Beaumont losing another station

[jd]

The FCC has given approval for KRCM 1380 Beaumont to move into Shenandoah. The station had applied for the major change during the last filing window back in January 2004, although they scaled it back a little. Plans now call for KRCM to operate with 250 watts daytime and 69 watts at night non-directional from a site just south of Conroe. Look for testing to occur soon with a newly authorized temporary signal on 1690, using 400 watts daytime non-directional. (That's for engineering purposes only; KRCM won't be changing frequency.)

In other area AM news, the proposed move of KBRZ 1460 from Freeport to Missouri City is still awaiting FCC approval. Some modifications were made to the original application and plans now call for it to run 800 watts daytime, 125 at night non-directional. The tower would be near Greatwood, off 59 and Grand Parkway.

 

[dx7]

Kinda sad to see a once legendary radio station leave Beaumont.

1380 signed on in the late 40's as KPBX, but really found its fame and high ratings as one of the hottest soul and R&B stations in the country as KJET from the late 50's through the 70's. It had a popular line-up of air talent, lots of spots, local concerts and promotions. At one time, KJET had air studios in both Beaumont and Port Arthur.

Flash forward to 2007 -- Is there any revenue to be made by moving 1380 to the Conroe area with just 250 watts on the AM band?

 

[HoustonListener]

Is there any city that has had more of their signals redirected to another market than Beaumont has experienced being redirected to Houston market, or in this case, moved entirely out of the market completely?

 

[jd]

Is there any city that has had more of their signals redirected to another market than Beaumont has experienced being redirected to Houston market, or in this case, moved entirely out of the market completely?

I'm sure there are other examples around the county, but here in Texas a great example would be Sherman-Denison, just over 65 miles north of Dallas. Once home to three AM stations, two of them fierce competitors in their heyday, only one small daytimer remains. The two original FM's became D/FW rimshots, and several "replacements" came along over the years in a mind-boggling rearrangement of frequencies. The latest change was actually a station from neighboring Durant OK which abandoned Sherman-Denison then relicensed to Tom Bean TX. It now targets fast-growing Collin County on the northern side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In Wichita Falls there were once three AM stations: KWFT 620, KNIN 990 and KTRN 1290. 620 is now Radio Disney in D/FW. 990 was moved to Farmersville, northeast of Dallas, and it's been a colossal failure. Back in Wichita Falls only 1290 remains.

 

[txchipk]

Is there any city that has had more of their signals redirected to another market than Beaumont has experienced being redirected to Houston market, or in this case, moved entirely out of the market completely?

I'm sure there are other examples around the county, but here in Texas a great example would be Sherman-Denison, just over 65 miles north of Dallas. Once home to three AM stations, two of them fierce competitors in their heyday, only one small daytimer remains. The two original FM's became D/FW rimshots, and several "replacements" came along over the years in a mind-boggling rearrangement of frequencies. The latest change was actually a station from neighboring Durant OK which abandoned Sherman-Denison then relicensed to Tom Bean TX. It now targets fast-growing Collin County on the northern side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In Wichita Falls there were once three AM stations: KWFT 620, KNIN 990 and KTRN 1290. 620 is now Radio Disney in D/FW. 990 was moved to Farmersville, northeast of Dallas, and it's been a colossal failure. Back in Wichita Falls only 1290 remains.

Wichita Falls used to also have KGKO 570...that was moved in the 1930s to Dallas/Fort Worth to become part of the WBAP/WFAA time sharing of 570 and 820.

Sherman/Denison really is the champ in being ripped off local signals...ithas lost 8 signals to D/FW...

KIKM 910 Sherman ---> now KATH Frisco
KDSX 950 Denison ---> now KKLF 1700 Richardson (KLIF 570 simulcast)
KHYI 95.3 Howe signed on as a class A with SMN Real Country targetting Sherman/Denison ---> now a C2 "95-3 the Range" targetting D/FW with studios in Plano
KIKM 96.7 Sherman ---> now KTYS Flower Mound "96-7 the Texas Twister"
KAFM 97.7 Durant ---> moved-into Sherman/Denison as KLAK 97.5 ---> now KLAK Tom Bean with studios in McKinney targetting Collin County
KDSQ 101.7 Denison ---> now KTCY Azle "XO101.7"
KWSM 104.1 Sherman ---> now KTDK Sanger (KTCK 1310 simulcast)
KMKT 104.9 (and KLAK before) Denison ---> now KZMP-FM Pilot Point

You could also probably count nearby KXGM 106.5 Muenster-Gainesville as #9 as it was moved into D/FW as KKDL 106.7 (now KZZA "Casa 106.7")

#10 wasn't moved in, but lost for a move-in...Nearby KFYZ-FM 98.3 Bonham used to be heard there, upgraded to provide better coverage, but has since downgraded and moved to 98.1 Bennington OK to allow KBOC 98.3 Bridgeport's upgrade into D/FW.

Sherman/Denison has gained KMAD-FM 102.5 Whitesboro (move-in, formally KMAD-FM 102.3 Madill OK). KLBC 107.1 Durant OK upgraded to 106.3C3, but because of KHKS 106.1 Denton-Dallas doesn't provide a full signal over all of Grayson County (and it just runs a satellite country feed and remains Durant-focussed).

 

[txchipk]

Is there any city that has had more of their signals redirected to another market than Beaumont has experienced being redirected to Houston market, or in this case, moved entirely out of the market completely?

I'm sure there are other examples around the county, but here in Texas a great example would be Sherman-Denison, just over 65 miles north of Dallas. Once home to three AM stations, two of them fierce competitors in their heyday, only one small daytimer remains. The two original FM's became D/FW rimshots, and several "replacements" came along over the years in a mind-boggling rearrangement of frequencies. The latest change was actually a station from neighboring Durant OK which abandoned Sherman-Denison then relicensed to Tom Bean TX. It now targets fast-growing Collin County on the northern side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In Wichita Falls there were once three AM stations: KWFT 620, KNIN 990 and KTRN 1290. 620 is now Radio Disney in D/FW. 990 was moved to Farmersville, northeast of Dallas, and it's been a colossal failure. Back in Wichita Falls only 1290 remains.

Wichita Falls used to also have KGKO 570...that was moved in the 1930s to Dallas/Fort Worth to become part of the WBAP/WFAA time sharing of 570 and 820.

Sherman/Denison really is the champ in being ripped off local signals...ithas lost 8 signals to D/FW...

KIKM 910 Sherman ---> now KATH Frisco
KDSX 950 Denison ---> now KKLF 1700 Richardson (KLIF 570 simulcast)
KHYI 95.3 Howe signed on as a class A with SMN Real Country targetting Sherman/Denison ---> now a C2 "95-3 the Range" targetting D/FW with studios in Plano
KIKM 96.7 Sherman ---> now KTYS Flower Mound "96-7 the Texas Twister"
KAFM 97.7 Durant ---> moved-into Sherman/Denison as KLAK 97.5 ---> now KLAK Tom Bean with studios in McKinney targetting Collin County
KDSQ 101.7 Denison ---> now KTCY Azle "XO101.7"
KWSM 104.1 Sherman ---> now KTDK Sanger (KTCK 1310 simulcast)
KMKT 104.9 (and KLAK before) Denison ---> now KZMP-FM Pilot Point

You could also probably count nearby KXGM 106.5 Muenster-Gainesville as #9 as it was moved into D/FW as KKDL 106.7 (now KZZA "Casa 106.7")

#10 wasn't moved in, but lost for a move-in...Nearby KFYZ-FM 98.3 Bonham used to be heard there, upgraded to provide better coverage, but has since downgraded and moved to 98.1 Bennington OK to allow KBOC 98.3 Bridgeport's upgrade into D/FW.

Sherman/Denison has gained KMAD-FM 102.5 Whitesboro (move-in, formally KMAD-FM 102.3 Madill OK). KLBC 107.1 Durant OK upgraded to 106.3C3, but because of KHKS 106.1 Denton-Dallas doesn't provide a full signal over all of Grayson County (and it just runs a satellite country feed and remains Durant-focussed).

Reply to my own post...I should have also included 94.5 Gainesville. Originally KGAF-FM, then KDNT-FM serving the Red River counties as "94 1/2 Country"...it began targetting D/FW when it became SMN Z-Rock KZRK over the July 4th weekend in 1987. Ever since, it has been Dallas-focussed (as KZRK, KDGE "the Edge", KTXQ "Magic 94.5", and KSOC "94.5 K-Soul")

 

[stan]

If they move 1380 to north of Houston, then will they increase power to KOLE to cover Beaumont, or could they move KOLE's transmitter to Beaumont to cover the triangle better? It doesn't make much sense to keep it in Port Arthur when most of the listeners over here can't get 1340 at night.

Or can they broadcast on 1380 in Beaumont and north of Houston at the same time?

By the way, I like how they have modernized KCOL, they're already into the 1980s with music now. So they are covering about 4 decades of music on a regular basis. If only the audio was improved...

 

[jd]

If they move 1380 to north of Houston, then will they increase power to KOLE to cover Beaumont, or could they move KOLE's transmitter to Beaumont to cover the triangle better? It doesn't make much sense to keep it in Port Arthur when most of the listeners over here can't get 1340 at night.

Or can they broadcast on 1380 in Beaumont and north of Houston at the same time?

KOLE, at 1000 watts, is maxed out on their particular frequency. While they could move their tower closer to Beaumont they'd still have to provide city-grade coverage to Port Arthur. That would be especially tough at night considering the interference on a "graveyard" channel like 1340.

To answer your other question, they couldn't keep 1380 on the air in both places. Interesting idea, but while there are a number of synchronized AM repeater operations around the country, that's a different kind of a deal. But they certainly could simulcast KOLE and the relocated KRCM, just like they've been doing. Fact is, they probably will.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Not sure I've ever heard of a station conducting engineering tests on a frequency that is different from the eventual permanent one. Guess the market will finally get an AM on 1690 after all, although temporarily. Wasn't KLAT supposed to move to that X-Band frequency a decade ago, but decided to stay put? If you look at the geographic locations of the other stations on 1690, a SE Texas operation would fit nicely.

With its low power, 1380 will be pretty much a Montgomery County-only operation. What on Earth would they program to drag listeners away from the H-town big boys? Or is this just another brokered religion/ethnic outlet about to happen?

 

[CW]

Reply to my own post...I should have also included 94.5 Gainesville. Originally KGAF-FM, then KDNT-FM serving the Red River counties as "94 1/2 Country"...it began targetting D/FW when it became SMN Z-Rock KZRK over the July 4th weekend in 1987. Ever since, it has been Dallas-focussed (as KZRK, KDGE "the Edge", KTXQ "Magic 94.5", and KSOC "94.5 K-Soul")
[/quote]

Same with 100.7 originally out of Bowie.....

 

[jd]

Not sure I've ever heard of a station conducting engineering tests on a frequency that is different from the eventual permanent one. Guess the market will finally get an AM on 1690 after all, although temporarily. Wasn't KLAT supposed to move to that X-Band frequency a decade ago, but decided to stay put? If you look at the geographic locations of the other stations on 1690, a SE Texas operation would fit nicely.

That kind of thing is done frequently; the new station on 890 up in Mabank, southeast of Dallas, was given approval to do some tests under a temporary authorization on 1670. Decades ago in Dallas WFAA 570 (now KLIF) and WBAP 820 did joint testing on 700 kHz before construction of a new site when they were displaced by construction of D/FW Airport.

You're right about KLAT's decision to stick with 1010, and I think it was the right call. Sure, 1690 would fit, but it really couldn't cover a huge area like Houston all that well. Directional or not, KLAT's daytime coverage is actually better than they would have had on 1690, and with nighttime operation limited to 1000 watts they're better off where they are.

With its low power, 1380 will be pretty much a Montgomery County-only operation. What on Earth would they program to drag listeners away from the H-town big boys? Or is this just another brokered religion/ethnic outlet about to happen?

Considering the current ownership I think that's a good probability.

 

[Bill Cherry]

This reminds me of the Magnificant Montigue who first made his name there. If you haven't read his book, "Burn Baby, Burn," you should. A second hand copy is about 15 bucks on amazon. He's about 80 now and has the largest collection of Black American art, books, music, poetry, etc. probably in the world. A fellow who has seen his catalog and knows about such things guessed it is worth about $5 million.