KXAL Flips

[Chuck]

I notice that KXAL is speaking Spanish. It seems to be simulcasting Waller's other Spanish Language stations. I guess the Classic Country didn't work either.

Has any format ever worked on this station?

 

[War Of Attrition]

Has any format ever worked on this station?

Of coarse not. It is not really a viable signal. Even if the market was split into two, the KXAL signal isn't strong enough to even be a real threat in Longview. They are doing the best thing possible by programming it to a group that doesn't have another outlet and who are willing to work harder to receive the station.

The best hope for that signal is for someone to buy it along with KQBB and KPXI, shut down the first two, and move KPXI to 100.5 to cover the whole market. Of coarse that is a whole lot of work and investment to get a C2 in market 148. Probably not worth it. Probably never going to happen.

 

[jd]

The best hope for that signal is for someone to buy it along with KQBB and KPXI, shut down the first two, and move KPXI to 100.5 to cover the whole market. Of coarse that is a whole lot of work and investment to get a C2 in market 148. Probably not
worth it. Probably never going to happen.

You're right, although it's an interesting thought. Of course they couldn't just shut the other stations down; alternate channels would have to found. The whole convoluted plan that created the 100.3 class A allocation in Tatum, now home to KXAL, was totally unnecessary. Couple that with the downgrading of 100.7 KPXI (once one of East Texas' better stations) from a full Class C several years ago and it's all the more disappointing. BTW, KQBB 100.5 in Center is still upgrading from a Class A to a C3, although I would have thought they'd be done with it by now.

 

[C414B]

The best hope for that signal is for someone to buy it along with KQBB and KPXI, shut down the first two, and move KPXI to 100.5 to cover the whole market. Of coarse that is a whole lot of work and investment to get a C2 in market 148. Probably not
worth it. Probably never going to happen.

You're right, although it's an interesting thought. Of course they couldn't just shut the other stations down; alternate channels would have to found. The whole convoluted plan that created the 100.3 class A allocation in Tatum, now home to KXAL, was totally unnecessary. Couple that with the downgrading of 100.7 KPXI (once one of East Texas' better stations) from a full Class C several years ago and it's all the more disappointing. BTW, KQBB 100.5 in Center is still upgrading from a Class A to a C3, although I would have thought they'd be done with it by now.

{smart aleck}

Hey! I've got an idea.

How about a station that oh,....caters to TATUM?! After all, it is the COL. And, I'm sure that folks would actually listen if it were relevant to the community.

{/smart aleck}


And yes, I know those are braces instead of brackets.

 

[War Of Attrition]

You're right, although it's an interesting thought. Of course they couldn't just shut the other stations down; alternate channels would have to found.

I know, I was putting it in layman's terms. Tatum would have to shift, but the KQBB license could probably just be turned in since there is other local service in Center. All in all, I think it would be technically feasible if the stations are for sale. I just don't think it makes any financial sense unless you could buy all of the pieces at fire-sale prices.

The whole convoluted plan that created the 100.3 class A allocation in Tatum, now home to KXAL, was totally unnecessary. Couple that with the downgrading of 100.7 KPXI (once one of East Texas' better stations) from a full Class C several years ago and it's all the more disappointing.

I agree. The East Texas FM allotment is a complete mess, with a many non-viable signals. When KPXI was being downgraded so that what is now KWRD-FM could move to Highland Village, it was originally supposed to be a C2, but somewhere along the line it ended up on the same channel as the move-in and only a C3 with a directional null toward the area it most needs to serve - Tyler.

 

[War Of Attrition]

{smart aleck}

Hey! I've got an idea.

How about a station that oh,....caters to TATUM?! After all, it is the COL. And, I'm sure that folks would actually listen if it were relevant to the community.

{/smart aleck}

Well C, here is why that is not a good idea. According to the 2000 Census the population for Tatum is 1,175. The previous Census in 1990 had the number at 1,289. As you can see the population is tiny to start with and appears to be getting smaller.

If some programmed (and programming cost money) a station just for Tatum their might be a sizable percentage of the town that would listen. The problem is that there just isn't enough of town to make it work.

I am not sure if you work in the industry or not, but radio is kind of a numbers game. No matter how you slice it, 1,175 is just not enough people for a radio station to be a viable business. Most owners I know in major markets and in small towns alike need and want their stations to *at the very least* turn a small profit.

 

[Chuck]

{smart aleck}

Hey! I've got an idea.

How about a station that oh,....caters to TATUM?! After all, it is the COL. And, I'm sure that folks would actually listen if it were relevant to the community.

{/smart aleck}

And yes, I know those are braces instead of brackets.

Nah, than might make sense.... You couldn't possibly do that. Then they would be competing with our LPFM. Besides, Tatum is tiny. But I'll bet that if it really emphasized the Tatum Eagles Football and Basket Ball, they'd get lots of listeners from all over. The school district is a lot bigger than the town. A lot of the kids who live over here at Lake Cherokee go to school there and it is a big deal. They actually have a really good school district (better than most) with some exceptional kids. I know of one who got a scholarship to Harvard, and another that is on scholarship at Rutgers. Not too bad for a one horse town. A strong allegiance to the school district would probably go a long way.

I doubt that doing a local station there would ever gush money, but the right person could probably make it work. It would probably be better than the “format du jour”approach. I think this thing flips about every six months.

 

[C414B]

{smart aleck}

Hey! I've got an idea.

How about a station that oh,....caters to TATUM?! After all, it is the COL. And, I'm sure that folks would actually listen if it were relevant to the community.

{/smart aleck}

And yes, I know those are braces instead of brackets.

Nah, than might make sense.... You couldn't possibly do that. Then they would be competing with our LPFM. Besides, Tatum is tiny. But I'll bet that if it really emphasized the Tatum Eagles Football and Basket Ball, they'd get lots of listeners from all over. The school district is a lot bigger than the town. A lot of the kids who live over here at Lake Cherokee go to school there and it is a big deal. They actually have a really good school district (better than most) with some exceptional kids. I know of one who got a scholarship to Harvard, and another that is on scholarship at Rutgers. Not too bad for a one horse town. A strong allegiance to the school district would probably go a long way.

I doubt that doing a local station there would ever gush money, but the right person could probably make it work. It would probably be better than the “format du jour”approach. I think this thing flips about every six months.

I was thinking that it would possibly cut into some QX-FM listeners. That would not be good.

But, as you say, it would certainly be better than the format du jour.


BTW, since I'm no longer in the neighborhood, how's QX-FM doing these days?? And KWRD, too, for that matter....

 

[C414B]

{smart aleck}

Hey! I've got an idea.

How about a station that oh,....caters to TATUM?! After all, it is the COL. And, I'm sure that folks would actually listen if it were relevant to the community.

{/smart aleck}

Well C, here is why that is not a good idea. According to the 2000 Census the population for Tatum is 1,175. The previous Census in 1990 had the number at 1,289. As you can see the population is tiny to start with and appears to be getting smaller.

If some programmed (and programming cost money) a station just for Tatum their might be a sizable percentage of the town that would listen. The problem is that there just isn't enough of town to make it work.

I am not sure if you work in the industry or not, but radio is kind of a numbers game. No matter how you slice it, 1,175 is just not enough people for a radio station to be a viable business. Most owners I know in major markets and in small towns alike need and want their stations to *at the very least* turn a small profit.

Yes, I have worked in the industry. And yes, I know that radio is heavily driven by numbers. Unfortunate, but true.

I was thinking along Chuck's lines about the service it could/would provide to more than just the city of Tatum itself. Chuck's right...they've got a good school system. And with the right owners/publicity/direction, somebody could cash in on the loyalty to the school system there. No, they wouldn't make a ton of money. But, it would make the signal waaaaay more viable than spinning the "Wheel of Formats" once a quarter.

 

[Chuck]

BTW, since I'm no longer in the neighborhood, how's QX-FM doing these days?? And KWRD, too, for that matter....

I didn't realize that you'd moved. We're doing pretty well. Drop me a line and I'll mail you a nice shiny KZQX Bumper Sticker. They may be collectable some day.

I think KWRD is doing better too. Philip is doing lots of local stuff. I hope he doesn't get burned by the station’s license holder.

 

[C414B]

BTW, since I'm no longer in the neighborhood, how's QX-FM doing these days?? And KWRD, too, for that matter....

I didn't realize that you'd moved. We're doing pretty well. Drop me a line and I'll mail you a nice shiny KZQX Bumper Sticker. They may be collectable some day.

I think KWRD is doing better too. Philip is doing lots of local stuff. I hope he doesn't get burned by the station’s license holder.

I'll do that!

We moved about 2-1/2 weeks ago to Ohio. Wife's company relocated us up here. I knew Phillip was doing alot of stuff and seemed to have that bird off the ground pretty good. I, too, hope he doesn't get burned by you-know-who. But didn't he buy the license? And has the license ever showed up as being active?

 

[Chuck]

But didn't he buy the license? And has the license ever showed up as being active?

I believe he is operating under a LMA. Something about monthly payments with a balloon note due at the end of the agreement. As I understand it, the current owner would not sell the station for cash, only for an owner financing deal. At least, so goes the story.

The FCC shows the sation as this:

KWRD 71519 AM JERRY RUSSELL D/B/A THE RUSSELL COMPANY LICENSED

 

[C414B]

But didn't he buy the license? And has the license ever showed up as being active?

I believe he is operating under a LMA. Something about monthly payments with a balloon note due at the end of the agreement. As I understand it, the current owner would not sell the station for cash, only for an owner financing deal. At least, so goes the story.

The FCC shows the sation as this:

KWRD 71519 AM JERRY RUSSELL D/B/A THE RUSSELL COMPANY LICENSED

Cool. Guess something finally happened to take it off high center. At least Phillip won't get caught with his pants down for operating an unlicensed station. I know it wouldn't be his responsibility, but you know how tangled webs get weaved.....

 

[Chuck]

I think Philip got stuck purchasing a working EAS system, since the station was cited for not having one. It seems like that would be the licensee's responsibility, but I'm not privy to their agreement.

 

[C414B]

I think Philip got stuck purchasing a working EAS system, since the station was cited for not having one. It seems like that would be the licensee's responsibility, but I'm not privy to their agreement.

According to what I remembered reading in the FCC NAL, it is the licensee's responsibility. But as my mom has said frequently, "What's supposed to be and what is are two different things."

 

[Musicradio]

C414B

Hey -- the best of luck to you and the wife in your new home!

 

[snoman]

I wonder if Russell would do KZEY that way? If he would, I may need to talk to some people. That is unless the FCC has its mind made up, and wants the station to go dark. A friend of mine close to FCC issues told me about ten years ago, that once these small AM's get into serious trouble, that a lot of times they will just wipe out the signal/license all together. That's what happened to 1280 in Longview. I'd really hate to see that with anymore stations in Northeast Texas.

 

[jd]

I wonder if Russell would do KZEY that way? If he would, I may need to talk to some people. That is unless the FCC has its mind made up, and wants the station to go dark. A friend of mine close to FCC issues told me about ten years ago, that once these small AM's get into serious trouble, that a lot of times they will just wipe out the signal/license all together. That's what happened to 1280 in Longview. I'd really hate to see that with anymore stations in Northeast Texas.

Where Russell is concerned nobody can speak with certainty, but based on what happened over in Henderson I think he might talk to your people about an LMA. I don't suspect the FCC has their mind made up yet, but obviously they're not happy with KZEY in light of apparent equipment and public file violations, along with operating illegally as a non-directional. As we've discussed previously they did get their license renewed back in January, but I haven't heard about the station operating at all in months. Contrast that with one of Russell's other stations, KOFY 1060 in Gilmer, which operated for a long time without a license before the FCC finally ordered them to shut it down. Like what happened with 1280 in Longview, the FCC deleted the Gilmer license and the call letters and the only records you can find are under "DKOFY."

So with KZEY there's a license but no signal, and someone could (and should) step in and do something with it. Look at 1330, which was spun off by Gleiser and gained new life as a gospel station, even with a sub-par signal. When it was operating properly KZEY had a pretty good daytime signal. And even at night it was much better than either 1330 or 1490, both of which struggle to make it as far as the South Loop.

 

[C414B]

Re: C414B

Hey -- the best of luck to you and the wife in your new home!

Hey, thanks, Musicradio!

BTW...did you ever get a ham ticket?

 

[C414B]

[ Contrast that with one of Russell's other stations, KOFY 1060 in Gilmer, which operated for a long time without a license before the FCC finally ordered them to shut it down.

Wow. Didn't know that the FCC finally stepped in and shut it down. Guess I must've missed something somewhere.

So with KZEY there's a license but no signal, and someone could (and should) step in and do something with it.

KZEY=license with no signal
KOFY=signal with no license


Somebody oughta stop that.

Look at 1330, which was spun off by Gleiser and gained new life as a gospel station, even with a sub-par signal.

You're right about the 1330 deal. I was glad to see some new life breathed into it. Judging from their website, it has sprouted new wings and is flying pretty good now. Speaking of 1330, is their stick still out on the east loop across from the old studios?