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KESO and KZSP have gone silent

J

JustinT

Looks like the sale of the R Communications properties in South Texas has closed.

Left out of the sale were the South Padre Island sisters KESO (did this station ever brand as "Queso?") and KZSP. KESO was most recently running classic hits as "Classic 92.7", while KZSP relayed KBUC's Tejano. From FCC filings, doesn't look like what remains of R will keep these on the air as they await sale:

KESO(FM) SUSPENDED OPERATION ON FEBRUARY 11, 2021 DUE TO LACK OF STAFF AND PROGRAMMING. THE LICENSEE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS AUTHORITY FOR THE STATION TO REMAIN SILENT UNTIL IT IS IN A POSITION TO RESUME OPERATION.

While it's hardly a full-market signal, KESO is probably the most realistic option to get NPR back on the air in the Brownsville/Harlingen area. KEDT, are you following?
 
KESO made it up to Wyoming a few times during Eskip season in 2020
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
KESO made it up to Wyoming a few times during Eskip season in 2020
Click to expand...

Despite how coverage maps appear, I never had much trouble getting a KESO signal in the car in McAllen when I lived in the market.

Also quite good along the coast to the north -- by the time you get interruptions from co-channel KKBA, you're out of anything that would be considered RGV.
 
encarta95 said:
Despite how coverage maps appear, I never had much trouble getting a KESO signal in the car in McAllen when I lived in the market.

Also quite good along the coast to the north -- by the time you get interruptions from co-channel KKBA, you're out of anything that would be considered RGV.
Click to expand...
It really is only a Brownsville station. It's pretty weak in Brownsville, and way too far gone in McAllen as you say. Cameron county good to marginal, Hidalgo just not a viable signal.
 
DavidEduardo said:
It really is only a Brownsville station. It's pretty weak in Brownsville, and way too far gone in McAllen as you say. Cameron county good to marginal, Hidalgo just not a viable signal.
Click to expand...
My personal experiences were that KESO and KNVO carried quite a bit further into Hidalgo Co than the maps suggest. I wouldn't price that coverage into a purchase price -- but the geography and weather might give the buyer of KESO a nice boost into Hidalgo some days. In the event of a KEDT purchase, listeners would likely compromise on the signal for the content. In the event of an EMF purchase... well, KVMV would have the signal beat by a landslide.

Signals can carry quite a way down there. Monterrey's 91.7, 103.7, 105.3, 106.1, and 106.9 were very frequent catches in Starr Co heading east to McAllen -- though I suppose 91.7 is a lost cause with Reynosa's new 91.7. Caught Houston and Dallas somewhat regularly, and even once, Mobile AL.
 
Both are back on the air as of this past Monday. Simulcasting each other with Classic Hits. No DJ's, no commercials, no liners. Just 70's & 80's hits
 
Filling the huge format hole for Spanish Christian programming, looks like KESO is joining Radio Esperanza from KOIR 88.5.
 
At least it's a legal Spanish Christian station... Other stations in the McAllen area, like 94.1, are not.
 
From RadioInsight:

MBM Texas Valley sells Classic Hits “Classic 92.7” KESO South Padre Island TX to Rio Grande Bible Institute for $550,000. RGBI began operating the station via LMA on Monday, May 3 flipping the station to its Spanish Christian “Radio Esperanza” network heard on 88.5 KOIR Edinburg, 97.7 KRIO-FM Roma, and 910 KRIO McAllen.
 
AnyHuman said:
At least it's a legal Spanish Christian station... Other stations in the McAllen area, like 94.1, are not.
Click to expand...

and being nowhere near the area, just how do you know this and can prove it?
 
If that translator on 94.1 is really relaying KHBE 102.1, it would seem unlikely to be doing so legally. I realize engineers can do a lot to null out nearby signals, but getting a signal off air that’s roughly 200 miles away when the translator is in or near the 60 dBu signal contour of a station on the same frequency would seem impossible to me.

At one time, that translator was supposed to relay KBIC 105.7, which should be pretty easy to capture off air at that location. It would seem possible that it’s actually relaying KBIC and just hasn’t corrected its paperwork, but Christian Ministries of The Valley would seem to be unaware that’s happening. It doesn’t show any listing for that translator on its website, though websites are often low priorities for radio stations.
 
Still leaves KZSP, and if KESO sold for $500,000, would assume KZSP sells for peanuts.

If not KEDT, there was an article a while back that Texas Public Radio was interested in serving the RGV. Maybe 95.3 could serve San Antonians enjoying a trip to South Padre?
 
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