Radio, in general, has been doing an outstanding job all around during what is a horrible situation in Texas. Specifically, iHeartMedia’s News Radio KTRH is one of those stations you simply cannot turn off if you want to know exactly what’s going on in that area and how the local residents are feeling.
From interviews with local officials, to instructions on what listeners should and should not do, to call-ins from stranded residents, the calming voices of the entire KTRH team have been outstanding. Extreme weather and the aftermath of those situations is when radio really gets a chance to shine and KTRH sounds like it was ready in every way to deliver what the listeners needed. (LISTEN TO KTRH HERE)
Here’s more on just how much the entire company has been relying on this outstanding all-news station and what else the company has been doing to keep local residents informed.
In Corpus Christi, all iHeart stations were simulcasting KTRH-FM’s wall-to-wall coverage on the storm. K99 Country, Big 93.9, and Tejano 99.9 are broadcasting in English and Spanish to address the needs of both communities. The Red Cross is featured across all iHeartMedia Corpus Christi’s radio station websites for listeners to easily find information and to encourage donations.
Eddie Martiny is the Houston iHeart Markets Group President. “I am so proud of our local staff who have been broadcasting in long form since Fri at 8 a.m. We have jocks from all six stations chipping in. Sellers, managers, and support staff made their way to the office to answer phones and lend support. They now have no way out due to the flooding. At this point I am aware that we have a few employees that have lost vehicles and have water in their homes…that is sure to multiply. We also lost a station vehicle last night due to the fast-rising water, thank goodness our reporter is fine. We currently have five stations on air. The KPRC transmitter took on water and is unfortunately down.”
In Houston, iHeartMedia’s local staff has been broadcasting in long form nonstop since 8 a.m. on Friday, as well as reporting on Facebook Live to provide local listeners with up-to-date information and emergency resources. Even though the region lost a station’s vehicle, multiple employees’ homes are affected, and KPRC-FM’s transmitter is down due to water damage, iHeartMedia continues to broadcast from their five remaining stations (Sunny 99.1, 94.5 The Buzz, 93.7 The Beat, KTRH News Radio 740, and Sports Talk 790 AM) with help from on-air talent, operational staff, sellers, and managers who are on-site to answer phones and direct listeners to the appropriate community resources.
In Austin, precautions have been put into place for 96.7 KISS FM, 102.3 The Beat, KASE 101, KVET 98.1, AM 1300 The Zone, 97.5 Pride Radio, and Tu 103.1. They have joined with iHeartMedia’s San Antonio stations to secure a semi-truck of ice, water, and fuel that will deploy to the Gulf Coast as soon as recovery efforts begin. Supplementary relief efforts are being arranged.
Nationally, all 850+ radio station websites across iHeartMedia’s network will prominently feature a call to action to donate to the American Red Cross. The iHeartRadio brand is running targeted ads on social media platforms in Corpus Christi, Houston, and Austin to direct the community to listen to their local stations for emergency broadcasts and safety information. Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards in San Antonio and Houston are promoting live emergency coverage from News Radio 1200 (WOAI-AM) and News Radio 740 respectively.
Share your station’s coverage of the storm with us. Send all details to [email protected]
I think these guys deserve some recognition as well. There are a LOT of heroes this past weekend.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/27/as-a-houston-tv-station-flooded-this-reporter-kept-broadcasting/?utm_term=.b8e5237bc61f