Another AM Bites the Dust

[Ryan Williams]

Estrella's 1540 AM KZMP University Park (32 kW day, 750 W night) has filed an STA to remain silent. The reason from the application:

"KZMP(AM) SUSPENDED OPERATION AT 6:00 PM ON DECEMBER 7, 2021 DUE TO THE SALE OF THE STATION'S ANTENNA SITE AND THE DISMANTLEMENT OF THE TOWERS. THE LICENSEE HEREBY NOTIFIES THE COMMISSION OF KZMP'S OFF-AIR STATUS AND REQUESTS AUTHORITY FOR THE STATION TO REMAIN SILENT WHILE THE LICENSEE UNDERTAKES EFFORTS TO RELOCATE THE TRANSMISSION FACILITY AND RESUME OPERATION."

We don't talk about KZMP very much, but it was far from the worst AM signal in DFW. Considering it was only simulcasting 106.7, it seems extremely doubtful any real investment to put it back on the air with a decent signal will actually happen.

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[SomeRadioGuy]

Estrella's 1540 AM KZMP University Park (32 kW day, 750 W night) has filed an STA to remain silent. The reason from the application:

"KZMP(AM) SUSPENDED OPERATION AT 6:00 PM ON DECEMBER 7, 2021 DUE TO THE SALE OF THE STATION'S ANTENNA SITE AND THE DISMANTLEMENT OF THE TOWERS. THE LICENSEE HEREBY NOTIFIES THE COMMISSION OF KZMP'S OFF-AIR STATUS AND REQUESTS AUTHORITY FOR THE STATION TO REMAIN SILENT WHILE THE LICENSEE UNDERTAKES EFFORTS TO RELOCATE THE TRANSMISSION FACILITY AND RESUME OPERATION."

We don't talk about KZMP very much, but it was far from the worst AM signal in DFW. Considering it was only simulcasting 106.7, it seems extremely doubtful any real investment to put it back on the air with a decent signal will actually happen.

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The engineering firm, Hatfield & Dawson was on site about 2 1/2 years ago doing some tune up work on the array which I'm sure wasn't cheap.. and now this.

 

[Kent]

I remember occasionally encountering that station in its various incarnations. In the summer of '96, I worked in what used to be the BankOne building just north of Park Row and Bowen and would go by its studios in Dalworthington Gardens on the occasions when I'd take I-20 instead of I-30 home. It was running Spanish-language religion as KTNO at the time. I can't remember the slogan it used, but the calls and much of the same programming are on 620 today.

When I moved to Kansas City the next year, I could occasionally get 1540 after dark there. Seems like its signal pattern was different at the time, but, even then, I remember thinking it must not have been shifting to its nighttime power.

It wasn't the worst AM signal in DFW by any means, but it wasn't particularly good either. Then again, only three AM's cover the entire market 24/7, and probably about twice as many cover it during the daytime only. The merger of the Dallas and Ft. Worth radio markets in the early-to-mid 1970's helped kill AM there two or three years sooner than it started dying on its own in most other places. It also died gradually in most other markets but dropped with a loud thud in DFW!

 

[Mediafrog+]

Estrella's 1540 AM KZMP University Park (32 kW day, 750 W night) has filed an STA to remain silent. (snip) Considering it was only simulcasting 106.7, it seems extremely doubtful any real investment to put it back on the air with a decent signal will actually happen.

Estrella also has two silent stations in the Houston market: KEYH 850 and KJOJ 103.3, the latter of which had its license supposedly cancelled on December 15.

I mentioned this on another thread, but it wouldn't surprise me if Estrella exits the radio business in order to concentrate on the TV stations, the national TV network, and television program production.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I remember occasionally encountering that station in its various incarnations.

And there were a lot of incarnations over the years: KCUL, KBUY, KRXV, KMZK, KTIA, KUQQ, KMIA, KSVZ, KSGB, KTNO, KPAD, before finally settling on the KZMP call in 1997. Even more formats along the way. Wonder how many stations have had 12 or more sets of call letters?

When I moved to Kansas City the next year, I could occasionally get 1540 after dark there. Seems like its signal pattern was different at the time, but, even then, I remember thinking it must not have been shifting to its nighttime power.

The 1540 transmitter site has moved a couple of times...was in Kennedale in the 60s and 70s...then located SE of Dallas in the 80s/90s before winding up at the current site.

Not sure if Kennedale was the original site, as the station went on the air in 1949. Anyone know?

It wasn't the worst AM signal in DFW by any means, but it wasn't particularly good either.

Feeble power on the various night signals has always been a huge problem, regardless of the transmitter site. Day coverage was okay but not all that great for covering the entire Metroplex.

The merger of the Dallas and Ft. Worth radio markets in the early-to-mid 1970's helped kill AM there two or three years sooner than it started dying on its own in most other places. It also died gradually in most other markets but dropped with a loud thud in DFW!

The 1975-80 time period saw a huge amount of upheaval on the DFW AM dial. Many longstanding formats bit the dust. No fun in the car if you only had an AM radio, which was usually the case in those days.

 

[Huff]

Two DFW stations have had 11 sets of calls:
1480: KGKO, KBOX, KMEZ, KDBN, KCMZ, KMRT, KDXX, KHCK, KNIT, KBXD and KNGO
94.9: KCLE-FM, KFAD, KAMC, KWJS, KJIM-FM, KLTY (1st time), KHYI, KODZ, KSNN, KEWS, KWRD, KLTY (2nd time)

The Kennedale site was the original site for 1540, when the CP was issued in 1947 it was listed as "Precinct 2, Hawkins Tract, Kennedale." It started off with just a three tower array (1kw, non-directional day) with more towers (and power) added over the years.

 

[blackgold]

That's a great tragedy! Another AM station off the air!

 

[Mediafrog+]

The Kennedale site was the original site for 1540, when the CP was issued in 1947 it was listed as "Precinct 2, Hawkins Tract, Kennedale." It started off with just a three tower array (1kw, non-directional day) with more towers (and power) added over the years.

Thanks for that info. I recall that in the 1960s and 70s the 50kw daytime directional signal from Kennedale was a blowtorch over Fort Worth, and had a decent signal into Dallas. The 1kw directional night signal actually did pretty well in FW, but quickly disappeared when you drove east of Loop 820…no useable signal into Dallas.

I wonder if “Hawkins Tract” referred to the name of a farmer that might have previously owned the land?

 

[b-turner]

I recall 1540 in the K-Saves Days as a religious broadcaster. Their offices had glass walls with gold color (brass) trim. The production studio had reverb to some extent, termed 'The Cathedral Sound".

Years before, KBUY was a good country station, seemingly Fort Worth's dominant country, the counterpart to Dallas' K-Box. That would be late 1960s through the, perhaps mid-1970s.

Perhaps 1540 can survive as a non-directional. Recently directional KXEN in Saint Louis went from 50,000 watts days/1,000 watts nights to non-directional 160 watts days and 14 watts nights. Nope, not full market coverage but that 160 watts hits a million plus and the flea powered 14 watts at night hits about 100,000. Cost of operation is so minimal for KXEN these days. Could 1540 see the same happen?

 

[Huff]

Thanks for that info. I recall that in the 1960s and 70s the 50kw daytime directional signal from Kennedale was a blowtorch over Fort Worth, and had a decent signal into Dallas. The 1kw directional night signal actually did pretty well in FW, but quickly disappeared when you drove east of Loop 820…no useable signal into Dallas.

I wonder if “Hawkins Tract” referred to the name of a farmer that might have previously owned the land?

"Hawkins" refers to the original land owner. Every piece of property in Texas is part of an original land owner tract (who may or may not have lived on said tract) and is still referred to in any property transfer. Cadastral maps showing these original tracts are available for most counties (Texas - County Wall Maps - TX - Page 1 - OLD MAPS). You can see the Hawkins tract in this portion of a Tarrant County map from 1895. You may also note that right across 287 from the site is Hakwins Cemetery - what started as a family burial plot.

And yes, KBUY was the dominant (and only full-time) country station in Fort Worth in the 1960s, peaking with a 10.5 share in 1967. It didn't stand a chance when WBAP went full-time on 820 in 1970 and opted to go country soon after. WBAP jumped 5.3-12.9 from Spring to Fall 1970, while KBUY fell 8.5-4.3.

 

[Huff]

Thanks for that info. I recall that in the 1960s and 70s the 50kw daytime directional signal from Kennedale was a blowtorch over Fort Worth, and had a decent signal into Dallas.

Mid 60s Coverage Map sales piece.