I'm confused. Was an extension filed? My LMS search does not show any filing.
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SBS Buys KROI for $7.5 million
- Thread starter davideduardo
- Start date
Oh lawd, the navel gazing of the Houston forum.
I think it’s safe to say that anyone who posts they know what is going to happen at 92.1 (or for that matter 97.5, or any other frequency in the market) has no actual knowledge of what is going on.
Mainly because people who know aren’t going to risk getting fired for leaking something out on the internet for the sake of street cred.
The deal will close when it closes. Unless it doesn’t, and then the broker who runs the trust will have more work to do. But this thread is teetering on the edge of turning into Julius May madness (iykyk).
As for talent returning, I’m only familiar with the English language formats in this market, but the track record of someone who has been replaced in the market coming back and getting revenge is… not great, whether it’s Houston or elsewhere.
Just because someone posted it on Facebook doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
I think it’s safe to say that anyone who posts they know what is going to happen at 92.1 (or for that matter 97.5, or any other frequency in the market) has no actual knowledge of what is going on.
Mainly because people who know aren’t going to risk getting fired for leaking something out on the internet for the sake of street cred.
The deal will close when it closes. Unless it doesn’t, and then the broker who runs the trust will have more work to do. But this thread is teetering on the edge of turning into Julius May madness (iykyk).
As for talent returning, I’m only familiar with the English language formats in this market, but the track record of someone who has been replaced in the market coming back and getting revenge is… not great, whether it’s Houston or elsewhere.
Just because someone posted it on Facebook doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
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I think info in the SBS 3Q report stating the December 23 closing date can be trusted. And there is an SBS press release promoting the upcoming Houston launch. After many delays this is finally going to happen.
The thinking seems to be that the Praise format ends 12/23, followed by stunting, with the real format launch just after New Year’s Day.
As for 97.5, who knows. But be aware there is some back channel chatter that hasn’t appeared on these forums. KFNC appears to be hanging on by its fingernails, after significant layoffs at Gow Media. They no longer subscribe to the ratings, and most of the advertising is direct local account spots with recorded reads by local air talent. I doubt they are making much off of that. Remember this station was hovering in the low zeroes before the ratings were dropped.
There is also the stalled sale of both 92.5 translators that Gow would ultimately acquire. One has been sitting at the FCC for 15 months. This situation might be holding up any deal for KFNC.
Mexican Urbano ?
www.insideradio.com
Patience, And A Few More Payments, Put SBS Nearer To Closing Houston Deal.
Spanish Broadcasting System is on track to enter the Houston market by the end of the month after paying an additional $6 million to Urban One for its pending deal
did you not like the description of what it is?Mexican Urbano ?
Patience, And A Few More Payments, Put SBS Nearer To Closing Houston Deal.
Spanish Broadcasting System is on track to enter the Houston market by the end of the month after paying an additional $6 million to Urban One for its pending deal
I doubt it is going to be "La Privada". It probably will be on the station, but as an HD2.Mexican Urbano ?
Patience, And A Few More Payments, Put SBS Nearer To Closing Houston Deal.
Spanish Broadcasting System is on track to enter the Houston market by the end of the month after paying an additional $6 million to Urban One for its pending deal
The HD-2 is almost certain for La Privada. SBS wouldn’t be promoting it so heavily to not air it in Houston.
As a stand-alone FM, might there be a possibility of an HD-3 and HD-4 on 92.1 being leased out to bring in a little more revenue?
Not really. This is good competition in the market, do you see the but the Spanish Radio Pie sliced too thin or is there plenty for TU, Estrella, Audacy, and now SBS?
Anyone thinking that SBS with a new station format is going to take a huge slice, probably not, maybe just enough to keep the station making some profit , hopefully. The competition is strong, well established, some have TV backing up their sister Radio, and a good budget to heavily promote their stations vs SBS who is need of cash.
If it's non-competitive and they have the cash, why not? HD3 or 4's can be leased in most major markets.
Look at where the demographics are going. I can walk around Willowbrook Mall which is almost 20 miles from downtown in far NW Houston, and 75% of the conversations I overhear are in Spanish. Similar situation when walking around other malls. The potential audience is huge.
Keeping an eye on La Grande 104.5, which might be the most vulnerable to added competition. Power 105.3 and La Calle 102.5 are rather different formats from those on the full power FMs and might hang in there for a while.
Wild card is KFNC if the format flip rumors are true. A Spanish language format would be the best option for the station…but the goings on at Gow Media and a potential new operator are pretty much a mystery at the moment.
D
Deleted member 108832
Guest
This thought process still blows me away. The long-standing tag team combination of 98.5 and 107.9 would thwart any effort from any programmer in their right mind to consider putting a Spanish language format on 97.5.
VCY or Catholic programming. That's where KFNC would be going. There's just nothing else you can do with it. If it is indeed sold, it won't stay a commercial license on the other side. Someone will take it religious, like 103.7, 105.3, and 97.1 have all gone and then it will finally bring in the dollars.
Ahem...I mean donations.
Astros2023
Banned
Have you noticed the significant size of the Hispanic community in the Houston metropolitan area? Hispanic influence surrounds us, as even election polls indicate that Donald Trump secured a record-high percentage of the Latino vote. The Hispanic market remains largely underserved, with a significant lack of Hispanic radio stations. The dynamics within the "Hispanic" community are evolving daily, with many individuals integrating into American culture, particularly those who are third, fourth, or fifth-generation. Without delving into the debate of Hispanic versus Latino, my perspective is intended to address the broader context. For instance, the Houston market lacks a dedicated Spanish Oldies station, with the closest option being KOVE 106.5 FM. Additionally, there are no Spanish-language stations offering news, sports, or conservative talk programming, nor is there a sports station covering Houston teams in Spanish. Surprisingly, there is ample opportunity to introduce formats catering to Mexican Regional genres, such as "norteño," "alterado," "grupero," "bélico," and "grupera" formats...
Remember, only about half of the market's Hispanics are "Spanish dominant" per Nielsen. The rest are bilingual or English-only. Bilinguals tend to mostly listen to English language radio only or almost all the time.
By second generation, almost all listening is to English language stations.
"Hispanic" is a U.S. government construct to meet the requirements of legislation in the 70's. It means persons who are from or who have a heritage from Spanish speaking countries or regions in the U.S. "Latin" means anyone from "Latin America" which includes Brazil and even some of the "outsider" nations like Belize and Suriname.
And that is because there are many possible "oldies" varieties: pop music from José José to Luis Miguel. Ranchera from Vicente to Javier Solis. Rock, ranging from Los Rocking Devils to Maná. Norteña like Tigres del Norte. Boleros and rhythmic, like Lucho Gatica and Armando Manzanero. And "oldies" from other parts of Latin America, like Ismael Rivera, "El Sonero Mayor" and El Gran Combo from Puerto Rico or the Cumbia and Vallenato artists from the 60's, 70's and 80's from Colombia... and so on throughout Latin America.
Spanish language sports has to focus on the teams people grew up on. They are not local; they are different from each part of Mexico and each nation in Latin America. Political talk in the Southwest does not work. The only cases of brief success came when stations did local social issues, not politics... and doing that is terribly expensive.
Generally, "grupera" formats in Mexico have a mix of all those, just like CHR had rhythmic, hip hop, ballads, rock and other elements in the mix.
A scenario I see is for a Spanish language music format to launch on 97.5, then perhaps fail after a couple of years. Then comes a (second?) sale, which brings in the non-comm religious format.
Of course Gow may wait for the inevitable relaxation of the ownership caps, and put up a For Sale sign (again?) on KFNC once that situation is clarified.
Interesting times.
Astros2023
Banned
I am in complete agreement with you. Would you agree that there is potential for Hispanic radio stations to establish a presence in the Houston market? Many individuals here believe there is an overabundance of Hispanic/Latino stations, but I feel that we are underrepresented. I believe there is potential for a bilingual Hip Hop and Urbano station in the market. I believe there is potential for incorporating Mexican Regional formats as well. I believe the Hispanic audience is underrepresented.
Astros2023
Banned
It is believed that if KFNC transitions to Spanish or Mexican Regional, they will execute it with comprehensive resources, including extensive marketing efforts and a full range of promotional strategies. Additionally, they would have several more stations to bundle with their purchases, while KROI and the team at SBS would operate as an independent station. KRBE is probably the only one that has done a great job being a stand alone. Meanwhile, SBS is projected to face a few million dollars due in debt by 2026. The year 2025 is certain to be highly intriguing.
There is not an abundant Spanish or Latin stations in Houston. Compared to English radio and Spanish speaking population, there should 3x more Spanish stations.
But again, having Spanish stations do not run on free air. English radio stations make money on their programming no matter what format it is. And man do they make a lot of money compared to spanish. On Spanish, im my opinion, its just not the same, the money coming in is much less. Its the same in Spanish TV. If the money coming in for Spanish was the same as English, there would a lot more spanish stations. But it simply does not. So thats why i posted about the Spanish Pie, its not getting bigger, probably smaller. And more spanish stations means a smaller slice, less money.
Also, the population of spanish speaking is growing by migration or however, but the same population is not growing into radio. They are growing into mobile phones and streaming, not into over the air radio.
New Vehicles are made with entertainment system based on wifi and mobile phone connections. New tvs are also made with the same. Ever heard on Vix and Uforia app. TelevisaUnivision is pushing and putting a lot into it. It seems they already know how OTA stations may go. Selling all the tower sites, coincidence. I dont think so.
But again, having Spanish stations do not run on free air. English radio stations make money on their programming no matter what format it is. And man do they make a lot of money compared to spanish. On Spanish, im my opinion, its just not the same, the money coming in is much less. Its the same in Spanish TV. If the money coming in for Spanish was the same as English, there would a lot more spanish stations. But it simply does not. So thats why i posted about the Spanish Pie, its not getting bigger, probably smaller. And more spanish stations means a smaller slice, less money.
Also, the population of spanish speaking is growing by migration or however, but the same population is not growing into radio. They are growing into mobile phones and streaming, not into over the air radio.
New Vehicles are made with entertainment system based on wifi and mobile phone connections. New tvs are also made with the same. Ever heard on Vix and Uforia app. TelevisaUnivision is pushing and putting a lot into it. It seems they already know how OTA stations may go. Selling all the tower sites, coincidence. I dont think so.
How would change is ownership rules have any bearing on KFNC? The large groups are not at the FM cap in Houston now and regardless they aren’t buying in general and specifically would have no interest in the crummy 97.5 signal.
D
Deleted member 108832
Guest
Have you noticed that 97.5 hasn't got the capability, from its current transmission site, to cover Houston proper? It covers the poor sides of eastern Harris County (yes to heavy percentages of Hispanics, but no to very much discernable income), Beaumont (little money) and Lake Charles (same issue as Beaumont). Even with one (two to come?) peanut whistles in Houston, it'll never be a real player for anyone other than those who might benefit from a signal better than what's currently owned in Houston, like La Promesa, or doesn't care about Houston and is just looking to expand a ministry over as many ears as they can (VCY).
You and I are in full agreement here. There remains an opportunity in Houston for significant Spanish language programming growth.
It's just that 97.5 isn't the facility, in any way, best suited to lead this charge.