While the sale of KTEK to Immaculate Heart hasn't closed quite yet, a listing for KNTH (AM 1070 The Answer) has appeared on a station brokerage website with an asking price of $2.6 million (translator included). The call letters are listed publicly along with a coverage map, so this is apparently not a secret. Considering that KNTH mostly clears their own network programming, the listing is surprising and makes me wonder if KKHT (100.7) might be next. Salem has been in the Houston market for a very long time going back to when KKHT was on 106.9 in the 90s.
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Is Salem Exiting Houston?
- Thread starter Ryan Williams
- Start date
Salem sees itself as a company with a mission. Selling KTEK didn't affect its mission, as that station mostly aired business and foreign-language talk. But the Answer and the Word are Salem's "core formats".
I will say this. If they do sell either station, it will be either because they got a sweet deal, or because Salem is on the brink of going under.
I will say this. If they do sell either station, it will be either because they got a sweet deal, or because Salem is on the brink of going under.
A "sweet deal" might be to get someone else to own the station, but still carry Salem programming and national spots.
Not familiar with the inside workings of Salem in years, Big A. Are they in a considerably different financial situation than EMF or like stated above, just have a different business model that does not include as much radio?
Surprising news, but not hugely so, given that there has been plenty of chatter about Salem’s financial issues lately.
I have absolutely no idea who might be interested in KNTH. We seem to be at a saturation point for right wing talk and brokered programming (note the recent disappearance of KYND) so anyone’s guess as to what might pop up in the future on 1070.
KKHT 100.7 would be an interesting sale. Might Entercom or iHeart go after it as an FM outlet for their SportsTalkers? EMF in play? WAY-FM? Has Urban One waited too long to pull the trigger on a sale of KROI?
I have absolutely no idea who might be interested in KNTH. We seem to be at a saturation point for right wing talk and brokered programming (note the recent disappearance of KYND) so anyone’s guess as to what might pop up in the future on 1070.
KKHT 100.7 would be an interesting sale. Might Entercom or iHeart go after it as an FM outlet for their SportsTalkers? EMF in play? WAY-FM? Has Urban One waited too long to pull the trigger on a sale of KROI?
The easy answer is yes. EMF is a non-profit foundation, while Salem is a for-profit public company. What's interesting, since you brought up EMF, is they're competing in the Christian music format in Atlanta right now, and Salem is winning the ratings battle. Although the EMF station is only 5 months old. Salem has a Christmas format they syndicate called The Fish, and it is a commercially sponsored radio format, while K-Love is listener supported non-commercial.
Also meant to add earlier that if Salem sells KNTH, it is almost a certainty they will also sell KKHT. I don't see them keeping 100.7 as a rimshot standalone.
I mostly agree although Salem does operate a standalone Christian Teaching and Talk station in Oxnard-Ventura, but that one pre-dates Salem as an entity and also happens to serve Camarillo where the HQ is located.
On the other hand, Houston is a major market and is the second largest market of evangelicals and Salem has a long history here. It's worth noting that KKHT is a pretty bad signal especially where many potential listeners reside in Fort Bend County and western and northwestern Harris County.
I'm really surprised they have listed KNTH. It doesn't really make sense to me unless they are looking to fundamentally change their business strategy.
Bumping this thread as it has been two months...to the OP: Is the broker listing for KNTH still there? Haven't seen anything further about the station being on the market.
There is a certain Salem insider that occasionally posts on this board, but he may not be at liberty to tell us what might be going on.
There is a certain Salem insider that occasionally posts on this board, but he may not be at liberty to tell us what might be going on.
"Salem has a Christmas format they syndicate called The Fish, and it is a commercially sponsored radio format, while K-Love is listener supported non-commercial"
The Fish is a Salem Trademarked Brand, not s syndicated format, big difference. Each "Fish" has their own set of air talent, with programs, promotions and such aimed at each individual market. K-LOVE originates somewhere in Ventura Country, CA (I think) and has a very generic presentation.
The Fish is a Salem Trademarked Brand, not s syndicated format, big difference. Each "Fish" has their own set of air talent, with programs, promotions and such aimed at each individual market. K-LOVE originates somewhere in Ventura Country, CA (I think) and has a very generic presentation.
k-Love comes out of a Sacramento suburb, while the morning show, I believe, is out of a suburb of Indianapolis.
Yes. Rocklin, CA is HQ, and mornings originate from WKLU in Brownsburg, adjacent to Indianapolis. The morning show is scheduled to move to Nashville in the spring.
ThatVoice22
Banned
That KNTH insider would be Operations Manager Chuck Tiller, who has added many insightful comments on here, but might be silent now for a number of reasons. When the time is right, Chuck will let us know. In the meantime, listen to him on the humorous KNTH morning show featuring Super-Sam Malone, news from J.P. Pritchard, and funny stories from Tom Fontaine.
This has been an unpaid endorsement.
Here's a 2014 article from Mike McGuff = https://mikemcguff.blogspot.com/2014/11/jp-pritchard-joins-sam-malone-on-1070-knth.html
A
AnyHuman
Guest
The Fish is not Christmas... It's Christian. LOL
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