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Clear Channel to modify 4 stations

reelyreal

reelyreal

I was checking out FCC apps today, thrilling I know.

on 12/29 and 1/3, Clear Channel filed two different apps for minor changes to licensed facilities and asked for dismissal of their initial application to move WPKX.

First, they reached an agreement with Hall Communications and WKNL to pay to upgrade WKNL New London to a 6KW directional signal in order to upgrade WRNX Amherst from 1.35kw to 870 watts from a higher spot on the same tower, putting more of their directional signal in the direction of Hartford. Clear Channel got consent from short spaced WRCH and is paying for WKNL's new antenna and transmitter.

Then! Clear Channel filed contingent applications with Citadel to try to get that move of WPKX into Hartford. Citadel has agreed to change WMAS-FM's community of license from Springfield to Enfield with no facilities changes to provide primary service to that community. Then, WPKX will change its community of license to Windsor Locks, and move its antenna into Hartford.
 
CTListener said:
I'd like the idea of WRNX becoming more of a Hartford presence. About time we got a AAA station.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't assume 100.9 WRNX will remain AAA if that power boost happens. If 97.9 WPKX targets Hartford, then Springfield would be without a local country station. The upgrade of WRNX would make it less of a rimshotter in more of the Springfield market and a prime candidate for a flip to country. I like AAA too, but WRNX still wouldn't be enough of a factor in Hartford.
 
How would increasing WKNL's power help reduce the short spacing of WRNX? Increasing both station's powers will just make the interference worse.
 
Nick said:
How would increasing WKNL's power help reduce the short spacing of WRNX? Increasing both station's powers will just make the interference worse.
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The idea is to get a stronger signal within their respective markets, with better penetration into buildings. They could probably live with the interference in places like Route 2 at the Glastonbury/Marlborough line, since that's neither station's local market.
 
This is going to cost Clear Channel, a company with severe financial problems, a lot of money just to add a low power station in Hartford. I'm sure this expense will not provide CC with a quick monetary payback. I'm surprised CBS agreed to the short-spaced situation involving WRNK 100.9 and WRCH 100.5. Why would Citadel agree to change WMAS-FM's COL to Enfield? Looks like Hall Communications come out a big winner with CC paying for WKNL's upgrade to 6K.
 
GlennO said:
CTListener said:
I'd like the idea of WRNX becoming more of a Hartford presence. About time we got a AAA station.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't assume 100.9 WRNX will remain AAA if that power boost happens. If 97.9 WPKX targets Hartford, then Springfield would be without a local country station. The upgrade of WRNX would make it less of a rimshotter in more of the Springfield market and a prime candidate for a flip to country. I like AAA too, but WRNX still wouldn't be enough of a factor in Hartford.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, unfortunately. Would Clear Channel be concerned about cannibalizing WWYZ in the northern part of the Hartford/New Britain market, or would that audience (and advertisers) largely remain loyal to a station ID'ing as "Waterbury-Hartford-New Haven" rather than "Amherst-Springfield-Hartford," or whatever the "new" WRNX chooses to ID as?
 
There's already a precedent. WPKX is "Enfield/Springfield", yet they don't seem to have made a dent in WWYZ's Hartford numbers. Likewise, Kix took a big chunk out of WWYZ in Springfield when people north of the state line gained a local option for country. It didn't matter to WWYZ, since they don't sell much in Springfield anyway. They're separate markets, and stations that tried to straddle both had to find that out the hard way.
 
Bill1820 said:
This is going to cost Clear Channel, a company with severe financial problems, a lot of money just to add a low power station in Hartford. I'm sure this expense will not provide CC with a quick monetary payback. I'm surprised CBS agreed to the short-spaced situation involving WRNK 100.9 and WRCH 100.5. Why would Citadel agree to change WMAS-FM's COL to Enfield? Looks like Hall Communications come out a big winner with CC paying for WKNL's upgrade to 6K.
Click to expand...

If Clear Channel is considering to upgrade an AM station to HD this year, it's got cash to blow.
 
reelyreal said:
Clear Channel... reached an agreement with Hall Communications and WKNL to pay to upgrade WKNL New London to a 6KW directional signal in order to upgrade WRNX Amherst from 1.35kw to 870 watts from a higher spot on the same tower, putting more of their directional signal in the direction of Hartford. Clear Channel got consent from short spaced WRCH and is paying for WKNL's new antenna and transmitter...
Click to expand...

Bill1820 said:
...Looks like Hall Communications come out a big winner with CC paying for WKNL's upgrade to 6K.
Click to expand...

This is, by far, the KOOLest news I've heard all week! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
 
I forgot to add, the incentive for Citadel to change the COL for WMAS-FM is that they get use of a CC owned generator in Albuquerque.
 
reelyreal said:
First, they reached an agreement with Hall Communications and WKNL to pay to upgrade WKNL New London to a 6KW directional signal in order to upgrade WRNX Amherst from 1.35kw to 870 watts from a higher spot on the same tower,
Click to expand...

Actually WRNX plans to relocate as well to the top of the ski area, where WFXQ-CA is presently located.
This will be a big signal bonus to WRNX, as it puts a much stronger and more potent signal into Springfield. Also look real careful at the DA pattern, the null is significantly reduced from the "new" site. The location will still put 614 watts in the deepest null.

As far as the cost is concerned, it's worth it. CC retains a Springfield city grade signal with the upgrade, which will allow them to move the 979 down to Hartford and not lose a local voice. It's worth it for Hall too, who gets a big signal upgrade, at no cost, with a small null added in a direction not important to their coverage area.

As far as I am concerned the whole shuffling of everything here is good for everyone. Hartford gets a new local signal, Springfield gets to retain a signal, and WKNL's upgrade is good for them too
 
Now, if only WKNL's Facebook page was maintained regularly... then everything would be A-OK! ::)
 
I know right? WCTY and WCTK, WKNL's sister Country Stations in the New London and Providence respectively both have lots of information posted throughout the day. Both WCTY and WCTK have different trivia questions. They both post information about up-coming concerts i.e. WCTK posts about concerts at Gillette Stadium and last night WCTY posted about 2 up-coming Concerts at Illusions.
 
Necrat said:
As far as I am concerned the whole shuffling of everything here is good for everyone. Hartford gets a new local signal, Springfield gets to retain a signal, and WKNL's upgrade is good for them too
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It might be good for everyone, except if WRNX changes format from AAA to country. Their current format is unique and intelligent. It would be a shame to lose it to a format that is available elsewhere on the dial.

Paul
 
PaulRAnderson said:
Necrat said:
As far as I am concerned the whole shuffling of everything here is good for everyone. Hartford gets a new local signal, Springfield gets to retain a signal, and WKNL's upgrade is good for them too
Click to expand...

It might be good for everyone, except if WRNX changes format from AAA to country. Their current format is unique and intelligent.
Click to expand...

That's not something one often says about a Clear Channel station. They do mainstream music very well, but it's all quite cookie-cutter in playlist and presentation. Does CC do AAA in other markets? I know they inherited the RNX format from previous ownership, so I'm curious if they're doing an in-house AAA format anywhere other than Springfield and, I assume, iheartradio.com.
 
They have a few but not many.....97.1 KCTZ in Minneapolis, MN & 97.3 KBCO in Denver, CO are at least two I know of.
 
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