David Gow Buys the Translator

[Mediafrog+]

🐸, I gotta ask. Why is it that you adamantly believe that David Gow is selling KFNC or KGOW?

There has been a listing for a Houston FM station on a radio brokerage site for several months, and KFNC is the only station that logically fits the given description. There have also been sources close to the situation that have backed up the sale speculation.

The brokerage listing originally included an AM, but that part of the offer has disappeared. Possibly a sale of KGOW is currently being drawn up with a prospective buyer? Viet Media, which currently leases KGOW, recently purchased a DFW AM they had been leasing for the same programming, and one would think they’d like to own their Houston outlet as well.

If it were me, and I were selling the AM/FM I outright owned, I sure wouldn't be scooping up rinky dink licenses at the same time.

The apparent plan is for Gow to purchase a couple of translators that operate on 92.5, then bundle them with KFNC in a sale. The 97.5 signal is quite deficient over the western half of the market, and the translators provide some fill-in coverage, making the overall package more appealing to a potential new owner.

I still think there is an 80% chance KFNC goes to a religious operator.

Besides, why would David Gow want to continue to own this turkey?

 

[Astros2023]

I believe that the signal coverage could prove beneficial for brokerage programming, church services in Pasadena, the southern Houston area, potentially political talk or Asian programming. The "Ranchera" format does not sound unpleasant, to be honest. It appears that there may be an additional party involved who is not Arango or Gow.

 

[radioislife2020]

🐸, I gotta ask. Why is it that you adamantly believe that David Gow is selling KFNC or KGOW? If it were me, and I were selling the AM/FM I outright owned, I sure wouldn't be scooping up rinky dink licenses at the same time. Maybe that's just the hometown, small town radio mentality in me. I'm not trying to be an a-hole or anything; I think you know that, but I am genuinely intrigued.

well since I was offered the station and I've seen firsthand what is being offered and included I know it to be a Fact that it is up for sale.

 

[Astros2023]

well since I was offered the station and I've seen firsthand what is being offered and included I know it to be a Fact that it is up for sale.

Is Gow Selling? Or Arango? What's the lease?price tag?

 

[radioislife2020]

I'm talking about the package GOW is selling. The KGBC being offered now sounds like it may not be coming from ARANGO he already had a church that was paying for what was running before it was changed to sports. I think I could do well with 1540 at the right price.

 

[radioislife2020]

Is Gow Selling? Or Arango? What's the lease?price tag?

and yes Arango is also selling but he wanted something like 1.5 for KGBC before the translator

 

[Deleted member 108832]

well since I was offered the station and I've seen firsthand what is being offered and included I know it to be a Fact that it is up for sale.

Well...if that particular application were ever to be filed, it would be good for at least a half a dozen threads on the Houston board to be started, then almost immediately shut down and locked, @DavidEduardo would likely wash his hands of the whole thing and completely give up, while the @Mediafrog+, @Ryan Williams, @rageradio (DJ Rage, as I prefer...he makes a mean hamburger, btw), @stan, @HTX , @Astros2023, @BamaTX, @tb_, and @jras20, would all have to meet up in the parking lot of Northline Mall to drink a few cases of beer and talk shop with one another. I, for one, prefer Miller Lite, so y'know. I certainly wouldn't be caught dead drinking that piss water from Anheuser Busch. It'd be a bit of a drive for me and Ryan, so any contributions from the collective towards a tank of gas for each one of us would be most appreciated. 😂 On second thought, better make it Greenspoint. It's a ghost town there, giving us a bit more room to spread out and maybe do some donuts and a little swangin'.

Hey, but that's good material, though. I bet you'd be a hit on amateur night at the Laff Factory.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Well...if that particular application were ever to be filed, it would be good for at least a half a dozen threads on the Houston board to be started, then almost immediately shut down and locked,

I’m curious why you are convinced that Gow is NOT selling KFNC and KGOW, despite all sorts of indications to the contrary. Not being hostile or snarky, but would love to know why you think that.

And please explain this brokerage listing (cutting and pasting here):

Houston, Texas - FM Station + Translator
New Listing! Open to All Reasonable Offers!! NDA required.

Are you saying that is a bogus listing? And who else might it be?

would all have to meet up in the parking lot of Northline Mall

Northline Mall is still a thing? I thought it had gone the same way as Gunspoint, errr…Greenspoint Mall.🤣

 

[Mrtejano]

Northline Mall is still a thing? I thought it had gone the same way as Gunpoint, errr…Greenspoint Mall.🤣

Northline Mall has been demolished, it has been demolished for years. It’s now a Walmart surrounded by a shopping center. It’s Called Northline Commons.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

Northline Mall has been demolished, it has been demolished for years. It’s now a Walmart surrounded by a shopping center. It’s Called Northline Commons.

To us old-timers, it'll always be Northline Mall. I saw my first movie in a real theater, "Bugs Bunny: Superstar" at the Northline General Cinemas Twin when I was 5 years old. Thst would've been 1976! One of the best Pizza Huts in the world sat right next door to the theater in the parking lot, and no...I'm not talking about the Magic Johnson theater. That came waaaay later, after the Joske's closed, was demolished, and the wall fell on the mall walkers.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I’m curious why you are convinced that Gow is NOT selling KFNC and KGOW, despite all sorts of indications to the contrary. Not being hostile or snarky, but would love to know why you think that.

Because he would take a bath on it, if sold. He paid, what, $5 million for it after Cumulus was forced to divest it? I really don't think he can even recoup that initial investment in today's market. The only real chance 97.5 has of any future success is if it were returned to a Golden Triangle serving station, but you and I know a commercial operator would have an almost impossible task of even making ends meet relying on ad dollars from Beaumont/Port Arthur. This is why I see the only real suitor for KFNC being VCY America.

I don't really know anything about the listing, or its validity, 🐸. I just know that it makes no sense, if David Gow IS trying to unload the AM/FM, to be scooping up crappy translators at the same time. The listing states it's an FM plus translator. For all we know, one of the Mexican preachers is looking to sell something for a fast buck. KFTG and its translator in Katy would fit this bill, too. I'm just saying, I'm just not completely convinced that it's David Gow looking to unload.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Because he would take a bath on it, if sold. He paid, what, $5 million for it after Cumulus was forced to divest it? I really don't think he can even recoup that initial investment in today's market.

Gow is probably already taking a bath with 97.5, and wants to stop the bleeding. As the saying goes, “If you find you’ve dug yourself into a hole, the best thing to do is stop digging.”

The only real chance 97.5 has of any future success is if it were returned to a Golden Triangle serving station, but you and I know a commercial operator would have an almost impossible task of even making ends meet relying on ad dollars from Beaumont/Port Arthur.

Minuscule revenue available in B/PA. A bad Houston signal is capable of making more money than a good B/PA signal, if programmed correctly.

This is why I see the only real suitor for KFNC being VCY America.

Agree with you there. If VCY wants into Houston, 97.5 is probably their only opportunity, unless the SBS KROI deal collapses. La Promesa might be the other possibility in order to bring the EWTN Spanish language network to SE TX. KSHJ-FM, anybody? Or would KSBJ object…although they didn’t have an issue when 1430 took that call. The Estrella/MediaCo stations appear to be off the table as VCY targets. I have no idea if KQBU will come into play.

I don't really know anything about the listing, or its validity, 🐸. I just know that it makes no sense, if David Gow IS trying to unload the AM/FM, to be scooping up crappy translators at the same time.

The 92.5 signal is already rebroadcasting 97.5 (with some exceptions) and bundling it with KFNC increases the appeal for prospective buyers, regardless of any prospective format.

The listing states it's an FM plus translator. For all we know, one of the Mexican preachers is looking to sell something for a fast buck. KFTG and its translator in Katy would fit this bill, too.

I don’t see Aleluya selling the 88.1 signals. Needed for fill on the eastern and westernmost sections of the market.

Regarding KFNC: A couple of weeks ago the on-air conversation somehow turned to the old Greensheet advertising publication. Among other things, one of the hosts mentioned it used to be the place to look for job listings. I can’t remember the exact words, but the other host said “All of us may be looking for new jobs in the near future.” Sort of a throwaway line at the time, but I had the thought that the KFNC staff is aware the station is on the block and changes are on the way.

 

[HTX]

On second thought, better make it Greenspoint. It's a ghost town there, giving us a bit more room to spread out and maybe do some donuts and a little swangin'.

I say we all meet up at the Greenspoint carnival! We can have fun and then continue the party out in the parking lot. We could all talk about translators for hours! If we get hungry we can walk over to the whataburger!

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I say we all meet up at the Greenspoint carnival! We can have fun and then continue the party out in the parking lot. We could all talk about translators for hours! If we get hungry we can walk over to the whataburger!

It's too bad Brother's Pizza isn't still in the food court of GPM. Best slice of pie that's ever been known to Houstonians. Does that carnival ever move?? Every time I set foot in Houston, it seems the carnival is in town and it's set up at Greenspoint.

 

[tb_]

It's too bad Brother's Pizza isn't still in the food court of GPM. Best slice of pie that's ever been known to Houstonians. Does that carnival ever move?? Every time I set foot in Houston, it seems the carnival is in town and it's set up at Greenspoint.

Brothers has a location at 45/Cypresswood and it’s quite good…

I’m pretty sure there is always a carnival at the Gunspoint mall. I do a fair deal of work at the datacenter complex across the freeway from the mall and there’s *always* some sort of unvisited carnival, circus, front for the mob, etc.

 

[Mrtejano]

Brothers has a location at 45/Cypresswood and it’s quite good…

I’m pretty sure there is always a carnival at the Gunspoint mall. I do a fair deal of work at the datacenter complex across the freeway from the mall and there’s *always* some sort of unvisited carnival, circus, front for the mob, etc.

Unvisited?? Maybe unvisited by you. I went to the carnival and it was packed. And the circus is always visited as well.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Moving back on track: I notice that KFNC has finally revised its TOHID to “KFNC and 97-9 HD-2 Mont Belvieu-Houston.” Perhaps not completely legal, but no more mention of the nonexistent “KFNC HD-2” and it does note the actual originating station of the 92.5 translator.

I also notice while driving in various parts of the greater metro area that K223CW 92.5 is much weaker than it used to be. Perhaps now behaving itself?

Still waiting on FCC approval of the sale of K223CW to Gow, which was filed at the end of February, now over 115 days ago.

 

[HTX]

I also notice while driving in various parts of the greater metro area that K223CW 92.5 is much weaker than it used to be. Perhaps now behaving itself?

Signal in Montgomery County is very noticeably weaker. Been that way for a bit now

 

[RadioGuy1864]

Amazing how things come into compliance when actions are in need of FCC approval

 

[nd2023]

Amazing how things come into compliance when actions are in need of FCC approval

They’ll probably turn the power back up after the sale is consummated