December numbers are here

[Mediafrog+]

December numbers: Houston/Galveston - RadioInsight

Sunny with the usual holiday listener explosion, including some KSBJ audience, IMHO.

KOVE rising nicely.

KLTN down in the threes???

KHCB approaching the twos?

End of baseball season clobbers 790, now well behind 610. Meanwhile 97.5 holds at 0.4. Possible programming changes happening in January with the ViSN deal?

La Raza continues to sink, though sibling El Norte still doing okay. How much longer for Estrella Media in the radio business?

Our favorite dumpster fire, KROI, sinks even further into the zeroes. Alfred, please sell this station. (sorry Mr. Tejano)

Classical on KUHF HD-2 holds at a 0.4. Almost tied with 92.1.

The TUDN landfill fire on 93.3 has been somewhat contained, up to a 0.3.

 

[davideduardo]

KOVE rising nicely.

The sample of Hispanics is older.

KLTN down in the threes???

The Hispanic sample is way overweighted with Central Americans

La Raza continues to sink, though sibling El Norte still doing okay. How much longer for Estrella Media in the radio business?

Again, significant under balance of Mexican Spanish dominants, totally opposite reality.

The TUDN landfill fire on 93.3 has been somewhat contained, up to a 0.3.

And with Spanish sports, that is enough to make money with what is a very bad facility.

 

[jt99]

Interesting to see that KODA seems to be affecting KSBJ (and possibly KTRH?) more than KKHH. Nothing else of much note aside from the aforementioned continued decline of Spanish language radio in the market (save for KOVE-FM increasing). I actually am curious how well they're doing in the sales demos, since it was mentioned in either the September or October thread that they had actually beaten KLTN in 18-49.

 

[HTX]

Wasn’t KSBJ at the top last Christmas? I wonder why more people went to Sunny to listen to a bunch of ads.

 

[JoeLouis]

Almost all the "Christmas" stations double or triple their ratings in December, look at WLTW (Lite FM NY) WLIF Baltimore and KOST Los Angeles.

 

[jt99]

Wasn’t KSBJ at the top last Christmas? I wonder why more people went to Sunny to listen to a bunch of ads.

The #2 station in 6+ behind only KODA, yes. But the absolute #1 during this time of year is always KODA, and it's never close.

 

[Mrtejano]

Our favorite dumpster fire, KROI, sinks even further into the zeroes. Alfred, please sell this station. (sorry Mr. Tejano)

Yes please sell it so that I won’t have to read this every month 😂. Just kidding, but who would buy it? He can’t just say, hey someone buy my station, and if what many are saying about radio dying why would anyone invest in something that is dying??

 

[Mrtejano]

And as for KLTN, we have to remember that Raul Brindis isn’t live either, that pushes lots of his morning ratings away too. I don’t listen when he’s out. I don’t listen to the rest of the shows so I don’t know if they’re live or not

 

[Mediafrog+]

Yes please sell it so that I won’t have to read this every month 😂. Just kidding, but who would buy it? He can’t just say, hey someone buy my station

Radio One would have no trouble selling KROI. Either Audacy or iHeart could use it for their AM sportstalkers. Cox could use it as a simulcast for 97.1, with more format flexibility. Religious broadcasters such as EMF or VCY America would jump at the opportunity, and even Hope Media Group might have some ideas for the signal. KHCB might want 92.1 as a new home for its Spanish language programming (currently on a bad AM signal and very limited FM translator.) Gow Media would find 92.1 a big improvement over 97.5 for their sportstalk effort.

The new KROI tower has improved the signal over the market. No, it’s not a Missouri City stick, but the coverage is preferable to one of the eastern rimshots.

All Radio One has to do is put KROI on the block and see what offers come in. Of course they will only get a small fraction of what they paid for it in 2004, but it appears they have already written off that loss…and it would remove a headache from the RO portfolio.

and if what many are saying about radio dying why would anyone invest in something that is dying??

Because FM radio is dying much more slowly than AM radio, thus my idea of moving the sportstalk format of either 610 or 790 to 92.1 to preserve audience.

 

[Huff]

Wasn’t KSBJ at the top last Christmas? I wonder why more people went to Sunny to listen to a bunch of ads.

Last December, KODA had a 10.8, KSBJ had a 6.3

 

[JoeLouis]

I see many posts on this forum about the demise of AM radio, I for one hope that doesn't happen a good example WCBS AM 880 comes in (and I'm talking day hours) from Maryland to Massachusetts, where as WCBS-FM comes in only in the immediate NYC area, also WFAN just added 101.9 I live in Central CT and it does not reach, where as WFAN 660 comes in like the antenna was a mile away, so long live AM radio as far as I'm concerned.

 

[davideduardo]

And as for KLTN, we have to remember that Raul Brindis isn’t live either, that pushes lots of his morning ratings away too. I don’t listen when he’s out. I don’t listen to the rest of the shows so I don’t know if they’re live or not

This book, while named December, ended on the 7th of December and does not include the "Christmas" 4-week "13th month of the year".

 

[davideduardo]

I see many posts on this forum about the demise of AM radio, I for one hope that doesn't happen a good example WCBS AM 880 comes in (and I'm talking day hours) from Maryland to Massachusetts, where as WCBS-FM comes in only in the immediate NYC area, also WFAN just added 101.9 I live in Central CT and it does not reach, where as WFAN 660 comes in like the antenna was a mile away, so long live AM radio as far as I'm concerned.

None of those signals that extend beyond the Nielsen Metro Survey Area generates any additional revenue that an MSA signal alone would earn. Advertisers do not buy the additional coverage of a big signal station... they buy each market separately and locally.

The main reason for stations like WFAN and WINS adding FM is that "nobody" is listening to AM any longer; by "nobody" I mean nearly anyone in the under-55 age groups that nearly every agency account buys against.

 

[JoeLouis]

None of those signals that extend beyond the Nielsen Metro Survey Area generates any additional revenue that an MSA signal alone would earn. Advertisers do not buy the additional coverage of a big signal station... they buy each market separately and locally.

The main reason for stations like WFAN and WINS adding FM is that "nobody" is listening to AM any longer; by "nobody" I mean nearly anyone in the under-55 age groups that nearly every agency account buys against.

I'm sorry if that's the case that it's all about $$$, WFAN does advertise local businesses here where I live and there's no way the people are listening to the 101.9 version, they just don't reach here, but that could be one of a few exemptions???

 

[b-turner]

Now for a fictional visit to my former radio station owner's office to talk KROI...

So, you think I should buy KROI to put either the 610 or 790 Sport-talk format on 92.1. My first question: How does that make me money?
It preserves the audience.
Again, how does that make me money. Not only do I have the note for KROI but how does more money come in because the former AM listener goes to 92.1. How do I pay the debt and operations on both frequencies and increase my profit margin?

I've been in that hot seat many times and I considered each one a learning opportunity. Not needling here but just sharing from an owner's perspective.

I suppose one big question is how many buys are local. The national/regional stuff will be there regardless, it's what happens at the local level that seems to matter.

Why chose a 'better rimshot' versus full market?

 

[davideduardo]

I'm sorry if that's the case that it's all about $$$, WFAN does advertise local businesses here where I live and there's no way the people are listening to the 101.9 version, they just don't reach here, but that could be one of a few exemptions???

It's likely that the "local businesses" you refer to are really branches of businesses that operate in the NYC metro also. For example, if McDonalds advertises on a NYC station to sell burgers and shakes, it's not making that buy specifically to sell in central CT but if they have franchise stores there, those operators get a little fringe benefit.

But nobody in central CT is going to pay NYC radio ad rates to sell in a much smaller metro (or rural) area. They can buy local media for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Mrtejano]

Our favorite dumpster fire, KROI, sinks even further into the zeroes. Alfred, please sell this station. (sorry Mr. Tejano)

Does Mr Alfred visit this site? And maybe he’s happy with what ever is going on 92.1? Why hasn’t he put it in the market yet if not?

 

[Ryan Williams]

Why chose a 'better rimshot' versus full market?

Well there isn't really a full market signal that is struggling and likely available for a sale.

 

[victorres43]

I know rimshots are a result of wonky FCC rules,

But I still don't know how KILT AM will benefit from 92.1, considering that Cypress, Kingwood, Klein, Conroe, and The Woodlands are outside the 60 dBu signal (per the FCC). And Inner Loop Houston may not be able to receive the signal without a good radio.

There's a reason why Texans games are aired on 100.3.

 

[davideduardo]

Does Mr Alfred visit this site? And maybe he’s happy with what ever is going on 92.1? Why hasn’t he put it in the market yet if not?

In 2004 Radio One paid $72.45 million for the station. And, while it has likely been devalued on the books under an "impairment charge" it is likely still overvalued as an asset. So if they sell it for what the market would give today, they might have a significant 8-figure write-off which would affect the P&L and even the stock price much more than just keeping it coasting along.