According to All Access, the station is going to simulcast sister Cox Radio station 107.5 The Eagle KGLK starting this Monday. In fact Wikipedia already lists this has happening on Monday, but in the past tense. The online encyclopedia also erased the KHPT page and re-directed it to KGLK. @serenasays pointed out on Twitter that "The Zone" Facebook page is gone, but I found the station's website and Twitter account still active.
Growing up in Houston, I remember both of the 106.9 and 107.5 frequencies being spotty in certain areas of town. This is why Clear Channel moved The Buzz from 107.5 to 94.5 more than a decade ago. The theory is, now Cox can take the Lake Jackson frequency 107.5 and combine it with the Conroe frequency 106.9 to make The Eagle have a larger, more reliable coverage area. Cox stole Dean and Rog from 93.7 The Arrow KKRW, so they want their morning team to have the best possible signal strength I am sure.
However, I'm not sure how Houston listeners will react to having one station on two frequencies. Heck, many are still recovering from Kidd Kraddick replacing Maria Todd and Brad Booker on Mix 96.5 KHMX!
Cox Radio did not give '106.9 The Zone' very long to succeed. The station only debuted in November 2010. It was always an alternative music format, but the format was tweaked over time. A hot programmer from Miami was even brought in to run the station. The one thing the station did not do is offer a specialty show to a popular Houston McBlogger that covers Houston media (that could have been the saving grace).
So there you have it, Houston loses an alternative station, but gains another classic rock station (sort of). I know a lot of Channel 39 photographers that will be upset. So enjoy 106.9 The Zone all this weekend, because Monday...it's [zapped].
There was actually a post about the change on the 106.9 The Zone Facebook page. I didn't get a screen cap of it, but it mentioned the change and said that the listeners had made me a great few months. It was up for a while and there were about 85 comments on it before the post and then the entire page disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI think Houston is already used to it, 89.3 KSBJ has like 7 other frequencies in surrounding areas. Anyways, I have been a big listener of the 106.9 frequency for the past few years (from when it was called "The Point"), and I have to say it's a pretty sad situation. It comes to show you that radio is a tough war zone without guns and machinery, as for 106.9 The Zone it was like a country without any armed forces. I would say having no radio show was one of the biggest mistake of the station, you know when people driving to work usually like to listen to morning shows, while 106.9 played good music there just wasn't anyone backing it up, so that's probably why this is happening. For me I hope some other station changes it's format to revive whatever The Zone was, hopefully either 103.7 or 101.1.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced Houston is programmed by persons who clearly think they know music but could never get a job in New York or Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteF****** Nuts!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this alternative station with no stupid talk shows in the morning, just music.... I guess I will just not listen to the radio at all.
That totally sucks, finally found a good Alternative station and they yank it?? WTH??? GGGRRRRR guess it's back to mixing my own CD's for music when I drive......
ReplyDelete:( y they take the zone out i use to listen to the zone from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and then again from 5:00 pm to the end of the day
ReplyDeleteOh cr*p!! hi, i'm from Campeche Mexico, and it a real shame that this happened, I mean, it was one of the coolest radio sts I've ever heard...damn...I'm very pissed off...
ReplyDeleteI say we email Caroline.Devine@cox.com[ Programming Operations Manager - Cox Radio Houston], and be like WTF how are you going to take the one good radio station we had since 94.5 went to shit. Then you duplicate a shitty radio station and put it on two frequencies.
ReplyDeleteThis totally sucked this morning. I likes actually heraing songs on the way to work instead of a bunch of "know it all" about nothing people run their mouth like they are experts on everything. I switch through stations and heard maybe 3 entire songs on my 30 minute commute this morning. I am about ready for satelit radio to hear some decent music.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Capitol Grill having lunch today and over heard some people who looked like Account Reps talking about new Promo Kits for the new radio station format it's going to be.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I tuned in today and was like 'WTF, this is different from what they usually play' then the announcer says it's the Eagle. I thought I was on the wrong station, but it said 106.9 on the dial. Now I read this! It's like everytime Houston gets a good station, they change it to Tejano or oldies crap.
ReplyDeletedean and rodg on 2 stations WTF!!! where is my gun im gonna blow my brains out
ReplyDeleteI will not bother listening to the radio anymore! Mix yanked Maria and Todd and replaced it with a morning show BASED OUT OF DALLAS!? That show is not even being done in our own city! Then we lose the 80's station? Ughg forget it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so bummed out! I'm not listening to radio anymore. The Zone was awesome. WTF were they thinking? I am not going back to The Buzz. That's right, I said it.
ReplyDeleteI guess this means 103.7 and 94.5 are partying.
ReplyDeleteI was so disappointed, when on my drive home today, I couldn't find 106.9. Well, I could find it, but it was identifying itself as 107.5. When I switched to 107.5 to see if they just swapped call numbers, it was the same thing that was on the other channel. Now that I know that my radio isn't broken and it isn't April Fools, I'm upset. I loved The Zone and now its gone. What is Houston radio becomming?
ReplyDeleteI was very upset to learn that The Zone no longer exists to the Houston market. I will greatly miss an awesome radio station that actually played good music pretty much all the time, no need to channel surf. A sad day...
ReplyDeleteNow I'm back to listening to pandora or music on my phone in the morning. I used to flip between maria todd and the zone..now both are gone...just a sad sad month for morning radio. Now, where am I suppose to listen to my fav 80 and 90s alternative...ugh
ReplyDeleteThis really sux, I enjoyed that I did not have to listen to all that talk that's on the other stations with 106.9 I guess the almighty dollar wins again, back to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk!!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't qualify either station as "alternative" in any case. More like "endlessly plays a few alternativish songs from a very short list". Time to explore those deep tracks on your ipod, maybe?
ReplyDeleteFrom Beaumont, The Zone was by far the best radio station in Southeast Texas. Great music, never played a song I couldn't listen to best of all, no damn morning talk show. Turn on my radio on the way to work Monday and what do I get? Complete s***. Thought I was on the wrong frequency, but apparently not. Yanking the Zone was a very dumba** move.
ReplyDeleteDamn!! I loved this station so much I stream in from Minnesota!! That really such a bummer!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm an 80's child & The Point was my favorite radio station anywhere in the country. I was annoyed when they changed it to The Zone, not just because the music got worse (does anybody like 311 + Beastie Boys *that* much?) but also because they moved from their own space (80's + 90's) to one with 2 existing competitors (alternative: 94.5 & 103.7). Was The Point really that bad? It was around for years, and The Zone only lasted a few months. Can they bring The Point back???
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed The Zone...too bad
ReplyDeleteSo lame! I googled the Zone to see what was going on with my radio. I was really confused when I got to Huntsville. Great now this is my only option besides country crap.
ReplyDeleteSo lame! I googled the Zone to see what was going on with my radio. I was really confused when I got to Huntsville. Great now this is my only option besides country crap.
ReplyDeleteI listened to Michelle Fisher on 106.9 from 96.5...after Houston radio chain was yanked around by losing Maria Todd in the morning to Kidd Crap out of Dallas...
ReplyDeleteThis is RIDICULOUS! I finally find a radio station worth my time, and its snatched away.... And I was starting to have faith in the radio again. Well, looks like its back to my cd mixes... bleh.
ReplyDeleteNot happy. Why would you duplicate a horrible radio station .6 of a frequency away? Yea.... horrible idea. Thanks for ripping away an awesome radio station.
I liked listenin to The Zone while drivin the company truck to many points of the Houston areas. I like the idea this radio station had no mornin show. That is what got me to listen to it. Sad to hear that the station no longer is on the air. Now I got my 80G classic IPOD loaded with about a month & half worth of music plugged into to listen music again. Ya know, I gotta have my daily fix with music.
ReplyDeleteHeart breaking that Houston keeps ditching choices. What ever is popular goes away.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile 104 is still around and sucky as ever.
I've always hated Houston radio for not having any variety or musical value, then they finally came out with a decent station that played the best of alternative rock, and I guess Houston just couldn't stand being musically legitimate. For those of you complaining about having to go back to CD's, yes, that sucks, but imagine if you didn't have a CD player? Yep. All I had was radio. Hoo-freakin-rah.
ReplyDeleteI'm not suprised- they called themselves "alternative 80s, 90s, and 2000s" but it was clearly mainstream. Once they added that crap Nickelback to the playlist it was over. It seemed to be on an endless cycle of Foo Fighters, RHCPs, Green Day, and U2 with a little mixer thrown in every few songs. I'll never understand how one can call itself alternative and just play the released singles from bands. The biggest problem is that my ipod has better song from the same bands they played over, and over, and over... It also has Primus, which I would categorized as "90s alternative", which is awesome and would have helped (along with other bands) differentiate it from other rock stations.
ReplyDeleteI only listened to 2 radio stations here in Houston and they have both gone to S*** in the past 2 weeks. Might as well have the radio removed from my car because I no longer have need of it. Thank you, oh so much, to the morons that completely ruined Mix 96.5 and 106.9 The Zone.
ReplyDeleteI gave up on commercial radio 4 years ago. I couldn't find one that didn't have stupid stuff/contests/etc. instead of playing real music. I have paid for satellite radio and have not regretted it one bit. I like many kinds of music and satellite gives me the opportunity to listen to all of it. I hardly download music from iTunes anymore. Pandora Radio on my cell phone works in a pinch too.
ReplyDeleteWell they played 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Creed, Blue October, Hinder, Linkin Park, etc. any station that plays that is dead.
ReplyDeleteDead and Roge's egos are now more massive than anyone in the Houston metro area.
ReplyDeleteYou are making me cry, man. Moved here 1 1/2 ago from Minneapolis. First, Houston got rid of Rick Stacy and now The Zone. Houston doesn't know a good station when they hear one. It was the best thing around. I am back to listening to my Ipod.
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculous, although I'm glad I finally found out what was going on. I didn't think Fleetwood Mac would be considered alternative! What a rude awakening Monday morning. 106.9 The Point was the only radio station like that in this area and it gets pulled. Then 106.9 The Zone was also the only radio station to play alternative hits from the 90's and now it's gone. Like we really need another old rock station. Can you say 93.7, 103.7, and 107.5? They are all very similar. This change was a bad idea, plain and simple!
ReplyDeleteI want to post this here since there are alot of readers:
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe all you Helltown haters not liking something from Dallas.
Dallas is where people are WAY more popular and sophisticated! This is why Kraddick is more popular everywhere vs. the Maria person. I used to listen to her and frankly I am glad Kraddick is on the morning.
Kraddick is here to stay and I am VERY, VERY glad!!!
I'm really sad. Now I have no reason to listen to radio, everything else sucked but that station. I could jam for hours listening to it.
ReplyDeletewell thats it...all my friends have gone to XM and I will do the same I am 46 years old and love music, like Dean and Rog, but can not stand the music that 107.5 plays...even took it off of my favorites, try it sometimes but NEVER happy..found 106.9 and have to say I've been very pleased....radio is slowly becoming a dying form and this is suicide
ReplyDeleteThats why i dont listin to radio in houston for. that why xm is better. there was a lot of real good station , like rock 101 klol kiss 985 and kiss again 1033 and cant forget crstal becah texas star of the bay 101.5 but now radio just blows and also why did houston get rid of tejanio 1065 kqqk in the day. so really houston radio is a let donw.
ReplyDeleteWhy in the world do we need the same radio stations next to each other on the dial? I had the car radio set to 94.5, 106.9, and 103.7 Thank goodness for two out of three. I do miss the zone. The music was okay, but I think they needed some personalities. Someone please put some more alternative music on the air, ok? One eagle is enough. I am too old to want to hear that stuff over and over.
ReplyDeleteWhy cant they bring in music like 106.1 Big Dog from Beaumont,,, now that would be great. A good ol heavy metal and rock station. this is the first city that I have ever been two that does not have a good heavy metal station.
ReplyDelete106.9 the point was great,, but the music got old,, now it seems like we have 107.5 & 106.9 and 93.7,,, which basically play all the same type of music.
People who make these crazy decisions,, obvioulsy DO NOT KNOW the houston area listeners,,,,
this sucks!!! I loved the zone. Maybe they will move it to another stage??
ReplyDeleteI always loved 106.9, and then when it turned to alternitive, it became my favorite station. I even quit listening to my ipod and just listened to the radio. I freaking loved that station and unbelievably upset that its gone. I absolutly with a passion HATE 107.5. It needs be go burn in hell and same with the guy who got rid of my station. The radio sucks now.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED 106.9 the Zone!
ReplyDelete1- It didn't have a talk show in the morning!! When I listen, I want music. Most of the morning shows are just annoying. And, if I want a morning show, I can go listen to them on every other station. Give me something new and different!!!!
2- They played good music that didn't get played anywhere else on the dial! I get sooo sick of hearing the same songs over and over again.
3- They played Lost and Found on Sunday mornings, which I loved. I hope I can still hear that somewhere on the Houston dial!
They were absolutely my favorite station. It sucks having The Eagle broadcast on both frequencies, but it's nice to finally know why.
This is the VERY reason I listen to satellite radio now! FM radio sucks!!!
ReplyDeleteI just moved down here from a small town in the midwest, and was raving to everyone about the radio stations here. Within two weeks, my number 1 preset turned to classic rock. Very bummed...
ReplyDeleteOh goody now we can look forward to YET ANOTHER Mexican radio station. Just watch...
ReplyDeleteI hated the new 106.9 anyway. 70's, 80's, and 90's? More like all the crap from the mid 90's that we all hated at the time and are not yet nostalgic for.
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing about this would be if the 740 AM station that is on 9.37 in HD was also being simulcast on 106.9 because you sure as hell can't get AM radio in Conroe.
Not going to miss it. I loved it when it was The Point, and played "the best of the 80s and more". I stopped listening to it because half of what they played wasn't music - it gave me a headache. Now, I just have to find another station to program into my car radio. C'est la vie.
ReplyDeleteso sad..guess the radio in H town is dead to me once again..RIP
ReplyDeleteWell crap I was wondering what happened last weekend. I loved listening to 106.9 while I was at work and liked to get my old school music groove on. Sad once again we lost another great station.
ReplyDeleteThe zone was a great station. I had moved here from the northeast and was happy to find an alternative station i liked. It was my favorite one to listen to on my way home... Now i'm not sure what i will listen to because "the eagle" is crap. I will be replacing the 106.9 pre-set on my radio now.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the Zone is gone..never could stand the alternative garbage..
ReplyDeleteI liked 106.9 the point better anyways! I didn't like how they were always making fun of other radio stations and then the songs that they played were that great either. They kind of sounded like the guys on raido x in Grand Theft Auto San Andras. I wish they would bring 106.9 the point back!
ReplyDeleteI for one am glad the Zone is gone. I liked listening to the Point until it changed to Alternative crap. We need a station that plays 50s,60s,70s,& 80s. I have traveled alot in my time and Houston has the worst radio stations in the country. I beard better collection of stations in Great Britian.
ReplyDeleteJust what we need, antihero station with prejudice people making fun of the President. AM radio is full of that, why do we need It on FM now too? FM is for MUSIC
ReplyDeleteNow is a good time to invest in an HD radio, at
ReplyDeleteleast KTRU is on it.
Back in the day, there was a song called, "Video killed the Radio Star" when MTV actually played nothing but music videos. there's a 21st century version of it called, "the Internet/iTunes is killing terrestrial radio" because format change quicker than pop stars wardrobes. music on FM radio is becoming a dying breed because of talk radio/sports and the Internet. Online you have more choices than terrestrial radio.
ReplyDeleteI was in Hunstville for a few weeks this past March/April and I thought that the Zone was the best radio station EVER. And I'm from the Los Angeles area in California which has a fair amount of radio selection. I just tried to look it up to see if I could find it on iHeartRadio but discovered it is gone. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I prefer the song list on The Eagle (and The Point) to what The Zone played. Despite that, The Zone has been my station of choice all year for one reason: no babbling idiot morning talk show. I don't want to hear the host make prank phone calls, or tell stories about his ex-girlfriend, or repeat somebody else's jokes about politics. Shut up and play some music. Looks like I'm going back to the iPod again.
ReplyDelete