RadioInsight - FCC MAKES THIRTEEN FRANKEN-FM OPERATIONS PERMANENT

[sjs1959]

FCC Makes Thirteen Franken-FM Operations Permanent - RadioInsight

The FCC commissioners voted today to approve the permanent operation of thirteen LPTV stations on channel 6 to continue providing analog audio-only service to radio audiences as an ancillary or supplementary service of their TV service. The so-called "Franken-FM's" had been operating on borrowed...

radioinsight.com

But NOT, apparently, Flinn's Right-On Radio here, per this article. Lance, if I misread this, please correct me!

 

[CTListener]

How does WRME provide "foreign language, religious and sports programming, and emergency and public information, in addition to programming to support underserved populations including native Spanish speakers and immigrants" by being a personality-free jukebox of adult contemporary and softer Top 40 hits from decades past? I can understand the grandfathering in of Franken-FMs that are providing the services indicated above in the FCC's defense of its decision, but struggle to comprehend how WRME could plead its case other than with "You can't stop this because we're making money with it."

Again, I'm a boomer. I like the music. But it still seems to me that this loophole ought to have been closed to all, no matter how many years they've been taking advantage of, and making money off, it.

 

[davideduardo]

How does WRME provide "foreign language, religious and sports programming, and emergency and public information, in addition to programming to support underserved populations including native Spanish speakers and immigrants" by being a personality-free jukebox of adult contemporary and softer Top 40 hits from decades past?

It definitely serves the over-65 audience, which except for "overflow" from younger targeted stations, is a vastly and overwhelmingly unserved part of the population. Yes, there are classical and jazz offerings that are principally used by that demographic, but those are narrow reaching formats and do not in any event serve a large portion of the senior audience.

I can understand the grandfathering in of Franken-FMs that are providing the services indicated above in the FCC's defense of its decision, but struggle to comprehend how WRME could plead its case other than with "You can't stop this because we're making money with it."

Many of us are not sure they are making much, if any, money with it. Mostly it promotes their TV offering. But as long as it superserves the 65 and over audience, it is as valuable as any of the othe options described.

Again, I'm a boomer. I like the music. But it still seems to me that this loophole ought to have been closed to all, no matter how many years they've been taking advantage of, and making money off, it.

Why? Is serving old 65 and over white seniors any less import than serving "native Spanish speakers" who are already well served in most markets because they are young and in a strong sales-friendly demographic?

 

[Tibbs4]

Ten years from now the average radio consumer is going to be either native Spanish speakers or "elderly" (45 plus in honor of David ) "white" listeners. The highly desired demographic is not going to be there. I think you will see a serious change in less than 10 years. By the way, David/BigA, etc., I haven't seen this info in a while. What ARE the percentages of "P1" type listeners by age (preferably by decade) these days? Seen much recent data?

 

[b-turner]

First off, those Spanish speakers tend to have children who speak little Spanish and their kids, normally zero Spanish. Musically, many Spanish speaking and especially their children either like and/or prefer English language pop music. I've worked Hispanic Markets. The town that was 97% Hispanic, I programmed the CHR that netted netted a 43 share. Median age was 19.5.

Anglo is no longer the majority in Texas. Hispanic (as it is called) is the majority.