South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 19, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, June 1, 1984 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Gulf Coast Register/South Texas Catholic and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
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VoJ. XIX, No. 48
Serving the 318,750 Catholics in the Diocese off Corpus Christi
June 1,1984
Two new FM radio stations to begin broadcasting
By Rachdlc Parry
SIC 'Stas' writer
South Texans wifi boob have a whole cither medium
to whidb they can turn for educational and community
programs and Christian music, as ccmstr notion begins
on two new educational FM radio stations in the
diocese, with broadcasting to begin next January.
One station, with the designated call letters KLUX,
wifi transmit the majority of its local programming
from a st udio in Robstown. It will be located at 89.5 on
the FM dial and will be known as 1 ‘The Light of the
Coastal Bend" (“lux" meaning “light" in Latin),
Other programming will originate from the diocesan
Office of Telecommunications in Corpus Christi.
Radio station KHOY, 88,1 on the dial, will transmit
from a new studio in Laredo. Its broadcasting day will
be divided between English and Spanish programs,
and will also be received in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico,
which has a population of over one railhon peo; The
call tenors HOY were specifically chosen D c ause
'1 hov means “today" in Spanish.
1 he iwo radio stations are being administered by the
newly formed Diocesan Radio Corporation, of which
Msgr. Robert E. Freeman, director of the diocesan Of-
fice of Communications, is cnatrman. The other
trustees on the three-member board of the non-stock,
non-profit corporation are Msgr. Richard Shirley,
chancellor, and Marty Wind, a diocesan communica-
tions consultant.
Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sister Janie
Barrera, coordinator of the Office of Telecommunica-
tions, is the secretary /treasurer of the corporation.
The applications to operate the stations were both
sent to the Federal Communications Commission May
31, 1983, said Sister Barrera, with detailed program
schedules., and explanations of the functions of the sta-
tions and how tney will meet the varied needs of the
diocese.
“The purpose of the radio stations will be to further
the religious and educational goals of the Corpus
Christi diocese,” said Sister Barrera. “But we don’t
want to limit it to just one group of people. Not only
will we be reaching Catholics, but all people as well.
The Good News message is universal; Jesus is non-
denomin ational. ’ ’
Both of the stations will be designated Class A; Class
C stations have the strongest signal They will have
three kilowatts of power, reaching Flour Bluff,
Portland and Simon in the Corpus Christi area, and a
43-mile radius in the Laredo area.
* £Wv are ^excited about reach.ag such a large popula-
tion in Mexico,” explained the tidecoJiununications
coordinator. “The large Hispanic population will
create unique programming challenges.”
Both the Robstown and Laredo stations will have an
18-hour broadcasting day, beginning at 6 a.m. and
signing off at midnight. The broadcasts will feature a
variety of local and network programs, designed to
meet the individual needs of the two communities.
“An ascertainment study was conducted in each of
the two areas by calling randomly chosen phone
numbers and asking people what they thought the
principal needs of the city were,” said Sister Barrera.
The results of the studies and issue-related programm-
ing proposals were then compiled and sent to the FCC.
In Laredo, the principal needs were determined to
be, in order of importance: to bripg jobs and industry
into the area; to improve the city em'ifcsmnent; to in-
crease recreational activities and facilities; to improve
education, in part with vocational training; to have in-
formation to improve city and county government;
and to address migrant problems.
The trustees of the radio corporation pointed out
that their proposed programs would address those
Msgr. Robert Freeman, direc-
tor of the diocesan Office of
Communications and chair-
man of the Diocesan Radio
Corporation, and Incarnate
Word and Blessed Sacra-
ment Sister Janie Barrera,
coordinator of the Office of
Telecommunications and
secretary/treasurer of the
corporation, look over the
plans for a new radio station
to be built in Robstown.
They are standing in front of
the KZTV tower from which
the corporation is leasing
space for a new radio sta-
tion, KLUX, FM 89.5, which
will begin broadcasting in
January 1985. The diocese is
also leasing space on the
KVTV tower in Laredo, for a
new radio station there,
KHOY, FM 88.1. Corpus
Christi is the only diocese in
the United States to own two
radio properties. (STC photo
by Rachelle Pary)
needs to benefit the community. For example, Break-
ing the Cyck of Poverty would present information
regarding local service and agencies for jobs and
educational and recreational needs; Nos Mejoramos,
another local program would provide the same infor-
mation in Spanish, also addressing migrant problems;
School News Roundup would provide information
about educational opportunities; and Encuentros,
through its interview format, would discuss the pro-
blems and needs of the Laredo area.
Through its ascertainment study of Robstown con-
ducted in the same way as in Laredo, the corporation
concluded that the need* * of that community were to
improve the local educational iy stern; to provide infor-
mation to improve the local political system; to im-
prove family relations, commute ations and values; to
improve housing, drainage, public works and traffic;
to encourage increased involvement in churches; to
improve law enforcement capabilities; to address drag
and alcohol problems; and to provide more youth ac-
tivities.
The radio programming designed to meet those
needs includes Perspectives and Nos Mejoramos, which
would provide information and discussion about com-
munity services; Robstown in Review would review
local events and activities; Robstown School News
would address educational needs «*nd activities; and
&neak Through and Sound and Sense would address,
among other issues, family relations and communica-
tions.
4 The corporation is also in the process of doing con-
tinued marketing research « urveys in both areas,” said
Sister Barrera. “We want to determine when is the
best time for certain types of music programs, when we
should schedule the Spanish and educational programs
and other shows. We want to give people a change
from the stations they’ve been listening to—give them
an option.”
Many different types of music will be played on both
stations, including pop, country and Christian music.
“Wc will also play Catholic liturgical music so people
will hear it and then know it for Sunday Mass, such as
selections hum the song book dory and Proem, ” said
the secretary' of the corporation.
Since Robstown is the city of license for the Corpus
Christi area, more than 30 percent of its local program-
ming wall originate from there.
The diocese bought land on the 1900 block of
Corpus Christi Street in Laredo and is planning con-
struction of a radio and television studio there.
The rest of the programming will originate from the
studio at the diocesan Office of Telecommunications
since the more sophisticated equipment and
capabilities are available there.
The radio corporation received a construction per-
mit for a studio in Laredo Feb. 29, with che FCC re-
quirement that it be completed within one year.
“Right now we’re looking at equipment, and will
soon be hiring an engineer and general manager for
both stations,” said Sister Barrera. “Our personnel
will have to double up in many areas, but there’ll be
separate budgets for each station.”
The two stations will also provide educational oppor-
tunities, since the staff will include the teachers and
students from the local diocesan schools. The students
will be able to participate as program developers, news
directors and announcers for such programs as School
New Roundup in Laredo and Robstown School News.
The stations will also be used as a supplement ‘o the
classroom, through its cultural programming.
The Christian aspect of the stations will also be
highlighted with such programs as Etta *s la Paiohra
de Dios, which highlights the Scriptures; Sintonia con
Dios, which consists of discussions on moral theology ;
Religion and Rock, hosted hr Father Tom Hartman,
which combines music, stories and commentary; and
Masyknoli World, which studies issues in the Third
World.
The stations were made possible because of the sup-
port given communications by Bishop Rene H.
Grachia and his predecessor, retired Bishop ThomasJ.
Drury.
4‘‘Both bishops have been very rappertive,” Sister
Barrera said. “As for the stations, this is the way we
see evangelization now taking place.”
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Bilton, William G. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 19, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, June 1, 1984, newspaper, June 1, 1984; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth840392/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .