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Birmingham Translator News

passtheword

passtheword

A couple of translators sales in Birmingham have either been completed or are in progress. These affect two new CPs in the area: W251BG/Tarrant at 98.1 (moving to 98.3) and W256CD/Fultondale at 99.1. Both stations are showing WAGG as the originating station. I imagine that at least one of those will eventually rebroadcast one of SummitMedia's HD2 channels instead since the two translators' coverage areas already overlap. Here's the link to the info regarding W251BG and W256CD (see under "Translator Moves" and "Translator Sales").

http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/88495/fcc-applications-430/
 
I've been tracking these for a few weeks now and my speculation is that 99.1 will actually rebroadcast WAGG, while 98.3 will do something else. It's not a very ideal location on the dial for a translator due to 98.1 WTXT being such a strong presence in Birmingham, IMHO. The fact that it was sold to Valleydale Broadcasting, which is related to Great South Wireless, makes me believe it may try to rebroadcast 97.7 The Peach into Birmingham.

I know that a translator that's outside the coverage area of a commercial station can't be operated by the same folks who own the parent station, but in this case they're "technically" two different companies. Methinkst they may be exploiting that to improve The Peach's reach into Birmingham proper.
 
One can only hope that the Peach would improve their coverage beyond the south suburbs. Their signal really dies once you cross over Shades Mountain.
 
The 98.3 translator is on the air with a Mexican Regional format from Rivera Communications; it is the same programming on 1220 AM. Although I am not a fan or listener of that genre' of music, it is refreshing to hear something different on the air.
Right now , the 98.3 signal is not great, I suspect it is because it is too close to the 100 kW TXT, I hear severe fading all over the city. I don't believe WAGG will be on 99.1, The translator that has the best rating is 104.1(WMJJ-HJD2), according to the latest ratings it pulled a 6.2 share in the all important 18-34 demographic.
 
Thanks for the update Richdogg. Boy they got that on in a hurry. It's only licensed for 150 watts, but the coverage map on paper looks pretty good, so maybe there's some tweaking still to be done at the TX site.

Is this the first full time Hispanic-targeted format to air on FM in Birmingham?
 
Some of that tweaking must have taken place. Yesterday, I got a really good signal yesterday of the 98.3 translator on Valleydale Rd in north Shelby County...so much so that the car stereo actually stopped on the station during a scan. I am able to hear the translator at home in south Shelby county on a clock radio, too, although the signal is fair at best.
 
An update: Just heard the legal ID on 98.3. The call sign for the translator has been changed from W251BG to W252CE to reflect the new frequency of 98.3. COL is still given as Tarrant.

Couple of sidenotes (one related, one somewhat related): This is not the first time a translator has operated in Birmingham on the 98.3 frequency. About 15-20 years ago now (as best as my memory can recall, anyhow), an FM translator was granted for Birmingham at 98.3, rebroadcasting WRSA (Beautiful 97) in Decatur; call sign was W252AT. I know that translator made it to the air, at least temporarily, because I heard it one day at Brookwood Mall/Village while waiting in the car as my wife went into McRae's. Seems like that translator was licensed for only 10 watts, and the signal was barely audible. I never heard the translator again, so it may have just been on the air during that time to keep the license active. This was years after WRSA was rebroadcast on an FM translator at 105.5 here in Birmingham. Speaking of WRSA (which brings me to my somewhat related sidenote), a friend of mine is doing an online station based on the former WRSA, Beautiful 97 called, aptly enough, Beautiful 97 and located at beautiful97.com. Just had to throw that plug in there for him. ;)
 
I know the 98.3 translator and wzal-lp are both on the air and the 94.9 translator and wsyp-lp should be on the air pretty soon but does anyone have an update on the 99.1 translator I haven't heard anything on it lately?
 
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