CUMULUS SHUT DOWN IN LOUISVILLE?

[radiofan502]

I'm hearing buzz that WQKC (AM 1450) is soon to be LMA'ed (with option to buy) to the Smith brothers of WNDA/WTSZ/WKYI. This would be a very good thing, because the Smiths are solid, responsible station operators. With all the sports they now have on WNDA, WQKC's 1kw/U signal would push their contour further than WNDA and spread the programming load.

I understand ESPN Radio has expressed approval of such a move...they want their signal back in the Louisville market quickly!

The studio building on Magnolia Ave. off Spring Street in Jeff was maintained and kept intact by Cumulus even after the control point was moved to NE Louisville and it was used only as a transmitter site...it's ready to go.

(Wonder if the calls WXVW are once again available?)

That would be great if it happens! Might be able to hear ESPN Radio and The Reds again on 1450. By the way, Radio-Locator does not find any matches for WXVW on AM or FM. Bring back ''The Big X'' !

 

[storrs19]

I agree. The Smith brothers are doing an excellent job. Just goes to show that local operators have a real clue as to how to run a radio station that can deliver what the local community wants. My guess is the Reds and IU Sports coverage will return to 1450 should they purchase it and the Colts and U of L Baseball will remain on 1570 along with Friday night HS football. This would work best as there is some overlap with Reds and Colts coverage as well as HS football. IU football is mostly saturday afternoon which would not affect Reds coverage.

I actually get a better signal on 1570 than 1450 but I live so close to the transmitter that is the reason. Still 1450 comes in good until later at night. If you use a really sensitive radio you will get some drift from other AM stations on the same frequency. I still have my mlb at bat as part of mlb tv because I like to watch many other teams play so I always have a backup option. My only wish is that they would expand Rocky Knight to four hours from 6am to 10am weekdays and maybe have a bit more interaction. Rocky is a great personality and does a good job.

 

[Bengalsfan]

I agree. The Smith brothers are doing an excellent job.

I have said this before and I'll say it again, the Smith brothers have nothing to do with those stations. It's all David. David is running 1570 and 1600. David is running the television stations. John Jr took channel 9 back from David when it started getting successful. The current 9.1 is a digital signal of channel 24 WKYI. John Jr has nothing to do with the success of those stations. It's all David and he alone deserves the kudos.

 

[Radio Dave]

I agree. The Smith brothers are doing an excellent job.

I have said this before and I'll say it again, the Smith brothers have nothing to do with those stations. It's all David. David is running 1570 and 1600. David is running the television stations. John Jr took channel 9 back from David when it started getting successful. The current 9.1 is a digital signal of channel 24 WKYI. John Jr has nothing to do with the success of those stations. It's all David and he alone deserves the kudos.

Since I only know David Smith I was giving him all the kudos anyway.

 

[KyDXIn]

(Wonder if the calls WXVW are once again available?)

That would be great if it happens! Might be able to hear ESPN Radio and The Reds again on 1450. By the way, Radio-Locator does not find any matches for WXVW on AM or FM. Bring back ''The Big X'' !

WXVW, WAVG, and WAVE are all available

 

[Bengalsfan]

(Wonder if the calls WXVW are once again available?)

That would be great if it happens! Might be able to hear ESPN Radio and The Reds again on 1450. By the way, Radio-Locator does not find any matches for WXVW on AM or FM. Bring back ''The Big X'' !

WXVW, WAVG, and WAVE are all available

To use the WAVE call letters, you would have to get permission from the folks at WAVE-TV.

 

[PROjammer]

Does anyone know if the FCC tried to stop by Cumulus last week, on Hurstbourne. I drove by Sunday and the ESPN satellite dish is still up on the building.

 

[greg.hahn]

Does anyone know if the FCC tried to stop by Cumulus last week, on Hurstbourne. I drove by Sunday and the ESPN satellite dish is still up on the building.

I doubt if they did, since Cumulus has filed the necessary paperwork to go dark.


But I'm wondering about their transmitter site. It's all still sitting there {Photo}, but all the power is turned off to everything, including the transmission line dehydrator. It looked to be completely depressurized when I was there last week.

Thing is, everyone at that site uses the same breaker panel, and electricity is included in the rent. The only reason there isn't any power going to anything is that all the breakers are turned off back at the panel.

I wonder what that's about? They ought to at least keep the dehydrator going.

 

[Bengalsfan]

I wonder what that's about? They ought to at least keep the dehydrator going.

I can understand killing the power like that for surge protection, but you are right in that they still need to keep the line pressurized. If it sits for very long without pressure, there's gonna be a fireworks show when they do turn it back on.

 

[faaradar]

I wonder what that's about? They ought to at least keep the dehydrator going.

I can understand killing the power like that for surge protection, but you are right in that they still need to keep the line pressurized. If it sits for very long without pressure, there's gonna be a fireworks show when they do turn it back on.

No built-in arc detection? anyway to check VSWR before one power's it back up?

Barring a major leak; I'd assume a couple of days with pressure would dry it out enough.

 

[secondchoice]

I wonder what that's about? They ought to at least keep the dehydrator going.

I can understand killing the power like that for surge protection, but you are right in that they still need to keep the line pressurized. If it sits for very long without pressure, there's gonna be a fireworks show when they do turn it back on.

Maybe they are not going to turn on again ever. Let the next owner worry about it.

 

[Bengalsfan]

No built-in arc detection? anyway to check VSWR before one power's it back up?

Barring a major leak; I'd assume a couple of days with pressure would dry it out enough.

If there is an arc, the VSWR protection on the transmitter should shut it down. You could put a TDR on the line and see if you can see anything there. But you might not be able to see moisture accumulation very well on a TDR. The best thing they could do before firing it back up is take the end cap off the antenna and turn the dehydrator back on for a few hours, or better yet, a small bottle of nitrogen feeding it with the cap off for an hour. Shouldn't take long since I doubt they have more than 50 feet of feedline.

Another problem to consider is if moisture gets in the line and sits for a while. it will corrode the copper in the feedline creating problems with arcing and failure down the road.

And something I'd be interested in finding out is why it lost pressure in the first place. Turning off the dehydrator, it should not have lost pressure at all. I'd see about finding where the leak is.

And if they are gonna let the next owner worry about it, I hope the next owner does a very through due diligence on the site.

 

[greg.hahn]

And if they are gonna let the next owner worry about it, I hope the next owner does a very through due diligence on the site./quote]

Nobody does due diligence any more. That used to be a big deal, but I haven't seen it done at all in a long time.


But my question is that, since electricity is included in the rent, does that mean they stopped paying rent?

 

[Bengalsfan]

But my question is that, since electricity is included in the rent, does that mean they stopped paying rent?

You might be able to pick up an aux for 103.1 for a pretty penny here pretty soon if that's the case.

 

[The King Bee]

Am i wrong, or did I detect a carrier signal at 1450 kHz earlier today (Tues., 9-14-10) around radio sunrise? I was doing a routine DX sweep just for grins when I heard a clean carrier at 1450. It's either a final check before mothballing tthe transmitter...or a demo for a potential LMA partner or new owner.

 

[PROjammer]

Cumulus should be aware of what Cox did in the Summer of 1999,
When Cox was selling 105-9 to Salem they just played a One Hour
cd of eighties songs and 105-9 River imaging and had a 2 share in the summmer ARB. It doesn't appear the FCC is aware that WLCL is
dark. I'm sure very soon it will go another way. Time will tell.

 

[Bengalsfan]

It doesn't appear the FCC is aware that WLCL is dark. I'm sure very soon it will go another way. Time will tell.

It's interesting, but I could have swore there was a silent STA filed on both stations. Checking the FCC's website now, there's no record of it.

 

[xmusicmatt]

It doesn't appear the FCC is aware that WLCL is dark. I'm sure very soon it will go another way. Time will tell.

It's interesting, but I could have swore there was a silent STA filed on both stations. Checking the FCC's website now, there's no record of it.

93.9 FM is on air as of today with WAY-FM.

 

[William_Yeager]

So who would be interested in 105.9 and/or 104.3? I could see 104.3 The Beat eventually moving to 105.9, with 104.3 becoming a simulcast partner for WJIE, WAKY, WJLR, WTUV, or one of the Elizabethtown stations.

 

[radioville]

So who would be interested in 105.9 and/or 104.3? I could see 104.3 The Beat eventually moving to 105.9, with 104.3 becoming a simulcast partner for WJIE, WAKY, WJLR, WTUV, or one of the Elizabethtown stations.

Would Salem be eligible to get 105.9 back?