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Does Texas have a college station that pros respect?

R

radiolacey

I'm a broadcasting consultant with 28 years full time on-air exp. Recently began consulting a college station in So. Cal. that is dead serious about being a perfect model of a commercial station in every way. We have engaged the college of marketing at this university to sell underwriting. The underwriting ads work and sound alot like regular radio advertising while still within legal parameters. Equipment is now pro also. I have been given a commission to do research of any American college/university station striving to also act as a "perfect" model as well. Does anyone have a suggestion of a station I should visit for this research? Some station that is really pulling allll of the important aspects of good commercial radio into an effective lab for college students? If so, please advise! You may email me directly at: [email protected]

Yours in Crime,

Lacey Kendall
 
It's not the same as the station you are dealing with in California, but KSAU 90.3 FM in Nacogdoches, TX (Stephen F. Austin State University) ran a fairly tight ship. Music formats were dayparted (Jazz from 10 am to 5 p.m., AAA from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Alternative Rock from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.) News was at the top of every hour, backtiming was expected, local news included actualities, plus there was public service programming on the weekends.

Airstaff was expected to cut a certain number of promos and psa's every semester.

They hadn't gotten into underwriting when I was there.

Also, KSHU at Sam Houston St. in Huntsville, TX actually had prepared playlists, and the student manager could fire DJs if need-be.

I like what is happening in So Cal.
 
Check out KUHF FM in Houston. It's not a "college" station, strictly speaking. It's owned by the University of Houston, the licensee, but the station is allowed to go its own way in programming to the general public. The format is NPR and local news/information and classical music, and the staff is 100 percent fulltime professionals.

The news department of is made up of former commercial radio news anchors and reporters, with well over a hundred years of combined experience. They compete head to head with the Houston commercial stations in covering local news, and in winning awards from the Associated Press Broadcasters Ass'n and the Houston Press Club.

Their stories and voices are heard frequently on NPR and American Public Media, which provides the Marketplace Morning and Evening Reports. Any one of the reporters and anchors could go to work at NPR and APM today. I've been told that only a small handful of NPR affiliates have news departments of this caliber.

Underwriting announcements -- commercials -- are all read live by the anchors during Morning Edition and All Things Considered in the afternoon. None are recorded. A full time sales staff brings in those accounts.

KUHF does very well in the money area. With a six million dollar annual budget, it recently raised 960 thousand dollars in its bi-annual 8-day on-air fundraising campaign. The goal was 900 thousand. Plans are to raise the goal to a million in next fall's campaign.

Here's a link to its website. Among a lot of other arts related things, you'll find a deep file of recent news stories, complete with audio, transcripts and photographs. http://www.kuhf.org
 
All the pros in Houston love KACC, the Alvin Community College station. It programs classic rock, and it's fun to hear the kids talk about the music their parents enjoyed. Very professional operation.

KTSU is also a great station at Texas Southern University. The only place in Houston where you can hear real jazz full-time.
 
1997-1999. I dropped out midway through my senior year as I was distracted by getting married, and my first on-air gig at KJCS. I later left KJCS for "a real job," but wound up getting laid off in 2000, reverted back to radio, and have been working for small town stations ever since.
 
KUT in Austin used to be cutting edge, but for the future talent pool of 21st century radio people-go to Alvin, Texas and KACC. It is without peer.

I am Josh Holstead-I approve this message.
 
KUT Austin is top drawer. They have cultivated a large and loyal audience. They have a full time news department. And they have invested in new technologies including HD Radio. They also have probably the best radio production facilities in the market.

I would definietely say it's a college station that pros respect.
 
fredcantu said:
KUT Austin is top drawer. They have cultivated a large and loyal audience. They have a full time news department. And they have invested in new technologies including HD Radio. They also have probably the best radio production facilities in the market.

I would definietely say it's a college station that pros respect.
Click to expand...

While I'd never call KUT anything but professional, I'd also never call KUT a college radio station. True, it's on UT-Austin's campus, but I don't think they have any students on-air and precious few even working there. Indeed, that's one reason that KVRX was created, to give the students a place to learn the trade.

http://www.kvrx.org
 
As a General Manager, I have hired a number of college station grads. The kids I have hired from SFA in Nacogdoches have been pretty good. They are "technically sound," they understand the concept and how stuff actually gets on the air.

It appears to me that SFA engages & encourages the student's creative side while keeping them in check about showing up on time, being respectful, and getting them to think about promotions and how to help create revenue.

When I get 2 resumes and everything else is equal, someone with experience at SFA's campus station will get a closer look

B.A. "Sandy" Sanford
General Manager
Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation
El Dorado, Arkansas
 
I served my time at KSAU at SFA in Nac too... and also worked at KJCS/KEEE back in the late 70s early 80s.. It was a very good training ground that led quite a number of jocks and engineers to bigger and better things in Houston and Dallas and other big markets.

The one thing I recall about KSAU and the Communications department at the time was that Dr. Oliver was not afraid to tell someone when he thought they should pursue a career behind the scenes instead of on air... He had a good feel for talent.

Kevinc
 
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