David Gow Buys the Translator

[Deleted member 108832]

Application to transfer K223CW to "Gow Translators" has been received. Like I said, you can't sell what you don't own. This is the fix. Looks like there just might be something to the talk of David Gow selling off his AM/FM. KFNC and K223CW will be a nice addition for VCY...or La Promesa.

Draft Copy « License Modernization « FCC

Licensing and Management System

enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov

 

[Holstead]

As I just posted on the TRHOF page, I doubt this will move the needle much-if any for ESPN Beaumont/Houston. But if the 92.1 deal goes south with SBS, Gow could easily pay cash for 92.1 and then you'd see some fireworks. I'm not a Sports Radio listener, but a full-power/general market (or damn near it) like 92.1 would turn the JOCK radio market on it's ear. A couple of FM peanut whistles to support a rim-shot ain't gonna get it done. I wish people would stop giving this guy such bad advice.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Looks like the Gow speculation is coming true, piece by piece.

Purchase price: $1.1M.

Looking through the application attachments: K223CW is claimed as a translator for KGBC?😵‍💫😳

Assume when this is approved and consummated the sale of 97.5 will be made public.

Once again: Smoke💨 Fire🔥 Gow🤝

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

$1.1 ,il for two peanut whistle piece of junk translators is absurd

 

[BamaTX]

Application to transfer K223CW to "Gow Translators" has been received.

Translator compliance just got a bit trickier. Not impossible, but not ideal.

 

[BamaTX]

Purchase price: $1.1M.

 

[davideduardo]

As I just posted on the TRHOF page, I doubt this will move the needle much-if any for ESPN Beaumont/Houston. But if the 92.1 deal goes south with SBS, Gow could easily pay cash for 92.1 and then you'd see some fireworks. I'm not a Sports Radio listener, but a full-power/general market (or damn near it) like 92.1 would turn the JOCK radio market on it's ear. A couple of FM peanut whistles to support a rim-shot ain't gonna get it done. I wish people would stop giving this guy such bad advice.

Hmm! That is the first logical analysis of this whole gow-awful discussion!

Gow has experience in sports marketing, he is well known in the market and would likely benefit greatly from such a deal.

(But I am not the quarterback on this play!)

 

[davideduardo]

$1.1 ,il for two peanut whistle piece of junk translators is absurd

But this is a $250,000,000 market just for "pure radio" billing, with online adding nearly $90,000,000 more to the ad revenue. Sports can and often does get more online / interactive than most music formats, so there is some sense to this deal.

 

[lanceventa]

As I just posted on the TRHOF page, I doubt this will move the needle much-if any for ESPN Beaumont/Houston. But if the 92.1 deal goes south with SBS, Gow could easily pay cash for 92.1 and then you'd see some fireworks. I'm not a Sports Radio listener, but a full-power/general market (or damn near it) like 92.1 would turn the JOCK radio market on it's ear. A couple of FM peanut whistles to support a rim-shot ain't gonna get it done. I wish people would stop giving this guy such bad advice.

Two things in the filing that nobody has pointed out...

1) Sale is to Gow Translators which is led by Barrett Webster as President. He was a member of the Gow Media board of directors, so either David Gow lost control of the company. or this is a separate organization.

2) The filing specifically lists 1540 KGBC Galveston as the parent signal.

 

[HTX]

I may be stating the obvious but I just checked and 92.5 and 1540 have not changed formats

 

[Astros2023]

$1.1 ,il for two peanut whistle piece of junk translators is absurd

What is your reasoning for declaring it a poor agreement? I believe that the Translator serves as a valuable complement to Gow's business model. 98.7 K254BZ was purchased for asum of $1.15 million. The same mindset of underestimating translators is causing many AM owners to regret not being more knowledgeable about translators when the opportunity arose.

Station Sales Week Of 11/29 - RadioInsight

Good News Radio will acquire Cornerstone Community Radio's seven stations and seven translators in Illinois for $1.1 million. The stations involved in the deal are the Christian AC network of "WLUJ Family of Stations" 89.7 WLUJ Springfield, 90.3 WJWR Bloomington, 88.3 WRLJ White Hall, 88.1 WLWJ...

radioinsight.com

 

[Astros2023]

I just verified that KGBC AM has officially transitioned to broadcasting ESPN, and rebroadcasting on K223CW 92.5. The identical program is also broadcast on ESPN 97.5 fm. I presume that they are now finally broadcasting content that complies with the fcc.

 

[fybush]

$1.1 ,il for two peanut whistle piece of junk translators is absurd

You have a lot of opinions. This is not a good one.

Having just been in Houston last fall, the 92.5 does pretty well. And as a broker who handles a lot of translators, a very rough rule of thumb is $1 per head in the 60 dBu contour.

For the 92.5, that's several million people. You do the math.

 

[pjc1961]

Question would now be: is "Gow Translators" doing an LMA with SIGA to broadcast on KGBC 1540?

 

[Ryan Williams]

Having just been in Houston last fall, the 92.5 does pretty well.

The problem is that like some of the other translators in this area, what the FCC data shows for K223CW and what is actually on the air seem to be different.

Here is the licensed 60 dBu map. It seems like it shouldn't be listenable in Cypress and Spring.

 

[Astros2023]

The problem is that like some of the other translators in this area, what the FCC data shows for K223CW and what is actually on the air seem to be different.

Here is the licensed 60 dBu map. It seems like it shouldn't be listenable in Cypress and Spring.View attachment 6681

K223CW and K223DH were both owned by the same family. KJJG LP and KHGF 92.5 are currently not even on the air. Indeed, K223CW is the sole station broadcasting on channel 223.

 

[radioislife2020]

Well how about that.. guess i was right huh? but wait there is more... Do you think the south Houston 92.5 just happened to decide to shut down? And what happens now since 101.7 it attached to KGBC ..

 

[Astros2023]

Well how about that.. guess i was right huh? but wait there is more... Do you think the south Houston 92.5 just happened to decide to shut down? And what happens now since 101.7 it attached to KGBC ..

Lol! I acknowledge you as the individual who initiated the rumors regarding Gow Media's potential sale of the radio properties. We can all concur that individuals are indeed willing to negotiate their radio stations/companies for a suitable offer. Is Gow purchasing KGBC AM as well? What would be the fate of the K269GS-FM 101.7?

 

[Mediafrog+]

As I just posted on the TRHOF page, I doubt this will move the needle much-if any for ESPN Beaumont/Houston.

It’s not supposed to. It is 99% certain that Gow is in the process of selling KFNC and KGOW. I just checked the Griffin Media Brokers website, and the Houston listing for an FM, AM and translator is still there. We know it’s not HCB, and 99% sure it’s not Salem. Only Gow can fit that description, and today’s deal for the translator puts all the pieces in place.

But if the 92.1 deal goes south with SBS, Gow could easily pay cash for 92.1 and then you'd see some fireworks. I'm not a Sports Radio listener, but a full-power/general market (or damn near it) like 92.1 would turn the JOCK radio market on it's ear.

I beat the drum for years that either iHeart or Audacy should buy KROI for an FM simulcast of fheir AM sportstalker. It would have given them a huge advantage over whoever was stranded on AM, and would have likely killed the signal deficient Gow effort. I also posted that Gow would do well to purchase 92.1 and dump 97.5. None of that did or will happen.

Gow has experience in sports marketing, he is well known in the market and would likely benefit greatly from such a deal.

I‘d love to know if Gow put in a bid for KROI when Radio One placed it on the market. Perhaps the failure to land 92.1 set the wheels in motion for his radio exit.

Translator compliance just got a bit trickier. Not impossible, but not ideal.

If 97.5 goes to a non-comm it probably eliminates the contour issues with K223CW.

I just verified that KGBC AM has officially transitioned to broadcasting ESPN, and rebroadcasting on K223CW 92.5. The identical program is also broadcast on ESPN 97.5 fm.

I can’t hear KGBC at night here in NW Harris County, but it might be worth checking the TOHID on KFNC. Will be sure to check 1540 once the skywave clears tomorrow morning.

Well how about that.. guess i was right huh?

You are doing quite well so far!👍👏

And what happens now since 101.7 it attached to KGBC ..

That would be K269GS in Pasadena. Anyone within its coverage area that can verify? Don’t confuse with K269GT which has been running the “Conexion” Spanish language religious format.

 

[MarkW]

You have a lot of opinions. This is not a good one.

Having just been in Houston last fall, the 92.5 does pretty well. And as a broker who handles a lot of translators, a very rough rule of thumb is $1 per head in the 60 dBu contour.

For the 92.5, that's several million people. You do the math.

K223CW should in no way be reaching "several million people" reliably based on its currently licensed specs.

That said, it is possible (maybe) that it could apply for an upgrade given 1540's specs.