Late night news coverage

[ChuckTiller]

There are no downtown studios of any importance that I am aware of. There are several stations within the loop, but not downtown proper. KILT is in 24 Greenway Plaza; that's not downtown. Even when KILT was on 500 Lovett Blvd; it was still not downtown.

No emergency personnel ever came to our stations to tell us to leave. KKHT managed to stay on the air longer than KNTH which lost its power at the transmitter. KNTH was off for about 36 hours. KKHT was off around 4 hours during the storm. We (5 of us) were there before, during and after the storm. Although the building lost power, our 12th floor studios have a natural gas generator for back-up.

During the curfew, I was not stopped going into work in the early morning hours. I am on the road every weekday morning around 2:40AM. The police passed me many times going the other direction on Harwin. Several times they came up behind me and passed. I was never stopped from doing my job.

Specifically, which coastal radio stations were told to evacuate and leave their studios unattended?

 

[TheBigA]

There are no downtown studios of any importance that I am aware of. There are several stations within the loop, but not downtown proper. KILT is in 24 Greenway Plaza; that's not downtown.

Here's the link to Rowdy's post from last October. You're correct...he was at Greenway Plaza.

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=111518.msg888519#msg888519

 

[intx]

Easy solution: Since the folks at CC are cheap and aren't going to staff 740 24/7, as we'd all like, why don't they just cut a deal with one of the TV stations to pick up their breaking news broadcasts? All the locals were cutting in for the Gallery Furniture fire, and I'm sure they would have all loved a little additional exposure on the radio dial.

 

[ChuckTiller]

It's a good idea, Intx. However, how are you going to get that report on the air? If a board-op is on board it would be easy enough to interrupt with a quick bulletin intro and bring the report up on the board. I'm sure an on-air computer could be programmed to do it. But, who makes the call. Does the computer decide if the TV bulletin is important enough to air? What someone believes to be a bulletin at the TV station may not necessarily be a hot enough story to interrupt the radio programming.

This would be a good time for CBS to take KILT-AM and make it a real all news station. Before you pooh pooh the idea, look at the coverage maps. It almost mirrors KTRH's pattern. When I was on KILT, I used to get calls all the way from Corpus Christi. In fact when I was at KIKN in Corpus in 1974, I used to listen to Barry Kaye in the afternoon, borrow some of his one liners for my all night show after midnight.

KILT-AM has great coverage. No, the far north signal is terrible, just like all the other Houston AM stations. They could purchase 880AM KJOJ and simulcast it to alleviate that problem. Additionally, put the 610 programming on one of the KILT-FM HD2 channels.

I would much rather have KILT's 5000 watts (4 tower array) at 610 than KNTH's 10000 watts (11 tower array) at 1070.

 

[poops]

There are no downtown studios of any importance that I am aware of. There are several stations within the loop, but not downtown proper. KILT is in 24 Greenway Plaza; that's not downtown.

Here's the link to Rowdy's post from last October. You're correct...he was at Greenway Plaza.

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=111518.msg888519#msg888519

BigA,

This thread is not about Ike (at least not for me), but is about the ability to get info out in a timely manner when other emergencies arise. With that said, the statement that I had talked about the emergency management meeting, had very little to do with hurricanes, but mainly industrial emergencies and the inability to get the info out in a timely manner, due to the fact that there was no late night media coverage. We are not all about hurricanes here, and there are a multitude of emergencies common to the area that carry a need for timely notification of those who may be affected. Now... I used the word abandoned in a previous post... well as one who has been around long enough to remember the days when I could get up in the middle of the night and listen to reports on major incidents that may have an effect on me or my family... yes I do feel abandoned. Do I think it will ever be the same as the old days... probably not, but, as you have, I've responded to this thread to voice an opinion, mine being based on the listeners point of view.

Again, I appreciate and respect your opinions and points of view even though I may not agree with them.

BTW... if you'd like to view my thoughts on the Houston radio coverage of Ike, please follow the link below

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=109055.msg868794#msg868794

poops

 

[TheBigA]

With that said, the statement that I had talked about the emergency management meeting, had very little to do with hurricanes, but mainly industrial emergencies and the inability to get the info out in a timely manner, due to the fact that there was no late night media coverage.

The state of Texas, like all states, has emergency procedures for dealing with these situations, and local radio is part of those procedures. Were the procedures followed, or did the local officials simply not contact radio? Because radio MUST respond if contacted. That's the law. But local emergency officials are in charge and must carry the ball.

 

[zork]

, why don't they just cut a deal with one of the TV stations to pick up their breaking news broadcasts?

why should they? KTRH already steals the audio from tv all the time.

anytime they actually put up audio of the mayor speaking etc. They frequently cut it off when the tv anchors start to talk but you always hear the first couple of words get out over the air.

Their shuttle coverage on KTRH-2 stream you frequently hear the audio switch to FSN to catch the end of Astros game interviews. a lot of times you can actually catch the last couple of innings over the web..... I wonder how MLB would feel about this.

 

[radiopropd]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but I, just as many of you, feel there is a huge void when it comes to overnight news coverage on the local radio stations.

And, I couldn't agree more with KevinC - there weren't any local radio stations covering the Gallery fire - my brother-in-law was on the north freeway that evening - and the traffic was at a stand still - he had no information as to what was happening, other than traffic was not moving. My wife called him to tell him about the fire since he had, at one time, worked security for Matress Mac - and that's ho0w he found out about the fire. It's a shame that there isn't more of a local news presence for the overnight hours, especially in a city the size of Houston and its metro area.

For myself, I am not a native Houstonian - although me wife is. However, I grew up is Southern California, and used to travel on I-5 every morning from south Orange County to downtown LA - while that was nearly 20 years ago, there was always a news station on the air during the overnights - KNX and KFWB come to mind - and you could always find out what was happening.

Yes, I realize that times change - and that radio, most certainly in the past year locally, as well as over the past several years has changed - but people still have an immediate need for local news and information - and what a better place to get that information than from radio.

For myself, yes, I'll admit it, I have become bitter about radio - I've seen so many good people lose their jobs - KevinC was one of those when he was let go from Metro as part of their nationwide restructuring - I finally decided that while I still have a love for being on the air, being in the prod room working on imaging and such, that it was better for me to reinvent myself and move onto another career - there is no more uncertainty in my life when it comes to going to work every day and wondering if I will be told at the end of the day that my services will no longer be needed.

Regardless, I still have a passion and love for radio, and still believe in all it can do...I just wish that there were those in management that had the same drive, desire and passion.

 

[schmave]

, why don't they just cut a deal with one of the TV stations to pick up their breaking news broadcasts?

why should they? KTRH already steals the audio from tv all the time.

anytime they actually put up audio of the mayor speaking etc. They frequently cut it off when the tv anchors start to talk but you always hear the first couple of words get out over the air.

Their shuttle coverage on KTRH-2 stream you frequently hear the audio switch to FSN to catch the end of Astros game interviews. a lot of times you can actually catch the last couple of innings over the web..... I wonder how MLB would feel about this.

The last couple innings of 740's broadcast or of Fox Sports Southwest's ... err, Fox Sports Houston? I haven't listened to an Astros game online in a few years now, but I remember 740 used to let the broadcasts through on occasion. I'm talking 2004 or 2005.
I believe they still cut right to the post-game once the actual game broadcast is over.
@ Chuck: Those are some interesting ideas. I don't see 610 dumping sports when it's still the market leader in that format, but you never know.
I personally think 610's coverage is worse to the north than any other local station. It can't be heard in The Woodlands past dark, whereas 740 and 790 still get in there. That said, given my choice of a signal in this town I would take 610 second only to 740.

 

[Kevinc]

Poops, RadioProPD, Mr. Tiller and all... Thanks for getting it. I only started this thread out of frustration over where our industry has gone...

BigA, maybe someday you'll see something you have poured your life's work into be dismantled piece by piece and you too will understand the frustration I/we feel. Its not a matter of legalities or requirements, its just what radio has always been known for, and even though technology and finances have changed the way the business is operated, I for one, feel that its the way it could and should still be. In fact, technology should make it even easier to put something on the air even during automated programming. It can be done.

The decisions regarding what is and is not newsworthy used to lay on the shoulders of the guys who owned and operated the stations.. They did it because they took on the obligation to serve the public interest and they wanted to be a part of the community, not just make money off those who lived there. They had an investment in the business itself.. That is no longer the case. And even though I understand that, I don't necessarily have to like it... even though I can accept it and move on... it doesn't mean I cannot say what I feel about it now and then when an incident like this fire at Gallery Furniture brings it back to mind as it has.

If you feel the need to get the last word in...go ahead. I have said what I wanted to say...

 

[TheBigA]

If you feel the need to get the last word in...go ahead. I have said what I wanted to say...

I don't want the last word...just want to repeat what I said in my last post. I've read a lot of great posts by a lot of smart and passionate people. You all need to get together, pool your resources and talents, and start a new company that would provide this service to Houston stations. If you can make them an offer they can't refuse, you'll be a great service to your community and to the industry.

I knew one of the guys who started Shadow Traffic, which Metro bought. He started the company about 30 years ago in NJ because stations needed the information and couldn't afford to hire their own chopper pilot. This was long before consolidation, and it was in the #1 market in the country. They didn't own any radio stations, but just offered a needed service at a good price, and made a business out of it. There's no reason why you and a few others can't do the same.

I've watched this industry for a very long time. The only difference between now and 20 years ago is back then, people were willing to start new companies. Now, it seems like folks just want to complain. I'm building my own company now because of frustration and the opportunity presented by a lot of these same companies. If you know and care about what you're doing, you should do it for yourself, and not expect someone else to do it.

 

[Thelonious Monkey]

This is a great post and a great idea.

 

[fmtooner]

...perhaps the board op could be trained to do a quick report about a major breaking story...

why? so the radio-info wannabe experts can trash the delivery as amateurish and the station as too cheap to pay real talent?

newstoon

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

The Gallery Furniture warehouse is located in a densely-populated, economically-depressed area. That part of Independence Heights off of I-45 is not an area where you will find the majority of people purchasing expensive cable television packages, nor will you find Internet access in every home. In fact, a great many homes in that zip code are not yet prepared for the upcoming analog-to-digital television conversion. I guess those people are lucky that it was a furniture fire instead of one of our refineries exploding again or, God forbid, an airborne toxic event such as the one experienced in Minot, ND. some years ago.

Again, Kevin, the problem lies in deregulation. When you no longer require a Class C operator's license, you can put any living body in front of the buttons and pay them squat. All they have to do is watch the computer screen and sign off on the spots. My favorite PD in the past believed that every single person who touches the board should have, at minimum, the ability to crack the mic in emergency situations. Fire, terrorism, or toxic clouds don't wait for the day shift to start. Yes, I know, nobody's going to pay for that anymore. So much for serving the community of license.

KevinC, most of us absolutely get it. A quick check of certain post histories will show you that some folks make a daily practice out of "not getting it" on these boards in the most antagonistic way possible---day in, day out, ad nauseum, there's only one right way to think for those folks, and everybody else is wrong. It's best not to take those posts---or their authors---too seriously.

"Nothing to see here, folks. That? That was...a pigeon." -Officer Bar-Brady

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

P.S. The Chron posted some photos today.

http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Four_alarm_fire_at_Gallery_Fur.html#_self

People who don't live in our community are free to amuse themselves with idle speculation about how little radio matters to those who live here, or how there are plenty of other news outlets where gee, everybody can get information. Big A, I invite you to a good look for yourself at the residents shown in the photos. I realize, you care nothing about them or their lives. Who cares if they burn, as long as you don't have to log on to this board every day and read complaints about the failure of radio to inform them of the danger to themselves, their homes, and their children? It's all an abstraction, right? Words typed on a screen, not real people with real lives. And yet, according to you, the real problem is radio industry people verbalizing their observations and feelings about those failures.

This is our city, and those who live in it have the right to timely, potentially life-saving emergency information. The limited spectrum was badly misused in this situation.

Oh, well. At least we can rest easy that the fire is out, and nothing bad will ever happen during the overnight hours again.

 

[TheBigA]

Big A, I invite you to a good look for yourself at the residents shown in the photos.

And yet, according to you, the real problem is radio industry people verbalizing their observations and feelings about those failures.

No, that's not what I said. I said the real problem is radio people who want others to act, and use other people's money, rather than do what the legends of broadcasting did, which was see an opportunity when it exists, and start a company to fill the void.

It's easy to post on message boards. It's much harder to actually do the work. "Verbalizing," as you put it, is cheap. Take a chance. Take a risk. Do something creative and start your own company. Make these stations an offer they can't refuse: quality local coverage for free. Metro had a great idea that got sidetracked. There is an obvious void that some enterprising person can fill. If such person exists in the #7 market.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Big A, I invite you to a good look for yourself at the residents shown in the photos.

And yet, according to you, the real problem is radio industry people verbalizing their observations and feelings about those failures.

No, that's not what I said. I said the real problem is radio people who want others to act, and use other people's money, rather than do what the legends of broadcasting did, which was see an opportunity when it exists, and start a company to fill the void.

It's easy to post on message boards. It's much harder to actually do the work. "Verbalizing," as you put it, is cheap. Take a chance. Take a risk. Do something creative and start your own company. Make these stations an offer they can't refuse: quality local coverage for free. Metro had a great idea that got sidetracked. There is an obvious void that some enterprising person can fill. If such person exists in the #7 market.

Darlin', do you think this is the only site on the Internet, or that the only people who view it are radio industry people? Do you assume that politicians with a dog in the hunt never lurk, or that people in other media don't read the boards and understand that the overwhelming majority of terrestrial industry people are sickened and disgusted by the consolidators whose lobbyists succeeded in doing away with the last few federal laws which protected not only industry jobs but also America's limited spectrum for their communities of license? Don't you think the listeners and advertisers (what few are left, one of the huge ones in THIS town being Mattress Mack, whose furniture warehouse went up in flames without a peep from the stations who happily take his money) swing by and check out what's happening from time-to-time? Everybody knows radio's broken, and everybody is starting to figure out why. Thank God for Doug Fleming and this messageboard.

More to the point, I am certain that there is an agenda to prevent messageboard discussions from progressing in any way you don't like by being the voice of discouragement and dissent in every thread where people are even taking the first step of identifying some of the major problems. I'm not sure why you've taken this role upon yourself. I speculate it may have something to do with the desperation one feels when his or her paycheck is threatened by the notion that groundswells might catch on and that new ideas and new business models might, in fact, be implemented in the future. There's nothing wrong with knowing what side your bread is buttered on, friend, but simply repeating the same disingenuous mantras several thousand times over only serves to shut down the discussions of everyone else who doesn't feel like engaging in 20 or 30 posts of back-and-forth with you. It would be nice if we could use these messageboards to come up with better solutions, or even share observations that you don't approve of. Unfortunately, that dogged persistence wins out, if nothing else, and good topics get dropped. Take a chance. Take a risk. Let other people talk.

 

[adguy]

KTRH, "Houston's News Station" is now a false monikor. I listen to the talk shows off and on all day long on the station and they deliver the news every half hour, right.

If you noticed they run the EXACT same news stories (headlines) with no copy changes or updates to breaking news from 9A to at least 7P. It's the most irritating thing to listen to on any station. A nuke could go off in some US city in the middle of the day and KTRH might report on it with the same copy the next day all day long. Meanwhile on that day you'll still hear the same recorded half hour news break from 9A to at least 7P with no breaking news coverage. Very Sad Indeed!

It's obvious they have abandoned their news operation completely. They are still trying promote themselves as "Houston's News Station" to those that have been here for over 20 years and mislead those who are relatively new to the market. Their ratings are still solid, but that's with the talk lineup they have. I only wish they would quit trying to insult people's intelligence by calling themselves "Houston's News Station". I know it's a minor point, but it irritates me being a former media player for many years. I congratulate them on their success with the talk, but they should promote themselves for what they are.....the most entertaining talk radio in Houston.

 

[zork]

even wikipedia knows KTRH is not Houston's News Station:

Callsign meaning Kome to The Rice Hotel
or, alternately Keep Tuned Right Here
Talk Radio Houston

K
T - talk
R - radio
H - houston

talk radio houston fits them the best

 

[rageradio]

even wikipedia knows KTRH is not Houston's News Station:

Callsign meaning Kome to The Rice Hotel
or, alternately Keep Tuned Right Here
Talk Radio Houston

K
T - talk
R - radio
H - houston

talk radio houston fits them the best

You do know that wikipedia is an online "encyclopedia" that anyone can enter information into. Anyone can update/change any entry at anytime. In fact. I am the one who entered alot of the info on a few of the stations. KKBQ, KRBE, KHMX, and the Club 6400 wikipedia entries are my babies. Also worked on KTHT, (now) KGLK, KHPT, KROI. All have been modified by other people but I laid alot of the ground work. Im not trying to toot my own horn but its true.