COL and my opinion on where we are going

[oak999]

First let me say I just uncovered this website yesterday and have read a lot of old posts on here. I think its cool that this website is here for people who enjoy broadcasting to discuss topics. That being said I read a lot of comments by people on posts such along the lines of about KTAR-FM, KPNX-TV not covering their city of license but instead putting the news of the City of Phoenix above that of Glendale and Mesa.

I do not understand the problem with this as if you listen to KTAR or watch KPNX they do cover the WHOLE valley. Is Phoenix more talked about then Glendale and Mesa? Sure. But Phoenix is the anchor city and what happens in Phoenix will effect the whole valley. Will something that happens rather it be political, or building, etc in Glendale or Mesa for example effect the whole Valley? It might but probably not. But more importantly when you look at the laws the COL today gets a top of the hour ID, and a city grade signal across that city. There are other issues like having the transmitter and studio within certain miles of the COL but what has been discussed "local programming" for the COL is no longer required.

The Phoenix DMA is acting more like that of a major market. An example of this is Chicago where WPWR-TV has a COL of Gary but is called "my 50 Chicago" or WTMX COL is Skokie and on and on. These are all Chicago TV and radio stations but have COLs different then Chicago.

I guess I just do not understand the thinking of some people that see "COL as a station that should serve only that city" like it was in the 1950s and 1960s long outdated and before power increases while news should focus on the DMA and the Anchor City (the city that effects everyone).

 

[KeithE4]

I do not understand the problem with this as if you listen to KTAR or watch KPNX they do cover the WHOLE valley. Is Phoenix more talked about then Glendale and Mesa? Sure. But Phoenix is the anchor city and what happens in Phoenix will effect the whole valley.

Phoenix is the state capital. What happens here affects the entire state of Arizona.

The Phoenix DMA is acting more like that of a major market. An example of this is Chicago where WPWR-TV has a COL of Gary but is called "my 50 Chicago" or WTMX COL is Skokie and on and on. These are all Chicago TV and radio stations but have COLs different then Chicago.

All media markets are like that - from New York to Glendive. The concept of "City of License" was never truly valid even in the 1930s, once transmitter power levels increased beyond 250 watts.

And, like Phoenix, with some suburban exceptions, Chicago FM & TV stations transmit from common sites: Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center. Phoenix stations transmit from South Mountain, with a few on Shaw Butte and White Tanks. This is also common in the rest of the country - Mt. Wilson in LA, the Empire State Bldg (and the WTC prior to 9/11) in New York, for example. No big deal.

BTW, Phoenix doesn't just "act like a major market." It is a major market. #15 in radio, #12 in TV. It's the biggest media market west of I-35 outside of California.

I guess I just do not understand the thinking of some people that see "COL as a station that should serve only that city" like it was in the 1950s and 1960s long outdated and before power increases while news should focus on the DMA and the Anchor City (the city that effects everyone).

Again, that concept has been obsolete, in-effect if not in fact, since the advent of network radio and power levels greater than enough to cover only a small town.

 

[oak999]

I do not understand the problem with this as if you listen to KTAR or watch KPNX they do cover the WHOLE valley. Is Phoenix more talked about then Glendale and Mesa? Sure. But Phoenix is the anchor city and what happens in Phoenix will effect the whole valley.

Phoenix is the state capital. What happens here affects the entire state of Arizona.

The Phoenix DMA is acting more like that of a major market. An example of this is Chicago where WPWR-TV has a COL of Gary but is called "my 50 Chicago" or WTMX COL is Skokie and on and on. These are all Chicago TV and radio stations but have COLs different then Chicago.

All media markets are like that - from New York to Glendive. The concept of "City of License" was never truly valid even in the 1930s, once transmitter power levels increased beyond 250 watts.

And, like Phoenix, with some suburban exceptions, Chicago FM & TV stations transmit from common sites: Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center. Phoenix stations transmit from South Mountain, with a few on Shaw Butte and White Tanks. This is also common in the rest of the country - Mt. Wilson in LA, the Empire State Bldg (and the WTC prior to 9/11) in New York, for example. No big deal.

BTW, Phoenix doesn't just "act like a major market." It is a major market. #15 in radio, #12 in TV. It's the biggest media market west of I-35 outside of California.

I guess I just do not understand the thinking of some people that see "COL as a station that should serve only that city" like it was in the 1950s and 1960s long outdated and before power increases while news should focus on the DMA and the Anchor City (the city that effects everyone).

Again, that concept has been obsolete, in-effect if not in fact, since the advent of network radio and power levels greater than enough to cover only a small town.

I could not agree more. KPHO for instance with a COL of Phoenix will always cover Glendale or Mesa or any other city of town in the valley when something happens. I think part of the point was that some others where making is because many of these stations relocate to the anchor city they somehow loose coverage in the news for other surrounding cities. I honestly do not see that in the Phoenix market. You can turn on KFYI or KTAR or KPHO KPNX and hear and see all the coverage they give besides that of Phoenix.