• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Radio One Acquires Cox Houston

92.1 will get spun out. It is not even mentioned in the Press Release as a current station.

"Our current stations 97.9 'The Box' and Majic 102.1 are market leaders, and combined with our new stations, allow us to strengthen our business footprint while offering the Houston community more diversified music"
 
Thanks, David and others, for the info!

I would be stunned if EMF does not acquire at least one of the stations to be spun off. I've been saying for ages that 92.1 ought to be sold to them.
 
Kent said:
WLHK is not classic country, or at least it wasn't last time I checked. It had a wider and deeper playlist than WFMS, but it was still closer to a contemporary country format.
Click to expand...
It is, but they only just recently bought it. They basically left it alone. Supposedly they're trying to go beyond mostly Urban radio, and these stations fit that plan.
 
salemjedi54 said:
Looks like Mediafrog may get his wish about 92.1......maybe?????
Click to expand...
Well, well, well. I step away from this board to do some chores and get in my daily one-hour power walk, and look what happens.o_O

Have to admit I’m rather surprised. Didn’t think Radio One was in buying mode, at least in Houston.

I agree KROI and KTHT will be spun off. The current formats on both are probably toast. About time. I also wonder about The Eagle simulcast, but I suspect it will be kept in place for the time being.

I know both companies are cash strapped, but if either iHeart or Audacy have had any thought of putting their sportstalkers on FM, now is the opportunity, preferably on 92.1 as I have advocated. iHeart would have room for two more FMs were they to spin off one of their AMs.

Yes, EMF is a possibility for one of the signals, but also keep an eye on VCY America, which is eyeing acquisitions…I would guess 97.1 would be preferable for them, as that signal covers a huge part of southeast Texas. KHCB might want a new flagship for its Spanish language network; 92.1 is the better signal for that.

Going to be an interesting summer. Might have some more thoughts after I digest all of this.

Edit to add: The Standard General-Tegna deal, which would have seen KHOU and KTBU go to Cox, is probably 98% dead.
 
Definitely 92.1 will be spun.

If you read Radio 1's press release in the Radio Insight article, where they mention their current Houston properties...92.1 was conveniently left out, with the other 3 only being mentioned.

Ooops! Didn't see it already mentioned above.
 
KilowattKat said:
Definitely 92.1 will be spun.

If you read Radio 1's press release in the Radio Insight article, where they mention their current Houston properties...92.1 was conveniently left out, with the other 3 only being mentioned.

Ooops! Didn't see it already mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Hey….


JK.

Great Minds.
 
This makes me wonder if Cox will end up exiting more markets. Houston was just a few stations but solid market for them, and their biggest. Or, on the flip side did R1 see an opportunity to get a couple strong non-urban stations added to a cluster where they could and offer a nice sounding amount of cash?
 
This is a good pickup for Radio One. Houston is already #1 or #2 in terms of revenue for them, and this will only strengthen their position. I’m sure they’re happy to finally be able to upgrade from 92.1 as well.

R1 is also doing better than most of their competitors right now financially.
 
b-turner said:
I would think VCY or KHCB'S Spanish language flagship would be potential groups seeking a Houston signal.
Click to expand...
Although not my preference, VCY on 97.1 and KHCB Spanish on 92.1 would not surprise me, as I noted earlier. And as David Eduardo would point out, it would eliminate two commercial competitors from the market. Still would like to see sportstalk on 92.1.

This is also an opportunity for Gow Media to grab 92.1 and move its sports format there. The 92.1 signal is far superior to 97.5 over metro Houston as well as the western and southern exurbs. Montgomery County is probably a wash, though 92.1 doesn’t have the interference headaches that 97.5 does when tropo is kicking up. Also allows them to get rid of the 92.5 translator (though what would happen to the Space Cowboys games?) I have no idea of who would want 97.5…unless Gow places it’s national SportsMap format there, rather than selling.
 
101tm said:
This makes me wonder if Cox will end up exiting more markets. Houston was just a few stations but solid market for them, and their biggest. Or, on the flip side did R1 see an opportunity to get a couple strong non-urban stations added to a cluster where they could and offer a nice sounding amount of cash?
Click to expand...

Outside of Dayton, Apollo didn’t seem to really want the Cox radio stations. It only bought them after Cox shopped them and couldn't find a buyer.

I suspect both of your observations are correct. If it were to get offers it was happy with, Cox would gladly sell out of other markets. Urban One probably also saw an opportunity to diversify its holdings in one of its biggest markets.

For all the talk of stock values, a possible delisting doesn’t seem to be stopping Urban One.
 
Mrtejano said:
What’s the ownership limit ? Would Univision be interested in one of these??
Click to expand...
Why? They have the basic Spanish language formats already.
 
101tm said:
This makes me wonder if Cox will end up exiting more markets. Houston was just a few stations but solid market for them, and their biggest. Or, on the flip side did R1 see an opportunity to get a couple strong non-urban stations added to a cluster where they could and offer a nice sounding amount of cash?
Click to expand...
Radio One has announced it will acquire Cox Media Group's stations in Houston TX. **More coming...**

The last two words stood out to me from Radioinsight Facebook post.
 
Mrtejano said:
Would Univision be interested in one of these??
Click to expand...
More likely that Univision would sell a station, namely KQBU. I have to wonder about the future of TUDN Radio once its affiliates that were sold to Latino Media Network launch new programming late this year or early 2024. While KQBU was not part of that sale (KLAT was, though) Univision might close TUDN Radio and sell 93.3 in Houston. As David Eduardo mentioned, they have the Spanish language formats covered with KLTN, KAMA, and KOVE.

BTW MrTejano, I guess I don’t have to plead to Alfred to sell KROI any more. Maybe he heard me.🤣
 
Kent said:
Outside of Dayton, Apollo didn’t seem to really want the Cox radio stations. It only bought them after Cox shopped them and couldn't find a buyer.

I suspect both of your observations are correct. If it were to get offers it was happy with, Cox would gladly sell out of other markets. Urban One probably also saw an opportunity to diversify its holdings in one of its biggest markets.

For all the talk of stock values, a possible delisting doesn’t seem to be stopping Urban One.
Click to expand...
Urban One’s notice of delisting came because they are late in filing some other paperwork. Their stock is not below $1.00 b
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom