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David Gow Buys the Translator

  • Thread starter Deleted member 108832
  • Start date

MarkW said:
K223CW should in no way be reaching "several million people" reliably based on its currently licensed specs.

That said, it is possible (maybe) that it could apply for an upgrade given 1540's specs.
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I'll take the word of @fybush who does engineering filings, station appraisals, and brokerage for a living. Looking at the contour map I bet it comes close to the $1 per head mark, which would mean 1.1 million in the contour. Several million may not have been the right term, but the valuation looks right.
 
lanceventa said:
I'll take the word of @fybush who does engineering filings, station appraisals, and brokerage for a living. Looking at the contour map I bet it comes close to the $1 per head mark, which would mean 1.1 million in the contour. Several million may not have been the right term, but the valuation looks right.
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The recent "real world" coverage of of K223CW very well may reach millions, but the licensed FCC 60 dBu contour doesn't even get to 400,000.
 
I checked KGBC via a (rather deaf) Kiwi SDR in Galveston. It was indeed running ESPN programming with a couple of local Houston spots just before 11pm, but the transmitter kicked off the air just before the TOHID would have been inserted.
 
101.9 La Kalle said:
Maybe KGBC isn't airing KFNC's programming and instead it's own feed?
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Checking KGBC around 9am Friday 3/1 and it is a simulcast of the local programming on 97.5. Once again no mention of KGBC during the TOHID.

KGBC 1540 does nothing to improve the reach of the sports format as the 97.5 signal is solid in Galveston County.

Wonder what Siga has in mind for KGBC once KFNC is sold, presuming 97.5 becomes a non-comm? And what happened to the previous programmer that leased the station?
 
Astros2023 said:
Gow Media is simulcasting ESPN on KGBC AM , K269GS 101.7 fm and K223CW 92.5. RDS needs updating on 101.7 fm
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This is all so weird. As bad as 97.5 is, it's definitely better than the licensed facilities of 1540/92.5/101.7. I don't see how that simulcast could carry the water for ESPN Houston by themself and it doesn't move the needle much when combined with 97.5.
 
fybush said:
Having just been in Houston last fall, the 92.5 does pretty well.
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On paper, it is a different story (take that as you will...board rules prevents us from any further 'speculation').
fybush said:
And as a broker who handles a lot of translators, a very rough rule of thumb is $1 per head in the 60 dBu contour.

For the 92.5, that's several million people. You do the math.
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Just looking at data, sure. But there are several other things to consider when it comes to signals like these. Houston is a very mobile city and people are moving all over the place all the time. Last I checked, the average Houston area resident travels an average of 22 miles per day. Just how valuable is a translator that only works in one part of the city and shares the channel with other licenses in the metro? How many people are willing to invest time listening to a station with a very hyper-localized signal? You think that someone who lives in Montrose and works in Humble or Pasadena will dedicate time listening to a station thst they can't listen to half of the time? And then there's the fact that K223CW is extremely low powered. So even people inside its own 60 dBu contour will have a hard time listening indoors.

Is there value to the station? Sure. But I don't think it's fair to calculate the value as if it were a fully licensed station. Let's not forget that the translator will always be at the mercy of other fully licensed stations. If the FCC were to ever relax spacing rules like Mexico did, K223CW could lose all of its value overnight.
 
KGBC Was charging 20k a month for its signal about 5 years ago.. most recently the church that had it was paying 15k with the option to purchase it. Sounds like burning 15k but .. kgbc could be a primary signal for 105.3 where it would become legal for the first time after about 3 years now. j/s or maybe no but having 1540 in Galveston brings nothing to the table plus the sale i was offered does not include 1540 so this is a whole new deal. but consider that Arango who owns 1540 did just sell a station for 1.1 mil a few days ago.
 
Is there value to the station? Sure. But I don't think it's fair to calculate the value as if it were a fully licensed station. Let's not forget that the translator will always be at the mercy of other fully licensed stations. If the FCC were to ever relax spacing rules like Mexico did, K223CW could lose all of its value overnight.
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Full power FMs tend to go for $2 to $3 per head based on 60 dBu or 65 dBu contour coverage.
 
stan said:
Y’all are assuming that the programming will change from sports with a sale. It might not.
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What new owner would want to continue a sports format that has consistently drawn numbers in the low zeroes for many years? Were I either iHeart or Audacy seeking a simulcast outlet, I would much prefer 93.3 or 107.9 should some rimshot signals become available.

It is likely there is not enough room for three local sportstalkers in Houston. DFW does fine with only two, after previously having a third option.

Much more likely KFNC goes to a religious operator. If I understand the rules correctly, the translators can extend past the primary contour of a primary non-comm, eliminating the need for KGBC.

Had the amusing thought that, if iHeart acquired 107.9 for an FM simulcast of 790, they could brand it something like “SportsTalk one-oh-seven-nine” or “one-oh-seven-ninety.” Could even combine the frequencies in a logo with one number which had some color or font differences to show both.🤪🤣
 
radioislife2020 said:
the sale i was offered does not include 1540 so this is a whole new deal.
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I strongly suspect the KGBC simulcast is temporary to keep K223CW in compliance as far as originating stations go. The simulcast will disappear with a sale of 97.5.
radioislife2020 said:
but consider that Arango who owns 1540 did just sell a station for 1.1 mil a few days ago.
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That would be KHFX which is on the fringes of the DFW market. It was sold to La Promesa, which has been mentioned as a possible suitor for KFNC. La Promesa currently owns KSHJ with English language EWTN programming; might 97.5 possibly be a future home for EWTN’s Spanish language service?
 
HTX said:
I wonder if they’re going to even mention 101.7 in their branding at all
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Listened for a while today, and no mention of 101.7 or 1540, even in the TOHIDs.

They appear to have dropped the Spencer Tillman liners and imaging, and gone back to the previous “ESPN voice”.
 


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