Christmas Music

[Buddy Shula]

I don't see Town Square putting big money into any expensive format in Buffalo. Getting rights to the Bills and/or Sabres would be a major investment when pro sports games are becoming more available on TV and online.

Your right, the won’t do it, but they should. It’s where the revenue is. Of course these companies can’t fathom actually trying to increase revenue, their lazy asses would rather cut expenses. Sad

 

[spt87]

The FCC is looking at the possibility of allowing translators to originate programming. This would be incredibly good.

I'd like your thoughts on why this would be good. I long thought this would eventually happen but I don't see how it helps anyone as this makes even more signals to spread out the listening.

When the FCC did the big "AM Improvement" push giving out translators, I did submit comments that the translators should be permanently attached to the AM's receiving them - or at least be required to be attached to another AM if sold. If you go back far enough, many of the AMs were given FM's originally - WBEN-AM/WBEN-FM, WGR-AM/WGR(Q)-FM, WBZ-AM/WBZ-FM, etc. Even WLVL (WUSJ) started off on FM, then got an AM and abandoned the FM. So it appears there was at least some intent back in the 1950's and 60's that AM stations would have an FM to shift over to should that band become popular. Fast forward thru a lot of changes, prohibitions on simulcasting (now rescinded), stations split from each other and we ended up with AMs struggling with no path to FM - so then we get translators. Split them up from their host AM again and repeat history. In my view any operators with AM's and full power FM's shouldn't have gotten translators to bail out a suffering AM in the cluster - they could use one of the FM's they already had.

 

[Buddy Shula]

I'd like your thoughts on why this would be good. I long thought this would eventually happen but I don't see how it helps anyone as this makes even more signals to spread out the listening.

When the FCC did the big "AM Improvement" push giving out translators, I did submit comments that the translators should be permanently attached to the AM's receiving them - or at least be required to be attached to another AM if sold. If you go back far enough, many of the AMs were given FM's originally - WBEN-AM/WBEN-FM, WGR-AM/WGR(Q)-FM, WBZ-AM/WBZ-FM, etc. Even WLVL (WUSJ) started off on FM, then got an AM and abandoned the FM. So it appears there was at least some intent back in the 1950's and 60's that AM stations would have an FM to shift over to should that band become popular. Fast forward thru a lot of changes, prohibitions on simulcasting (now rescinded), stations split from each other and we ended up with AMs struggling with no path to FM - so then we get translators. Split them up from their host AM again and repeat history. In my view any operators with AM's and full power FM's shouldn't have gotten translators to bail out a suffering AM in the cluster - they could use one of the FM's they already had.

I am not sure why translators rules we see the way the are. WECK is lucky enough to have three pretty good ones in the Buffalo metro. For a company like mine, it would give us the opportunity to sell multi formats, based on the geography each translator covers. I could also do another format like local talk on the am. For me, it just opens up multiple options

 

[PTBoardOp94]

When the FCC did the big "AM Improvement" push giving out translators, I did submit comments that the translators should be permanently attached to the AM's receiving them - or at least be required to be attached to another AM if sold.

Good news. The FCC enacted your suggestion:

Even if stations are not able to find a translator to buy and move in the 2016 waiver window, they will have another chance, with traditional windows for applications for new translators to be opened in 2017. An initial window will be open to AM stations that did not get a translator through the 2016 waiver process, open to Class C and D stations. ... Translators acquired in these windows will be permanently tied to the AM station – not just for the 4 years that applies to translators moved during the 2016 waiver window.

Quote from: FCC Adopts AM Revitalization Order – Part 1 – The Upcoming Windows for AM Stations to Acquire FM Translators

 

[Buddy Shula]

Good news. The FCC enacted your suggestion:



Quote from: FCC Adopts AM Revitalization Order – Part 1 – The Upcoming Windows for AM Stations to Acquire FM Translators

This is old news. There are some translators like some of mine that can be sold separately. The translators which were obtained in the fcc Am revitalize initiative cannot be sold. I can sell every weck translator separately except 100.5 fm. When the fcc approves separate programming for all frequencies I have, I will theoretically be able to have 4 different formats.

 

[SarahB98]

Now many stores are putting up valentines???? Let’s close this til autumn