SportsTalk 790 adding an FM?

[Mediafrog+]

Rumors going around about KBME 790 adding an FM simulcast...anyone have more info?

I have long pushed for either Entercom or iHeart to buy KROI in order to simulcast their sportstalker. Might that be happening? Also KKHT 100.7 might be in play, as sibling KNTH 1070 is apparently on the market. Or might it be a translator?

 

[johndavis]

Rumors going around about KBME 790 adding an FM simulcast...anyone have more info?

I have long pushed for either Entercom or iHeart to buy KROI in order to simulcast their sportstalker. Might that be happening? Also KKHT 100.7 might be in play, as sibling KNTH 1070 is apparently on the market. Or might it be a translator?

Based on Radio Insight's reporting, it is most likely translators.

 

[BamaTX]

Based on Radio Insight's reporting, it is most likely translators.

My guess is 104.5 again?

 

[2Speakers]

My guess is 104.5 again?

sportstalk995.com was registered 1/30. sportstalk1045.com isn't registered.

 

[ThatVoice22]

sportstalk995.com was registered 1/30.

Currently on FM 99.5 in Spring, KOHV-LP has a decent signal from "Radio Dabang" with Indian "Bollywood" music programming with lots of laughter (radiodabang.com).
The FCC lists Centro Cristiano Mundial as the licensee and the output power as 22 watts from a tower at Frick Road/TC Jester, just south of Beltway 8 between I-45 and 249.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KOHV&service=FL

Centro Cristiano also has a license (and construction permit) for K258DA, a co-channel highly-eastward-directional 120 watt signal from a tower that's only a few miles from KOHV. Taken together, maybe iHeart will use both, but even the combined signal area would seem deficient for the Houston market.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=K258DA&service=FX
The FCC states for K258DA: "This facility relays KTBZ-FM (Facility ID 18516)" so there seems to be an existing iHeart connection.

So far, there's no response at "sportsradio995.com" so the future remains uncertain for an FM signal for SportsTalk 790.

 

[stan]

Currently on FM 99.5 in Spring, KOHV-LP has a decent signal from "Radio Dabang" with Indian "Bollywood" music programming with lots of laughter (radiodabang.com).
The FCC lists Centro Cristiano Mundial as the licensee and the output power as 22 watts from a tower at Frick Road/TC Jester, just south of Beltway 8 between I-45 and 249.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KOHV&service=FL

Centro Cristiano also has a license (and construction permit) for K258DA, a co-channel highly-eastward-directional 120 watt signal from a tower that's only a few miles from KOHV. Taken together, maybe iHeart will use both, but even the combined signal area would seem deficient for the Houston market.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=K258DA&service=FX
The FCC states for K258DA: "This facility relays KTBZ-FM (Facility ID 18516)" so there seems to be an existing iHeart connection.

So far, there's no response at "sportsradio995.com" so the future remains uncertain for an FM signal for SportsTalk 790.

Am I wrong that a LP FM cannot broadcast a commercial station like KBME.

 

[2Speakers]

Currently on FM 99.5 in Spring, KOHV-LP has a decent signal from "Radio Dabang" with Indian "Bollywood" music programming with lots of laughter (radiodabang.com).
The FCC lists Centro Cristiano Mundial as the licensee and the output power as 22 watts from a tower at Frick Road/TC Jester, just south of Beltway 8 between I-45 and 249.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KOHV&service=FL

Centro Cristiano also has a license (and construction permit) for K258DA, a co-channel highly-eastward-directional 120 watt signal from a tower that's only a few miles from KOHV. Taken together, maybe iHeart will use both, but even the combined signal area would seem deficient for the Houston market.
https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=K258DA&service=FX
The FCC states for K258DA: "This facility relays KTBZ-FM (Facility ID 18516)" so there seems to be an existing iHeart connection.

So far, there's no response at "sportsradio995.com" so the future remains uncertain for an FM signal for SportsTalk 790.

It's coming.

https://reports.internic.net/cgi/whois?whois_nic=sportstalk995.com&type=domain

Just because the site isn't up yet doesn't mean the domain hasn't been registered in preparation for it.

Centro also now owns the former KSBJ translator in Sugar Land on 99.5. Combine that with their CP for the northeast side, and you could have a fairly potent combo.

As for the LPFM, this is Centro. They've pretty much proven they can do whatever they want and there will be no consequences.

The LPFM may just go away. Maybe they'll file to move another translator to 99.5 to cover another part of the metro?

 

[2Speakers]

Am I wrong that a LP FM cannot broadcast a commercial station like KBME.

It can if it's owned by Centro/Guel. The rules do not apply to that group. At all.

 

[tb_]

Centro Cristiano also has a license (and construction permit) for K258DA, a co-channel highly-eastward-directional 120 watt signal from a tower that's only a few miles from KOHV. Taken together, maybe iHeart will use both, but even the combined signal area would seem deficient for the Houston market.

Seemingly deficient, yes -- but Centro has been known for running signals well outside of the licensed parameters. This will probably end up on the same tower as K287BQ, running at >1kW.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I live within the proposed coverage area of KOHV, and I have not heard any evidence that the station is on the air. If you are hearing Radio Dabang on 99.5, it is probably from K258BZ, which I am able to hear at my Cy-Fair location with a halfway decent signal. I have no idea if K258DA is actually on the air.

(BTW, beware of LPFM info on sites such as lpfmdatabase. While an excellent resource, it has a tendency to rely on "license to cover" grants in assuming a station is on the air, when it actually isn't. Also the reverse is true--some LPFMs are actually operating, but are shown as still being in the CP phase.)

I don't have access to the full RadioInsight article. Is there any evidence that the websites in question are actually for the Houston market? It would seem silly to make a patchwork of translators your primary branding, especially for the 790 Sportstalk format, which is well established. Were it headed to a full power FM (or something close it it, such as KROI) then a branding switch would make sense. But the "proposed" translator coverage misses a huge part of the market.

Also what happens to Radio Dabang, which appears to have a good foothold in the market for the South Asian community?

 

[Ryan Williams]

I don't have access to the full RadioInsight article. Is there any evidence that the websites in question are actually for the Houston market?

Not really. If there is a smoking gun linking the registration to Houston it wasn't mentioned in the full article. That said, Lance's instincts are usually on target and it is possible he has additional confirmation that he is not at liberty to share.

I am mostly with you on the patchwork of translator signals. It makes a lot less sense in super sprawling markets like Houston where a translator can't even dream of covering the market with even a fringe signal. In College Station or even Austin, translators can be a lot more viable.

It would be great to have KBME or KILT on a full power FM, i don't see how that happens though unless KROI really is for sale.

 

[stan]

Aren’t KBME and KILT on HD FM channels already?

 

[AnyHuman]

It can if it's owned by Centro/Guel. The rules do not apply to that group. At all.

You'd think the FCC would be onto them by now... I've read things about Guel breaking rules left and right several years back as well. LOL

 

[davideduardo]

You'd think the FCC would be onto them by now... I've read things about Guel breaking rules left and right several years back as well. LOL

The FCC does very little enforcing itself. It depends on formal complaints being filed, after which they proceed to investigate.

So if you can document the alleged illegal operation, then file.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Aren’t KBME and KILT on HD FM channels already?

Yes, but that is not the point and won't really move the needle.

 

[Mediafrog+]

sportstalk995.com was registered 1/30. sportstalk1045.com isn't registered.

And it appears Houston has a false alarm here, as sportstalk995.com now leads us to "99.5 The Jag" in Mobile, Alabama, running Fox Sports Radio. The URL wasn't working when reports first came out.

I will beat the drum again: KROI would be a good place for either iHeart or Entercom to launch an FM simulcast of their respective sportstalkers.

 

[JustinT]

I will beat the drum again: KROI would be a good place for either iHeart or Entercom to launch an FM simulcast of their respective sportstalkers.

iHeart has 3 FMs and Entercom has 4 FMs, so that part would work. But would either run into restrictions on controlling too much of the revenue pie?

Agreed, it is surprising that we've only seen one station in recent history make the AM to FM move.

 

[2Speakers]

And it appears Houston has a false alarm here, as sportstalk995.com now leads us to "99.5 The Jag" in Mobile, Alabama, running Fox Sports Radio. The URL wasn't working when reports first came out.

I'd say it's less false alarm and more obvious smokescreen. The Jag doesn't use SportsTalk anywhere in its branding.

iHeart just picked a sports talker on 99.5 and pointed the URL to it until they're ready to launch here.