TEJANO LIVES IN KBUC 102.1/KZSP 95.3

[davideduardo]

That was Tichenor Media that owned KUNO/KSAB along with KGBT and KCOR/KXTN. When Heftel bought Tichenor (with a lot of help from Clear Channel) in '96, Heftel didn't want Corpus. So, Tichenor offloaded Corpus to Gulfstar/Capstar.

Actually, it was Tichenor that put together the merger with Heftel, not the other way around. The Tichenor management team was well acquainted with the Mays family, and I can recall a dinner in San Antonio that Lowry, Mark and Randall attended where the newly merged company managers could meet them. Cecil Heftel and his management team in Las Vegas left the operation the day of the merger.

Tichenor had been moving out of smaller markets or less competitive facilites and upgrading to bigger markets long before the merger. KUNO was sold to Muñoz 8 years before the merger (who quickly spun it to Gulf Star), and stations like KIFN in Phoenix were sold off, too. Moves into Chicago and San Francisco were examples of upgrading in both the size of the markets and the kind of technical facilities involved.

KSAB was not owned by Tichenor; it went directly from Luis Muñoz to Gulf Star.

 

[davideduardo]

I know at one time KUNO/KSAB were sister stations of KGBT in the valley and KCOR/KXTN in San Antonio. They stations may have been held under a different license company name. I recall Luis Muñoz being an official with this company. The small group grew nationwide acquiring stations in LA, Chicago, Miami and other markets and became Hispanic Broadcasting Company-- which was bought by Univision.

Tichenor Media Systems started with radio in the late 40's at KGBT. TV was added, and later FM. Expansion to Corpus Christi followed, along with KCOR (and later KXTN) in SA, KBNA in El Paso and KIFN in Phoenix and KLAT in Houston. By the late 80's, they had acquired WOJO and then WIND in Chicago, added several FMs in Houston and had bought and sold WQBA AM/FM in Miami and in 1997 purchased what would become KSOL/KSQL in San Francisco.

Cecil Heftel got into Spanish language radio with the 1984 purchase of KTNQ and KLVE in LA, and he later purchased WQBA AM and FM in Miami (not from Tichenor but from WADO, Inc.), WADO and WPAT (AM) in NY, an AM in Miami and a cluster of stations in Dallas / Ft Worth as well as an AM in Chicago and one in Las Vegas / Laughlin.

Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. was formed when TBS and HBC merged. Cecil Heftel withdrew from the company. Under Mac Tichenor and Jeff Hinson, HBC soon moved into San Diego (1999), Phoenix, and FM in New York and later into Fresno, Sacramento, FM in Las Vegas, and a cluster in Albuquerque. Additional Houston, Chicago and LA FMs were added, too. 8 years later, HBC was sold to Jerry Perenchio's Univision for $3.5 billion.

 

[Bordercaster]

Excellent detail David Eduardo... Thanks!

 

[fredcantu]

If Muñoz spun off KSAB so quickly, it might have been Gulfstar that started the Tejano format because I seem to recall KSAB launched with a more traditional format. I believe it was "La Sabrosa" hence the KSAB calls.

BTW-- I recall seeing the KROB-FM antenna on the side of the KROB-AM tower in Robstown for many years. A little tower tower above a little station in a little town. Back then the primary purpose of KROB-FM was to provide night service for its daytimer sister.

 

[davideduardo]

If Muñoz spun off KSAB so quickly, it might have been Gulfstar that started the Tejano format because I seem to recall KSAB launched with a more traditional format. I believe it was "La Sabrosa" hence the KSAB calls.

My bad. My dyslexic read of the date Tichenor sold KUNO to Luis Muñoz was off. He bought KUNO in 1989, and sold in 1998. KSAB was added in 1991, and sold to Gulf Star along with KUNO for $2.9 million.

Muñoz paid $1.2 for KUNO and $600 thousand for KSAB. I'm guessing KUNO might be worth $250 k today-.

 

[Bordercaster]

Update: Entravison seems to have a positive boost to KKPS with this change...

Has anyone heard anything positive from BMP?

 

[greenbastard]

Update: Entravison seems to have a positive boost to KKPS with this change...

How so? Through ratings or ad sales?

 

[txchipk]

Is 95.3 still simulcasting the Tejano format? Two weeks ago, I was driving from Houston to Dallas and flipping through the dial and picked up classic rock on 95.3 and caught part of a liner that said "classic rock for South Texas" before it faded. KVWG-FM 95.3 Pearsall and KZSP are the only 95.3s in South Texas.

 

[JustinT]

Is 95.3 still simulcasting the Tejano format? Two weeks ago, I was driving from Houston to Dallas and flipping through the dial and picked up classic rock on 95.3 and caught part of a liner that said "classic rock for South Texas" before it faded. KVWG-FM 95.3 Pearsall and KZSP are the only 95.3s in South Texas.

KZSP is still Tejano at last check a few days ago. There is another 95.3 that covers parts of South Texas, but it is licensed across the Rio Grande - 95.3 XHRT in Reynosa... but the format is Spanish AC.

 

[fredcantu]

KVWG-FM 95.3 Pearsall and KZSP are the only 95.3s in South Texas.

KVWG was also castrated by Univision Radio to allow for the 95.1 move-in to San Antonio. KVWG is now licensed for 100 watts at 121 ft. It's basically an LPFM with a commercial license.

 

[Kent]

KVWG was also castrated by Univision Radio to allow for the 95.1 move-in to San Antonio.

Univision certainly lowered the power on the signal, but it wasn't much to begin with. That's had to have always been one of the worst FM signals in South Texas!

KVWG is now licensed for 100 watts at 121 ft. It's basically an LPFM with a commercial license.

And better protection from someone else trying to upgrade!

 

[Pete Pyeatt]

You haven't been to the Valley lately. Farmland has been replaced by new developments. Nothin but stores along the freeway from Mission to the new Premiere Outlets in Mercedes and then tons more stores in Harlingen and Brownsville. There's even a new Bass Pro Superstore going in. There is a lot of money in the Valley.

Fred, I don't know where you are getting your Rio Grande Valley info, but you couldn't be more wrong. Brownsville-Harlingen was voted the poorest city in, not just Texas, but the entire United States.

But don't take my word for it...

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-americaspoorestcities/brownsville-harlingen-tx/

To reiterate...poor people=religious haven

 

[mmnassour]

Just because there are a lot of poor people in that area, doesn't mean there isn't a lot of money as well (see: Mexico).

And Brownsville-Harlingen is not a "city". It's a SMSA, that is, standard metropolitan statistical area. If you'll travel there, you'll see exactly what Fred means.

 

[Pete Pyeatt]

Just because there are a lot of poor people in that area, doesn't mean there isn't a lot of money as well (see: Mexico).

And Brownsville-Harlingen is not a "city". It's a SMSA, that is, standard metropolitan statistical area. If you'll travel there, you'll see exactly what Fred means.

Brownsville-Harlingen isn't a "city," I know that, and I hope anyone who posts on this board knows that, and I'm not sure why I have to even justify knowing that. It's just like when you mention Dallas-Fort Worth or Minneapolis-St Paul. You had to have known I meant Brownsville-Harlingen in an SMSA sense.

See the link. This is one of the poorest areas in the US. There are rich people who live there, but the median income is $18,000, which include those rich people. I really like this area and visit quite often. The most beautiful women in Texas (looking at the face and body) live here. I am in no way disrespecting the RGV, but Fred is way off if he wants to claim this area as anything other than poor.

 

[yeahIwasinradio]

Just because there are a lot of poor people in that area, doesn't mean there isn't a lot of money as well (see: Mexico).

And Brownsville-Harlingen is not a "city". It's a SMSA, that is, standard metropolitan statistical area. If you'll travel there, you'll see exactly what Fred means.

Brownsville-Harlingen isn't a "city," I know that, and I hope anyone who posts on this board knows that, and I'm not sure why I have to even justify knowing that. It's just like when you mention Dallas-Fort Worth or Minneapolis-St Paul. You had to have known I meant Brownsville-Harlingen in an SMSA sense.

See the link. This is one of the poorest areas in the US. There are rich people who live there, but the median income is $18,000, which include those rich people. I really like this area and visit quite often. The most beautiful women in Texas (looking at the face and body) live here. I am in no way disrespecting the RGV, but Fred is way off if he wants to claim this area as anything other than poor.

That is what is reported. If you have been there recently, you will see the flood of Mexican Nationals that have moved there. Did you know that the most profitable mall in the US in La Plaza Mall in McAllen? You know why? Mexico. Ther is plenty of money to be made there, and lots of cash flowing through there. Many of it illegal too

 

[mmnassour]

Actually, Pete is right on one point that the rest of us may have forgotten, and your post about La Plaza kind of brought it home.

I'm betting there is no place in the entire US that is as stratified economically as is the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. You either have money or you don't, period. And while that's the case in many places, it's more obvious in the RGV than almost any place I can remember.

For instance...drive south/east on 83 from Rio Grande City through McAllen, Harlingen and down to Brownsville. Until you get to Brownsville you don't see anything that even begins to qualify of "poor". Yet...I can assure you...turn OFF Expressway 83 anywhere from McAllen to Harlingen and within five minutes caliche roads branch off the two-lane and you can be in the midst of indescribable poverty. There are colonias where thousands of people live without running water, sometimes without proper electricity. You'll see drainage ditches outside cardboard shacks. You'll see orange extension cords draped from one shack to another for power. And yes, you'll see outhouses.

All this and more....less than 10 minutes from Jones and Jones on North 10th in McAllen.

Yes, there is money to be made there. There is money flowing through there. But let's not forget those who can't get a drink from that tap.

 

[greenbastard]

turn OFF Expressway 83 anywhere from McAllen to Harlingen and within five minutes caliche roads branch off the two-lane and you can be in the midst of indescribable poverty. There are colonias where thousands of people live without running water, sometimes without proper electricity. You'll see drainage ditches outside cardboard shacks. You'll see orange extension cords draped from one shack to another for power. And yes, you'll see outhouses.

The sad part is that this same description could be used for most cities in Mexico.

 

[fredcantu]

We have our share of hidden poor all across Texas. I know I've done stories in Central Texas on people who bought a plot of land hoping to build their dream home. But they only got as far as a sheet metal roof, no insulation in the walls and no indoor sanitation facilities.

 

[greenbastard]

So looking at the Fall 2011 +12 ratings, the Regional Mexican incarnation of Que Pasa is probably not what Entravision was expecting. If changes are made, please start with the on air talent. They are all horrible, especially the mid-day girl. If sand paper could speak, it would sound just like her. Just horrible.

 

[Bordercaster]

I agree with you greenbastard! Everyone knows times are rough, but Entravision shouldn't be so cheap on hiring good on air talent.