On October 19, 1947, radio listeners in the Rio Grande Valley have been able to tune to an AM radio station that began as a 250-watt daytime-only operation and today is a Class B News/Talker with a signal covering McAllen, Brownsville, Harlingen and Weslaco, Tex.
Now, this station is poised to become a part of a giant of Mexican media. Does this put the market’s soon-to-be lone source of English-language spoken word information and news in jeopardy? Not at all, says the head of the company selling KURV-AM.
As RBR+TVBR first reported on Wednesday (4/17), KURV is one of four U.S. licensed stations R Communications is selling to a U.S. affiliate of Grupo Multimedios, a major media company with a presence across Mexico.
R is also selling three of the Mexican-licensed stations it uses to reach the Rio Grande Valley to another entity — the radio arm of Mexican communications company Ultra Telecom.
With Mexican ownership of KURV on the way, some radio listeners in the Rio Grande Valley may wonder if they’ll soon see a format change away from English-language news and information.
R Communications President/CEO Carlos Rodriguez tells RBR+TVBR that no change in programming will occur. As such, locally originating news and talk programming is expected to remain in the morning hours, while syndicated hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Chad Benson, Ben Shapiro and Clyde Lewis are not expected to be dropped from KURV once the new owners take over.
“The new owners will keep KURV,” Rodriguez said from San Antonio, where he is based. “They believe in the current format.”
He added that the strength of AM News/Talk programming and its increased use via smart speakers is attractive to Grupo Multimedios, a company which operates Monterrey-based AM Milenio Radio as a News/Talker and owns the Milenio newspaper, found across Mexico. “The validity of AM News/Talk radio is happening again,” Rodriguez said.
Any possibility of KURV changing formats would likely be a major concern for many across the Rio Grande Valley, and in Washington. This market of 1.02 million people — of which 910,200 are Hispanic — has roughly eight FM stations with English-language programming. One of the McAllen signals is the home of NPR for the border city, while another signal based in Harlingen is a simulcast partner.
Those stations are set to evolve to a more “Relevant” programming choice.
On February 13, Alvaro Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board of Directors for RGV Educational Broadcasting, signed off on the sale of 3kw Class A KJJF-FM 88.9 in Harlingen and Class A KHID-FM 88.1 in McAllen to Immaculate Heart Media.
IHM is the Wisconsin-based non-secular nonprofit entity that operates the “Relevant Radio” Christian-themed network of noncommercial radio stations.
What the future holds for Rio Grande Valley Public Radio is not known. If NPR programming does not land on another signal in the market, it would leave McAllen-Brownsville with one English-language spoken-word station: KURV.
In the Fall 2018 Nielsen Audio ratings, KURV earned a 2.6 share 12+; Tejano sibling KBUC-FM was right behind it, with a 2.4 share.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR R’s RODRIGUEZ?
The transactions in Mexico and U.S. revealed April 17 in a Form 314 filing with the FCC suggest that R Communications is selling all of its assets.
However, two stations in the Laredo, Tex., market are not accounted for — Class C Classic Hits KLNT-AM 1490 and LMA partner Spanish Contemporary KQUR-FM 94.9, owned by Border Broadcasters Inc.
Rodriguez confirms that KLNT is for sale, and a buyer is needed.
Meanwhile, the future of R’s LMA with KQUR is dependent on the FCC’s approval of a foreign ownership waiver granting permission for Multimedios’ U.S. subsidiary to grab its stateside assets.
What does this mean for Rodriguez? He was proud of his eight-year run as the head of R Communications, and calls the company “like my child.” But, as all children grow up and leave the home, now was the time for the stations to move on, he added.
A role with Multimedios overseeing the group is a possibility, Rodriguez said. But, for now, “completing the sale” and ensuring the future of R Communications’ 87 employees is a good one is task one. “Will they hire me in the future? I don’t know,” he said. “I hope my future is in media, and hopefully with the new ownership.”
