Cartersville's WYXC NewsTalk 1270 AM does dark; was David Paul's recent home

[KnightWriter]

The Cartersville news-talker went off the air Monday afternoon/evening. A press release out Thursday cites the expenses of repairing 'catastrophic' damage to equipment and the overall state of the industry as to why it will remain off the air. Here's a quote:

"In light of these radio industry changes and the impact we’ve experienced from the severe economic downturn, we cannot justify the expense in equipment and labor to put WYXC back on the air at this time."

The press release in full is at http://www.bartowheadlines.com

 

[dustintv]

Wow how sad I was just on the website last night!

 

[AtlBanker]

From David Paul's site: http://davidpaulshow.com/

A little less than 3 years ago, I was given a morning radio show in Cartersville, Georgia. I had no idea what to expect, but I know what I hoped for. I hoped for a vibrant, active community of listeners and callers.

I got so much more than I hoped for. You have welcomed me into your homes and cars and radios. You have called to shoot the breeze with me, and I have gotten to know this community because you picked up the phone and talked with me. The Morning Show was a success because of you.

However, all stories have a conclusion, all television series have a finale, and it appears, all good things must indeed come to an end. Thank you for calling in, for making our show what it was. It has been an honor and a privilege to talk with you.

 

[secondchoice]

What a shame! I worked briefly there in the late 1970’s. I guess it really was an Economic issue. With so many stations going dark and the gut of old transmitters they could have been on the air with modified ham antenna , old tube transmitter and an emergency wavier from the FCC for a couple of grand. They could have at least got their Christmas billings.

 

[Bengalsfan]

I have a kilowatt CCA in storage they can have if it will get them back on the air.

 

[RhubarbFan]

That is sad to see that happen,I guess Obama's stimulus didn't make it there. He must have forgotten about it while was on his way to Norway.

 

[trusty]

"In light of these radio industry changes and the impact we’ve experienced from the severe economic downturn, we cannot justify the expense in equipment and labor to put WYXC back on the air at this time."

I was searching the press release to find out what went wrong. Surely "catastrophic equipment failure knocking the station off the air" would provide some details. The only "reasons" I found were:

"Radio and media in general are under enormous pressure as technology revolutionizes the way we receive news and entertainment. ... As a result, many FM stations across the nation are now dropping music formats to become news/talk stations."

"As talk programming transitions to FM, this is increasingly leaving AM stations with very limited programming choices. ... Many radio industry analysts believe AM radio may cease to exist within five to seven and that the AM radio band may be reallocated for other uses."


I feel for the station and am sorry to see it go dark, but if the biggest reason for it going dark was failure of equipment (that should have been insured anyway), what happened?

 

[jabba17]

"As talk programming transitions to FM, this is increasingly leaving AM stations with very limited programming choices. ... Many radio industry analysts believe AM radio may cease to exist within five to seven and that the AM radio band may be reallocated for other uses."

Wow...

Now, not to go too far OT, what I would love to see is the FM band being expanded to include TV channels 5 and 6 (78-88MHz), and a lot of the smaller AMs moved there, perhaps as LPFMs in some cases. Isn't Canada moving stations off of the AM band to FM with the ultimate goal of doing away with AM in the Great White North? Then, increase (by turning regional and local channels into clear channels) the number of class A clears allowed on AM, to exploit AM's advantage of skywave. Without all of the smaller stations and their interference, the clear channels would mean something again.

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

That is sad to see that happen,I guess Obama's stimulus didn't make it there. He must have forgotten about it while was on his way to Norway.

Amen and Amen.. Good post Rhubarb.. Obama...Norway ... Great post.. Nuff Said..!

 

[DuckBlue]

That is sad to see that happen,I guess Obama's stimulus didn't make it there. He must have forgotten about it while was on his way to Norway.

I blame it on Bill Clinton.

 

[CompleteGame]

I called CS earlier in the year to inquire about buying YXC. The issue, of course, is that owners think that if they put $100,000 into new gear/equipment/facilities, then the sale price should go up $100,000 too from what they paid. (And they paid my old friend Chip Rogers too much.)

All buyers care about is cash flow. If you can't sell advertising, the rest is just Christmas ornaments on a dead tree.

There are a lot of proud - but revenue-poor owners - (Newnan, Winder, Covington) who should think about dumping, because no one in AM radio answers the phone with: "WXYZ, may I take your order?"....

 

[jabba17]

I called CS earlier in the year to inquire about buying YXC. The issue, of course, is that owners think that if they put $100,000 into new gear/equipment/facilities, then the sale price should go up $100,000 too from what they paid. (And they paid my old friend Chip Rogers too much.)

All buyers care about is cash flow. If you can't sell advertising, the rest is just Christmas ornaments on a dead tree.

There are a lot of proud - but revenue-poor owners - (Newnan, Winder, Covington) who should think about dumping, because no one in AM radio answers the phone with: "WXYZ, may I take your order?"....

If radio is like any other business, the concept of sunk costs often doesn't register with naive owners. Something is worth whatever someone will pay for it, and not a nickel more.

Then again, you have hobbyists like Jack Weber.

I'm surprised that WGFS is bothering to move to a new frequency. I'm surprised that they didn't ask WATB for more money to not find them a new signal once they go dark on 1430. And last I heard, first $75K gets WIMO. That's probably way too much for a 650W daytimer in not the greatest location.

 

[CompleteGame]

And last I heard, first $75K gets WIMO. That's probably way too much for a 650W daytimer in not the greatest location.

That's news to me, b/c I offered more!

 

[taylorengineer]

WGFS is owned by the same folks who own WATB - Arthur Lui.
I did some work for John Frew(1960's WQXI alumni who used to own WXYC)back in the 90's. He made most of his money from a fax news letter - the station was not very profitable. It had a modern Nautel transmitter back in the 500 watt days but the station was in an old house and was not technically, "state of the art."
Making any type of business profitable is difficult - especially if you're selling an intangible like radio advertising. Most people just aren't very good at sales.....you can't do mom and pop radio if either mom or pop can't do sales......and you have to watch expenses carefully. Too many people want to hire staff and buy stuff they really do not absolutely need.
$100K in equipment?? Tells me why they are now out of business!!

 

[oaktree]

That is sad to see that happen,I guess Obama's stimulus didn't make it there. He must have forgotten about it while was on his way to Norway.

Sorry, but he didn't propose any such bailout for broadcast or media. Not even for the "big corporations" of the industry. No "cash for clunkers" for broadcasters either. Not his fault and a weak joke, at best. Let the market decide. The owners about had it right about the economic fate of many small town AM stations in this economy.

A right-leaning AM FOX affiliate at that. Note the "Babes of FOX News" link on their website. That played big in Cartersville, GA, I etc ...

This wasn't an automatic setback. Some owners just don't know how to "own" and "operate" to keep the cashflow coming in while others have deeper pockets, better resources and competitive situations that allow them to survive.

There are others. WPAZ in Pottstown, PA went off the air this past week - similar financial reasons. Staff called together at 10 a.m. and told the news. The station shut off.

Look for more of these in the new year to come. Too much radio in too many places.

Funny how now it is "such a shame" to many -- when advertisers didn't buy, businesses are in trouble and radio stations become less important and can't survive on their own -- and expect the government to bail them out. Can't happen that way. We can't blame government for its faults (and it has many,) then expect it to be there to "take over" the failures.

In keeping capitalism alive, government shouldn't be involved in business decisions -- be it GM, Wall Street or small town radio stations. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Someone within a year (allowed by the FCC) will either resurrect this property and others or the community, like it others, will lose its radio voice.

And as Walter Cronkite said, "And that's the way it is."

A "recovery" from this economy will not put things back to where they were. Broadcasters will not be caught short again, so, the have made unpopular changes with cutbacks and more -- and they will keep doing so to protect their business interests, or will lose altogether.

The same with small town broadcasters. Running radio stations is a business, first. Ask Citadel, who's stockholders have lost every dime they plowed into that chain. Clear Channel's investors, not much better off, Cumulus, too. It's a growing trend that is quietly eating many similar small maket operations such as WYXC.

It's not just the equipment -- it's the lack of revenue that prevented the station to survive. It goes right down the foodchain.

A shame? Not anymore than any other business that can't survive economically. If advertisers had been there, if salespeople had been there, if the station was as viable as what "thousands" of people suddenly thought it was as it shut down, the station would still be alive today. This is survival of the fittest. Radio stations are not about running for free or music or, in this case, strong programming -- both locally and from syndicators. It's about business -- and the business just wasn't there.

It will, in time, return. But at someone else's expense. Maybe religion. Maybe brokered. But it will make money, somehow. Or, it's gone for good, as oare others just "hanging on" around the country.

 

[RhubarbFan]

WATB give WGFS more money,two words for dang joke,I started there in August of 2005 the week before Katrina hit New Orleans,and worked there until mid October of this year. All WGFS is WTAB's red headed step child. WGFS was already in the toliet,but when they put that wtich Pat Bacus on there,they might as well just pull the handle.

 

[agentUrge]

I used to record Coast To Coast AM through my computer (since I wasn't up at 1am to listen) and found myself switching from WGST to WYXC not only because the stream was more reliable (imagine that) but I kind of liked it better. WGST is obviously more local to me with traffic and weather (note that I didn't say news).

Good post Rhubarbfan.

 

[jabba17]

WATB give WGFS more money,two words for dang joke,I started there in August of 2005 the week before Katrina hit New Orleans,and worked there until mid October of this year. All WGFS is WTAB's red headed step child. WGFS was already in the toliet,but when they put that wtich Pat Bacus on there,they might as well just pull the handle.

I had forgotten that WATB bought WGFS. I am surprised they are bothering with the move, unless it's to placate the FCC by leaving a signal in Covington. I doubt any kind of ethnic format would be successful there unless they could get enough power to get into the metro proper.

I remember WGFS's old studio and transmitter overlooking I-20.

 

[RhubarbFan]

Yes I remember that brick red building that looked like a house,my mother and a group of ladies from the church I was attending at the time sang on there.they moved to downtown Covington in 1989.

 

[artsutton]

Yes I remember that brick red building that looked like a house,my mother and a group of ladies from the church I was attending at the time sang on there.they moved to downtown Covington in 1989.

WGFS was purchased by WATB for $750,000 so they could use the 1430 frequency at WATB. WGFS was denied the 1220 application. WDGR on 1210 in Dahlonega was granted their application to move to Lawrenceville. When and if WATB builds out their 50KW CP on 1430, WGFS "Georgia's Friendliest Station" will have to go dark.

WGFS went on the air in 1946 at 1490 kHz, 250 watts unlimited time with the call sign WMOC (Monroe Oxford Covington) The local newspaper owned the station til they sold it in 1957 to Bill Hoffman and his wife. The transmitter site was a self supporting tower next to the Covington City Cemetery The new owner changed the call sign to WGFS and moved to 1430 to obtain 1000 watts and changed studio/transmitter site to the main highway to Atlanta...later to become the route for I-20. Bill did the morning show and one of his trademarks was he had a horn outside the station. Listeners would blow their auto horn when they passed the station and Bill would blow the station horn back at them, even if he was on the air. WGFS was one of those stations which would telephone the local police and fire departments on the air and whoever answered the phone had been trained to provide a report on the department's activity for the past 24 hours. WGFS also did the standard birthday show hard on many small town stations but it was unique in that people called up on the air and did the birthday greetings themselves.

Bill Hoffman later sold the station to someone who had worked there beginning in high school and went on to have a career as a TV news anchor; Dan Bohannon. Despite paying a strong price for the station, Dan did very well with the station and it provided the foundation for him to own several more stations which were technically upgraded and sold.

Dan upgraded the WGFS signal to 5000 watts.

As with many smaller AM stations under the Atlanta umbrella, the more Covington became a bedroom community to Atlanta, the tougher it became for WGFS to make a go of it.