Houston Sportstalkers--revenue weaklings?

[Mediafrog+]

Eye opening revenue numbers in this morning's David Barron column in the Chronicle.  He quotes BIA Financial Network stats for the top SportsTalk stations in 2006, and it is quite a comparison:

WFAN in New York City at $50.6 million.
WEEI in Boston was No. 2 at $36.5 million.
KNBR in San Francisco at $29.7 million.
KTCK in DFW at $24.7 million.

In comparison, KILT 610 brought in only $7.8 million, and KBME 790 a mere $1.8 million.

The KTCK numbers have to be disquieting for Houston management, as DFW is only a slightly bigger market.  While many dislike KTCK's formula of Guy Talk/Interviews/Almost no phone calls, you gotta admit it works.  Perhaps a formula the new managment at KILE might be ready to implement here? 

[truthsayer]

I am not sure if Sports radio needs to be on 3 frequencies.  610 is by far the best choice.  The other two are lacking behind.  97.5 being the trailer of trailers.  7.8 million for 610 is better than any other format the have done in recent memory.  They may just be happy that it is making money.  I do not see where they would mess with it. 

The flipside is 790 to continue the format and op at a loss at just over a million is now a question.  The larger question do they hold on or do some other format.  I could see a Spanish Talker.  Now would be a perfect time with the immagration debate and the election in 08.  This would certianlly fall in to place with the Clear Channel aim towards that market.

97.5 should just go away and serve the city of licence instead of trying for Houston.

[snoman]

You have to figure in a couple of things here.  A lot of WFAN's revenue included Imus.  This coming year's revenue, I bet you could knock off about 15 Million off that figure.  WEEI lost the Red Sox this year, so that was a lot of their revenue stream, so they won't make near as much next year.  WFAN & WEEI are both 50,000 watt blowtorches.  You can pick them up throughout the east coast area.  I can pick up WFAN at night when I go to Pittsburgh.  KNBR is the only sports game in town in the Bay Area.  They also made a lot of their revenue on the 49ers & Giants.  Not to mention, I don't know if it is factored in or not, but they have KTCT 1050, which they also call "KNBR".  And, I want to say that was the A's & Raiders home last year, but don't quote me on that.  If that's the case, that's a lot of the $29 Million.  And, KTCK in Dallas/Fort Worth became the Cowboys flagship this past year.  But, they have always had decent ratings (high 2's to mid 3 shares).  Last time I checked they were broadcasting on two different frequencies, too... 1700 (which is 10KW) and 1310 (which is 5kw).  So, they have a decent reach.

KILT is definitely underperforming.  To be 5KW, The Texans, Rockets, and Longhorns (for Houston) flagship station and the "veteran" of the sports stations, they should be doing much better in the ratings and making a lot more money.  I know the Texans have been bottom feeders and the Rockets have only had a couple of playoff appearances lately, they still should be doing better.  I think their frequent turnover is hurting them. 

KBME's revenue is low, because what do they have?  Texas A&M sports and what else?  Charlie's show isn't going to make them a multi-million dollar station.  And, Fox Sports Radio is awful. 

And, I wouldn't look for a Multi-Million dollar producer at KFNC this coming year either.  I don't know a lot of people lined up to buy Houston or National spots for a stick that's half way to Beaumont.  Not to mention, half the time it's simulcasting their hideous excuse for a Rock station.  And, they also have no local sports teams in their stable.  The one thing they have going for them is ESPN Radio, but that's not going to produce multi-millions. 

So, KBME & KFNC have excuses for their lack of high revenue achievement.  However, KILT should be doing a lot better.  They really should be in the $10-$12 Million Range for a team that has the Texans and Rockets. 

[Buddy Hayes]

Houston just isn't a sports town.

[stan]

I'd like to know how much sports revenue KTRH pulls in, with the Astros and other sports programming they currently have.  I bet its as much as KILT.

[War Of Attrition]

I'd like to know how much sports revenue KTRH pulls in, with the Astros and other sports programming they currently have.  I bet its as much as KILT.

I bet you're wrong.

[bayou_city_bob]

I've heard that KTRH pulls about $2-$2.5 million per year off of the Astros and all related programming (Spring Training, Astroline, Local Pregame and 10th Inning shows).

[txchipk]

And, KTCK in Dallas/Fort Worth became the Cowboys flagship this past year.  But, they have always had decent ratings (high 2's to mid 3 shares).  Last time I checked they were broadcasting on two different frequencies, too... 1700 (which is 10KW) and 1310 (which is 5kw).  So, they have a decent reach.

They haven't been on the 1700 frequency for a while now...1700 is now KKLF and simulcasts sister KLIF 570.  KTCK simulcasts with KTDK 104.1 Sanger...but the range is limited to parts of Denton and Collin County as a small C3.  It is easy for the signal to be lost to KKUS 104.1 Tyler to the east or KWOW 104.1 Clifton-Waco to the south.

[Faraway]

The flipside is 790 to continue the format and op at a loss at just over a million is now a question. 

Where do you get your information that 790 is loving $1M a year? I was under the impression it was making money, although not a lot.

I've heard that KTRH pulls about $2-$2.5 million per year off of the Astros and all related programming (Spring Training, Astroline, Local Pregame and 10th Inning shows).

Are you saying KTRH "clears" /profits 2.5M from Astro's or is that the total revenue. Because the former would be a great number, the later would be awful.

[omega]

I worked for Kyst 920AM for a few years in 2001-2004 and it was running a sports format with the whole Sport talk shows and we were broadcasting the rockets and the soccer games and it was bringing in well over a mill a year but the whole brokerd format just works out better and takes alot less ppl to run!