Texas Likes NPR!

[Gregg.]

It once was true that Texas cities didn't listen much to any news and talk, commercial or public. But that's changed in recent years, at least for public stations. Of the five Texas markets that are in the top 100, four have NPR stations in the top ten.

Dallas ...................... KERA-FM #6
Houston ................ KUHF-FM #10
San Antonio ........ KSTX #9
Austin ..................... KUT #2 (Only missing #1 by a tenth of a point.)
El Paso ................... KTEP #13 (As a border city, El Paso has many residents who are not English-dominant.)

We've talked about how commercial talk stations in Dallas have tumbled. WBAP, with a clear-channel 50,000-watt AM frequency and a 50,000-watt FM simulcast, is tied at #25. KRLD is #29, with KSKY, KLIF and KFXR all below a one.

Two exceptions among commercial stations in Texas: 740 KTRH Houston is one of the highest billing AM-only stations in the nation. It's currently tied for #6. And in Austin, 590 KLBJ has only about half of KUT's listeners but that's still good enough to make it #5 in the state capital.

 

[kevtronics]

The big cities in Texas are bright blue dots in a ruby red state. Dallas and El Paso have Black mayors, and Houston recently had a lesbian woman as their mayor.

 

[TheBigA]

Part of this gets back to what NPR says about it's own programming, which is that it's less about politics, but rather about a lifestyle, and that lifestyle is more common in the city rather than in the rural areas. The part of living in the city people like is the availability of cultural and educational activities that usually don't exist in the country. That lifestyle is based on intellectual curiosity, and that's often what's behind the stories that you might typically only hear on NPR. Meanwhile, the commercial stations are pounding listeners on one subject over and over.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

It once was true that Texas cities didn't listen much to any news and talk, commercial or public. But that's changed in recent years, at least for public stations. Of the five Texas markets that are in the top 100, four have NPR stations in the top ten.

Dallas ...................... KERA-FM #6
Houston ................ KUHF-FM #10
San Antonio ........ KSTX #9
Austin ..................... KUT #2 (Only missing #1 by a tenth of a point.)
El Paso ................... KTEP #13 (As a border city, El Paso has many residents who are not English-dominant.)

We've talked about how commercial talk stations in Dallas have tumbled. WBAP, with a clear-channel 50,000-watt AM frequency and a 50,000-watt FM simulcast, is tied at #25. KRLD is #29, with KSKY, KLIF and KFXR all below a one.

Two exceptions among commercial stations in Texas: 740 KTRH Houston is one of the highest billing AM-only stations in the nation. It's currently tied for #6. And in Austin, 590 KLBJ has only about half of KUT's listeners but that's still good enough to make it #5 in the state capital.

Part of the issue here is that there are elected officials and one celebrity representing Texas create the stereotype that nobody listens or watch public media programming.

We have partially disproven it by the recent PPM ratings of NPR stations in the state.

Sen. Cruz Seeks Answers From CPB About Taxpayer Funding Of NPR.

With a fresh effort underway to defund NPR, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is questioning the Corporation for Public Broadcasting about its funneling of taxpayer dollars to the public radio network.

www.insideradio.com

Elon Musk Suggests America Should 'Defund NPR' as Government Cuts Roll On

Elon Musk's next target on his federal cost-cutting spree: National Public Radio, with the X owner saying it should "survive on its own"

www.thewrap.com

 

[TheBigA]

I find it interesting that the same people attacking NPR are also seeking to shut down the department of education. As I said, it's all about having intellectual curiosity. If you don't have it, then it's viewed as a bad thing. Public radio stations grew out of rise of higher education in this country. A lot of NPR affiliates are based at colleges and universities.

 

[radiohedd]

We've talked about how commercial talk stations in Dallas have tumbled. WBAP, with a clear-channel 50,000-watt AM frequency and a 50,000-watt FM simulcast, is tied at #25. KRLD is #29, with KSKY, KLIF and KFXR all below a one.

Isn't the #1 station in DFW a commercial talk station?

 

[tbolt909]

I find it interesting that the same people attacking NPR are also seeking to shut down the department of education. As I said, it's all about having intellectual curiosity. If you don't have it, then it's viewed as a bad thing. Public radio stations grew out of rise of higher education in this country. A lot of NPR affiliates are based at colleges and universities.

Did you mean having intellectual curiosity is a bad thing?
Some religions discourage young people from going to College. It's pretty obvious that the MAGA base is made up of folks who barely graduated high school. The attacks on NPR stem from distrust of anyone who is considered "Book Smart". It's the same hatred toward climate scientists and doctors. Some people don't trust NPR because they cannot comprehend what the stories are about. They have a false perception that it's elitist or liberal.

The dumbing down of America is almost complete...

 

[Triple Fake Jerry]

Isn't the #1 station in DFW a commercial talk station?

Commercial sports talk, but they'll dive into daily news topics too.

 

[tested]

Baylor University To Cease Funding KWBU-FM

Baylor University will stop funding its Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation's Public News/Talk 103.3 KWBU-FM Waco TX. In a statement

radioinsight.com

 

[Jay S]

There are places in Far West Texas where public radio is the only thing you can pick up, Marfa Public Radio in particular.

Yet, East Texas hardly can support a public radio station even with a backing of a state university. UT Tyler tried, but it only lasted a couple years. LSU Shreveport owns a couple stations over there that simulcast KDAQ 89.9. Tyler has a KERA translator. Then there is KETR Commerce from East Texas A&M. Otherwise, that part of the state is in the dark regarding public radio.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Some religions discourage young people from going to College. It's pretty obvious that the MAGA base is made up of folks who barely graduated high school. The attacks on NPR stem from distrust of anyone who is considered "Book Smart". It's the same hatred toward climate scientists and doctors. Some people don't trust NPR because they cannot comprehend what the stories are about. They have a false perception that it's elitist or liberal.

Educated and Intellectually curious people tend to question why things are the way they are, and work towards improving both themselves and the world around them. The Powers That Be feel threatened by this, as they want a compliant and malleable populace that doesn’t rock the boat or question the established order. Thus they fill the masses brains with boatloads of BS that work to “keep them in their place” while ensuring the Power Elite maintain their positions of privilege. It’s all about distracting people in order to retain power and control.

The dumbing down of America is almost complete...

It pains me to say this, as I worked in broadcasting for most of my career, but I think the media’s relentless obsession with the targeting of, and pandering to, the lowest common denominator, is a major factor in that “dumbing down of America.”

 

[tbolt909]

Educated and Intellectually curious people tend to question why things are the way they are, and work towards improving both themselves and the world around them. The Powers That Be feel threatened by this, as they want a compliant and malleable populace that doesn’t rock the boat or question the established order. Thus they fill the masses brains with boatloads of BS that work to “keep them in their place” while ensuring the Power Elite maintain their positions of privilege. It’s all about distracting people in order to retain power and control.

It pains me to say this, as I worked in broadcasting for most of my career, but I think the media’s relentless obsession with the targeting of, and pandering to, the lowest common denominator, is a major factor in that “dumbing down of America.”

Blaming the media is an easy excuse. Many Americans find facts and art boring. They want titillation and gossip.
Look what Rush Limbaugh provided for decades. Throw in Jerry Springer, Trump's TV show and countless others. The line between fact based reporting and entertainment is blurry.

Americans have had the freedom to read all kinds of literature that was denied to people in other places for centuries. Many Americans have chosen Ignorance. Most don't bother to vote because of apathy...

 

[lanceventa]

Please keep this thread focused on media and not politics

 

[TheBigA]

There are places in Far West Texas where public radio is the only thing you can pick up, Marfa Public Radio in particular.

People tell me Marfa is like Austin without the crowds.

Otherwise, that part of the state is in the dark regarding public radio.

They've also had trouble getting a station in McAllen TX. There's a group trying to start a station there:

Grassroots Public Radio RGV – Bringing NPR & More to the RGV

rgvpublicradio.org

One of the problems is they say 90% of the population is Hispanic.

 

[davideduardo]

They've also had trouble getting a station in McAllen TX. There's a group trying to start a station there:

The first question is whether the "group" is a bunch of non-Hispanic "white guys" trying to educate the "Messicans". I have heard stories from the past about people in McAllen, El Paso, Laredo and other border markets and towns; they all seem to be about non-locals trying to "bring culture and awareness" to "those people".

One of the problems is they say 90% of the population is Hispanic.

Why is being Hispanic a problem?

 

[TheBigA]

Why is being Hispanic a problem?

Maybe I misstated the views of GPR. Here's what they say:

GPR-RGV covers the four county Rio Grande Valley area. Those counties being Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties. We believe NPR should be restored to the RGV. We are the largest metro area in the country without NPR, with a population of 1.2 million. Of these, around 90 percent are Hispanic. And we have socio-economic challenges, with a large number of people living at or below the poverty line. We need and deserve National Public Radio.

So perhaps 90% are Hispanic AND a large number of people (not necessarily all Hispanic) live at or below the poverty line. That would mean less disposable income for membership in a radio station.

In any case, there hasn't been any new activity in a few years.

 

[davideduardo]

It pains me to say this, as I worked in broadcasting for most of my career, but I think the media’s relentless obsession with the targeting of, and pandering to, the lowest common denominator, is a major factor in that “dumbing down of America.”

Broadcasters never use terms like "lowest common denominator" when they look for format options or create TV shows or even radio morning shows. They look for the broadest appealing content that they can create because commercial radio and TV sells by the number of listeners or viewers they deliver.

And then the audience must be of interest to advertisers.

On one occasion, I looked at format research for a market a bit bigger than New York City and found a huge format hole. One that would get the largest audience in a market with over 100 full signal and neighborhood stations. But the appeal was to a demographic group that advertisers would refuse almost universally to buy. So we decided on the second most attractive format, also unduplicated... because it had high audience appeal and advertisers would like it.

If a station appeals to too selective a niche, whether based on culture, education, ethnicity or some other factor, it will get a smaller audience and narrow its appeal.

Radio is Walmart, 7-11, Coca-Cola and McDonalds. Don't expect it to be Tiffany's, Macallan or Ruth's Chris.

 

[davideduardo]

Maybe I misstated the views of GPR. Here's what they say:



So perhaps 90% are Hispanic AND a large number of people (not necessarily all Hispanic) live at or below the poverty line. That would mean less disposable income for membership in a radio station.

Again, my question is about whether those proposing an NPR station or lamenting its absence are members of the majority group in the region or, as I said, a bunch of white guys who think they know better.

 

[TheBigA]

Again, my question is about whether those proposing an NPR station or lamenting its absence are members of the majority group in the region or, as I said, a bunch of white guys who think they know better.

Looking at the names of the group members, they appear to be both.