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WRCA / WBOS

Ed Nielson

Ed Nielson

I notice that WRCA 1330 is simulcast on 92.9 HD2 as well as 106.1.

Is this a viable format, given that it's running on 3 "weaker" channels? Or is it considered a niche format?

I can probably assume that the only reason 1330 exists is to provide audio for the translator at 106.1. Of all the 3 frquencies, the AM is weakest, because virtually nobody that is into that kind of music is listening on AM. Beasley must be assuming that they are getting enough audience on 106.1 to justify keeping the AM. Am I right on this?

And maybe it's time to get rid of the rule requiring at AM signal for an FM translator.
 
Ed Nielson said:
Is this a viable format, given that it's running on 3 "weaker" channels? Or is it considered a niche format?
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Let's put it this way: It CAN be a viable format. The Beasley station running that format in Philadelphia is #1. So the format is viable. Maybe not in Boston, maybe not the way it was running at WBOS, and maybe not the way it's running now.

Ed Nielson said:
Beasley must be assuming that they are getting enough audience on 106.1 to justify keeping the AM. Am I right on this?
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Beasley doesn't have to assume. They know. They own it. They know how much it costs, and how much it makes. To the penny. No assumptions.

Ed Nielson said:
And maybe it's time to get rid of the rule requiring at AM signal for an FM translator.
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That's a whole different subject. My view is if the FCC were to do that, we'd see hundreds of AMs shut down. Perhaps including this one. The FCC needs to decide if they want to perpetuate AM radio, which was the purpose for this translator rule. If they don't care, then owners won't care either.
 
TheBigA said:
Let's put it this way: It CAN be a viable format. The Beasley station running that format in Philadelphia is #1. So the format is viable. Maybe not in Boston, maybe not the way it was running at WBOS, and maybe not the way it's running now.
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That #1 Beasley classic rock station WMGK in Philadelphia doesn't have another classic rock (per se) station competing with it in the market. WBOS in the Boston market was up against longtime established heritage classic rocker WZLX.

Looking at their recent playlist online, it looks like WMGK also still plays some "mellower" older classic rock songs and artists/bands that WZLX hasn't played for several years, and that WBOS never played in this format, such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, America, Moody Blues, Grateful Dead, Little Feat, The Band, Jethro Tull, Paul Simon, more '60s Beatles as a group (still a few Beatles on 'ZLX, none on 'BOS)... along with some of the harder/later rock songs that 'ZLX and 'BOS play, but it looks like Beasley's heritage general "rock" station WMMR, #2 in Philly, is programmed much more like WBOS and WZLX in Boston with more of the harder/later rock of the '80s,'90s and '00s, and that Beasley has WMMR and WMGK programmed to complement each other, with WMGK probably skewing a little older.

The format had been on the full-power WBOS main channel (and HD1) for five years, and it never appeared to do all that well against WZLX. It may have gotten fair numbers in its demo and may have billed fairly well, but 'ZLX always showed up way above it.

Though 'BOS throws in some slightly newer music than 'ZLX and doesn't play the very few '60s warhorse rockers still left on 'ZLX, it sounds and looks (on their online playlists) like a large percentage of the two stations playlists were/are very similar rock from the '70s, '80s, '90s.
 
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WBOS has/had the room to be a mainstream or active rock station like their Beasley counterparts WMMR or WRIF/Detroit, but they decided to play it safe. Even when Adam 12 was signing off the 92.9 signal, he indicated that he would have liked to put more new rock on the station. It would have filled the hole that WAAF left, which I know wasn't getting great numbers either, but consider their signal is/was weak in key parts of the market. Right now, stations like WMMR, WRIF, and WIYY/Baltimore are doing well with mainstream rock formats, along with good air talent.
 
I agree completely.

The playlist on 92.9 stunk. The playlist on 106.1 / 1330 follows the same tired formula.

Admittedly, the repetitive 80s/90s mix worked quite well on 92.9 for a couple years. Heck, 92.9 in my opinion played a material role in WAAF's demise. But as the AQH share sank and then sank some more, the only changes seemed to involve swapping out music daypart DJs.

The station in its current form is run dirt cheap, although its mere existence does require some (minor) programming resources.

I saw it just scored a 0.5 share, which isn't bad at all given how rotten the translator's signal at 106.1 is. I suspect the morning show over performs that number and the music dayparts likely underperform that number. Retaining the morning show's Boston market clearance is likely the sole reason the brand still exists

WMMR in Philly does play a healthy number of currents & recurrents. It is not uncommon for WMMR to even be "early" on some new music adds. It also is more adventurous with classic rock selections than WBOS ever was. WMMR is the antithesis of cookie cutter or tightly playlisted radio. It takes chances and earns massive ratings. That's why I have great respect for that radio station. As eclectic as WMMR's playlist is, the music logs seem so well assembled. The "oh wow" songs are used to add flavor, and given the station's heritage and credible on-air talent, it works!

WBOS in its Rock 92.9 incarnation reminded me much more of the lame "rock you grew up with" era of WYSP. 🤮
 
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MarkW said:
The station in its current form is run dirt cheap, although its mere existence does require some (minor) programming resources.
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So the bottom line is that it wasn't working for them on the main channel, so they moved it the HD2, generating at least some profit.

I think there is some sort of rumor that HD2 is where old (or unsuccessful) formats go to die.
 
Ed Nielson said:
And maybe it's time to get rid of the rule requiring at AM signal for an FM translator.
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The W291CZ is not one of the translators permanently bonded to WRCA. It was part of the other , earlier "move in" window, and could have the primary changed to WBOS-HD2 if they desired, as the time limit has passed.
 
nowradioguy said:
Yeah, Eli, and from another thread on this Forum, Beasley is making cuts left and right, so transmitter maintenance probably isn’t a priority right now.
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I can tell you with no uncertain circumstances that transmitter maintenance at Beasley in Boston is an absolute top priority.
Everyone must remember that WRCA's situation isn't like most other AMs. They feed into a very complex directional AM array with two other full power AM signals at 1200 and 1600 KHz in Newton. Troubleshooting on a system of this complexity isn't easy and sometimes requires coordination with the other AMs to reduce power or what not. But I know the engineers there have been working on it.
 
People complain about the syndicated morning show on WBOS, but Beasley already had the big local morning show on WBZ. It was a case of protecting the mothership on the cheap.
 
necrat said:
I can tell you with no uncertain circumstances that transmitter maintenance at Beasley in Boston is an absolute top priority.
Everyone must remember that WRCA's situation isn't like most other AMs. They feed into a very complex directional AM array with two other full power AM signals at 1200 and 1600 KHz in Newton. Troubleshooting on a system of this complexity isn't easy and sometimes requires coordination with the other AMs to reduce power or what not. But I know the engineers there have been working on it.
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Thank you for enlightening us on this. I didn’t know WRCA had abandoned its 3-tower Lexington site.

I agree, multiplexed directional arrays, while a marvel of engineering know-how, must be high maintenance.
 
nowradioguy said:
Thank you for enlightening us on this. I didn’t know WRCA had abandoned its 3-tower Lexington site.

I agree, multiplexed directional arrays, while a marvel of engineering know-how, must be high maintenance.
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WRCA was never in Lexington. They used to be in Waltham, with I think 2 towers before moving to Newton with 1200 and 1600.
 


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