If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the West Loop, chances are you’ve spent some quality time with KILT-AM. It’s better known as 610 Houston sports radio, a station that has basically become the soundtrack for every frustrated Texans fan and optimistic Astros supporter since the dawn of the sports-talk era in the Bayou City. It’s a weird relationship we have with sports radio. We love to hate it. We hate that we love it. But when a trade rumor drops or a quarterback throws three picks in a quarter, 610 is usually the first place people go to vent.
The station has seen it all. From the lean years of the post-Oilers era to the dizzying highs of the Astros’ World Series runs, the signal at 610 AM has been a constant. It’s the flagship home of the Houston Texans, which is a massive deal in a football-obsessed town. But being the "home of the Texans" is a double-edged sword. It gives them incredible access, sure. But it also invites the "homer" labels from listeners who want the hosts to be more critical when the team is struggling.
The Audacy Era and the Fight for the Airwaves
The station is currently owned by Audacy, formerly known as Entercom. Honestly, the landscape of terrestrial radio is kind of a mess right now with all the budget cuts and corporate restructuring you see across the country. Yet, 610 Houston sports radio manages to keep its head above water. Why? Because local sports is one of the few things people still want to hear in real-time. You don't want to hear a podcast about a blown call three days later; you want to scream about it now.
Competition in Houston is fierce. You’ve got SportsTalk 790 (the home of the Astros and Rockets) and ESPN 97.5 (the "indie" underdog that leans into more personality-driven talk). 610 sits in the middle as the legacy powerhouse. They’ve got the 50,000-watt signal (during the day, anyway) that reaches way out into the suburbs, from The Woodlands down to Galveston. If you’re a contractor in a truck or a commuter in a sedan, that signal strength matters.
Who is Actually Behind the Mic?
The lineup has shifted a lot over the last decade. Gone are the days of the legendary (and often controversial) Josh Innes or the long-standing duo of Mike Meltser and Seth Payne. Well, actually, Seth Payne is still there, and he’s arguably the anchor of the whole station now.
Payne, a former Texans defensive lineman, brings that rare mix of "I played the game" and "I’m actually a nerd about this." He’s paired with Sean Pendergast in the mornings. Pendergast is a different beast entirely—a guy who started as a caller and worked his way up through sheer talent and a somewhat cynical, hilarious worldview. Their show, Payne & Pendergast, is the heavy hitter. They have to balance the official team partnership with the reality that the Texans have been, well, let's say "eventful" over the last few years.
Then you have the midday and afternoon slots. This is where things get interesting. Names like Clint Stoerner—another former QB—bring the X's and O's, while hosts like Ron Hughley add a younger, more energetic vibe to the transition periods. It’s a revolving door sometimes, but the core philosophy remains: talk about the Texans until your voice goes hoarse.
Why 610 Houston Sports Radio Matters to the Texans
Being the flagship station means 610 gets the exclusive interviews. If you want to hear from the GM or the head coach on a Monday morning after a win (or a soul-crushing loss), you have to tune in. This creates a weird dynamic.
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The "State of the Texans" segments are appointment listening. But fans are smart. They know when a host is pulling punches because the team pays the bills. It’s a tightrope walk. When Bill O’Brien was running things into the ground, the hosts at 610 had to find a way to reflect the fans' absolute rage without getting their credentials pulled. Most of them handled it pretty well, actually. They aren't just mouthpieces; they are Houstonians who have to live in this city too.
The Digital Shift: It’s Not Just AM Anymore
Nobody is just "an AM station" in 2026. If you look at how people consume 610 Houston sports radio, a huge chunk of it is through the Audacy app or Twitch.
- Live Streams: They broadcast their shows live on video platforms now. You can see the bags under their eyes at 6:00 AM.
- Podcasting: Every segment is chopped up and posted within minutes.
- Social Media: The hosts are constantly arguing with people on X (formerly Twitter) or posting clips to Instagram.
This digital presence is what keeps them relevant to people under the age of 40. My younger brother doesn't even know how to tune an AM dial, but he’ll listen to a 10-minute clip of Seth Payne breaking down a draft pick on his phone.
The "Homer" Label and the Battle for Credibility
One of the biggest criticisms of 610 Houston sports radio is the perceived bias. Because they are the "Home of the Texans," there is an assumption that they can't be objective.
Is it true?
Sorta. You probably won't hear a host call for the owner to sell the team in the most vitriolic way possible, but they certainly don't ignore the problems. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were a dark time for the franchise, and the airwaves reflected that. The tension between being a business partner and a news outlet is always there.
Contrast this with SportsTalk 790. Because 790 carries the Astros, they are the ones who have to navigate the fallout of things like the sign-stealing scandal. Each station has its "sacred cow" team, and as a listener, you just have to know that going in. It’s part of the game.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Sports Talk
People think sports radio is just guys screaming at each other. Sometimes it is. But the best parts of 610 are when they go off-script. It’s the "lifestyle" talk—the arguments about where to get the best BBQ in Pearland or the rants about Houston traffic—that builds the connection. You feel like you know these guys.
When a host talks about their kids or a movie they hated, it breaks the monotony of "should we trade for a left tackle?" This "parasocial relationship" (to use a fancy term) is why radio survives while print media struggles. You can’t have a beer with a newspaper article, but you feel like you could have a beer with Sean Pendergast.
The Technical Reality of 610 AM
Let’s get technical for a second. KILT-AM operates on a frequency that is notoriously finicky. If you’re driving under a bridge or near certain power lines, the static is real. This is why the push to FM (they often simulcast or use HD radio subchannels) and digital streaming has been a lifesaver.
In the evenings, the signal has to be "directional" to avoid interfering with other stations on the same frequency in different states. This means if you live in the wrong part of the suburbs, the station might fade out just as the sun goes down. It's a relic of old FCC rules that still dictates how we hear our sports news today.
Actionable Ways to Get the Most Out of Houston Sports Radio
If you're new to the city or just getting back into the local sports scene, here is how you should actually engage with the station to get the best experience.
1. Don't Just Listen to the Airwaves
Download the Audacy app. The audio quality is ten times better than the AM signal, and you can "rewind" live radio if you missed a segment. It’s basically DVR for your ears.
2. Follow the Producers on Social Media
Often, the producers (the people behind the glass) are funnier and more "plugged in" than the actual hosts. They see the texts coming in from the fans and often have a more unfiltered take on what's happening in the studio.
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3. Use the "Texans Radio" App During Games
If you’re at NRG Stadium, the "live" radio is actually delayed by several seconds due to digital processing. 610 and the Texans usually offer a "no-delay" broadcast inside the stadium via a specific app or frequency so you can hear the play-by-play in real-time while watching the action.
4. Check the "Draft Room" Specials
During the NFL Draft, 610 usually goes all out. They have insiders, former players, and immediate reactions that beat the national TV broadcast because they only care about how it affects Houston. They don't care about what the Giants or Cowboys are doing unless it impacts the Texans.
5. Interact, but Don't Be "That Guy"
The text line is a great way to get your opinion heard without having to wait on hold for 20 minutes. Keep it short. If you send a manifesto, the producer will delete it. If you send a sharp, one-sentence burn, it might get read on air.
The Future of the Signal
Is 610 Houston sports radio going anywhere? Doubtful. Even as the way we consume "content" changes, the need for a local town square doesn't. Houston is a massive, sprawling, often disconnected city. Sports is one of the few things that actually ties the guy in the Sugar Land mansion to the guy in the Third Ward apartment.
As long as the Texans are playing on Sundays, there will be a need for a place to talk about them on Monday. Whether that’s through an old-school radio dial or a chip in our brains, the voices of KILT will probably be the ones doing the talking. The station has survived the rise of the internet, the fall of the Oilers, and the chaos of the 2020s. It’s a survivor.
If you want the pulse of Houston sports, you tune to 610. Just be prepared for some spicy takes and a lot of talk about offensive line depth. It's not always pretty, but it's ours.
Next Steps for Listeners:
To stay ahead of the curve, set a notification for the Payne & Pendergast podcast feed. This ensures you get the "big" interviews immediately after they air, without having to sit through the commercial breaks. Also, if you’re a die-hard fan, look for their "Live at training camp" broadcasts in August; it’s the best way to get a feel for the team's chemistry before the season actually starts.