1550 AM - What's Next?

[DToTheJ]

By the way, as of today, the WDZK Radio Disney "website" is still up:
http://radio.disney.go.com/music/yourstation/hartford/index.html

 

[MarcB]

Can anyone report what 1550 is airing now, if anything?

They're off the air. On my walkman WQEW 1560 is coming in much stronger than it did when 1550 was still on the air.

I can hear a faint station on 1550, but can't make out the programming and I don't know if it's Canada or WNTN out of Newton, Mass.

 

[radiolives]

So does 1550 plan on staying off the air for good? Just wondering

 

[MarcB]

So does 1550 plan on staying off the air for good? Just wondering

Radio Disney is trying to find a buyer. They have on year to put the station back on the air or else its license will be deleted.

BTW on my car radio in the parking lot at Shoprite on Route 6 in Bristol I was getting a very faint signal from WNTN Newton, Mass.

 

[radiolives]

Getting a buyer will be hard I feel. Poor signal. If it were a 50,000 watt like WTIC they would have a buyer. For Disney they should just keep it off the air as people can hear 1560 in CT better now. Plus its just one less AM not needed.

 

[MarcB]

Getting a buyer will be hard I feel. Poor signal.

I still think maybe GOIS (WLAT, WNEZ, WKND) will buy it. Either that or Davidson Media Group (WXCT).

 

[DJKraze]

or maybe the owners of WPRX, I hear they need a new license now.

 

[DavidZ]

According to RBR.com, the new owners of WNEB-AM in Worcester are also trying to buy 1550 AM.

http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/worcester-ma-am-headed-for-catholic-format.html

 

[MarcB]

According to RBR.com, the new owners of WNEB-AM in Worcester are also trying to buy 1550 AM.

http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/worcester-ma-am-headed-for-catholic-format.html

Actually the article says Blount is trying to buy the station. Blount is the seller of WNEB. And owners of WFIF in Milford, CT.

 

[DavidZ]

Actually the article says Blount is trying to buy the station. Blount is the seller of WNEB. And owners of WFIF in Milford, CT.

You're right. I stand corrected.

 

[bub]

According to RBR.com, the new owners of WNEB-AM in Worcester are also trying to buy 1550 AM.

http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/worcester-ma-am-headed-for-catholic-format.html

Actually the article says Blount is trying to buy the station. Blount is the seller of WNEB. And owners of WFIF in Milford, CT.

WFIF: We Fade In Fairfield

 

[blackgold]

Looks like the AM radio band is gong into a death struggle. Outside of big cities, it's becoming a wasteland.

 

[CTListener]

Looks like the AM radio band is gong into a death struggle. Outside of big cities, it's becoming a wasteland.

It's a relic. All it has going for it is the distance signals can travel at night, and that's something today's advertisers don't care about. All they want is a station that reaches the "right" demographic (24-55) in its home market. AM now skews very old and there's nothing anyone can do to bring young listeners back to it; they've made it clear that audio quality counts and, unless HD Radio catches on overnight, there's no way they're finding that on AM.

There's still a good amount of sports play-by-play on AM, but I'd expect the exodus to FM to really pick up steam in the next few years. The departure of play-by-play from the clear-channel AM blowtorches to lesser AM signals and FM was a big factor in my decision to get satellite radio in 2003.

 

[MarcB]

WFIF: We Fade In Fairfield

Maybe so, but crystal clear in Wallingford at least until 2PM when it starts getting beat up by WFED Washington.