Will WFME get an HD transmitter?

[Nick]

Being one of the few HD radio owners, I wonder if 94.7 will go HD. Considering WEBE 108 used to have HD in 2010 and didn't have it after 2011, and the other Cumulus stations not having HD, I doubt 94.7 goes HD. If it does, the HD side bands will interfere with the main in the urban canyon of NYC. Cumulus seems to know the drawbacks of HD. 94.5 WPST is currently owned by Goldman Sachs, and they will eventually sell it. If Cumulus buys 94.5 in the future, they won't want to cannibalize its signal in most of central NJ. I want to continue to be able to hear 94.5 PST in Manhattan and 94.9 WJJF in NJ.

[luperm]

I hope they go HD. I'd rather have HD and subchannels than be able to hear PST or WJJF in NYC.

[pjc1961]

Cumulus has used HD on their FMs - notably in Atlanta (+ other markets) they've been known to put HD2 + HD3 signals on analog translators. Of course that won't happen in NYC.

Other than the local stations mentioned, WFAS-FM is in HD (most of the time) and WPLJ (inherited from Citadel) is in HD (HD2 is Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel; HD3 is a delayed simulcast of WABC).

WDVY Mount Kisco is not in HD.

[Marckd]

I say its about a 50 % chance 94.7 will go HD. If they do they could well put Family Radio on HD-2 maybe.

[ai4i]

If they do they could well put Family Radio on HD-2 maybe.

Why

[secondchoice]

I doubt that is at the top of the "to do list". 

[badjef]

If they do they could well put Family Radio on HD-2 maybe.

Why

They may do that as part of those convoluted, krazie FCC provisions for translators that say you can retransmit an hd-x signal to a translator.

It may further explain the purchase price and more details of the deal.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

[WNTIRadio]

That would work if there were any translators in the market for them to use.

Cumulus gave them 106.3 in Westchester in the deal.  They have a station to feed translators with.

Cumulus is not going to give up an HD channel to the nutjobs if they put HD on 94.7. 

[luperm]

Can't a non-comm translator owner like Family Radio just feed their translators directly via satellite or other means?  That's why many of their translators repeat KEAR.  Running Family Radio on a HD2 seems unnecessary, and Cumulus probably would not want that baggage, unless Family Radio was paying rent.  In any case, it sounds like WDVY/Mount Kisco will be Family Radio's new base of operations in the NY area for the time being.

As for the purchase price, it was what it was due to the limited signal.
If Cumulus wants to put the considerable time and cost into upgrading 94.7 (if it's even possible), they will pay $8-$10 million more to Family Radio.  When you add it all up, it looks like a pretty reasonable price when you look at the WQXR/WCAA and WRXP deals as comps.

[WNTIRadio]

One can only feed a translator directly if there are A) a noncomm entity and B) the translators in question are below 92MHz.

If the translator is 92MHz and above, it has to be fed from an off air source.  The difference is that a noncomm station can own them outside of their protected contour.  They can daisy chain them if need be (been there, doing that).  But still can't plop a satellite receiver in and go.  Noncomms can feed translators above 92MHz, but commercial stations can't do it the other way around.

A commercial station can't own a translator outside of their protected contour.  A 3rd party can rebroadcast them, however, as long as money does not change hands.  The translator owner can sell 1 :30 per hour to "fund" the operations of the translator.