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1470

T

TerryKay

What's up with this one? This past Saturday and Sunday, all morning, they were just a big blob with no detectable proper audio. The transmitter was also throwing huge spurs on 1462 and 1478. Checking later in the afternoon (both days) the audio was up with Mexican Spanish ("la Mega" slogan, I think) and the spurs were gone. This morning, no spurs and Spanish.
 
An 8 kHz sine wave would produce these sidebands. Perhaps something in the audio processor or transmitter was oscillating.
I once had a 50kw RCA Ampliphase transmitter which developed a 40 kHz audio oscillation. The transmitter continued to modulate but I discovered the problem when I received a call from the FCC. I took the transmitter off the air immediately. The problem turned out to be in the RF detector/inverse feedback network.
What puzzles me in the case of the 1470 transmitter is that nobody noticed the problem ... and did nothing about it. Are they not monitoring the "air" signal?
 
frankberry said:
What puzzles me in the case of the 1470 transmitter is that nobody noticed the problem ... and did nothing about it. Are they not monitoring the "air" signal?
Click to expand...

Sadly, probably not. Coincidently I spent a lot of time in my truck today and did a lot of button pushing, especially on AM. They had a pretty decent signal in S Pinellas County but I was surprised at the number of Hispanic stations across the dial. How/why did they pick this format, unless it is a brokered format or LMA.
 
I have never understood why Spanish on AM is such a reflexive "punt" format that programmers use when they can't think of anything else to run on a problematic signal. Especially with Spanish music now on FM, why do broadcasters think that Hispanic people will flock to Spanish music any more than gringos would to listen to English language music? And once you have Spanish music redundancy on AM, why would a broadcaster not run unique English language music (i.e. Standards)? Can Spanish music possibly bill THAT well over other alternatives?

Referring to another post concerning the luke warm coverage of News in St. Petersburg, what is the viability (or lack thereof) of cheaply running the audio feed of CNN or Fox News?
 
I have never understood why a programmer will "punt" with a problematic AM signal by putting Spanish music on. Is there some sort of assumption that Spanish speakers will listen to music on AM any more than English speakers would? When 1470 dropped the business talk, there were already several Spanish music stations on AM, as well as WYUU on FM. Can Spanish music command that much of a desirable demographic as to get good billing that Standards or a CNN audio feed would not?
 
SCMcKinney said:
I have never understood why a programmer will "punt" with a problematic AM signal by putting Spanish music on. Is there some sort of assumption that Spanish speakers will listen to music on AM any more than English speakers would? When 1470 dropped the business talk, there were already several Spanish music stations on AM, as well as WYUU on FM. Can Spanish music command that much of a desirable demographic as to get good billing that Standards or a CNN audio feed would not?
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There are a lot of national advertisers that have money to burn on Spanish formats.
 
It appears that the number of listeners is irrelevant. Just like late-night TV infomercials, the fact that nobody views or listens is not as important as the fact that there are advertisers willing to buy the time. It's about selling the time, not attracting viewers or listeners.
 
... but who would be the sap who would waste money on advertising where virtually nobody listens? I realize there are some people who will respond to spam e-mails from Nigerian bankers, but I kind of figured that national radio buyers were a savvier lot than this.
 
In looking at Do the J's commentary on WFLA and the possibility of their moving to FM, I took a look at the ratings as was suggested and note that WMGG, with the exception of the Orlando stations, is DEAD LAST in ratings (I think even the ratings list doesn't listen, as they are Spanish Music, not Talk). Anyway, it would seem to me that SOME OTHER format ought to be tried. As I mention in a post above, can national buyers be that clueless to be spending money at a station that is not getting any listeners? There has to be some audience not served - Progressive Talk from Jones, The Street, Classical Music, and yes, Swing could create some buzz. If one of them really took off, they might considering swapping places with WWBA.
 
Don't know for sure, however, 1470 may be brokered. That's my guess.
 
Brokered radio has made it completely unnecessary for 90 percent of AM stations to worry about the ratings. Sort of a reverse Darwinism.
 
Frank Ferreri said:
Don't know for sure, however, 1470 may be brokered. That's my guess.
Click to expand...

Talk about an orphan radio station, they are not even mentioned on the Genesis home page: http://www.radiogenesis.com/ Also, I am sure an unintended gaffe: a small banner ad says "The Radio Store, The Year End Close Out Sale" with an arrow pointing down at the "Our Stations" list! or maybe not ::)
 
They should try something like the Route 66 format (adult standards) carried on WSDV Sarasota and WDDV Venice. It's great music and should at least improve 1470's place in the ratings. The older demographics in the Bay area (particularly Pinellas) should support it.
 
dwtpa97 said:
They should try something like the Route 66 format (adult standards) carried on WSDV Sarasota and WDDV Venice. It's great music and should at least improve 1470's place in the ratings. The older demographics in the Bay area (particularly Pinellas) should support it.
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There was a time that I would have said "what a nutty idea, taking on WDUV-FM head to head" But now with WDUV moving in a much more contemporary direction I say "this would fill a niche programming void in this area". I love Route 66's music, but they rarely announce the title to a song, sorta like a 78rpm jukebox. Need an adult standards format somewhere between no talk and MOYL which IMHO babbles too much.
 
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