English College Basketball on a Spanish Religious Station?

[AlanB]

I was scanning the AM band this evening and heard UT-Arlington basketball in English on KTNO-620. I know that UTA had a contract (time buy?) with the business format that was KEXB, but why would they continue that contract when the format changed to Spanish language Christian preaching/music?


I know, I know. Why does UT-Arlington even have a radio broadcast? From Salem's point of view, the check for the airtime is the same regardless of the programming, but it just seemed odd for both the station and the college to have basketball play-by-play on this station.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I think you hit the nail on the head in your second paragraph and kind of answered your own question - because it's paying the bills. It's a Salem station; An AM signal in my neck of the woods was once owned and operated by Salem, most of the programming was brokered and it was all over the road and they'd air whatever paid the bills. One hour would be a tired infomercial for a stock trading system that had been airing for months, the following hour it could be a local program hosted and paid for by a guy who owned a lending company and would speak about any number of topics and bring completely random guests on, the following hour could be a Caribbean music program, followed by an hour about public safety and fire/EMS & police, followed by an hour-long program hosted by folks who supported marijuana legalization and education, then usually a snake-oil/miracle cures salesman. Salem would sell slots of time to most anyone who'd pay.

In the case of UTA, they may also still have a contract with the station, or maybe they post signage and advertise in the arena and around campus or to alumni in that area that they can always pick up the games on that particular station?

 

[b-turner]

Lots of these schools are trying for airtime but few stations will alter programming to sell the time. Those that might charge a huge amount. Somebody like Salem might be one of the few options available and at a price they can afford.

I worked a deal in Houston where one college purchased the time from my existing programmers at the amount they made off the program along with a premium plus the time at rate card and 20% on top of that for me to hassle with it all. It was a windfall for us and actually cheaper than the previous station they could no longer afford. They could care less there was a Polish language show before the game or a Bollywood music show after it.

 

[salemjedi54]

I was scanning the AM band this evening and heard UT-Arlington basketball in English on KTNO-620. I know that UTA had a contract (time buy?) with the business format that was KEXB, but why would they continue that contract when the format changed to Spanish language Christian preaching/music?


I know, I know. Why does UT-Arlington even have a radio broadcast? From Salem's point of view, the check for the airtime is the same regardless of the programming, but it just seemed odd for both the station and the college to have basketball play-by-play on this station.

At one time UTA Basketball was on KKDA 730 AM before Service sold it. As for why UTA airs basketball. Well for one they are in a major basketball conference and they have won the conference championship 2 times. UTA is in a top 5 media market. UTA is the 3 largest university in the UT System and they have a strong alumni base in this area.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Someone hit the nail on the head, its a left over contract already paid for... and i think some alumni are involved in having paid for it