DALLAS RADIO > HOUSTON RADIO

[amisdead]

Why is Dallas radio across the board so much better than Houston radio? The markets are very close in size yet Houston is remarkably more amateur. There is not much that is done better in Houston than Dallas, Majic being one of the few exceptions.

I am interested in hearing from those who disagree along with any theories as to why there is such a quality disparity between market 5 and market 6.

 

[mr.ric]

Having lived in Dallas in the past, I have to agree that Dallas radio is a lot better than Houston radio, especially if you are a fan of Hip-Hop and R&B. I don't have a lot of choices when it comes to what I can listen to on the radio here in Houston, unlike Dallas, where i can enjoy having a variety of stations to listen to between K104, 979 The Beat, KRNB, and even K-SOUL. Down here, I only have Majic and 979 The Box, which that station is way behind on some of the music. And sometimes Hot, in which that isn't even much of a hip-hop station. Not a lot of choices for the listener of Urban radio is not such a good thing. Country, alternative, and even Talk radio listeners have a choice, but we don't??

Unless something changes down here, I'm gonna have to stick with Dallas radio being better than Houston radio.

 

[mrh1960]

Unless something changes down here, I'm gonna have to stick with Dallas radio being better than Houston radio.

Dallas seems to be consistent..but, similiar to Houston, some of the great DFW stations of the past are gone...KZEW, KNUS, KTXQ and KFJZ...and there are those that stick around...KLUV, KVIL, KKDA, KSCS and the infamous KEGL. Houston radio is not consistent...nothing stays the same, with the exception of KILT (should have NEVER gone country) and KRBE....everything else has been through multiple format and call letter changes...

 

[ChuckTiller]

You DO understand that KILT was successful in Top 40 and Country? Dickie Rosenfeld made a good decision at that time and it mad a lot of money for Lin Broadcasting for many years. Of course, if you don't like country music, then your your statement is subjective. It was a good business decision.

 

[Shannon]

Is there a difference in salaries? That could explain the difference.

Jim Shannon

 

[mrh1960]

You DO understand that KILT was successful in Top 40 and Country? Dickie Rosenfeld made a good decision at that time and it mad a lot of money for Lin Broadcasting for many years. Of course, if you don't like country music, then your your statement is subjective. It was a good business decision.

Yes sir...I don't doubt that the switch was a good one since it is still around today. I just always thought that FM100 was the best rock station Houston ever had...and that KIKK was the best country station Houston ever had...I was sorry to see both of them go away...

 

[Scholarm1111]

Generally, I agree about commercial urban radio being better in Dallas. I especially like KKDA-AM. However, Houston does have some good stations for old school that may not show up very high up in the ratings - i.e. KCOH-AM and KTSU and of course there is also the presence of an FM commercial urban gospel station in Houston in KROI.

 

[salemjedi54]

But at least you can hear your Urban AC station. We have 2 up here on rimshot sticks. The quantity maybe more, but the quality is surely lacking. Houston does have a 24/7/365 FM Gospel station..D/FW does not.

 

[KTN Corp]

Maybe on the commercial side but Houston has better non-com stations. Dallas doesn't have a full Class C non-comm at 600 m HAAT/100 kw nor a Pacifica O&O.

 

[salemjedi54]

Maybe on the commercial side but Houston has better non-com stations. Dallas doesn't have a full Class C non-comm at 600 m HAAT/100 kw nor a Pacifica O&O.

Wouldn't KERA or KKXT meet those qualifications.

 

[amisdead]

Maybe on the commercial side but Houston has better non-com stations. Dallas doesn't have a full Class C non-comm at 600 m HAAT/100 kw nor a Pacifica O&O.

KERA is a C1, but it's 100 kw at 388 meters. Who cares? It's more than adequate to serve the market.

Compare the two. I'll take KERA over KUHF everyday.

And KPFT is totally irrelevant and often has more watts than listeners.

 

[KTN Corp]

Maybe on the commercial side but Houston has better non-com stations.  Dallas doesn't have a full Class C non-comm at 600 m HAAT/100 kw nor a Pacifica O&O.

Wouldn't KERA or KKXT meet those qualifications.

Both North Texas Public Broadcasting radio stations are half of the maximum 600 m HAAT on Class C.  KUHF is 524 m while the Pacifica station (reserved for O&Os) runs 100 kw @ 205 m. By comparison KNON, the Pacifica affiliate, runs 55 kw @ 259 m.

I'm looking forward for Houston Public Radio to find a way to make KUHA a class C 100 kw @ 600 m signal to make it on equal footing with KUHF like KKXT is to KERA.  Anybody wonder what tricks could be pulled?

KERA is a C1, but it's 100 kw at 388 meters. Who cares? It's more than adequate to serve the market.

Compare the two. I'll take KERA over KUHF everyday.

And KPFT is totally irrelevant and often has more watts than listeners.

Edit: Just saw your post.

KUHF's local signal (60 dBu) reaches Galveston; equivalent to commercial FMs, other non-com stations would envy this reach.

I was expecting that comment about KPFT since Dallas is the conservative version of San Francisco. I'd like a choice between the two networks, not just NPR. I feel fortunate to have a choice in Houston.

 

[amisdead]

I'm looking forward for Houston Public Radio to find a way to make KUHA a class C 100 kw @ 600 m signal to make it on equal footing with KUHF like KKXT is to KERA. Anybody wonder what tricks could be pulled?

Short of a major FCC rule change, that won't be happening, at least not from anywhere near Senior Road.

KUHF's local signal (60 dBu) reaches Galveston; equivalent to commercial FMs, other non-com stations would envy this reach.

Who wouldn't envy potential that reach? I'm not seeing your point. KERA's antenna may be closer to the ground, but it is more than adequate to serve the market.

I was expecting that comment about KPFT since Dallas is the conservative version of San Francisco. I'd like a choice between the two networks, not just NPR. I feel fortunate to have a choice in Houston.

Say what you will about Dallas, but the Dallas and Houston metros are very close in terms of political makeup.

Fortunately in this country you are free to listen to the station of your choosing. However, let's not pretend that an irrelevant, political fringe operation that has few listeners and even less impact somehow makes Houston a center for great non-commercial broadcasting.

 

[KTN Corp]

However, let's not pretend that an irrelevant, political fringe operation that has few listeners and even less impact somehow makes Houston a center for great non-commercial broadcasting.

I think your political bent is getting in the way of facts. Pacifica, the first public radio network, also invented the pledge drive (associated with NPR stations)!

Considering how incestuous APM, PRI, and NPR are on the primary NPR stations, Pacifica is the largest network independent of the NPR/APM/PRI system. Why APM and PRI don't settle their differences instead of playing second fiddle as syndicators to the "NPR stations" and create a nationwide alternative to NPR is beyond me. PRI's The Takeaway sounds to be a great start to the monopoly of Morning Edition.

UH targeted KTRU because of the ERP. The only two non-comm stations that are higher with metro-wide reach are KUHF and KPFT. KPFT did some good political strategy by consolidating the "eclectic" audience and giving them a bone through the technology of the (useless) HD radio subchannel.

I also like having 2 jazz stations (KTSU and KPVU) and a classic rock station (KACC) on the secular side of the spectrum. If KACC was on a higher HAAT and ERP, I would listen to it over KKRW.

 

[amisdead]

I think your political bent is getting in the way of facts.

My politics have nothing to do with the comment. The point was only that Pacific regularly espouses views that are way outside of the mainstream and that KPFT is irrelevant in a general sense in the Houston market (as is KSEV).

Pacifica, the first public radio network, also invented the pledge drive (associated with NPR stations)!

That's great and all, but it doesn't make them any more relevant today. You know, XEROX invented the mouse and graphical user interface, but I don't know anyone using a XEROX computer or operating system.

 

[amisdead]

UH targeted KTRU because of the ERP. The only two non-comm stations that are higher with metro-wide reach are KUHF and KPFT.

You are forgetting about KSBJ.

I don't know your background, but from an ownership perspective, you don't buy a station because of power. You buy because of the station's viability or potential viability in the market. Transmitter power is only a piece of that viability picture.

I also would suggest that KTSU's C3 from a central location would be much preferably to KTRU's C2 from way out past Humble even though the wattage is a lot less.

Power is important, but it is not the only factor that matters.

 

[johndavis]

I don't know your background, but from an ownership perspective, you don't buy a station because of power. You buy because of the station's viability or potential viability in the market. Transmitter power is only a piece of that viability picture.

You can also only buy what is for sale. This isn't a case of UH going to Rice and offering a bundle of money, this is a case of Rice quietly shopping the station and selling to the highest bidder.

 

[KTN Corp]

I don't know your background, but from an ownership perspective, you don't buy a station because of power. You buy because of the station's viability or potential viability in the market. Transmitter power is only a piece of that viability picture.

You can also only buy what is for sale. This isn't a case of UH going to Rice and offering a bundle of money, this is a case of Rice quietly shopping the station and selling to the highest bidder.

True. UH did make the best of it. Wortham House is in Southampton, near Rice U. Maybe the President of Rice slipped out KTRU during dinner with Khator.

UH targeted KTRU because of the ERP. The only two non-comm stations that are higher with metro-wide reach are KUHF and KPFT.

You are forgetting about KSBJ.

I don't know your background, but from an ownership perspective, you don't buy a station because of power. You buy because of the station's viability or potential viability in the market. Transmitter power is only a piece of that viability picture.

I also would suggest that KTSU's C3 from a central location would be much preferably to KTRU's C2 from way out past Humble even though the wattage is a lot less.

Power is important, but it is not the only factor that matters.

The only way to get KTSU is if TSU gets into financial trouble again and the Texas Legislature is so tired of it that it decides to hand over TSU to more competently managed, neighboring UH. (KTSU mentioned about a month/month-and-a-half ago that they are trying to upgrade to 30 kW from the present 18.5 kW. They and KPVU will be reliably received at my place in Katy if that happens.)

 

[johndavis]

True. UH did make the best of it. Wortham House is in Southampton, near Rice U. Maybe the President of Rice slipped out KTRU during dinner with Khator.

That makes for fine fiction, but business deals are far less dramatic.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The only way to get KTSU is if TSU gets into financial trouble again and the Texas Legislature is so tired of it that it decides to hand over TSU to more competently managed, neighboring UH. (KTSU mentioned about a month/month-and-a-half ago that they are trying to upgrade to 30 kW from the present 18.5 kW. They and KPVU will be reliably received at my place in Katy if that happens.)

Any upgrade isn't going to happen unless some other puzzle pieces move around. KTSU is currently treed in by co-channel KAMU in College Station, and the coverage maps already show a surprising amount of overlap. There are also first adjacents KYBJ 91.1 in Lake Jackson and the new KQLC 90.7 in Sealy to deal with (anyone heard this on the air?)

Also, a roughly 40% increase in power won't make a huge difference unless 90.9 gets on a taller tower.

You can bet the sale price of KTRU raised more than a few eyebrows amongst University administrators who have FM stations on campus. TSU would have no trouble finding a buyer for their FM--you know that KSBJ would love to have a second station, and other religious broadcasters such as AFR and EMF, amongst many others, would be thrilled to get their paws on the station. Having said that, I doubt we'll see KTSU put on the block anytime soon.