Another Nail in KZEY's Coffin??

[C414B]

From today's FCC Daily Digest:



http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4935A1.pdf



I've never seen anyone late for their own funeral, but this would make me wonder if Russell just might be the first.


Since I'm no longer within earshot of "The Station with the Flava", what's the latest on it? Is it even still on the air?

 

[billyg]

KZEY's been dark for over a year now

I went by the old KZEY studios three months ago and took some pictures. I talked to the people next door and they told me the building's been sold off and is in the process of renovating. It was in bad shape in 1990, its in even worse shape now.

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/jangleradio/Old KZEY-KROZ studios Tyler/

 

[C414B]

KZEY's been dark for over a year now

Last time I flipped over to 690 was earlier this year and I sure thought there was at least SOMETHING there. Weren't they running nighttime power 24/7?

What happened to the towers? Were they just dismantled and hauled off or did they find another (hopefully better) home somewhere else?

I knew the property went up for sale at a sheriff's auction several months ago. Any word on who bought it and what they're going to do with it?

 

[billyg]

The neighbors next door mentioned a church group buying the old studios.

KZEY were running around 90 watts into one antenna 24-7 when they were caught by the FCC. Could barely cover Tyler during the day, a little better at night. I'm disgusted how they let it run down like that.

Who knows what Russell has done with the KZEY equipment?

I have noticed recently is that WIST (the former WTIX 690) from New Orleans is coming in strong at night now. Their old tower site was damaged by Katrina and rebuilt or moved... I wasn't able to pick them up before.

 

[C414B]

The neighbors next door mentioned a church group buying the old studios.

KZEY were running around 90 watts into one antenna 24-7 when they were caught by the FCC. Could barely cover Tyler during the day, a little better at night. I'm disgusted how they let it run down like that.

Who knows what Russell has done with the KZEY equipment?

I have noticed recently is that WIST (the former WTIX 690) from New Orleans is coming in strong at night now. Their old tower site was damaged by Katrina and rebuilt or moved... I wasn't able to pick them up before.

Last I knew, there was a building that faced the exit of the Bank of America motor bank in downtown Tyler that had a "KZEY 690AM" shingle hanging outside the door. Don't recall seeing any STL gear on the roof; however, to have looked more than just a glance would not have been conducive to safe driving.

IIRC, their nighttime authorization was 92 watts.

I'd remark about it being a crying shame to see a heritage Tyler station go down the toilet like this as well as comment on how Russell's other stations have met the same demise. However, this dead horse has been beaten so many times its bones are just about back to dust. Therefore, I believe I will refrain from making such comments at this time. ;D ;D ;D

 

[LABreeze]

So let me get this straight.....the old KZEY building at Lake Park Drive is somewhat in disrepair in some areas, but Russell relocated the studios at the Bank of America building just to call themselves a station? Man, that's a shame to see a heritage station go down like that. I mean, this is the station that the recently deceased alumnus Matt Walker made #1 many years before Russell took over. After viewing the pictures of KZEY's former location (or so I was told), it can really need a great deal of repair foundation-wise.

 

[C414B]

So let me get this straight.....the old KZEY building at Lake Park Drive is somewhat in disrepair in some areas, but Russell relocated the studios at the Bank of America building just to call themselves a station? Man, that's a shame to see a heritage station go down like that. I mean, this is the station that the recently deceased alumnus Matt Walker made #1 many years before Russell took over. After viewing the pictures of KZEY's former location (or so I was told), it can really need a great deal of repair foundation-wise.

The building that I'm alleging to be their studios is actually across from the Bank of America motor bank exit...in other words, if you pulled straight out of the motor bank, you'd (literally) run into the building that had their shingle on it.

Not only was the old studios in a state of disrepair, it was sold on the steps of the Smith County Courthouse to satisfy tax lien judgments against Russell.

 

[Chuck]

So let me get this straight.....the old KZEY building at Lake Park Drive is somewhat in disrepair in some areas, but Russell relocated the studios at the Bank of America building just to call themselves a station? Man, that's a shame to see a heritage station go down like that. I mean, this is the station that the recently deceased alumnus Matt Walker made #1 many years before Russell took over. After viewing the pictures of KZEY's former location (or so I was told), it can really need a great deal of repair foundation-wise.

The building that I'm alleging to be their studios is actually across from the Bank of America motor bank exit...in other words, if you pulled straight out of the motor bank, you'd (literally) run into the building that had their shingle on it.

Not only was the old studios in a state of disrepair, it was sold on the steps of the Smith County Courthouse to satisfy tax lien judgments against Russell.

I was in downtown Tyler the other day and took a moment to peer in the door of the office on College St. that says "KZEY." The lights were off, the door was locked and it had that "abandoned" look. It looked like it had been that way for quite some time.


Every time I've checked, they were not on the air, even at low power. Very sad, actually...

 

[C414B]

So let me get this straight.....the old KZEY building at Lake Park Drive is somewhat in disrepair in some areas, but Russell relocated the studios at the Bank of America building just to call themselves a station? Man, that's a shame to see a heritage station go down like that. I mean, this is the station that the recently deceased alumnus Matt Walker made #1 many years before Russell took over. After viewing the pictures of KZEY's former location (or so I was told), it can really need a great deal of repair foundation-wise.

The building that I'm alleging to be their studios is actually across from the Bank of America motor bank exit...in other words, if you pulled straight out of the motor bank, you'd (literally) run into the building that had their shingle on it.

Not only was the old studios in a state of disrepair, it was sold on the steps of the Smith County Courthouse to satisfy tax lien judgments against Russell.

I was in downtown Tyler the other day and took a moment to peer in the door of the office on College St. that says "KZEY." The lights were off, the door was locked and it had that "abandoned" look. It looked like it had been that way for quite some time.

Not surprised to hear that, unfortunately. :-(

Every time I've checked, they were not on the air, even at low power. Very sad, actually...

Couldn't agree more.

Question is.....is KZEY too far gone that a new owner couldn't buy it and resurrect it? Or, if it were up for sale, would it be another KWRD situation where he's asking WAAAAAY too much for just the license and calls?

 

[Chuck]

Question is.....is KZEY too far gone that a new owner couldn't buy it and resurrect it? Or, if it were up for sale, would it be another KWRD situation where he's asking WAAAAAY too much for just the license and calls?

At this point, you'd be buying a "Do It Yourself" kit. You'd essentially have to start from scratch. Considering it has been off the air for a very long time there is nothing to build from. Even the call letters probably strike terror in the hearts of former advertisers. It may be heritage, but the recent past reputation comes along as excess baggage.

Given that AM has its share of very big problems; it would be a very tough fight. It would take some very good programming and a lot of promotion to get many people to tune away from FM. The only bright spot in AM in the area is KTBB which does an excellent job. It would be hard to steal their listeners. That leaves you with brokered shows about bowel cleansing or preaching. Spanish is always an option.

The one thing that might work is a cross-over "Motown R&B Oldies" format. I don't know of such a station, but a lot of really great songs came out in the 60's and 70's that would fit. Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, even the Blues Brothers, etc. I think there would be a fairly large potential audience of both Black and White listeners who grew up with the music. It's a common bond, and people of that age group may not be afraid of AM. Those songs used to sound good on the AM radio in my '66 Mustang.

Of course, selling to an older demo takes work, but it can be done.

 

[snoman]

I am not ashamed to say that I shed a tear or two at looking at those pictures. I had some good times in those studios. To see any of this happen to this historic station, is just a travesty of monumental proportions. Russell really should be ashamed, and I'd say a few more things, but it would get edited out. I think I'm going to be sick. :'(

 

[billyg]

The one thing that might work is a cross-over "Motown R&B Oldies" format. I don't know of such a station, but a lot of really great songs came out in the 60's and 70's that would fit. Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, even the Blues Brothers, etc. I think there would be a fairly large potential audience of both Black and White listeners who grew up with the music. It's a common bond, and people of that age group may not be afraid of AM. Those songs used to sound good on the AM radio in my '66 Mustang.

Of course, selling to an older demo takes work, but it can be done.

The closest thing I can think of that kind of matches that format is KKDA-AM in Dallas. They play a lot of mid-late 60's soul/R&B.

Gospel might be a good choice, or some kind of brokered religion format. The plus about 690 is that it can reach the Longview market, 1330 can barely get out of Tyler. I hope someone is trying to buy it.

It would be tough to get KZEY back on the air but not impossible. The old signal was excellent for Tyler. I wonder if the daytime power could be increased to 2500 or 5000 watts to cover the Longview area better?

 

[LABreeze]

The one thing that might work is a cross-over "Motown R&B Oldies" format. I don't know of such a station, but a lot of really great songs came out in the 60's and 70's that would fit. Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Aretha Franklin, even the Blues Brothers, etc. I think there would be a fairly large potential audience of both Black and White listeners who grew up with the music. It's a common bond, and people of that age group may not be afraid of AM. Those songs used to sound good on the AM radio in my '66 Mustang.

Of course, selling to an older demo takes work, but it can be done.

The closest thing I can think of that kind of matches that format is KKDA-AM in Dallas. They play a lot of mid-late 60's soul/R&B.

Gospel might be a good choice, or some kind of brokered religion format. The plus about 690 is that it can reach the Longview market, 1330 can barely get out of Tyler. I hope someone is trying to buy it.

It would be tough to get KZEY back on the air but not impossible. The old signal was excellent for Tyler. I wonder if the daytime power could be increased to 2500 or 5000 watts to cover the Longview area better?

I was thinking the exact same thing, billyg. If the station was purchased and marketed properly, KZEY can follow up the heels of KKDA-AM and make an R&B oldies format out of it. I mean, I've been dreaming of really programming KZEY to go this route for years when the Russell regime was going through a power decline. But knowing JR, he may not want to consider that idea; however, he just gives himself credit and leave the idea-ee in a total crapshot. You are right about the old signal in Tyler being excellent, but would work a hell of a lot for Longview and other surroundings near Shreveport. KZEY can go to 2500 in the daytime and decrease it to maybe 850 perhaps 1,000 at night. Imagine what the station can do to cater an older audience of the 35 + crowd.

 

[billyg]

I was thinking the exact same thing, billyg. If the station was purchased and marketed properly, KZEY can follow up the heels of KKDA-AM and make an R&B oldies format out of it. I mean, I've been dreaming of really programming KZEY to go this route for years when the Russell regime was going through a power decline. But knowing JR, he may not want to consider that idea; however, he just gives himself credit and leave the idea-ee in a total crapshot. You are right about the old signal in Tyler being excellent, but would work a hell of a lot for Longview and other surroundings near Shreveport. KZEY can go to 2500 in the daytime and decrease it to maybe 850 perhaps 1,000 at night. Imagine what the station can do to cater an older audience of the 35 + crowd.

There is a hole for this kind of station in East Texas for an older black audience. If KZEY had strong ownership over the past 15 years, it might could have evolved into this kind of format. And who's know how long Hot 107.3 will stay hot? If it gets cold Gap could pull the plug quick.

I'm just wondering... with all these move-ins and big power increases of small town AM stations to get a piece of the DFW market, could Russell be planning to move 690 nearby Big D, (he'd have to change frequency to protect 700 KHSE in Wylie)... or he is trying to sell it to someone who wants to move it?

 

[jd]

KZEY can go to 2500 in the daytime and decrease it to maybe 850 perhaps 1,000 at night.

As much as I'd like to see it happen, it would be tough to do that. Besides the issue with KHSE in the Dallas area there's the obvious problem with adjacent channel KSEV 700 in Tomball/Houston. On 690 itself there are interference concerns with WIST New Orleans (the old WTIX) and the groundwave signal coming in from long-time 690 resident KGGF up in Coffeeville KS. These factors would limit the power and a workable directional pattern for daytime. Nighttime skywave brings a whole new set of issues, not only with WIST but also Mexico City and Merida (Yucatan), along with a number of other stations. I'm not saying it couldn't be done but getting a killer daytime signal that served both Tyler and Longview would be a real challenge. At night the station would probably be limited to pretty much what's currently authorized; in other words, a fairly decent signal for Tyler but not much else.

The immediate problem for any potential buyer, though, would be wresting what's left of the station (i.e., the license) from Russell's death grip before it's too late. I expect it to be like the demise of KOFY in Gilmer. The license will be allowed to lapse, the call letters will be deleted and under FCC rules no one can apply for deleted facilities until the next AM Major Change filing window (essentially applying for a brand new station). That could be very far down the road, if it were to happen at all.

 

[nuzguy]

Regarding whether Russel should hang his head--that begs the question of can a person who has no shame, shame himself? Nothing he does with a radio station is in the "public interest," and the FCC could put a stop to him trashing station after station, but the commission is more interested in going after pirate stations--most of which are in better programming shape than any of Russel's stations will ever be.

 

[C414B]

Regarding whether Russel should hang his head--that begs the question of can a person who has no shame, shame himself? Nothing he does with a radio station is in the "public interest," and the FCC could put a stop to him trashing station after station, but the commission is more interested in going after pirate stations--most of which are in better programming shape than any of Russel's stations will ever be.

Always a pleasure to read what's on nuzguy's mind. He speaks it well.

I really wonder if the FCC even knows KZEY is dark right now?