According to local reports, KGBC-AM Galveston TX, on the southern extremity of the Houston market, has abandoned its format and struck a programming LMA with a Chinese broadcasting company.
The station, owned by SIGA Broadcasting, is a Class B on 1540 kHz. It had been doing Classics and Talk programming, but switched over to new material on the first of the year. Although SIGA is not disclosing the identity of the programmer until contracts are finalized, the Galveston Daily News reports that a company calling itself China Radio International is taking credit for the new programming.
According to GDN, SIGA claimed a large audience but a lack of advertisers as the reason for switching from an ad sales business model to a leased time business model.
China Radio International is said to be an arm of the Chinese government aimed at promoting international goodwill. It is said to have 30 international bureaus and broadcasts in 53 different languages.
