Well, whatd'ya know....1090 KULF/Bellville is on the air.

[purpledevil]

...and what an amazing feat it is. I am in Bellville right now, after making the trip up here to check on our place. It is currently 3:45am and lo and behold, 1090 is on the air and playing The Beatles. Mind you, 1090 is a 250 watt DAYTIMER and again it's 3:45 in the morning. Interesting. It has been silent all of this time, and then when it finally gets cranked up, it's in the middle of the night. Even ID'ed just now as simply "1090 AM KULF, Bellville."

 

[stan]

A new DAY starts at midnight. This must be the criteria. All AM stations should do this, and broadcast with 10,000 watts minimum. That will fix the AM band.

 

[jd]

...and what an amazing feat it is.

More like an amazing story with many unanswered questions. With that said, pardon the length of this but there is much to tell about this little station.

The first part is easy, that being that KULF is likely running program tests during the designated period (midnight to 6 A.M.) from a newly constructed two-tower array with 1,000 watts directional.

Now to the things that aren't easily discerned. For starters, what in the world can be done with this station to get any sort of return on the investment? Roy Henderson owned it for years and did nothing with it. In fact, it was off the air for much of that time and his application to move the community of license from Bellville to Katy was flatly denied by the FCC. When news surfaced that Henderson was seeking to sell the station the purchase price was rumored to be $250,000. That was generally considered to be a ridiculous amount since the station basically didn't exist. For a considerable period of time there was no operable transmitter site.

Amazingly a buyer came along last year and paid twice as much as the reported asking price. So I'll ask the obvious question: what is JHT Ventures and why did they pay $500,000 for this daytime-only disaster? JHT is 100% owned by Janice Hollan of Houston and she has no attributable interest in any other broadcast properties. I can also tell you that Janice Hollan was and may still be the general manager of the RAFTT company, headed by Jerome Friemel. RAFTT was the owner of KILE 1560, now KGOW.

The application for the sale of KULF contained a number of conditions that are interesting, to say the least. This tops the list: "Buyer [also] understands Seller’s intention to relocate a station from Hempstead, Texas, and the necessity for KNUZ [KULF] to be moved and re-licensed to serve that community, with Seller also relocating a replacement station to serve Bellville, and agrees to locate a permanent site that will meet the requirements to be licensed at Hempstead..." Obviously the Hempstead station is KTWL 105.3 but what is the "replacement" station that will (or would) serve Bellville? It just might be KYND 1520 Cypress, since it's already known that the late Matthew Provenzano had made plans to co-locate KYND at the new KULF transmitter site. So far, however, there have been no applications filed to change the community of license for any of the stations that might be involved.

But here's the truly enigmatic question: who was behind all of this? I don't believe that Janice Hollan acted alone. Did Jerome Friemel have a role in the KULF sale by setting up Ms. Hollan as the owner of record, or is there a possibility that Roy Henderson worked out a deal with Friemel so that for whatever reason he could retain some sort of control of KULF?

 

[bturner]

Don't know all the parties in the last post but I do know KYND very well. KYND never considered KULF's tower site, although I like the way you think...creative. I'm no engineer and didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I would think KYND's Houston coverage would be minimized by moving that far out. The other issue is KYND is the only station licensed to Cypress, so it is my understanding KYND could not change its city of license althought it must be argued that Cypress is not incorporated and it is common knowledge that Cypress considers itself part of Houston.

It sure will be interesting to learn all these 'mysterious' factoids as the Bellville station progresses.

 

[jd]

Don't know all the parties in the last post but I do know KYND very well. KYND never considered KULF's tower site, although I like the way you think...creative.

Thank you. I know you're quite familiar with the station, but I know a few things about KYND, too. Last year they were issued special field test authority to operate a temporary transmitter on 1680: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=11136

Comparing the SFTA location for KYND and the location of the authorized site for KULF, they differ by only two seconds in latitude and one second in longitude. This is no coincidence; a diplexed operation was being considered. The engineering statement for the KULF upgrade contains this statement: "Field strength distances were determined in part, utilizing field strength readings from FCC approved SFTA site KY5XND. The test site was sought by Matthew Provenzano, licensee of AM station KYND at Cypress, Texas on behalf of KYND..." It goes on to say that "KYND will also make use of the data in a future application to co-locate at the proposed site along with the Station on 1090..."

I should point out that I'm in no way suggesting any sort of collusion between the departed Mr. Provenzano and the other individuals I mentioned.

The other issue is KYND is the only station licensed to Cypress, so it is my understanding KYND could not change its city of license althought it must be argued that Cypress is not incorporated and it is common knowledge that Cypress considers itself part of Houston.

That part of your statement, as part of a showing pursuant to Faye and Richard Tuck could be the key for a relocation of KYND. It should also be noted that a KYND application to change their COL to Jersey City in 2004 was dismissed at the applicant's request; a permit to add nighttime operation from Cypress in 2007 was approved by the FCC but later canceled per the applicant's request, and for good reason. In the most recent application to add night service with two (yes, 2) watts from a building along the Southwest Freeway in Houston it was mentioned that the licensee no longer had access to the land to construct additional towers that would be needed for night service from Cypress. That application was denied, but adding night service from somewhere west of Houston just might be approved.

 

[bturner]

Yep, the nighttime ap from the daytime site didn't provide much service area but the biggest problem was tower placement. There was not enough land for the ground system and neither neighbor was willing to sell. It seems the original study utilized the wrong dimensions for the KYND parcel. We would have needed another 80-100 feet either side of the parcel KYND occupies.

The ap for 2 watts was to originate on a roof on top of a building.

There might be some hope for nighttime but one has to consider build-out versus potential revenue from whatever we would get.

It was my understanding 1090's tower is right in Bellville...could be wrong. Then again, not sure if the tower site for 1090 had a cp to move or if that's the same place KYND was going to go.

 

[jd]

It was my understanding 1090's tower is right in Bellville...could be wrong. Then again, not sure if the tower site for 1090 had a cp to move or if that's the same place KYND was going to go.

When 1090 had a tower it was located on the near west side of town. KULF's new two-tower array is located to the east-southeast just over eight miles from Bellville.

 

[bturner]

The former tower site was what I remembered and thanks to you I've learned the 1090 site is closer to Houston. That makes sense. Seems that puts the site pretty close to the Brazos River.

 

[AndyWaldrop]

Earlier in this thread, someone stated that they were wondering who was actually behind all this. I think that if you looked real close, and put "two and two together," you'd probably find that a crook with the initials of D.W. is behind it. The FCC knows this guy REAL well. They don't like him. So...he stays hidden from the FCC's view.

 

[mrbeasley]

Having that token female "owner" garners them some special consideration with their app. But like you said it really serves to keep the de facto buyer off the FCC's radar screen. He was enjoined from holding ownership in any broadcast license for the next 20 years. Not sure when the clock started ticking on that but it hasn't stopped him. The interesting part of this whole deal is that both of the real parties are rather well-known for their past dealings in this market. And, it's a wonder they both still have their kneecaps intact. I guess the reason is that neither one is worth going to jail over.

 

[stan]

Why would anyone want to build another low power AM station? AM is dying.

 

[amisdead]

Why would anyone want to build another low power AM station? AM is dying.

Good point. Especially in Houston. Second lowest AM listenership out of the top 10 markets.

 

[AndyWaldrop]

If there was some programming on the AM band that was worth listening to, like there is in Chicago and New York City, then AM would definitely have a higher percentage of listenership here in Houston. But...since nobody wants to make the investment, monetarily or effort-wise, it's just not going to happen. Seems a little strange to say...but, this business is it's own worst enemy.

 

[johndavis]

If there was some programming on the AM band that was worth listening to, like there is in Chicago and New York City, then AM would definitely have a higher percentage of listenership here in Houston. But...since nobody wants to make the investment, monetarily or effort-wise, it's just not going to happen. Seems a little strange to say...but, this business is it's own worst enemy.

There's also one big difference.

Chicago and New York have a very dense population where the majority of the signals are the strongest.

Houston, with all of its suburban sprawl, has outgrown the patterns of most of the AM signals. Once the sun goes down, you could have the greatest programming ever on the air but you'd be hard pressed to pick it up at home or in the car. It doesn't matter what you're programming if people can't pick it up.

 

[AndyWaldrop]

Simply put...If KTRH were doing it correctly, their ratings would increase.

 

[RonParker]

In other words, you can't be number 1 when you can't be heard! Welcome to the world of PPM. No more diary poularity contests anymore.

 

[jd]

Why would anyone want to build another low power AM station? AM is dying.

You know it, and so do I. But the original plan was to have a fairly high-powered station. KULF is moving closer to getting the 1kW rig licensed but I fully expect another application for higher power, similar to the first one for 10kW. Yes, it would take more than two towers but it could probably be done. And I suspect brokered ethnic to be the format of choice.

 

[hifidistortion]

Love what the filler music was, another format hole is reminded when I was listening. Sounded a lot like music that was on the old KQUE 102.9

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Why would anyone want to build another low power AM station? AM is dying.

You know it, and so do I. But the original plan was to have a fairly high-powered station. KULF is moving closer to getting the 1kW rig licensed but I fully expect another application for higher power, similar to the first one for 10kW. Yes, it would take more than two towers but it could probably be done. And I suspect brokered ethnic to be the format of choice.

Oh please no! The oldies format currently on the air fills a massive format hole in the Houston market. I am thoroughly enjoying not having to eat KEYH crosstalk over KONO, and the weak signal on KVNS. Oldies - excuse me - classic hits - can rate near the top if done right. If it makes money in San Antonio (KONO) and in Dallas (KLUV), Houston isn't that different of a market. It can work. With some tweaking, KULF could be a real contender with oldies / classic hits. If they go brokered ethnic or some other format, its off my presets, yet another frequency wasted.

Now if we can just get some REAL Christian contemporary music on KSBJ HD-2, then I won't have to use satellite / iPhone streaming in the car. Z-88 HD-3 does quite well at doing Christian rock. And WAY-FM finally has an iPhone app.

 

[stan]

Why would anyone want to build another low power AM station? AM is dying.

You know it, and so do I. But the original plan was to have a fairly high-powered station. KULF is moving closer to getting the 1kW rig licensed but I fully expect another application for higher power, similar to the first one for 10kW. Yes, it would take more than two towers but it could probably be done. And I suspect brokered ethnic to be the format of choice.

Oh please no! The oldies format currently on the air fills a massive format hole in the Houston market. I am thoroughly enjoying not having to eat KEYH crosstalk over KONO, and the weak signal on KVNS. Oldies - excuse me - classic hits - can rate near the top if done right. If it makes money in San Antonio (KONO) and in Dallas (KLUV), Houston isn't that different of a market. It can work. With some tweaking, KULF could be a real contender with oldies / classic hits. If they go brokered ethnic or some other format, its off my presets, yet another frequency wasted.

The problem with this scenario is that music sounds horrible on AM. FM would be preferable for a music format. AM music formats began to die off in the 1970s.