2008 Predictions

[Savage]

"Wit all due re-speck..."

The concept of moving a 50kw 65-year old signal from Buffalo to Rochester, even if there were sufficient interest in another AM station here, is not practicable. To do so would require the surrender of WWKB's nighttime protection in favor of every co- and adjacent-channel allocation that have occurred since WKBW's move to 1520 back in 1941.

In all likelihood this would result in a "Rochester" iteration of KB with far more towers than the station's current 3-stick inline, and far less power day and night - maybe as low as 1kw night. And a Rochester operator would also have to buy, and turn off, WCGR 1550.

If the notion is that a 50kw DA-1 could simply be uprooted from Big Tree Road and balled like a fruit tree and replanted in a Greece industrial park, you can forget it. Even if such a proposal were able to weather the complaints from the general public and get FCC blessings, it would cost millions of dollars and in any case would result in a vastly compromised facility as compared with the heritage 50kw 1520.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Spanish Formated Radio Station

Doctor Smith:
If you really feel that a spanish format would serve Rochester then may I strongly suggest that you approach your employers and have them change the format of WRUR-FM to service Rochester's Hispanic community.
At the present time WRUR's only function appears to be airing Public Radio's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, plus your station's local news during morning and afternoon drive, while also providing a job for the husband of your station's senior Vice President.
Another option would be for leaders of the Hispanic community to ban together and purchase a radio station, like Andrew Langston did years ago by creating WDKX. There are federal funds available to assist minority owned businesses.

 

[Bob1370]

"Another option would be for leaders of the Hispanic community to ban together and purchase a radio station, like Andrew Langston did years ago by creating WDKX. There are federal funds available to assist minority owned businesses."

I agree, and believe this may well be the path that will be followed in establishing the first Latino station in the market. What I'm saying is, it could happen very soon, and one of the stations Entercom is divesting may well be that station.

 

[Bob1370]

"To do so would require the surrender of WWKB's nighttime protection in favor of every co- and adjacent-channel allocation that have occurred since WKBW's move to 1520 back in 1941."

Perhaps, Bob...but if you move the plant 70 miles to the east, aren't you reducing field strength and thus potential interference toward all the co-channel stations still on the channel after sunset, all of which (IIRC) are to the west and southwest of NY State...and thus making that pretty much a non-issue? WCGR may need to be bought out and taken dark but if that's the only roadblock, that's something doable and financially justifiable. Boston's 1510 is the only adjacent channel station that might be even slightly affected, and I'm not sure it would be materially hurt or that it would be entitled to further protection anyway. I'd bet you could make this move and retain a class A allocation and status. I've talked with some technies who think you might be able to rebuild it as a DA-N with a two or three tower night pattern similar to what it's running now. I'd defer to your expertise on that matter...though something tells me you would be able to figure out how to get it done to best advantage if you were given the task.

Ever thought about what you would do with that channel and a class A allocation if you got hold of it, whether you moved it or kept in in Buffalo?

 

[midnight_skulker]

Speaking of The Winter Classic, anybody notice that former WJYE jock Jay Moran was the stadium announcer? One more thing: Happy New Year to each and every one.

And happy new year to you too....

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't Jay Moran do public address work for the Sabres? If so, it would only make sense he got the stadium gig as well...

 

[Savage]

With all deference to my Entercom friends, I do believe that 1520 is underutilized and like any other broadcasters who's still interested in AM, the potential for what you could do with a 50 kw unlimited signal with a relatively simple pattern, a la WKBW, is intriguing.

It's my understanding that the current nighttime limits with the OKC 1520 (former KOMA) with Buffalo are a grandfathered-mutual situation, and that status would be surrendered if you moved the latter allocation. This factor along with the 25% ratcheting interference-reduction mandate would result in far tighter limits. Without having done a nighttime protection study I would opine there are likely other restrictions which would surface, like adjacents such as WCKY. When you surrender an old authorization you get at the end of the line in terms of protection and NIF.

There are more daytime problems than just WCGR. You'ge got 1490s in Batavia, Syracuse and Watkins Glen, plus a 1540 in East Syracuse, a 1510 in Putnam County, and co-channels in Mineola and Ocean City, NJ. All of these facilities would tend to make 50kw DA unlikely without a very complex array - certainly more minima than you could get from a 3-tower cardioid.