 KLVI, Rimshot. I've been calling it KTRH-E for a few years now.

Actually, I heard a promo on KLLS 1300 (ex-KSET) that said it was the new home of the Dallas Cowboys, so perhaps they'll pick up the Astros as well (since Houston is closer to Beaumont, therefore theoretically there should be more Astros than Cowboys fans, even though you're comparing apples to oranges).

I don't know, the folks over in Jefferson county may very well consider our KTRH their KLVI-W. They've pretty well become one in the same over the years.

Actually, KLVI promotes itself as a Conservative Talk station, yet they air liberal programming, such as Glen Beck, who is constantly attacking and ridiculing Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump. This is pushing more listeners toward KTRH, who has a potent footprint over the Golden Triangle.

 

[ftballfan]

Actually, KLVI promotes itself as a Conservative Talk station, yet they air liberal programming, such as Glen Beck, who is constantly attacking and ridiculing Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump. This is pushing more listeners toward KTRH, who has a potent footprint over the Golden Triangle.

Glenn Beck is more of a libertarian than a liberal (there is a significant difference between the two)

 

[robertsez]

Glenn Beck is more of a libertarian than a liberal (there is a significant difference between the two)

Both he and Romney are decidedly anti-Trump, and therefore pro-Hillary. Since Hillary isn't a Libertarian, I don't see how they can be, either. Of course, they are also both Mormons, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Libertarians seem to have this underlying theme of legalization of illegal drugs. I know that Michael Berry has often shared his position on that.

 

[ContinuousWave]

Since KLVI dropped the Astros, KOGT in Orange picked up the network...so KLVI can't carry them...so sorry...only one signal per market.

 

[robertsez]

Since KLVI dropped the Astros, KOGT in Orange picked up the network...so KLVI can't carry them...so sorry...only one signal per market.

However, both KLVI and KRTH carry the Rush Limbaugh Show at the same time. Which is odd, because they obviously overlap. Some years ago, Dan Patrick was also airing Rush, but as a second-run, 2-5 or 3-6. Actually, this would be my preference, but no one in the Houston or Beaumont markets are doing this nowadays.

I wish KLVI had some real competition in Conservative News/Talk locally. They have lots of weak spots that can be exploited (their morning program with that annoying-sounding guy, and the Glen Beck slot, for example).