September ratings are here

[Mediafrog+]

September numbers: https://radioinsight.com/ratings/houston-galveston/

Nothing of any huge note.

Power 105.3 creeps up to a 0.5. Playlist must be resonating amongst a few listeners. And no, these numbers are NOT for Texas Mix.

KFNC sinks to a 0.2. Ouch. David Gow, call Alfred Liggins about 92.1.

Speaking of 92.1, the Praise format is still floundering. Meanwhile NGEN does much better despite its impending demise on FM. Even KHCB does better than KROI.

La Raza breaks into the threes, almost even with sibling El Norte.

Combined numbers for The Beat and The Box seem to be shrinking.

 

[radioislife2020]

Props to power 105.3 some here might have to swallow a pill when that small operation hits a 1.5 share .

 

[BamaTX]

Props to power 105.3

For a 0.5 share on the +6 books? 🤨

 

[old school radio]

For a 0.5 share on the +6 books? 🤨

I think Power 105.3 has been smart by understanding the deepening recession and continuing inflation that has caught many companies in a cruel cash and profit squeeze. trying to cut costs to the bone from the beginning was smart. I think this station will do well.

 

[Mrtejano]

NGEN probably did better due to the news that it’s pending demise on FM. Before it was even mentioned here I had signs on NGEN on billboards where it said listen on The App. I was actually going to post about it, but just like all my other posts. This idea of them possibly going to o my streaming was crazy so I chose not to post it.

 

[davideduardo]

Power 105.3 creeps up to a 0.5. Playlist must be resonating amongst a few listeners. And no, these numbers are NOT for Texas Mix.

Remember, a 0.5 is statistically the same as a 0.1 or a 1.1 or a 0.8 or a 0.3 or anything in that range... even a no-show.

The 0.5 is being listed for KTWL. It is very possible that KTWL is getting that kind of share. It is also unlikely that the encoding for KTWL is applied a translator outside the area where KTWL does not have the required minimum signal for a translator.

The translator is supposedly repeating the KTBZ HD2 channel. But we've been told that there is something else on that HD channel. You can't run a commercial translator without either an HD channel or without being within the "local" coverage area of a licensed AM or FM station. Power does not fit any of those requirements, unless it is back n the KTBZ subchannel.

Has anyone checked what is actually on the KTBZ HD channel(s)? That would help us know who or what is getting the numbers. Of course, with the translator's licensee, we can question just about everything.

 

[davideduardo]

I think Power 105.3 has been smart by understanding the deepening recession and continuing inflation that has caught many companies in a cruel cash and profit squeeze. trying to cut costs to the bone from the beginning was smart. I think this station will do well.

First, we don't know if the ratings attributed to KTWL have anything to do with Power. Second, there is not much business available for a station with ratings in the ground clutter region.

Again, though, Nielsen just tabulates the data. If a station is improperly encoding or operating illegally, Nielsen is not a licensing organization. This is an FCC issue, and it has to be reported for the FCC to take any action.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The 0.5 is being listed for KTWL. It is very possible that KTWL is getting that kind of share.

Absolutely no way. Look at a map of the greater Houston area, and check the location of the KTWL transmitter. As I have posted before, you have to go west of Waller on Highway 290 and north of Pinehurst on Highway 249 before you have any reception of KTWL. Elsewhere in the market KTWL is either wiped out by K287BQ, or would simply be inaudible due to distance. KTWL's listenable signal is in the thinly populated exurban and rural areas northwest of Houston. Those places are unlikely to have any PPM panelists, or if any exist, would not make an impact that would result in a 0.5.

The Texas Mix format has been on KTWL for quite a few years now, and has never made even a tiny impact on Houston numbers, even before K287BQ hit the air obliterating the main KTWL signal. Isn't it rather suspicious that supposed numbers for "KTWL" start to show up at the same time the Power format is launched on K287BQ which covers most of Houston metro?

The translator is supposedly repeating the KTBZ HD2 channel.
(snip)
Has anyone checked what is actually on the KTBZ HD channel(s)? That would help us know who or what is getting the numbers.

KTBZ HD-2 is running KBME. The HD-3 is running KPRC. Been that way for a while. However the Power format is on KKBQ HD-3, although the HD is more than a minute behind the output on K287BQ.

Of course, with the translator's licensee, we can question just about everything.

David, you have to realize that when it comes to translators and LPFMs in Houston, you are in the Wild West. "Rules" often do not apply here. Many of us on this board have been beating that drum for quite some time now.

 

[old school radio]

First, we don't know if the ratings attributed to KTWL have anything to do with Power. Second, there is not much business available for a station with ratings in the ground clutter region.

Again, though, Nielsen just tabulates the data. If a station is improperly encoding or operating illegally, Nielsen is not a licensing organization. This is an FCC issue, and it has to be reported for the FCC to take any action.

David, My understanding is that K287BQ 105.3 has nothing to do with KTBZ. It's actually the only Transalator rebroadcasting legally on KKBQ FM HD3. KTWL is being purchased by K287BQ. I'm assuming soon K287BQ will simulcast with KTWL and have larger foot print. No one ever believe that you and the folks at HBC would have any success with KAMA after having .8 against KLOL power house and now KAMA has over 400k In cume. It is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the fight in the dog that matters.

 

[BamaTX]

I think Power 105.3 has been smart by understanding the deepening recession and continuing inflation that has caught many companies in a cruel cash and profit squeeze. trying to cut costs to the bone from the beginning was smart. I think this station will do well.

You do realize +6 is meaningless? Hell, if I'm not mistaking iHeart managed to get better numbers in +6 with "KISS 104.5".

 

[victorres43]

What's the matter with KRBE? They have the "CHR" format all to themselves (soundwise, they are an adult CHR, but still...), yet they couldn't take advantage of that monopoly. I mean, CHR is not doing too poorly in New York, Atlanta, or Miami. Mix isn't doing too hot, either.

KILT-FM as the "Bull" is showing low ratings, though 93Q isn't some ratings juggernaut. Majic is doing well, being a Top 5 station, but they could do better.

 

[davideduardo]

Absolutely no way. Look at a map of the greater Houston area, and check the location of the KTWL transmitter. . KTWL's listenable signal is in the thinly populated exurban and rural areas northwest of Houston. Those places are unlikely to have any PPM panelists, or if any exist, would not make an impact that would result in a 0.5.

Every county in the Houston MSA has a proportional sample. So there are definitely... and have to be... meters at the NW corner of the market. The home country to KTWL is part of the market.

The Texas Mix format has been on KTWL for quite a few years now, and has never made even a tiny impact on Houston numbers,

Was it encoded before? No encoding, no numbers

Isn't it rather suspicious that supposed numbers for "KTWL" start to show up at the same time the Power format is launched on K287BQ which covers most of Houston metro?

No, it barely covers Harris County and the metro is one of the largest in the US.

KTBZ HD-2 is running KBME. The HD-3 is running KPRC. Been that way for a while. However the Power format is on KKBQ HD-3, although the HD is more than a minute behind the output on K287BQ.

That does not explain how the KTWL code is on either the HD3 or the translator. "Code sharing" works with airlines, not with Nielsen.

David, you have to realize that when it comes to translators and LPFMs in Houston, you are in the Wild West. "Rules" often do not apply here. Many of us on this board have been beating that drum for quite some time now.

Actually, it boils down to just two or three individuals. Before we had Güell and the others, we had our pirate friend with the TV audio.

Whatever the reason or cause, someone is cheating the system.

 

[old school radio]

You do realize +6 is meaningless? Hell, if I'm not mistaking iHeart managed to get better numbers in +6 with "KISS 104.5".

Kiss 104.5 had a huge marketing campaign. I think 105.3 has niche maeket with Central Americans and South Americans.

 

[davideduardo]

What's the matter with KRBE? They have the "CHR" format all to themselves (soundwise, they are an adult CHR, but still...), yet they couldn't take advantage of that monopoly. I mean, CHR is not doing too poorly in New York, Atlanta, or Miami. Mix isn't doing too hot, either.

CHR is doing terribly in Miami; one of the stations just went to a rhythmic variant. KIIS in LA is down from its normal first, second or third range to around 10th.

Houston is now over 50% Black and Hispanic, and those groups look, collectively, for a rhythmic option and not a traditional CHR. Of course, CHR is not doing well anywhere due to a bunch of factors, starting with fewer "good" sons during the pandemic and an increasing number of current songs with lyrics that can't be played on the radio. And, of course, the annoying elephant in the room, the migration of young listeners to streams

KILT-FM as the "Bull" is showing low ratings, though 93Q isn't some ratings juggernaut. Majic is doing well, being a Top 5 station, but they could do better.

"Oddity" is ruining its country stations everywhere. Just look at Phoenix!

 

[BamaTX]

KTWL is being purchased by K287BQ.

That should have closed by now. It hasn't.

I'm assuming soon K287BQ will simulcast with KTWL and have larger foot print.

And do what with that useless extended coverage? Their target market is Houston. Not Navasota.

No one ever believe that you and the folks at HBC

You mean Univision?

would have any success with KAMA after having .8 against KLOL power house and now KAMA has over 400k In cume.

You shouldn't compare KAMA to K287BQ. It's not even a close comparison. KAMA has always had a format that targets specific demographic.

K287BQ is blending all sorts of music with no specific demographic or direction in mind. You can't even call it a "Jack FM" since the music is sourced from different regions/countries.

It is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the fight in the dog that matters.

KLOL and KAMA are a Pitbull and a Doberman compared to that little chicken who thinks it is a dog in the middle of a snowy sea (does that makes sense? No? Well neither does K287BQ's format!).

 

[BamaTX]

Kiss 104.5 had a huge marketing campaign.

If it did, I don't remember it. A billboard here and there isn't much of a marketing campaign IMO.

I think 105.3 has niche maeket with Central Americans and South Americans.

You can't have a format that satisfies all Venezuelans, Guatemalans, Argentinians, Cubans, and Bolivians. And individually, there aren't enough of each to make money off of them.

Sooner or later, these translators will lose their "novelty" and their local buyers will realize a poorly rated station isn't a good investment.

 

[davideduardo]

Kiss 104.5 had a huge marketing campaign. I think 105.3 has niche maeket with Central Americans and South Americans.

Not all Central Americans like the same kind of music. Some like pop, some like rock (mostly in English), some like US CHR or rhythmic, some like tropical and many like regional Mexican.

South Americans have a) nothing in common with most of the preferred and most popular Central American tastes and b) mostly nothing to do with the localized tastes of the other South American nations. Even within specific nations, there are regional music taste differences.

And the chances of very small groups with high concentrations of undocumented people willingly choosing to be part of a metered radio survey are enormously small. The Hispanic market is overwhelmingly Mexican or of Mexican heritage.

 

[old school radio]

That should have closed by now. It hasn't.

And do what with that useless extended coverage? Their target market is Houston. Not Navasota.

You mean Univision?

You shouldn't compare KAMA to K287BQ. It's not even a close comparison. KAMA has always had a format that targets specific demographic.

K287BQ is blending all sorts of music with no specific demographic or direction in mind. You can't even call it a "Jack FM" since the music is sourced from different regions/countries.


KLOL and KAMA are a Pitbull and a Doberman compared to that little chicken who thinks it is a dog in the middle of a snowy sea (does that makes sense? No? Well neither does K287BQ's format!).

I think that chicken little does more than many full power worthless stations like
KROI

 

[BamaTX]

I think that chicken little does more than many full power worthless stations like
KROI

It's not. You're comparing a dark brown turd with a light brown turd.

It's still a turd.

 

[victorres43]

CHR is doing terribly in Miami; one of the stations just went to a rhythmic variant. KIIS in LA is down from its normal first, second or third range to around 10th.

Houston is now over 50% Black and Hispanic, and those groups look, collectively, for a rhythmic option and not a traditional CHR. Of course, CHR is not doing well anywhere due to a bunch of factors, starting with fewer "good" sons during the pandemic and an increasing number of current songs with lyrics that can't be played on the radio. And, of course, the annoying elephant in the room, the migration of young listeners to streams

"Oddity" is ruining its country stations everywhere. Just look at Phoenix!

I thought Y100 and Power 96 in Miami have a higher combined share compared to KRBE in Houston? And also, KIIS has KNOU pulling them down a bit, but KIIS is #7 in share, tied with KFI (though cume tells a different story).

But yes, I agree, the conservative / adult approach is less fitting for a market like Houston, after all. Maybe 15 years ago, it may seem like a sound idea. Cumulus is programming KRBE like it's in Indianapolis or Huntsville (Alabama). The country / pop rock-laden approach in Mix is not working, either, even though Mix tries to throw in a few rhythmic throwbacks.