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KZMP 1540 sold

M

Mediafrog+

In case you didn’t see it elsewhere: https://www.radiodiscussions.com/threads/estrella-media-spins-a-dfw-am.758874/

KZMP supposedly resumed operations in December from a temporary facility in Rockwall using 100 watts: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/pr...timportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=104085

Looks like North Texas Radio Group, the new owner, will have to come up with a new permanent transmitter facility for 1540, as the station lost its lease for the previous site, thus the recent STAs.

One correction to the RBR story: Estrella Media no longer owns KMPX, which was sold to Tegna two years ago to create a duopoly with WFAA. The station still airs Estrella TV.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
In case you didn’t see it elsewhere: https://www.radiodiscussions.com/threads/estrella-media-spins-a-dfw-am.758874/

KZMP supposedly resumed operations in December from a temporary facility in Rockwall using 100 watts: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/pr...timportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=104085

Looks like North Texas Radio Group, the new owner, will have to come up with a new permanent transmitter facility for 1540, as the station lost its lease for the previous site, thus the recent STAs.

One correction to the RBR story: Estrella Media no longer owns KMPX, which was sold to Tegna two years ago to create a duopoly with WFAA. The station still airs Estrella TV.
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I wouldn’t bet against NTRG, but without a tower site or lease, the $250,000 price for an STA AM in 2023, even in market six, seems less like an incredible bargain and more like a big, expensive gamble.
 
KZMP's power is 32,000 watts by day. But only 750 watts at night. 1540 is a clear channel frequency reserved for KXEL Waterloo, Iowa, and ZNS-1 Nassau, Bahamas. (How did Waterloo, population 67,000, get a Class A station?)

According to Radio-Locator.com, KZMP uses a directional antenna, with a two-tower array by day and four towers at night. If the new owner doesn't want to find a location big enough to allow for construction of four towers, the FCC will probably allow it to broadcast with a single tower, non-directional. But the station will have to lower the power.
 
Gregg. said:
(How did Waterloo, population 67,000, get a Class A station?)
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They were first in line when the dial was reorganized by the FRC and / or FCC in the late 20's and again in the early 30's. There was no system like we have for FM where frequencies and classes are assigned to a market. This is why in that era Phoenix, about to become a Top 10 market, did not get a single superior facility while places like Shreveport, LA, did.
Gregg. said:
According to Radio-Locator.com, KZMP uses a directional antenna, with a two-tower array by day and four towers at night. If the new owner doesn't want to find a location big enough to allow for construction of four towers, the FCC will probably allow it to broadcast with a single tower, non-directional. But the station will have to lower the power.
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The Witkowski group is very familiar with how to deal with rimshots, move-ins and general dog facilities. They obviously have a plan or they would not buy the station. And they likely have some delightful used and nearly obsolete transmitters to use for it, too!
 
DavidEduardo said:
The Witkowski group is very familiar with how to deal with rimshots, move-ins and general dog facilities. They obviously have a plan or they would not buy the station.
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I think there is a strong possibility of diplexing with an existing station.

The eventual new facility will be the fourth one the station has had that I am aware of. The 1540 transmitter was in Kennedale decades ago when it was a Fort Worth station. It later built a site southeast of Dallas to focus on the other end of the Metroplex. That was followed by the third site that was recently dismantled.

NTRG owns KMAD 1550 just across the border in Oklahoma. Perhaps taking that silent would allow KZMP to open up its day pattern a bit?
DavidEduardo said:
And they likely have some delightful used and nearly obsolete transmitters to use for it, too!
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The Asset Purchase Agreement includes equipment specific to the station, so I would think the previous transmitters are in storage somewhere and will be turned over to NTRG.
charles1234 said:
What will they do about KZZA? Change formats?
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Why would they do that? Has nothing to do with the sale of the AM.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
The Asset Purchase Agreement includes equipment specific to the station, so I would think the previous transmitters are in storage somewhere and will be turned over to NTRG.
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I was referring to the nearly 50 year old Witkowski used transmitter and equipment business that at one point even had offices in Puerto Rico!
 
FWIW, Dick Witkowski has recently purchased both KEBE and KTLU, as well. KZMP is operating at 100 watts ND on STA, from what I last saw. What was a very solid signal in ETX from the former KZMP site is now a mess of a dial position, both day and night. I would not expect a downgrade, move, or surrender of KMAD. That's just not how he has historically operated. A diplex of KZMP on an existing tower would seem to be the most logical avenue taken.

I can assure you, if there was no opportunity in place to restore KZMP's licensed operations, Dick Witkowski would not have been the aforementioned suitor. In actuality, he may be the only one that saves KZMP from the same fate that met KJOJ-FM and KEYH down in Houston.
 
rosecitymedia said:
FWIW, Dick Witkowski has recently purchased both KEBE and KTLU, as well. KZMP is operating at 100 watts ND on STA, from what I last saw. What was a very solid signal in ETX from the former KZMP site is now a mess of a dial position, both day and night. I would not expect a downgrade, move, or surrender of KMAD. That's just not how he has historically operated. A diplex of KZMP on an existing tower would seem to be the most logical avenue taken.

I can assure you, if there was no opportunity in place to restore KZMP's licensed operations, Dick Witkowski would not have been the aforementioned suitor. In actuality, he may be the only one that saves KZMP from the same fate that met KJOJ-FM and KEYH down in Houston.
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What format will they put on this station?
 
I can offer no certainty, but knowing the history of the buyer, it may very well continue to simulcast with KZZA.
 
rosecitymedia said:
I can offer no certainty, but knowing the history of the buyer, it may very well continue to simulcast with KZZA.
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Why would they do that? Pointless.

I too, am curious what the new owner will do for a format on 1540. On my most recent trip to DFW (mid-December) I didn’t hear 1140 or 1220 on the air, which made me wonder if the market has reached an oversaturation point for brokered formats on AM.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Why would they do that? Pointless.

I too, am curious what the new owner will do for a format on 1540. On my most recent trip to DFW (mid-December) I didn’t hear 1140 or 1220 on the air, which made me wonder if the market has reached an oversaturation point for brokered formats on AM.
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Given the current operational status of the stations already in the NTRG portfolio, and going by the precedent set in the purchaseb of other past acquisitions by him (not so much "they"), listeners such as yourself and Charles will likely be sorely disappointed if you are yearning for unique and groundbreaking programming from a relocated KZMP.

I will provide you an example of what's likely to come. KEBE, both AM & FM, in J'ville. Dick purchased 1400 from Charles Conrad, local owner of KDOK and KZQX. When Conrad owned the AM, it was used to extend the "QX" programming to Cherokee County. Under Conrad's stewardship, 1400 was basically rebuilt from the ground up, or at least the equipment was. Sold to NTRG, it remained in simulcast with KZQX well after the purchase (that is, when it was in operation), until it was later resold to Paul Coates and Mike Huckabee, at which point 1400 (and 1580 in Rusk) were steered into an ill fated format, that if I'm being honest, had absolutely no chance of success from the start. Witkowski did absolutely nothing with KEBE itself, other than to get a translator attached to the facility.

KEBE-FM has never had independent programming of its own since sign on. When Chisolm Trail purchased the AM from Coates, the FM, which had been silent or simply broadcasting dead air up to this point in its life, was granted a L2C a couple days later. Programming for KEBE-FM? A rebroadcast of the AM, "K Hits" programming from Chisolm Trail. Just two years ago, "North Texas's very own" K-Hits was broadcast on 1400 AM, 1580 AM, 95.1, 103.9 and 104.7 FM. This, in part, is why I think you may be setting yourself up for disappointment if you think something new and groundbreaking is coming to 1540 KZMP.

1140 is alive and well at last check. Fair reception at my QTH. Spanish language brokered religion. Can't offer a report on KZEE.
 
NTRG may be hoping to make some money by selling an upgraded KZMP and maybe even see if they can attach an FM translator. I suspect they will continue to simulcast KZZA or flip to a simulcast of “K-Hits” KOME 95.1, Glen Rose as filler programming. They seem to be in the business of buying radio stations and holding them with filler programming as necessary until they can find a buyer.
rosecitymedia said:
"North Texas's very own" K-Hits was broadcast on 1400 AM, 1580 AM, 95.1, 103.9 and 104.7 FM. This, in part, is why I think you may be setting yourself up for disappointment if you think something new and groundbreaking is coming to 1540 KZMP.
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The 104.7 translator had an application to move to 104.5 and relocate to cover Tyler, apparently so that they could have more value as a Tyler station. NTRG owned 99.7 KVUT Cuney/Tyler and sold it to UT Tyler.
 
@Jay S Bingo! You are pretty much spot on with your assessment, Jay. There is very little value in a deleted or surrendered facility, especially one in a market the size of the Metroplex. The proposed buyer has a history of doing exactly what you've stated, and KZMP should not become the exception (if granted and consummated, of course). I highly doubt K-Hits would be the next format for KZMP. KEBE-FM was utilizing Chisholm's programming because it was readily available over the air in J'Ville. Given how 95.1 sounded before it went silent in July, I believe (but can't confirm) that it was taking the audio directly over the air from 1400. That's how it sounded, at the very least.

Estrella Media has shown no recent interest in restoring a troubled radio facility. Case in point, the 100kW FM in Freeport, down near the coast. Now, THAT was pointless. So much so, that an independent group has even petitioned to have the now vacated allocation moved down to Wharton. KJOJ-FM still had a usable site for reconstruction of its tower when it was felled and silenced in 2020. KZMP does not. That should clarify to anyone reading, what would have been 1540's end result, had NTRG not stepped up to the plate. From my understanding, the line of suitors to acquire the station was not long.

The construction permit for K284CT is still very much active and in play, however, proposed coverage will include Bullard, Whitehouse, Flint, Gresham, etc. It will be a tough go in most of Tyler, with KKDA wiping it out regularly.
 
rosecitymedia said:
FWIW, Dick Witkowski ... In actuality, he may be the only one that saves KZMP from the same fate that met KJOJ-FM and KEYH down in Houston.
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Also FWIW, the man who is not allowed to be talked about on this website by name set up the STA for KZMP with Mike Vanhooser. And just got word that we will be doing some construction in Houston in April. KZHO TV is moving to the current KEYH site, and KEYH will abandon the long wire.. The FCC has authorized a direct tower shunt feed. They hope to apply for 1 kw if it works. Will Witkowski will then buy it? Probably...
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Was in Dallas the past couple of days. Made some daytime checks of 1540 and heard nothing.

Also heard nothing on 1220, 1460 and 1630, so those are off the air as well.
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KZEE has been silent since August 2022. KKGM being off is new to me. I checked 1630 after reading your post, and you are right. This may very well have something to do with the current ongoing situation between LKCM and iHeart over K221GV, but I don't believe the AM has been off for very long. Checked 970, and the BIN imaging and TOH ID both include 1630, so I assume this is a temporary situation.

KCLE concerns me deeply, Mediafrog. The reason, of course, is the heritage that comes with that particular facility. It needs a buyer quick, fast, and in a hurry, before it ends up as just a memory in our collective hearts. The last correspondence filed with the Commission was a Resumption of Operations filed back in January of last year. It went silent again and hasn't returned or had anything filed since. Take that with a grain of salt, as I am not in the Metroplex (or scanning the AM dial) on a daily basis, but the daytime signal did make it here to Tyler, albeit rather weakly, when it was operating. I haven't personally heard 1460 in a long, long time.
 
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