Summer book is out!

[Mediafrog+]

Majic, Estereo Latino, and Sunny all up nicely.

KRBE takes a hit under Cumulus. Uh-Oh.

La Raza posts a decent gain, possibly ex-La Mera Mera folks.

Recuerdo drops a bit. Old Gringo (David Eduardo) comments?

K-Hits reimaging yielding positive results.

The Wave is sinking. Will 95.7 be "Movin" in a different direction?

The Point is more of a smudge now.

Praise 92.1 showing strong gains, even though first month of the book was the old format.

SportsRadio 610 thrown for a loss. 790 up slightly. The upcoming three-way sports battle may be a bruiser.

 

[Tumor]

Well, I said I would be back when my favorite show got their first book and here I am. I'll get exact numbers for y'all, but Roula and Ryan kicked Sam Malone's ass all over the place. See Ya!

 

[radiodial]

Well, I said I would be back when my favorite show got their first book and here I am. I'll get exact numbers for y'all, but Roula and Ryan kicked Sam Malone's ass all over the place. See Ya!

Huh? KRBE dropped 0.5 and the Mix dropped only 0.3.

...and Mediafrog, thanks for your analysis. Always a pleasure to read y'alls toughts on the 12+.

 

[OldGringo]

Recuerdo drops a bit. Old Gringo (David Eduardo) comments?

I am mostly watching PPM weeklies, where KLTN and KOVE are virtually tied in each of the 4 weeks since back to school. Arbitron diary method generally, based on 7 years experience in LA, gives this format, just like KODA, lower Summer numbers.

Anyway, it is 5th in market and looks even nicer... 4th... in 25-54.

 

[-juan-]

Well, the point is pointing somewhere........down that is. What's the deal with Cox. Do they even check the books??? How are they doing in 25-54???? Anyone know?
Very impressed with Recuerdo. Not just in Houston, but in every major market they have pulled some pretty impressive ratings. They have also been able to beat La preciosa network in most markets. Look at Dallas for example. Even though I find this music awfully boring, I believe that these Adult Spanish Hits/Spanish Oldies are doing way better than the Hurban trend. Congrats to Univision for their recent success.
So David/Old Gringo, what markets does Univision is still missing the Recuerdo format? If my count is correct, every market has it now (not including Miami, Puerto Rico, and New York since they are of Puerto Rican and Cuban dominance)

 

[purpledevil]

Looks like the Point got dulled. KROI up nicely as Mediafrog stated, KWWJ took a heck of a hit. Darrell Martin must be wringing his hands now with KYOK never showing up in the 12+ and now KWWJ losing droves of listeners to the new "Praise". Very sad, as I know several people that work with Darrell, Gracie, and the others at KWWJ. Great operation, with good God fearing personnel. A real class act.

What the hell is happening to The Wave? One of the bright spots on the FM dial, yet it is doing worse in 12+ than it's Dallas counterpart, KOAI, and we all know what happened there. If KHJZ gets Movin', it's going to be a sad day in H-town.

I see KIOL stole some listeners from The Arrow. Surprising would be an understatement. Did Arbitron focus their attention on Baytown and points east, or what?

KILT-A down, and down hard. KBME only jumped .1, so where did all the sports fans go? And KFNC wants to get a piece of this huge pie? Another genius programming move by the shrewd folk at Clueless.

KQUE at the bottom of the zero pile. Has Liberman got a plan for the once proud KQUE? What a shame to see it struggling to even make a book these days.

Where is the O report? Every 12+ I always look forward to his take on the numbers. Where are ya at, Mike?

 

[OldGringo]

Well, the point is pointing somewhere........down that is. What's the deal with Cox. Do they even check the books??? How are they doing in 25-54???? Anyone know?
Very impressed with Recuerdo. Not just in Houston, but in every major market they have pulled some pretty impressive ratings. They have also been able to beat La preciosa network in most markets. Look at Dallas for example. Even though I find this music awfully boring, I believe that these Adult Spanish Hits/Spanish Oldies are doing way better than the Hurban trend. Congrats to Univision for their recent success.
So David/Old Gringo, what markets does Univision is still missing the Recuerdo format? If my count is correct, every market has it now (not including Miami, Puerto Rico, and New York since they are of Puerto Rican and Cuban dominance)

Recuerdo is not in El Paso or Chicago. In Chicago, we have a local version, named Pasion. In El Paso, we have a more regional version based on the great local morning show. The other 12 markets we are in that are not Caribbean have one... all are part network, part local.

LA is 7 years old, almost. Then, the first conversion was October of 2005 at KOMR in Phoenix, followed by KOVE in Houston on 12/25/05. The rest came on between January 9 and April of 2006. The network kicked up out of LA on January 9, 2006.

In Miami, which is half Cuban and the rest Puerto Rican, Colombian, Nicaraguan, Dominican and others, we have a Caribbean oldies staiton, La Kalle, which plays classic salsa. New York is so mixed, with the dominant Spanish dominant groups being Dominican, Colombian, Ecuadorian and Mexican followed by Puerto Rican so there is no common heritage for oldies.

 

[Fo-Fo-Fo-Hye]

At what point does KIOL pull the plug? They've got a lot of $$$ tied up in paying the "talent" on the station. In looking at 18-34 and 25-54 numbers they are hardly in the top 20 for their dayparts. KFNC is even worse. At least with KFNC they're going to be running the bird most of the time so there won't be any money in the talent. I don't get it... but then again Cumulus makes everyone around the (outside the company) look like rocket scientists.

 

[Mike O]

KODA up a point for third place. Did they start playing Christmas music already? Starts earlier each year, but gets them ratings.

KRBE down .5, but I won't take it seriously yet, they have had the same rating three out of the last four books. If they drop another .5 or more then I would say the Cumulus magic has taken over.

KOVE just a hic cup in the ratings or a short love afair with the format?

WTF, COX the Country leader?????????? Must be the 2000+ new people that are moving into the Houston area everyday aren't tuning any higher than 93. KILT is still on the air?

Mix ratings suck, time for a make over of Mix to a listenable station.

K-Hits up almost half a point, maybe the reimaging of KLDE is working. The morning show is really disjointed, like this write up. Give Susie some air time, she isn't trying to steal your show, although she is much better when she gets a minute to talk. Too bad the two can't work together, but what's his name won't give Susie two seconds without reminding everyone it is his show. Dump him and keep Susie.

The Wave looks iffy, especially with CBS and the "Movin" format, but Chuck just wrote that they are doing very well in their demos and what Chuck writes is good enough for me. Books did not get out to KHJZ listeners or they didn't send them back. The rating is disqualified. The Wave and Smooth Jazz is healthy and doing well in Houston.

The Point has crap ratings, but what is surprising is they have ratings. There are enough people stuck in the 80's to keep The Point on the air forever with Cox.

KROI a little disappointing, I expected a much bigger jump than what they had. Did I way over estimate the power of Urban Gospel in Houston? KWWJ dropped, but no more than their normal variation from month to month. Next month might tell if KROI doing damage to Darrell Martins trio of stations.

KIOL doesn't really deserve a mention, with the exception that Cumulus should thank their lucky stars they have Wendy Miller (by far KIOL's #1 draw), Outlaw Dave and Lisa Kendall or this station that runs on autopilot the rest of the time wouldn't even have any ratings.

KILT-AM Hardly over a one and Houston is adding a third Sports station shortly. KBME up to their highest rating and that isn't much.

Why is KFNC still on the ratings list, come on some one makes shitt up late at night and then we are expected to believe it. Probably same rating it will get as a Sports station.

Another month SOS.

Mike O

 

[bobbybooey]

Actually Mike, you've got it backwards regarding KIOL. If Wendy was KIOL's only draw they'd be in even worse shape than they are... in both 18-34 and 25-54 Walton & Johnson are the only ones on that station anyone's listening to. They might as well sign off the station at 10am, cuz I'm guessing their power bill is more than they're billing these days. Someone earlier mentioned that KIOL stole some listeners from the Arrow... the Arrow might be down a little, but those folks sure as hell didn't start listening to KIOL, at least not outside of mornings. Am I the only one NOT surprised to see Q93 finally passing up KILT for the Country throne? Sure their imaging is annoying, talking about the difference between the 2 stations' spot-loads... but I'd rather listen to an annoying 15-second sweeper than 16 minutes of spots an hour.

 

[OldGringo]

KOVE just a hic cup in the ratings or a short love afair with the format?

Recuerdo is programmed for the PPM, where it is essentially tied with KLTN as #1 Spanish (although in the diary book, it is TOp 5 25-54).

 

[jras20]

Should KFNC even be consider as a Houston radio station? I bet most people dont even know that they are even around. I couldnt pull them in with my walkman the last time I was down all the other stations bleeded over them.... I dont think even to many people will be listening to them in the car with static. I can get them fairly well with my antenna out at Lavaca county, but even then it fades in and out some. Radio-Locator has the signal strength set at 3 for Houston. I bet that is right on the edge of that red ring they have around it.

 

[purpledevil]

jras, no one outside of Clueless considers KFNC a radio station, period. Mostly a waste of frequency. Thus the move to ESPN in January. At least then it will be a cheap waste. I guess Jim Pruitt will have re-focus on his gun sales.

 

[Mike O]

jras, no one outside of Clueless considers KFNC a radio station, period. Mostly a waste of frequency. Thus the move to ESPN in January. At least then it will be a cheap waste. I guess Jim Pruitt will have re-focus on his gun sales.

Purpledevil you sure got that right. i don't think anyone has considered KFNC a radio station since their attempt at News, one of the biggest jokes in Houston radio. Unfortunately most of Houston never even heard Cumulus and their idea of a News station.

Cumulus is stuck with a rotten signal that serves The Golden Triangle, but an area that does not need any more stations at this time due to economic reasons. Not much between Houston and Beaumont to program to or for, maybe Liberty, but KSHN is the station in that area and a second station would have a very difficult time finding an audience.

Turning off the transmitter would be the most cost effective measure Cumulus could take with 97.5 until they could find an unsuspecting buyer for 97.5, again most likely a difficult proposition once any prospective buyer found out about the lack of coverage.

I still don't understand why 97.5 has the utterly awful coverage, antenna placement can be the only thing I've come up with. The Cumulus Engineers and Technicians have gotten 103.7 where it has a very decent signal for a rim-shot into Houston, but can't seem to do the same with 97.5.

Like you said, come January it will be a less expensive loss of money each month for Clueless.

Mike O

 

[stan]

I still don't understand why 97.5 has the utterly awful coverage, antenna placement can be the only thing I've come up with. The Cumulus Engineers and Technicians have gotten 103.7 where it has a very decent signal for a rim-shot into Houston, but can't seem to do the same with 97.5.

Mike O

Mike,

Why couldn't Cumulus scrap the present tower that KFNC is located on and locate the antenna on the KIOL tower? Its still on the east side of Houston (not good) but better coverage than the present one. Also, why could they have gotten a translator to at least cover the western part of Houston? Stations in other parts of the country do this - are they clueless to this option?

 

[Mike O]

I still don't understand why 97.5 has the utterly awful coverage, antenna placement can be the only thing I've come up with. The Cumulus Engineers and Technicians have gotten 103.7 where it has a very decent signal for a rim-shot into Houston, but can't seem to do the same with 97.5.

Mike O

Mike,

Why couldn't Cumulus scrap the present tower that KFNC is located on and locate the antenna on the KIOL tower? Its still on the east side of Houston (not good) but better coverage than the present one. Also, why could they have gotten a translator to at least cover the western part of Houston? Stations in other parts of the country do this - are they clueless to this option?

If KFNC moved to the KIOL tower they would short spaced to KTHT 97.1 "Country Legends. The distance between the KIOL tower and the KTHT tower is 82.4km and for KFNC 97.5, a 2nd adjacent to be on the tower the separation must be 105km or 99km if KFNC went directional in the direction of KTHT. That is the reason that 97.5 has it's tower down by the coast.

It starts with KIOX 96.9 a Class C0 that must be 220km from KTHT's 97.1 antenna, which it is, 220.1km separation. KFNC 97.5 must be 105 km from KTHT which it is, 110.1km and KTHT must also be 105km from KBXX 97.9 which it is. This really leaves 97.5 stuck where it is until The FCC changes the separation tables where the stations do not have to be so far apart, I'm not going to hold my breath for any change. The separation tables are unrealistic , with the exception of co-channel stations, but that is what the FCC came up with sometime in the 80's and it still stands today.

If manufacturers were forced to make all radios with good selectivity and sensitivity stations could be much closer and there would not be any bleed over or jumble of stations like you get on some cheap radios today. It would also benefit those in the Northeast and Southern California where there are stations jammed in everywhere, many very short spaced by the standards set today.

There are many translator applications all over Houston from the "Great Translator Invasion of 2003", but the FCC has not acted on any of the applications so far. The FCC is years behind in getting applications acted upon and getting further behind every month. The only Major AM Modification from 2004 in SE Texas that has been acted on is KSET 1300 in Silsbee and that was a simple move of license to Lumberton five miles down the road. There where no change in facilities involved. There has been some action on the KHCB Galveston to League City and directional pattern fulltime on 1400, but I haven't seen anything final on the application in the CDBS. When the FCC acts on the Houston translator applications and if some are approved for the west side, Cumulus could look into buying some of the translators for KFNC. God only knows when that will happen though and even God may not be sure.

Mike O

 

[Kevinc]

I just want to know why Mexicans get oldies (Recuerdos) but English speaking 'Mericans don't. What era are these Mexicans oldies from? Do they pull the same kind of demos regular oldies stations do? And, if so, how do THEY sell time on such stations, since English-language oldies stations get ignored by time buyers. (The real reason oldies stations are going away. In some markets they have HUGE ratings, like number ONE! But nobody wants the baby boomers. They just don't buy enough stuff. huh? But old Mexicans DO buy stuff? Or is it really more recent Mexican "oldies", like from the 80s & 90s? Prolly songs that were just HUGE around the time these folks jumped outa the back of the coyote's vehicle.

Signed, the Janitor. (Using Kevin's membership. Fool don't turn it off, sheeeit, we gonna use it.)

 

[OldGringo]

I just want to know why Mexicans get oldies (Recuerdos) but English speaking 'Mericans don't.

... because "Recuerdos(sic)" is #3 25-54, meaning it is huge in the big sales demos, and English 60's oldies is a format that generally does not make even top 10 in that demo anymore in most markets.

And the format is for Hispanics, not just Mexicans.

What era are these Mexicans oldies from?

First, they are not "Mexican" oldies. They are songs form all over Latin America and Spain. And they are from the 70's, 80's and 90's and the last 6 years, too. The format is called "Spanish adult hits" and NOT oldies.

Do they pull the same kind of demos regular oldies stations do?

You mean Recuerdo listeners are "irregular?" What is a "regular" oldies station? One that is in English?

Recuerdo has an average age of 35. It does not get the 50+ average that English 60's oldies stations get.

And, if so, how do THEY sell time on such stations, since English-language oldies stations get ignored by time buyers.

The average age of 35, and the #3 25-54 rank in the Houston market mean it is pretty easy to sell. Of course, it's not an oldies station, either... it just does not play currents.

(The real reason oldies stations are going away. In some markets they have HUGE ratings, like number ONE! But nobody wants the baby boomers. They just don't buy enough stuff.

No, you are wrong. Clients of agencies don't buy radio for 55+, because the metrics don't work out.

There are no #1 60's oldies stations in English that are #1 in sales demos.

But old Mexicans DO buy stuff? Or is it really more recent Mexican "oldies", like from the 80s & 90s? Prolly songs that were just HUGE around the time these folks jumped outa the back of the coyote's vehicle.

That is not deserving of an answer. It is ultra racist, and you should be ashamed that you wrote it.

Oh, did I say that Recuerdo is not JUST for Mexicans?

 

[stan]

I think this speaks to the reason many are leaving terrestrial radio for XM or Sirius. And I haven't seen the numbers for who listens to those "niche" formats.

 

[OldGringo]

I think this speaks to the reason many are leaving terrestrial radio for XM or Sirius. And I haven't seen the numbers for who listens to those "niche" formats.

Urban legend alert.

XM and Sirius new installs have plummeted in Q4 of this year, the churn rate on new car installs is nearly half, and both companies have revised thier projections downward.

Fact: satellite subscribers only use satellite for 25% of their listening, and satellite share o national listening is arond a 0.5 share.