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U of H looking to purchase radio station to supplement KUHF

Re: Houston and Tampa/St. Pete ? --- hmmm

johndavis said:
Based on what they've put on Facebook, the KSBJ youth format will run on 89.3 HD2 and it will be non-commercial.
Click to expand...

As I mentioned on another thread, a good way to market HD to a youth demographic. Will help the technology get some traction.

If 91.7 is truly running in mono, it's not intentional. Outside of the studio equipment that was donated earlier this year, most of KTRU's equipment was state of the art in 1983. Old stuff breaks.
Click to expand...

I noticed the mono transmission the other day as well.

I suspect the current KTRU transmitter is the same one that the old KRTS donated 20 years ago. The new KUHC might need to think about a replacement in the near future.
 
Re: Houston and Tampa/St. Pete ? --- hmmm

johndavis said:
purpledevil said:
johndavis said:
Mediafrog+ said:
What is the status of KSBJ's youth effort?
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Last I heard, the studios are under construction now and it's expected to hit the air in the fall.
Click to expand...

Where on earth would this end up on the Houston dial? Is the KSBJ youth format going to be a commercial station or a non-comm?

Noticed yesterday that there are no DJ's left on KTRU, wall to wall music, and a simple "You are listening to KTRU-Houston" every top of the hour.
Has anyone noticed that 91.7 is now running in mono? Why has that happened? Is it that much of a power saving measure?
Click to expand...

Based on what they've put on Facebook, the KSBJ youth format will run on 89.3 HD2 and it will be non-commercial. They already have an iPhone and Android app for KSBJ, so adding one of each for this format is a no-brainer. Whether or not it will end up on any of the other signals they own, I don't know.

The DJ's are at KTRU today. If nobody is scheduled or if the scheduled person doesn't show, they run automation, and that's what "Robo" sounds like.

If 91.7 is truly running in mono, it's not intentional. Outside of the studio equipment that was donated earlier this year, most of KTRU's equipment was state of the art in 1983. Old stuff breaks.
Click to expand...

John you are correct. I heard DJ's on KTRU again yesterday reading the press release at several points of the day. Wednesday was a different story. If they were there, I never heard anyone crack a mic. 91.7 has not been in stereo for a few days now. I noticed it Monday, but don't know how long it has actually been off. I did not realize that their equipment was so outdated. That's a shame. You know, I'm a little torn on this whole ordeal. While I am sure KUHC will be a success on 91.7 and many are estatic about the return of a 24 hour a day classical format, part of me hates to see the only station for local talent to receive airplay go away. Then again, some of the "music" that is played on KTRU is absolutely abysmal. Yesterday I heard a piece that was someone strumming 2 off key guitar strings every few seconds while what sounded like a cracked bell was being rung in the background. That is what has killed KTRU. I get free form, but that's not even desirable to listen to.
 
Re: Houston and Tampa/St. Pete ? --- hmmm

Mediafrog+ said:
I suspect the current KTRU transmitter is the same one that the old KRTS donated 20 years ago. The new KUHC might need to think about a replacement in the near future.
Click to expand...


It doesn't seem like it has been 20 years since KTRU moved to the site north of Humble.
 
Re: Houston and Tampa/St. Pete ? --- hmmm

AndyWaldrop said:
Mediafrog+ said:
I suspect the current KTRU transmitter is the same one that the old KRTS donated 20 years ago. The new KUHC might need to think about a replacement in the near future.
Click to expand...


It doesn't seem like it has been 20 years since KTRU moved to the site north of Humble.
Click to expand...

1991... that's pretty close to 20!
 
Re: Houston and Tampa/St. Pete ? --- hmmm

Mediafrog+ said:
If 91.7 is truly running in mono, it's not intentional. Outside of the studio equipment that was donated earlier this year, most of KTRU's equipment was state of the art in 1983. Old stuff breaks.
Click to expand...

I noticed the mono transmission the other day as well.

I suspect the current KTRU transmitter is the same one that the old KRTS donated 20 years ago. The new KUHC might need to think about a replacement in the near future.
Click to expand...

I last saw the stereo pilot light up on KTRU about a month ago. No difference in sound. I had to check the pilot light since many were mentioning the mono.
 
Oh geez, I just hate the way that no matter what, every conversation on this board degenerates into engineer speak, I mean, don't get me wrong, enigneers are the glue that hold it all together, but there is a whole forest out here, trees. [EDIT*] Back to the subject, it would be perfect if KUHF could get their hands on KTRU, all NPR for Houston, all Classical for that set, no more splitting the audiences. The problem I have with the whole scenerio is the Michael Berry's (the guy who said we should just bomb the mosque at ground zero and then recended) WIFE, Naddy Berry,from Hyderabad, India, sits on the Board of Regents for U of H and she has been very, very vocal in her opposition to the deal, what is going on here? Of course she is opposed, her husband runs KUHF's only competitor, KTRH, how is it that she has had any say in this process at all? She absolutely should have reclused herself from the proceedings but instead became very, very vocal in her opposition and mounted a campaign against the acquisition of the station by KUHF, furthermore, she felt it neccessary to take a tour of the KUHF facilities directly afterward, she had never been there before. Some one, please tell me how this is good for journalism, much less Houston

[EDIT-disruptive content]
 
Michael Berry is not in charge of KTRH or KPRC for that matter. Brian Erikson is the operations manager. Michael only does the talk show. Those duties changed several months ago. KUHF and KTRH are not competitors. KUHF is non-commercial while KTRH is commercial. Is it not important to the discussion to mention that his wife is from India. There is no relevance. Perhaps her reasoning was that UofH shouldn't purchase due to the cost involved. UH has done some downsizing and recently, many employees had to sacrifice a day off. Perhaps that was her reasoning. But it is not because of her husband because he is not in charge.
 
Perhaps her reasoning was that UofH shouldn't purchase due to the cost involved. UH has done some downsizing and recently, many employees had to sacrifice a day off. Perhaps that was her reasoning.

Well said Chuck, but if cost is Mrs Berry's concern, someone should remind her that it's not going to cost UH anything. The entire cost of buying KTRU will be paid with donations. All nine million will come from private pockets -- not the UH budget.

And while we're on the subject, it should be remembered that KUHF itself costs UH nothing. KUHF is self supporting -- because UH is prohibited by state law from putting any money into it.

UH owns the license and the physical facilities, but KUHF pays the bills with individual memberships, corporate donations, and a few pennies from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

KUHF -- and soon KTRU -- are the best deals UH has ever had
 
You are absolutely correct. I had totally forgotten about the source of the funding. It is indeed a good deal all the way around for KUHF and the future KUHC.

As far as KTRU is concerned, it can still survive through the internet. And now with today's technological advancement in cell phones, you can download an application and receive the station in the different media now being offered. I'm not sure KTRU has gotten that far, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

The great thing about internet radio is that you don't have to be concerned with a transmitter and it's costs to maintain the facility. The possibilities are endless.

http://ktru.org

 
I do agree though, that Ms. Berry should have recused herself from any voting on the acquisition of KTRU. Having a husband who is a key employee at another radio group is a blatant conflict of interest. Probably a good example of board members who are too cozy with each other.

And I will disagree with Chuck Tiller: Even though KTRH is a commerical operation while KUHF is not, an increased news/public affairs presence by a revamped KUHF is likely to pull more listeners away from KTRH. Thus a conflict of interest with Ms. Berry.
 
and KTRH and KUHF absolutely are competitors, just competitors that follow a different business model. More listeners for KUHF and fewer for KTRH translates to more potential donors to KUHF, increased value to the business sponsors who get their names mentioned on the air, and lower ratings and lower potential ad rates and ad buyers for KTRH.
 
I am concerned that their will not be a radio outlet for the Rice sports events currently on KTRU, such as the baseball games.
I doubt that UH will continue to broadcast the Rice baseball games.
 
****Even though KTRH is a commerical operation while KUHF is not, an increased news/public affairs presence by a revamped KUHF is likely to pull more listeners away from KTRH.****

That's already happening, and it's been happening steadily for the past several years. KUHF's morning audiences have increased at more or less the same rate that KTRH's morning news offerings have decreased.

KUHF is doing what KTRH once did, and doing it better. It's also doing it with only two news blocks. Morning and afternoon. Once KTRU is assimilated into KUHF, and gets all the classical music programs, that will leave KUHF with nothing but news and information programs 24-7, with the biggest and hardest working news department in town.

It's not hard to predict where people who want news and information will be listening. Just as it's not hard to fathom Mrs Berry's opposition to the KTRU purchase.
 
Too bad UH doesn't have a little extra money to spend. Perhaps they could buy a "throw away" AM station that covers the southern & SW metro area decently, and simulcast it with KTRU and use those 2 signals for News/Talk and have KUHF be 24/7 classical.
 
thathoustonradiogeek said:
So, when can we expect to start listening to KUHC 91.7? ???
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Never...those call letters belong to an off air FM in Clayton, N.M. Although, I'm sure the owners would be happy to part with the call sign for a "donation" to their cause!
 
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