I guess you haven't seen the fb lives. They did hire a very popular dj for pm drive so I think your really just talking without facts. I started to listen about 2 weeks ago and have been impressed so far because they don't sound like the other Houston Regional Mexican stations. Something like that on KROI would be big in Houston.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
AAA/Alt KROI????
- Thread starter Fieldtech1
- Start date
I guess you haven't seen the fb lives. They did hire a very popular dj for pm drive so I think your really just talking without facts. I started to listen about 2 weeks ago and have been impressed so far because they don't sound like the other Houston Regional Mexican stations. Something like that on KROI would be big in Houston.
Being big on Facebook doesn’t necessarily help their broadcasting ability or lack thereof. There’s a local AM station in the Beaumont area that bills itself as a Houston station on Facebook even though the AM signal can’t get there. And the transmitter has been off for months.
As I said before, that music format appeals to a significantly older core audience than contemporary Regional Mexican, whether it be newer norteña or banda or a blend.
Agencies look for much younger targets when advertising to Hispanics because the average age is nearly 12 years below that of the non-Hispanic white population. There is just no money for an old-leaning regional format.
David, thanks for your insight on the Ranchera format, did not realize it skewed that old. Given the various Hispanic targeted stations already in Houston, is there any format hole to fill for those demographics? Or are we pretty much musically covered given the specifics of this market?
Even without the pandemic, I doubt we would see any changes to 92.1 until 2022 at the earliest, given the recent programming changes.
They are in a city of millions and the majority of their posts are dead. If I'm looking to advertise at a station that isn't listed on Nielsen's ratings (which no one in their right mind should), then I would use their social media pages to see what kind of responses they get. And guess what? Their pages are dead. Most of their posts average one or two likes/comments.
The entire operation is a joke. This is supposed to be a Christian owned station, yet it feels like they're using "eye candy" as part of their morning show. The entire set up feels like a small market radio station. Whoever is running the operation is in way over their head. These translators (the way they're set up) should be used for niche formats. Some Vietnamese programming would make more sense than a Regional Mexican format.
So the "ROI" in the call doesn't stand for "Return On Investment"?
C
cotton belt
Guest
I'm pretty certain BamaTX is referring to the Centro Cristiano group of stations and not KROI or Urban One. KROI has been a financial loss for Radio/Urban One since basically day one. However, as previously echoed by others, a Regional Mexican format for 92.1 is not the answer for any sustainable success. Mediafrog earlier mentioned what I feel would likely be the best use of KROI's capabilities. Team it up with a signal north of the metro and emulate what Cox has done combining the two stations that make up The Eagle.
If it were me, and my money was on the line, I would be putting out some feelers on the KSBJ Educational Foundation and gauging their interest in getting a simulcast partner for NGEN, which in turn, allows the Foundation to unload some of those dog signals they have down in Bay City, Freeport, and Lake Jackson running the NGEN programming on them now. The Foundation has not been shy in picking up new facilities, as evidenced by the recent purchases in Livingston and Liberty.
But that's just me.
AAA has been tried in Houston before. It failed miserably. The last incarnation of AAA before EMF bought it was AAA.
Not that the signal is great, but it performed much better as a Jack FM outlet, before it morphed into AAA as 103.7 FM.
Alternative could be interesting. The Buzz has the luxury of owning both the active rock and alternative formats here. Assuming there's any life left in the format at all, it stands to reason that the alt mantle could be easily swiped from The Buzz.
KROI seems a likely candidate if the rumor is true. Unlike iHeart, Entercom and Cox, who wouldn't need an outside consultant to pull off an alternative format, Radio One doesn't have anyone with experience in that format in house.
Another possibility, though remote, would be KFNC. Could Gow be ready to extinguish that 0.3 share dumpster fire and put a format on that's cheaper to operate and might pull something north of a 1 share?
Not that the signal is great, but it performed much better as a Jack FM outlet, before it morphed into AAA as 103.7 FM.
Alternative could be interesting. The Buzz has the luxury of owning both the active rock and alternative formats here. Assuming there's any life left in the format at all, it stands to reason that the alt mantle could be easily swiped from The Buzz.
KROI seems a likely candidate if the rumor is true. Unlike iHeart, Entercom and Cox, who wouldn't need an outside consultant to pull off an alternative format, Radio One doesn't have anyone with experience in that format in house.
Another possibility, though remote, would be KFNC. Could Gow be ready to extinguish that 0.3 share dumpster fire and put a format on that's cheaper to operate and might pull something north of a 1 share?
And keep in mind, Radio One dumped all the local talent on 92.1 in favor of basically mismatched syndication a short while back. They're running Kidd Kraddick mornings (mainstream, almost hot AC focused) and Tino Cochino afternoons (rhythmic, almost urban focused.)
Does that combo exist on any other station anywhere? Seems unlikely. It feels more like they're placeholders than a serious effort. Where are the billboards promoting either show? I haven't seen any.
Does that combo exist on any other station anywhere? Seems unlikely. It feels more like they're placeholders than a serious effort. Where are the billboards promoting either show? I haven't seen any.
There are really only a couple of mass appeal Hispanic formats viable anywhere in the Southwest and other areas where the Spanish dominant Hispanics are of Mexican origin or heritage.
Ranchera is 35+.
"Regional Mexican" has flavors, based on the percentage of norteña and banda they play.
Tejano is for all practical purposes as dead as Smooth Jazz.
CHR is based on Reggaeton and should be thought of as Rhythmic CHR. There is a younger variant, almost all currents, and and older one with recurrents and some gold. We have both in Houston now.
Adult Hits and "oldies" are a single format, based on a blend of lighter regional, ballads, grupera and a touch of cumbia. The problem is that there is not much post-2000 music for the format to play, and that is tough with a community that is much younger than the general market.
The variants are mostly based on air talent and mostly talk shows with a few songs tossed in.
There is no mass appeal format that is not being covered.
He had multiple successes before and after the Houston experience. The attitude level in the building was very extreme.
ThatVoice22
Banned
Right, the former AM 1300 KLLS ("K-Double-L-S" in Lumberton) was previously owned by our friend Continuous Wave. The station, now KHTW, was purchased by Carlos Lopez (aka, "Tejano 1300"). The signal as licensed at 2 KW could never reach an un-reachable market in Houston. Congratulations CW, that was the "sale of the century." https://www.rbr.com/a-silent-lone-s...turned in November,annual interest rate of 8%.
---But, perhaps Carlos Lopez has future plans?
Thought occurred to me that KVST could be a northern simulcast partner for 92.1 should New Wavo ever decide to cash in. But Cox's 97.1 would be the best choice, which would restore a simulcast that existed from 1992 to 1995. Would probably mean the end of Country Legends, but I would love to see how well the format would do in raw numbers with better market coverage. I suspect there are a lot of Country fans out there that are turned off by the genre's current output and appreciate CL, but those listeners are probably way too old to be attractive to advertisers.
I suspect KSBJEF would hang onto KYBJ and flip it back to the main KSBJ programming. The KYBJ transmitter on 91.1 is about 62 miles from the main KSBJ tower, so they still might need some filler coverage to the south.
I strongly doubt that Gow has any interest in running a standalone music station (never mind the brokered 1560 facility.) And 97.5 is by far the worst of the eastern rimshots, which is strange, because it used to be much better. Booster transmitter still on and causing KFNC to clash with itself? Certainly was equal to the other eastern rimshots during the KRWP days, and through much of the various talk formats in more recent years. But reception is frequently brutal today.
I would think if Urban One wanted a placeholder format, they would just run 92.1 as a jockless jukebox until launching something else. I do think this is their last crack at saving the CHR format, and if the new shows don't help, a sale is next. But I'm still thinking 18-24 months before a decision is made. But who knows, I've just about given up on guessing the future of KROI...just surprise me with something.
C
cotton belt
Guest
Funny you bring up Ben Amato. Up here in ETX, news of UT Tyler purchasing 99.7 KVUT just broke this week. The University is planning on launching an ETX NPR affiliate, a first for us. Currently, we have Red River Radio from LSU Shreveport on KTYK 100.7, and KERA programming on the 100.1 translator. The funny part is that it was Ben Amato, owner of KVST down in Huntsville, who applied for and was granted the CP for the Cuney facility. I don't remember if this was ever made public, but seeing as how the facility doesn't exist anymore, I don't suppose it much matters. Amato also had a signed and sealed deal with Roy Henderson to purchase KROY in Palacios. All 3 facilities operate(d) on 99.7 FM. Well, the deal to acquire KROY fell through shortly before the Commission deleted it. Amato then turned around and sold the Cuney permit to Dick Witkoski's North Texas Radio Group, who built it out, but with downgraded facilities. It now is moving to the UT Health campus in Bullard with 1400 watts, once the sale to UT Tyler is complete.
I've often wondered, just what was Ben Amato's plan?
Let me tell you, Mediafrog, I have the absolute pleasure to have "104.1 The Ranch" in my backyard. One of the best classic country playlists in the State, hell, maybe the South. Plus, one of my all-time favorite people, Rowdy Yates, runs his show weekend evenings from 7 to midnight. I travel into the CL 97.1 coverage area quite often. It stuns me to hear the difference between the two. The Ranch plays George, Clint, Garth, Martina, and the like, but also Waylon, Willie, Jerry Reed, Merle, and other icons from the 70's. Every time I punch up CL 97.1 on the truck, it's pretty soon that I'm reaching for a different button. The problem is that there's very little 70's country music on 97.1, and too much from this century. I think that's a mistake, but the demographics are much different in Houston than they are here in ETX. Most East Texans tend to gravitate to the hometown station that features "real" country music, a swap shop of some sort, and the general small town feel that a station like CL 97.1 can't provide. Believe you me, there are still a ton of those up here. I don't think CL 97.1 is long for the world because of this. The argument I've heard for the last 10 years is that KTHT covers a lot of rural listeners, making classic country the obvious choice for the signal, but it doesn't much matter when the people living within the best parts of your coverage area are listening to their own live and local station, instead of the somewhat classic country station from Cleveland, for Houston, that is little more than a glorified 100,000 watt jukebox, outside of morning drive. I hardly think CXR would entertain adding KROI to its current Houston portfolio, anyway.
Give 104.1 The Ranch a listen online, when you have the opportunity, Mediafrog. If you like classic country, I think you'll be hooked. It's "Certified East Texas Country!"
IIRC, Kidd Kraddick and Tino Cochino are both Yea Networks shows. Just having a Houston clearance for both of them would be valuable to the network. Could Yea be giving KROI a cut to run the shows?
Something tells me Radio One isn't selling it. They just started building the tower for that construction permit they've had for a few years. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the current format dies when KROI fires up the new site.
https://fccinfo.com/CMDProASRLookup.php?sASR=1311857&tabSearchType=ASR+Search
Most shows and networks trade inventory for the show. Very few demand cash.
Building a CP comes under "use it or lose it". The CP when built will make the station easier to sell.
Of course.
I'm speculating that Yea might be giving Radio One a cut of their Houston sales as an incentive to put these shows on the air. Radio One really has no other incentive to clear them. Kraddick bombed here when Kidd was still alive and the Cochino show doesn't fit on the same station with Kraddick.
Syndication does not do specific market sales... they are networks. If you want the show in a local market, you buy direct from the station from its local inventory.
Yes, they do. Frequently, in fact.
All the major satellite platforms for radio have had the ability to insert local ads and play them directly from the receiver for many years, going back to the old Starguide III platform and the EDAS card for it.
The modern platforms from X-Digital and Wegener all have the ability to run a completely custom commercial schedule for each station. In the small markets, the networks typically won't bother, but in the big markets, they use the feature extensively.
This is the manufacturer of the XDS platform. Scroll down to the features section.
https://atx.com/products/radio-broadcast-gateways/xds-headend-systems/
Yes, but my point is that networks can't do local sales. The stations would not affiliate if the network is going to sell against them for just their market. The purpose of market specific ads is to tailor copy to very specific situations or to allow regional or seasonal variations.
For example, a client might buy in snow prone zones for snow tires or anti-freeze, but not want to run those ads in SoCal or the major AZ markets. Or some stores or fast food chains don't want spots in areas they don't serve.
But the network show is not out selling local ads against the very station that carries it.
One thing is customization or regionalization, another is selling local spots.
I should probably have said, "if you want to buy just one single market you need to go directly to the station."
- Status