From The Department of Here We Go Again

[ContinuousWave]

CW, you could always pick you up a "Frankenlator." They're trying to sell Channel 6 in Beaumont as part of a package deal, and advertising that it can be used for FM 87.7 broadcasting...

And I talked with that broker...will NEVER happen (even Steve Lee agreed)....the FCC recently shot down that proposal......Alexander, who owns the LD, was offered 10K for the station a while back.....thats all its worth.......now 300k for three LPTVs?? not bad....

In other news, KEHO-LD 49 is for sale....at the low low price of 650k!!! but in the Houston market, it may be worth it.....however, when the repack comes along its gonna be rough finding a new channel for it...probably better letting it go in the auction

 

[ContinuousWave]

I assume KOLE, although one of the Cumulus stations could be, given their penny stock value these days.

Not KOLE... Sima wants 450k....and will not LMA...I suspect 990, 1150 or 1450.....will be talking with the broker soon and will find out..

 

[ContinuousWave]

Mouse: BMT is Beaumont. BPA would be Beaumont-Port Arthur, the two largest communities over there in Jefferson County...

...or they were. Both cities have really been decimated over the past couple of decades.

C-Dub: It'd be an absolute pleasure and would certainly be an honor, brother. It'd be goodbye KULF, and welcome back "KACO, AM 1090, Bellville-Sealy, Austin County's home for classic hits, Musicradio 1090 KACO". It has to be KULF though. That's the only facility I'd ever risk that kind of money on, given my lack of knowledge on what all it'd take to make it turn a profit again. It'd be an uphill battle for sure. 1090 has no recognition up there anymore, and Bellville itself only has so much potential for paying advertisers. I'd have to target the ever expanding Katy-west Houston market, and to some extent, Brenham-Chappell Hill. Plus, we'd have to move the tower back to Bellville, I'd assume, because I only own the one plot of land up there...but it's 19 acres, so I think we'd be okay there..ha!

I've got to stop...I'm getting goose bumps from thinking about it, and hell I know it's a pipe dream and wishful thinking at best. I'd never be able to afford a real asking price for 1090, without putting myself squarely in the poor house, and living off a steady diet of Van Camp's pork n' beans and government cheese...

1090 may be worth 50-75k at most!!!.....a daytimer ?? in a non rated market?? 50k may be tooo much....I cant understand why it could not be upgraded to a 24/7 signal....its basically looking at the Gulf with noone close to protect...bet it could be upgraded and throw a better signal towards Houston....HMMM once I get my major loan, I may just go talk to them...

 

[ChuckTiller]

As far as 'throwing' a signal to Houston, 1070 is a 2nd adjacency. The folks at 1090 attempted to do that with 10KW; however, Salem Legal let them know that there would be a fight and they have deeper pockets.

 

[ContinuousWave]

2nd adjacent is not an issue.....it could be done.....regardless of Salem's God filled pockets.....It would be nice to have a 10kw signal toward Houston to give it a REAL music radio station again and I have a second CQUAM exciter
However, I have to concentrate on my own station right now.....BUT maybe in the future......

 

[ChuckTiller]

I disagree. It is an issue. They tried before and we got it stopped based on the adjacency. What I don't understand is the remark about God filled pockets. That wasn't necessary. All I was saying was that they could sustain the fight. As far as the disparaging "God" remark, I am disappointed.

 

[purpledevil]

As far as the disparaging "God" remark, I am disappointed.

+1. That's not the Continuous Wave I've come to know over all these years. As I expressed in a previous post, I'd be ecstatic to live long enough to hear 1090 return to its roots as a community based, Austin County serving facility as it once was, and I believe that CW would be the person best suited to make this happen, given Salem's previous pass on the facility. However, I've truly been left slack jawed from the comment made above. Any broadcast facility fearful of taking on interference from an adjacent or second adjacent station is going to protect their own investment, regardless of their religious beliefs or agenda.

I really want to believe we are misinterpreting the intent of his comment. I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt to him until there's further clarification of his wording. I've had the pleasure of private conversation with him, same as I have had with you, Chuck, and that's not what I've come to expect from my friend and fellow participant.

Edit to add: KOPY Alice is also a concern for any further upgrades to KULF, and of course...everyone down here still protects co-channel K- double A- Y.

 

[stan]

So if any of these stations were broadcasting in HD, wouldn't that cause even more potential interference?

 

[frankberry]

Joe,

I deleted your post. The history of the ownership (with your opinion of the owners) of KULF is not relevant to this thread.

Frank

 

[davideduardo]

2nd adjacent is not an issue.....it could be done.....regardless of Salem's God filled pockets.....It would be nice to have a 10kw signal toward Houston to give it a REAL music radio station again and I have a second CQUAM exciter
However, I have to concentrate on my own station right now.....BUT maybe in the future......

Others have commented the inappropriate "God filled pockets" remark.

What is worthy of comment is the idea that any general market music format targeting a major market on AM is not going to work, sales or audience wise.

A few such stations, with WHLI on Long Island being an example, sustain themselves only by sharing expenses within a cluster with successful FM stations. But a stand-alone AM with music aimed at seniors is going to have a very hard time of it, existing only until the money runs out and Chapter 11 becomes the only salvation.

There are niche positions for ethnic stations that include music when the target audience has no alternatives on FM. Here the San Jose and Seattle Radio Desi stations would be examples.

 

[ChuckTiller]

In the early to mid 2000s, when I was video recording depositions, many times I would have tyo be in downtown Houston. I would get in early into the city, to avoid the traffic. If I was fortunate enough to sit in a parking lot on the east side of the city, I would DX the radio, while waiting for the time to go into the building and set up my equipment. That's when I found, "The Big 1-38," KRCM 1380 in Beaumont. It was a great sounding rocker. It didn't last, not just because of KCOL (which is supported by the cluster), but because of what David Eduardo stated above. "...a stand-alone AM with music aimed at seniors is going to have a very hard time of it, existing only until the money runs out and Chapter 11 becomes the only salvation." "The Big 1-38" was a stand alone, and we know what happened to that.

 

[stan]

In the early to mid 2000s, when I was video recording depositions, many times I would have tyo be in downtown Houston. I would get in early into the city, to avoid the traffic. If I was fortunate enough to sit in a parking lot on the east side of the city, I would DX the radio, while waiting for the time to go into the building and set up my equipment. That's when I found, "The Big 1-38," KRCM 1380 in Beaumont. It was a great sounding rocker. It didn't last, not just because of KCOL (which is supported by the cluster), but because of what David Eduardo stated above. "...a stand-alone AM with music aimed at seniors is going to have a very hard time of it, existing only until the money runs out and Chapter 11 becomes the only salvation." "The Big 1-38" was a stand alone, and we know what happened to that.

I think PyleComm is what happened to that - and the former KWIC at 107.9.

 

[ContinuousWave]

In the early to mid 2000s, when I was video recording depositions, many times I would have tyo be in downtown Houston. I would get in early into the city, to avoid the traffic. If I was fortunate enough to sit in a parking lot on the east side of the city, I would DX the radio, while waiting for the time to go into the building and set up my equipment. That's when I found, "The Big 1-38," KRCM 1380 in Beaumont. It was a great sounding rocker. It didn't last, not just because of KCOL (which is supported by the cluster), but because of what David Eduardo stated above. "...a stand-alone AM with music aimed at seniors is going to have a very hard time of it, existing only until the money runs out and Chapter 11 becomes the only salvation." "The Big 1-38" was a stand alone, and we know what happened to that.

Oh cont-rare Chuck.....1380 was SOLD by Fred Morton who owned it to Ralph McBride who then simulcast 1340 on it...trying to get a better Beaumont audience for the KOLE signal....It did not file for Chapter 11....it was SOLD by Fred who decided not to keep it....and McBride offered a decent price....

Lets keep the record straight shall we??

 

[ContinuousWave]

I disagree. It is an issue. They tried before and we got it stopped based on the adjacency. What I don't understand is the remark about God filled pockets. That wasn't necessary. All I was saying was that they could sustain the fight. As far as the disparaging "God" remark, I am disappointed.

Well Salem has not been the most accepted religious broadcaster...I recall at a RAB convention the rep for Salem was BOOED by the crowd as he walked toward the podium to speak. I dont have personal interaction with Salem (I DO with Family Radio and have had a pleasant experience with them....an experience with KSBJ was ok but I know others have had bad ones!...and you know some quite well Chuck)...

Everyone has an opinion on broadcasters...I perhaps jumped a little on Salem but 2nd adj can be worked with no issue...especially with the mileage separation and pattern of 1070.........but the asking price is probably too much....and it wont happen....Now I think we can all agree on Crap Channel and Cumeless......

 

[ChuckTiller]

I have worked for Salem since November 2004, for the 2nd time. The 1st time was part time from 1998-2002. I left to go to KHJZ. I came back when I was asked to help start their newstalk operation. Therefore, I do have personal interaction with them an it has been very good. There is no interference concerning the local level. As far as being 'booed by the crowd," that is subjective. We don't know if it was former employees or folks who simply despise Christian broadcasters. Therefore, I do not care. I do know this; I would much rather work for Salem, instead of the aforementioned broadcasters and others who operate in the same fashion of treating their employees like cattle. At Salem Radio Houston, we have several long term folks who work for us. Marsha Lambeth has worked for us for 18 years. Scott Van Pelt for the same amount, just to name a few. Many have worked here for 10 years or less. I have the most stable programming staff in the city, full time and part time. No, we do not pay the best. No, not everybody is going to be happy in any job; that happens. Are we overworked and underpaid? Most likely, but, we are stable and we are fair. The point is about 1380, IT DID NOT LAST! Why was it sold? Because it wasn't making it.

 

[stan]

The point is about 1380, IT DID NOT LAST! Why was it sold? Because it wasn't making it.

1380 didn't make it in Beaumont not because it didn't have listeners, but because Ralph McBride unethically stole the station from its city of license to move it to Conroe. It won't last there most likely.

 

[ContinuousWave]

Fred Morton who owned 1380 KRCM in its oldies days, decided to sell because of tower issues (the old tower that it and KWIC has been on was about to fall down and the land owner would NOT let a new one go up...Fred was having to look at a new site with a totally new ground system, a 1/4wave tower and more $$ than he wanted to spend)....Ralph McBride bought it not because it was NOT working, but he wanted a second channel to add to KOLE...KRCM was actually doing ok with listeners...but when Fred looked at the $$ to upgrade/fix it and Ralph was there offering $$$, yeah he sold.....but there was NO Chapter 7/11, etc NOR did it FAIL.....it was SOLD! THATS why it didnt last......NOW If you want to argue about it more, contact Fred on FB and ASK HIM and he'll tell you the same thing.

NOW as to AM music stations not making it, WOW......lets see....1600KOGT Orange.....Gary makes money, has a full time staff, plays country and does NOT have a FM.....so the argument that a music playing AM cannot make it is FALSE!!

 

[davideduardo]

NOW as to AM music stations not making it, WOW......lets see....1600KOGT Orange.....Gary makes money, has a full time staff, plays country and does NOT have a FM.....so the argument that a music playing AM cannot make it is FALSE!!

KOGT has been under the same ownership for nearly 25 years, and is running on it's fading heritage more than anything. They apparently bill $10 to $12 k a month, and owning the station is sort of like having a guaranteed, but low paying, job. It averages under a one share in audience, which likely means ad campaigns don't get really great results... the AQH persons is 100 and all above 55.

But if a person wants to have a station and does not mind making about what the manager of a WalMart makes, that may be satisfying because you are the master of your own destiny in a small manner.

 

[ChuckTiller]

Chris, I don't have to contact Fred on Facebook. I know him personally and have worked with him in the past at KKTL "97-Talk-FM." David Eduardo is correct. The "Big 138" would have eventually failed. When I was at KILT (1984-1997) (2000-2002) in the 1980s, the decision to simulcast "Hudson & Harrigan" was made. Up to that point, KILT-610 was regularly pulling 3.5-4 numbers in the books. When the simulcast began, KILT-AM tanked. Why listen to an AM station, when one can hear it on the FM? KCOL will continue to do as well as it can. Fortunately, it's on 92.5 FM. Although, it's only 31KW, it covers a very big area. Let me assist with this, okay? You win! (Plus, you don't even have to apologize for your comments about Salem) Now, that should make you feel better.

 

[LibertyNT]

Pending the market and location of an AM station, Music can and does work. That being said, even small market AM stations are starting to struggle without an FM presence, I guarantee you KOGT is either actively searching for an FM Translator, or is strongly considering it. I think as time marches on more and more AM stations are going to run into financial trouble.

As far as heritage goes, look what happened to KICT Gonzales.