Discovered a Spanish language bootleg station on 91.7 FM. Heard fairly well on the west side of Cleveland.
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Spanish Bootleg Station on 91.7 FM
- Thread starter radiofollower
- Start date
It is Radio Impacto, the Spanish religious station. I don't think this is a legal station as I see no listing anywhere. Anyone know anything about this station? The coverage area is pretty good.
Without doing a deep dive into the FCC site, 91.7 is a relatively clean channel in that area. I am surprised that some "legitimate" religious, LPFM or eductional operator hasn't done something with it. At least a translator.
Maybe they have no memory of what happened in the 1990s when a number of Spanish language pirates went on-the-air, and one of them was in the commercial part of the FM band. I remember reading that they bought their transmitters from a firm in Canada and some, maybe all, had pretty good coverage as they were, probably, non-directional. This went on long enough for the first one on to be covered by a front-page article in the Plain Dealer who, obviously, had no idea that they were a pirate and were breaking the law.
The PD acknowledged that in a subsequent article. Finally, the FCC swooped in, and that was the end of that. What the consequences were for the pirates may have been reported, but I didn't see it.
The PD acknowledged that in a subsequent article. Finally, the FCC swooped in, and that was the end of that. What the consequences were for the pirates may have been reported, but I didn't see it.
Maybe they have no memory of what happened in the 1990s when a number of Spanish language pirates went on-the-air, and one of them was in the commercial part of the FM band. I remember reading that they bought their transmitters from a firm in Canada and some, maybe all, had pretty good coverage as they were, probably, non-directional. This went on long enough for the first one on to be covered by a front-page article in the Plain Dealer who, obviously, had no idea that they were a pirate and were breaking the law.
The PD acknowledged that in a subsequent article. Finally, the FCC swooped in, and that was the end of that. What the consequences were for the pirates may have been reported, but I didn't see it.
I remember the frequencies. 88.1, 90.7, 91.9. 93.7. Not 100% on the consequences but I think the fines were around $10K at the time.. if they had to pay that per station I have no idea.
There was also a dance music pirate on 96.9 ran out of a gay night club around the same time, Grid Radio.
Yeah, coming from the old Detour bar on West 9th [I think] I remember hearing that pretty much all over the downtown area. It took a while to get it shut down, but overall I thought it was done very well, too bad they weren't able to make it legit. It lasted for quite a while before it got terminated.I remember the frequencies. 88.1, 90.7, 91.9. 93.7. Not 100% on the consequences but I think the fines were around $10K at the time.. if they had to pay that per station I have no idea.
There was also a dance music pirate on 96.9 ran out of a gay night club around the same time, Grid Radio.
(QUOTE): I remember the frequencies. 88.1, 90.7, 91.9. 93.7. Not 100% on the consequences but I think the fines were around $10K at the time... if they had to pay that per station, I have no idea.
I do remember, for a short time, there was a pirate on 88.3 FM. Also, I recall that after finding out that the one that, initially, got a glowing article from the P.D. was an illegal operation, the paper's reporter(s) re-approached the station to ask about licensing. Personnel from the station said they were in the process of asking to be licensed which, of course, is not the way it's done.
I also found it amusing that one of the pirates was airing religious programming in Spanish. Presumably, they were broadcasting from a church. The idea that a Christian church would do this patently illegal thing was inconsistent with their teachings.
I do remember, for a short time, there was a pirate on 88.3 FM. Also, I recall that after finding out that the one that, initially, got a glowing article from the P.D. was an illegal operation, the paper's reporter(s) re-approached the station to ask about licensing. Personnel from the station said they were in the process of asking to be licensed which, of course, is not the way it's done.
I also found it amusing that one of the pirates was airing religious programming in Spanish. Presumably, they were broadcasting from a church. The idea that a Christian church would do this patently illegal thing was inconsistent with their teachings.
The famous Cleveland Rap group, Bones, Thugs and Harmony, had a pirate station broadcasting un-edited Rap, mostly from their core group of artists, somewhere around St. Clair Avenue.Yeah, coming from the old Detour bar on West 9th [I think] I remember hearing that pretty much all over the downtown area. It took a while to get it shut down, but overall I thought it was done very well, too bad they weren't able to make it legit. It lasted for quite a while before it got terminated.
When word got out that the FCC was on the way, they were the first to shut down voluntarily.
If radio is a dead media, why are still pirates? Don't they know "everybody" listens to podcasts, Spotify, Apple Music, or various other streaming apps on their phone. Initial costs are cheaper on line than OTA radio too.
(Sarcasm)
Seriously this could be a sales point when folks in the local area of the pirate don't spend anything on radio yet spend a couple of thousand a month on various web sites.
(Sarcasm)
Seriously this could be a sales point when folks in the local area of the pirate don't spend anything on radio yet spend a couple of thousand a month on various web sites.
If radio is a dead media, why are (there) still pirates?
SIMPLE. RADIO IS NOT A DEAD MEDIA. The number of stations that are on-the-air, particularly on FM, and the heavy spot-loads are proof.
Often the heavy spot loads are indicative of slashed rates where they have to pile on more spots to make up the revenue targets.
I was asking a question. Maybe you don't understand the sarcasm in the sentences after the question.secondchoice: show your data to substatiate your comments.
Retired broadcaster. Still in touch with what's going on with friends who still work in the business. Often, with a cluster of stations at their disposal, bonus spots are often dumped among several of the stations elongating the spot breaks.secondchoice: show your data to substatiate your comments.
radiofollower: are you working in radio advertising sales? If so, what market?