1110 New Format

[Josh Owens]

Dead air at 9AM

Even though they've been playing the loop for all these months, that's, not, good.

 

[Josh Owens]

There are grants and additional resources available for preservation projects.

True. Why not put them to a good use?

 

[Josh Owens]

Just wanted to share a quick update on the effort to preserve some part of the historic WBT transmitter site.

Today I spoke with Stewart Gray, Director of the Mecklenburg County Historic Landmarks Department. He told me he's still trying to get in touch with the broker representing the property.

He also told me that the WBT transmitter site is already on the Historic Landmarks Commission's study list, so the site's historical significance has already been recognized to some degree.

I want to be clear that I'm not trying to stop anyone from selling or developing the property. I understand the realities facing AM radio today, and I respect the rights of the current owner.

What I'm hoping for is a conversation about whether some part of this nearly 100-year-old site can be preserved or recognized. Maybe that's the transmitter building. Maybe it's one of the Blaw-Knox towers. Maybe it's simply a historical marker telling the story of what happened there.

The site has been in continuous use since 1927 and has been part of Charlotte's growth and broadcasting history for generations.

I've also started reaching out to local media outlets to help raise awareness about the site's history.

I know there are strong opinions on all sides of this issue, and this effort may not ultimately go anywhere. But I think it's worth asking the question and exploring the possibilities before they're gone.

Appreciate your diligence, personally trusting it to pay off in the long run.

 

[caudleweather]

Even though they've been playing the loop for all these months, that's, not, good.

The loop is back.

 

[luperm]

Re: the lack of public attention, the rug was pulled out so quickly, there wasn't time to respond proactively, just reactively, IMHO.

The only sensible response was to tune your radio to 107.9 FM or tell your phone/smart speaker to "tune to WBT radio" and go on with your day.

 

[Josh Owens]

The loop is back.

Roger on that, thanks for the update. I don't like the loop, but it is better than dead air.

 

[101tm]

WBT and WBTV are legacy radio and television broadcasters in the Carolinas. The WBT broadcast site should indeed be preserved as a landmark. I understand and support the move to 107.9, but I would like to have seen the simulcast continue on 1110. Similar to WSB on 750 and 95.5.

The difference is 750 WSB provides a market covering signal day and night, not like the horrible directional pattern 1110 WBT has at night. 750 is a much better and more viable signal than 1110.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

The difference is 750 WSB provides a market covering signal day and night, not like the horrible directional pattern 1110 WBT has at night. 750 is a much better and more viable signal than 1110.

WSB is non-directional, WBT is 3 tower directional but only at night. Compare that to Florida where the entire state for many years had only one full time 50KW AM station WGBS 710 (most others were 10KW night). It was 3 tower directional day and 6 tower directional at night. Most of the signal going southeast to Cuba. It was okay at the coast but didn't cover the northwestern suburbs of the South Florida market. Many of them established after the transmitter site was built.

My point is there is no comparison between a DA and non-DA. Luckily 1110 is only DA at night, a time when fewer people listen anyway.

 

[KilowattKat]

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself...Is it really a very good idea to go out and try to raise the millions of dollars necessary to buy the property, and turn the transmission building into what? A museum?

Fundraising is extremely hard work. Will people in this group who want to save WBT have the resources, experience and knowledge to pull this off. The hardest part will be finding those interested enough to open up their pocketbooks, and donate. I can't even find a North Carolina broadcasting preservation society or group already in place to help with this.

 

[IM42A]

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself...Is it really a very good idea to go out and try to raise the millions of dollars necessary to buy the property, and turn the transmission building into what? A museum?

Fundraising is extremely hard work. Will people in this group who want to save WBT have the resources, experience and knowledge to pull this off. The hardest part will be finding those interested enough to open up their pocketbooks, and donate. I can't even find a North Carolina broadcasting preservation society or group already in place to help with this.

I don't see the point of it myself. Yes, to broadcasting hobbyists, it would be of interest, but how many of those would there be? And as long as those towers stand, they have to be lit up at night, for air safety reasons. There is also maintenance to ensure they don't just rust and decay.

Sad to say, it's not the highest and best use of the property, and even granting that Charlotte is overdeveloped, at the end of the day, Charlotte is going to be Charlotte. It's just what they do up there.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Out of all the markets in the country why did Urban 1 buy stations like 610, 1110, 100.9 and 99.3 only to sell them or plow them under? So all that's left is 107.9 and 105.3? How does a two station group compete with Beasley and iHeart?

 

[LamptimerFan]

Out of all the markets in the country why did Urban 1 buy stations like 610, 1110, 100.9 and 99.3 only to sell them or plow them under? So all that's left is 107.9 and 105.3? How does a two station group compete with Beasley and iHeart?

If anything about their recent history says anything: they were just "wingin' it" (not the strong game plan they thought it was).