Alternating Legal ID's

[DToTheJ]

Is WBMW the only station to currently use "alternating" legal ID's? The station's transmitter is in Ledyard; however, their legal ID will be "WBMW Ledyard/Norwich/New London" on some hours, and "WBMW Ledyard/Groton/Mystic" on other hours.

 

[kms575]

Is WBMW the only station to currently use "alternating" legal ID's? The station's transmitter is in Ledyard; however, their legal ID will be "WBMW Ledyard/Norwich/New London" on some hours, and "WBMW Ledyard/Groton/Mystic" on other hours.

I've heard of that before, though I can't think of a particular example right now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as they get the "WBMW Ledyard" part down, the rest can be whatever.

 

[MarcB]

It's the same thing on their sister station Jammin' 107.7 WWRX Pawcatuck. They alternate which Eastern Connecticut towns get mentioned after the Pawcatcuk COL. If you can tolerate the music you might want to spend a few hours listening to their stream: http://www.jammin1077.com/

On a related note I wonder what station (that is not simulcast on another frequency lists the most cities or towns after their COL).

GOIS Broadcasting's WLAT mentions 4 or 5 cities as well. (Their legal isn't legal tho). I've heard them ID as WLAT Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury, Springfield. (not sure of the exact order except I know they're IDing as WLAT Hartford, which is wrong. It should be WLAT New Britain).

 

[Adam Rivers]

Is WBMW the only station to currently use "alternating" legal ID's? The station's transmitter is in Ledyard; however, their legal ID will be "WBMW Ledyard/Norwich/New London" on some hours, and "WBMW Ledyard/Groton/Mystic" on other hours.

I've heard of that before, though I can't think of a particular example right now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as they get the "WBMW Ledyard" part down, the rest can be whatever.

You are correct. As long as the actual, legal COL is mentioned as the first city directly after the call letters, any town can be said after that.

 

[KML0224]

I have a legal ID somewhere in my collection from 1988 where your station ID'ed as "WILI-FM Willimantic/New London/Hartford". I assume Hartford was technically via the Bolton translator? Did it date that far back? I know I recorded the ID in weak FM stereo from 98.3 FM.

 

[Adam Rivers]

I have a legal ID somewhere in my collection from 1988 where your station ID'ed as "WILI-FM Willimantic/New London/Hartford". I assume Hartford was technically via the Bolton translator? Did it date that far back? I know I recorded the ID in weak FM stereo from 98.3 FM.

The Bolton translator, if I recall correctly, wasn't turned on until 1997 or 1998. 1988 is going way past my memory - I wasn't even a year old.

 

[GlennO]

The 97.5 Bolton translator definitely doesn't go back that far.

 

[jlehmann]

I have a legal ID somewhere in my collection from 1988 where your station ID'ed as "WILI-FM Willimantic/New London/Hartford". I assume Hartford was technically via the Bolton translator? Did it date that far back? I know I recorded the ID in weak FM stereo from 98.3 FM.

They could say Hong Kong after Willimantic if they wanted to (and some stations have done crazy IDs like that). As long as the city of license is said first, it doesn't matter. WBMW certainly isn't the only station that doesn't run the same exact ID every hour.

 

[necrat123]

The 97.5 Bolton translator definitely doesn't go back that far.

Actually it does Glenn. I remember listening to it from my old station's studios when they were on Provin Mountain in Feeding Hills, which moved off of there in December 99, so that was prior to 99. A check of the FCC records show the license to cover was filed May 04, 1998 and granted in August 1998. It's a rather old translator by today's standards.

 

[GlennO]

The 97.5 Bolton translator definitely doesn't go back that far.

Actually it does Glenn. I remember listening to it from my old station's studios when they were on Provin Mountain in Feeding Hills, which moved off of there in December 99, so that was prior to 99. A check of the FCC records show the license to cover was filed May 04, 1998 and granted in August 1998. It's a rather old translator by today's standards.

"Going back far" is relative, I guess. I was referring to the 1988 question.

 

[DToTheJ]

They could say Hong Kong after Willimantic if they wanted to (and some stations have done crazy IDs like that).

"WGTZ... Eaton/Dayton alive!!!"

 

[bub]

Is WBMW the only station to currently use "alternating" legal ID's? The station's transmitter is in Ledyard; however, their legal ID will be "WBMW Ledyard/Norwich/New London" on some hours, and "WBMW Ledyard/Groton/Mystic" on other hours.

I've heard of that before, though I can't think of a particular example right now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as they get the "WBMW Ledyard" part down, the rest can be whatever.

You are correct. As long as the actual, legal COL is mentioned as the first city directly after the call letters, any town can be said after that.

They could say Hong Kong after Willimantic if they wanted to (and some stations have done crazy IDs like that). As long as the city of license is said first, it doesn't matter. WBMW certainly isn't the only station that doesn't run the same exact ID every hour.

Nothing new. WBMW is not the first, only, or last station to do this. My first recollection of stations doing this goes back to the 1970's. Far from a novelty nowadays with stations streaming on the internet.

 

[radiolives]

Its the same for TV. As after WFSB dropped Springfield, MA from their ID which used to be WFSB Hartford, New Haven, Springfield. They would just add a different CT town in place of Springfield such as New London, Norwich, Torrington, etc. Today I believe WFSB just says Hartford, New Haven.

 

[DToTheJ]

Nothing new. WBMW is not the first, only, or last station to do this. My first recollection of stations doing this goes back to the 1970's.

I wasn't splitting hairs. I actually meant if it was the only station in the area to use this practice.

 

[necrat123]

However one thing to note, some stations have dual city of licenses, like WKSS.
WKSS's COL is Hartford-Meriden and thus WKSS MUST state both, in that order, when they do their legal ID.

Dual city of licenses are rare but there are a couple others in New England.
(two I can think of off the top of my head 99.7 WEAN Wakefield-Peaceade, RI.,
700 WTUB Orange-Athol, MA for example)

 

[bub]

Nothing new. WBMW is not the first, only, or last station to do this. My first recollection of stations doing this goes back to the 1970's.

I wasn't splitting hairs. I actually meant if it was the only station in the area to use this practice.

Nobody's saying you did. Leave the hair splitting to MarcB. ;D