KHJK Shifts To Air1 Aircheck from 2012

[bobgoodbob]

On July 17, 2012, KHJK flipped to the Air1 network. In May 2012, EMF purchased the station from a trust run by Larry Patrick. Cumulus Media owned the station before EMF purchased it. They began operating the station 2 months later. KHJK is still a Air1 affiliate today. Here's the Aircheck when it flipped to the Air1 network.

KHJK Shifts To Air1 - Format Change Archive

Previous Format: AAA “103.7 Houston’s Adult Alternative” New Format: Christian CHR “Air 1” Date & Time Of Change: July 17, 2012 at 5:00pm More Info: RadioInsight, Wikipedia Aircheck Contributed by Jason Riley

formatchangearchive.com

 

[stan]

🤮

still sorry to see a good station be reduced to that.

 

[davideduardo]

🤮

still sorry to see a good station be reduced to that.

Remember that the EMF formats don't "reduce" the audience, they simply change their service from one group to another.

That signal is a real rimshot to Houston, only putting a decent 60 dbu signal over about 1.8 million in the market. But in the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange market, it is consistently in the top 10 with around a 3 share.

So it's likely getting more listeners now than with the prior format... but just not pleasing AAA fans any too much!

 

[JustinT]

So it's likely getting more listeners now than with the prior format... but just not pleasing AAA fans any too much!

Will Houston ever see another AAA station? KUTX and KKXT seem to do just fine... or have fans of the genre bailed on broadcast radio altogether and gone online?

 

[davideduardo]

Will Houston ever see another AAA station? KUTX and KKXT seem to do just fine... or have fans of the genre bailed on broadcast radio altogether and gone online?

Where has a commercial AAA station been successfully launched in the last decade or so? The answer shows that it is a tough format to build, and most of the successful ones that still remain are heritage facilities. And today, the format leans old and is getting tougher to sell, even by the format stars in places like Denver, Portland and Chicago.

Houston, which is now less than 37% non-Hispanic white, is one of the least likely markets for this.

 

[JustinT]

Where has a commercial AAA station been successfully launched in the last decade or so? The answer shows that it is a tough format to build, and most of the successful ones that still remain are heritage facilities. And today, the format leans old and is getting tougher to sell, even by the format stars in places like Denver, Portland and Chicago.

Houston, which is now less than 37% non-Hispanic white, is one of the least likely markets for this.

I agree a commercial AAA isn't happening, but KUTX and KXT are non-commercial and did launch in the last decade or so. WNXP, admittedly, seems to be launched off the same formula and is stalling, but they entered a crowded market of an existing commercial AAA, an Americana station, and a variety of local LPFMs, so not sure that's the best parallel.

Dallas is a diverse city, too, but KXT finds its way. Is Houston that different?

 

[johndavis]

Where has a commercial AAA station been successfully launched in the last decade or so? The answer shows that it is a tough format to build, and most of the successful ones that still remain are heritage facilities. And today, the format leans old and is getting tougher to sell, even by the format stars in places like Denver, Portland and Chicago.

Houston, which is now less than 37% non-Hispanic white, is one of the least likely markets for this.

Hell, 30 years ago when I was at a commercial AAA station that was launched under the guidance of Dennis Constantine, that format was a tough slog to get ratings and revenue and we served as a personal jukebox for the owner more than anything else. The company had no debt so he could afford to have a 100,000 watt toy.

The moment he took on debt to buy 2 more stations and had a loan to pay back, they became Modern AC and played the hits.

 

[MarkW]

103.7's signal into the Houston metro is awful. Extremely unreliable. Worse than 97.5, I'd say.

This station was never going to succeed as a commercial Metro Houston signal.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Dallas is a diverse city, too, but KXT finds its way. Is Houston that different?

Probably helps that KKXT is a sibling to KERA, which has deep roots in DFW radio and television, and can support the operation. I've wondered how Houston Public Media would have done if it had made the old KUHA 91.7 an alternative/eclectic format instead of Classical.

KUTX seems to be doing well in Austin. But Austin is much different psychographically from Houston.

 

[Mediafrog+]

103.7's signal into the Houston metro is awful. Extremely unreliable. Worse than 97.5, I'd say.

I'll give the worst rimshot prize to 97.5. It is about 10 miles further east than the Devers towers (at least for much of the market) and often suffers co-channel interference from KWTX or KFTX when tropo kicks up.

On a car radio KHJK gets to Hempstead to the west before starting to fade out around the Brazos River.

 

[BamaTX]

I'll give the worst rimshot prize to 97.5. It is about 10 miles further east than the Devers towers (at least for much of the market) and often suffers co-channel interference from KWTX or KFTX when tropo kicks up.

On a car radio KHJK gets to Hempstead to the west before starting to fade out around the Brazos River.

97.5 is hands down the worst FM rimshot. Not only is the tower farther out, but the location makes it miss most of the northern sprawl.

What is even worse is that Gow paid a tad bit more for KFNC than EMF paid for KHJK (or so that's what I recall).

The second worst rimshot is a tie between KQQK and KKHT. KQQK has always had issues with KIXS in the Katy-Richmond-Rosenburg area (which is where the new sprawl is). And KKHT just doesn't seem to have the same reach it used to have when it was owned by HBC/Tichenor.

 

[tb_]

103.7's signal into the Houston metro is awful. Extremely unreliable. Worse than 97.5, I'd say.

This station was never going to succeed as a commercial Metro Houston signal.

103.7's signal is pretty darn good for a rimshot out of Devers... comes in great as far out as Conroe, while most of the other Devers sticks are very poor in that area... and KFNC is even worse.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The second worst rimshot is a tie between KQQK and KKHT. KQQK has always had issues with KIXS in the Katy-Richmond-Rosenburg area (which is where the new sprawl is). And KKHT just doesn't seem to have the same reach it used to have when it was owned by HBC/Tichenor.

Agree with you on both stations. I recall 100.7 being much clearer during the Puro Tejano, Party and Orbita formats.

KQBU might be in the best shape for the eastern rimshots now that co-channel KGSR in Austin has downgraded.

KTHT 97.1 is a different animal, as it is to the northeast. Great reception in the northern third of the market, but a real stretch down on the south side, which is why I constantly beat the drum for it eventually reestablishing a simulcast with 92.1.

 

[Mediafrog+]

103.7's signal is pretty darn good for a rimshot out of Devers... comes in great as far out as Conroe, while most of the other Devers sticks are very poor in that area... and KFNC is even worse.

KHJK is 62 miles from Conroe, while KFNC is 77 miles. That 15 miles makes a big difference in the outer reach of the signals.

 

[BamaTX]

KTHT 97.1 is a different animal, as it is to the northeast. Great reception in the northern third of the market, but a real stretch down on the south side,

Aside from the station having great audio quality, I have absolutely no issue catching the station along the coast near Jamaica Beach. But then again, I realize there are no natural obstructions or buildings to block the signal. It is all flat and it's a downhill path for KTHT. Either way, 97.1 sounds amazing and has a great reach. Tip of the hat to the engineer at Cox! Job well done.

which is why I constantly beat the drum for it eventually reestablishing a simulcast with 92.1.

Speaking of that dumpster fire station, the signal is much improved. The station used to cut out around Brenham but can now be heard fighting its way all the way to Giddings along with the rest of the Senior Rd stations. Not sure how much the upgrade improved indoor reception inside the metro though. I need to take a trip down to Humble and check. Before the upgrade, the station would begin to fade in and out once you got near the San Jacinto River.

 

[tb_]

Not sure how much the upgrade improved indoor reception inside the metro though. I need to take a trip down to Humble and check. Before the upgrade, the station would begin to fade in and out once you got near the San Jacinto River.

KROI has definitely gotten better up here in Conroe/Woodlands area. I can pick it up, with an HD pilot even, on a tuner in my office near I-45 and the Grand Parkway, when prior to the upgrade, signal was very scratchy.

 

[rgradio]

I’m still sad that 103.7 as an AAA station left.

 

[Ryan Williams]

97.5 is hands down the worst FM rimshot. Not only is the tower farther out, but the location makes it miss most of the northern sprawl.

What is even worse is that Gow paid a tad bit more for KFNC than EMF paid for KHJK (or so that's what I recall).

I agree that 97.5 wins the Worst Rimshot in Houston award. One reason Gow probably paid more is that EMF bought KHJK just as a stick, while 97.5 probably had some cash flow multiple as part of the price. KFNC was already sports and the ESPN affiliate in Houston (remember Gow was also running sports on 1560 at the time). I don't have the billing estimates for that time period, but it isn't hard to imagine sports with its high power ratio generating more revenue than the meager old aaa audience on 103.7.

(I personally like aaa and used to listen to KGSR when it was on 93.3 in Austin, and enjoying catching Austin City Limits Radio on 97.1 when i am in the listening area. I think KUTX and Sun Radio are pretty well done too, although none of those are a true aaa really.)

 

[JustinT]

I've wondered how Houston Public Media would have done if it had made the old KUHA 91.7 an alternative/eclectic format instead of Classical.

I'd love to see them give something like this a try on 88.7 HD-3 and a translator. Unfortunately, since my initial post, I found their FY2020 financials online, and looks like it was a rough year for them with underwriting. So probably unlikely to see anything soon.

 

[KTN Corp]

I'd love to see them give something like this a try on 88.7 HD-3 and a translator. Unfortunately, since my initial post, I found their FY2020 financials online, and looks like it was a rough year for them with underwriting. So probably unlikely to see anything soon.

Translators for HD won't help either--they got burned with KUHA. It was inevitable that KTRU would be turned into contemporary christian and that KUHA was a slight bump for KSBJ to acquire the station.

The ill-fated KUHA acquisition was one reason Dr. Khator merged Houston PBS and Houston Public Radio into vertically integrated Houston Public Media.

The bit-rate is fantastic for FM (still w/Stereo pilot!)/HD-1 and HD-2. HD-3 and HD-4 are much lower. AAA on HD-3 doesn't have the same resonance that classical on HD-2 has. (Luckily HD-4 is speech!)