• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WQBC-AM

rbc said:
I wish someone would buy up WQBC-AM in Vicksburg MS and do something more interesting than what's going on right now.
Click to expand...

Wasn't that the station where programming legend Bill Tanner began his career?
 
I didn't see any STA filed, so perhaps they will be back soon. Has to be tough for a 1kw day, 500w nights AM at 1420 to keep going especially all the trials and tribulations they went through over the years.
 
I checked their online public file and it is missing quite a number of needed documents. I suspect they will have some problems with license renewal unless they have a good explanation.
 
There still isn't a 'silent' STA for this station so after ten days, technically they're in violation. When you think about it, maybe it's time to let another 1kW/500W Class B's just die.
 
Kelly A said:
When you think about it, maybe it's time to let another 1kW/500W Class B's just die.
Click to expand...

One thing that bothers me about losing those kinds of small stations, is you lose a venue for local news coverage. National news won't fill that gap. If someone doesn't report on local government, education, public safety, infrastructure and land use, the community is bound to lose. You also lose a venue for local advertisers, making their marketing choices more limited.
 
National news won't fill that gap. If someone doesn't report on local government, education, public safety, infrastructure and land use, the community is bound to lose.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing a station which has been silent frequently wasn't doing this kind of community service anyway.
 
rbc said:
One thing that bothers me about losing those kinds of small stations, is you lose a venue for local news coverage. National news won't fill that gap. If someone doesn't report on local government, education, public safety, infrastructure and land use, the community is bound to lose. You also lose a venue for local advertisers, making their marketing choices more limited.
Click to expand...

I'm willing to bet that very few Class B AM stations are still doing local news in their communities. Probably been that way for 20+ years. Most are airing syndicated talk, religious, or brokered programming. And probably 99% are running full unattended automation outside of business hours, or more. That means if their EAS box of choice doesn't receive a local alert and automatically relay something going on in the area, which is doubtful, there would be no traditional patch for that sort of information to the local public. That, and most people use their phones for entertainment and information. Not AM radio.

As for advertisers; Many local advertisers have switched to less expensive means of advertising, like Facebook, that take a credit card for payment. That's assuming the local community has enough retail or services left to advertise. Wall Mart, Amazon, and on-line car buying have taken a huge bite out of local small businesses. Restaurants would love to advertise on a local station, assuming the rates are less than Facebook. Even then, the chances of a station collecting from a struggling restaurant owner is slim to none.
 
Kelly A said:
I'm willing to bet that very few Class B AM stations are still doing local news in their communities. Probably been that way for 20+ years. Most are airing syndicated talk, religious, or brokered programming. And probably 99% are running full unattended automation outside of business hours, or more. That means if their EAS box of choice doesn't receive a local alert and automatically relay something going on in the area, which is doubtful, there would be no traditional patch for that sort of information to the local public. That, and most people use their phones for entertainment and information. Not AM radio.
Click to expand...

In my town, the amount of national programming certainly dominates the schedule, but there is some local news and other programming (sports/events) that I'm grateful for. The EAS for the other local AM (WVBG) does seem to work properly, another good thing.

Kelly A said:
As for advertisers; Many local advertisers have switched to less expensive means of advertising, like Facebook, that take a credit card for payment. That's assuming the local community has enough retail or services left to advertise. Wall Mart, Amazon, and on-line car buying have taken a huge bite out of local small businesses. Restaurants would love to advertise on a local station, assuming the rates are less than Facebook. Even then, the chances of a station collecting from a struggling restaurant owner is slim to none.
Click to expand...

I guess that's market dependent, we have local advertisers that get some play. On the other hand, I don't know how much of that stations revenue it counts for.
 
rbc said:
In my town, the amount of national programming certainly dominates the schedule, but there is some local news and other programming (sports/events) that I'm grateful for.
Click to expand...

But does that include Class B station(s) down toward the end of the band? 1000W 500W or less at night?
 
Kelly A said:
But does that include Class B station(s) down toward the end of the band? 1000W 500W or less at night?
Click to expand...

For my town, I'm talking about a specific Class C station. WQBC-AM is the local class B. It was last notable for its Oldies format.
 
rbc said:
For my town, I'm talking about a specific Class C station. WQBC-AM is the local class B. It was last notable for its Oldies format.
Click to expand...
,

It would be a shame for the station to be deleted. From what I understand, It is one of the oldest stations in Mississippi, with the same call letters since 1928. Started in Utica, MS quoting cotton futures and farm related information. Hence the name "We Quote Better Cotton. Blues musician Willie Dixon was on the station along with Addrian Cronauer the inspiration behind "Good Morning Vietnam"
 
Pat3 said:
,

It would be a shame for the station to be deleted. From what I understand, It is one of the oldest stations in Mississippi, with the same call letters since 1928. Started in Utica, MS quoting cotton futures and farm related information. Hence the name "We Quote Better Cotton. Blues musician Willie Dixon was on the station along with Addrian Cronauer the inspiration behind "Good Morning Vietnam"
Click to expand...

A shame indeed. Hopefully the station will come back to serve Vicksburg and Warren County again. I'd certainly like to see more of a business slant among our local broadcasters, even if it was agribusiness.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom