93.5 W228CJ/99.1 W256EA/WCSX-HD2 Detroit Flips from Sports "The Roar" to “Podcast Radio US"

[speer360]

Beasley Launches Podcast Radio In Four Markets

The UK based Podcast Radio Network has launched on Beasley Media Group properties in four markets. Beasley has flipped "Fox

radioinsight.com

 

[MarkW]

Placeholder format until either the checks from Podcast Radio Network bounce or until these crappy signals can be unloaded, in my opinion.

93.5 does an OK job covering Wayne County east of 275, but the 99.1 signal has a pretty small footprint of reliable coverage across major population centers. It does reach Troy, Rochester Hills, Shelby Twp and Sterling Heights well. Most other places it suffers from at least some co-channel issues, especially in the car. The vast majority of Oakland County gets unreliable or non-existent service from either signal. That tower site used by 99.1 a couple miles east of downtown Rochester is in an unfavorable location.

 

[speer360]

 

[K8PLW]

I can recall the days before translators took over the band. WHMI and even WFMK were usable signals throughout much of Detroit's western suburbs. Now W228CJ clobbers WHMI in this area, you need to be somewhere west of Wixom/Novi before the interference ceases.

I often wonder "What's the point?" Are these companies really making money from operating translators? I suppose the answer is "Yes" or they wouldn't bother, but it's hard to believe. Since they're not directly included in ratings it's difficult to tell. How many listeners does a 99-watt translator with a crummy signal in most areas have? If I had to guess I'd say not many.

 

[Kelly A]

I often wonder "What's the point?" Are these companies really making money from operating translators? I suppose the answer is "Yes" or they wouldn't bother, but it's hard to believe. Since they're not directly included in ratings it's difficult to tell. How many listeners does a 99-watt translator with a crummy signal in most areas have? If I had to guess I'd say not many.

I agree with your assumptions. LPFM's and translators in most instances don't have meaningful coverage to compete with full-class FM stations. AM broadcasters were given what amounts to a set of Walmart water wings during a cross-Atlantic swim in the form of having their AM broadcast be via an FM translator with limited coverage. Most just haven't determined whether translators help their business or not. Broadcasters are facing stiff headwinds when it comes to advertising anyway. Doesn't matter whether a translator is being used. To me, all the shoehorned LPFM's and translators accomplish is to further clog up an already congested FM band.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I agree with your assumptions. LPFM's and translators in most instances don't have meaningful coverage to compete with full-class FM stations. AM broadcasters were given what amounts to a set of Walmart water wings during a cross-Atlantic swim in the form of having their AM broadcast be via an FM translator with limited coverage. Most just haven't determined whether translators help their business or not. Broadcasters are facing stiff headwinds when it comes to advertising anyway. Doesn't matter whether a translator is being used. To me, all the shoehorned LPFM's and translators accomplish is to further clog up an already congested FM band.

It has helped in some cases.

I worked for an FM standalone that bought an AM with super translator and full power fm.

The translator is 250 watts at nearly the top of a 400 some odd foot tall tower on top of a hill at about the tallest point for over 100 plus miles.

The translator gets areas the AM doesnt at night, and even during the day..... and has picked up listeners who like the music but couldnt hear or didnt want to listen to.. the AM

 

[Kelly A]

It has helped in some cases.

I worked for an FM standalone that bought an AM with super translator and full power fm.

The translator is 250 watts at nearly the top of a 400 some odd foot tall tower on top of a hill at about the tallest point for over 100 plus miles.

The translator gets areas the AM doesnt at night, and even during the day..... and has picked up listeners who like the music but couldnt hear or didnt want to listen to.. the AM

None of that matters. Where the rubber meets the road is whether listenership or sales increased over just the AM signal. I'm guessing the jury is still out on that front.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

None of that matters. Where the rubber meets the road is whether listenership or sales increased over just the AM signal. I'm guessing the jury is still out on that front.

It did increase listenership in this case, it helped sales a tiny bit, but not much... the format theyre running is old, and they should change it.. but.. thats another discussion for another time, something i tried hard to do when i was there

 

[Kelly A]

It did increase listenership in this case, it helped sales a tiny bit, but not much... the format theyre running is old, and they should change it.. but.. thats another discussion for another time, something i tried hard to do when i was there

And that's the point. It isn't cheap to apply for and build an FM translator for only bragging rights. If a station isn't able to convert those listeners into ad revenue or donations, all that's being done is adding another signal to the FM band increasing congestion.

 

[MarkW]

For what it's worth, these two translator stations in Metro Detroit rebroadcast WCSX HD-2.

I never heard a single ad (other than Fox Sports Radio or Sportsmap network spots) during the previous format, and I've yet to hear any ads from paying advertisers during the current format.

Does Beasley own a portion of the equity in Podcast Radio Network, or is PRN actually stupid enough to pay for air space on these crappy signals with negligible listenership?

 

[K8PLW]

It has helped in some cases.

I worked for an FM standalone that bought an AM with super translator and full power fm.

The translator is 250 watts at nearly the top of a 400 some odd foot tall tower on top of a hill at about the tallest point for over 100 plus miles.

The translator gets areas the AM doesnt at night, and even during the day..... and has picked up listeners who like the music but couldnt hear or didnt want to listen to.. the AM

I had relatives who lived in a semi-remote part of Michigan's upper peninsula. They enjoyed listening to NPR. We'd visit them during the summer when I was younger, and at the time the only NPR signal that was available was via a translator located not far from their small town. In my mind this is a perfect example of a translator serving its intended purpose and benefiting the community.

However in my area half of the translators are retransmitting an HD subchannel of another FM (WCSX-HD2 "Podcast Radio"). I can understand the business case for a small AM station operating a translator as any presence on FM could be considered valuable, but why would a major media company mess around with these?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I had relatives who lived in a semi-remote part of Michigan's upper peninsula. They enjoyed listening to NPR. We'd visit them during the summer when I was younger, and at the time the only NPR signal that was available was via a translator located not far from their small town. In my mind this is a perfect example of a translator serving its intended purpose and benefiting the community.

However in my area half of the translators are retransmitting an HD subchannel of another FM (WCSX-HD2 "Podcast Radio"). I can understand the business case for a small AM station operating a translator as any presence on FM could be considered valuable, but why would a major media company mess around with these?

Sales.. and demos.. it pairs nicely with the demos of another station they own, flanks/protects another station they own.. or even if it only chips away .5 ratings points.. thats 1/2! from a competitor, its probably more than enough to pay its bills

 

[nd2023]

It has helped in some cases.

I worked for an FM standalone that bought an AM with super translator and full power fm.

The translator is 250 watts at nearly the top of a 400 some odd foot tall tower on top of a hill at about the tallest point for over 100 plus miles.

The translator gets areas the AM doesnt at night, and even during the day..... and has picked up listeners who like the music but couldnt hear or didnt want to listen to.. the AM

That’s W233BS 94.5. I remember hearing W233BS along I-80 and enjoying its adult standards format.

W233BS-FM 94.5 MHz - Saint Marys, PA

Radio Station Information for W233BS 94.5 MHz FM, Saint Marys, PA

radio-locator.com

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

FM Translators for AMs in smaller towns and similar populated adjacent areas do OK.

The IF Beat Restrictions to 99 watts in the largest cities with a full or nearly full complement of 0.8 MHz spaced stations make limited signals inevitable.

Several stations in Northern Michigan have 250 watt Translators that are close to old 3 kW Class A coverage, some coupled with AM stations. The 3 kW/100 meters HAAT equivalent is 250 watts from 348 meters HAAT. That is 1142 feet HAAT. These get out well, and are less than 348 meters but close to the old days of 3 kW Class A actual facilities.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

FM Translators for AMs in smaller towns and similar populated adjacent areas do OK.

The IF Beat Restrictions to 99 watts in the largest cities with a full or nearly full complement of 0.8 MHz spaced stations make this inevitable.

Several stations in Northern Michigan have 250 watt Translators that are close to old 3 kW Class A coverage, some coupled with AM stations. The 3 kW/100 meters HAAT equivalent is 250 watts from 348 meters HAAT. That is 1142 feet HAAT. These get out well, and are less than 348 meters but close to the old days of 3 kW Class A actual facilities.

We have several 600 someodd watt translators here, including one even licensed for 1kw.

We have one in McG thats 250 watts but its only 20 feet off the ground and surrounded by trees. it doesnt have the reach of our 90 watts at 60 feet out in the open not surrounded by anything.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

We have several 600 someodd watt translators here, including one even licensed for 1kw.

We have one in McG thats 250 watts but its only 20 feet off the ground and surrounded by trees. it doesnt have the reach of our 90 watts at 60 feet out in the open not surrounded by anything.

I'm not talking about incorporated areas the size of Paris with 300 people. Mainly towns of several square miles, around 5000 population, with another 5000-10000 in adjacent surrounding townships.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I'm not talking about incorporated areas the size of Paris with 300 people. Mainly towns of several square miles, around 5000 population, with another 5000-10000 in adjacent surrounding townships.

Just adding useless info... lol.

People would think some of these translators have coverage bigger than they do.. and wonder why the translators are 600 and even 1kw..

Until they remember where i am.

another thing we have with translators is 30 plus year old alternate program delivery method waivers and at least one AM thats had translators just as long.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

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[SomeRadioGuy]

It's supposed to drive your imagination.

at least one AM thats had translators just as long

KINY:

KINY - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Some of the translators there have been around since the late 80s, early 90s and teir CPs were granted for KINY rebroadcast

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

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