Black Information Network in Houston's radio future?

[Mediafrog+]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/...tations-stunting-ahead-of-new-network-launch/

You would think that Houston would be a major target for the new network. But on what station? Might keep an ear on the iHeart HD subchannels; it might wind up on a translator.

 

[BamaTX]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/...tations-stunting-ahead-of-new-network-launch/

This is so messed up on so many levels. It just shows how out-of-touch corporate America.

 

[TheBigA]

This is so messed up on so many levels. It just shows how out-of-touch corporate America.

What's messed up? We've had BET for over 30 years.

 

[davideduardo]

This is so messed up on so many levels. It just shows how out-of-touch corporate America.

The operation is intended to be part of big corporation image enhancement efforts due to the current social unrest. It is being sponsored not out of ad budgets but out of PR budgets and is apparently profitable already.

 

[BamaTX]

and is apparently profitable already.

And there it is. Profiting off of a social movement.

 

[davideduardo]

And there it is. Profiting off of a social movement.

No, it is providing a service that is needed. The end product is a format not available before to that community.

 

[BamaTX]

No, it is providing a service that is needed. The end product is a format not available before to that community.

You said it yourself, they're making their money off of PR money from corporate America. When another movement comes along and those PR budgets shift focus, will the BIN still be around?

 

[davideduardo]

You said it yourself, they're making their money off of PR money from corporate America. When another movement comes along and those PR budgets shift focus, will the BIN still be around?

This sounds like an enduring (and overdue) situation. National accounts are going to be more conscious of Black and Hispanic media and owners are going to be sure they serve those groups well.

 

[BamaTX]

This sounds like an enduring (and overdue) situation. National accounts are going to be more conscious of Black and Hispanic media and owners are going to be sure they serve those groups well.

I hope iHeart's intentions are good. I'll be interested to see where they take this format once the PR budgets shift in corporate America.

 

[TheBigA]

I hope iHeart's intentions are good. I'll be interested to see where they take this format once the PR budgets shift in corporate America.

Demographics are changing in favor of minorities, especially in the south and Midwest. Things have certainly changed in Houston and Texas as a whole. This kind of network is more relevant in Texas now than it might have been 30 years ago. What will help make this even more powerful will be the expansion of black-owned companies, rather than relying on traditional corporate advertising.

 

[stan]

I think that while this is an interesting development, they aren’t the first. Sheridan and American Urban comes to mind. The link is from 1992.

https://books.google.com/books?id=z...AQ#v=onepage&q=sheridan radio network&f=false

 

[TheBigA]

I think that while this is an interesting development, they aren’t the first. Sheridan and American Urban comes to mind.

That's OK, no one said they were the first.

 

[xmtrland]

This kind of network is more relevant in Texas now than it might have been 30 years ago.

But it's not available in Texas. I wonder if iHeart would consider an non iHeart station to carry the format.

 

[TheBigA]

But it's not available in Texas. I wonder if iHeart would consider an non iHeart station to carry the format.

Typically the way that is handled is through Premiere Radio Networks. They would handle marketing to outside stations.

 

[gr8oldies]

I would venture to guess, yes, and if not the full service format, the news service which could be on any Urban formatted station

But it's not available in Texas. I wonder if iHeart would consider an non iHeart station to carry the format.

 

[Conductivity]

No, it is providing a service that is needed. The end product is a format not available before to that community.

Didn’t KCOH run this type of programming here in town before back in the day?

 

[Mediafrog+]

Just as an FYI I checked the local iHeart FM HDs and found no changes...so BIN not running anywhere in Houston for the moment.