730 in Charleston off the air

[charlestondxman]

For the last several days, 730 in Charleston (WLTQ) has been off the air. It was Viva 730 when it was on the air, as Clear Channel has treated it like it was at the bottom of a broom closet.

It was News Radio 730 for several years, with a monster signal that could be heard in the Savannah and Jacksonville areas, with Rush Limbaugh and local talk. Then, they made it progressive talk, which was a success for about a year, but they dropped it for satellite standards. A few months ago, they flipped to a Spanish format, simulcast with "Viva" in Atlanta.

They dropped the signal down to only 1100 watts, only available in a 30-40 mile radius around Charleston, compared to 150 miles when it was WSCC.

Now, on Radio-Locator, they are listed as off the air, which is a sad legacy for a station that was one of the most important stations in the state, WPAL, for many years, being a huge force in the black community, and local most of the day.

Now, the only thing on 730 is the 1000 watt sports station from Memphis at night, and we can hear Florida stations on 720 and 740 every day.

 

[DudeFan]

IIRC, the request to be off the air is due to the sale of WLTQ by Clear Channel. If my memory is not fritzing out on me, the new owner stated that they do not have an agreement to use Clear Channel's studios, so they need to build out a new facility and that WLTQ will be off air until they do that.

 

[iceman07]

IIRC, the request to be off the air is due to the sale of WLTQ by Clear Channel. If my memory is not fritzing out on me, the new owner stated that they do not have an agreement to use Clear Channel's studios, so they need to build out a new facility and that WLTQ will be off air until they do that.

Who's the new owner? Any word on the format?

 

[upstate29651]

Speaking of 730 & its move to 94.3, when will CC drop the stereo feed? It makes no sense for a N/T station to be in stereo. Not only would this allow 94.3 to be heard farther out, it would help with interference issues when trying to listen in offices (where I'm sure a lot of weekday listening takes place).

G

 

[iceman07]

IIRC, the request to be off the air is due to the sale of WLTQ by Clear Channel. If my memory is not fritzing out on me, the new owner stated that they do not have an agreement to use Clear Channel's studios, so they need to build out a new facility and that WLTQ will be off air until they do that.

Who's the new owner? Any word on the format?

nevermind, i did the research its the guy who turned 94.3 into The Beat back in 1999.

 

[tomservo]

Speaking of 730 & its move to 94.3, when will CC drop the stereo feed? It makes no sense for a N/T station to be in stereo. Not only would this allow 94.3 to be heard farther out, it would help with interference issues when trying to listen in offices (where I'm sure a lot of weekday listening takes place).

G

Since most people listen on mono radios at the office, what's it matter? But I agree, if they're not going to work the stereo in positioning and the like, drop the carrier. They can still run RDS or an SCA without stereo if need be.

 

[Rock 100.7]

Even as ower 94.3 they couldn't compete. When it flipped to WSC FM they opened up a gold mine of revenue. WHY IN THE HELL they ever dropped power from what it was and the FM simulcast, I'll never know. there were frequent calls from outside Charleston due to the AM's booming signal. You could hear it from Wilmington to Jacksonville.

For the record, I told Willie he should drop the stereo pilot and adjust the AGC a little on the processor from day one.

And before you say it, NO! I am not Greg Alan, Murphy or Casey. ;D