Audacy Sportstalkers and Houston future

[Mediafrog+]

Big news out of Chicago that Audacy’s SportsTalk WSCR 670 is adding an FM simulcast. Being noted that WGR 550 Buffalo, KIFM 1320 Sacramento and Houston’s KILT 610 will be the only remaining Audacy sportstalkers that are AM only.

Anyone think that SportsRadio 610 is any closer to gaining an FM simulcast? Or does Audacy not want to blow up any of their FMs here?

Audacy may need to add an additional FM in Houston before making such a move. KROI would have been perfect for that (as extensively discussed in the past) but that ship has sailed.

I think the current KILT flagship deal with the Houston Texans only has two more seasons. Might new contract negotiations nudge Audacy to place the format on FM?

 

[TheBigA]

Audacy may need to add an additional FM in Houston before making such a move.

For some context, the FCC has set a deadline of this Friday 1/16 for replies to comments regarding proposed changes to ownership rules.

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.federalregister.gov

Those comments and replies will likely be discussed during the next public FCC meeting at the end of the month. So if we can all wait for the FCC to act, we might have an indication of the actions companies will take.

If this follows previous rulemaking on this subject, there will be legal challenges to any changes. That will further delay things.

My expectation is that once new rules are in place, we will see some "horse-trading" among some groups.

 

[TheBigA]

.

 

[radiofan2023]

Big news out of Chicago that Audacy’s SportsTalk WSCR 670 is adding an FM simulcast. Being noted that WGR 550 Buffalo, KIFM 1320 Sacramento and Houston’s KILT 610 will be the only remaining Audacy sportstalkers that are AM only.

You forgot 1660 KWOD in Kansas City, it’s an Infinity Sports Network affiliate.

 

[101tm]

You forgot 1660 KWOD in Kansas City, it’s an Infinity Sports Network affiliate.

I think everyone else has too. 🤣

 

[Mediafrog+]

You forgot 1660 KWOD in Kansas City, it’s an Infinity Sports Network affiliate.

We’re talking about Audacy stations that are primarily local SportsTalk.

KWOD carries the Westwood One Sports network, while KFNZ is Audacy’s local sportstalker in Kansas City on both 610 and 96.5.

That’s why KIKK 650 (also Westwood One Sports) isn’t part of the discussion.

 

[radiofan2023]

We’re talking about Audacy stations that are primarily local SportsTalk.

KWOD carries the Westwood One Sports network, while KFNZ is Audacy’s local sportstalker in Kansas City on both 610 and 96.5.

That’s why KIKK 650 (also Westwood One Sports) isn’t part of the discussion.

The first post doesn't say anything about local sports talk.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The first post doesn't say anything about local sports talk.

The local angle was understood from the wider discussion about Audacy sportstalkers and the change in Chicago.

There are plenty of AM-only sports stations that simply run a national network full time.

 

[lanceventa]

The first post doesn't say anything about local sports talk.

Because he copy/pasted without attribution from here, which noted, "After WSCR completes its move, 610 KILT Houston, 550 WGR Buffalo, and 1320 KIFM Sacramento will be Audacy’s only Sports talkers with local programming only on AM."

WSCR Finally Scores FM Upgrade

Audacy Sports "670 The Score" WSCR Chicago it will begin simulcasting on 104.3 on February 2. Staffers were informed of

radioinsight.com

 

[Mediafrog+]

Because he copy/pasted without attribution from here, which noted, "After WSCR completes its move, 610 KILT Houston, 550 WGR Buffalo, and 1320 KIFM Sacramento will be Audacy’s only Sports talkers with local programming only on AM."

WSCR Finally Scores FM Upgrade

Audacy Sports "670 The Score" WSCR Chicago it will begin simulcasting on 104.3 on February 2. Staffers were informed of

radioinsight.com

My post would fall under “facts already in evidence” as they say on the legal TV shows, and not an attempt to post info without attribution. And a “copy/paste” would be a precise duplication of the RI post.

But your irritation is duely noted.😉

Edit to add: If you plow through all my posts, you will find that I link to story sources all the time.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I don't have any insight into Mega's recent billing performance, but that is clearly the weakest performer in their Houston cluster and also the odd one out.

I get the feeling that Audacy definitely has an internal mandate to get there market-leading AM properties on FM. 610 definitely falls into that category and my hunch is we will see it on FM by the end of the year. I would also expect that when that occurs like in KC there will be a brand update as well... e.g. "101.1 The Fan".

 

[Ryan Williams]

Because he copy/pasted without attribution from here, which noted, "After WSCR completes its move, 610 KILT Houston, 550 WGR Buffalo, and 1320 KIFM Sacramento will be Audacy’s only Sports talkers with local programming only on AM."

WSCR Finally Scores FM Upgrade

Audacy Sports "670 The Score" WSCR Chicago it will begin simulcasting on 104.3 on February 2. Staffers were informed of

radioinsight.com

Lance, before the start of this football season you teased somewhere - either here or on X, that another sports stations was going to FM, I think it was implied it was Audacy, but your didn't say where. I seem to remember the discussion leaning towards Buffalo. Did anything more ever come of that?

 

[lanceventa]

My post would fall under “facts already in evidence” as they say on the legal TV shows, and not an attempt to post info without attribution. And a “copy/paste” would be a precise duplication of the RI post.

But your irritation is duely noted.😉

Edit to add: If you plow through all my posts, you will find that I link to story sources all the time.

Not irritation. But rather simply adding context as the thread devolved into what stations are just on AM. That was one that required why those were spotlighted.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

Well, don't look now, but the long-time 610 weekend Outdoors Show with Captain Mickey just got the unceremonious boot.

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-outdoors-show-canceled-610-sports-21293057.php

 

[radiofan2023]

I don't have any insight into Mega's recent billing performance, but that is clearly the weakest performer in their Houston cluster and also the odd one out.

I get the feeling that Audacy definitely has an internal mandate to get there market-leading AM properties on FM. 610 definitely falls into that category and my hunch is we will see it on FM by the end of the year. I would also expect that when that occurs like in KC there will be a brand update as well... e.g. "101.1 The Fan".

Maybe

 

[Mediafrog+]

I get the feeling that Audacy definitely has an internal mandate to get there market-leading AM properties on FM. 610 definitely falls into that category and my hunch is we will see it on FM by the end of the year.

The upcoming renewal negotiations for the Texans flagship contract may push that along.

I brought this up a part of the broader discussion of Audacy on the Chicago board, but wil raise it here: With all the recent problems Nielsen has been dealing with measuring Hispanic audiences in Houston, might Audacy, a company that is NOT primarily a Spanish language broadcaster, finally get fed up with the inability to accurately qualify and quantify the audience for Mega 101. They could decide to kill their Spanish language effort in Houston and return KLOL to an English language format, presumably a simulcast with 610, and leave those ratings headaches to TU, SBS and MediaCo.

I would also expect that when that occurs like in KC there will be a brand update as well... e.g. "101.1 The Fan".

Perhaps. I would think the main branding would revolve around the FM while keeping 610 as a simulcast for the time being.

If we get SportsRadio 101.1, wonder how fast we see ESPN 97.5 disappear?

 

[TheBigA]

The upcoming renewal negotiations for the Texans flagship contract may push that along.

It depends. The Washington Commanders games are broadcast on iHeart's WBIG, which is a classic rock station. There is a full time FM sports station (owned by Audacy) in the market. Same with the NY Jets. In fact iHeart has the radio rights to several NFL teams around the country, and I'm not aware that any of them air on full time sports stations.

In fact, just recently the Los Angeles Chargers, which was broadcast on an FM station, is now only available on AM. So perhaps the NFL is no longer as emphatic about having its games on FM.

 

[Mediafrog+]

It depends. The Washington Commanders games are broadcast on iHeart's WBIG, which is a classic rock station. There is a full time FM sports station (owned by Audacy) in the market. Same with the NY Jets. In fact iHeart has the radio rights to several NFL teams around the country, and I'm not aware that any of them air on full time sports stations.

iHeart’s Houston Sportstalker KBME 790 already has the rights to the Astros and Rockets, which eat up a huge amount of airtime.

The Texans have many hours of ancillary programming on KILT 610. They want much more airtime than just the game broadcasts.

 

[TheBigA]

iHeart’s Houston Sportstalker KBME 790 already has the rights to the Astros and Rockets, which eat up a huge amount of airtime.

I'm talking about the NFL. iHeart has radio rights to a lot of NFL teams, and they're not on FM sports stations.

The Texans have many hours of ancillary programming on KILT 610. They want much more airtime than just the game broadcasts.

Are you sure? Most NFL teams are far more interested in online content. That's what they get from iHeart.

They also want their spots and promos to air. They're more concerned about the money than about "ancillary programming."

KILT-FM does a lot of contesting and remote broadcasting around Texans home games. It's not limited to the AM.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I'm talking about the NFL. iHeart has radio rights to a lot of NFL teams, and none of them air on FM sports stations.

Vikings are definitely on KFXN, but that is an FM only sports station already.