Do you think the testing now is to prove coverage and / or to see how it can be improved?
It didn't actually come back on the air until the sale was granted. No consummation notice has yet been filed, and the RDS remains as it was when it was shut down in May. "KVUT 99.7 UT-Tyler Radio". Only thing missing is the on-screen mention of "uttr.org" or "kvut.org" that once scrolled directly afterwards. To my ear, this sounds more like the University simply threw together a compilation of movie tunes, dropped a simple ID in between each number, and set it up to loop. Why, I don't know. I would've just left it off until Rice decided to kick on the transmitter himself, after he had the keys to the place, as there is still plenty of time left on the clock to get the facility sale consummated, feeds switched, and then brought back to service.
On the subject of improvement opportunities for KVUT/KFRO-FM, there is a list of neighboring signals that would prohibit any increases for 99.7. UT-Tyler shoehorned it in as best they could, knowing full well that was as good as it was going to get. Trying for any real movement of KVUT further into Tyler would cost you power and height, neither of which KVUT has to spare. Scott Rice certainly knows this, too, but the station currently provides a good signal to both larger western ETX cities, Jacksonville and Tyler, much moreso than the stronger KTYK up the dial does in Tyler. The signal's sweet spot covers all of the rapid growth areas in southern Smith and northern Cherokee counties. The median age may be a little younger down there than the north side of Tyler, but it is predominantly white, and dead center of the ears that an 80's heavy rotation is going to attempt to reach.
The same basic programming concept KFRO uses has been a small town success for KWJB in Canton, just 35 miles to the west of KVUT. That's with a bad AM and an average translator. Mainly 80's, with some real curve balls thrown in for good measure, it generates a lot of interest in Canton, over a decade span, and continues to maintain a solid, loyal listener base.
I believe Scott Rice will see a good bit of success with KFRO on 99.7 and covering its own communities in the same way. It may not look it on paper, but 99.7 really isn't that bad of a facility for Tyler. But it's just a Tyler station. No coverage of Longview, however, that's no longer a problem with it soon to be paired with the AM/translator in Longview.
