"Former WTOP VP of News and Programming Jim Farley began consulting Radio One's all-news Houston station earlier this year. Farley said, "You have to admire Radio One for giving it three years and investing a lot of money into it. They had a terrific PD and staff who gave it their all. I think they were just a Hurricane-away from breaking through. They never did get that really big story that establishes the need for an all-news station. Farley used the 1966 transit strike as an example of what helped 1010 WINS become a powerhouse in New York City. It's never black and white regarding how long you give a news-talk station before deciding to pull the plug. Most news-talk news experts we spoke to yesterday agreed 3-5 years is what they need. However, when you're the person writing the checks, paying the bills and looking at stagnant ratings, it becomes more and more difficult to let things go on for too long.".
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Commenter to above at Radio Ink
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"Please stop making excuses for All News 92.1. They had a poor product out of the box. Whatever they eventually made it into after 3 years, I don't know. I gave it 6 months and that was charity.
It's a sad state of affairs when I can get local news faster on my iphone from the Houston Chronicle or Channel 13 websites than I could from either 92.1 or KTRH.
92.1 was and KTRH is a talk station with newsblocks. Thats' a big distinction from news stations like KNX, WBBM or WINS.
wants to keep my job"
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10/8/14, "Radio One Puts an End to All News92," Radio Ink
"Radio One gave it a try for three years but yesterday it all came to an end. It's all-news station in Houston is now called B921-FM. And with the flip to an Urban format, the staff was let go. Radio One Radio Division President Chris Wegman said, “We take the loss of employees seriously. We are working to ensure all of our impacted employees are transitioned with the dignity and respect they deserve.” Radio One Regional Vice President Doug Abernathy said, “We’re proud of the work we did with News92. We hired established and trusted Houstonian journalists from the radio, print and television news industries. We also invested in community relations, infrastructure, marketing, promotions and sales. Unfortunately after three years of a valiant effort, the difficult decision had to be made.”
An official release from Radio One stated, "Though disappointed by this unfortunate, but necessary decision, Radio One is excited about the future of the new B921 FM that is expected to feature advertising free, 24-7 music from one of Houston’s own mega talents. Radio One remains committed to its mission to be the most trusted source in the African-American community that informs, entertains and inspires audiences. Wegman said, “Our airways remain open and available to the community, political and spiritual leaders that share in our commitment to be a voice to and for the African-American community.”
This message was posted to the station website: "News92, Houston’s first FM all-news radio station aired its last broadcast Wednesday, October 8, 2014. We’d like to thank the News92 staff for their outstanding service, our advertisers and each of you our listeners and web visitors for your support. This difficult decision is a result of sustained poor ratings performance and significant financial losses over the past three years despite the substantial financial and human resources we invested. Unfortunately, the market hasn’t shown a sustainable appetite for news radio, but each of you motivated us daily to produce a high-quality news program. Together, we made history." The station is flipping to an Urban format."
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Comment to above at Radio Ink:
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10/9/14, "Houston has an appetite for an all news station, but they are not going to suffer fools. Pay bucks to hire major market talent with newsradio experience, not retreads from other stations. Sadly, whenever I tuned in to 92.1 other than drive times, the were off their game. News happens at night and on weekends.
anonymous"
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10/8/14, "Atlantic Hurricane Season Among Weakest in Decades," AP, Danica Coto, San Juan, Puerto Rico
"This year's Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be one of the
weakest in decades with only five named storms in the region so far this
year.
That is the fewest named storms since the full Atlantic season of 1983,
when there were four. The 1994 season also had only five named storms
into October, then two hurricanes formed in early November of that year.
Forecasters have projected another two named Atlantic storms for the
rest of this year's season that ends Nov. 30. But there are no signs of
any new ones spinning off Africa's west coast during what is usually the
season's peak period — mid-August to late October.
"The tropical Atlantic is just dead," said Max Mayfield, a former director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
A typical June-November hurricane season has 12 named storms, nine of them hurricanes and three of those major.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the U.S.
hurricane center, in August revised its projection for this year's
season, saying it expected only seven to 12 named storms. It originally
had projected eight to 13 named storms, including three to six
hurricanes.
.
.
Of the five named storms so far this year, four grew into hurricanes,
one of them major. That one, Hurricane Edouard, barreled through open
waters in mid-September, its 115-mph (185-kph) winds generating only
strong waves that delighted surfers in the Caribbean and along the U.S.
East Coast.
"We've been very fortunate so far," said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.
"It was expected to be a less than average season, and so far, that's panning out," Feltgen said, noting the peak period is about to end. "It takes a big slide in November."
An increase in wind shear and dry, sinking air limited storm development this year, said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center.
"That combination really, really shuts the season down," he said.
Hurricanes often begin with remnants of storms in Africa that head west over the Atlantic. But Bell said it hasn't been a very stormy season. The atmosphere has been stable, preventing moisture and heat from the ocean from rising and feeding any storms.
And, with warm water the fuel for hurricanes, the tropical Atlantic is slightly cooler than normal.
Most importantly, the wind between 5,000 and 30,000 feet up is strong and it would essentially prevent heat from rising and forming the core of a hurricane, Bell said.
Officials with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility said no
member countries have requested help this year, with no storm or
excessive rainfall policies being triggered.
Total storm energy this year, which takes into account strength of storms and how long they last, is only 41 percent of normal. It's in stark contrast with the Pacific, where storm energy is 40 percent higher than normal. The eastern Pacific has had 18 named storms this year with eight of them major, tying a record. "Unless you are on the outer banks of North Carolina, this season has been unbelievably quiet," Mayfield said.
But no matter how slow it's been, it takes just one storm to be a disaster, Bell said. "History says now is not the time to become complacent," he said."
———
"AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report."
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