POWER 105.3 GOING AWAY?

[Astros2023]

Ok all that is great! But what good is that if the station is still Illegal.. Or please do tell us what is the primary station for the 99.5 Translators? I don't know many of the people involved personally but for sure I think they have had many chances to stay legal, and they have complete disregard for the FCC Rules.

I’m an engineer, not a station owner, not legal counsel, and definitely not the FCC.
I don’t file licenses, and I don’t sit around tracking who’s rebroadcasting what on which form. That’s way above my pay grade... and frankly, not something I lose sleep over.
If they’re planning to tie 99.5 to an HD channel or drop in one of their AMs like 1540, I assume that’s already in motion. And if not? That’s between the licensee and the FCC, not a bunch of anonymous keyboard experts on a forum.
This isn’t a courtroom, and none of us here are federal agents. You don’t see me asking for your tax returns, payroll filings, or FCC quarterly reports either... because it’s not my job, and I’m not obsessed
Want to talk about shady? Let’s take 104.5 fm, amazing signal, but it’s been pimped out by so many wannabe consultants and washed-up “strategists” that it’s basically a case study in how not to run a radio brand and payola. So maybe take a pause before throwing shade from a glass house.
If you have a real concern, take it to the FCC. Otherwise, maybe stop pretending this thread is a compliance hearing..

 

[Mediafrog+]

Is the displaced La Calle dead (again) or could it pop up elsewhere (106.1?)

Clock now ticking on 97.5?

 

[Astros2023]

Is the displaced La Calle dead (again) or could it pop up elsewhere (106.1?)

At this point, it appears that the La Calle format has been discontinued.... From what I gather, 106.1 FM will likely be leased by one of the local "programmers" or "consultants" who has previously cycled through 104.5 FM.
If they manage to find someone willing, or perhaps uninformed enough, to fund the project at rates between $25,000 and $45,000 per month, we might soon see a new incarnation such as "La Grande 106.1 FM", featuring mostly unknown artists and a heavy dose of payola programming.
It’s important to clarify that 106.1 FM has no connection to Hector, Omar, or SDK. The station is currently owned by César Guel along with certain individuals affiliated with a church.

 

[lanceventa]

Clock now ticking on 97.5?

Other than the echo chamber here, there has been zero buzz around an imminent sale of 97.5.

I heard within the past few weeks that multiple parties recently balked at the excessive asking price and the amount of equipment repairs that would be needed.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Other than the echo chamber here, there has been zero buzz around an imminent sale of 97.5.

I heard within the past few weeks that multiple parties recently balked at the excessive asking price and the amount of equipment repairs that would be needed.

Given what we’ve heard about the condition of the 97.5 tower and the rumored asking price, that doesn’t surprise me. Gow may have to fire sale KFNC if they really want to get it off their hands.

I’ve considered a scenario where EMF buys 97.5 for Radio Nueva Vida and moves it to a new transmitter site, but I will do that on a new thread when I have more time to spell it out. May or may not be technically feasible.

 

[lanceventa]

I’ve considered a scenario where EMF buys 97.5 for Radio Nueva Vida and moves it to a new transmitter site, but I will do that on a new thread when I have more time to spell it out. May or may not be technically feasible.

Based on what I've heard there is a less than zero chance of that happening even before the feasibility part.

 

[Astros2023]

Is the displaced La Calle dead (again) or could it pop up elsewhere (106.1?)

Clock now ticking on 97.5?

There is indeed a local group that has expressed formal interest, and they’ve already signed a preliminary non-disclosure agreement to evaluate the opportunity more closely.
From what I understand, the group has until December 31st to close on the transaction. While progress has been slow, it has been steady .. and that’s often the nature of these types of deals, especially when they involve broadcast assets and regulatory considerations.
Regarding the price tag, yes, it's on the higher side, and many of us familiar with the local market would agree with that. And it’s true that the tower infrastructure, especially on the FM side, has some issues. But it’s also worth noting that the current tower site doesn’t significantly benefit the FM station, so relocation to a better site is likely part of the strategic plan. Additionally, the AM leases, particularly for KFNC, are reportedly very expensive, which is another factor any buyer has to weigh carefully.
In short, yes... there are valid concerns, but there is also legitimate local interest. We'll just have to wait and see how it unfolds in the months ahead.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Based on what I've heard there is a less than zero chance of that happening even before the feasibility part.

I assume you mean EMF would have no interest in the specific KFNC facility. I don't see EMF turning their nose up at one of the largest Spanish speaking markets in the country. If MediaCo decided to sell one or both of their eastern rimshot FMs here, I would think EMF would be a buyer.

 

[stan]

Other than the echo chamber here, there has been zero buzz around an imminent sale of 97.5.

I heard within the past few weeks that multiple parties recently balked at the excessive asking price and the amount of equipment repairs that would be needed.

Does that include the tower? I seem to recall issues with it from months ago?

 

[radioislife2020]

At this point, it appears that the La Calle format has been discontinued.... From what I gather, 106.1 FM will likely be leased by one of the local "programmers" or "consultants" who has previously cycled through 104.5 FM.
If they manage to find someone willing, or perhaps uninformed enough, to fund the project at rates between $25,000 and $45,000 per month, we might soon see a new incarnation such as "La Grande 106.1 FM", featuring mostly unknown artists and a heavy dose of payola programming.
It’s important to clarify that 106.1 FM has no connection to Hector, Omar, or SDK. The station is currently owned by César Guel along with certain individuals affiliated with a church.

Actually had a chance to hear 99.5 today.. Amazing how it sounds so much better today than it did a week or 2 weeks ago. Sounded even better than 105.3 but as i heard the legal ID.. I heard KGBC 1540 on the legal ID and we both know that KGBC is not the primary, also no mention of the 99.5 call letters. If this station is so well put together why cant they seem to have a correct legal ID? Why have no interest in protecting the license for 99.5 by actually having them included in the top of the hour? I mean you talk about this operation being top notch ,but they were still including the 105.3 from what todd mission that was never purchased.. por Mr. Roy Henderson (sarcasm)

 

[Astros2023]

Actually had a chance to hear 99.5 today.. Amazing how it sounds so much better today than it did a week or 2 weeks ago. Sounded even better than 105.3 but as i heard the legal ID.. I heard KGBC 1540 on the legal ID and we both know that KGBC is not the primary, also no mention of the 99.5 call letters. If this station is so well put together why cant they seem to have a correct legal ID? Why have no interest in protecting the license for 99.5 by actually having them included in the top of the hour? I mean you talk about this operation being top notch ,but they were still including the 105.3 from what todd mission that was never purchased.. por Mr. Roy Henderson (sarcasm)

It’s wild how you act like missing an ID for a few days is a federal crime. Let me help you breathe... no, the FCC isn’t pulling any licenses because a transitional translator signal is still getting its imaging together. Calm down...
Let’s clear something up while we’re here.. I never said Power FM was “top-notch.” Don’t twist the words. What I did say.. and still stand by.. is that compared to the never..ending circus of failed translators in this market, Power FM has held steady. That doesn’t make it perfect...it just makes it functional, which is apparently rare in this city. Yes, the signal has better audio processing but the skip is terrible. Yes, 105.3 tenants needed better reach, 106.1 fm is sounds terrible... But the purchase deal between Space City and Centro isn’t even finalized yet, so of course the legal ID, Nielsen , tags, and promos are still being lined up. This is what professionals call a “transition.” What’s airing now is just a redirect, no full imaging, no branding, and that’s intentional. But if your takeaway is “they forgot the ID,” maybe sit this one out. Because what’s happening behind the scenes is far more complex than a 6-second soundbite.

 

[radioislife2020]

A transition? Stations don't transition they flip and move on maybe they stunt but this.. nope this is called ''half ass''
Behind the scenes? You act like this will have an impact in the Market. And you are correct they won't pull the license for not having a correct ID.. shoot the station has not had a legal primary signal in years (yeah kgbc for a few weeks) and still has a license. And this was just me hearing it for about 5 minutes at my Cypress office.

 

[Astros2023]

A transition? Stations don't transition they flip and move on maybe they stunt but this.. nope this is called ''half ass''
Behind the scenes? You act like this will have an impact in the Market. And you are correct they won't pull the license for not having a correct ID.. shoot the station has not had a legal primary signal in years (yeah kgbc for a few weeks) and still has a license. And this was just me hearing it for about 5 minutes at my Cypress office.

You know, it’s always fascinating watching guys like you bark from the sidelines. You know all the rules, you quote the playbook, but you’ve never played the game... much less built a team, led one, or owned the field.
You’re like someone who’s studied every NFL regulation but never put on pads, never made a roster, and somehow thinks that qualifies you to talk like a head coach...or worse, an owner. You’ve never actually built a successful station, never closed a real acquisition outside of hick towns across the country..never scaled an operation that matters...yet here you are, acting like the authority on everything radio.
Let me help you with the facts since you’re clearly stuck on surface level assumptions...
KGBC was purchased over a year ago, not “for a few weeks,” and before Power was operating under a contracted HD channel from Cox also with over half a million dollars paid to Roy Henderson...
Meanwhile, you're tossing around phrases like “half-assed” and pretending you’re uncovering some grand flaw ...when in reality, you’re just shouting into a void about a process you’ve never actually done yourself. If you're so sure about how things should be done, maybe it's time you actually do something in this industry instead of riding the coattails of other people’s builds.
The truth is, even once everything is fully compliant, legal ID, HD Channels, AM signal, you'll still be trolling, because that's your comfort zone. You thrive in criticism, not contribution.
So yeah, damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Keep playing fantasy radio from your desk and with the new gig at Telemundo in beaumont texas.

 

[BamaTX]

It’s always easy to criticize the ballgame from the couch...especially on a Tuesday night after spending the weekend scrolling and speculating.

I critiqued no one. I've simply pointed out how some translators have operated since the translator floodgates were opened across the country by the FCC.

Let me just say this... I know Omar. I know both sides of the families involved. I’ve worked with them, engineered for them, and done side projects with them across Houston and New Orleans. I’ve seen how they operate, flaws and all, and if you’ve been around long enough, you’d recognize that Power FM has done something that most didn’t dare to try five years ago.

They've done exactly what I said most translators do; sell fast and cheap to small businesses that have very little marketing knowledge.

The salespeople at these translators aren't talking about the number of listeners they have or the time spent listening by their listeners. All they are doing is selling the idea of being on the radio at a fraction of the cost from what TelevisaUnivision and SBS charge.

They leaned into the crossover, música regional mexicana mezclada con urbano, salsa, y los sonidos que realmente conectan con nuestra comunidad. And now? Look around...KLOL and KAMA and even some of the corporates are following that same path.

They're not following the same path at all. What TU and iHeart are doing is following research on what their intended demographics want to hear. They know that acts like Karol G and Frontera may sound different, but they both resonate well with Houston's young Hispanic demographics.

Power doesn't do that. They mix way too much music and the format doesn't attract many listeners (we know that from the brief time they were rated as "KTWL"). But we digress. Power is not interested in ratings. They are simply selling the novelty of radio to local business owners who are illiterate in marketing for a fraction of the price.

So laugh all you want, but the market caught up to what they were doing first.

No one is laughing. The vast majority of the market doesn't even think about Power since they go after different clients.

Yes, small businesses buy. Palm readers, immigration lawyers, taco shops… you know why?

Because it's cheap, easy, and fast. I've already been over this. Dollar for dollar, those small businesses buying air time on translators are not getting the best bang for their buck. But they don't know that. They're just buying the idea of being on the radio.

It’s not about selling dreams. It’s about offering access..and a lot of small businesses would rather spend $2,000 with someone local who understands their hustle than $20,000 with someone who talks CPMs/Nielsen, Xtrands.. but doesn’t know their street.

Like I said earlier, translators usually fish for people who are marketing illiterate.

Numbers matter. Only a fool would ignore basic marketing principles. And since this world is littered with fools, translators can make a decent living

Power has been one of the few radio stations without changing the formats every year and program directors and personalities.... They've been pretty consistent. That's what they've been doing since day one... from imaging logos and sound etc etc...

Good for them.

Like I said in an earlier post, translators across the country have been successful at exploiting uneducated small business owners.

So yeah, keep talking ratings and demographics… if they were registered to Nielsen, I promise you’d be looking at more than “brujos” on a spreadsheet.
But until then, remember:
Some of us build towers. Some of us just sit back and talk about it on radio discussions and social media...

Off topic, but can you please work on your formatting? Your posts are massive walls of texts with weird spacing. It's just proper forum etiquette to use paragraphs.

 

[dm2024]

@Astros2023 hey wait a minute why are you getting me involved I’ve never said anything negative about the station if anything you are forgetting I helped with the launch and even with equipment ,so let it be clear don’t get me involved with the back and forth cause if I don’t have something positive to say I don’t say anything at all ,but don’t be dragging me into your little battle here. For the record the Telemundo reference is me since I am the Market manager for South East Texas and Lake Charles but to wake up to this trash talking is not cool. Having had launched 105.3 as la Caliente and operating 104.5 years ago I would be one to have things to say but i sit back and let everyone do what they think is best . When I get on here I post with my name and don’t need to hide . I hope the other jabs about 104.5 were not for me!

 

[Astros2023]

@Astros2023 hey wait a minute why are you getting me involved I’ve never said anything negative about the station if anything you are forgetting I helped with the launch and even with equipment ,so let it be clear don’t get me involved with the back and forth cause if I don’t have something positive to say I don’t say anything at all ,but don’t be dragging me into your little battle here. For the record the Telemundo reference is me since I am the Market manager for South East Texas and Lake Charles but to wake up to this trash talking is not cool. Having had launched 105.3 as la Caliente and operating 104.5 years ago I would be one to have things to say but i sit back and let everyone do what they think is best . When I get on here I post with my name and don’t need to hide . I hope the other jabs about 104.5 were not for me!

@dm2024....My apologies for the confusion. The comments and responses I shared were not directed at you in any way. They were intended specifically in response to radioislife2020 and his repeated commentary for years.. Again, I want to be clear that none of the remarks were aimed at you, and I appreciate your understanding as we keep the conversation focused and respectful.

 

[Astros2023]

I critiqued no one. I've simply pointed out how some translators have operated since the translator floodgates were opened across the country by the FCC.

They've done exactly what I said most translators do; sell fast and cheap to small businesses that have very little marketing knowledge.

The salespeople at these translators aren't talking about the number of listeners they have or the time spent listening by their listeners. All they are doing is selling the idea of being on the radio at a fraction of the cost from what TelevisaUnivision and SBS charge.

They're not following the same path at all. What TU and iHeart are doing is following research on what their intended demographics want to hear. They know that acts like Karol G and Frontera may sound different, but they both resonate well with Houston's young Hispanic demographics.

Power doesn't do that. They mix way too much music and the format doesn't attract many listeners (we know that from the brief time they were rated as "KTWL"). But we digress. Power is not interested in ratings. They are simply selling the novelty of radio to local business owners who are illiterate in marketing for a fraction of the price.

No one is laughing. The vast majority of the market doesn't even think about Power since they go after different clients.

Because it's cheap, easy, and fast. I've already been over this. Dollar for dollar, those small businesses buying air time on translators are not getting the best bang for their buck. But they don't know that. They're just buying the idea of being on the radio.

Like I said earlier, translators usually fish for people who are marketing illiterate.

Numbers matter. Only a fool would ignore basic marketing principles. And since this world is littered with fools, translators can make a decent living

Good for them.

Like I said in an earlier post, translators across the country have been successful at exploiting uneducated small business owners.

Off topic, but can you please work on your formatting? Your posts are massive walls of texts with weird spacing. It's just proper forum etiquette to use paragraphs.

Hey Bama-TX, actually think we’re kind of saying the same thing, just from different angles. I get your point about translators not being “real” stations in the traditional sense. You’ve said it before, they don’t have the coverage, they’re not on Nielsen, and they’re not Christian formats asking for donations. Fair points. But here’s the reality.. what other option do they have? Not everyone has access to a full signal or major backing. So they work with what’s available, and in some cases, they’ve stuck around long enough to matter.When you write about these stations, I know you understand the business. You’ve made great points in the past,I remember years ago when you said maybe they should focus on areas like Katy, and I agreed. But lately, some of the comments read more like mockery than critique, maybe I’m just reading too much into it.
And yeah, my formatting’s a mess. I’ll own that. Still figuring out this forum layout. But either way, I respect the conversation and I’m here to build, not bash.

 

[Mediafrog+]

They've done exactly what I said most translators do; sell fast and cheap to small businesses that have very little marketing knowledge.

The salespeople at these translators aren't talking about the number of listeners they have or the time spent listening by their listeners. All they are doing is selling the idea of being on the radio at a fraction of the cost from what TelevisaUnivision and SBS charge.

It’s not just translators that take that approach. Note that KFNC is doing the same thing. They dropped subscribing to the book a year and a half ago, and most of their spot inventory is local direct accounts with commercials produced in-house. Perhaps that is why KFNC is seen as a future fit for the group behind Power.

 

[radioislife2020]

@dm2024....My apologies for the confusion. The comments and responses I shared were not directed at you in any way. They were intended specifically in response to radioislife2020 and his repeated commentary for years.. Again, I want to be clear that none of the remarks were aimed at you, and I appreciate your understanding as we keep the conversation focused and respectful.

That was wild! I'm more of a TelevisaUnivision guy ehhh Telemundo not so much. I think I have expressed many times that I don't personally know the people you work for, but I don't like the fact that they don't care to follow the rules.

 

[BamaTX]

Hey Bama-TX, actually think we’re kind of saying the same thing, just from different angles.

I'm saying the same thing over and over again because you're misconstruing my overall message. You also seem to have confused users with something they didn't write.

I get your point about translators not being “real” stations in the traditional sense.

I never said that. Plenty of fully licensed stations do the same thing. Take a look across the AM band.

(This is why I repeat myself over and over...you're taking liberties with my posts)

You’ve said it before, they don’t have the coverage, they’re not on Nielsen, and they’re not Christian formats asking for donations. Fair points. But here’s the reality.. what other option do they have?

Again, you've taken my post about how they survive as criticism or unethical in nature. At no point have I said any of this.

What I described is the reality of the vast majority of translators.

Not everyone has access to a full signal or major backing. So they work with what’s available, and in some cases, they’ve stuck around long enough to matter.When you write about these stations, I know you understand the business. You’ve made great points in the past,I remember years ago when you said maybe they should focus on areas like Katy, and I agreed. But lately, some of the comments read more like mockery than critique, maybe I’m just reading too much into it.

Care to quote the exact moment I made a mockery of how they make their money? I've criticized the format as out-of-touch and not properly researched. But I have also acknowledged that the format itself doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. You can make an all Peruvian Flute Band format "work" as long as you can sell it.

If Power was rated it would be near the bottom with KPFT and KQBU. That's just a fact. The format is awful. And I'm not talking just about the music either. There are a lot of questionable programming choices being made to the point that you have to question if a central American just threw their MP3 collection into shuffle mode?

But again, irrelevant since the format isn't what's for sale. It's the idea of small businesses being on the radio.