102.3 or 105.9 Regional Mexican

[dlf]

Does anyone envision another frequency in Austin changing to a Regional Mexican La Ley type format? The ratings of 98.9 were more than 102.3 and 105.9 combined. One has to think someone is looking at that option; either one of the Clear Channel signals would have better coverage than 104.3 or 107.7.

dlf

 

[radioeye]

Assuming that at least one changed, the marginal signal of 107.7 would be doomed to fail again. 104.3 would face a big challenge since it's signal is slightly better than marginal. A fight would ensue over the few major local advertisers that support local Spanish language radio.

So could/would Univision stay in the game? They could have bought 105.9 to seal the deal in Austin. Maybe they will do just that. It would be fun to watch them at each other.

Clear Channel doesn't seem to be motivated to maintain the few Spanish language formats that they have in their arsenal of formats. They've been dropping then right and left.

 

[davideduardo]

Does anyone envision another frequency in Austin changing to a Regional Mexican La Ley type format? The ratings of 98.9 were more than 102.3 and 105.9 combined. One has to think someone is looking at that option; either one of the Clear Channel signals would have better coverage than 104.3 or 107.7.

La Ley is not a format, it is a name. Both 104.3 and KHLL were for all intents and purposes, the same format, each nuanced a slightly different way and each with a different morning personality approach.

The only company with an overpowering interest in regioal Mexican would be Liberman, should he buy a station in Austin. The fomat ties perfectly with his TV network. No other operator would go against regional on two other signals when there are several alternative formats available...

And Clear's only significant regional is in Atlanta. Their only recent conversions to Spanish have been pop stations in Tucson (a flip) Chicago and West Palm Beach.

 

[fredcantu]

I guess I'm the minority here but I miss my Spanish pop. I preferred the more ''internacional'' acts on ''Digital'' as opposed to the Spanish Hip Hop and Reggaeton that played on ''Hitz FM.'' And sadly, the one Spanish language music channel on satellite radio is devoted to Salsa. So I get my Spanish pop fix from the Internet. There a number of good Spanish pop stations streaming from across Mexico.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

Put on 102.3, they just tweaked the music to almost fullblown AC

 

[ufrustrated2]

Put on 102.3, they just tweaked the music to almost fullblown AC

Rumor has it that 102.3 will start playing Christmas music as of Thanksgiving day and will peak its head out in 2010 with a new format, Texas country is what I've heard. CC is not happy with billing dropping like a stone in the ocean on that stick so the format wheel will spin again for sure in Austin. I feel bad for the staff but at least CC will wait till after the holidays.

 

[yeahIwasinradio]

No way they go Texas Country. Too much competition for KVET and KASE

 

[saradio1]

Put on 102.3, they just tweaked the music to almost fullblown AC

Rumor has it that 102.3 will start playing Christmas music as of Thanksgiving day and will peak its head out in 2010 with a new format, Texas country is what I've heard. CC is not happy with billing dropping like a stone in the ocean on that stick so the format wheel will spin again for sure in Austin. I feel bad for the staff but at least CC will wait till after the holidays.

Would this be similar to 92.5 The Outlaw? http://925theoutlaw.com/main.html

 

[captex]

there's some unused formats, i have some suggestions ; oldies, classic rock and a spanish format.

 

[ufrustrated2]

there's some unused formats, i have some suggestions ; oldies, classic rock and a spanish format.

Another Spanish format? ??? I thought those where all exhausted? :-\ Isn't that why Border dumped their cash cow in the first place? :-[

 

[yeahIwasinradio]

I'd like some perspective on Spanish music here in Austin. I know there's a big Hispanic community here, but the Spanish music that was being played on some of these stations was Norteno or Banda. Blah..who likes that. At the same time, is the Hispanic community RICH enough to support a full blown SPANISH station on a big frequency like 102.3 or 105.9?

 

[radioeye]

I'd like some perspective on Spanish music here in Austin. I know there's a big Hispanic community here, but the Spanish music that was being played on some of these stations was Norteno or Banda. Blah..who likes that. At the same time, is the Hispanic community RICH enough to support a full blown SPANISH station on a big frequency like 102.3 or 105.9?

When 105.9 changed from Jammin to The Beat was it because the listenership wasn't RICH enough? I don't think that you can look at the format change that way.

98.9, 92.5, 104.9 and apparently 1490 were not making a good enough return on investment to justify the 65+ million dollar investment that BMP had made in the stations. The gave up supposedly 400,000 worth of monthly billing. That's not petty cash, but it wasn't enough to service the debt.

 

[fredcantu]

I think the Austin Chronicle had it right. They said the format flip away from Spanish was prompted by Austin getting ready to go to PPMs which have not been kind to Spanish language stations. Univision Radio is already boycotting the system in Miami.

 

[davideduardo]

Univision Radio is already boycotting the system in Miami.

... and San Diego, and Phoenix, and San Antonio and Las Vegas. And is only subscribed in one market.

 

[willdav713]

I would say 102.3 would flip to either Urban AC, Smooth Jazz, maybe a distant maybe Oldies. If Liberman were to buy the station Liberman would not buy just one. If you remember Liberman aquirred El Dorado Broadcasting in Houston, Texas due to El Dorado filing for bankruptcy in 2002. Liberman at first bought KTJM-FM, KJOJ AM/FM and KSEV AM from El Dorado which El Dorado bought from Radio One back in 2000. After the bankruptcy of El Dorado Liberman made bargain basement deals for KQQK, KXTJ and translator 96.9 as Puro Tejano flipped to XO. Liberman Broadcasting had a San Antonio office but owned no San Antonio stations as BMP held a Houston office and had no Houston stations.

Liberman would more likely buy some of BMP's San Antonio cluster before they would hit Austin. Second, most of Liberman stations are rimshot quality.

Leonard Liberman the owner of Liberman Broadcasting filed in 2002 to get minority owned business grants even though he is Jewish he has Spanish ancestry that entitled him to receive minority grants for the FCC's Minority Owned Business Grants. If you are raking in the dough usually you don't apply for grants.

That is like comparing Radio One to Cox Radio which Cox Radio owns more stations than Radio One.

Of course Radio One could invest in the Austin area they have been known to buy one station at a time like 92.1 KRTS.

So several scenarios....

1- Clear Channel sells KPEZ to Radio One, Radio One flips KPEZ to Z-100 Austin's R&B leader and the best variety of hit's and oldies as Urban AC

2- Same as #1 but changes it to 102.3 The Box KPEZ Austin as Hip Hop rare but possible also sells 105.9 to same company and it flips to Urban AC

3- Entercom buys KPEZ and changes it Smooth Jazz 102.3 The Wave

4- Cox Radio aquires both KPEZ/KFMK then KPEZ becomes Power 102.3 as hip hop
and 105.9 goes alternative, all 80s 105.9 The Point (I doubt), or Country Legends 105.9

5. Cummlus buys both KPEZ/KFMK KPEZ flips back to AAA, and 105.9 goes CHR as 105.9 KFMK or stays hip hop.

 

[ryan883]

CC already owns 98.1 and 100.7 There's no way they're putting any kind of country on 102.3.... It looks like they're gearing up to take on Mix and Majic

 

[davideduardo]

Liberman would more likely buy some of BMP's San Antonio cluster before they would hit Austin. Second, most of Liberman stations are rimshot quality.

Lenard's LA and Inland Empire stations are inside the market, not rimshots.

Leonard Liberman the owner of Liberman Broadcasting

Lenard (No "o" in it) is not the owner. He is a shareholder, along with other family memebers.

filed in 2002 to get minority owned business grants even though he is Jewish he has Spanish ancestry

First, he filed for minority tax certificates for sellers to his company to get a better deal selling to him.

Second, whether one is Jewish or Muslim or Catholic or a Bhudist does not affect a person being Hispanic. Thne 3rd largest Jewish community outside Israel is in Buenos Aires. And "Hispanics" can be of any race, religion or skin color...

Liberman's family comes from Mexico, so he is quite correctly classified as Hispanic.

that entitled him to receive minority grants for the FCC's Minority Owned Business Grants. If you are raking in the dough usually you don't apply for grants.

Giving a seller an advantage in selling to you over someone else brings down the price. That is very advantageous, of course.

 

[ufrustrated2]

Cummlus buys both KPEZ/KFMK KPEZ flips back to AAA, and 105.9 goes CHR as 105.9 KFMK or stays hip hop.

What could CC realistically fetch or be asking for $$$ wise for 102.3 & 105.9 as a combo in the Austin market right now with the economy being how it is ???

 

[radioeye]

What could CC realistically fetch or be asking for $$$ wise for 102.3 & 105.9 as a combo in the Austin market right now with the economy being how it is ???
[/quote]

The sales price for 104.3 to Univision by Entercom was in the low $20 million range for a rim shot C2. 102.3 and 105.9 are both C2 that have strong city grades over the the entire city. My guess, even in this economy, the lowest possible price would be in the low to mid $30's each. But I doubt that CC would let them go for that price.

 

[bgrn198]

I would love a Classic Hits station here like 107.3 The Eagle in Houston

http://1075theeagle.com/

Or this one in Atlanta they wouldn't even have to change the station name lol

http://971theriver.com/