A Few Houston Radio Notes

[Mrtejano]

Can you hear KNAL? I’m getting that with RDS now

Not sure, I was listening to 93.3 THE WOLF

 

[HTX]

Not sure, I was listening to 93.3 THE WOLF

That’s KNAL

 

[Engineering]

Also all the Las Vegas properties. The full markets that were sold are low revenue difficult markets. And the AMs had been for sale for quite a few years.

The formats will be talk and information, all with a liberal / progressive perspective. There is talk that where they have more than one station, there will be both Spanish and English operations, all targeted at Hispanics.

All with a liberal viewpoint, targeted at Hispanics? I understand that the Hispanic population is leaning more toward a Conservative and Republican political viewpoint, so is this designed to move the needle in the other direction? As a casual observer, I've noticed that the vast majority of News/Talk (other than NPR) stations seem to have a Conservative viewpoint.

 

[HTX]

I just want to say that earlier in the night KQBU and KKHT came back on

 

[Engineering]

I just want to say that earlier in the night KQBU and KKHT came back on

Both transmitters are co-located at the same site, which is inaccessible in or following rainy weather. There is a diesel generator for the transmitter building, however this has a finite amount of fuel, and once it runs out, the fuel truck is subject to the same site limitations.

 

[davideduardo]

All with a liberal viewpoint, targeted at Hispanics?

Yes.

I understand that the Hispanic population is leaning more toward a Conservative and Republican political viewpoint, so is this designed to move the needle in the other direction?

We don't know much except that they want to do some kind of news and talk format that is close to the Democratic Party line as evidenced by the previous jobs of the two Hispanic women who are the top executives of the new group, Latino Media Network.

Latino Media Network

latinomedianetwork.com

Stephanie Valencia

latinomedianetwork.com

Jess Morales Rocketto

latinomedianetwork.com

As a casual observer, I've noticed that the vast majority of News/Talk (other than NPR) stations seem to have a Conservative viewpoint.

The new owners will learn whether their concept has a base.

In general, Spanish language news talk only works when the shows are local and deal almost exclusively with social issues, not political ones. Such an approach 2 decades ago made KTNQ in LA beat KFI in 25-54, but the formula could not be successfully replicated in any other market. Three national Spanish language talk networks failed in the last 25 years, too.

 

[BamaTX]

The new owners will learn whether their concept has a base.

Spoiler alert; it won't.

In my experience, 1st generation Hispanics in Texas seem to be more socially conservative or moderate. 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics are the ones who hold more liberal views, but they're not going to listen to AM Radio. I'm not sure what the plan is here, but it seems like an uphill battle.

But then again, is their goal even to make money? Maybe this endeavor is purely a political one. The DNC could be uncomfortable with the current political trends being seen with Hispanics. Maybe these types of endeavors are meant to slow the changes.

In general, Spanish language news talk only works when the shows are local and deal almost exclusively with social issues, not political ones.

And not necessarily socially liberal, correct? I remember one of LBI's most popular TV shows was cancelled after a few LGBT groups started a boycott campaign. Apparently, many Hispanics don't subscribe to the political correctness ideology that has swept our country. Hispanics seem to be more willing to have candid and honest talks about how they feel about certain things. They'll call a spade a spade without worrying if someone gets offended.

(Disclaimer; I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing. It's just the way I've seen Hispanics approach life).

Such an approach 2 decades ago made KTNQ in LA beat KFI in 25-54, but the formula could not be successfully replicated in any other market.

Do you have any theories as to why that was? I know Houston's Hispanic culture derives most of its influence from the Tamaulipas/Nuevo Leon region (Pasadena has even been nicknamed "Pasadena, Nuevo Leon" by Hispanic locals). Are the differences in cultural influences the cause for such drastic differences between LA and the rest of the US?

 

[davideduardo]

But then again, is their goal even to make money? Maybe this endeavor is purely a political one. The DNC could be uncomfortable with the current political trends being seen with Hispanics. Maybe these types of endeavors are meant to slow the changes.

That is my opinion. But doing it with some really bad signal stations on the AM band is not the vehicle.

And not necessarily socially liberal, correct?

No, not at all. But the issue is one that can best be viewed by locating most first generation immigrants on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: before people are interested in societal issues, they must have personal needs and family needs satisfied. That starts with food and shelter, and then progresses to family and the "tribe" or clan. So political movements... even labor unions and the like are not in the area of primary concern yet.

Do you have any theories as to why that was? I know Houston's Hispanic culture derives most of its influence from the Tamaulipas/Nuevo Leon region (Pasadena has even been nicknamed "Pasadena, Nuevo Leon" by Hispanic locals). Are the differences in cultural influences the cause for such drastic differences between LA and the rest of the US?

It's because the other networks were dealing with national issues, mostly political, that did not directly touch the lives of first generation immigrants. And what I did with HBC's talk stations only worked moderately as we could not find the right talent... and once we were involved with TV, an attempt was made to put TV hosts on radio.

TV hosts are used to short scripted and directed shows, not open forum 4 hour shifts with no producer, writer or director.

I believe, given the person named by the new company to manage the enterprise, that they will try to hire TV people to do political talk. They are just totally wrong if they do that.

For the heck of it, I filed an online job application. Even the form was incredibly out of touch for first generation Hispanics: it is in English and full of " preferred pronouns" with over a dozen choices, and populated with "Latinx" instead of "Latino" or "Hispanic" or just the country of origin.

 

[stan]

And not necessarily socially liberal, correct? I remember one of LBI's most popular TV shows was cancelled after a few LGBT groups started a boycott campaign. Apparently, many Hispanics don't subscribe to the political correctness ideology that has swept our country. Hispanics seem to be more willing to have candid and honest talks about how they feel about certain things. They'll call a spade a spade without worrying if someone gets offended.

You say that, but the Catholic Churches many attend are sociallly liberal. I don’t think we can generalize what a group believes but we’ll see what the results are for a radio experiment with marginal AM radio stations.

 

[davideduardo]

You say that, but the Catholic Churches many attend are sociallly liberal. I don’t think we can generalize what a group believes but we’ll see what the results are for a radio experiment with marginal AM radio stations.

The real issue is that first generation Spanish dominants are not interested in American politics. As I mentioned in a prior post, this is a group looking to establish a new home in a new country.

If we look at nearly every immigrant group composed of limited education level impoverished immigrants, the interest in politics comes in the second or third generation. Survival is the driving force among this group during most of their lifetime.

 

[BamaTX]

For the heck of it, I filed an online job application. Even the form was incredibly out of touch for first generation Hispanics: it is in English and full of " preferred pronouns" with over a dozen choices, and populated with "Latinx" instead of "Latino" or "Hispanic" or just the country of origin.

We're going to need an update after the interview. They would be crazy not to schedule you for one given your long curriculum vitae.

 

[BamaTX]

You say that, but the Catholic Churches many attend are sociallly liberal. I don’t think we can generalize what a group believes but we’ll see what the results are for a radio experiment with marginal AM radio stations.

It truly depends on the topic. If we are talking about immigration, healthcare access, welfare, or even wealth distribution, then sure. But when we talk about LGBT, abortion, or even birth control, then you see the church lean extremely conservative. And because those are the most pressing issues for the DNC at the moment, then the church is mostly viewed as conservative by most mainstream liberals.

At the end of the day, many Hispanic Catholics will be left at a crossroads. For the purposes of this thread, I don't see most 1st Generation Hispanics abandoning their religion. 2nd and 3rd generation? Sure. But that's not who the new "News" Network is aimed at.

 

[HTX]

96.1 KCDF and 107.3 KCVE have to be on the same feed. They’re both currently airing a buzzing sound. K231CN is still the normal La Nueva.

Also KJHJ and KCVE are not broadcasting from their licensed site like I’ve assumed for awhile. They’re somewhere southwest of the site somewhere closer to The Woodlands but north of there.

 

[011nerve]

96.1 KCDF and 107.3 KCVE have to be on the same feed. They’re both currently airing a buzzing sound.

Probably an unplugged audio cable.

"Why do speakers hum when someone touches the plug, jack or cable? The human body is electrically conductive, so touching the conductor (the plug or even the cable itself in poorly insulated cable designs) of a connected cable will effectively produce a circuit between the speaker and us. This circuit causes the speaker to produce a hum."

https://mynewmicrophone.com/why-do-speakers-hum-when-i-touch-the-plug-jack-or-cable/

 

[ContinuousWave]

It truly depends on the topic. If we are talking about immigration, healthcare access, welfare, or even wealth distribution, then sure. But when we talk about LGBT, abortion, or even birth control, then you see the church lean extremely conservative. And because those are the most pressing issues for the DNC at the moment, then the church is mostly viewed as conservative by most mainstream liberals.

At the end of the day, many Hispanic Catholics will be left at a crossroads. For the purposes of this thread, I don't see most 1st Generation Hispanics abandoning their religion. 2nd and 3rd generation? Sure. But that's not who the new "News" Network is aimed at.

The Mormons and Charismatics, (IE: Pentecostal) are making large conversions of Hispanics from Catholicism.

 

[JustinT]

Is 1360 KWWJ off the air after the severe storms/tornadoes on the east side of Houston? Can't pull in anything from my area on 1360 AM -- the 96.9 translator seems to be on-air relaying dead air.

 

[HTX]

Is 1360 KWWJ off the air after the severe storms/tornadoes on the east side of Houston? Can't pull in anything from my area on 1360 AM -- the 96.9 translator seems to be on-air relaying dead air.

I’m not sure about the AM but the translator has been dead air for awhile now. The 99.9 translator has been dead air for at least 2 weeks

 

[Mediafrog+]

Is 1360 KWWJ off the air after the severe storms/tornadoes on the east side of Houston? Can't pull in anything from my area on 1360 AM -- the 96.9 translator seems to be on-air relaying dead air.

I’m hearing KWWJ at normal strength at a 9am check at my NW Harris County location.

I don’t think the 96.9 translator has run KWWJ in many months. I’ve heard it with Spanish language religion recently, and that translator is in the process of being sold to Relevant Radio, which will use it to rebroadcast KTEK 1110, along with the newly acquired 92.3 translator in the Spring area. The KWWJ website dropped any reference to 96.9 some time ago.

 

[gr8oldies]

That is my opinion. But doing it with some really bad signal stations on the AM band is not the vehicle.

No, not at all. But the issue is one that can best be viewed by locating most first generation immigrants on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: before people are interested in societal issues, they must have personal needs and family needs satisfied. That starts with food and shelter, and then progresses to family and the "tribe" or clan. So political movements... even labor unions and the like are not in the area of primary concern yet.

It's because the other networks were dealing with national issues, mostly political, that did not directly touch the lives of first generation immigrants. And what I did with HBC's talk stations only worked moderately as we could not find the right talent... and once we were involved with TV, an attempt was made to put TV hosts on radio.

TV hosts are used to short scripted and directed shows, not open forum 4 hour shifts with no producer, writer or director.

I believe, given the person named by the new company to manage the enterprise, that they will try to hire TV people to do political talk. They are just totally wrong if they do that.

For the heck of it, I filed an online job application. Even the form was incredibly out of touch for first generation Hispanics: it is in English and full of " preferred pronouns" with over a dozen choices, and populated with "Latinx" instead of "Latino" or "Hispanic" or just the country of origin.

This sounds like Air America, Spanish language edition with the same faulty premise and plan.

 

[Palpatine]

The Mormons and Charismatics, (IE: Pentecostal) are making large conversions of Hispanics from Catholicism.

Some folks prefer cults.