550 turns off the Mickey Mouse nightlight 9/30

[raccoonradio]

Fybush says Prov's WDDZ 550 and Hartford area's WDZK 1550 are temp going off air 9/30
at midnight pending sale, along with Radio Di$ney stations in FL and KY. Waiting to hear
of buyer, format?

 

[N1WVQ]

As wonderful as that sounds for R.D. to be off, I'm afraid of what else could come. Another religious broadcaster or something. F.C.C. C.D.B.S. doesn't show any 314s...yet.

 

[Skynet74]

WALE will abandon the frequency 990 and then continue their nightmare programming for a new generation on 550. Of course I just made that up. But at least they would get a new tower and a better signal in the process. I would love to see an all News station show up on 550. I realize this won't happen. I am being way to optimistic when I suggest such things.

 

[VelvetR]

WALE will abandon the frequency 990 and then continue their nightmare programming for a new generation on 550. Of course I just made that up. But at least they would get a new tower and a better signal in the process. I would love to see an all News station show up on 550. I realize this won't happen. I am being way to optimistic when I suggest such things.

550 WAS briefly all-news when the call letters were switched from WPAW to WXTR (W-Extra). At the time there was insufficient network news (no satellites, only poor quality phone lines) to sustain it and not nearly enough local news to keep it from being repetitious.

 

[DG02816]

It's a shame the CP for 4.6 kW D, 2.4 kW N, DA-2 was never built. That would have been quite a signal!

 

[VelvetR]

It's a shame the CP for 4.6 kW D, 2.4 kW N, DA-2 was never built. That would have been quite a signal!

It is said that 1 kW at 550 offers about the same coverage as 50 kW at 1550 so I'd estimate that the 4.6 kW days would have been about as good,-non directional, as 50 kW on about 950. I lost track of what happened but I'd guess that it would have been impossible to add a required third tower due to "wetlands" rules that didn't exist when the original two towers were built. I can't remember whether those two are built from tube or rod stock. If tube, their life expectancy is finite and it'd be hell to try to get permits to replace them. They've been there in the marsh since about 1960 so it would not be illogical to feel some concern.

 

[DG02816]

Hmm...I remember the CP as having 4 towers, with daytime pattern being a cloverleaf...Night probably was some form of cardioid to protect New Brunswick? I knew WDEV would have had to be protected during the day; would that also include WGR? Of course adjacent channel protection for WGAN and WHYN. 540? Long Island most likely.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Assuming Disney isn't asking the sun, moon, and stars for 550, I have to assume there would be some interest out there....but WHO?....and WHY?

Finally....something to help break up the long summer of boredom we've had here!

Let the speculation/rumors begin!

 

[MarcB]

As long as it doesn't end of in the hands of Peter Arpin.

Seriously though. 550 has a kick azz signal. I can sometimes get them in the car all the way in Central Connecticut. The only question is will the new owner be willing to put up with them going off the air every time there's a severe rain event and their site getting flooded out.

 

[N1WVQ]

As long as it doesn't end of in the hands of Peter Arpin.

Seriously though. 550 has a kick azz signal. I can sometimes get them in the car all the way in Central Connecticut. The only question is will the new owner be willing to put up with them going off the air every time there's a severe rain event and their site getting flooded out.

Let's hope it doesn't end up Spanish or Catholic!

 

[VelvetR]

The only question is will the new owner be willing to put up with them going off the air every time there's a severe rain event and their site getting flooded out.

That seems to have become more of a problem in recent years. Prior to his run of floods it was typically about 10 years beteween instancss. The concrete tower bases are somewhat higher than usual, probably an intentional design because it was a known flood plain. The tuning shacks, too, are similarly elevated. Just not enough anymore it might seem.

It would be impossible to elevate the bases any further due to cost, but more, to NIMBY and wetlands rules that would require the towers be removed rather than modified in any way. However, with a little clever engineering, the present Hertzian design (insulated base) could be converted to folded unipole design, probably six-fold, so the bottom of the tower is grounded. The skirt would have to start somewhat further up the tower than usual so as to remain above flood level and the tuning shacks would have to further elevated. Overall, not cheap, but reliable though folded unipoles carry their own burden of maintenance.

As to operations under flooding, I don't know how the newest transmitter would react, but the RCA tube-types that were there (and I believe one still is) respond well to loading a temporary longwire with a lower power fed in and coverage barely reduced. I know, because I've done it. The big loss of temp operation is that it's limited to daytime. But, then, who's listening after traffic hours anymore?

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Actually, the 550 situation would open up a possibility for WJFD-97.3 in New Bedford.

For years, the station's owner, the late Edmund Dinis had hopes for moving the Portuguese language programming elsewhere, thereby freeing up 97.3 to do something else in English. At one point during the 90's, Mr. Dinis held a CP for a 5000 watt AM station licensed for North Dartmouth on 1270. Unfortunately, NIMBY opposition in the area made it impossible to obtain land for a tower site, and the CP eventually expired.

A little bit of creative thinking would have the Portuguese programming going to 550 in a simulcast with an HD-2 signal of 97.3, which would finally achieve the long sought dream of the late Mr. Dinis.

I WON'T hold my breath waiting, however. ;D

 

[wiggums]

I must admit that I havent really listened to 550 since it was WGNG. However, I hate to say that radio Disney was perfectly programmed for kids from the on air people to the imaging. Everything was right on. I dislike the fact they transmit in HD. So in analog, music sounds like its being played through a chunk of wood with its reduced bandwith. It's sad to see such a good signal go bye bye. Not to go off topic, but is it me, or does pretty much the Providence AM dial suck. The last time I really listened to it was when 790 was doing the oldies thing. And by judging by the ratings, I was probably the only person that listened to it. Speaking of which, is anyone listening to the "True Financial Station" or whatever they are doing today. I should, I cant even balance my check book!

 

[Skynet74]

Speaking of which, is anyone listening to the "True Financial Station" or whatever they are doing today. I should, I cant even balance my check book!

I had a ton of dishes to wash today. So I did something I almost never do. I decided to turn on Rush Limbaugh while I was washing. But I couldn't find HJJ. No digital display on the radio in my kitchen. I thought the dial was on 920. But out came Bloomberg radio from the speakers. I had no idea that Bloomberg radio was on Providence radio. I think Bloomberg is good programming and I'm happy to hear it in this market. I enjoy the format. I guess it was on 790 instead of 920. I ultimately found Rush though. After about 5 minutes I realized that I should have kept it on Bloomberg.

 

[N1WVQ]

I must admit that I havent really listened to 550 since it was WGNG. However, I hate to say that radio Disney was perfectly programmed for kids from the on air people to the imaging. Everything was right on. I dislike the fact they transmit in HD. So in analog, music sounds like its being played through a chunk of wood with its reduced bandwith. It's sad to see such a good signal go bye bye. Not to go off topic, but is it me, or does pretty much the Providence AM dial suck. The last time I really listened to it was when 790 was doing the oldies thing. And by judging by the ratings, I was probably the only person that listened to it. Speaking of which, is anyone listening to the "True Financial Station" or whatever they are doing today. I should, I cant even balance my check book!

I thought 790 got about a 1 share which has got to be higher than what it's pulling in now. All-business should be done on a Part 15 on 1610 in the financial district.
As for 550's IBOC, I tried to hear if it was still on the other day. I didn't hear any sideband hash. Normally it's so strong it stops my car radio on 560! Just checked it in Lincoln, no hash. I should roll tape. Now I wish I could've received the IBOC signal to record it but it was too weak in EAST PROVIDENCE! The Boston Acoustics radio could detect a carrier but couldn't lock the IBOC in. Only 920 gets locked in. Forget about a Terk AM antenna: that just overloads the poor radio! So, no WBZ IBOC either!

 

[disney fanatic]

I don't listen to Radio Disney at all, but it's going to be a good move for Providence and Hartford that two of the Disney stations has gone to pull the plug. Look what happened in the Hudson Valley area. WEOK in Poughkeepsie had pulled the plug on "Radio Disney" and went to "True Oldies Channel" to bring some oldies listeners from the demise of the former CC station, "Cool 92.9". That was last spring. Now they're doing the same tonight.

As for WQEW in New York City, I don't see "Radio Disney" pull the plug anytime soon. WQEW has been running "Radio Disney" for 12 years since it flipped from adult standards back in late December 1998. Now that "Radio Disney" is on the internet and satellite radio which is Sirius/XM.

 

[VelvetR]

I can't see anyone bidding much for 550. Yes, the signal is great and that's due to the dial position. On the other hand, being at the bottom or the top of the dial is a handicap in trying to snag incidental audience. They just don't tune to the extremes unless they've been prompted to by intense external advertising. In the history of WPAW/WXTR/WGNG/W-whatever flavor of the week that has only been done a couple of times and the not consistently enough to be truly effective. The only such campaign I can recall being done properly was the introductory year for 990, WLKW, when it first signed on. Not just immediately effective but it continued for several years and became the subject of a number of marketing case studies. Honestly I don't know how Bo Bernstein (agency) was able to keep the owners focused - the principals were not the sharpest knives in the drawer but they did accept some good advice. Until they lost interest.

 

[DG02816]

I remember the 1270 CP Dinis had. It would have been a tight DA-2 to protect 1260 in Boston, 1270 in NH, and 1290 in Providence. ISTR a New Bedford Realtor being involved too.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

I can't see anyone bidding much for 550. Yes, the signal is great and that's due to the dial position. On the other hand, being at the bottom or the top of the dial is a handicap in trying to snag incidental audience.

Now that all modern recievers have "seek/scan" and memory pre-sets, isn't that much less of a problem than it used to be?

As for interest in 550....I'm having a tough time seeing how anybody from outside the market would have any interest in an AM stand-alone UNLESS it's a group/orgainzation for whom the "message/agenda" is the primary driving force....K-LOVE?......Joel Osteen Ministries?......Holy Family Catholic, from Buffalo?...

Another possibility I can imagine is somebody local (with money)...for whom owning a radio property would be the ultimate in ego-stroking, and ego-gratification......Anthony Gemma perhaps?

Just wondering....Is there enough support in the African-American community to support an entire radio station? With three Spanish-language stations in the market already (100.3/1110/990)......I just can't imagine a fourth.

Just a few "thinking-out-loud" random thoughts.

 

[VelvetR]

Now that all modern recievers have "seek/scan" and memory pre-sets, isn't that much less of a problem than it used to be?

As for interest in 550....I'm having a tough time seeing how anybody from outside the market would have any interest in an AM stand-alone UNLESS it's a group/orgainzation for whom the "message/agenda" is the primary driving force....K-LOVE?......Joel Osteen Ministries?......Holy Family Catholic, from Buffalo?...

Seek/Scan is a two-edged sword. When a new vehicle is bought there is a pretty good chance that 550 might be "discovered" but once the buttons are programmed it's the rare driver who uses either "Seek" or "Scan". Not much different from the analog era when the dials got twisted once or twice to set the buttons and then never touched again.

Given that Rhode Island is a predominantly Roman Catholic state it would not hard to imagine there being an interest in a religious format. Most Catholic stations, however, are "All Mother Angelica All The Time" - preaching to the choir. A major exception is the first Catholic radio station in The U.S. which fired up in 1971. It programs a lot of music and news with frequent local-interest programs, including talk, that don't confine themselves to religion. Check it out at KNOM.org. It's a 25-kW on 780, based in a city of 3,500, and servicing an area with a radius of some 200+ miles. Could that format work in Rhode Island? I can't say except that it would almost certainly do better than the conventional Catholic format.