New talk radio station to feature Strelzin

A newly-reflagged Univision-owned radio station will feature long-time radio talk show host Paul Strelzin begining on February 2, officials announced Tuesday. In a press release, officials revealed that station Talkback Radio KQBU (AM 920), which was formerly known as KBNA (AM 920), will carry a lineup of talk show hosts that up until recenly appeared on Entravision-owned KHRO (AM 1150). The arrangement was forged through a unique partnership between Univision and the El Paso Media Group which publishes El Paso Magazine, newspapertree.com, theelpasoan.com, and inthe915.com. The group is owned and operated by local publisher Keith Mahar. Here's the lineup of hosts on the new station:

6-8 a.m. - DavidK

8-10 a.m. - Paul Strelzin

10 a.m - 12 p.m. - Lisa D.

12 p.m. - 1 p.m. - Sito Negron

DTV Delay

It appears that Spanish-language TV stations along the border will get part of their wish soon to delay the transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. The U.S. Senate approved a measure late Monday delaying the transition to June 12 - not for five years that some stations had wanted. The House is expected to take up the issue within a few days. Many general market station operators have been strongly opposed to the extension saying it will cost them tens of thousands of dollars to operate two separate transmitters. The industry has spent millions of dollars trying to prepare the public for the change. One columnist argued the delay is not needed. Read it here.

Other Media Notes

With sadness, we note the passing of Mary Ponce, a former part-owner of KINT-TV (Univision Ch.26). Mrs. Ponce provided a motherly influence over a sometimes gnarly group of local businessmen known collectively as Paso del Norte Broadcasting who founded the TV station in the 1980s. Mary Ponce was 94.

On a happier note, we welcome little Olivia Violet, born to KVIA-TV (ABC Ch.7) anchor-reporter Ashlie Hardway and her husband Nick last weekend.

And, former Ysleta ISD spokesman and long-time media and marketing consultant Larry Trejo has a new job: He's the new executive director at the El Paso Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Comments

[Pam Miller]

Congrats Ashlie

[congrats]

Congrats to Ashlie Hardway, beautiful new mom! It sure will be nice to hear David K and The Strelz back on the radio. It will be like old times again but why don't they put David K on from 6-7 and Strelz on from 7-10 like they used to?

[LisaD Fan]

"A newly-reflagged Univision-owned radio station will FEATURE long-time radio talk show host Paul Strelzin begining on February 2"

"Feature" Paul Strelzin? Sounds like you are belittling the rest of the personalities.

I don't know about you but David K and Lisa and Sito can pull as many if not more listeners than Paul.

I do not recall the press release using the word feature.

Paul is good, but top billing?

[Scott]

What I don't understand is if Paul Strelzin's ratings are so low, and radio - especially AM is dying - why the heck does he keep getting hired? Are these people actually making money doing these talk radio jobs?

[Brad Kanus]

In Roy's defense... I don't think he means "feature" as in he's the main guy carrying all the weight.

I think he used the description to tie this story back to the on two weeks ago where he reported that the Strelz was unceremoniously let go from 1150.

Again, I think the idea was to tie up loose ends on a story, not diminish anyone's role in the new station.

[LisaD Fan]

Oh David now you're just being nice.

[strelz]

scott...just for your information my show had darn good ratings and gregs was in the toilet.

[LisaD Fan]

Define "Darn Good Ratings" Last number I saw for the whole station was a .6 share. That is probably good for local talk radio, but "darn" good?

:)

[strelz]

LisaD fan...if you go by RR than all you see is the rating for the entire day...you have to subscribe to arbiton ratings to see the actual daytime breakdown.

[LisaD Fan]

So share the ratings - Please

[LisaD Fan]

Hey Roy - do you have access to the ratings for individual shows? Might be a good story on AM in El Paso. Rate the station management given recent line up changes on all stations

[Charlie]

Well, I for one will not be listening anymore. Nobody lets go of "darn good" ratings. Usually, the ones who are let go are the ones who drag down the ratings.

They have ruined a great line-up, and they'll be hearing from many loyal listeners who aren't interested in hearing more of the same for hours and hours. These people are all the same and their callers are recycled from show to show.

Losing listeners by the second.

[Noni Juice]

Hey! What happened to Koester's sucka-free blog? It's just not right to banish it to the same place as the celebrity gossip blog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noni

[Roy Ortega]

Note from the Editor: Great suggestions from LisaD Fan. In the past, I've offered the ARB rankings for El Paso radio stations, the latest of which can be found on http://www.radiodailynews.com/12-31-elpaso.htm Unfortunately, the quarter-hour ratings for each station are more difficult to obtain unless you are a subscriber to ARB. Requesting the information from individual radio stations is always an exercise in futility because the stations are almost always prone to offer only their best numbers. The overall numbers are usually carefully guarded, especially if they're bad. If they're good, the stations don't hesitate to trumpet them loudly. It's a rare ocasion when a station offers me a straight-up, un-sanitized look at their ARB numbers. The same applies to local TV stations and their Nielsen ratings. Talk Radio in El Paso enjoys a small, but loyal following. However, I believe the city needs a good local talk radio station. If done right, I believe talk radio can flourish in El Paso. If Univision and the El Paso Media Group make a long-term commitment to "grow" an audience, I think Paul Strelzin, LisaD and Sito Negron will do fine on KQBU-AM. --Roy Ortega

[LisaD Fan]

Thanks Roy

I think your answer says it all "Darn good" ratings aren't so good after all. if they were they would be scraming them from the roof tops.

[rayman]

The Strelz, Freyermuth, Negron, et. al.: a pimple on the butt of the radio medium.

[LisaD Fan]

Rayman
We'll never know for sure as none will release their real ratings

[WTF? (not the "fake"' WTF? that uses my same sig line)]

LisaDFan - stations are limited by their license agreements with either Arbitron or Nielsen as to what kind of ratings information they can disseminate outside the purposes outlined in their contract (which are generally stipulated as being for sales & programming related purposes only). In most cases, stations can release some limited information to the public, but they have to be careful about what they release or how they trumpet that - one station here (I won't say who it is, nor if it was TV or Radio) got in trouble a few years back, in fact, and was "on probation" for awhile, to the extent where they had to run EVERY promo that mentioned any ratings-related info by the ratings firm first before they could air them.

So, you see it's not quite as simple as they may just not want to release the info for whatever reason.

[WTF? the real one !]

Again, what?????????????

[abc]

strelzin and davidk ? arent these just david candelaria's rejects that keith has hired ?

[Jay Koester]

Thanks for the shout out, Noni. I wrote a little farewell blog to my fans here: http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/best/2009/01/its-time-to-say-goodbye.html

[what goes around comes around !!!]

Does anyone know how new mother Ashlie Hardway is doing with her screaming child???!!!

Again watch what you say Ashlie, it will come back and bite you in the ass!!!!!!!!!!!
( as posted June 19, 2008 kvia... seated next to screaming children on the plane I took from Pittsburgh I should have received a discount ) wtf? you said it, CHILDREN
what else are they know for genius?

[Oscar Otero]

Thanks to the usual government foul ups on issuing the DTV coupons in time, everyone stuck on analog transmission broadcasts will now be able to pick up and learn the Spanish language by listening to the Spanish networks at least until June 12.

[keith]

freyermuth sells advertising. strelz never did and he is kissing davidk's butt hoping he will help him sell advertising. i think there may be a love affair started between the two.

[jawbone]

The Strelz may be old but like good wine, he seems to get better with age. It is El Paso you know and the dollars are few and far between. Nevertheless, it is for some folk like being on a bandwagon to make hay with criticism of old age and talk radio hosts like the Strelz. Okay but let's see if you are willing to write the hard checks these talk show hosts deserve when they literally put their lives on the line at times. Really!!! I daresay most of the critics know little of their personal, emotional, psychological and dutiful makeup as compared to what you might know of their political makeup. The Strelz may have laboured at times with calling soccer games but in all other venues he brings a hefty and crafty ouevre. El Paso has been tremendously lucky that the Strelz' roots were established here. With a wonderful and beautiful Mexican wife and exceptional children, the whole family has been an El Paso, state, and national success story. it is this community that has richly benefitted from his presence and ability to bring fans to the arena's and politiican's to the table. Or have too many forgotten too soon? Have too many failed to read their own cards before trying to run a blind bluff? The Strelz is and has been an icon here and it is high time we don't forget such stalwarts just because of the so-called entry into the Golden Years. You can knock the "G" off Golden due to health and other issues but you can't knock down a good man who is just as sharp now as he was thirty years ago. Will you match up when it your turn (and it comes sooner than you think)to give and give and give to your community and its citizen's...and its history? Or, as I was once told by a healthy youngster, "Mister, can you spare a dime?" I said, "No, but do you have 10 minutes of time to spare so I can teach you how to get rolls of dimes a day just for going to school and stop being the fool?" Anyway, I am glad I get my bits of time with the Strelz, in agreement or disagreement. They are worth what I live for: Friendship, Freedom, Citizenship, Patriotism, Family, Love,Scholarship, and Community.
Have a Happy...some of you sure need it.