Austin Radio? Does anyone know much about it?

[Gabba Gabba Hey!]

I have heard that radio in Austin pretty much sucks. However, I would not know. Yet, I am curious. I have been giving some thought, and I stress SOME, to the idea of trying to get on in Austin etc... However, I don't know much about it. It seems to me that in Austin, radio is secondary, if that makes since. I see many markets where RADIO has a great presense. However, in a city like Austin, it doesn't seem to be that way. Any thoughts on this?

 

[jras20]

Austin radio isn't all bad. It has it's moments. KVET is a great station, I just don't see Austin supporting 2 hiphop stations, but maybe so. I think Austin could really use a oldies station. I'm finding myself more and more podcasting, and listening to AM talk more now than FM around the Austin area.

 

[captex]

since 102.3 went to religious, we don't have a classic rock station or oldies station. klbj-fm is really a album rock station. two formats i like. i also like classic country, but that format would probably wouldn't work.

 

[War Of Attrition]

since 102.3 went to religious, we don't have a classic rock station or oldies station. klbj-fm is really a album rock station. two formats i like. i also like classic country, but that format would probably wouldn't work.

I have a feeling that KPEZ's run as The River is going to be ending sooner rather than later. It just isn't going anywhere. I don't have any information nor have I heard any rumors, but I would not at all be surprised if Clear Channel flipped 102.3 to News/Talk, like they have done recently in New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Minneapolis.

It also would not be surprising if Emmis beat them to it, copying their own move in Indianapolis by moving the news/talk to FM and turning the AM into an ESPN affiliate. WIBC has benefited greatly from the FM jump and 1070 is building a pretty great local sports brand as The Fan. Also, I am sure ESPN would love to get off the disaster that is 1530.

 

[Willis1000]

If Emmis is moving news/talk exclusively to FM I vote for 103.5. It has one helluva regional signal.
I would leave KLBJ-FM where it sits at 93.7.
Bob can move to 93.3 and Hip Hop to 101.5 or 107.1. Pick one.


Or if KLBJ-AM just needs FM support in the city simulcast it on 101.5 or 107.1.

 

[War Of Attrition]

Or if KLBJ-AM just needs FM support in the city simulcast it on 101.5 or 107.1.

Putting KLBJ-AM on 107.1 almost defeats the purpose of moving it to FM in the first place because the tower is so far out of town and so very weak downtown. It's also especially weak on the conservative north and west side of town (where a lot of KLBJ's audience resides). 101.5 is doable, but I think if they were to make the move to FM they would do all they could to get it on the best signal: 93.7.

 

[MisterRadio]

Since most of the posts here are about a specific station or about what they think is missing in the market, I will give you a total overview based on what I know (which isn't much considering I've been working in the market nearly 20 years). Thanks to Captex for his ratings chart which I am using for reference:


majic 95.5 soft rock 6.1 up - Owned by Entercom, formerly CBS, long running format, probably their best book ever. Music intensive. Delilah at night.
klbj-am 590 newstalk 6.1 up - Emmis. Was owned by LBJ Family. Probably best book ever. Mostly conservative talk and 24/7 news updates.
kvet 98.1 country 5.8 up - CC. Classic Country and New Texas Country. Heritage station originally on 1300am. Very popular morning show (was Sam and Bob now Bucky and Bob) that has recently been revamped and is simulcasting on Sports 1300 (for the moment)
kase 100.7 country 5.4 dn - CC. New Nashville country. Spent years as number 1. Slipping under Clear Channel yoke. Fairly popular morning show with Rob And Bama. Just lost female co-host and in search of a new one.
kiss 96.7 top 40 5.1 stable - CC. Top 40. Been around for a long time (KHFI call letters). Popular Morning show Bobby Bones beginning to syndicate.
klqb 104.3 spanish 4.9 up
bob 103.5 hits 4.6 stable - Emmis. Was Oldies 103 for CC, they had to sell per FCC. Bob is like Jack in other markets. Ipod style, "We play anything". Hardly any jocks to speak of.
hot 93.3 urban 4.5 up - Emmis. Station has changed format many times. Now hip-hop.
klbj 93.7 rock 3.6 up - Emmis. Heritage Rock station. Occasionaly adds in more classic rock. Popular Morning show Dudley and Bob get most of the ratings and make most of the money for the station.
mix 94.7 hot ac 3.8 up - Entercom. More alternative than most "Mix" formats. JB and Sandy morning show moderately popular but have slipped alot.
101x 101.5 new rock 2.9 dn - Emmis. Started out on 107.7 as KNAC. Big Jock turnover through the years. Morning X show featuring Debbie who was fired from JB and Sandy show on Mix.
khhl 98.9 spanish 2.8 dn - Border. La Ley. Mexican Regional.
jammin 105.9 urban ac 2.7 up - CC for the moment. Must be sold as part of privatization. Used to be a good format. Added more modern stuff to match with Kidd Kraddock morning show which was brought in. Currently no jocks at all (running out of a closet I am told).
kgsr 107.1 alternative 2.6 dn - Emmis. Very popular station with very low ratings. Started the AAA format. Ties in well with the "Live Music Capital". Can't seem to get numbers....
kinv 107.7 spanish 2.3 stable - Univision.
kpez 102.3 religious 1.9 stable - CC. Used to be Classis rocker for years. Now boasts "Positive music for your family". Contemporary Christian pop. Family Friendly mornings. Pet CC project that may not last long.
beat 104.9 urban 1.9 dn - Border. Format used to be owned by Entercom on 104.3. Moved here when 104.3 was sold. Has been very popular in the past but hasn't been able to go anywhere since the change.
kxxs 92.5 spanish 1.8 stable - Border. "Digital 92.5" Spanish Pop
kjce 1370 talk 1.2 up - Entercom. Syndicated Consevative talk. Dr. Laura, O'Reilly, Hannity, etc. Nothing live except a couple of weekend specialty shows.
kvet 1300 "The Zone" sports .9 dn - CC. Home of University of Texas Sports. Really down because of personel and PD problems (upper management really F'd this one up). Forced for the moment to carry Bucky and Bob morning show from KVET FM. Bucky Godbolt was well liked morning co-host on the Zone before losing co-host and two shows merged. Will probably change back soon. Two other live shows during the day and Jim Rome. Fox Sports.
kfon 1490 spanish .6 dn - Border. Norteno.
kznx 1530 sports .4 - Simmons. Espn affiliate. They also own KWNX 1260 which is ESPN Deportes. Recently added several local shows (mostly ex-CC Zone talent). Probably won't last much longer because they are hemmoraging money.
kelg 1440 spanish 0.0
klgo 99.3 religious 0.0 dn "The Word" Christian and Conservative talk. Used to be on KIXL 970am until that was sold. Every hour is a different program.
koke 1600 spanish 0.0 dn - Was Air America until sold by Border.
ktxz 1560 spanish 0.0 dn


There are also the non-coms: KUT 90.5 NPR affiliate, KVRX/KOOP 91.7 - community and student radio from UT share this freq., KNLE 88.1 Contemporary Christian, KMFA 89.5 - classical, and KAZI 88.7 - a More urban bent community radio station.

That's all I have. Feel free to fill in the blanks if you know about stuff I missed.

As you can

 

[mmnassour]

What happened to 970 KIXL? Did it drop completely off the map? And I DO wish the non-coms were metered as well, I remain convinced that would really shake up the book.

 

[MMtP]

jammin 105.9 urban ac 2.7 up - CC for the moment. ... Currently no jocks at all (running out of a closet I am told).

Too funny... and exactly true - being run out of an old production room - about the size of my apartment closet. When they eventually sell the thing, they have to provide the new owner with a studio to run things from, so they moved everything out of the proper studio, and into the production closet... Man, I'll miss those guys..

 

[Mookie]

KLBJ-AM WILL NOT BE MOVING TO THE FM DIAL. RATINGS AND REVENUE IS HIGH. NO NEED TO CHANGE. UNLESS 102.3 GOES NEWS TALK.? ???

 

[War Of Attrition]

KLBJ-AM WILL NOT BE MOVING TO THE FM DIAL. RATINGS AND REVENUE IS HIGH. NO NEED TO CHANGE.

That is exactly what everyone said about Emmis' flagship station, 1070 WIBC, right before they moved to FM.

 

[Gabba Gabba Hey!]

Since most of the posts here are about a specific station or about what they think is missing in the market, I will give you a total overview based on what I know (which isn't much considering I've been working in the market nearly 20 years). Thanks to Captex for his ratings chart which I am using for reference:


majic 95.5 soft rock 6.1 up - Owned by Entercom, formerly CBS, long running format, probably their best book ever. Music intensive. Delilah at night.
klbj-am 590 newstalk 6.1 up - Emmis. Was owned by LBJ Family. Probably best book ever. Mostly conservative talk and 24/7 news updates.
kvet 98.1 country 5.8 up - CC. Classic Country and New Texas Country. Heritage station originally on 1300am. Very popular morning show (was Sam and Bob now Bucky and Bob) that has recently been revamped and is simulcasting on Sports 1300 (for the moment)
kase 100.7 country 5.4 dn - CC. New Nashville country. Spent years as number 1. Slipping under Clear Channel yoke. Fairly popular morning show with Rob And Bama. Just lost female co-host and in search of a new one.
kiss 96.7 top 40 5.1 stable - CC. Top 40. Been around for a long time (KHFI call letters). Popular Morning show Bobby Bones beginning to syndicate.
klqb 104.3 spanish 4.9 up
bob 103.5 hits 4.6 stable - Emmis. Was Oldies 103 for CC, they had to sell per FCC. Bob is like Jack in other markets. Ipod style, "We play anything". Hardly any jocks to speak of.
hot 93.3 urban 4.5 up - Emmis. Station has changed format many times. Now hip-hop.
klbj 93.7 rock 3.6 up - Emmis. Heritage Rock station. Occasionaly adds in more classic rock. Popular Morning show Dudley and Bob get most of the ratings and make most of the money for the station.
mix 94.7 hot ac 3.8 up - Entercom. More alternative than most "Mix" formats. JB and Sandy morning show moderately popular but have slipped alot.
101x 101.5 new rock 2.9 dn - Emmis. Started out on 107.7 as KNAC. Big Jock turnover through the years. Morning X show featuring Debbie who was fired from JB and Sandy show on Mix.
khhl 98.9 spanish 2.8 dn - Border. La Ley. Mexican Regional.
jammin 105.9 urban ac 2.7 up - CC for the moment. Must be sold as part of privatization. Used to be a good format. Added more modern stuff to match with Kidd Kraddock morning show which was brought in. Currently no jocks at all (running out of a closet I am told).
kgsr 107.1 alternative 2.6 dn - Emmis. Very popular station with very low ratings. Started the AAA format. Ties in well with the "Live Music Capital". Can't seem to get numbers....
kinv 107.7 spanish 2.3 stable - Univision.
kpez 102.3 religious 1.9 stable - CC. Used to be Classis rocker for years. Now boasts "Positive music for your family". Contemporary Christian pop. Family Friendly mornings. Pet CC project that may not last long.
beat 104.9 urban 1.9 dn - Border. Format used to be owned by Entercom on 104.3. Moved here when 104.3 was sold. Has been very popular in the past but hasn't been able to go anywhere since the change.
kxxs 92.5 spanish 1.8 stable - Border. "Digital 92.5" Spanish Pop
kjce 1370 talk 1.2 up - Entercom. Syndicated Consevative talk. Dr. Laura, O'Reilly, Hannity, etc. Nothing live except a couple of weekend specialty shows.
kvet 1300 "The Zone" sports .9 dn - CC. Home of University of Texas Sports. Really down because of personel and PD problems (upper management really F'd this one up). Forced for the moment to carry Bucky and Bob morning show from KVET FM. Bucky Godbolt was well liked morning co-host on the Zone before losing co-host and two shows merged. Will probably change back soon. Two other live shows during the day and Jim Rome. Fox Sports.
kfon 1490 spanish .6 dn - Border. Norteno.
kznx 1530 sports .4 - Simmons. Espn affiliate. They also own KWNX 1260 which is ESPN Deportes. Recently added several local shows (mostly ex-CC Zone talent). Probably won't last much longer because they are hemmoraging money.
kelg 1440 spanish 0.0
klgo 99.3 religious 0.0 dn "The Word" Christian and Conservative talk. Used to be on KIXL 970am until that was sold. Every hour is a different program.
koke 1600 spanish 0.0 dn - Was Air America until sold by Border.
ktxz 1560 spanish 0.0 dn


There are also the non-coms: KUT 90.5 NPR affiliate, KVRX/KOOP 91.7 - community and student radio from UT share this freq., KNLE 88.1 Contemporary Christian, KMFA 89.5 - classical, and KAZI 88.7 - a More urban bent community radio station.

That's all I have. Feel free to fill in the blanks if you know about stuff I missed.

As you can

Thank you! I got more info from your post then any other damn website could ever give me.

 

[Doctor_Technical]

One quibble:

kgsr 107.1 alternative 2.6 dn .... Can't seem to get numbers....

Just got back from three days driving around the ATX, and K-Geezer is chock-a-block full of spots from high-quality advertizers. Station sounds great: 3-share stations in other places should be so lucky.

Plus what you don't see in commercial-station-only numbers lists is the *other* Austin AAA, top-rated Public Radio KUT. Yes, I said "top", KUT is frequently the number 1 station in Austin: per http://austin.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=162512&type_news=latest "KUT consistently has been one of the top performing public radio stations in the nation and is currently the top-rated station in Austin, according to the latest Arbitron figures (Jan-March 2008)."

 

[Kent]

Plus what you don't see in commercial-station-only numbers lists is the *other* Austin AAA, top-rated Public Radio KUT. Yes, I said "top", KUT is frequently the number 1 station in Austin: per http://austin.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=162512&type_news=latest "KUT consistently has been one of the top performing public radio stations in the nation and is currently the top-rated station in Austin, according to the latest Arbitron figures (Jan-March 2008)."

It's possible KUT has been #1 several times in the past as I know it always scores well. However, in the latest ratings, which is the Spring '08 book released just a few days ago, KUT was #5. It was barely below KASE and just above KHFI.

 

[Willis1000]

KUT's success may not be so much the music as its popular news blocks.
In recent years they added local news to their already popular NPR morning and afternoon blocks.

KLBJ-AM should also credit their ratings success to those of us who tune in at the top and bottom for a news update regardless of how much we dislike the talk shows.

 

[mmnassour]

KLBJ-AM should also credit their ratings success to those of us who tune in at the top and bottom for a news update regardless of how much we dislike the talk shows.

+1

What I found surprising about KLBJ is how good Fox News is at the top of the hour. When the switch from CBS came, I really cringed. However, the Fox headline service has managed to play it pretty straight.

 

[MisterRadio]

What I found surprising about KLBJ is how good Fox News is at the top of the hour. When the switch from CBS came, I really cringed. However, the Fox headline service has managed to play it pretty straight.
[/quote]

Except with Shepard Smith anchors....Is he really necessary? That whole "Fair and Balanced" thing cracks me up...

 

[MisterRadio]

Thank you! I got more info from your post then any other damn website could ever give me.
[/quote]

Your Welcome.

 

[mmnassour]

Except with Shepard Smith anchors....Is he really necessary? That whole "Fair and Balanced" thing cracks me up...

Oh the whole "Fair and Balanced" line is of course, pure crap, except when they're doing radio news. Honestly, I've been listening closely to more than my share of newscasts and I've yet to find a single one that in my blue, blue, heart ;D, isn't completely straightforward.

But then...I don't think I've heard SS doing them! When is that so-and-so on, anyway?

 

[Willis1000]

I'll admit to leaning to the left. But I'll also admit that I find most Fox newscasts... especially the radio ones... pretty fair. It's those tump-over-to-the-right talk show hosts that give Fox their bad rap.