94.7 WFME sold to ESPN

[nd2023]

Looks like 94.7 was sold to ESPN. I wonder if CBS will put WFAN on 92.3 now that ESPN landed on FM. I'm going to miss 92.3 Now

 

[TimeIsTight]

Nick:

I am really admire you for being able to keep this "important" news scoop to yourself until after midnight, even though, I have no doubt, you have known about it for sometime, possibly even days.

That demonstrates real self control and character, unlike some other guys who "leaked" another story I heard about Denver.

I don't know what you're doing for a living, but you have proved to be a "natural" reporter, one who knows how to keep an "off the record" story to himself until it is approved for "release."

Congratulations, on a Big Story Done Right !!!!! :

 

[JoeyBagODonuts]

Looks like 94.7 was sold to ESPN. I wonder if CBS will put WFAN on 92.3 now that ESPN landed on FM. I'm going to miss 92.3 Now

...and a happy April Fools Day to you too!

 

[DToTheJ]

Give Nick credit, at least he didn't post that 92.3 or any other station didn't flip to dance again this year...

Now to find out what other "tricks" he's posted on the other boards...

 

[d21ofnj]

Nick:

I am really admire you for being able to keep this "important" news scoop to yourself until after midnight, even though, I have no doubt, you have known about it for sometime, possibly even days.

That demonstrates real self control and character, unlike some other guys who "leaked" another story I heard about Denver.

I don't know what you're doing for a living, but you have proved to be a "natural" reporter, one who knows how to keep an "off the record" story to himself until it is approved for "release."

Congratulations, on a Big Story Done Right !!!!! :

Have a sense of humor, will ya? We know what to expect this time of year anyway. This isn't the first time Nick does these stunts.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Back to reality! I am no longer optimistic ESPN will get a class B FM in NY. ESPN isn't getting 107.5 and 94.7 will require substantial updating of facilities and faces major legal hurdles in order to get it to a full-market class B, if that's even possible. If Disney can't get a turn-key deal like 107.5 would've been, ESPN on FM in NY isn't happening. If that doesn't happen, WFAN isn't going to FM either.

Jets' fans, you're stuck with directional AM 1050! If you're in WEPN's null zone in north and central NJ and on Long Island, either you pay for Sirius/XM or you can't listen to your team on radio. And you'd better have a Sirius radio, because if your car has an XM radio, not only do you have to pay extra for NFL games, you only get the home team's broadcast. That means if the Jets are playing at New England, you're stuck with the Patriots' call!

The Jets are likely to remain the only NFL team whose flagship radio station is a directional AM! Even Tim Tebow can't change that!

 

[DanStrassberg]

If you're in WEPN's null zone in north and central NJ and on Long Island, either you pay for Sirius/XM or you can't listen to your team on radio.

!050 has no null zone on Long Island; it's directionalized toward Connecticut and Long Island. OTOH, there may be areas on Long Island where CHUM interferes with WEPN at night.

 

[Ai4i]

Even though, SXM would still sound better ;D

 

[TimeIsTight]

If Disney can't get a turn-key deal like 107.5 would've been, ESPN on FM in NY isn't happening.

Don't be too disheartened about ESPN's possibilities of buying WFME. If they are so concerned about the fraction of total listeners in the county border area of Long Island, they always have the option of also buying a local signal that might cover more of Long Island than any NYC FM, even the ones on the ESB.

Four Long Island radio stations were sold in a group recently for a total of $23-million. Teaming WFME with a Long Island FM signal could actually be a better option than the ESB alone, and would also add audience in Connecticut across the Sound. For an outfit with the deep pockets of Disney, this may be the right time to grab some bargains while the opportunities exist. There may be a Long Island station that they could pick up, with the discount they would get on WFME because it isn't full market, and wind up with better coverage for sports fans.

 

[badjef]

Sorry, Nick. I think your headline, "92.3 Now becomes WFAN" or "WFAN to FM" would have been more believable since they are on the HD-x, already.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[JoeyBagODonuts]

Jets' fans, you're stuck with directional AM 1050! If you're in WEPN's null zone in north and central NJ and on Long Island, either you pay for Sirius/XM or you can't listen to your team on radio.

Jets games are also carried on 103.9 WRCN, which comes in strong on the Island just when WEPN is fading out.

 

[radioguy39nj]

If Disney can't get a turn-key deal like 107.5 would've been, ESPN on FM in NY isn't happening.

Don't be too disheartened about ESPN's possibilities of buying WFME. If they are so concerned about the fraction of total listeners in the county border area of Long Island, they always have the option of also buying a local signal that might cover more of Long Island than any NYC FM, even the ones on the ESB.

Four Long Island radio stations were sold in a group recently for a total of $23-million. Teaming WFME with a Long Island FM signal could actually be a better option than the ESB alone, and would also add audience in Connecticut across the Sound. For an outfit with the deep pockets of Disney, this may be the right time to grab some bargains while the opportunities exist. There may be a Long Island station that they could pick up, with the discount they would get on WFME because it isn't full market, and wind up with better coverage for sports fans.

If ESPN gets 94.7, they'll need boosters just to get the signal into NYC. True they could partner with other LI FM signals, but who's willing to go that route just to allow sports fans to follow the Knicks, Rangers and Jets. Don't be surprised if the Mets go WEPN in 2013, whether it's on 1050 AM, 94.7 FM or wherever.

BTW, how's WFME's signal in NJ? Probably far better than NY, but will they need boosters and partners in say Monmouth or Middlesex Counties?

 

[TimeIsTight]

BTW, how's WFME's signal in NJ? Probably far better than NY, but will they need boosters and partners in say Monmouth or Middlesex Counties? Wink

WFME transmits with 37-kw from half the height above Mean Sea Level of the Empire State Building transmitters, which use much less power, usually down around 6-kw. Its signal in most of North and Central Jersey is better than ESB signals. There is no reason it should need booster's in New Jersey.

If ESPN gets 94.7, they'll need boosters just to get the signal into NYC.

The WFME signal in most of NYC is also fine. It does have some problems with tall buildings in Manhattan, but even Manhattan-based transmitters have those "canyons of New York" problems.

Here is a signal map for WFME on top, and WPLJ on the bottom:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WFME&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WPLJ&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

The only major difference in coverage is the area out near Levittown on Long Island. A strip ten or 15-miles wide.

As far as teams and game coverage goes, no matter what NYC FM carries a team's games, the team itself is likely to want network affiliates to extend the size of its coverage to include outer suburbs like Ocean County, where the NYC FM signals aren't strong, and where the NY teams still have fans. That kind of extended coverage, outside the official NYC radio market, would not matter for the daily sports talk format on FM in NYC.

I have no doubts, that the Yankees will be on WFAN next year. It will be interesting to see where the Mets land. If they do go to WEPN-AM, then I would expect a radio network similar to Jets football.

I am starting to get a feeling that, at least, one other "major" radio operator is bidding on WFME. Even if ESPN is willing to put up with the "less than perfect" signal, it just may find itself outbid, just like it was when Merlin scooped up 101.9. But that's a topic for another thread.

 

[badjef]

BTW, how's WFME's signal in NJ? Probably far better than NY, but will they need boosters and partners in say Monmouth or Middlesex Counties? Wink

WFME transmits with 37-kw from half the height above Mean Sea Level of the Empire State Building transmitters, which use much less power, usually down around 6-kw. Its signal in most of North and Central Jersey is better than ESB signals. There is no reason it should need booster's in New Jersey.

If ESPN gets 94.7, they'll need boosters just to get the signal into NYC.

The WFME signal in most of NYC is also fine. It does have some problems with tall buildings in Manhattan, but even Manhattan-based transmitters have those "canyons of New York" problems.

Here is a signal map for WFME on top, and WPLJ on the bottom:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WFME&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WPLJ&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

The only major difference in coverage is the area out near Levittown on Long Island. A strip ten or 15-miles wide.

As far as teams and game coverage goes, no matter what NYC FM carries a team's games, the team itself is likely to want network affiliates to extend the size of its coverage to include outer suburbs like Ocean County, where the NYC FM signals aren't strong, and where the NY teams still have fans. That kind of extended coverage, outside the official NYC radio market, would not matter for the daily sports talk format on FM in NYC.

I have no doubts, that the Yankees will be on WFAN next year. It will be interesting to see where the Mets land. If they do go to WEPN-AM, then I would expect a radio network similar to Jets football.

I am starting to get a feeling that, at least, one other "major" radio operator is bidding on WFME. Even if ESPN is willing to put up with the "less than perfect" signal, it just may find itself outbid, just like it was when Merlin scooped up 101.9. But that's a topic for another thread.

When you compare the maps, you see PLJ over Levitown, but FME's coverage falls short.

I don't agree with the south coverage, WFME is much stronger in Brick, Pt. Pleasant, and Seaside than WPLJ/Empire. It is also 9 mile further south. The distance is what allowed WJRZ to move their antenna north from Manahawkin to Forked River after Z100 moved. Because of the short-space, WJRZ had to run with frequency off-set before the move. I don't know if the practice is still valid.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[Ai4i]

What is frequency offset?
I have never heard of it except with analog TV stations +/- 10 KHz.

 

[badjef]

What is frequency offset?
I have never heard of it except with analog TV stations +/- 10 KHz.

I believe they do it for the same reason. It never made any sense to me because there would be another station down the line you would be more inclined to interfere with.

But this is Short-Spacing.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[GSP163]

I have been able to pickup WFME weak but listenable as far south as Exit 58 on the GSP (Tuckerton Exit).....None of the other NYC FM's have a listenable signal that far south.

 

[badjef]

I have been able to pickup WFME weak but listenable as far south as Exit 58 on the GSP (Tuckerton Exit).....None of the other NYC FM's have a listenable signal that far south

Atlantic county starts coming into play with the New Yorkers the further south you go. That was not always the case. In years past, before the FCC found their shoehorn for Atlantic and Cape May Counties, the Baltimore and Washington stations would interfere.

You can only go so far south and then it won't make any difference what they do in New York to try to improve the southern reception, you are still going to be dealing with co-channel.

The best you can do is try to improve the building penetration, nearby.

Now, if the Philly, Washinton, Baltimore, and Atlantic City area were to lose power, your reception would be much further than Tuckerton.

I was able to pickup 104.3 in Atlantic City, years ago. Now, that would be very difficult due to front end overload.

The power from all of these signals is there, it is just overrun by an over zealous FCC allocations office.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[badjef]

What is frequency offset?
I have never heard of it except with analog TV stations +/- 10 KHz.

I looked on the FCC pages and I don't see the off-set even being an option. So, I must assume that they are not still using it. As I stated before, it never made any sense to me, anyway.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[nd2023]

I have been able to pickup WFME weak but listenable as far south as Exit 58 on the GSP (Tuckerton Exit).....None of the other NYC FM's have a listenable signal that far south

Atlantic county starts coming into play with the New Yorkers the further south you go. That was not always the case. In years past, before the FCC found their shoehorn for Atlantic and Cape May Counties, the Baltimore and Washington stations would interfere.

You can only go so far south and then it won't make any difference what they do in New York to try to improve the southern reception, you are still going to be dealing with co-channel.

The best you can do is try to improve the building penetration, nearby.

Now, if the Philly, Washinton, Baltimore, and Atlantic City area were to lose power, your reception would be much further than Tuckerton.

I was able to pickup 104.3 in Atlantic City, years ago. Now, that would be very difficult due to front end overload.

The power from all of these signals is there, it is just overrun by an over zealous FCC allocations office.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

I still can get many NYC stations in AC, but it takes slight tropo or I'd have to be in a north-facing room on the upper floors of a hotel.