Fred Faour has died

Houston sports media journalist Fred Faour, 59, died last week.  

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports that Faour's brother said his health had been failing, but the sports media figure "didn’t want people to know."

Faour was recently known as a longtime sports radio host on ESPN 97.5 Houston KFNC and, before that, as a Chronicle sports editor. 

There is a gofundme to pay for his funeral expenses.

As co-workers, colleagues, and friends, we @espn975 are saddened to learn of the passing of Fred Faour. He was a host on the station for over a decade and helped create great radio memories for so many. He’ll be missed! RIP Falcon. pic.twitter.com/bfvqNHRO9u

— ESPN 97.5 Houston (@espn975) March 15, 2024

Fred Faour was the Chronicle SE for years. Then he moved into teaching and sports talk radio on 97.5 FM, Houston's affiliate, with A.J. Hoffman. They were a kick-ass afternoon drive duo. Fred also was the editor at @sportsmaphou

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 15, 2024

Damn. Damn. Damn. … I’m in tears. He meant so much to me, taught me so much, literally guided my career. So many amazing times together, so many heartfelt moments … I am who I am because of who he was. Seriously. A special brotherly love that will never die. … I’m crushed. https://t.co/niiObuRAda

— Jerome Solomon (@JeromeSolomon) March 14, 2024

ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 Houston 2021 schedule changes

ESPN 97.5 KFNC and 92.5 announced sports talk show host schedule changes starting Monday, August 16th, 2021.

The new lineup includes:

7a-10a - The Bench with John Granato & Lance Zierlein

10a-12p - The Charlie Pallilo Show

12p-3p - The Killer B's with Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham

3p-7p - The Wheelhouse with Jake Asman, Cody Stoots & Brad Kellner

Weekday evenings - Patrick Creighton's Late Hits and weekly show Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis

"We're thrilled about the new local lineup", KFNC General Manager Todd Farquharson said in a release. "We've added some new voices to a lineup of proven all-stars. It's going to be great sports talk with a lot of fun."

While "The Blitz with Fred Faour and Friends" is no longer on the new 2021 ESPN 97.5 afternoon slot schedule, Faour still remains with as the KFNC sports betting analyst. 

"Fred has a deep connection with our listeners, and will continue to be an important part of our on-air team," added CEO David Gow.  "He will also lead the development of a new online offering that we'll be launching soon."

Calvin Murphy leaves 97.5 KFNC show and other sports radio news

David Barron tells us that Calvin Murphy is out of his show at 97.5 KFNC, but will remain at the station:

Murphy, who hosted the show with KFNC program director Dave Tepper and Julie Takahashi, joined KFNC in July 2007. KFNC rarely polled above 1 percent of the listening audience for men 25-54 in afternoon drive and was generally in fourth place among the four Houston sports stations.
With Murphy’s departure, Fred Faour and Matt Dean now will host from 1 to 4 p.m. Carl Dukes will host solo from 4 to 5 p.m. and with Tepper and Takahashi from 5 to 7 p.m. READ MORE

Speaking of sports radio, Barron also notes that we're seeing changes in the morning ratings of Houston's four sports talkers.

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Josh Innes returns to Houston radio Monday

Josh Innes is returning to Houston for what he says is a one time fill-in appearance on ESPN 97.5 KFNC.

"This will be my first time hosting a radio show in 8 months," Innes tweeted. "The longest such stretch of being off the air I've had in 17 years. That's something."

Innes will be filling in during the Blitz (4 to 7pm) with Lance Zierlein while hosts AJ Hoffman and Fred Faour are in London with the Texans.

Way back in March, while I was in London, SportsTalk 790 KBME let go Iness, his wife Jilly and producer Jim Mudd. “The Sean Salisbury Show” was named as the replacement.

Innes had been in mornings on 790 since June of 2017. He was hired by KBME to return to Houston radio from Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia in October 2016 where he replaced Charlie Pallilo in the afternoons. Before Philly, Innes was an afternoon show host with Rich Lord on SportsRadio 610 KILT.

So you might be wondering...is this substitute gig an audition? We will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, Innes and Jilly with calls by Mudd can still be heard on the Josh Innes Show podcast. There are Houston and Philadelphia episodes every weekday.

Reminder, I'll be joining @LanceZierlein Monday from 4-7PM on @espn975..filling in for @AJIsTheReal and @FredFaour

— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) November 1, 2019

SportsMap 94.1 FM to be new home for 1560 AM

Gow Media announces launch of SportsMap 94.1 FM

September 13, 2017 (Houston, TX) – Gow Media, a leading multi-platform media company, announced today it will launch a new sports radio station, SportsMap 94.1 FM, on October 1st. The new station will be Gow’s second signal on the FM band, as the company also runs ESPN 97.5 FM. As part of this launch, Gow will lease 1560 AM to another party, and move the lineup of 1560 AM to SportsMap 94.1 FM.

“We are excited to add a second sports station to the FM band,” said David Gow, CEO of Gow Media. “Listenership has been migrating to the FM dial, and we have now secured a strong strategic position with both ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM.”

The lineup on SportsMap 94.1 FM will feature exceptional local talent, including the company’s most recent addition, Charlie Pallilo, who joined Gow Media last month and hosts a show from 11 am-1 pm each weekday. Other Houston-based hosts on the station include Nate Griffin, Patrick Creighton, Barry Warner, Sean Salisbury, Brian Barrett and Robin Carlin. SportsMap 94.1 FM will also air leading national shows from Gow’s own national sports radio network, SB Nation Radio.

Later this month Gow will be announcing details of a new sports site, SportsMap.com, which shares the name of the new station. “We have more sports content creators in our building than anyone in the city, and we have a strong digital platform with CultureMap.com — launching SportsMap.com is a great next step for us,” said Gow.

Gow has tapped Fred Faour, an afternoon drive show host on ESPN 97.5 and former Houston Chronicle Sports Editor, to serve as Editor in Chief of Sportsmap.com.

Gow is bullish about the site’s prospects: “The combined promotional power of all our platforms will propel SportsMap.com to become the leading sports site in Houston.”

The imminent additions of SportsMap 94.1 FM and SportsMap.com are the latest in a series of significant moves by Gow Media in 2017, including the acquisition of CultureMap.com; the launch of a new national TV show, The Sean Salisbury Show on BeInSports TV Network; the hiring of Ken Hoffman as a columnist for CultureMap.com and contributor on sports radio; a new content-sharing and cross-promotion partnership with ABC13 KTRK-TV in Houston; and the recent hire of Charlie Pallilo for Gow Media’s sports platforms.

“With a focus on sports and lifestyle content, we are building the leading multi-platform media company in Texas,” said Gow.

About Gow Media
Gow Media, LLC is a multi-platform media company founded in 2007 and based in Houston. The company runs two sports stations in Houston: ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM, which will operate with a base station of KFNC-HD2 and be heard on 94.1 FM (K231CN). The company also owns one of the country’s largest sports radio networks, SB Nation Radio, which it runs in partnership with SBNation.com. SB Nation Radio provides 24/7 sports shows and sports updates to over 500 affiliate radio stations across the country, Sirius Satellite Radio, and mobile and digital partners. In February, Gow Media acquired CultureMap.com, the leading online destination for lifestyle content in Texas. Gow Media, LLC is backed by a private, Houston-based investment group with significant experience in media ownership. The investor group includes Steve Webster, co-manager and co-CEO of Avista Capital; Patrick Dugan, vice president and general counsel of Nortex Corporation; and David Gow, chairman and CEO of Gow Media, LLC.


(This post taken from a release sent to me by Gow Media)

Texas TV news and radio job moves March 2024

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

- TAB Salutes 2024 News Award Winners and Finalists
- The complete list of winners of the 2024 Gracie Awards
- Best TV News Bloopers March 2024

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

WFAA and Greenspace Dallas to build nature trail in celebration of WFAA’s 75th anniversary.

Producer Kaitlin N. Griffin leaves NBC 5 KXAS.

Seth Bodine joins DBJ to cover Greater Fort Worth.

Producer Katherine Griffith leaves KBTX 3 Bryan-College Station for FOX 4 KDFW.

Cumulus Media’s New Country 96.3 and 99.5 The Wolf Raise $260,000 for Cook Children’s Medical Center at Third Annual Texas Independence Jam at Billy Bob’s Texas.

- Dale Hansen talks 3 biggest stories of WFAA career and why he retired
- WFAA 8 DFW at Five (broadcast 3/5/1980)
- Dia Wall arrives at WFAA
- From DFW to Austin, TV love is in the air
- Nick Starling leaves CBS News Texas
- Haddie Djemal joins Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media
- Shannon Murray gives birth
- Mike Doocy celebrates 30 years at FOX 4 KDFW
- Keith Russell of CBS News Texas apparently no longer with DFW station

HOUSTON

Miya Shay named one of Houston's 50 Most Influential Women of 2023 by Houston Woman Magazine.

Former KPRC 2 anchor Larry Audas to retire from TV.

Former KHOU 11 reporter Johnathan Walton profiled in New York Times.

Manny García, Angel Rodríguez announced as new top editors at Houston Landing.

Houston Landing’s CEO voluntarily recognizes newsroom union, signs agreement with NewsGuild

Advertising account executive Sandy Colwell celebrates 30 years with abc13 KTRK.

KPRC 2 executive producer Debbie Strauss leaves TV to join the Infrastructure Division at Office of Commissioner Lesley Briones, Precinct 4.

Rowdy Yates and his “Rowdy Ride Home” can now be heard weekday afternoons in Fresno, California on One Putt Broadcasting’s KWDO “105.5 The Legend.”  -and through the miracle of technology his “Ridin’ with Rowdy” show is now heard weekday mornings on Delta Radio Network’s  WDTL “Delta Country 105.7” in Indianola, Mississippi.

Houston TV veteran Kim Gagne shares message for Women’s History Month.

- Mike McGuff on KPRC 2's "Houston Life" talking "Runaway Radio"
- Dominique Sachse is going on tour
- Modern Storyteller's podcast
- Caroline and Rashi show
- Houston Celebrity Dairy Goat Milking Contest 2024
- Rowdy Yates launches podcast talking to Houston radio greats
- Stevens and Pruett as Hudson and Harrigan on 610 KILT in 1976
- Natalie Hee leaves FOX 26
- FOX 13 Utah reviews my "Runaway Radio" 101 KLOL doc
- Marcus Sullivan joins KTSU 90.9 and The Vibe
- Houston Matters features my "Runaway Radio" 101 KLOL doc
- Sofia Ojeda almost falls victim to scam
- Dayna Steele interviews Mike McGuff about "Runaway Radio"
- Dominique Sachse talks Dr Phil news launch
- Caroline Brown is married
- Mike McGuff Talks About His Documentary 'Runaway Radio' with FanboyNation
- Robert Springer to leave KHOU 11 GM role
- Judy Lakin named Audacy Houston General Sales Manager
- KPRC 2's Sofia Ojeda and Brittany Taylor go head to head in a camel race
- abc13 KTRK to debut "First at 4AM"
- Ralph Cooper celebrates 55 years on-air in Houston
- Former Houston TV journalists thriving in post-media life
- Anita Martini, the first female TV sports anchor in the US
- Lauren Freeman talks Christian parenting with Keith and Lisa Garvin
- Tim Heller is training TV meteorologists as far as Africa

SAN ANTONIO

KSAT 6 PM News Sees Ratings Uptick Due To Focus On San Antonio Neighborhoods.

KSAT’s Jessie Degollado honored by Catholic Television of San Antonio.

KSAT reporter Jessie Degollado wins 2023 Aguila Lifetime Achievement Award.

Old News 4 WOAI building caught fire.

- Ashley Paredez joins FOXSA 29 Puro San Antonio
- Ashley Sutton gives birth

AUSTIN

After over forty years of branding as “KASE 101, " the iHeartMedia Country station is rebranding as “KASE 100.7."

Syndicated “The Woody Show” returned on “101X” KROX.

David Yeomans leaves KXAN for new job.

Erin Hogan joins ESPN 102.7's "Game Time" with Nick Hadja.

Jasper Scherer, who covered state government and politics for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News since 2021, joined The Texas Tribune as a politics reporter.

- KVUE Austin dedicates newsroom in honor of Carole Kneeland

AROUND TEXAS

Longtime KGNS-TV chief meteorologist Richard ‘Heatwave’ Berler recognized and celebrated with a new meteorological station dedicated Tuesday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU).

KGBT tower in La Feria decommissioned safely.

One Longtime Broadcaster Is Trying To Save A Small Texas AM.

Ruben Juarez renews his agreement as the sports director with KVEO in Rio Grande Valley.

Executive producer Trenton Hooker leaves KXXV 25 Waco-Temple-Killeen.

Carly Smith signed a second contract with KIII Corpus Christi to remain the weekday morning meteorologist.

- KFOX14 and CBS4 El Paso get new reporters
- Lauren Linville leaves KFDX 3 Wichita Falls
- Zack Owen exits WACO 100 mornings
- Carney Porter promoted to KFDX Wichita Falls weeknight co-anchor
- Hannah Burbank joins WIS 10 Columbia, South Carolina
- Colin Deaver leaves KTSM 9 El Paso

REMEMBERING

Arch Yancey, a Country Radio Hall of Famer, has died at 88.

Joyce Slocum, CEO of Texas Public Radio, dies at 66.

Lori Hawkins, veteran Statesman business reporter, died Thursday night. She was 57.

- Fred Faour has died

Texas TV news and radio job moves August 2024

 

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

- Best TV News Bloopers August 2024

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Fort Worth Star-Telegram to scale back print publication to 3 days a week.

Media winners in The Best of Big D from D Magazine.

Building a Brand:  NBC 5 KXAS Sportscaster Newy Scruggs mixes charisma with business acumen in a thriving on-camera career.

FOX 4 KDFW Photojournalist Kevin Bell celebrates 30 years with the station.

Andrew M. Greenstein joins the Louisiana Radio Network after 1080 KRLD-AM.

94.9 KLTY named Dave Moore as afternoon DJ. 

Irving Mejia-Hilario leaves the Dallas Morning News as breaking news business reporter for the Sports Business Journal.

820 WBAP Host Casey Bartholomew signs extension with the station.

Steve Beuerlein Named New Dallas Cowboys National Radio Analyst By Compass Media Networks.

Spectrum News DFW Mike Pool assignment editor retires.

Report says CBS owned stations like KTXA 21 could be sold with sale of owner Paramount Global.

Shannon Worley joins the Dallas Morning News as an audience journalist.

Jessica Waffles Joins KXT 91.7, Dallas For Local Music Show.

- Michelle Montaine joins WFAA DFW
- FOX 4 KDFW to get new Las Colinas home
- Brett Shipp exits Spectrum News 1 Texas
- "The Will Cain Show” joins Newsradio 1080 KRLD DFW
- Ryann Jones joins NBC 5 KXAS DFW
- Layoffs at Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media
- Brittany Breeding joins CW33 DFW
- FOX 4 "Good Day" anchors surprised by fire alarm on live TV

HOUSTON

The Astros honored sports anchor Matt Musil for his 43 years at KHOU 11.

Anchor Rashi Vats celebrates 11 years with FOX 26 KRIV.

Reporter Courtney Fischer celebrates nine years with abc13 KTRK.

93Q Houston’s Riggs Is All In With Country Radio.

Carol Motsinger named Director of Digital Storytelling at the Houston Chronicle.

CultureMap founder David Gow to lead Houston policy nonprofit.

''The Boss & The Gloss'' Returns to ESPN 95.7.

Hope Media Group has announced a series of executive management promotions.

Pastor Joel Osteen launches new FAST Network, available on The Roku Channel.

Sam Warren joins the Houston Chronicle as a Pro Sports Trending Reporter.

Miranda Dunlap will now cover higher education with a focus on community colleges for the Houston Landing.

Brian Shannon las left KHOU 11 for abc13 as an assignment editor. 

- Melanie Lawson is out with foot issues
- Mo Haider joins abc13 Houston
- Carrigan Chauvin leaves CW39 Houston
- Usher DMs Houston TV meteorologist
- 101 KLOL Houston sign on day
- Reginald Adetula named SportsRadio 610 'In the Loop' co-host
- "Chattin’ with Chelsea!" to debut on FOX 26 KRIV
- “Sounds Like Texas With Zakk United” to air on 100.3 The Bull Houston
- Rosie Nguyen is engaged
- 102.1 KLYX Houston in 1974
- Jarrett Hale named VP and Regional GSM for FOX 26 Houston and FOX 7 Austin
- Dominique Sachse is married to Vic Mignogna
- Idolina Peralez leaves CW39 Houston
- Amanda Henderson joins KHOU 11
- Crystal Ayala and Ingrid Barrera to Anchor Telemundo Houston evenings
- Adam Krueger to leave CW39 Houston for Los Angeles
- Adam Winkler back talking Texas sports
- Jessie Watt recovering from surgery
- Luis Gerardo Nunez leaves Telemundo Houston for New York
- KHOU 11 Houston is experimenting
- Gina Gaston gets new look, and viewers respond

SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio Spurs commentator Bill Land will retire ahead of the 2024-2025 season after more than 15 years on the mic.

KSAT anchor Courtney Friedman celebrates 10 years with the station. 

Anchor Audrey Castoreno celebrates nine years with KENS 5.

KSAT 12 reporter Daniela Ibarra joins the KSAT Investigates team.

Rebecca L. Salinas named Digital Executive Producer at KSAT.

KSAT back on air after fiber connection issue; viewers may need to rescan.

- Sarah Spivey is pregnant

AUSTIN

Anchor Sally Hernandez celebrates 24 years at KXAN.

Meteorologist Avery Tomasco celebrates seven years with CBS Austin KEYE.

Steve Sherrill joins KVUE as local sales manager.

Sean Hemmersmeier hired at Austin Business Journal to cover economic development.

“Gossip Greg” Hill leaves 96.7 KISS KHFI nights.

The Rich Eisen Show Added to Daily Lineup at 102.7 ESPN Austin.

Sandra Santos joins the Texas Tribune as night editor. 

Waterloo Media is making multiple programming changes in Austin.

- Tommy House joins KXAN Austin
- Monica Madden joins ABC7 News - KGO
- KVUE News at Four launches September 2024
- Ford Sanders leaves KVUE Austin
- Leslie London joins FOX 7 Austin
- KVUE Austin employee adopts child featured in station segment
- Jenna King joins FOX 7 Austin
- Katie Pratt joins FOX 7 Austin

AROUND TEXAS

KYTX CBS19 Tyler Evening Anchor Marangeli Lopez has been named news director.

Anchor Stephanie Valle celebrates 23 years since KVIA El Paso.

Will Duerksen joins KMID Big 2 KMID as MMJ.

Chris Thomasson celebrates 15 years at KIII 3 sports Corpus Christi.

Vince Erickson returns to TV with the KWKT FOX 44 Waco-Temple-Killeen Sports Team as Weekend Sports Anchor starting August 31 for a 10-week stint.

The Texas Association of Broadcasters has named KFDX, Texoma’s Fox and Texoma’s Homepage the 2024 Station of the Year.

The Texas Association of Broadcasters has named JAM Broadcasting “Station of the Year.”

Country 100.3 KOMX and KGRO, Pampa sold.

Imani Jackson joins KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock as multimedia journalist.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced that KFDX-D3 Wichita Falls will become a CW Network affiliate.  

KDHN Dimmitt radio station has served Castro County for over 6 decades.

Cowboy Broadcasting Network has agreed to acquire Country 98.5 KRXT Rockdale.

Julieanna Jackson joins KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen as a reporter.

- John Purvis and others leave CBS4 El Paso
- Mark Scirto retires from KLTV 7 East Texas
- 2024 Texas NAB Marconi Radio Award Finalists Announced
- Javier Guerra joins KRGV 5
- Stevie Stephenson joins KBTX BCS
- KTSM 9 El Paso knocked off air, police investigating
- Tyler Shaw promoted to KBTX sports director
- Texas Radio Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees
- Emily Faith joins KFDX 3 Wichita Falls
- Nicole Shearin joins 10TV WBNS Columbus, Ohio
- Taylor Locke joins WDBJ7 Roanoke, VA
- 2024 Texas National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners
- Leah Rodriguez joins KLBK Lubbock
- Karina Garcia joins WAVY 10 Norfolk
- Bob Bartlett celebrates 45 years at KTAB News
- Don Brubaker celebrates 40 years with KAVU Victoria
- 2024 Lone Star Regional Sports EMMY winners
- Chris Talley joins ABC Big 2 Midland-Odessa
- Shawna Currie returns to 25 News Now Victoria

REMEMBERING

For the Houston Texans' home opener against the Giants, the team reserved three seats for Fred Faour, Ken Hoffman, and Mark Lane, each of whom died this year. 

Remembering longtime ABC-7 KVIA El Paso team member Fran McNaboe.