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KWRD Stunting

C

Chuck

Something is up. For the last day or perhaps more, KWRD has been running non stop Sousa style March Music. Between songs, they run liners like "Henderson is happening, and KWRD will be soon! Stay Tuned!" "Were really excited to bring you the all new KWRD" or "Great radio tuned to local interests is just around the bend on KWRD."

I don't recognize any of the voices, but Philip Burd is not one of them. What is most startling is, on my GE Super Radio, the recordings they are playing sound really great. It is almost "FM like." I wonder if they bypassed the NRSC filters? It almost gives me hope for AM.
 
They might have tweaked their Optimod AM a little, the reason why KWRD sounds so good. I wish KFRO and KBGE would get one instead of the 70's vintage sump pumps they're still using.

I'll have to catch what they're doing tomorrow. Good luck to their new management.
 
Dang it...I thought you were talking about KWRD-FM. :mad:
 
So what that means in form of a question, does this mean Jerry (Russell) is losing any control of KWRD-AM and was it acquired to another decent broadcast owner who knows what he/she is doing? I know that Philip had tried the best he could to revive "hometwon radio." But come to think of it, what will Henderson/Rusk County expect from the frequency of 1470?
 
LABreeze said:
So what that means in form of a question, does this mean Jerry (Russell) is losing any control of KWRD-AM and was it acquired to another decent broadcast owner who knows what he/she is doing? I know that Philip had tried the best he could to revive "hometwon radio." But come to think of it, what will Henderson/Rusk County expect from the frequency of 1470?
Click to expand...

All of these are good questions that remain to be answered. Call it a hunch, but some of the voices sound like they might be from one of Jerry Hanzen's stations, like KGAS. Jerry is a very good local broadcaster, and adding Henderson to his small market group that includes Carthage and Marshall would make a lot of sense. He has a lot of experience making a living serving small communities.

It might even explain the Sousa Marches. Jerry used to be the band director at Pine Tree High School in Longview. Maybe the music is just a coincidence.

Whoever is taking over the station has my wishes for a lot of success. I hope they do well with it and make the station something that the people in Henderson can be proud of.
 
Chuck said:
All of these are good questions that remain to be answered. Call it a hunch, but some of the voices sound like they might be from one of Jerry Hanzen's stations, like KGAS. Jerry is a very good local broadcaster, and adding Henderson to his small market group that includes Carthage and Marshall would make a lot of sense. He has a lot of experience making a living serving small communities.

It might even explain the Sousa Marches. Jerry used to be the band director at Pine Tree High School in Longview. Maybe the music is just a coincidence.

Whoever is taking over the station has my wishes for a lot of success. I hope they do well with it and make the station something that the people in Henderson can be proud of.
Click to expand...




I like Phillip....and I thought he gave it a good shot in reviving AM1470.

But if it's not Phillip, I sure hope and pray it is Hanszen. He really worked some magic breathing new life into KMHT/KMHT-FM in Marshall.

He will definately make Henderson and Rusk County proud.


Any chance of anyone recording airchecks?? ?? ??
 
C414B, I DO hope it's Hanzen. He can make local radio listenable again, plus he can really put Henderson Lions football back on the map.
 
Not able to receive East Texas radio stations here in my part of Texas, but based on what I read on radio-info, the AM dial always sounds real interesting there.

I am reading good things on this thread about Mr. Hanszen and what he's done with small town, community radio stations.

Can someone fill me in? What specifically is he doing -- as C414B says -- to make local radio listenable again?

I'm a huge fan of small town, all live and local community-based radio and hope to own a station someday.

Thank you!
dx7
 
http://kmhtradio.com/

Both KHMT and KGAS use mostly ABC programming (Real Country for KHMT-FM, Todays Best Country on KGAS-FM and ESPN on both AM's), but his stations have a strong emphasis on local news and high school sports.

If Hanszen buys KWRD I hope they do it the same way in Henderson, though being just a daytimer is going to be a problem for local sports.
 
billyg said:
http://kmhtradio.com/

Both KHMT and KGAS use mostly ABC programming (Real Country for KHMT-FM, Todays Best Country on KGAS-FM and ESPN on both AM's), but his stations have a strong emphasis on local news and high school sports.

If Hanszen buys KWRD I hope they do it the same way in Henderson, though being just a daytimer is going to be a problem for local sports.
Click to expand...

As of Saturday, they were running “regular" programming. It sounds like a satellite feed, probably from ABC. The liners are something to the effect of "All your favorites plus today’s hits." It seems to be mostly 80's hits with an occasional crossover country song. It's not bad, but the big question is, “What will the folks who live in Henderson think?” It is a far cry from Philips home-rolled country-gospel with occasional preaching format. I suspect this will have a broader appeal.

I have no confirmation that is one of Jerry Hanzen's stations, but it sure looks like it. They had some technical problems on Saturday, but those kinds of things happen when you are just getting started. They were attempting to do a remote from downtown Henderson, which at least looks to me like a good attempt to get community involvement. They had some big time problems, but I'll give them an "A" for effort.

This morning, they were running a local church service. Call me an optimist, but I think the station has fallen into good hands.
 
With the folksy way Philips ran the station, I think it kept a lot of younger adults and advertisers away. It will be interesting to see if the new format is excepted locally. KWRD has been a country station for years so even AC might be a big shock for Henderson.
 
billyg said:
KWRD has been a country station for years so even AC might be a big shock for Henderson.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. If I recall correctly, back in the late 50's and early 1960's I think KWRD played "popular music." It wasn't top 40, but it really wasn't MOR either. They probably played a little country too, but KGRI seemed to have that format sewn up. Somewhere along the way KWRD became country, and it's been that way for a very, very long time. Old habits are hard to break.

I'm sure that the new format will alienate some of the station's long time listeners, but I'll bet it brings out some new ones. The good news is they actually had some local spots for Henderson merchants on their first day. (Including Wal-Mart) That is an encouraging sign.
 
Indeed, a good sign that there's local spots and an attempted remote.

Has anyone heard any local voices on there yet?
 
billyg said:
If Hanszen buys KWRD I hope they do it the same way in Henderson, though being just a daytimer is going to be a problem for local sports.
Click to expand...


When Phillip was running it, he'd keep the station on the air for the football broadcast and then shut 'er down just after the conclusion of the game. I know...it was illegal.

FWIW, the FCC database shows a "PLAN" nighttime authorization of 83 watts. If I'm bettin' the farm, I'm betting that Hanszen pursues making the nighttime authorization happen. It might not be this week, but I'm thinking it might not be far around the corner.
 
C414B said:
Has anyone heard any local voices on there yet?
Click to expand...

Yes, but I couldn't tell you who they are. I think I heard Jerry on one spot. The rest sound like the KGAS / KMHT people.
 
C414B said:
FWIW, the FCC database shows a "PLAN" nighttime authorization of 83 watts. If I'm bettin' the farm, I'm betting that Hanszen pursues making the nighttime authorization happen. It might not be this week, but I'm thinking it might not be far around the corner.
Click to expand...

I hope Hanszen can get that night authority, even with 83 watts KWRD can put a listenable signal into Kilgore last year.
 
billyg said:
C414B said:
FWIW, the FCC database shows a "PLAN" nighttime authorization of 83 watts. If I'm bettin' the farm, I'm betting that Hanszen pursues making the nighttime authorization happen. It might not be this week, but I'm thinking it might not be far around the corner.
Click to expand...

I hope Hanszen can get that night authority, even with 83 watts KWRD can put a listenable signal into Kilgore last year.
Click to expand...

They used to have the authorization. Back in the Chipper Dean days, there was a small (100 watt) LPB AM transmitter for night use. I imagine it disappeared like everything else.
 
Looks like it is Jerry Hanszen. There are several job openings at KWRD-AM listed on the TAB Jobline website today, including one for a KWRD General Manager.
 
Wonder if it's an LMA or did Hanszen outright buy it? My money says he bought it.
 
C414B said:
Wonder if it's an LMA or did Hanszen outright buy it? My money says he bought it.
Click to expand...

I don't think Jerry is crazy enough to do a long term LMA with its current owner. He purchased KMHT from the same person, so I think he knows what he is getting in to. I haven't seen any transfer applications on the FCC Daily Digest, so my best guess is Jerry is buying it from the current licensee. It is probably LMA'd until the papers clear.
 
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