KHLT?

[jras20]

Any word if KHLT will come back on the air? I see a CP it will move to Stockdale. Wonder if it would be the same Texas thunder country format or a new format?

 

[jd]

That's a good question, considering that the whole idea of moving the Hallettsville station was to do something with co-channel KYND 1520's signal. There was (and probably still is) a lot of uncertainty following the death of Matthew Provenzano; the KHLT construction permit was granted almost two years ago and will expire next year. If the family doesn't do something with KHLT in the meantime to get the station back on the air, even with a temporary facility in Stockdale, they risk losing the license. If that were to happen KHLT would likely be gone forever.

 

[fredcantu]

The top entry in the FCC AM Query moves the COL for KHLT back to Hallettsville with 250 watts daytime. Could it be their arrangement with KYND shut them down to allow KYND's upgrade to be approved and then KYND granted KHLT a waiver to move back to Hallettsville?

 

[purpledevil]

fred, IIRC there is no "arraignment" between KHLT and KYND as they are co-owned. KHLT was taken dark to accommodate KYND's future upgrade and nighttime authorization. KYND has not been upgraded as of yet, nor have they begun nighttime operations, which is supposed to be a whopping 2 watts from the SW Freeway, last I saw. The owner, unfortunately, passed away recently which may be why there has been a delay in the move to Stockdale from Halletsville for KHLT. I have noticed that KYND is now shown as owned by "Pro Broadcasting" instead of Matthew Provozante. The best person to speak with on these boards would be user "bturner" who is in charge of KYND. He would know more than any of us speculating about the future of KHLT.

 

[jd]

That was a good catch, Fred. I didn't see the STA request (filed February 9th and approved two days later), and this narrative from the application explains a lot:

CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING REQUEST

KHLT'S LICENSED ANTENNA SITE WAS MADE UNAVAILABLE IN 2008 SHORTLY AFTER THE STATION'S LICENSE CAME INTO THE HANDS OF MATTHEW PROVENZANO (NOW DECEASED) WHO SOUGHT AND WAS GRANTED STA (BSTA-20091026AEV)PENDING GRANT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A CP (BP-20081228ACM) TO CHANGE THE STATION'S COMMUNITY OF LICENSE (COL)AND MAKE CHANGES IN ITS ANTENNA SYSTEM. THE STA WAS CONSTRUCTED AND REMAINED ON THE AIR UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MAY 1, 2010 WHEN THE STATION WAS AGAIN TAKEN DARK.

MR. PROVENZANO WAS TAKEN ILL IN LATE 2009. HE SUCCUMBED TO THE ILLNESS IN JULY, 2010 AND DIED (SEE: BAL - 20101112ACW). MR. PROVENZANO'S CHILDREN (NOW LICENSEES OF KHLT) PROPOSE STA AS GRANTED IN 2009 AT HALLTTSVILLE, TEXAS WHILE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CP IS UNDERTAKEN.

 

[bturner]

You guys have things correct as I see it. The plan remains to take KHLT to Stockdale, get it on the air and proofed.

KHLT lost its tower in Hallettsville after hurricane Ike (not by the hurricane), so we had to take KHLT dark. Then when the economy tanked, we pondered the cost of moving the station with the potential of making that investment return the money it would require. Then Matt's illness stalled things and his death lasy July left the current owners overwhelmed in so many ways. While time is now short, the plan is to 'get 'er done'.

Naturally, if KHLT can move to Stockdale, KYND will have options.

I have never been a big fan of moving COLs. In this instance, however, KHLT AM only simulcast the FM and it had been that way for numerous years, so moving the station at least means a new radio service for a town without its own radio station. I figure that to be a good thing. If the AM had originated its own programming, I would not have this opinion.

The miniscule KYND 2 watt nighttime application was dismissed. It was intended to reach at least a portion of the Vietnamese market for our client since the Vietnamese community didn't enjoy any nighttime signal in the Houston market. Now, with a new client, this is not the issue anyway. Our thinking was at least it might come in handy when another hurricane Ike hits Houston or some other event when there is a need to get information out to a Vietnamese-only speaker.