Is it time for a Houston comeback?

[sdh483]

Austin's KOKE FM returns to their airwaves, San Antonio brought KTFM back from the dead, Dallas relaunched 97.1 The Eagle years ago.

When will a legendary Houston station come back from the dead and make a triumph return? KLOL? KIKK?

 

[willdav713]

When someone wins the lotto, or some millionaire wants to play let's spend.

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

But if were to suggest if anything is coming back, and it is far fetch it would be KILT The Big 610, but something like KILT The Big 610/100.3 FM Houston's Greatest Hits.

But you have stations that did make a comeback on HD such as Energy and Smooth Jazz, just like Austin has with Mega.

I don't see KIKK coming back any time soon. They tore that station up KIKK ended up to be an ultimate train wreck.

For KLOL it did get resurrected on a rim shot signal and Houston has a plenty of them. If the station is not listenable, how is it going to make a profit, hence the reason why it is now or soon going to be an EMF property.

Unless it is the old KILT, or the old KQQK don't count on it.

 

[stan]

We can always hope the FCC will roll back it's rules as well to where a conglomerate can only own two stations per market, and then we will have more diverse radio when divestments are forced.

I'm not holding my breath.

 

[FilioScotia]

I would give anything to be able to buy the 790 AM frequency and resurrect the Demand Radio 79 "Downbeat" format it had in the late 50s and early 60s. And if I could buy KIKK AM I would boost the power and bring back real classic country. We would play nothing newer than 1970, unless it's by somebody who was popular well before 1970, like George Jones.

I love to fantasize about those kinds of things, but I realize that's what they are. Fantasies. (sigh)

 

[TheBigA]

We can always hope the FCC will roll back it's rules as well to where a conglomerate can only own two stations per market, and then we will have more diverse radio when divestments are forced.

Ha! That's pretty funny. There are a lot of major companies that would LOVE to buy into Houston: Cumulus, Entercom, and Townsquare to name a few. They're the only companies who have enough money to buy powerful FMs. If Radio One keeps struggling, I'd expect to see them LMA a couple of their stations to one of those companies in the next two years. If more companies own radio station, you won't see more diversity. You'll see more duplication of formats as they all battle for the same listeners.

Who in Houston has the money to not only buy an FM, but run it at a loss for a few years until it attracts an audience? I had a friend who used to visit nursing homes looking for old rich people to invest in radio. That may be what it takes.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Nostalgia for the past isn't going to "fix" Houston radio, as it ignores huge changes in demographics, technology, the music industry, listener expectations/preferences, and the general economics of the broadcasting business and the competition it faces.

A lot of these proposed formats would appeal to an audience that is so old that advertisers wouldn't touch them. And I see no big push to break up the current radio conglomerates. If the Republicans regain control of The White House and Senate, you will probably see even more M&A activity.

What is needed are innovative formats that resonate with listeners in 2012 and beyond that will give people (TODAY's and TOMORROW'S audience) a reason to listen to the radio instead of alternative platforms.

 

[mrbeasley]

Well said mediafrog.

 

[Kent]

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

Of course, it was Clear Channel who brought back 97.1 The Eagle in Dallas! However, beyond that, I agree with most of the rest of your post. Really, Mediafrog and the Big A summed it up pretty well, too.

 

[willdav713]

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

Of course, it was Clear Channel who brought back 97.1 The Eagle in Dallas! However, beyond that, I agree with most of the rest of your post. Really, Mediafrog and the Big A summed it up pretty well, too.

They also brought back Kiss 98.5 Port Arthur Houston for a short while, and Y-98.5 before flipping to Smooth-fm.

They also brought back Top 40 to 96.1 fm in San Antonio.

 

[jras20]

Austin's KOKE FM returns to their airwaves, San Antonio brought KTFM back from the dead, Dallas relaunched 97.1 The Eagle years ago.

When will a legendary Houston station come back from the dead and make a triumph return? KLOL? KIKK?

^^
KOKE was not a come back for Austin. Austin needs a LOT more help then just one station. If Houston come back, then they should bring back kiss 98.5 and kiss again 103.3 playing dance. Party 100.7 come back, leave hot 957 and 979 alone. maybe bring back the beat on KRBE.

 

[rageradio]

Wildav you do know KIKK is on 100.3 HD2?

 

[willdav713]

Wildav you do know KIKK is on 100.3 HD2?

Which could be translated on a FM translator. But does Houston have translators? and Wouldn't that hurt KILT's ratings, and wouldn't that be an FCC violation (broadcaster cannot have 2 idenically same formats ex. Top 40 and Top 40) rule why KVET has to sound different from KASE.

The FCC rule is why KIKK all of sudden change to the trainwreck they were before the Smooth Jazz flip. KIKK got bought by KILT.

How are you going to advertise the Train Wreck version of KIKK to Houston's Hispanic demos? Not going to happen.

If any thing KILT will flip and we will see a Classic Hits station on 100.3 in two years or less.
If KILT plays everything from 1961-1981 its cume and position on the charts will rise almost double of which KILT is now. If they get cheap and cookie cutter maybe bump up a spot on the PPM's

 

[johndavis]

Huh?

 

[sdh483]

Nostalgia for the past isn't going to "fix" Houston radio, as it ignores huge changes in demographics, technology, the music industry, listener expectations/preferences, and the general economics of the broadcasting business and the competition it faces.

A lot of these proposed formats would appeal to an audience that is so old that advertisers wouldn't touch them. And I see no big push to break up the current radio conglomerates. If the Republicans regain control of The White House and Senate, you will probably see even more M&A activity.

What is needed are innovative formats that resonate with listeners in 2012 and beyond that will give people (TODAY's and TOMORROW'S audience) a reason to listen to the radio instead of alternative platforms.

Who said anything about nostalgia? I'm talking about a brand or a moniker coming back that, in addition to playing SOME stuff from back in the day, would play currents as well. I've heard some great rock from the 80s and 90s our classic rock stations NEVER touch, as well as a mix of current rock songs. If the audience is "so old," then why do 25-40 year olds constantly talk about KLOL when it was rock? You act like I suggested bringing back KYND 92.5 back from the dead. Plus, all those changing demographics are mostly tired of the stale state of Houston radio and going down the Pandora road.

 

[jd]

Wildav you do know KIKK is on 100.3 HD2?

Which could be translated on a FM translator. But does Houston have translators? and Wouldn't that hurt KILT's ratings, and wouldn't that be an FCC violation (broadcaster cannot have 2 idenically same formats ex. Top 40 and Top 40) rule why KVET has to sound different from KASE.

The FCC rule is why KIKK all of sudden change to the trainwreck they were before the Smooth Jazz flip. KIKK got bought by KILT.

How are you going to advertise the Train Wreck version of KIKK to Houston's Hispanic demos? Not going to happen.

If any thing KILT will flip and we will see a Classic Hits station on 100.3 in two years or less.
If KILT plays everything from 1961-1981 its cume and position on the charts will rise almost double of which KILT is now. If they get cheap and cookie cutter maybe bump up a spot on the PPM's

Huh?

Seems like a fitting time to replay one of your posts (emphasis added to reflect complete agreement):

[size=10pt]Is it me, or do most of the people on this board treat radio like Fantasy Football?[/size]

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Bring back:
--- The original Gordon McLendon version of KILT 610
--- The original incarnation of KSBJ under Buddy Holiday
--- KRBE's once incredible footprint - eroded to nothing now due to HD and nearby allocations
--- KFMK oldies - with the adorable Mandy Gowen
--- KLEF 94.5 Classical
--- 92.1 when it was playing CD format music
--- KLOL rock - of course
--- KAUM 96.5 album rock
--- soul on 1430 and 1590
--- top-40 on 1230
So many great Houston stations of the past - gone forever and there is no way to get them back. RIP - now back to satellite.

 

[Rock101KLOL]

Rock 101 KLOL is already back and it did not take a corporate conglomerate to do it. While it is currently Internet Radio only, this does not mean in the future it will not return to the terrestrial airwaves. The technology exists to listen to Internet Radio on your car stereo, on your smart phone, and in your house and the fact that it reaches a global market makes it even more appealing in my view.

I am curious to hear what you guys think and look forward to your responses.

Rock101KLOL.com

 

[zork]

Who in Houston has the money to not only buy an FM, but run it at a loss for a few years until it attracts an audience? I had a friend who used to visit nursing homes looking for old rich people to invest in radio. That may be what it takes.

Al,

I'll bet Jim McInvale has the Money. But he is smart enough to know Houston Radio Sucks and not buy a station.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Who in Houston has the money to not only buy an FM, but run it at a loss for a few years until it attracts an audience? I had a friend who used to visit nursing homes looking for old rich people to invest in radio. That may be what it takes.

Al,

I'll bet Jim McInvale has the Money. But he is smart enough to know Houston Radio Sucks and not buy a station.

It is my impression that Jim operates on the thinnest of margins - he depends on furniture moving in and out of his stores as fast as possible. He buys quality, high end furniture and instead of marking it up and letting it sit for months like it is in a museum, he is satisfied making 50 bucks on it and clearing it out for the next piece. As long as it moves through quickly, Gallery stays in business. There is probably not a lot of cash reserve if sales hit a slump. I am frankly surprised that he survived the fire financially. I do note that he has not been able to move out of the gang infested, flooded feeder location, he keeps operating there because the taxes are probably in the bargain basement. I'd like to think of him riding a white horse in to rescue Houston radio by bringing back oldies, putting real Christian rock over the air, etc. but it won't happen. If he was in possession of a huge cash stash, we'd see a Gallery in Katy, Cypress, Clear Lake, etc. Probably in Dallas and Atlanta as well. Furniture is his business, not radio, there is no guarantee he would be successful doing something so far afield from furniture. You can bet that if he did - he would hire a radio expert to do it right. And it would be filled with Gallery ads.

 

[bturner]

And might I add, he might do pretty well, telling advertisers: "Buy today, it's on the air today" and when you buy on our station "We save you money".

I remember sseing his commercials on the independent TV stations in Dallas back around 1969...before he came to Houston