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Cox Houston + CCM?

G

GaryThompson

Guest
What's this I hear about Cox possibly flipping one of their stations to CCM in Houston?

They did it here in Tulsa Last week. www.spirit1023.com

Just curious.
 
There's speculation but I don't think anyone has heard anything you can bank on.
You can check out Troy G's New Years Day thread below for more.

> What's this I hear about Cox possibly flipping one of their
> stations to CCM in Houston?
>
> They did it here in Tulsa Last week. www.spirit1023.com
>
> Just curious.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
 
> There's speculation but I don't think anyone has heard
> anything you can bank on.

I'm rather doubtful that CCM on 106.9 would work, as it would be splitting the audience with KSBJ, which has a quarter-century head start on the format. Any such attempt on 106.9 would have to do an outstanding job of beating KSBJ at its own game, perhaps by leaning more Christian Rock as opposed to AC.

Devilish thought: Should Cox take 106.9 Urban Gospel and steal the format out from under Radio One, which might be considering it for KROI?
 
The Point will likely adjust/tweak not flip

Cox will likely tweak/adjust more like Magic 105.3 in San Antonio with 80's, 90's and today format.
 
Re: The Point will likely adjust/tweak not flip

> Cox will likely tweak/adjust more like Magic 105.3 in San
> Antonio with 80's, 90's and today format.
>
I will be surprised if Cox does anything with 106.9. Cox has made some nice changes to KLDE 1075, but for the most part Cox just lets their stations sit there and collect dust.

It would be foolish on the part of Cox to even try and go head to head with KSBJ, which is the heritage CCM in Houston and it would be extremely difficult to even take a fraction of the audience from KSBJ.

If by some chance Cox does change the format on KHPT, I agree with Mediafrog that going Christian Rock would be their best shot if Cox wants to enter the Christian music arena. Conroe's AFR station on 88.3 which covers from the I-10 corridor northward very well also has a CCM format. A third CCM station just isn't going to do very well, unless the station is extremely good and beating KSBJ would be a very difficult task to say the least.

KSBJ has built up a very loyal listenership and I just don't see anyone making any inroads against KSBJ. Houston is fortunate as KSBJ is one of the premier CCM stations in the US and has most likely won more awards than any other Houston radio station.

Mike O
 
go against Mix? not likely

> Cox will likely tweak/adjust more like Magic 105.3 in San
> Antonio with 80's, 90's and today format.
>
Mix has a 15 year history in Houston. the ratings have been decent not great. I don't see Point going against those guys.

I see a new format completely. similar to when the Point started and the 80s format being the "new hot" format.<P ID="signature">______________
"we are the sons of no one
Bastards of Young!"</P>
 
> I'm rather doubtful that CCM on 106.9 would work, as it
> would be splitting the audience with KSBJ, which has a
> quarter-century head start on the format. Any such attempt
> on 106.9 would have to do an outstanding job of beating KSBJ
> at its own game, perhaps by leaning more Christian Rock as
> opposed to AC.

Well, they're going against a station with at least 15 years of a head start in Tulsa. I definitely think they're testing the waters with that format there. After all, Cox has so many stations in the Bible Belt, Christian is a logical format for several of their stations, and the buckle of the Bible Belt is as good of a place as any to test the waters. They may or may not try the format in Houston. However, I can think of one reason they might, which is that KSBJ would be a top-10 station in Houston according to the Radio Research Consortium figures. It would have actually been ahead of KILT in the summer. Cox has no prayer (no pun intended) of being top-10 with what they're doing at 106.9 now.

> Devilish thought: Should Cox take 106.9 Urban Gospel and
> steal the format out from under Radio One, which might be
> considering it for KROI?

Well, if I were Cox, I'd be considering soft AC or regional Mexican, though I don't think they have anyone capable of doing the latter, at least right now. After all, if you want to be number one, you're not going to do it by going after number eight. However, there are some obvious pitfalls in going after a top rated station. I once worked for a GM who told me an upstart is never going to knock off an established station on its own merit regardless of how good it is. Everytime I've worked at a successful upstart or a failed heritage station, the heritage station was knocked off because it screwed up, not so much because of anything the upstart did. So, my experience is that's true, and the top stations, including KSBJ, are very well programmed, which means they're not likely to screw up.
 
KSBJ is totally vulnerable. While I can barely stomach - for a while - the watered down CCM on KLTY Dallas - KSBJ is a couple of notches below that. So I don't see any way they have much of a following among teens and young wealthy professionals. Put even a Hot-AC Christian format on there, maybe even as toned down as WAY-FM, and they will take a huge chunk out of KSBJ.

CCM is not a homogenous format, any more than "rock" is. There are the soft rock, classic rock, alternative rock, etc. formats, and roughly the same with Christian. I really doubt, though, that a Christian rock format would be commercial in Houston. KVSN, Power FM, has a niche in Dallas with about 30,000 loyal listeners / supporters. But they are non-profit, a commecial Christian rock format would be very questionable in Dallas, let alone Houston. With KSBJ programming to the mellowed out "soft rock" type of Christian, a station is needed geared more toward the needs of cash heavy mall-rat teens, 20 to 35'ish professionals, etc. The mega-church 2nd Baptist / Lakewood church crowd.
 
> KSBJ is totally vulnerable. While I can barely stomach -
> for a while - the watered down CCM on KLTY Dallas - KSBJ is
> a couple of notches below that. So I don't see any way they
> have much of a following among teens and young wealthy
> professionals.


Boy, I've got to disagree 100%. I'm guessing you haven't listened in a long time...I perceive them as being possibly the most aggressive Christian AC out there today.
 
> Boy, I've got to disagree 100%. I'm guessing you haven't
> listened in a long time...I perceive them as being possibly
> the most aggressive Christian AC out there today.

I get down there 3 or 4 times a year at least, usually for long stints. I have to admit - I gave up on KSBJ a long time ago. Whenever I tune it (its one of the first Houston stations that I get coming down I-45), I have been getting slow AC semi praise and worship stuff. My ten year old starts protesting for Radio Disney, my wife (in the middle of their supposed demographic) wants something more upbeat on the oldies station - and that's the end of KSBJ. We are all Christians, but if you call some of their fare upbeat, you would MELT if you ever hear a WAY-FM or Power-FM.

I'll give it another try, I have written to the guy who is over it on the Christian board, maybe he is upping the tempo (finally). I still remember some creative days there like "the Rock of Love" and they had a Christian oldies show in the early 90's - really good stuff. Then there was an era in the late 90's to early 00's when it sounded like it had been "Gothardized" or something. Bill Gothard attendess / victims will know what I am talking about.
The station couldn't have been more sanitized of everything upbeat and creative if Bill Gothard himself were the program director or on the board of directors.
 
> I have to admit - I gave up on KSBJ a long
> time ago. Whenever I tune it (its one of the first Houston
> stations that I get coming down I-45), I have been getting
> slow AC semi praise and worship stuff.

Well, a number of those are the legitimate hits of the format, you know. :)



> ...f you call some of their fare upbeat,
> you would MELT if you ever hear a WAY-FM or Power-FM.

Nah...I'm familiar with them. Of course KSBJ isn't going to do what those do, but, evidently, you would be surprised. Unfortunately, it'll be after Christmas before you'll be able to check it out... :)




> The station couldn't have been more sanitized of everything
> upbeat and creative if Bill Gothard himself were the program
> director or on the board of directors.

I just pulled up a monitor but would guess I can't post it. Everything now is Christmas, but, in the 12-week cumulative, I'm guessing you would be rather surprised by about 25 of their 50 most-played. After Christmas, give 'em another listen!
 
> Unfortunately, it'll be after Christmas before you'll be
> able to check it out... :)

Hinting at something here? Info, please!
 
KSBJ is in all Christmas Mode

> Hinting at something here? Info, please!
>

Considering I saw a billboard advertising it along the freeway, KSBJ has been doing all Christmas music since Thanksgiving. No secret about that.<P ID="signature">______________
...co-moderator of the Satellite Radio, Phoenix, and San Diego boards...</P>
 
Re: KSBJ is in all Christmas Mode

> Considering I saw a billboard advertising it along the
> freeway, KSBJ has been doing all Christmas music since
> Thanksgiving. No secret about that.

I thought the poster was possibly referring to some sort of new, more rock oriented/upbeat Christian format appearing in the market after Christmas.

Perhaps some such format might pop up on one of those LPFMs that are in the planning stages here.
 
I wonder if this could mean anything

Of course it could also mean nothing.

From AllAccess:

Cox/Houston LSM Murray Adds Tulsa Duties
COX RADIO's HOUSTON cluster National Sales Manager MIKE MURRAY adds the same duties for the company's TULSA cluster. The TULSA collection includes Talk KRMG, Country KWEN, Classic Rock KJSR, AC JRAV, and recent convert to Contemporary Christian KKCM (SPIRIT 102.3). The cluster is also changing its rep firms from being split between KATZ and CHRISTAL to being repped solely by CHRISTAL. <P ID="signature">______________
Because you dance to disco but you still like rock.</P>
 
Re: The Point will likely adjust/tweak not flip

> > Cox will likely tweak/adjust more like Magic 105.3 in San
> > Antonio with 80's, 90's and today format.
> >
> I will be surprised if Cox does anything with 106.9. Cox
> has made some nice changes to KLDE 1075, but for the most
> part Cox just lets their stations sit there and collect
> dust.
>
> It would be foolish on the part of Cox to even try and go
> head to head with KSBJ, which is the heritage CCM in Houston
> and it would be extremely difficult to even take a fraction
> of the audience from KSBJ.
>
> If by some chance Cox does change the format on KHPT, I
> agree with Mediafrog that going Christian Rock would be
> their best shot if Cox wants to enter the Christian music
> arena. Conroe's AFR station on 88.3 which covers from the
> I-10 corridor northward very well also has a CCM format. A
> third CCM station just isn't going to do very well, unless
> the station is extremely good and beating KSBJ would be a
> very difficult task to say the least.
>
> KSBJ has built up a very loyal listenership and I just don't
> see anyone making any inroads against KSBJ. Houston is
> fortunate as KSBJ is one of the premier CCM stations in the
> US and has most likely won more awards than any other
> Houston radio station.
>
> Mike O
>

I would have to agree with that, they will still call themselves "The Point", but they will be the best of the 80's 90's and today and take on Roula and Ryan for their morning show. If Cox were smart, they wouldn't do anything to KLDE, My dad listens to that station religiously and would probaly very unhappy, All he listens to is KLDE KILT and KTHT. He consideres anything else "garbage"
 
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