104.1 The Heat

[RadeoEngineer]

Right answer Gleason. Supports my position that Mexican border broadcasters do whatever they want to do without consequence of enforcement.

This has nothing to do with Mexico or the border. It has to do with the separate category called unscrupulous licensees.

Don Burden had no stations on either side of the border, but he got a half-dozen major market (Portland, Denver, Indianapolis, Omaha) licenses pulled for bribing congresspeople.

Richard Eaton did have, illegally, a couple of stations in Mexico (XERF and XESC), but otherwise did nice things like giving illegal numbers game info on WOOK and double billing and fraud at WFAB, and lost both licenses for it. Those of us who worked there knew of even more.

Crooks exist in all societies.

Bernie Madoff made me cautious, but he did not make me curse all investments or sell my funds and shares.

Spin baby spin.

 

[Radio3787]

So if this new station is launching on the 24th, one week from today, shouldn't someone be working on the transmitter by now? (i.e. shouldn't I hear something on my radio when it's tuned to 104.1? Instead of just static like I do now) ???

 

[RadeoEngineer]

So if this new station is launching on the 24th, one week from today, shouldn't someone be working on the transmitter by now? (i.e. shouldn't I hear something on my radio when it's tuned to 104.1? Instead of just static like I do now) ???

No. If there is in fact something going on, they'd be testing the transmitter into a dummy load or running some program tests between midnight and 6:00am.

 

[davideduardo]

So if this new station is launching on the 24th, one week from today, shouldn't someone be working on the transmitter by now? (i.e. shouldn't I hear something on my radio when it's tuned to 104.1? Instead of just static like I do now) ???

No. If there is in fact something going on, they'd be testing the transmitter into a dummy load or running some program tests between midnight and 6:00am.

Those things you mention are US operating standards or rules. Mexico's technical regulations do not prohibit testing on-air for a new concession nor do they require testing into a dummy load. In fact, the whole US concept of a construction permit does not exist in Mexico; you get a concession or a permission ("concesión" or "permiso") depending on station class and you are done.

 

[Radio3787]

So David, do you think this is a real station that IS launching next week or all just a hoax?

 

[600kogo]

The more stations in the market the better, not like ad revenues are getting hard to get....Oh wait yes they are! Hummmm.

And as for the Mexican government, if they are choosing to not enforce their rules for power output modulation or whatever? Then both they and the "broadcasters" are at fault, if they have no rules in place to enforce their side of the treaties then the U.S. needs to step in and re-negotiate these treaties to level the playing field. But with the US distracted by trillions in debt, Obamacare, and lowering credit ratings, and the Mexican officials concerned with taking bribes from drug cartels to keep from being shot, I doubt that radio and tv rules matter to either side.

 

[davideduardo]

So David, do you think this is a real station that IS launching next week or all just a hoax?

There's no evidence it exists, so I'd give it about a 20% credibility. I still want to know what is going to happen with 97.7.

 

[davideduardo]

Then both they and the "broadcasters" are at fault, if they have no rules in place to enforce their side of the treaties then the U.S. needs to step in and re-negotiate these treaties to level the playing field. But with the US distracted by trillions in debt, Obamacare, and lowering credit ratings, and the Mexican officials concerned with taking bribes from drug cartels to keep from being shot, I doubt that radio and tv rules matter to either side.

The "Comisión Mixta" is really based on the much-abrogated NARBA treaty, and is a series of agreements that likely don't have the full force of law. The NARBA treaty, although amended in the 50's, is basically an AM agreement. So, were a treaty desirable, a whole new one would be needed.

And since the FCC is not as concerned with broadcasting as it is with digital media and the "wideband in every pot" goals, it is unlikely that much push would be put on AM and FM issues in any agreement. I used to hear diplomats discuss "dry powder" in the context of having a finite amount of negotiating clout in any situation. In the case of spectrum usage and enforcement, broadband, cellular and such will burn off the available powder and the Mexican government would possibly take advantage of that to create many more FMs along the border because moving AM stations to FM is a big priority there today.

I think this falls under the "be careful what you wish for" caveat; the potential for US terrestrial broadcasters to be negatively impacted or sacrificed to other spectrum priorities by our own FCC is great.

 

[600kogo]

You know you are right. I would not want the US government negotiating for me on a used car, let alone a new spectrum treaty? For now, until something gives on both sides of the border we might be better off with the evil we know rather than a whole new one that we dont.

 

[RadeoEngineer]

You know you are right. I would not want the US government negotiating for me on a used car, let alone a new spectrum treaty? For now, until something gives on both sides of the border we might be better off with the evil we know rather than a whole new one that we dont.

Badges? I don't have to show you any stinking badges.

 

[600kogo]

Exactly! SCT, Drug Lords, Banditos, Jaime Bonilla....Is there a difference??

 

[hipman2]

It was a no-show in the Claremont and Fletcher Hills areas. Did it ever show up on the air?

 

[Big 121]

Except for a little of Mexicali's 104.1 in El Cajon/Lakeside/Santee -silence.

 

[Radio3787]

According to TheHeat365 on Twitter the launch is now on Aug 27th. But who knows how accurate that is.

 

[quanhth]

I actually noticed their twitter statement saying Aug 27th even though their latest messages indicated an Aug 24th release. If you check their twitter now, they've since updated their statement to this: "***COMING SOON*** The Worlds Hottest Internet / Multi Media Outlet!!!". It appears that there will be no 104.1 The Heat but will instead be an online stream.

Come to think of it, they've heavily publicized on their twitter account that 104.1 The Heat is coming out Aug 24th up until Aug 13th and then completely stopped mentioning it. The Heat = Epic fail.

 

[Radio3787]

That's too bad because I definitely think there's a market for a good Hip Hop station here. If LFM would wise up they'd flip 94.9 to something of the sort.

 

[romer979fm]

good Hip Hop

???

 

[justpassingthough]

That's too bad because I definitely think there's a market for a good Hip Hop station here. If LFM would wise up they'd flip 94.9 to something of the sort.

I was visiting last week and you are definitely in need of a true rhythmic CHR. XHTZ and 93.3 seem to be playing the same songs and XHTZ leans more mainstream than I would expect from a station on the rhythmic panel. I heard DJ Khaled "I'm on One" being touted as new music on 90.3- stations like KPWR have been on that song for three months. KAMP just started playing it last week too- so 90.3 is essentially a rhythmic leaning mainstream CHR.

With the demographics in San Diego, the market does seem open for a station more along the lines of a true rhythmic station. LFM should probably go this direction with 94.9- a decent signal to create a nice three way CHR battle in San Diego. Hey, maybe CBS will go this direction with 103.7 and you can have a four way CHR battle down there.

 

[600kogo]

Originally Z90 under Rick Thomas was more rhythmic. The difference between it Z90 and 933 was very noticeable. But now Z90 is ran by a very white former Hot AC programmer. So it's not surprising!

The station that should think of going rhythmic is 96.1, they are more of a southbay and southeast SD station it would work well for them, at least better than the 10 songs that they hvae playing over and over.

 

[justpassingthough]

Originally Z90 under Rick Thomas was more rhythmic. The difference between it Z90 and 933 was very noticeable. But now Z90 is ran by a very white former Hot AC programmer. So it's not surprising!

The station that should think of going rhythmic is 96.1, they are more of a southbay and southeast SD station it would work well for them, at least better than the 10 songs that they hvae playing over and over.

The format would probably work for 96.1, but I think the market could potentially support a true rhythmic station on a full market signal. If said station has any intention of going after the ratings and money that 90.3 and 93.3 get, they're going to need to be on a comparable signal.

I remember the days when Z90 was truly rhythmic. From what I heard last week, I'd say they are practically a mainstream CHR- at least as far as how we would classify the split between rhythmic and mainstream in CA and other West and Southwest regions where demographics are largely similar.