Chalk Hill Communications buys KXAL-FM

[billyg]

Cut and pasted from yesterday's "Taylor on Radio-Info" e-mail..

"Make it two sales this Summer for Spanish hits “Brisa 100.3” KXAL-FM, in east Texas. Sale #1, a regular-ole Form 314 asset sale, was from Dudley Waller-managed Waller Media to William Waller, Jr. Price was $300,000. Sale #2 is from William Waller to Chuck Conrad-led Chalk Hill Communications. Price this time, in late Summer 2009 - $250,000. Just for the heck of it, I tracked back to mid-2005, when Waller Media bought Class A KXAL-FM, Tatum, Texas from Hunt Broadcasting. The price four years ago? $975,000. KXAL is currently simulcasting Waller Broadcasting’s Spanish hits KDVE, Pittsburg, TX at 103.1. We’ll see what plans Chuck Conrad has for it. Broker on KXAL – Bill Whitley of the Dallas office of Media Services Group."

Congrats to Chuck for picking up KXAL. Any big plans for it? I wonder if that Class A can be improved.

 

[Holstead]

I love his "QX-FM" I also hear he has a mean collection of classic cars.

 

[txchipk]

Since Chalk Hill is transferring KZQX-LP to a church (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...t=25&appn=101325926&formid=314&fac_num=134419), I would guess KZQX-LP's format will go to 100.3.

 

[Chuck]

Since Chalk Hill is transferring KZQX-LP to a church (https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...t=25&appn=101325926&formid=314&fac_num=134419), I would guess KZQX-LP's format will go to 100.3.

That is correct. 100.3 will eventually become "KZQX-FM" and broadcast our "QX-FM" Adult Standards format. The church plans for the LPFM to become "Classical KXAL" and do a light classical and jazz format. That way the call sign stays in the area, and it picks up a little of the void that was the result of Kilgore College selling their Classical and Jazz station, KTPB. The church has no desire for it to become some kind of religious satellator. They think there are enough of those already.

I believe this is one of those rare instances where everyone wins. Incidentally, Bill Waller has been incredibly helpful and gracious through this entire process. My sincere thanks to him in helping make this possible.

 

[gbranch]

Congrats Chuck!

What is going to become of your Longview, Kilgore, and Tyler translators? Do you also have a translator in Henderson?

 

[Chuck]

Congrats Chuck!

What is going to become of your Longview, Kilgore, and Tyler translators? Do you also have a translator in Henderson?

Since I don't own the translators, that is going to be largely up to my friends who do own them. I suspect that Longview and Kilgore will stay with the LPFM. The Tyler translator is licensed commercial, so it would be appropriate for it to carry the 100.3 signal. That would leave Tyler no worse off than it is right now.

There has been a MX's application for a Henderson translator rattling around the FCC for the last five years. I have no idea what will become of it. Since 100.3 comes in OK in Henderson, perhaps if it is ever granted, it could be used by the LPFM.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

This is a sobering moment for many of us, Chuck. In peeking and poking around the world of LPFMs.... trying to locate the ones that have demonstrated some "smarts and know how".... you have ranked high on that list. It has not gone un-noticed that you have posted comments a number of times that LPFM has a hard time creating cash income. By buying a commercial channel, one might say that you have put some money right where your mouth has been!

I'm happy for you. I think your community will be well served by the transaction you have arranged.

I haven't looked up the exact numbers lately.... but I will very soon... but my hazy memory tells me there are give or take 900 LPFMS and close to maybe 80% are broadcasting religious programming exclusively. So in this whole nation there may be 100 to 125 LPFMs trying to do "radio programming in the classic way".

I have been trying to create a list of stations that could be my heroes, my role models. I'm looking to add to my list. Qualifications to get on my list means the station has connected to the community in such a way that people roll up their sleeves and provide programming content, and people pull out their wallet to keep the bills paid. Who should I put on my list to take Chuck's place?

 

[Chuck]

I can't give you any specifics, but I know there are a few other LPFM operators who have been able to touch their community. This station certainly has, which is one of the major reasons for taking the opportunity to have a better signal. It has become important to a lot of people, but our extremely low power has made it a challenge to be heard. In areas where it can be received, it has continually done well in the ratings. The ability to "fix" that problem is too important to pass up.

When the FCC "drank the Kool-Aide" and accepted 100 watts at 100 feet as the standard for LPFM, they sentenced the service to a slow death. A lot of enthusiastic people applied for these stations, but many found themselves empty-handed when the rules got changed after the first filing window. Those who actually got a license woke up to the reality that the coverage was not exactly adequate to be viable.

In reality, the FCC should have made the LPFM technical rules to be identical with those of translators. The only real difference being LPFM's originate local programming and translators do not. The interference level is exactly the same, but for some reason Congress was persuaded that 100 watt LPFM stations produce "unacceptable interference," while 250 watt translators do not. Only a politician could think that argument is reasonable.

If these stations had the possibility of being 250 watts at 200 feet, many would have been able to serve an entire community. Being stuck with 100 watts or less really hampered the viability of the service.

As you note, most LPFM's are owned by religious organizations and merely rebroadcast a feed provided by their true owners who are anything but local. What they are doing is legal, but not in the spirit of the original R&O. I think that is a shame.

The best thing I can tell you about this one is that it will continue to be an important member of the community. The new licensee is committed to that. Although I will no longer be in charge, I will be an enthusiastic volunteer, as will several other folks who have been there when the station needed help.

 

[radioboy]

Chuck,

I'm really pleased to learn of the transactions. I've listened to your LPFM in the past and thought you
were working really hard to fill the void in your area.

Congratulations on the FM. I'm sure it will do well under your leadership.

I love seeing a win/win. That happens too infrequently these days. Kudos to all parties involved!

 

[C414B]

Congratulations, Chuck!

Glad to see your borders enlarging for QX-FM. Hope the transition is a smooth one.

 

[gbranch]

An article in today's LNJ addressed the radio roulette that will be occuring here in ETX. This also answers the question about the new 94.3 signal that Waller is acquiring in Bullard.

http://www.news-journal.com/hp/content/news/stories/stories/2009/09/22/09222009_radio_deal.html

Chuck's QX-FM Standards format will move from 104.7 to 100.3.

The Church at Lake Cherokee takes over 104.7 and changes to light classical. No details, but hopefully the Longview and Kilgore translators will stay with the 104.7 signal when the format changes. Also, no details on the Tyler translator.

Waller to put the Brisa format that was previously on 100.3 on the new 94.3 frequency in Bullard to better serve Tyler.

 

[Chuck]

An article in today's LNJ addressed the radio roulette that will be occuring here in ETX. This also answers the question about the new 94.3 signal that Waller is acquiring in Bullard.

http://www.news-journal.com/hp/content/news/stories/stories/2009/09/22/09222009_radio_deal.html

Chuck's QX-FM Standards format will move from 104.7 to 100.3.

The Church at Lake Cherokee takes over 104.7 and changes to light classical. No details, but hopefully the Longview and Kilgore translators will stay with the 104.7 signal when the format changes. Also, no details on the Tyler translator.

Waller to put the Brisa format that was previously on 100.3 on the new 94.3 frequency in Bullard to better serve Tyler.

The newspaper failed to report that the plan is for light classical in the daytime and jazz at night. The idea is for the 104.7 signal to stay on 101.9 Longview and 105.3, Kilgore. The Tyler translator will stay with its current KZQX format.

 

[jd]

Waller to put the Brisa format that was previously on 100.3 on the new 94.3 frequency in Bullard to better serve Tyler.

Credit where it's due, Greg...you were the first to predict that here a while back.

 

[gbranch]

Chuck - technical question - do you know how the Tyler translator receive the QX-FM signal? Are translators still required to receive their programming from the over the air signal? Are they picking up the Kilgore translator and rebroadcasting it?

 

[Chuck]

Chuck - technical question - do you know how the Tyler translator receive the QX-FM signal? Are translators still required to receive their programming from the over the air signal? Are they picking up the Kilgore translator and rebroadcasting it?

Tyler gets its signal from 105.3 in Kilgore. There are actually two receivers that can switch automatically, depending on which one is getting the better signal.

I've experimented with picking up 100.3 at that location, and it seems to work pretty well, despite having KERA's translator on the building next door at 100.1. The good news is KERA signal is vertically polarized, and our receive antenna is horizontally polarized. I've also found that the Sony HD tuners are amazing in translator applications. They reject adjacent channel interference with ease.

 

[C414B]

Chuck - technical question - do you know how the Tyler translator receive the QX-FM signal? Are translators still required to receive their programming from the over the air signal? Are they picking up the Kilgore translator and rebroadcasting it?

Tyler gets its signal from 105.3 in Kilgore. There are actually two receivers that can switch automatically, depending on which one is getting the better signal.

I've experimented with picking up 100.3 at that location, and it seems to work pretty well, despite having KERA's translator on the building next door at 100.1. The good news is KERA signal is vertically polarized, and our receive antenna is horizontally polarized. I've also found that the Sony HD tuners are amazing in translator applications. They reject adjacent channel interference with ease.

My understanding is that translators relaying NCEs are not bound by the rule requiring reception via the mother station's off-air signal. Would this not apply to LPFMs or are LPFMs not given the same privileges as NCEs? (Hope I'm not showing my ignorance here by asking.)

 

[Kent]

My understanding is that translators relaying NCEs are not bound by the rule requiring reception via the mother station's off-air signal. Would this not apply to LPFMs or are LPFMs not given the same privileges as NCEs? (Hope I'm not showing my ignorance here by asking.)

Only translators in the non-commercial band have exceptions to the over-the-air rule. I suspect translators relaying LPFM's would be exempt from the over-the-air rule if and only if they were in the non-commercial band. It may be possible to have a few such translators in the non-comm band as LPFM's are non-comm operations.

 

[C414B]

My understanding is that translators relaying NCEs are not bound by the rule requiring reception via the mother station's off-air signal. Would this not apply to LPFMs or are LPFMs not given the same privileges as NCEs? (Hope I'm not showing my ignorance here by asking.)

Only translators in the non-commercial band have exceptions to the over-the-air rule. I suspect translators relaying LPFM's would be exempt from the over-the-air rule if and only if they were in the non-commercial band. It may be possible to have a few such translators in the non-comm band as LPFM's are non-comm operations.

Understandable. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[drewbuddy]

Cut and pasted from yesterday's "Taylor on Radio-Info" e-mail..

"Make it two sales this Summer for Spanish hits “Brisa 100.3” KXAL-FM, in east Texas. Sale #1, a regular-ole Form 314 asset sale, was from Dudley Waller-managed Waller Media to William Waller, Jr. Price was $300,000. Sale #2 is from William Waller to Chuck Conrad-led Chalk Hill Communications. Price this time, in late Summer 2009 - $250,000. Just for the heck of it, I tracked back to mid-2005, when Waller Media bought Class A KXAL-FM, Tatum, Texas from Hunt Broadcasting. The price four years ago? $975,000. KXAL is currently simulcasting Waller Broadcasting’s Spanish hits KDVE, Pittsburg, TX at 103.1. We’ll see what plans Chuck Conrad has for it. Broker on KXAL – Bill Whitley of the Dallas office of Media Services Group."

Congrats to Chuck for picking up KXAL. Any big plans for it? I wonder if that Class A can be improved.

slight mistake "$975,000 for KXAL/KDVE combo not $975,000 for KXAK alone." Just to clarify, congrats Chuck...

 

[gbranch]

Sounds like Chuck is moving ahead with this. QX-FM is now simulcasting on 100.3. Calls are still KXAL-FM.