AM BROADCASTERS - CALL TO ACTION

[Kyle D]

Kelly admitted that continued HD operation would be “incompatible” with his station’s new target – citing a significant reduction in analog quality and coverage: “We’re shutting it off because it has destroyed the signal for 99.999-percent of the public able to listen on current radios... The youthful rock audience at the half-dozen colleges close to the transmitter did not respond by purchasing an HD radio... Instead, they listened overwhelmingly on the internet... The Skin Radio service will continue for them on an online platform... The new 39-59 target is even less-likely to buy into HD and we must make our best impression on them with the signal available... There are many analog AM radios that are a drastic improvement over the junk we had to listen to back in the 70s and 80s...” The four-hour program is available in looped replay all weekend at the Radio Racket website.

Thanks again for posting about our interview with Tom, but I just want to clarify some of the "quotes" here. Tom did not say that he was turning off the IBOC because HD is "incompatible" with his station's new target audience. He did say that he was turning it off to get greater coverage in the market from his analog signal. He also didn't really comment on how many HD radios were purchased by local college kids, because I'm sure he has no idea what the sales numbers are for the product. It doesn't seem that anybody is talking about what the sales for the radios has been...I'm guessing that's because they have been beyond pathetic, but again, that's just speculation on my part.

I don't think WHAT is the first AM to abandon IBOC (and hopefully they won't be the last.)

George wasn't saying that WHAT is the first AM station to abandon IBOC in the country, just that they are the first one here in Philadelphia to do so. I can only hope that the rest of the stations follow his lead, but I'm not holding my breath. I dread September 14th.

If you’re having a slow Friday night, the “Racket” is well-worth your time [and further testimony to vsa’s observation]... It's literally the live aural version of this board, and features many of its lovable characters [Paul Walker included ]. Toss-in the typical production values, and you have a genuine “show” – every bit as informative – and even more entertaining than radio in print. “The Radio Racket” is the foresight-laden creation of Mr. Brusstar – a former Philly terrestrial radio devotee-turned-internet entrepreneur... It’s a great listen – and it’s “Sonic-Set-owned” to boot

Thanks for all of the kind words!

When we started the show, even in the planning stages for it, we said that we want to be the "aural version of a message board". The show is something that we all love and put a lot of work into, so if you enjoy it, pass the word along! The show is growing (as is Audio 18 itself) all the time and we're always happy to have new listeners. So check us out and give us a call!

 

[BRUSSTAR]

Racket, WHAT, "HD" Radio, etc.

First of all thanks to Zach and Hipporadio for your nice words about the program... It's much appreciated, and I hope we'll hear from you in the near future...

And thanks to Kyle for the clarification. I haven't heard last night's show yet, so I wasn't able to remember what exactly was and wasn't said... Perhaps some of the confusion came from the fact that I have been saying the whole "99.999% of the other listeners thing" over and over again (and probably did last night)...

I just got in from taking a ride around town. Figuring WHAT's engineers wouldn't be around Labor Day weekend, I assumed the IBOC would be turned off sometime Tuesday or Wednesday (it was still on yesterday late in the afternoon). I punched up 1340 (one of my presets, though I rarely was able to get it well after IBOC went on) just to hear what Sinatra song was playing out of curiosity and IMMEDIATELY knew the "HD" encoder was off. Sure enough, WHWH in Princeton (1350) and WNJC (1360) were coming in clear as well, which isn't the case when 'HAT's IBOC is on. And the audio was rather crispy on WHAT. Before (when IBOC is on) it sounded like a phone line.

Mr. Kelly was a big proponent of "HD" Radio when he launched his station earlier this year. I'm not saying he isn't anymore, but I did notice (based purely on the conversation we had on the show last night compared with when he was on with us several months ago, and from other conversations) it SEEMS his enthusiasm has waned a bit. Then though, that could just be because it's become common knowledge the Racket isn't exactly an "IBOC-friendly zone".

We've got a show in the works with some actual retailers who work for some of the big electronics chains. They've been privately telling me some hilarious stories about selling (or attempting to sell) "HD" Radio-- stories we could all imagine, but ones that are so great to hear coming from non-radio people who have no horses in this race.

Again, thanks for listening and for those nice words.

 

[Radioman100]

A kilowatt graveyarder in a big, big city.

Yeah, I'm sure HD Radio is what made the station's coverage suck.

 

[Radioman100]

Oops. You elitism is showing. "Late coming, shoehorned-in stations?" I see. So your argument is that anyone who was licensed after a certain date, or who maybe has a high NIF limit, should be sacrificed for the greater good, regardless of the station's merit. Is this what you mean?

I've got what Joe Pesci in "My Cousin Vinny" would have called "a counter-offer."

How about the sacrificial surrender of licenses starts, instead of with WYSL-type stations, with Clear Channel AMs which have no appreciable local programming. Like the ones (I can give you the callsigns privately) within an hour or two's drive from here that don't even have local weather forecasts all weekend, no news, etc. Or the CC AMs which program pornographic talk shows like Don & Mike for the prurient pleasure of crack-smoking unemployed drywall installers.

That's right: if we're talking about making sacrifices for "the greater good of AM," I make a motion right here and now to start with YOUR livelihood instead of MINE. Do I hear a second out there? All in favor say "aye."

Oh, I'm making SUBJECTIVE judgments about the relative merits of various stations? Hmmm. Nice, huh? Feels great. Less filling.

Late responding to this gem... Been busy.

The anti-IBOC crowd tries to present an altruistic front to the world. You claim you don't want IBOC because it supposedly interferes. I'm betting there would be a lot less interference on the AM band if all stations turned on or upgraded since '75 or so were turned off. I think it's funny that the only publicly anti-HD station I know of is a late coming interference generator in its own right that's trying to serve a market with 500 watts at night from 20 miles away.

Would you be similarly outraged if the Commission loosened the rules a bit more and allowed even more new stations to sign on and encroach on WYSL in Rochester at night? After all, they'd just be taking advantage of what you have done yourself.

As for programming and merit, people get a say in that. As far as 12+ numbers go, WYSL is the lowest rated AM in the Rochester market (that shows up anyway. There may be some that don't even show.) The way I see it, there's 4 stations people would miss more than WYSL. How many listeners is a .5 share in Rochester? I'm betting WHAM's 9.6 share is a lot more.

 

[Kyle D]

A kilowatt graveyarder in a big, big city.

Yeah, I'm sure HD Radio is what made the station's coverage suck.

It certainly didn't make it any better!

I live appoximately 30 miles outside of the city limits of Philadelphia. When the IBOC was on WHAT, I couldn't listen to the station during the daytime. Now that Mr. Kelly has turned it off with the new format, I can hear it again.

This is what those of you out there that defend this "technology" don't seem to understand. An overwhelming majority of the population has NO IDEA what HD Radio is, nor obviously do they care. All they care about is whether they can hear the station they prefer to listen to. If someone hears about the new Contemporary Standards format on WHAT and they turn on the station, and because of IBOC, they can't hear it, what are the chances that they are going to try to listen to it again? Mr. Kelly has made a very wise decision here and grown the total number of possible listeners to his station exponentially.

WHAT is already at a distinct disadvantage given its graveyard frequency and output power, why it should put itself at a greater disadvantage by running IBOC?? Damn the 95-percent of listeners to super-serve the remaining 5-percent (and I think that's probably generous) of the popluation that have the means to listen in HD? Sounds like a great plan to me... :

Hopefully the rest of the business will soon realize this and end the botched experiment of HD Radio, especially on AM.

 

[hipporadio]

Re: Racket, WHAT, "HD" Radio, etc.

First of all thanks to Zach and Hipporadio for your nice words about the program... Perhaps some of the confusion came from the fact that I have been saying the whole "99.999% of the other listeners thing" over and over again (and probably did last night)...

No George – the “confusion” was caused by me! I was a half-hour late clicking-in “The Racket” I got there just as you guys were having fun with Paul B. Walker—the rural South Carolina gay Op Manager of the high-dial-position AM “family values” station-turned-Classic Country : [Side-bar]: O.M.G. – there’s almost enough fodder there to equal “R.J. the brokered-radio star” – and certainly more than “HD” Radio!

I was not “stationary” at the computer – rather, I was back ‘n forth between rooms when Tom Kelly joined you; and I was not capturing the stream or taking notes. I should have been more-careful to indicate a “paraphrase”, instead of lumping some of your points into a paragraph-long loosely-definded “quote” in my hurried post... I apologize! I do recall you making the “99.999-percent” comment and inferring that “HD” and the adult standards crowd may not be a natural. You have very-eloquently made the “coverage point” many times on your program – just as Kyle has in the previous post.

I vividly-recall your guest talking about “HD” coverage and quality concerns in regards to the analog listener; his observation that AM radios made today were “better than that junk in the 70s”; and that the prior format was more-popular on the internet stream [regardless of HD] and would remain there. I understand that confusion can easily-become “sensitive” when dealing with the cooperation of a man of Mr. Kelly’s stature... I’m sure that you are very grateful that he is a friend of your fine program!

Prominent in my post was a referral to the REPLAY so others reading could listen to the Kelly interview for themselves... I hope you and Kyle appreciate that such wouldn’t be the conduct of one intending misinformation. THANKS for a very interesting show on “internet radio”, and please un-ban P.B.W. – there’s too-much “ripe fruit” there [pardon the pun]

 

[Savage]

TO: THE WORLD
FR: SAVAGE
RE: RADIOMAN 100'S RECENT POST

Q: How can you tell when an IBOC-AM booster is losing the argument?

A. He attacks the IBOC critic. And his station.

Q: How can you tell when an IBOC-AM booster is losing the argument BADLY?

A. Gauge the "nastiness level" and the irrelevance of his response. They relate directly to the frustration he feels because he can't make persuasive counterarguments. This is the same point when little kids throw a punch or kick.

If IBOC was truly the "savior of the AM band," as WOR's Tom Ray recently denied "ever" saying, I guess this topic wouldn't have attracted (at last glimpse) over 2400 reads and over a hundred responses. Guess it's safe to say that IBOC-AM at night is "somewhat controversial" and that it's valid to question whether all that adjacent-channel noise is going to be good for the AM band .

Oh, I almost forgot - Radioman 100 works for WYSL's major competitor. Thought that might be appropriate to point out.

 

[Radioman100]

TO: THE WORLD
FR: SAVAGE
RE: RADIOMAN 100'S RECENT POST

Q: How can you tell when an IBOC-AM booster is losing the argument?

A. He attacks the IBOC critic. And his station.

Q: How can you tell when an IBOC-AM booster is losing the argument BADLY?

A. Gauge the "nastiness level" and the irrelevance of his response. They relate directly to the frustration he feels because he can't make persuasive counterarguments. This is the same point when little kids throw a punch or kick.

If IBOC was truly the "savior of the AM band," as WOR's Tom Ray recently denied "ever" saying, I guess this topic wouldn't have attracted (at last glimpse) over 2400 reads and over a hundred responses. Guess it's safe to say that IBOC-AM at night is "somewhat controversial" and that it's valid to question whether all that adjacent-channel noise is going to be good for the AM band .

Oh, I almost forgot - Radioman 100 works for WYSL's major competitor. Thought that might be appropriate to point out.

Right...

I'm not attacking anyone or anything. I'm merely pointing out some truths that are a bit inconvenient for you.

Let's look at what I said:

1) The anti-IBOC crowd opposes IBOC because of supposed interference claims. I believe the AM band would be much more listenable in general if late bloomers like WYSL were never licensed. Stations that never should have been granted licenses or upgraded facilities create a lot more interference for DXers than IBOC ever could. You justify the interference YOUR station creates because the Commission blessed it. Well guess what... The Commission just blessed IBOC too.

2) I mention WYSL by name because as far as I know, it's the only station that has adopted a public stance against IBOC. You brought WYSL into the arena of IBOC discussion, not me. If you're going to criticise, be prepared to accept some criticism of your own.

3) You brought programming based merit into the discussion, not me. While you may not appreciate Don & Mike, a lot of other people do. We don't live in a religious theocracy. This is a free country and people freely choose to listen to shows like Don & Mike. They wouldn't be on the air if they didn't attract an audience, even if the audience is "crack-smoking unemployed drywall installers." The only semi-reliable gauge of listener interest we have is Arbitron, and WYSL doesn't do too well in that regard. I'm not being nasty, I'm not being mean, I'm just pointing out an inconvenient truth. If we took a poll of people in Rochester as to which AMs they would like to keep around, looking at Arbitron anyway, WYSL probably wouldn't rank too high the keep list. As far as I'm concerned, merit should be determined by which stations attract and hold the most listeners. I'm sure Mozart is better for me intellectually than Led Zeppelin, but I just can't listen to that stuff. I'd hate to live in a country where my listening choices are being limited to what some bureaucrat deems culturally or socially significant.

4) I don't work for Clear Channel. I respect them, and particularly their corporate engineering department, but I don't work there.

 

[hipporadio]

The anti-IBOC crowd tries to present an altruistic front to the world. You claim you don't want IBOC because it supposedly interferes. I'm betting there would be a lot less interference on the AM band if all stations turned on or upgraded since '75 or so were turned off. I think it's funny that the only publicly anti-HD station I know of is a late coming interference generator in its own right...

Well I suppose that I’m one who survived initiation into the Anti-IBOC [AM] fraternity [where they swing buzz-saws instead of paddles ]; so I’ll beg you to recall this “crowd-member’s” very-simple take on an AM crowd of a different making...

Crippled AMs are not generally viable in the major markets to begin with... And they make lousy HD facilities.

So shut them off and "thin the herd". The FCC permitted that "herd" to become unmanageable in the first place...

I understand that a simple idea often keeps company with complex and hotly-contested implementation, so we’ll leave that to another day and several-dozen new threads. Suffice to say, the infamous “marketplace” [along with a dash of regulatory gusto] may in time force that herd into some basic Darwinism.

For the record – I have been opposed since the 70s [in many cases “on the record”] to ALL the following FCC-enabled “AM initiatives”...

1—“New and improved” Class 2 DAYTIMERS [of the 10, 25, and even 50kW stature] on clear channels – get-it-on FULLTIME, or don’t get-your-jollies at all!

2—“Flea-power” [of the 5 and 15-watt flavor at night] used by the former Class 2s on clear channels – VERY LITTLE [if anything] gained by the perpetrators, but [cumulatively] quite a bit lost by those formerly-protected... Keep-it-up fulltime with acceptable-virility – or get-it-off at night [please pardon the double-entendre]

3—“Rabbit-power” [the infamous 27, 38, and 49-watters] on the former Class 3 “regional” channels – loveable by day, but prone to multiple forms of mischief after sunset – especially when the “High/Low-Power” relay so-often gets conveniently-stuck on the former during a high-school basketball game – eventually becoming S.O.P as its replacement lingered on “backorder”. I was more in-favor of a FIRM 500-watt PSA/PSSA – rational service from 6AM-7PM, then bye-bye birdie!

4—Class desegregation as it’s related to operation at elevated and sometimes very-high power levels [even up to 50kW] on the former Class 3 channels. While most were maxed-out at the former 5kW limit, some won the lottery and cranked up – waaay up to a point that makes their operation obscene during critical-hours. Here are three illustrative examples and perennial offenders – regardless of season, sunspots, and other DX conditions: 1260 WXYT Detroit; 1290 WHKY Hickory, NC; and 1300 WNQM Nashville. I have heard these stations repeatedly-plaster [and render unusable] the 5kW large-market signals of WNDE – Indianapolis; WHIO – Dayton, OH; and WLXG – Lexington, KY during the two-hour periods after daybreak and before sunset at locations considered “ex-urban” [NOT “fringe”] to their TX sites. Mention this trespass to any engineer at the offended station, and you’ll get the “I know” and rolling-eyes response. All the “Perps” of this mischief were allowed a hike to 50kW that allegedly looked “just fine” on paper – Perp #1 even maintains its 50kw “blow-torch” FULL-TIME, and soon will become an “HD buzz-saw blow-torch”... WXYT is owned by that little radio concern known as CBS!

5—‘Remember the “expanded band” and all the interference that was to subside within the “old AM band” seven-years hence? Then recall all the “juicy” 10kW allocations that were snatched and moved into corporate clusters many-hundreds of miles away... Can you say “Hot-lanta!” and the central-Georgia jigsaw; or WRLL—re-licensed to the “non-urbanized and underserved” community of Berwyn, IL [correction—CHICAGO] in a brilliant stroke of CCU legalese that later-provided the president for a HUGE shift in local FM radio service to stables in much-larger markets. Furthermore, the move of 1690 by CCU from downstate Johnston City, IL – provided reason-enough for the formerly-offending 810 WDDD to remain on the air and continue to transmit the “interference” that earlier-earned it a slot in the X-band. And how many other “old-banders” actually shut-off after their nice dose of corporate welfare? VERY FEW – assuming that I can count correctly to about seven! Corporate broadcasting and the NAB were also instrumental in that “smooth move”—one that virtually double-dipped the taxpayer for a second corporate trip to the cash till!

6—I'm saving the very-best for last... A shameless self-promoting game of nearly-exclusive corporate radio Chess involving AM facility moves – which literally sacrifices the AM band to enrich FM-fortune in large markets. How else could you possibly justify the following: 1360 KELE – Mountain Grove, MO [“fulltime” with 60-watts at night] gets the urge to move over 500-miles [!] from the Ozarks of south-central Missouri – three states east to become “remaining local service” in little Ripley, OH [which just happens to be ex-urban to Cincinnati and has an FM on 99.5]. Seems that FM could be moved [with a C.O.L. change] to near-the-outer-beltway of the big-town; but a pesky problem persists – Ripley needs replacement service, and earlier attempts to conjure one up have failed to fly the FCC’s kite. Not to worry... The Executive-Branch FCC seems to reinvent corporate welfare on a weekly basis... KELE will become Ripley’s replacement – despite its frequency shift to 1180 and NO provision for night-service at any level. An interesting issue remains... I thought no further authorizations of AM service would be granted unless they were “fulltime” – ‘guess that’s just a trivial technicality when the ultimate recipient of the FCC’s look in the other direction is First Media of TEXAS. BTW – to equate First Media with “corporate radio” might be blasphemous to the latter. “First” is little-more than a commodity-trader... Instead of beans, barrows ‘n gilts – it’s paper with the proper regulatory stamp. Altruistic benefits to Ripley aside – use of 1180 there, severely-degrades three existing [and easily-received] stations: 1190 WOWO, 1170 WWVA, and most-unfortunately 1160 WDJO—a full 5kW and only 40 miles to the southwest with a directional-lobe equivalent of about 11kW toward Ripley. So how can this be? I did remind you that First Media hails from TEXAS [where “everything’s bigger”]; and we all know that “size matters” in the office of the FCC’s ultimate Commander.

We’ve all witnessed the woeful results of these incremental band-aids and corporate entitlement programs: an AM band that has “evolved” to the level of a purposely-engineered Cranberry bog. If “life imitates art”, these corporate radio types and their “HD” shills are in desperate need of an intervention – from an entity unrelated to casino gambling, commodity-trading, and creative accounting. Radioman... To infer that “the anti-IBOC crowd” has dirty hands is outrageous! Oh just behold the sight of those stained CCU, Cloud-Nine, See-BS [and other] fingers so many times caught picking cherries from the pie! They are the overwhelming beneficiaries of the opportunities provided by several of the “AM initiatives” detailed above – especially the most-destructive dalliances detailed in numbers 4, 5, and 6... NOT the creative Mr. Savage; dumber [in New England]; the delightfully-cynical SUPER, the affable Tom Wells; net-surfing vsa; assorted Racket players; even pocketradio [who prefers dissing “HD” at the Circuit City and Crutchfield sites] – and certainly-not your warm ‘n fuzzy UncleHippo here 8)

 

[hipporadio]

CORRECTION...

OOPS... WXYT Detroit is on 1270 [NOT 1260 :-\ ]... ‘Sorry about the typo! Despite its MASSIVE love-affair with steel [is that NINE TOWERS I see over-yonder?] and a pattern that resembles [a very-impresive ---- well... ‘ya know ] – it seems to roam curiously, and in all the wrong places near and during periods of darkness. It’s IBOC sidebands are even-more-a-nuisance than those of the typical 5kW “regional channel” AM that’s disposed to futilely turn them on in the first place!

Now, I’ll recline and continue to enjoy the show... Just look what you opened up there Savage ;D

 

[Radioman100]

They are the overwhelming beneficiaries of the opportunities provided by several of the “AM initiatives” detailed above – especially the most-destructive dalliances detailed in numbers 4, 5, and 6... NOT the creative Mr. Savage

Obviously with AM, interference is a matter of degrees. Regardless of who's using it to their best advantage, the same rulemakings that allowed WYSL to become what it has also allowed the others to do what they have done. By Savage's own logic, the Commission blessed those moves, so they must be OK, right?

Without those rulemakings, and people like Savage taking full advantage of them, the AM band wouldn't be the mess it has become. While I'm sure CCU, CBS, et al. have made many personally advantageous moves, many more have been made by station owners like Savage who may have later sold out to one of the large companies. There's an interesting build going on right now in Houston at KGOW, the former KILE AM. Guess who owns it? A small, independent broadcaster like Savage.

Think KGOW won't cause any interference? Think again! We could go back and forth arguing whether corporations or independents are doing the most damage, but I think we can all agree that the band would be much healthier for DX purposes if these late-coming changes had never been made at all.

 

[Chuck]

I think we can all agree that the band would be much healthier for DX purposes if these late-coming changes had never been made at all.

That may be true, but it is a little late to un-ring the bell. Adding more interference to the problem hardly seems like an improvement.

 

[Radioman100]

I think we can all agree that the band would be much healthier for DX purposes if these late-coming changes had never been made at all.

That may be true, but it is a little late to un-ring the bell. Adding more interference to the problem hardly seems like an improvement.

It's never too late. If anyone is really that concerned about interference trashing the band, they're always welcome to improve things by turning their own interference generator off. If you're operating a station that has almost no audience and hasn't in years, do the world a favor. Yes, that could just as easily apply to CCU and the other giants as well as small independent operators. All the big groups own pea shooter AMs that the world could easily do without.

 

[Savage]

Hipporadio, it has indeed been satisfying to give this IBOC-debate giant boulder a shove and get it rolling. Thanks for your salty and salient observations; we apparently have mutual friends like Cary Pall and Harv Rees. Glad you enjoyed the thread ;D. Hope others got something out of it too.

Radioman: it's been a pleasure jousting with you, and I'm wanted back on Planet Earth. But I wanted to add a postscript: TWICE you have alleged that WYSL is the "only AM station that has taken/is taking an anti-IBOC stance."

HAW! If Radioman only knew what is about to happen.....

 

[Radioman100]

Hipporadio, it has indeed been satisfying to give this IBOC-debate giant boulder a shove and get it rolling. Thanks for your salty and salient observations; we apparently have mutual friends like Cary Pall and Harv Rees. Glad you enjoyed the thread ;D. Hope others got something out of it too.

Radioman: it's been a pleasure jousting with you, and I'm wanted back on Planet Earth. But I wanted to add a postscript: TWICE you have alleged that WYSL is the "only AM station that has taken/is taking an anti-IBOC stance."

HAW! If Radioman only knew what is about to happen.....

Correction... I said it's the only one I'm aware of. I'm only aware of it because of this forum. If there are others, and there may well be, I haven't heard about them.

But let me guess what's gonna happen... Lawsuit? Good luck proving that night signal of yours deserves protection in Rochester.

 

[hipporadio]

...If you're operating a station that has almost no audience and hasn't in years, do the world a favor. Yes, that could just as easily apply to CCU and the other giants as well as small independent operators. All the big groups own pea shooter AMs that the world could easily do without.

Kudos Radioman – at least you are applying the logic FAIRLY! ...But many are not. Over the years I’ve lost count of the AM interference finger-pointing viewed in print and overheard at broadcaster gatherings. It seems to migrate back to the same clash in thinking: “MY service is more important than yours.” The small guy’s perspective centers on the frustration and resentment born in broadcasting’s most notorious paradigm – the “haves” versus the “have-nots”: “Those big-city broadcasters are always pushing their watts around... They play their arrogant games... They own the FCC... They get anything they want.” Meanwhile, over in the corporate radio hospitality suite, you have to dodge the snide remarks about the small-market station in a double-wide whose tower site is shared by cattle – and an AM rig that still glows from tubes: “Why how dare that little 500-watt pea-shooter on OUR frequency seek night-authority... What are they going to do after the 16-year-olds finish their basketball game – air a late-night edition of the “Swap Shop?” :

What I find ironic is that years ago when corporate broadcasting was much leaner, prouder of their on-air content, and more service-oriented – they tenaciously-fought to protect the band [in general] and their facilities [in particular] from harmful interference. Today, “more is OK” seems to lead the way. FACT: During this first decade in this new millennium [and AFTER de-reg and the corporate-station-cap explosion], the amount of AM interference [day and night] motivated by several of the “opportunities” I described in my prior post can be lopsidedly-credited to the ambitions of large corporate radio... And further consider that these culprits are also provocateurs of the grand-champion of AM interference—the ill-fated IBOC “HD” system!

I know nothing about WYSL; and can only assume the past and present with regards to KGOW—but I’ll make a fair wager on its future... Upon fulfillment of the Construction Permit, no shortage of large corporate radio concerns doing business in the Houston market will find their way to that “independent broadcaster’s” door with their line-of-credit in hand. When polite demeanor fails, the implication of threats will fly: “Play ball ‘n your rich – dare launch your dream format and we’ll box you in [and rub you out] with the full-force of our cluster.” I’ve seen it nearly as often as a Tom-Cat makes kittens – on BOTH bands! But KGOW’s owner may be smarter than the average corporate bear... It’s not-likely that he would have built [or been financed to build] the improved facility without an expectation that the cross-town “cluster mentality” would drive the foolish into his clutches. Therein, lies the problem with regard to many “crippled” large market AMs... So long as the “audience” includes one with cash [any amount of cash] the ultimate solution will remain evasive... And who better to fuel this facade than the cross-town corporate cluster – rich with a “defense budget” – blessed with a building-full of well-healed frequencies to absorb the blow – and plenty of outdated Pentium 1 GHz computers to run the “time for sale” format :'(

Calling the Executive Branch FCC... ’08 will be here before ‘ya know it – how ‘bout a jump-start on some badly-needed re-regulation!

 

[Radioman100]

I know nothing about WYSL; and can only assume the past and present with regards to KGOW—but I’ll make a fair wager on its future... Upon fulfillment of the Construction Permit, no shortage of large corporate radio concerns doing business in the Houston market will find their way to that “independent broadcaster’s” door with their line-of-credit in hand. When polite demeanor fails, the implication of threats will fly: “Play ball ‘n your rich – dare launch your dream format and we’ll box you in [and rub you out] with the full-force of our cluster.” I’ve seen it nearly as often as a Tom-Cat makes kittens – on BOTH bands! But KGOW’s owner may be smarter than the average corporate bear... It’s not-likely that he would have built [or been financed to build] the improved facility without an expectation that the cross-town “cluster mentality” would drive the foolish into his clutches. Therein, lies the problem with regard to many “crippled” large market AMs... So long as the “audience” includes one with cash [any amount of cash] the ultimate solution will remain evasive... And who better to fuel this facade than the cross-town corporate cluster – rich with a “defense budget” – blessed with a building-full of well-healed frequencies to absorb the blow – and plenty of outdated Pentium 1 GHz computers to run the “time for sale” format :'(

I think this one was a brokered ethnic format. The new owner is apparently a wealthy dot com mogul and thinks he can do sports better than CBS, CCU and Cumulus. He just signed on the market's 4th sports format with a full roster of expensive live and local talent. Looking at the numbers, it looks like he's trying to divide a small pie even further. Why bother staffing up with expensive talent if your intention is to fix up and flip the signal?

Reminds me of the old joke.... Wanna know how to make a small fortune in radio? Start out with a large one!

Seriously though, I don't see how anyone could try to squeeze him out. Like I said, this is the 4th sports outlet in Houston, and the major players own smaller clusters in Houston than most places. CBS, Clear Channel, Cox, Cumulus, Radio One and Univision are all in the market.

 

[amfmsw]

Regarding the references to WHAT's "graveyard frequency" in a major market: SO WHAT?

Find a need, fill it and service it, success will follow. I admire the efforts to ressurect this great American radio icon. It stepped up to the plate and took a swing. Be patient, the right formula will come. Just like it did for WRCV 1060 in 1965. WHAT will be a smaller version.

In the early '80's, a crappy city-owned station was sold to get money for city coffers. WCAM was on nearby 1310Kc in neaby Camden, NJ.
The new owner, Wade Communications, saw promise and took a swing. New equipment, rebuit transmitting facilities. Philly laughed until the new WSSJ showed up in 10th place in the Philly Arbitrons. Within the next year, it was top 5. That's when WCAU-FM dropped oldies and went "Fascinating Rythym", and gutted the advertising and talent pool. A fire of questionable origins at the transmitter took it off the air for a few weeks, sealing its' fate, and was again sold.

Times have changed, listeners have shifted, moved and migrated to newer forms and formats of entertainment. But the value of ANY signal in a major market cannot be underestimated. Don't sell it short. What would you say if WHAT got a few FM Repeater frequencies that the FCC is looking at for distressed AM's? Radio needs more people of vision like Tom.

In closing, congrats to WPEN in not conceding to what IS, and seeing what is possible. In a Joey Reynolds WFIL chant now, all togehter: AM, AM, AM, AM, AM, AM!

 

[LinoNYC]

Re: UPDATE... NO HD Radio permitted in the Martini Lounge!

At about 10:40 PM EDT tonight, WHAT station owner [and prominent music marketing consultant], Tom Kelly, appeared live on “The Radio Racket” [www.radioracket.com] to announce the end of “HD” Radio on Philly’s 1340 AM after several months as alternative-formatted “Skin Radio” and a change earlier today to contemporary adult AAA/standards “Martini Lounge Radio”.

Kelly admitted that continued HD operation would be “incompatible” with his station’s new target – citing a significant reduction in analog quality and coverage: “We’re shutting it off because it has destroyed the signal for 99.999-percent of the public able to listen on current radios... The youthful rock audience at the half-dozen colleges close to the transmitter did not respond by purchasing an HD radio... Instead, they listened overwhelmingly on the internet... The Skin Radio service will continue for them on an online platform... The new 39-59 target is even less-likely to buy into HD and we must make our best impression on them with the signal available... There are many analog AM radios that are a drastic improvement over the junk we had to listen to back in the 70s and 80s...” The four-hour program is available in looped replay all weekend at the Radio Racket website.

WHAT may be on a graveyard frequency, but they didn’t need AM “HD” Radio to help bury them!

Reality check: kids don't listen to AM radio anymore. This sort of thing was tried repestedly here in NYC. Z-Rock (1990), WWRL 1997 (read article and see if it sounds familiar) even the very adult oriented WQEW couln't survive past Dec 1998.

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/04/15/1997-04-15_the_big__rl_is_back__backing.html

"The new 39-59 target is even less-likely to buy into HD

Another reality check: likely audience is 59 to R.I.P. Within a year this station will be, ethnic, religion or quack blocks.

The days of music on analog AM are over.

Lino

 

[hipporadio]

Re: UPDATE... NO HD Radio permitted in the Martini Lounge!

WHAT may be on a graveyard frequency, but they didn’t need AM “HD” Radio to help bury them!

Reality check: kids don't listen to AM radio anymore...

"The new 39-59 target is even less-likely to buy into HD"... Another reality check: likely audience is 59 to R.I.P. Within a year this station will be, ethnic, religion or quack blocks.

You are correct about the former – and may-well be a perfect-predictor of the latter, Lino! Nearly EVERY discussion regarding WHAT’s adventurous “Skin Radio” format [and there was MUCH] carried an undercurrent of logical skepticism about it being tried on the AM band, but most were gratified by the “gutsy” attempt. It’s owner and staff get an “A” for effort, but that effort ended-up in a more-appropriate harbor on the internet – NOT on an under-powered trashy “graveyard” frequency better-suited to serve some rural Pennsylvania community – NOT its largest metropolitan area!

The issue here is not this station’s former-attempt to broadcast local alternative rock bands and poets from the Arts District of Philly – or its current stab at face-lifting Sinatra and swing with modern AAA acts to energize a “39-59 demo” [my use of closed-quotes states THEIR goal – not MY own opinion]. WHAT’s ONLY utility on this board was its affection for AM IBOC – they were true-believers [and still may be]. Their station van even prominently-displayed the “HD Radio” logo, and they invited listeners to their lobby for a dose of the signal under the most-optimum of conditions... But where did that initiative get them? ...Certainly-not to a marketable level! WHAT owner, Tom Kelly, appeared twice on “The Radio Racket” [self-described as “not exactly an IBOC-friendly zone”] to face the supportive appreciation of host George Brusstar. IIRC, Mr. Brusstar even attempted to make the very-first commercial purchase on “Skin Radio”; but he perennially-questioned that station’s use of IBOC – citing the technology’s tendency to REDUCE analog coverage and audio quality on “99.999-percent of the radios...”.

That very point certifies the relevancy of the WHAT example here... WHY would ANY AM station with a demure facility in a major-market make a technical decision that imperils its already-deficient coverage? Tom Kelly admitted in his appearance on The Racket [and I can confidently quote] there are several AM [analog] radios available today “that are better than the junk we had to listen to back in the 70s”. Mr. Kelly is correct – I personally-own three outstanding examples of such – and they can be acquired for well-under HALF THE COST of the typical poorly-performing “HD table radio”. WHAT’s hope that its trendy young listener would hot-foot himself over to the Best Buy and fork-out $200-250 for an “HD Radio” with three-inch speakers and under a three-watt amplifier DID NOT approach reality... Understandably so! Now Kelly has ordered the IBOC “OFF” – I won’t again unintentionally-confuse a paraphrase [including the comments of another] with “quotes” on an internet “radio” program – instead, I’ll leave the conclusion regarding the “incompatibility” of IBOC “HD” with MOST [if not all] forms of viable AM radio to those logical readers here.