Can Houston radio get any worse?

[radiogooroo]

You are mistaking my criticism of KTRH's programming as disgust for right wing blather. Personally, you are right, but on a business level, I can understand the penchant for run wing nuts, they are everywhere. As for you being representative of KTRH's cume, that also is possible, yet you and your fellow right wing talk lovers have had this station in steady demise for several years. The programming decisions which have included blowing up an afternoon news block for Michael Berry have hardly been hugely successful. Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and the rest have not proven to be HUGE ratings successes for KTRH. CC already has a talker at 950, now they, essentially, have two talkers in the market which brings the while cookie cutter theory full circle...doesn't it?

Yes, I think your business acumen here is being tainted by your personal bias. When you're so consumed by it that you use terms like "blather" and "nuts" it sorta undermines your credibility.

KTRH is by far the most listened to AM station in Houston. KPRC is #2. If you combined the shares of those two stations, the resulting combo would have an AQH rating of 4.9, which would be good for #7 in the market.

It's also worth noting that KPRC is steadily trending upward, and the station has no news at all. Michael Berry certainly seems to be working on KPRC.

If KTRH is in "decline" as you say over days of yore when there was more news on the station, I suspect that has more to do with demographic shifts in Houston than KTRH programming. I'd be willing to bet country and rock performed a lot better in the past here than today too. Did conservative talk radio own over 11 shares in the New Orleans market prior to Katrina? I'm betting it didn't, but it does now.

 

[TheBigA]

Or they can go on line or to their IPhone. My point is that the audience has diminished, not because they don't want the news but because the news is no longer there.

If there was money to be made doing it on the air, it would be there. There isn't.

Local TV and newspapers do a great job offering online news content. They're already doing the work, so it's just another platform for them.

CC provides online and mobile content. So if they lost audience on one platform, they pick it up somewhere else. It's all the same to them.

 

[stan]

Nice of TheBigA [EDIT]to carry Clear Channel's water for them and defend their decisions. The point is, radio is becoming less and less relevant to the newer generations using technology in every facet of their lives.

The reason for the overall demise of radio is the decision making of brain trusts in San Antonio, Atlanta, or any other city that have no clue as to how to run radio in Houston.


[EDIT-disruption]

 

[TheBigA]

The reason for the overall demise of radio is the decision making of brain trusts in San Antonio, Atlanta, or any other city that have no clue as to how to run radio in Houston.

They may not have a clue, in your opinion, but millions of Houstonians still listen. Regardless of what you think. As I said before, what does that say about the people in Houston?

 

[Drucifer]

The reason for the overall demise of radio is the decision making of brain trusts in San Antonio, Atlanta, or any other city that have no clue as to how to run radio in Houston.

They may not have a clue, in your opinion, but millions of Houstonians still listen. Regardless of what you think. As I said before, what does that say about the people in Houston?

Actually BigA your numbers are a little off. Not to split hairs but CC's talkers, BOTH OF THEM, have a cume of just a smidge over a million. If you want cumes in the millions, you have to be CHR or AC in Houston.

 

[TheBigA]

Actually BigA your numbers are a little off. Not to split hairs but CC's talkers, BOTH OF THEM, have a cume of just a smidge over a million. If you want cumes in the millions, you have to be CHR or AC in Houston.

I was responding to the quote about the "overall demise of radio," not isolated to a couple of AM stations. You have to put my comments in context.

 

[Drucifer]

Actually BigA your numbers are a little off. Not to split hairs but CC's talkers, BOTH OF THEM, have a cume of just a smidge over a million. If you want cumes in the millions, you have to be CHR or AC in Houston.

I was responding to the quote about the "overall demise of radio," not isolated to a couple of AM stations. You have to put my comments in context.

BigA even if I accept your comments about the demise of AM radio (which are sometimes plausible) I guess that, perhaps, the best thing would be for CC to target an audience of 60+ on AM or just let them go dark... The folks who are listening to AM radio are not a fly by night audience. Most, 35+ males, have set patterns in listening. That being said, we are also creatures of habit and are the only bastions of loyalty left to the AM radio band. KTRH had a pre-set in my car because of the news, traffic and weather NOT because of the talk. Unlike a lot of folks in my demo, I don't listen to conservative talk radio so CC has assured themselves of one thing, I won't be listening. I may just be one but I suspect am more common that the suits in San Antonio may realize.

 

[TheBigA]

I may just be one but I suspect am more common that the suits in San Antonio may realize.

They know exactly how many people listen, and how many have your attitude, and they're playing the percentages. It's their job, not a hobby.

 

[Drucifer]

I may just be one but I suspect am more common that the suits in San Antonio may realize.

They know exactly how many people listen, and how many have your attitude, and they're playing the percentages. It's their job, not a hobby.

Time and ratings will tell BigA...time and ratings. If the future is indicative of the past, CC will blow this thing up again and again as it scrambles to figure out what's wrong...

 

[radiogooroo]

That's doubtful Drucifer. It looks like KTRH is following the KFI model. It'll be fine.

Libs that want news will be able to get plenty of it on KUHF. In fact, that evolution may have something to do with KTRH's evolution.

 

[TheBigA]

Time and ratings will tell BigA...time and ratings. If the future is indicative of the past, CC will blow this thing up again and again as it scrambles to figure out what's wrong...

No one needs to scramble to "figure out what's wrong." The latest census tells me that programming to older Anglo men in Houston is a declining business. The next stop will be brokered religion. Enjoy it while you can. Spending money on AM stations is money down the drain.

 

[Fieldtech1]

IMHO There are some bright spots in houston radio...

1: KHJK I know the signal isn't the best in the metro, but i really enjoy this station. It is a station that has me guessing what ill hear next and i like that.

2:KACC Another signal disadvantaged station but they have a very eclectic rock format and when in range i like to listen.

3:KSBJ Their presentation as a non-com is better than most commercial stations. They are one of my favorite non-klove CCM stations in the US.

 

[mikerichardson]

IMHO There are some bright spots in houston radio...

1: KHJK I know the signal isn't the best in the metro, but i really enjoy this station. It is a station that has me guessing what ill hear next and i like that.

I wish they would take a few songs off though... do we really need a 4th station spinning Adele every hour? Let's hear some more variety instead.

 

[mikerichardson]

Nice of TheBigA [EDIT]to carry Clear Channel's water for them and defend their decisions. The point is, radio is becoming less and less relevant to the newer generations using technology in every facet of their lives.

The reason for the overall demise of radio is the decision making of brain trusts in San Antonio, Atlanta, or any other city that have no clue as to how to run radio in Houston.

Exactly, and the one time Atlanta gets it right, I think - a station that myself and other "newer generations" listened to - gets the axe so they can make sure Billy Bob McMinorityHater can get a slightly better signal in Cahn-row.

 

[sdh483]

Old people are complaining about no classic hits/oldies in Houston? Last time I checked, KONO's numbers were pretty high in the lower demos and not 55+. Sure, they're not CHR or talk numbers, but there is definitely a place for 60s-80s hits here. It wouldn't kill anyone to try this out!

And do we seriously need THREE regional mexican stations on FM? I know the styles are different, but just freaking combine them onto one regional-mexican-CHR-like station! San Antonio doesn't have that many spanish-language FMs.

 

[Mediafrog+]

And do we seriously need THREE regional mexican stations on FM? I know the styles are different, but just freaking combine them onto one regional-mexican-CHR-like station!

Fans of the Regional Mexican formats would probably ask why Houston needs KKHH, KHMX, and KRBE all playing similar stuff...after all, it would all sound the same to them. Same for KKBQ, KTHT, and KILT-FM with country.

San Antonio doesn't have that many spanish-language FMs.

That's because the Hispanic demographics in SA are different than Houston. Hispanics in SA are mostly assimilated and English dominant. A majority of Hispanics in Houston are still Spanish dominant.

 

[willdav713]

And do we seriously need THREE regional mexican stations on FM? I know the styles are different, but just freaking combine them onto one regional-mexican-CHR-like station!

Fans of the Regional Mexican formats would probably ask why Houston needs KKHH, KHMX, and KRBE all playing similar stuff...after all, it would all sound the same to them. Same for KKBQ, KTHT, and KILT-FM with country.

San Antonio doesn't have that many spanish-language FMs.

That's because the Hispanic demographics in SA are different than Houston. Hispanics in SA are mostly assimilated and English dominant. A majority of Hispanics in Houston are still Spanish dominant.

The Mayor of San Antonio when he took office only spoke fluent English and Japanese, and he is Hispanic. I know the Mayor, I ran against him in the recent election.

 

[sdh483]

My CD player has never sounded better since H-town radio continues it's slope down from quality radio offering variety to a diverse population of millions upon millions of potential listeners. I will pronounce it officially dead to me when I receive my FM transmitter to play internet radio off my smart phone.

 

[Fieldtech1]

My CD player has never sounded better since H-town radio continues it's slope down from quality radio offering variety to a diverse population of millions upon millions of potential listeners. I will pronounce it officially dead to me when I receive my FM transmitter to play internet radio off my smart phone.

Why dont you like KHJK? They spins lots of 90s alt rock. They are the only H-town station spinning the #1 song on the Alt Rock charts- Foster the People's 'Pumped up Kicks'. I have discovered new artist thanks to KHJK, like The Avett Brothers, Alpha Rev, and others that dont get airplay on 'the Fizz' i mean 'the Buzz'.

 

[sdh483]

My CD player has never sounded better since H-town radio continues it's slope down from quality radio offering variety to a diverse population of millions upon millions of potential listeners. I will pronounce it officially dead to me when I receive my FM transmitter to play internet radio off my smart phone.

Why dont you like KHJK? They spins lots of 90s alt rock. They are the only H-town station spinning the #1 song on the Alt Rock charts- Foster the People's 'Pumped up Kicks'. I have discovered new artist thanks to KHJK, like The Avett Brothers, Alpha Rev, and others that dont get airplay on 'the Fizz' i mean 'the Buzz'.

Um....where in my post does it say I don't like KHJK? I actually do listen to KHJK quite a bit. Actually, it's the only station I will listen to. You might want to re-read before you make a comment or make assumptions.