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AM 850 in Johnstown

K

kenhawk1160

Does anyone know what's happening with the old WJAC radio in Johnstown?

I know Sima Birach bought it recently, and he acquired basically the transmitter site and license, but nothing else. I don't see much of a market for ethnic programming there. Can anyone shed any light on this?
 
Rumor is he wants to move it, but that takes time. Meanwhile, it's under an LMA to Forever to keep it on the air. However, I've heard that McKendrie wants to lease it. That current tx site (9 towers) would take a million dollars to get it where it should be. No kidding!
 
listner1 said:
Rumor is he wants to move it, but that takes time. Meanwhile, it's under an LMA to Forever to keep it on the air. However, I've heard that McKendrie wants to lease it. That current tx site (9 towers) would take a million dollars to get it where it should be. No kidding!
Click to expand...

Well, if he sells that real estate the antenna's sitting on, he could get some of that money back he paid for it. The question is, where would you move it to? My guess is, if he's going to move it, he sure isn't going to build a nine-tower system for it.

It's come to my attention that Johnstown is now an unrated radio market. That could spell disaster down the road for some of the bigger stations, since it affects agency dollars.
 
The 9-tower directional will no doubt become scrap metal pretty soon. Just a cursory glance at regional geography and existing AM rigs seems to show an opening around Harrisburg--made easier by WEEU/Reading's move from 850 to 830 a few years back. Say a 3-tower system down toward York shooting north. On the other hand, as easy as it is now (the FCC calls it a "minor change") to move AM licenses hundreds of miles--even changing frequencies & power--the old WJAC could re-emerge as a 250-watter on 1340 licensed to St. Peter, MO--i.e., Saint Louis--giving Birach Broadcasting another in their growing stable of major market rimshot brokered ethnic AM stations. Sure, they could sell preachers and polka-jocks blocks of time in Johnstown, but it's a lot easier to fill 'em up in big cities.
 
Sam Lit said:
Maybe he was given a tip on the trade in value of the ground radial copper.
Click to expand...

You know what, Sam? With the way many of these stations are being allowed to wither and die, maybe it is better that way.
 
Your post makes no sense at all!!! This tread is from over 2 years ago and 850 WKGE is still on the air!!! None of the towers have fallen down. The station sounds great and added Rush Limbaugh. It is one of the best stations in Johnstown. And it is not run by a huge money grubbing corporate hack. I should know.
 
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