Is it time for a Houston comeback?

[sdh483]

Austin's KOKE FM returns to their airwaves, San Antonio brought KTFM back from the dead, Dallas relaunched 97.1 The Eagle years ago.

When will a legendary Houston station come back from the dead and make a triumph return?  KLOL? KIKK? 

[willdav713]

When someone wins the lotto, or some millionaire wants to play let's spend.

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

But if were to suggest if anything is coming back, and it is far fetch it would be KILT The Big 610, but something like KILT The Big 610/100.3 FM Houston's Greatest Hits.

But you have stations that did make a comeback on HD such as Energy and Smooth Jazz, just like Austin has with Mega.

I don't see KIKK coming back any time soon.  They tore that station up KIKK ended up to be an ultimate train wreck.

For KLOL it did get resurrected on a rim shot signal and Houston has a plenty of them.  If the station is not listenable, how is it going to make a profit, hence the reason why it is now or soon going to be an EMF property.

Unless it is the old KILT, or the old KQQK don't count on it.

[stan]

We can always hope the FCC will roll back it's rules as well to where a conglomerate can only own two stations per market, and then we will have more diverse radio when divestments are forced.

I'm not holding my breath.

[FilioScotia]

I would give anything to be able to buy the 790 AM frequency and resurrect the Demand Radio 79 "Downbeat" format it had in the late 50s and early 60s. And if I could buy KIKK AM I would boost the power and bring back real classic country. We would play nothing newer than 1970, unless it's by somebody who was popular well before 1970, like George Jones.

I love to fantasize about those kinds of things, but I realize that's what they are. Fantasies. (sigh)

[TheBigA]

We can always hope the FCC will roll back it's rules as well to where a conglomerate can only own two stations per market, and then we will have more diverse radio when divestments are forced.

Ha!  That's pretty funny.  There are a lot of major companies that would LOVE to buy into Houston: Cumulus, Entercom, and Townsquare to name a few.  They're the only companies who have enough money to buy powerful FMs.  If Radio One keeps struggling, I'd expect to see them LMA a couple of their stations to one of those companies in the next two years.  If more companies own radio station, you won't see more diversity.  You'll see more duplication of formats as they all battle for the same listeners. 

Who in Houston has the money to not only buy an FM, but run it at a loss for a few years until it attracts an audience?  I had a friend who used to visit nursing homes looking for old rich people to invest in radio.  That may be what it takes.

[Mediafrog+]

Nostalgia for the past isn't going to "fix" Houston radio, as it ignores huge changes in demographics, technology, the music industry, listener expectations/preferences, and the general economics of the broadcasting business and the competition it faces.

A lot of these proposed formats would appeal to an audience that is so old that advertisers wouldn't touch them.  And I see no big push to break up the current radio conglomerates.  If the Republicans regain control of The White House and Senate, you will probably see even more M&A activity.

What is needed are innovative formats that resonate with listeners in 2012 and beyond that will give people (TODAY's and TOMORROW'S audience) a reason to listen to the radio instead of alternative platforms.

[mrbeasley]

Well said mediafrog.

[Kent]

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

Of course, it was Clear Channel who brought back 97.1 The Eagle in Dallas!  However, beyond that, I agree with most of the rest of your post.  Really, Mediafrog and the Big A summed it up pretty well, too.

[willdav713]

Most if not all your FM stations are owned by conglomerates such as Cox, Clear Channel, and CBS.

Of course, it was Clear Channel who brought back 97.1 The Eagle in Dallas!  However, beyond that, I agree with most of the rest of your post.  Really, Mediafrog and the Big A summed it up pretty well, too.

They also brought back Kiss 98.5 Port Arthur Houston for a short while, and Y-98.5 before flipping to Smooth-fm.

They also brought back Top 40 to 96.1 fm in San Antonio.   

[jras20]

Austin's KOKE FM returns to their airwaves, San Antonio brought KTFM back from the dead, Dallas relaunched 97.1 The Eagle years ago.

When will a legendary Houston station come back from the dead and make a triumph return?  KLOL? KIKK? 

^^
KOKE was not a come back for Austin.  Austin needs a LOT more help then just one station.  If Houston come back, then they should bring back kiss 98.5 and kiss again 103.3 playing dance.  Party 100.7 come back, leave hot 957 and 979 alone.  maybe bring back the beat on KRBE.