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Sun Radio Applications

R

Ryan Williams

Years ago there was a translator on 96.3 in Austin. It simulcasted KJCE for a time and later became "96-3 R&B". Due to 96.3 KGID in Giddings coming on the air, that translator had to move to 95.9.

Fast forward to the FCC's AM Revitalization window and Township Media's (Sun Radio) 1490 KTSN Austin filed for a new translator on 96.1 in Hutto. Then it filed to move that translator to the big tower farm and up the dial to 96.3, a huge upgrade with a small null to the east to protect KGID.

Earlier this year, Sun Radio's operator agreed to acquire KGID, so you could see more changes were forthcoming some day. That day is today.

Three contingent applications were filed:

First, 96.1 K241DA Hutto re-files to move to Austin on 96.3 at an even greater HAAT of 363 m. It's worth noting that it appears this is the same 9 bay antenna used by KUT and KUTX.

Second, KGID files to downgrade from 6 kW at 100 m to 175 watts at 46 m. Not even translator strength, but it will still serve Giddings.

Third, Township's 96.3 KTHE Llano is slightly modifying their non-directional signal to accommodate the new, much-improved K241DA.

Should this all be approved and it almost certainly will be (highly-respected firm DLR did the engineering), Township will be holding, by far, the best translator in Austin and will also have co-channel "full power" stations on either side to protect it.

Pretty impressive.
 
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Why'd they turn KGID into a dwarf? LOL did they change it to Sun Radio yet?
 
AnyHuman said:
Why'd they turn KGID into a dwarf? LOL did they change it to Sun Radio yet?
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do you not read and just post to hear yourself talk? it's explained above.. "contingent" means theyre all dependent on each other
 
So let me get this straight Entercom or Audacy couldn't figure this out 96.3 always was a great translator . That is why 96.3 was able to succeed . This sounds and looks funny to me KGID was never meant to work please explain ?
 
truernb said:
So let me get this straight Entercom or Audacy couldn't figure this out 96.3 always was a great translator . That is why 96.3 was able to succeed . This sounds and looks funny to me KGID was never meant to work please explain ?
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I don't entirely understand your question, but let me take a stab at the history.

Entercom bought the 96.3 translator and used it for a number of years. During those years a new station came about on the same channel, 96.3, in Giddings through one of the FCC's auctions. Because translators are considered secondary service (they are Class D) then they can be forced off the air by a primary service, higher class, such as KGID (Class A).

When a translator is forced off the air by another pending application, the translator can file a displacement application to move to another channel, if one is available.

The licensee of KGID perhaps even offered to sell to Entercom, but obviously a deal was never reached. Or maybe not. I don't know.

It's even possible an enterprising participant in an auction might bid on station they think could force a successful translator in an adjacent market off the air. Although I am not say that is what happened here.
 
truernb said:
Ok I pretty sure Entercom would have offered more than Sun Radio - Sun Radio is getting a pretty good deal ?
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Entercom/Audacy hasn't really been a buyer in a long time. Also, they may have determined that spending a million dollars or whatever it would take to buy KGID was not worth it and they could get 90% of what they had on 96.3 on 95.9.

As for Sun's purchase, they just closed, so it is apparently worth the 700k or whatever it was to them. The price seems like a lot to serve the few residents of Lee County, but if you look at the bigger picture of what this deal enables them to do in Austin it makes a lot more sense.
 
The ATA shows Sun Radio paying $750,000 for KGID. Considering the outcome, it was a bargain. KGID as modified, can still serve Giddings itself. At the lower wattage even a local format has a good chance of success thanks to lowered overhead. Giddings, like other communities so near a major metro, suffer from a percentage of the population working in the metro and not truly identifying with the local community. That literally makes the numbers look a bit more impressive than they are.
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
do you not read and just post to hear yourself talk? it's explained above.. "contingent" means theyre all dependent on each other
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I know, but KGID would do fine with probably 1000 watts while not getting in the translator's way.
KGID probably will become a Sun Radio rebroadcaster, anyway.
 
AnyHuman said:
I know, but KGID would do fine with probably 1000 watts while not getting in the translator's way.
KGID probably will become a Sun Radio rebroadcaster, anyway.
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So you think, but thats not the case... and thankfully things arent measured by a hobbyist or dxers ear.. if they were, the dial would be a mess
 
AnyHuman said:
I know, but KGID would do fine with probably 1000 watts while not getting in the translator's way.
KGID probably will become a Sun Radio rebroadcaster, anyway.
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While, SRG is kind of needlessly brash in the responses here, the point is basically correct: It's not the case they could could go to 1000 watts.

KGID is currently west of Giddings, but no matter what they do, it has to put a 70 dBu over the city. So if they are to downgrade KGID to enable the translator upgrade in Austin, they have to get closer to Giddings itself. Problem is Giddings is closer to the first-adjacent signals in Houston and Madisonville on 96.5 and 96.1 respectively.

That is partly how you end up with only 175 watts, although there is a little margin remaining to the east and northeast.

Also, the margin between the contours of this downgraded KGID and the upgraded translator are very very close. This is the most limiting factor.
 
I actually pulled in KGID yesterday from New Braunfels. I’m sure it was due to atmospheric conditions. Even though they won’t care about Comal County, I’m curious if the 96.3 translator in Austin is at all receivable here in Canyon Lake.
 
dlf1 said:
I actually pulled in KGID yesterday from New Braunfels. I’m sure it was due to atmospheric conditions. Even though they won’t care about Comal County, I’m curious if the 96.3 translator in Austin is at all receivable here in Canyon Lake.
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No.

Can you pull in 98.9 KUTX? It will be similar with outer coverage reduction of 25-30% in addition to a reduction in building penetration in Austin.

Same height and antenna as KUTX with 84% less power. Still, it will be the best translator in Austin by a significant margin.
 
I can pull in KUTX; not the best of the Austin FM’s, but it is listenable. The 97.1 translator can make an appearance here, but again mainly during atmospheric enhancements. 100.1 is the most frequent Austin translator. I’m 45 air miles from Austin (and up on a hill).
 
I'm not as technical incline as most contributors on the message board regarding signals but when Entercom had 96.3 RnB it was listed as one of the best translators in in the US. 96.3 RnB reached all surrounding metros : Austin to North San Antonio - Austin to La Grange - Austin to Brenham , Austin to Jarrell , Austin to Taylor etc basically that is why 96.3 RnB had good ratings and made money $$ / someone really dropped the ball ? Sad the death of that frequency destroyed the best RnB station ever in the Austin Market Thanks KGID ( we have modern day B93 on steriods to enjoy )
 
KGID did nothing wrong. The KGID frequency was sanctioned by the FCC. Translators are not primary stations but secondary. They were intended to fill in places where geography prevented it. Since then it's use has 'expanded'. Why wouldn't the owner of the 96.3 translator put the format on another frequency? Is your criticism misdirected? The 96.3 owner knows the frequency is a secondary service and that the frequency assigned to Giddings would certainly have a winning bidder on the next auction. If anyone is responsible, it is the operator/licensee of 96.3.
 
I agree 96.3 rnb "Entercom" dropped the ball regarding a station broadcasting to the cows ran them off a very strong translator , KGID didnt do anything wrong , it just proves how strong 96.3 is as a translator. How long did KGID broadcast - sound like a nice payday to me
 
I would say KGID got an excellent payoff! Too bad 96.3 fell by the wayside. The engineer that maximized that signal sure knew what they were doing. I just wonder how the format did. If it did as well as some feel it did, surely it is worthy of a full power address.
 
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