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Astros Broadcast Rights

M

MikeRadioFan

The Chronicle's David Barron recently wrote about the Astros exclusive renewal window with KTRH soon expiring by the end of the month. Does anyone think that the Astros or KTRH would pass on renewing with one another? The article also speculates upcoming offers from KGOW and KFNC? Does anyone think these stations would have a snowball's chance based on their limited coverage areas? What other station(s) could be in the running?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/barron/5871119.html
 
Money talks. That's the deal. Yes, KTRH provides the best signal. However, with Astros games being available on many other stations, via the Astros radio network, the internet, XM, etc., a huge signal is nice, but it is not a make or break factor. I would think KTRH is still the favorite to land the Astros. However, Clear Channel is going to probably try to persuade the Astros to move over to KBME to help boost the ratings and credibility of their station. If the Astros were to do that, they'd probably get a lot more money out of Clear Channel. However, to stay on KTRH, the Astros will have to take less. I cannot see 97.5 or KGOW being considered. The Astros on FM is not far-fetched. The Pirates are now on FM in Pittsburgh. However, the Pirates are not on a rimshot. 97.5 still has signal issues, as does KGOW. And, I hear a lot of dead air on KGOW, especially at night and on weekends. It will be interesting to see what happens, but I'd be willing to bet that the Astros will remain on KTRH.
 
I was hoping The Arrow or Sunny would be a pretty good fit for the Astros-because these two are both FM stations owned by CC-The same company that owns KTRH. A lot of people now have those MP3 players that also have an FM Radio. I think KTRH will continue to The Carry The Astros beyond this season.
 
The Astros sounded very good when they were on 104 KRBE in 1982. It wasn't a good fit, but the quality was good.
 
Why put them on a music station like 93.7 or 99.1? If the Astros could fill in the gaps created by 790's directional south night signal, then put them there. But they belong on KTRH's mammoth signal and that's where they should stay.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if CC keeps the Astros, but goes to a split station arrangement for the games. Basically keep all weekend and weekday games starting after 5p on KTRH and put the weekday day games on 790.

In this PPM world they need to do something to give 790 a shot in the arm. Also, the current protocol of moving Rush to 950 during Astros day games is asinine.

The Red Sox are doing something similar with WRKO & WEEI.
 
That practice works well enough during spring training. I don't see why they couldn't do that during the regular season, unless for some reason the team objected.
 
The Braves can be heard in Atlanta over on WUBL(94.9-The Bull), which use to be a Soft AC station until B-98.5 (WSB-FM) clearly dominated Office Radio there. Another FM Station that carries Baseball is 104.7 in Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC's 103.5 WTOP-FM-Which happens to be the home of The Washington Nationals.
 
Troy Goodwin said:
The Braves can be heard in Atlanta over on WUBL(94.9-The Bull), which use to be a Soft AC station until B-98.5 (WSB-FM) clearly dominated Office Radio there. Another FM Station that carries Baseball is 104.7 in Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC's 103.5 WTOP-FM-Which happens to be the home of The Washington Nationals.
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the Braves games are still also on AM in Atlanta at WGST-640 am which is the technical Flagship of the braves. WUBL is just a coverage booster for WGST's nighttime AM Signal
 
Like everyone else, I figure Clear Channel will work a new deal with the Astros and will likely keep them on AM. I like the idea of putting the games on FM, especially if it would mean dumping Delilah on Sunny for nighttime baseball, during the season.

The only way I could make a long-shot argument for KGOW and any Astros bid is if Nunee Oakes, KGOW's AM producer and Astros stadium DJ, could somehow help them to pull some strings in the deal, since he's employed both places. (As I said, that's a long shot and merely, an idea.)

KGOW's signal, though I've noticed an improvement on the south side, is still shaky at best in other areas. That may not (and likely will not) be conducive to any Astros bid they might make. In the end, I figure KTRH or a combination split of KTRH and 790 is likely. 790 can use all the help it can get!

Just my two cents worth.....
 
I know at night, I cannot pick up KGOW at all in the champions area (FM 1960/Kuykendall-Veterans Memorial). So, I know Spring & The Woodlands, not to mention Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita is probably not picking it up. It starts to clear up slightly as you get closer to Willowbrook/Cy Creek/Cy Fair/Copperfield. So, I just cannot see the Astros going that route at all.
 
CC is the most logical choice to keep the Astros. The Astros eat up a tremendous amount of inventory and the stations must broadcast all the spring training games as well. CC is in the best position to do this becaise they broadcast the spring games on 790 and the regular season on 740. The familiarity is also in CC's favor. I'm assuming KFNC would most like to have the Rockets and are waiting for their current contract to expire. KFNC can give the Rockets exclusivity unlike 610 who also carry the Texans. KGOW is probably not a player given their weak nighttime signal. Just one man's opinion.
 
bigstory12 said:
CC is the most logical choice to keep the Astros. The Astros eat up a tremendous amount of inventory and the stations must broadcast all the spring training games as well. CC is in the best position to do this becaise they broadcast the spring games on 790 and the regular season on 740. The familiarity is also in CC's favor. I'm assuming KFNC would most like to have the Rockets and are waiting for their current contract to expire. KFNC can give the Rockets exclusivity unlike 610 who also carry the Texans. KGOW is probably not a player given their weak nighttime signal. Just one man's opinion.
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I think KGOW has no shot at carrying a major sports affiliate (Well, locally wise since they do carry LSU tiger football) The Rockets will probably sign with KILT again, despite the Texans being there. It is only one game a week (For the Texans), chances are there will probably be only one or two games that interfere with each other. I'm shure the rockets won't mind that. Going to KFNC? Something tells me the Rockets probably won't make a move and also stay put.
 
OldJohnny - you're probably right about the Rockets. I was going on the assumption that the Rockets would prefer to be the exclusive team on a sports station. KFNC does have Calvin Murphy and with the association I thought it would be a natural fit. As I have said before, "always follow the money." Whoever shows Les Alexander the money will get the Rockets.
 
Unless KGOW upgrades it nighttime signal there's only a snowball's chance in Houston in August that they will ever pick up Astros, Rockets or Texans. Remember there are coaches and other shows that air after dark. KNFC's signal and the FM monikor will keep them away from any major Houston sports franchise period. So it looks like it will always be CBS vs. CC on the sports franchises.

I still maintain KGOW will surprise the market one day with a new and improved signal. They know that is the only way to have a shot at a sports franchise. I also maintain that if KGOW doesn't line up a major sports franchise or sydie deal duing the next few years they will not make it.

As for the Rockets, KFNC and money Les Alexander learned what happens when you contract with a station with a limited signal. In the late 90's they contracted with TV Channel 55 "The Tube". They threw out more money when Channel 20 wouldn't cough up Les' demands. Those that remember will recall that the contract was broken just a week or two into the season because more than 70% of the Houston market could not pick up 55 because the signal was so weak. I think they eventually did a split between 20 and HSN, but I'll venture to believe that nightmare is still fresh in Les' head.
 
adguy said:
As for the Rockets, KFNC and money Les Alexander learned what happens when you contract with a station with a limited signal. In the late 90's they contracted with TV Channel 55 "The Tube". They threw out more money when Channel 20 wouldn't cough up Les' demands. Those that remember will recall that the contract was broken just a week or two into the season because more than 70% of the Houston market could not pick up 55 because the signal was so weak. I think they eventually did a split between 20 and HSN, but I'll venture to believe that nightmare is still fresh in Les' head.
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How can anyone not remember those days. It was a horrible decission on Rockets Management (Even worse than trading away Richard Jefferson away :D) Even recently, they still pushed games to 55 on occassions.
 
I think with enough money, these teams would sell their rights to the electronic equivalent of two tin cans and a piece of string. So, KGOW could still be in,uh, the game.

(sorry)
 
IMO the partnership with KTRH and the Astros has been wonderful. If the Stros' did switch I would rather them go to KFNC because the reception over here in the Golden Triangle is pefect. Unlike 790 which we can pick it up during the day but not at night.
 
JoesBros81 said:
IMO the partnership with KTRH and the Astros has been wonderful. If the Stros' did switch I would rather them go to KFNC because the reception over here in the Golden Triangle is pefect. Unlike 790 which we can pick it up during the day but not at night.
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try 1600 KOGT orange tx as they are an astros affilaite -- their coverage map hits all of the golden triangle on day pattern and most of it on night pattern just not as strong on the outer edges.
 
Well KOGT dosent come in that strong at night here in MID-County. I remember the "old days" where KLVI would carrry EVERY Astros game and I never had to worry about it. That was back before KTRH became the flagship and they were on KILT and KPRC.
 
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