Question about this Texas Board

[everydayguy]

Its amazing to me that Lubbock seems like the only Texas radio market that gets any discussion whatsoever on this Texas board lately.

Except for a posting about Tyler and Corpus Christi sometimes, the Texas board has become pretty much the Lubbock Board. Which is OK since its cool to read about the Lubbock stations here.

But why isnt their ever anything on here about arbitron markets like Waco Temple, Wichita Falls, Beaumont, El Paso, Laredo, Amarillo, Midland and Odessa, San Angelo, Abilene, Texarkana etc.

Anyway congratlations to the Lubbock radio guys for keeping it up to date, now where is everybody else?

 

[jd]

Well, there is a lot of Lubbock stuff on here, which is fine with me. As a life-long Texan, believe it or not I've never been there, but the news is often quite fascinating.

In all fairness, though, when news happens elsewhere it usually appears here, too. Here's one, an item from B/PA that will probably be of interest to stan (and CW, wherever he may be these days). I just noticed that the all but destroyed by Rita KBPO 1150 Port Neches is being sold by Vision Latina: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/...h.cgi?exhibit_id=758650&formid=314&q_num=5030 Pay the cash, inherit a nightmare, eh?

 

[dx7]

JD, what makes this $63,000 purchase of KBPO 1150-AM in "Beaumont" more amazing is that last I heard Hurricane Rita had destroyed everything at the tower site and that there hasn't been a studio for KBPO for years. There's literally nothing to buy but the license, and the build-out costs for a two tower array and everything else that's needed will run the cost way up.

How long has it been silent now? 3 years?

This station has been snakebit for at least the past two decades and certainly hasn't matched its "glory days" as the little Port Neches Mom and Pop KPNG 1150-AM where I began my career way back in the 60s.

dx7

 

[WCJ]

They are broadcasting Spanish Religious now and can be heard over most the Triangle area.

 

[snoman]

Sadly, a lot of markets are stagnant these days. You hardly ever hear a blip about Waco/Temple/Killeen. Don't know why. "Musicradio" is from Texarkana. However, I haven't seen him post in quite awhile. I haven't heard much from Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, or El Paso in quite awhile. Even the RGV area used to have quite a few posts, but it has cooled off. I guess a lot of posters have become disgusted with radio and all the changes and have moved on. And yeah, I'd like to see folks post who are as enthusiastic as the Lubbock folks are, and my kudos go out to them as well. I used to do a lot of Ark-La-Tex posting, but most of my contacts have dried up or are looking for work. It's a tough business right now, and whether you're looking for work or just blogging, it's difficult to get a nibble from anywhere.

 

[johnqdoe]

it's prolly cause 90% of the Texas amrkets have 1 man per stationa dn the rest is VT/syndication...Simply not much to talk about

 

[fredcantu]

Downsizing and consolidation have eliminated a lot of radio jobs.
That means fewer people to contribute to these boards.

 

[cspotrun]

Downsizing and consolidation have eliminated a lot of radio jobs.
That means fewer people to contribute to these boards.

Radio is the gift that keeps on giving! so what's left is alot of Bitching.

 

[bucwhyl]

Lubbock is a market that's rapidly growing. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually get their own board. I grew up in Lubbock and after I moved to Ft. Worth in 1996, it seemed like Lubbock just boomed. Radio has really changed in Lubbock. Many stations on their radio dial today, didn't exist when I lived there.

 

[the undork]

In the early 90's when I did mornings in Palestine (market of about 20,000 if you count livestock and pets) our station was a locally programmed country and we had a 3/4 syndicated AM. We barely had time to breathe back then because we were continuously on the air, show prepping, in prduction or on a remote, and there were FOUR of us. I can only imagine what it must be like now!

In the late 90's when I was PD and mornings for an AM/FM combo in Southeast New Mexico it was the same story, except, well I'll put it this way, if we got through a day, and the transmitters and automation only crashed twice, it was a really good day. There were TWO of us. Again I can only imagine. what it's like now. I guess it would all be on the owner himself and the salespeople now. I would be willing to bet there is no dedicated air talent there now. They probably have to double up, or even triple up on duties.

Admittedly, there was no, or very little internet in those days, but had there been, it would have been the LAST thing
we wanted to do when we finally got home. Personally, I just wanted a beer (or six), an hour of Letterman, then bed (this was frequently seven days a week by the way), and to actually get to spend more that one night a month with my girlfriend (or at one time, wife. Guess how that relationship wound up!)


I think anybody who has ever worked in a small town radio staton could attest to and sympathize with at least some of this.

My point is, maybe the reason you don't see a lot of other people on here is that they are too busy working to have the time for it.

 

[Garrett]

Lubbock is a market that's rapidly growing. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually get their own board. I grew up in Lubbock and after I moved to Ft. Worth in 1996, it seemed like Lubbock just boomed. Radio has really changed in Lubbock. Many stations on their radio dial today, didn't exist when I lived there.

I'll say. Lubbock is not growing on the rankings however. Since I first came here, the radio market went from 169 to 173 to 181.
At the same time, 104.9, 97.3, 95.5, 103.5 and 87.7 (since Arbitron counts those now) have all moved into the market.