WCRK now on FM. Not a great signal in the car in Greeneville but may need a little tweaking for a few days.
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1150 WCRK Morristown is now on 105.7 FM. Its about time.....
- Thread starter kd4rnc1964
- Start date
Is should cover the area quite well. \
https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...105.7&contour=60&city=MORRISTOWN&state=TN.kml
I know the temptation will be for them to class D the AM and do way with the direction night expense but with a new wave of LPFM's coming I would personally keep WCRK class B
https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...105.7&contour=60&city=MORRISTOWN&state=TN.kml
I know the temptation will be for them to class D the AM and do way with the direction night expense but with a new wave of LPFM's coming I would personally keep WCRK class B
I agree, 2nd choice - I hope they don't dismantle the current 1150 array - but I almost bet that's the plan. How far away is the 1150 site from the studios? The 1330 (WMTN) site is co-located at the studios, correct? You can't blame stations for looking for anyway to save money in this day and time, and from that respect you couldn't blame them for downgrading 1150 - but it's still sad an unfortunate when it happens. I still grieve when I think about my hometown AM going from 5kw days/1kw Dir nights to 2.7kw/46 watts Non-Dir nights back in 1996. They stuck an AM skirt on the nearby FM tower.
Eric
Eric
eacalhoun1 said:I agree, 2nd choice - I hope they don't dismantle the current 1150 array - but I almost bet that's the plan. How far away is the 1150 site from the studios? The 1330 (WMTN) site is co-located at the studios, correct? You can't blame stations for looking for anyway to save money in this day and time, and from that respect you couldn't blame them for downgrading 1150 - but it's still sad an unfortunate when it happens. I still grieve when I think about my hometown AM going from 5kw days/1kw Dir nights to 2.7kw/46 watts Non-Dir nights back in 1996. They stuck an AM skirt on the nearby FM tower.
Eric
I think you are referring to WMNC. I don't blame them for dropping the DA because Duke Power was really zapping them big time for the land lease on the nighttime array. When Mr. Cooper built the AM nighttime, the land lease was dirt cheap and it eventually it reached a renewal term and that's when Duke decided the land was worth a lot more to them for commercial development than to lease for AM towers. They just kept raising the rent til WMNC really didn't have a choice. It's extraordinarily expensive to move a DA even if you could find property in the right spot and get it zoned. I dont' think you will see many more new AM directionals built even in the larger markets.
Typically for reasons like land leases, etc or the land the tower sits on can be sold for a lot of money... that is when an AM drops a DA otherwise there is really no reason to drop it particularly in the case of a lower power pattern like WCRK with 3 towers and 500 watts. AM directionals are typically solid as a rock and they don't really require any extraordinary maintenance expense.
You are correct, Art. I was referring to WMNC. I've worked there a couple of different times - once in the late 80s and again from 1997 - 2006. I don't argue with the expense regarding the astronomical amount Duke jacked up the lease - I understand the Coopers had to make a cost-effective decision. My point was is that it's sad to see the number AM facilities that have downgraded in similar fashion across the country over the past 20 years or so. By the way, that strip of Duke's land still looks basically same today as it did the day the towers were removed. There were plans for a shopping center there several years ago, but they fell through. On a positive AM note, there are some rare exceptions where an AM's removal of multiple towers doesn't necessarily mean a downgrade (loss of coverage) - your old WRGC is one wonderful example. I drove through Sylva on Thanksgiving Night and was very impressed with the night signal on 540. I also flipped over to 680 - I couldn't believe the killer signal from WPTF. That must have been quite a signal battle when WRGC was on 680 - I can only imagine the WRGC night signal was gone just a few miles north on US 23-74 toward Balsam.
WCRK is still pulling in 50+ shares in the county Arbitron, with the FM it will be interesting to see if they climb even higher. As for the current tower site when the economy improves I can see the land being sold for a new sub division and they will diplex with WMTN's tower at the studio. They are getting a new one since the old one lost it's battle with a tractor.
Hope they don't drop the AM..Can't get the FM on west end of G'ville.
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