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Tyler market radio

T

theradioguy2004

Guest
I was in Tyler this weekend and heard the market for the first time. The first thing I noticed was that the station on 93.1, as well as Z99, seemed to be either Hot AC or CHR or something in between the two formats. Z99 was jockless, with boring sweepers. If they are not Hot AC they might be okay, but for the most part, all I heard was that they were "the new Z99." At this rate they will be another format in a year. 93.1 sounded better and had a jock on it. They had some other decent programming elements, but they still could have sounded much more alive. I listened in the daytime and the music seemed to be the same on both stations.

Then there was a soft AC station on 102.3 with muffled audio processing and jocks with nothing worth hearing to say. It seemed to simulcast with a station on or around 95.3 where the processing was crisp and clean, but it had little or no compression. I guess the simulcast was because neither station covered the entire market so having the two stations with one format would cover any holes in the signal. They both came in okay for me though. Once again the Communications Act of 96, which was supposed to create diversity, has caused the market to be less diverse.

I think there may have been a rock station on two frequencies also.

I was surprised to pick up two Spanish stations. Does the area have enough of a Hispanic population to support two Hispanic stations?

There was also a decent oldies station, one good country station and a classic country station.

From my perspective, with so many stations there should be more diversity. There is enough competition that the market has stations really trying to get listeners, but overall, with factors such as stations operating one format on two frequencies, I don't think that they are reaching their full potential.

When will radio management realize that they have incredible competition from satellite and Internet radio, ipods, TV, online activities and other things that draw listeners away, in addition to their competetion from other stations? When will they become competitive again?
 
What frequency is Z99? I've never heard of it before?! I know V99.3 is Urban AC, at least it was two weeks ago. Not sure why anyone would simulcast Mix 93.1. The signal is strong throughout the Tyler-Longview area.

102.3 and 95.3 are simulcasting, because 102.3 covers Tyler and areas South, but the coverage fades in Longview. 95.3 covers Longview and areas North, but fades in Tyler. So, they use both signals to cover the entire market. It's not doing them much good, the ratings are terrible. If Waller was going to do this, I don't know why they didn't keep KOOI?! The ratings will continue to be terrible until they set themselves apart from KOOI. They are also competing with KDOK in Tyler, for those older demos. But, to get back to your point, signal reasons and audience reach is the reasoning for most of the simulcasting.

Not sure about the rock simulcast. I think 96.7 and 103.1 are simulcasting Regional Mexican, and as much as I hate to admit it, yes they are getting very decent ratings.

Unfortunately, competitive radio is dead. You have companies competing against companies, instead of station vs. station. And, in small markets like Tyler, the big companies that own them really don't care, as long as the advertising numbers look good and the overhead stays low.

KKUS (104.1) is the classic country station, and it is one of the best stations in the market. They have some good local talent. Not to mention, they are broadcasting on three signals (they're also on 92.3 in Marshall and 1370 AM in Longview) KNUE (101.5) is a decent country station, however, it used to be GREAT. The localism, besides Gary Walker in PM Drive, is gone. However, they do play some good music. The other country station, KYKX (105.7) is not even worth mentioning anymore... a very long story that has a sad ending. KMOO is another country station at 99.9. I will applaud them for their localism, but their signal is not very strong.

The oldies station you are talking about is probably KDOK 92.1 FM. They are the BEST station in the market. I keep hoping Gleiser (their owner) will try to acquire a better signal. It's 6kw only covers Tyler. But, they have great personalities, a good mix of music, and they still do news and it's just a great presentation. I noticed when I was up there, they have broadened their playlist quite a bit. I heard ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down", which was quite a shock, but it sounded good. KWRW at 97.7 is also oldies, but it is mostly satellite. They play good music, but it's not local.

The big disappointments to me is the two Urban AC's... Hot 107.3 Jamz and V99.3. Their playlist is extremely weak, and it sounds like they are programming them for white listeners. I am white, but I've been programming Urban AC radio long enough to know what it is supposed to sound like... and it isn't either one of these stations. When was the last time anyone played "Come See About Me" on an Urban AC station?! It's hardly the same music that KZEY used to play, during its hey day.
 
Snoman,
way off the point of this subject, but a friend of mine recently sent me a photo of the KTYL airstaff back in the early 80s when I was part of that group. It was part of a bunch of pics of the staff -- this is one of those where they allow you just to mess around and have fun....it sure brought back memories!

The rest of the staff back then was Bill Davis, Gary (Safley)Stevens, Rick Evans, Janet Drake, Janie Baker and Joel Lowden.

Good times.....
 
Musicradio said:
Snoman,
way off the point of this subject, but a friend of mine recently sent me a photo of the KTYL airstaff back in the early 80s when I was part of that group. It was part of a bunch of pics of the staff -- this is one of those where they allow you just to mess around and have fun....it sure brought back memories!

The rest of the staff back then was Bill Davis, Gary (Safley)Stevens, Rick Evans, Janet Drake, Janie Baker and Joel Lowden.

Good times.....
Click to expand...

That was a good lineup. I never cared much for Bill Davis though. I always thought he tried to hard to copy Ron Chapman (KVIL Dallas/Fort Worth). I enjoy hearing Rick Evans again on KOOI. When I was at KLTV, I worked with Janet Drake since she's at the Tyler COC. Whatever happened to Janie Baker? She was on KOOI for a little while, but she just kind of disappeared again. And, back to Bill Davis, I thought he was at KDOK. However, it was Paul Berry last time I was up.

KTYL was a GREAT station back then.
 
Let me add my thoughts to the kind words about KDOK and Gleiser Communications.....

My ol' buddy Paul Berry works his ass off making that station sound great. He writes all those liners and image stuff....lots of music research, and does it all on very little, if any, promotional budget.

And Gleiser's from the McClendon School of Broadcasting. Still believes in live & local most of the time. Oh, and a full time news department (KTBB).

That building, thank goodness, is still full of radio people who are very passionate about what they do, how they sound, and always wanting to be better each time they open the mic.
 
Hey Bill!
Good to hear from ya -- how's things up there in the wet northwest?
 
Hey Pat....

A rare sunny day today here in upstate Washington! Life's still a great adventure up here, but we do miss Texas. Probably be back in July for a visit.

Very interesting comments concerning Tyler radio. I do get to listen to most of the stations online occasionally.

Hope everyone's employed, happy and well!
 
Did any of you guys or gals work at KEYP (Y-99) (Whitehouse - Tyler) in December of 1984. It would be fun to visit with some of the folks from back then. After about a month of working with the PD at the time, I was ready to leave (and did).
 
AndyWaldrop said:
Did any of you guys or gals work at KEYP (Y-99) (Whitehouse - Tyler) in December of 1984. It would be fun to visit with some of the folks from back then. After about a month of working with the PD at the time, I was ready to leave (and did).
Click to expand...


I didn't work there...AAMOF, I was in middle school at the time. But, I fondly remember the station in the house on East Main Street in Whitehouse. I remember it so well, in fact, the original calls were KFML and it was a snoozer light AC format when it signed on.
 
C414B said:
AndyWaldrop said:
Did any of you guys or gals work at KEYP (Y-99) (Whitehouse - Tyler) in December of 1984. It would be fun to visit with some of the folks from back then. After about a month of working with the PD at the time, I was ready to leave (and did).
Click to expand...


I didn't work there...AAMOF, I was in middle school at the time. But, I fondly remember the station in the house on East Main Street in Whitehouse. I remember it so well, in fact, the original calls were KFML and it was a snoozer light AC format when it signed on.
Click to expand...

And, then they moved down the dial to 107.3 and became KISX. I couldn't pick up Y99 much in Longview. I do remember having one of their bumper stickers with a Pepsi Logo on it.
 
Although I can't recall everybody who worked there, I DO remember that KFML stood for "For Music Lovers" and KEYP was something about "Keep It On Y-99".
 
Bill,
I worked at Y-99 after KTYL. In the short time I was there (1984-1986), I did a stint with mornings, afternoons and evenings...all at different times. At the same time just before I left, I was doing weekends in Dallas -- which meant I worked 7 days a week for a couple of months straight!!

Fun when you're young -- I don't want to think about doing it now! (ha)
 
Pat,

Now I REALLY would have been impressed if you had done mornings, afternoons, evenings AND weekends in Dallas all at the same time!
 
I would be too,and in fact I was. I saw the same helicopter on the same e-w-e flight pattern at the same time every day. Tom Joyner eat your heart out.
 
Yeah, Joyner had me beat on that one!

Anybody else hanging out in here that worked the Tyler market back in the early to mid 80s? ;D

Always good to reconnect and say hello to each other.
 
Hey Bill!

Ran across this board and had to say hello. Hope you are doing well wherever you are and thanks for putting up with me many years ago when I was a kid.

Just had my 20th anniversary at KLBJ a few weeks back. While they fire everyone else we start four more years.

I feel sad about radio every time I trek back to East Texas.

My best to you all

Dale Dudley
 
Dale Dudley? Man I've been in this business for 22 years now and remember listening to you on 'FMX!! BTW, what ever happened to Frnak Scales?
 
Last I heard Frank was in Houston doing a lot of VO for Bill Young Prod.

I haven't thought of Frank for a couple of years, what a nice guy. One of the few that encouraged rather than the latter.
 
Hey Dale!

We had some pretty good times as I remember back in the early 80s...I've kept up with your career at 'LBJ. My congrats on the HUGE success you've had over the years. I still recall with great fondness watching you practice your stand up routine in the old studios on Front St.

Don't feel sad about ET radio...with CC spinning off its Tyler stations, maybe there's hope that more local talent will get back on the air without any corporate marching orders. I think the Tyler market will only improve in the coming months.

I'll email you via the KLBJ site and give you my contact info. I'm in Washington near Seattle.
 
Bill,

That link off of the station website probably won't work. I like to frustrate anyone who spends time sending me hate mail! The one thing that I learned in Tyler is that with my conservative upbringing the last thing I wanted to be was conservative! So I tend to rattle a few people.

E-mail me at [email protected] and I'll forward you my personal e-mail.

Yes those early 80's days were fun. I remember the staff of the radio station were pretty much the parents I didn't have.

We are no longer owned by the Johnson family here. Emmis picked us up and I guess if you have to be part of a corporation it is one of the

better ones.

d
 
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