No translator for 1270, but 3 on 1230. So in theory he could move one to 1270, but that obviously will cost WECK coverage.
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Buffalo Cumulus sells AM to Buddy Shula
- Thread starter exdjted
- Start date
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
What do you see as a third translator? I only see W263DC (100.5) and W275BB (102.9). The latter has better coverage and the first is highly directional just to the north of that signal.
Edit: I found it. W261EB (100.1) to the east of the 102.9 signal. Apparently it didn't show on the WECK page at FCCinfo.org because it is not directly fed.
The 1270 signal sounds like it's being fed over a phone line. Also, I think someone forgot to switch from night to day pattern.
Even with the modern solid state efficient transmitters?
Even then... 50kw is cheaper with a modern solid state rig than with a tube rig, but 5kw is also cheaper with a solid state rig than a tube rig. At the end of the day, you can only get so efficient. A higher power output = a higher power input. In the modern age of cost cutting everywhere possible at many stations, a bigger electric bill would likely try to be avoided if possible.
To put it in perspective, your insurance (property, casualty, liability, etc) at most stations will likely be more than the power bill. Even for a 50 kw AM.
If you rent studio space or a building, the rent will likely be greater than the power bill.
Your traffic/billing /accounting software monthly payment can be as much as a low to medium power station's transmitter electric bill.
An average full time employee will make more than the power bill.
Option #2 is more likely. If(and this is a VERY BIG IF)it's going to go talk(albeit with different personalitues), would YOU want to debut a new format on a Sunday? NAH NAH!
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Or maybe Buddy will do something none of you expect. He is often an "outside the box" thinker.
The hints he's given so far have been pretty clear. It's not going to be any flavor of news/talk and it's not going to be any kind of country music. He's also told us non-insiders not to overthink it. Filling gaps in WECK's coverage makes the most sense to me, even it's somewhat disappointing to those of us who were looking for something daring and different (liberal talk, classic country, AAA, yacht rock, etc.).
1270 already did liberal talk.
Then how do you account for WLVL losing Hannity and Clay & Buck to another station? Where are those shows going? Premiere would not have just pulled shows out of Buffalo without another station ready to take them. We will know on Monday.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I should remind everyone at this point that Cumulus was going to take 1270 silent until Buddy came along. It would not be surprising if they had told Premiere that May 31 would be the last day.
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I was hoping for a return of Adult Standards 'Swing 1270'. Of course it wont happen. That was the last time 1270 had decent ratings before the ill fated flip to CBS Sports. The plan was to move the music to 1120, but the Hispanic community successfully prevented that from happening.
My best guess is possiblly moving it to WEBR. A talk format would be a better option than doing Classic Hits on AM. Lockport would still get those talk shows on the 105.3 translator.
How does an AM Simulcast generate new revenue? When Entercom tried the simulcast of WBEN on 107.7 the ratings actually DECLINED and no new revenue was created. They ultimately gave up. Buying an AM signal (even at a fire sale price) just to simulcast an existing format seems expensive...
The 1270 signal actually covers Niagara Falls quite well, day and night. It would extend Buddy's reach into all of Niagara County. That could bring in additional revenue with a minimal investment. Where things go down the road could certainly change. Arguably, 1270 is a better signal than 1230.
Are there any areas the 1230 signal overs better than 1270? If not, is there a possibility the WECK format would go to 1270 exclusively while 1230 is sold or the license turned in? (the translators would then be tied to 1270)
I doubt Buddy would turn in the license. One or the other could do a format change eventually.
1270 is directional, and, at night, it cuts out some of the western parts of Buffalo while 1230 is circular and covers all of Buffalo 24/7. I can't imagine that would be enough to warrant a simulcast of the two signals, nor could I imagine simulcasting just to cover Niagara Falls and the area north of Buffalo. Of course, it's not my money, and Buddy is free to do what he wants with it.