Not Houston news, but nearby: https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217318/kogt-to-shut-down-12-31/
I have owned AM stations in the past but would never consider just turning in the license i have always been able to find someone willing to LMA the station.Meanwhile, just a little farther east on I-10, Cumulus has turned in the license for KXZZ 1580 in Lake Charles: https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217515/cumulus-surrenders-kxzz-lake-charles/
Appears the AM death spiral is swirling even faster.
Of course we don’t know if some of these operators made an attempt to sell their stations. Perhaps no takers, even at fire sale prices.I have owned AM stations in the past but would never consider just turning in the license i have always been able to find someone willing to LMA the station.
@b-turner tried his hardest to lease out KYND and had no serious takers.I have owned AM stations in the past but would never consider just turning in the license i have always been able to find someone willing to LMA the station.
The 1600 frequency has been part of the AM band since the 1941 NARBA treaty. The expanded band (1610-1700) came half a century later.An expanded band AM? Bless you for keeping it alive this long and enjoy your retirement, because that's a much harder slog than most people realize.
Here is an idea Donate the station and get you a tax cut.
Gary Stelly, the owner of KOGT, had been doing it all after his two salesperson were lost..one retired, the other passed away due to heart attack....plus Gary had his house and autos flooded by hurricane Laura or Harvey...he had been hit in the pocketbook due to Covid, his primary sell was sports with the music segments being freebies...can't blame him for getting tired... he had a translator CP but never built it....competing with the corps (iHM and Cumulus plus Townsquare Gator 99 out of La) with a country format was hard...I haven't gotten to talk to him directly but thru 3rd parties, he may rethink...he has a year to decide...You're assuming there would be a qualified nonprofit that would take it. It has a three tower directional array it uses at night, and that land probably wouldn’t go with it. Building KOGT again from nothing wouldn’t be worth the expense and the effort to most nonprofits.
Seeing an independently owned and operated station go away is always sad. I suspect he'll probably get more for the land than he would the station and will walk away with something for his blood, sweat, and tears.
Don't know why the owner would shut it down and lose the audience, and then relaunch and try to get the audience back. I could see KOGT coming back, but under new ownership, likely Spanish language religion.he may rethink...he has a year to decide...
I don't think the FCC is going to allow any broadcaster on 1610. You might also have an issue with first adjacent WTAW. However 1690 is possibly still available for southeast Texas (KLAT never built their CP for the frequency) but who knows about what will happen in future AM filing windows...I had suggested Gary look at jumping to 1610...yea it's a TIS freq but still viable for broadcast...Atlanta TX had it. So being closer to the coast could make a case...of course higher operational costs at 10kw day...
How’s your ex 1300 looking ?? Still off the air after what 2 years now?Gary Stelly, the owner of KOGT, had been doing it all after his two salesperson were lost..one retired, the other passed away due to heart attack....plus Gary had his house and autos flooded by hurricane Laura or Harvey...he had been hit in the pocketbook due to Covid, his primary sell was sports with the music segments being freebies...can't blame him for getting tired... he had a translator CP but never built it....competing with the corps (iHM and Cumulus plus Townsquare Gator 99 out of La) with a country format was hard...I haven't gotten to talk to him directly but thru 3rd parties, he may rethink...he has a year to decide...
1300 hasn't been on the air for months. Every time I check it is not on.How’s your ex 1300 looking ?? Still off the air after what 2 years now?