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AM 850????

K

knoxbob

I have noticed nothing but static on AM 850 the last 2 days. Did the big 50kw rig bite the dust or is this a scheduled shut down?
 
Heard them back on the air today. Only listened for a bit. No reason for downtime was mentioned. Kinda reminds me of the mysterious Victory 92.7 going off for over 2 weeks and never explaining ;)
 
Elkhosen said:
Heard them back on the air today. Only listened for a bit. No reason for downtime was mentioned. Kinda reminds me of the mysterious Victory 92.7 going off for over 2 weeks and never explaining ;)
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Something is still wrong with 92.7. Their signal is weaker than it was before the downtime and they are broadcasting in mono. The signal apparently doesn't even reach the receiver for the 107.3 translator. Most of the time 107.3 is broadcasting static, although occasionally it picks up WMIK 92.7 from Middlesboro, KY.
 
It is amazing how folks have posted and posted on Victory's Facebook site asking why they were down, why their translator is off, etc. and all with no response. I know their programming is all piped in via satellite, but surely there's a person or two running the board or a PC. Strange station. Seems very poorly run to me. Not sure why they bother spending the money for electricity to power the transmitter.
 
They were back on this afternoon when I was on my way to work. The signal sounded a little weak, they may not be at full power or their processing might be a little off. They were playing their hourly John Conley tune, Rose colored Glasses.
 
I'm liking 850's country oldies better than 1040's (who seems to have an hourly Don Williams song). I have noticed 850 off the air several times in the last two or three weeks though.
 
Hello, babies...
Word is that 850 has been doing extensive work on their transmitter, towers, etc., including an episode in which one tower lost a guy wire and had to be re-rigged to avoid it falling.
It now sounds like the work is done, as the transmitter sounds like it is finally on full power, or close to it. Now, let's see how K-town's 5th (or is it 6th?) Classic Country can do in gathering up an audience.

Wonder how many Classic Country Oldies there are over the past 65 years, from the end of WWII up to, say, 2000? How many would you place in that catalog?
 
Couple of things....850's sister AM 1140 in Loudon (WLOD) has built a new transmitter shack on their tower site. I would think that a transmitter/tower tune-up would soon follow. Been OTA for a week or two now at least.
I also noticed a posting on Knox Craigslist seeking a graphic designer to do a logo for the WKVL calls without the usual boots, hats and interstate signs. Chosen design gets $300...
Seems like they want to play...
 
Sad to say, but honestly you could add the ratings of 850, 1040, 730, 1380, and 1140 all together and they still would be insignificant. Even if they increase the power to 5 million watts and hand out 100 dollar bills, no one listens to AM radio anymore. (and i hate to say it, but being honest, especially with people 40 and under, FM isn't that far from the same fate as well). :-\
 
They are spending lots of money to fix a station that can't be heard. If they do get it up and running they are going to have a hard time with a hybrid format and poor coverage. AM 850 is very directional, couple that with the fact that new cars are going to be able to dump the AM band in 4 years and you can see why any money spent on the station is being tossed down a rat hole. Then new owner has to be someone who has never been in radio or is just totally out of touch with the future. As always we wish them the best, but we believe that not only will they pull zero numbers they will not be able to sell the facility or license when they realize the future for them is very dark.
 
I have been away from Knoxville for quite some time.I remember AM 850 as "All News 850" and it was run by UT students. I remember because I had to "work" there for summer session back in 93.
 
formerradiojunkie sez:

I have been away from Knoxville for quite some time.I remember AM 850 as "All News 850" and it was run by UT students. I remember because I had to "work" there for summer session back in 93.
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Wow...you have been in radio since 1993? How far up the ladder of success did your UT education take you, FRJ?
 
Started radio in 89 or so working at WRJZ running Sunday programs back when they were broadcasting from the xmitter site in the middle of the Holston Hills Golf Course. Worked at WOKI (I-100, Z-93 & Hitkicker) all thru college. Moved to various markets over the years. Made OM but tired of the mentality and automation. Radio lost its fun so I quit about 5 years ago.... Took a factory job and now make 3 times the money and have better benefits and only work 4 days a week. Go figure, got a degree in Comm from UT and now it collects dust.
 
formerradiojunkie said:
Started radio in 89 or so working at WRJZ running Sunday programs back when they were broadcasting from the xmitter site in the middle of the Holston Hills Golf Course. Worked at WOKI (I-100, Z-93 & Hitkicker) all thru college. Moved to various markets over the years. Made OM but tired of the mentality and automation. Radio lost its fun so I quit about 5 years ago.... Took a factory job and now make 3 times the money and have better benefits and only work 4 days a week. Go figure, got a degree in Comm from UT and now it collects dust.
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Tell me about it, formerradiojunkie. I also have a communications/broadcasting degree from UT and worked in radio for a while in the 90s. But I quit in the late 90's when I got a job with the US Postal Service. I still love radio, and keep up with all the latest, but why work in a field where I would have to move every two years, and make 1/8th of what I do currently? Sure, my current job isn't exciting, and I'm not using my degree (unless you consider mail as "communications":) ), but the benefits and pay are far better than I would ever make in broadcasting (even in a larger market). So I know what you mean.

Anyway, I agree, that automation has taken a lot of the fun out of radio, but I'm still a fan and still follow everything. However, I don't ever see myself as working in the business again (unless maybe I win the lottery and buy a station for fun :)
 
I too was a product of WUTK-AM 850. In fact AM 850 sort of followed me around from the University of Tennessee, to what was Dick Broadcasting, to Horne Radio. So I decided several years ago to make 850 part of one of my e-mail addresses, which I still use to this day.

Anyway, in '06 I left one of "The Big 3" radio outfits in K-Town to build and manage a Class A FM radio station in a very small rural market. . .even took a paycut to do it. This place is so small that if a goat was to escape from its pin and attempt to graze one our backroads, that might constitute a traffic report!

Nonetheless, I'm having the time of my life. I get to do a little bit of everything from news, to sales, to management, to very light transmitter maintenance. I'm much closer to my goal of owning and operating my own radio stations. . .a lot closer to that dream than I ever would have gotten as salesperson #6 working in a 3x5 cubicle.

Out here in the sticks, these people have never had a truly local FM radio station. We're the WIVK of our area. It's nice to NOT hear "You're with what station?"
 
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