KHVN can stay on another year on 970 thanks to God

[ropertex]

This article fails to explain that 970 agreed to MOVE to 1630, and refers to 970 and 1630 as "sister stations." The FCC should NEVER have allowed the old freq and the expanded band migration freq to have different programming.


From Dallas African Weekly

Miracles do still happen. And it appears as though God worked a miracle when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Dallas radio station KHVN AM 970 a temporary extension which allows the station to continue broadcasting.

[EDIT]

According to the FCC letter dated July 30, Mortenson argued that KHVN, along with sister station KKGM 1630 AM., serves the “public interest” and should be allowed to continue operation at its current dial position.[EDIT]



*EDIT-truncated because citation exceed fair use standards. In the future please provide a URL (if possible) to the source and paraphrase the content that exceeds fair use. The content of the post is copyrighted and unauthorized use is a violation of our terms of our terms of service]

 

[txchipk]

Not quite another year...they got an extension of about 5 and half months. It or KKGM should have surrendered its license in mid-August. Now, they will have to turn in one 1/31/2008. Here's the FCC letter...

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=7136

Note: KHVN 970 can remain... the choice of operators who got the expanded band allocations is that one must be surrendered. The assumption is that operators would keep the expanded band outlet and get rid of the original allocation (which was the point...to de-clutter the dial; i.e. locally, 1700 was kept and 950 was surrendered). A few have opted to keep their original frequency. For example, WNMA 1210 in Miami turned in their 1700 facility and stayed on 1210. Similarly, Texarkana market KPYN 900 Atlanta TX turned in their 1610 facility and stayed on 900.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

How ironic - the FCC being sticklers about interference from too many stations on the air, and insisting this little Christian station shut down. At the same time they turn a blind eye to massive interference caused by IBOC.

This FCC is so stupid, they would force KHVN off the air, then turn right around and grant authority for some 960 or 980 to blast out IBOC sidebands on the same frequency - by far worse interference than KHVN would ever cause anybody.

 

[major]

How ironic - the FCC being sticklers about interference from too many stations on the air, and insisting this little Christian station shut down. At the same time they turn a blind eye to massive interference caused by IBOC.

This FCC is so stupid, they would force KHVN off the air, then turn right around and grant authority for some 960 or 980 to blast out IBOC sidebands on the same frequency - by far worse interference than KHVN would ever cause anybody.

Did you read the FCC letter? Where does it say "this little Christian station" has to shut down? The letter simply gives the TWO stations authority to CO-EXIST until January 30, 2008. It is implied throughout, one will exist, one will shut down. This was always the plan for the expanded band stations. The little Christian station will still exist, but NOT on TWO frequencies.

 

[TheRover]

970 and 1630 are broadcasting different programs.

What's this about being on two stations ??

 

[major]

970 and 1630 are broadcasting different programs.

What's this about being on two stations ??

Please pardon my ignorance. I'm from Cincinnati, not your neck of the woods. If these two stations are broadcasting different programs, one SHOULD be shut down. The idea of the expanded band was to reduce interference in the existing AM band, by giving daytimers, etc. a new frequency, where they could be protected. They were never intended to keep two frequencies out of this deal.

 

[Kent]

I don't necessarily disagree with your logic, but the FCC says otherwise. The FCC decided shortly after allowing expanded band stations on-air that they could air separate programming. However, they also had a strict time limit in most cases. Mortenson may be trying to circumvent that rule by relicensing KHVN, but it remains to be seen if that will work.

 

[jd]

I personally hope that KHVN will continue to be on the air for a long, long time. I'm not really in their demographic (well, I guess in age I'm kinda close) but Heaven 97 and its predecessors like KNOK have always been entertaining and committed to their community. Sure, coverage for the 1630 frequency is better but I look at this as a historical thing. Call me old-fashioned, but for me it's a tough call about having to give up 970.

They were never intended to keep two frequencies out of this deal.

But once again the FCC seems to be making up the rules as they go along. Some of you may have heard about a consortium that petitioned the FCC a while back to allow X-band operators to sell their standard band stations to minority broadcasters. While that would certainly promote diversity it still defeats the purpose, but it looks like the FCC will probably allow it to happen. They'll also be likely to grant more extensions so owners can hang onto their second station, since apparently all it takes is to argue that the station serves a specific need. So I'd expect that Mortenson will file another request for an extension before this one expires.

 

[txchipk]

Just to clarify things...

In the 1990s, the FCC created a plan to allow some AMs to move to the expanded band (1610-1700) to open up the dial. Though not able to fix all of them, it did allow for getting rid of some situations where you had adjacent AM stations relatively close together (i.e. 1560 Hillsboro/1580 Waco/1590 Mexia -- move 1580 to 1660; 1140 Conroe and 1150 College Station -- move 1150 to 1620). Generally, all the new 1610-1700 stations would be allocated 10 kw days/1 kw nights. Once the new expanded band station came on, the 5 year clock would begin. Once that clock reached the 5th anniversary, one of the two stations had to go. The assumption would be, of course, they would keep the expanded band station and turn in the old frequency. That has mostly been true, but as I pointed out in my original post, some stations opted to stay on the old frequency.

The stations are bound together -- they count as 1, not 2, in ownership caps, they cannot be sold apart. The reasoning is that this is temporary migration. The move to digital TV is very much patterned after this -- each TV station was given a 2nd station for the migration; the 2nd TV station cannot be sold off and is not counted in ownership caps; at the end of the migration period in 2009, one of the two channels has to be turned back in.

The FCC allows the stations to have different programming. In College Station, WTAW's news/talk format and calls moved to the new 1620 facility and its previous 1150 facility was turned into sports KZNE. Here, the old 950 Denison was turned into a KLIF repeater while its expanded band station on 1700 started out as a KTCK repeater.

The folks at KHVN/KKGM knew this was coming. I would assume KHVN's format stays around -- whether on 970 or 1630 or even one of Mortenson's other properties like 1600 -- since it at least has listeners.

There has been some talk about asking the FCC to allow keeping both. One proposal is to sell one station to a minority owner in the claim of diversity (call me skeptical, but I suspect being able to sell a station for $$$ to another owner rather than just turning it off may be a motivator).

 

[ropertex]

There has been some talk about asking the FCC to allow keeping both. One proposal is to sell one station to a minority owner in the claim of diversity (call me skeptical, but I suspect being able to sell a station for $$$ to another owner rather than just turning it off may be a motivator).

Maybe Marcos Rodriguez can buy it for his phony "Hispanic Coalition" and immediately LMA it andly sell it for a huge profit without broadcasting even ONE DAY to serve the minority community...(as he did with 93.3)

 

[gagorder]

The scuttlebutt is this : KHVN ,has been a heritage station, just like KLIF was on 1190. KHVN will most likely go. Why? It bills OK..HOWEVER..They have not been able to collect from the various ministers,etc. Their clients had phone disconnections ,etc. Its in the DEEP DEEP Red. Its a smaller coverage area than KKGM. KKGM is holding its own,and 95% of their clients ARE PAYING their bills.
KHVN has been operating under extension after extension. KKGM has built a solid following and is recognized by Southern Gospel organizations across the country. It relies heavily on sports broadcasts,and they are all solid in paying their bills, plus KKGM hasa large internet listening audience.
KHVN has problems,BIG PROBLEMS. Mortensen will in due time get rid of this headache.

 

[bucwhyl]

Maybe then, 94.5 will throw in the towel, leave the r&b to 105.7, and go gospel.

 

[billyg]

The scuttlebutt is this : KHVN ,has been a heritage station, just like KLIF was on 1190. KHVN will most likely go. Why? It bills OK..HOWEVER..They have not been able to collect from the various ministers,etc. Their clients had phone disconnections ,etc. Its in the DEEP DEEP Red. Its a smaller coverage area than KKGM. KKGM is holding its own,and 95% of their clients ARE PAYING their bills.
KHVN has been operating under extension after extension. KKGM has built a solid following and is recognized by Southern Gospel organizations across the country. It relies heavily on sports broadcasts,and they are all solid in paying their bills, plus KKGM hasa large internet listening audience.
KHVN has problems,BIG PROBLEMS. Mortensen will in due time get rid of this headache.

I agree with everything here. When I worked in Christian radio the stations I worked for shied away from running any black church or ministry programming since most of them are just "getting by" paying their own bills...and many times the audio/programming quality was very subpar. Theres a very loyal audience for black gospel but little money.

 

[trying2getn]

Maybe then, 94.5 will throw in the towel, leave the r&b to 105.7, and go gospel.

Doubt it, Radio One has a routine of only putting gospel on thier third signal....and the other two has to have some success. I believe they will think flipping to gospel would be a risk.....But there will be a FM gospel station in the market....eventually.

 

[CW]

Maybe then, 94.5 will throw in the towel, leave the r&b to 105.7, and go gospel.

Doubt it, Radio One has a routine of only putting gospel on thier third signal....and the other two has to have some success. I believe they will think flipping to gospel would be a risk.....But there will be a FM gospel station in the market....eventually.

RO did flip 92.1 in Houston to gospel and its doing quite well.....of course it IS their 3rd signal...noone ever came up with the reason WHY they tried spanish on it when they bought it in the 1st place......BUT all 3 signals in Houston are not rimshots like 94.5 (and 105.7)....

 

[salemjedi54]

The scuttlebutt is this : KHVN ,has been a heritage station, just like KLIF was on 1190. KHVN will most likely go. Why? It bills OK..HOWEVER..They have not been able to collect from the various ministers,etc. Their clients had phone disconnections ,etc. Its in the DEEP DEEP Red. Its a smaller coverage area than KKGM. KKGM is holding its own,and 95% of their clients ARE PAYING their bills.
KHVN has been operating under extension after extension. KKGM has built a solid following and is recognized by Southern Gospel organizations across the country. It relies heavily on sports broadcasts,and they are all solid in paying their bills, plus KKGM hasa large internet listening audience.
KHVN has problems,BIG PROBLEMS. Mortensen will in due time get rid of this headache.

I agree with everything here. When I worked in Christian radio the stations I worked for shied away from running any black church or ministry programming since most of them are just "getting by" paying their own bills...and many times the audio/programming quality was very subpar. Theres a very loyal audience for black gospel but little money.

There is plenty of money, you just have to market the station right. In some cases, you have to stay away from the "A dollar, a holler" type of ministries. I know that black gospel can be a money maker.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

Salem is righter than you may know. There is more money in "black church" than Fellowship and Highland Park UMC can shake a Bible at. KHVN's following is loyal to the core, one of the most successful Gospel formats in the country with one of the best morning guys and "newsmen" around.

Yes, I am VERY biased (they're not only former cohorts, they're friends to this day), but I know when something should be kept on-air. This is one of those times. Marketing may be off (remember the HeaVAN, Salem?), but the spirit (pun intended) of that station is greatness.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Although the format never made it on the air, the plan for Urban Gospel KJOI 1190 a few years ago would have worked quite nicely had it been given the chance. That facility would have been superb for the programming.

Still surprised that DFW doesn't have Urban Gospel on FM. Here in Houston, "Praise 92.1" has been very well received, and will probably stay around for a while.

 

[trying2getn]

Maybe then, 94.5 will throw in the towel, leave the r&b to 105.7, and go gospel.

Doubt it, Radio One has a routine of only putting gospel on thier third signal....and the other two has to have some success. I believe they will think flipping to gospel would be a risk.....But there will be a FM gospel station in the market....eventually.

RO did flip 92.1 in Houston to gospel and its doing quite well.....of course it IS their 3rd signal...noone ever came up with the reason WHY they tried spanish on it when they bought it in the 1st place......BUT all 3 signals in Houston are not rimshots like 94.5 (and 105.7)....

Plus thier first two signals, The Box and Magic, are both usually in the top 5 (winter book they where 1 & 2). They're not having the same success in this market. 94.5 is hanging on by a string, and they view Gospel as a weaker format then R&B.

 

[gagorder]

Heaven has the loyality, so does KKGM in its short life.The difference is KKGMclients are paying their bills. H97 is not. Mortensen is looking at it hard but he is looking at the signal coverage,plus who is paying. I doubt he will bump KHVN to 1630 with programs that do not pay. The accountant has been too lax,now its time to cut your losses.