Update 11/2: Although not mentioned anywhere on their site, 92.5 KXXS is continuing to simulcast the new Sports “104.9 The Horn” as that station made its debut along with the new “Big Talker” 98.9 KXBT.
Update 10/31: Updated the info about 1490, 92.5, and 98.9 based on info from The Austin American-Stateman.
Update 10/30: The shakeup of the Austin Radio landscape continues to expand. Border Media has confirmed that all 4 of its stations will flip from Spanish to a variety of English formats on Monday, November 2. Meanwhile Emmis gets involved by making a preemptive strike. Here’s a rundown of all frequencies involved and what has or will happen.
590 KLBJ – Emmis’ News/Talk station has made a preemptive strike by adding an FM simulcast on 99.7. The translator, K259AJ had been simulcasting sister Rhythmic “Hot 93.3” KDHT.
1490 KFON – Border Media’s Spanish Variety Hits “Juan 1490” will be the only Border Media station to keep its current format.
1530 KZNX – Simmons Media’s Sports outfit will move its local programming to 104.9, while 1530 will continue with the national ESPN Radio feed.
92.5 KXXS – The former “Digital 92.5” will continue to simulcast 104.9, this time as All-Sports “104.9 The Horn”.
98.9 KHHL – The former “La Ley 98.9” has swapped calls with sister 104.9 KXBT. RadioInsight.com has discovered 989BigTalker.com registered this week and expect the station to flip to News/Talk on Monday. Sammy Allred, former morning host on Country KVET will be one of the hosts on the new station.
99.7 K259AJ – The FM translator flipped from simulcasting Emmis’ Rhythmic “Hot 93.3” KDHT to News/Talk 590 KLBJ Friday at 3:00pm.
104.9 KXBT – The former “Digital 104.9” simulcast of 92.5 KXXS swapped call letters with sister 98.9 KHHL and will flip to Sports on Monday, November 2. The station will acquire the local programming from “ESPN Austin” 1530 KZNX, but will take on a new name. Our NetGnomes expect that name to be “104.9 The Horn“, a homage to the University of Texas Longhorns.
Original Entry 10/28: Yesterday, Border Media Partners let go the entire on-air staff at Spanish CHR “Digital 92.5/104.9” KXXS/KXBT and Regional Mexican “La Ley 98.9” KHHL Austin, TX leading to speculation of format changes at all three frequencies. Today, the first shoe has dropped as Simmons Media, owner of crosstown “ESPN 1530” KZNX has announced that the local programming of that station will move to 104.9 on Monday, November 2. The NetGnomes expect that the new station will take on the name “104.9 The Horn” in honor of the local University of Texas Longhorns as 1049thehorn.com was registered yesterday. 1530 will continue airing the national ESPN feed.
We’ve also detected 989BigTalker.com registered yesterday as well. Nothing yet for 92.5.
