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97.1 FM country legends

I still have a hunch that the KTHT transmitter is being fed by a tuner set to 92.9-HD2
I just checked on an HD radio, and the 92.9 HD-2 audio is 30 seconds behind 97.1, so KTHT is not being fed via OTA HD.

I did hear a several second dropout during the final commercial of a stopset, and the end of that commercial got stepped on by a bumper liner going back into music. They might be on some sort of makeshift playout server that has some hiccups.
 
I just checked on an HD radio, and the 92.9 HD-2 audio is 30 seconds behind 97.1, so KTHT is not being fed via OTA HD.

I did hear a several second dropout during the final commercial of a stopset, and the end of that commercial got stepped on by a bumper liner going back into music. They might be on some sort of makeshift playout server that has some hiccups.
Good call on checking the delay.

Likely either a playout server issue or they’re working on tying in gear to cut over to the satellite. I doubt this would be happening on a Sunday, so likely the former.
 
I agree. Not only has the execution and marketing of HD have been poor, but also programming. I have not been impressed with the available choices, which I thought would either be distant radio stations offering different formats, or a selection of commercial-free genres similar to XM Satellite.

I figured, at some point, HD subchannels would air commercials. At some point, they were going to have to try to monetize it. I also expected those channels to be run on the cheap as that’s how radio has operated in general for decades. Cheap programming doesn’t have to be bad, though I would agree with you that the programming on your average HD subchannel is pretty bland. It usually sounds like an afterthought thrown together by an already overworked PD who knows nobody is going to listen. That kind of programming is certainly no incentive to go out and buy an HD Radio.

Plus, HD radios are few and far between in vehicles, because automakers have not been mandated to install them as standard equipment. If you build it they will come. But you need to offer something they want to hear. It all comes down to operating in the public interest, convenience and necessity.

This may have changed in the last ten years, but, at the time, in car listening was only between 1/3 and 40% of radio listening. Radio's biggest asset has always been its availability. People haven’t bought radios in years. They’ve bought microwaves with radios, flashlights with radios, televisions with radios, clocks with radios, sound systems that included radios, etc. HD Radio didn’t get on much of anything extra except for the Zune. People were never going to go out and buy a radio just to get HD, especially not at the prices some of those units charged.

You’ve been buying the wrong cars. Every car I’ve bought since 2008 has had AM/FM/HD radio installed, some had satellite, but not all.

I bought a car three years ago, and it didn’t offer HD Radio. Then again, HD Radio's availability isn’t going to be a make or break on whether or not I buy a vehicle. The only station where I live that broadcasts in HD is the NPR affiliate, and all of its channels are already available to me via streaming. Around mid-2010, I found one of those HD Radio dongles for the iPhone on clearance at Radio Shack for about $10. I went ahead and bought it at that price, and I was able to use it, though it was mostly something I used for sports programming as that’s about the only content not available via streaming. It was a little flimsy as I usually would just put my iPhone in my pocket when listening, which tended to separate the dongle from the phone, and it depleted the battery a lot more quickly, as one might have expected, but, all in all, it was a nice option to have. Unfortunately, when Apple mandated all apps be updated (can’t remember which iOS version that was), it wasn't among them and was discontinued.
 
Good call on checking the delay.

Likely either a playout server issue or they’re working on tying in gear to cut over to the satellite. I doubt this would be happening on a Sunday, so likely the former.
I heard another drop out during commercial earlier this morning. I went uh oh.. maybe they’re preparing for the switch over. Maybe something is going on, I was listening to The Buzz just now and it dropped out for about a minute and a half. Ok still listening and it seems like someone is messing with the EQ
 
EMF's engineers are not yet on site and nothing has been done at KTHT yet (and won't until after closing).
 
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EMF's engineers are not yet on site and nothing has been done at KTHT yet (and won't until after closing).
Any word on a closing date? Possibility the station might go silent until EMF is technically ready to launch K-Love? Not sure how Country Legends would keep going after the closing as KTHT will officially become non-comm at that point…unless they just run CL commercial free…?
 
Any word on a closing date? Possibility the station might go silent until EMF is technically ready to launch K-Love? Not sure how Country Legends would keep going after the closing as KTHT will officially become non-comm at that point…unless they just run CL commercial free…?
Likely end of the month. I doubt it goes silent, but could just be running a hard drive of something until they get the zoning permits to install the satellite dish at the site. Under Texas law they cannot apply for it until they own the property I was told.
 
Any word on a closing date? Possibility the station might go silent until EMF is technically ready to launch K-Love? Not sure how Country Legends would keep going after the closing as KTHT will officially become non-comm at that point…unless they just run CL commercial free…?
Usually if they have nothing ready, they shut down the station and install equipment at the transmitter site when they take over. All of their racks are pretty much the same equipment. Makes it easier. They just install a pre made rack and go. A week or so at the most.

I have also seen them agreeing to use existing studios to run the feed until they have their own ready. I know they still have regional offices and sometimes studios for promotions and local public affairs. not sure if they feed the stations from them. I think at one point they did.
 
I could see them temporarily relaying 103.7 until they get the proper equipment
 
You’ve been buying the wrong cars. Every car I’ve bought since 2008 has had AM/FM/HD radio installed, some had satellite, but not all.
The last car I bought was a 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel. It had a factory AM/FM/Satellite radio with Bluetooth. The one before that was a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Same flavor of radio. No HD. Again, if the manufacturers won't put HD radios in cars, there will continue to be a lack of listeners. If programmers don't deliver quality content, there will continue to be a lack of listeners.
 
What property does Urban One/Sugarland Station Trust own in Pasadena to set up a receiver?

Like you, I was in close proximity to 97.1's signal this last week having gone to Aggieland for several days. Trip there and back produces a solid signal from KTHT from North Zulch, west of Madisonville on 21, to where I cut off at 19 in Crockett. Then, I held it until Grapeland going northbound when KEGL started to take back over on my truck's receiver. No dropouts, no distorted audio. Just more 30 year old country available almost everywhere around these parts.
And that's precisely the area where the listeners who can appreciate classic country lives. I wonder how they will feel with 97.1 flips to a non-classic country format.
 
Likely end of the month. I doubt it goes silent, but could just be running a hard drive of something until they get the zoning permits to install the satellite dish at the site. Under Texas law they cannot apply for it until they own the property I was told.
Zoning permits? It's out in the middle of nowhere.. to install a satellite dish, you don't need that in Texas. They didn't need that when they put one in a KXXF..
 
The last car I bought was a 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel. It had a factory AM/FM/Satellite radio with Bluetooth. The one before that was a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Same flavor of radio. No HD. Again, if the manufacturers won't put HD radios in cars, there will continue to be a lack of listeners. If programmers don't deliver quality content, there will continue to be a lack of listeners.
Same here, same makes in reverse order: a 2010 VW Jetta followed by a 2013 Chevy Malibu. My brother has a later model VW Tiguan, not sure of the year. No HD in any of these vehicles. Even if this is just a GM/VW thing, those are still two big auto makers that don't feel HD is worth paying Xperi for.
 
Same here, same makes in reverse order: a 2010 VW Jetta followed by a 2013 Chevy Malibu. My brother has a later model VW Tiguan, not sure of the year. No HD in any of these vehicles. Even if this is just a GM/VW thing, those are still two big auto makers that don't feel HD is worth paying Xperi for.
2016 Ford Focus Titanium has HD Radio, so those my 2018 Ford Focus Titanium .
 
Same here, same makes in reverse order: a 2010 VW Jetta followed by a 2013 Chevy Malibu. My brother has a later model VW Tiguan, not sure of the year. No HD in any of these vehicles. Even if this is just a GM/VW thing, those are still two big auto makers that don't feel HD is worth paying Xperi for.
My 2013 VW Passat had HD radio. Some cars had its while others did not. Here’s an interesting non scientific poll and discussion by VW owners.

 
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