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Drake speaks up in bid to save WSPA format

M

MLB

Guest
Drake wants to save station, which will likely see changes under new ownership

SUSAN ORR, Staff Writer
Radio personality Bill Drake knows that WSPA 910 AM is not the most prosperous station in the Upstate -- not by a long shot.

Drake is one of only three full-time employees, the station's studio off of New Cut Road is humble and its nighttime broadcast range doesn't even make it to the county line (its daytime signal strength is stronger).

"It really has been forgotten, other than the fact that I try to keep it alive every day," said Drake, who broadcasts five hours of local weekday programming plus a Sunday show.

With the news that WSPA will soon be under new ownership, Drake's interest in preserving the station has kicked into high gear.

Davidson, N.C.-based Davidson Media Group, which specializes in multicultural and multilingual programming, is buying WSPA along with WOLI 103.9 FM and WOLT 103.3 FM in a deal that is expected to be official later this summer pending Federal Communications Commission approval.

Worried that Davidson will change WSPA to a new format, Drake has launched a campaign asking listeners and community leaders to contact Davidson in support of the station.

"The big thing, number one, is to get these people to accept us for what we are," Drake said.

"Is it the end of an era, or can we continue this type of thing?"

Russ Jones, Davidson's vice president of operations, said he's gotten about 40 e-mails so far in support of WSPA's current format.

Jones said Davidson should decide within a few days what changes it will make when it officially assumes ownership of WSPA, WOLI and WOLT.

"We're going to definitely switch one of them to Spanish (programming) but that's all we've decided," Jones said.

Davidson is also considering simulcasting WSPA and WOLI, Jones said, and if this happens WSPA's format will change.

One thing that will definitely happen, Jones said, is that WSPA's call letters will change to WOLI AM. In the sales agreement, seller Entercom Communications required that Davidson change WSPA's call letters, Jones said.

Right now, Drake said his entire focus is on trying to preserve WSPA's format -- partly to preserve the station itself, but also, he admits, partly for his own reasons.

At 64, Drake said he could retire now, but he still loves radio and wants to keep working.

"I'm not ready to hang it up yet," he said.

A move up the dial?

Regardless of what happens at WSPA, Drake may still be able to remain in local radio.

Several months ago, the former WKDY 1400 AM relaunched with new call letters -- WSPG -- and a news/talk/sports format. The station airs both local and syndicated programming.

WSPG Owner Matt Fulmer said he's already approached Drake about the possibility of Drake moving to WSPG.

"I'd be very interested in talking to him," Fulmer said.
 
> One thing that will definitely happen, Jones said, is that
> WSPA's call letters will change to WOLI AM. In the sales
> agreement, seller Entercom Communications required that
> Davidson change WSPA's call letters, Jones said.

If Drake is sucessful in preserving the current format, why can't they still use the WSPA "name" throughout the hour? Yes, the LEGAL ID would be WOLI, Spartanburg, but that can be compressed into a 1-second blip and buried somewhere near the top of the hour. Otherwise, they could yak the name "WSPA" all hour long. I see no difference in this and what 104.7 in Charlotte did some 10-15 years ago. Their NAME was "Mix 104.7, WMIX", but their legal ID was WMXF, I believe. The ID was barely noticeable, too.
 
> Drake wants to save station, which will likely see changes
> under new ownership

Drake is truly Mr. Spartanburg (or Sparkleburg as people here sometimes call it.)Since Entercom has another AM signal (WORD) that covers Spartanburg better than WSPA-AM does, it doesn't make strategic sense to do anything with it that diminishes their main talk station.

I won't blame Davidson for changing the format; it's their skin not mine. But I hope Drake gets his wish. If not, I'm sure he can remain in local radio and WKDY might be only one of several options.

64? Hell, Paul Harvey got married the year Drake was born!
<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
 
> > One thing that will definitely happen, Jones said, is that
>
> > WSPA's call letters will change to WOLI AM. In the sales
> > agreement, seller Entercom Communications required that
> > Davidson change WSPA's call letters, Jones said.
>
> If Drake is sucessful in preserving the current format, why
> can't they still use the WSPA "name" throughout the hour?
> Yes, the LEGAL ID would be WOLI, Spartanburg, but that can
> be compressed into a 1-second blip and buried somewhere near
> the top of the hour. Otherwise, they could yak the name
> "WSPA" all hour long. I see no difference in this and what
> 104.7 in Charlotte did some 10-15 years ago. Their NAME was
> "Mix 104.7, WMIX", but their legal ID was WMXF, I believe.
> The ID was barely noticeable, too.
>
Unless you had the permission of WSPA-FM which will become the primary WSPA call sign, you couldn't use WSPA on the air unless you want to subject yourself to a trademark violation.

Hopefully Bill can go to WSPG. It would be a good move for both.
 
> Hopefully Bill can go to WSPG. It would be a good move for
> both.

Hey, Art. Is there anything to prevent WSPG from changing calls.. again... and taking the WSPA-AM calls along with Bill Drake?<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
 
>
> Hey, Art. Is there anything to prevent WSPG from changing
> calls.. again... and taking the WSPA-AM calls along with
> Bill Drake?
>

Two other stations will have claim for the WSPA calls once the 910 WSPA sale is completed. 98.9 WSPA-FM and channel 7 WSPA-TV both have priority over the WSPA calls for any AM frequency. WSPA-FM can give permission but I do not see how preventing Davidson from keeping WSPA on am 910 means they are willing to allow anyone to have WSPA on any AM station.
 
> Two other stations will have claim for the WSPA calls once
> the 910 WSPA sale is completed. 98.9 WSPA-FM and channel 7
> WSPA-TV both have priority over the WSPA calls for any AM
> frequency. WSPA-FM can give permission but I do not see how
> preventing Davidson from keeping WSPA on am 910 means they
> are willing to allow anyone to have WSPA on any AM station.

Since the purchase agreement requires Davidson to change the WSPA call letters I am sure you are correct that Entercom would not permit WSPG to take them if they can prevent it. But are you saying that owning WSPA-FM allows Entercom to reserve the right to claim them even if they don't excercise it? Entercom would have to use them in another market since the only AM's they are retaining are WORD and WYRD. They are not going to change those. And the owner of WSPA-TV, Media General, owns no radio stations anywhere.
<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
 
> > One thing that will definitely happen, Jones said, is that
>
> > WSPA's call letters will change to WOLI AM. In the sales
> > agreement, seller Entercom Communications required that
> > Davidson change WSPA's call letters, Jones said.
>
> If Drake is sucessful in preserving the current format, why
> can't they still use the WSPA "name" throughout the hour?
> Yes, the LEGAL ID would be WOLI, Spartanburg, but that can
> be compressed into a 1-second blip and buried somewhere near
> the top of the hour. Otherwise, they could yak the name
> "WSPA" all hour long. I see no difference in this and what
> 104.7 in Charlotte did some 10-15 years ago. Their NAME was
> "Mix 104.7, WMIX", but their legal ID was WMXF, I believe.
> The ID was barely noticeable, too.
>


It was WMXC (Mix-Charlotte, WMXF was Mix-Fayetteville, and now WNMX is Charlotte's New Mix), and the original WMIX sued to stop them and others from using it.
 
Call sign changes are a little confusing since the FCC allowed stations with different owners to use the same calls.

But, WSPG couldn't use WSPA unless WSPA-FM or WSPA-TV consented. The question is once the calls are taken off the AM...who is the primary WSPA call sign holder...is it WSPA-FM or WSPA-TV. The primary call sign holder has to grant permission for another station with another service (in this case AM) to use the calls.

The FCC rules aren't clear on this and nor do they give specific determination as to who the primary call sign holder is when the original station gives up the calls and the FM and TV calls are on a station owned by some other company. I'm trying to figure out why Entercom wanted the calls off WSPA-AM. You never hear WSPA-FM on 98.9 except the ID. But, I was also surprised they allowed WSPG.

Years ago, a station requesting calls would have to send letters to every station within so many miles before the FCC would grant them. If they were close like WSPG is to WSPA, you could count on them stopping it. Nowadays, the FCC has pretty much gotten out of the details of call signs other than if they are available and if you want to use the calls that belong to another station, you have to have their consent.

Beyond that, the FCC's attitude is....settle it in the local courts.

> > Two other stations will have claim for the WSPA calls once
>
> > the 910 WSPA sale is completed. 98.9 WSPA-FM and channel 7
>
> > WSPA-TV both have priority over the WSPA calls for any AM
> > frequency. WSPA-FM can give permission but I do not see
> how
> > preventing Davidson from keeping WSPA on am 910 means they
>
> > are willing to allow anyone to have WSPA on any AM
> station.
>
> Since the purchase agreement requires Davidson to change the
> WSPA call letters I am sure you are correct that Entercom
> would not permit WSPG to take them if they can prevent it.
> But are you saying that owning WSPA-FM allows Entercom to
> reserve the right to claim them even if they don't excercise
> it? Entercom would have to use them in another market since
> the only AM's they are retaining are WORD and WYRD. They are
> not going to change those. And the owner of WSPA-TV, Media
> General, owns no radio stations anywhere.
>
 
call signs

There are - FM calls such as WSPA-FM but there are NO call signs that are -AM. There are none. The license would be WSPA, not WSPA-AM no matter what you might think. That's the way FCC does things.

Powell <P ID="signature">______________
NNNN</P>
 
Thanks for the info.

> But, WSPG couldn't use WSPA unless WSPA-FM or WSPA-TV
> consented. The question is once the calls are taken off the
> AM...who is the primary WSPA call sign holder...is it
> WSPA-FM or WSPA-TV. The primary call sign holder has to
> grant permission for another station with another service
> (in this case AM) to use the calls.
>
> The FCC rules aren't clear on this and nor do they give
> specific determination as to who the primary call sign
> holder is when the original station gives up the calls and
> the FM and TV calls are on a station owned by some other
> company. I'm trying to figure out why Entercom wanted the
> calls off WSPA-AM. You never hear WSPA-FM on 98.9 except the
> ID. But, I was also surprised they allowed WSPG.
>
> Years ago, a station requesting calls would have to send
> letters to every station within so many miles before the FCC
> would grant them. If they were close like WSPG is to WSPA,
> you could count on them stopping it. Nowadays, the FCC has
> pretty much gotten out of the details of call signs other
> than if they are available and if you want to use the calls
> that belong to another station, you have to have their
> consent.
>
> Beyond that, the FCC's attitude is....settle it in the local
> courts.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
 
Re: call signs

> There are - FM calls such as WSPA-FM but there are NO call
> signs that are -AM. There are none.

That means that either Entercomm or Media General had better be on the ball and have a contingent request for the WSPA callsign once it is dropped by Davidson. Otherwise, anyone could end up locking up those calls in some out-of-market station.

My understanding of call sign policy is that WSPA will be listed as "available" soon after Davidson is authorized for the change, and neither Entercomm nor Media General will have incumbent rights to the calls, even though they own WSPA-FM and WSPA-TV, respectively.

As to trademark use of WSPA, that is an <font color="red">FTC</font> rather than FCC area of law enforcement. It would be interesting to see how such a complaint would hold up in court.

Later...
Matt Smith, Station Manager
WGSR-TV "Star-39"
Reidsville, NC
 
Re: call signs

My belief is that, at least under older policy, that if there is a WXXX-FM or WXXX-TV, the call sign WXXX will not be available to others. The current licensee of WXXX-FM or WXXX-TV may request WXXX for an AM facility, however.

E.g., WXRY-LP currently lists as unavailable for any other facility. Someone wishing to use the calls would have to negotiate with me or do some serious persuading at the Commission. We could, if fates allow, request and receive authorization for WXRY-FM.

> > There are - FM calls such as WSPA-FM but there are NO call
>
> > signs that are -AM. There are none.
>
> That means that either Entercomm or Media General had better
> be on the ball and have a contingent request for the WSPA
> callsign once it is dropped by Davidson. Otherwise, anyone
> could end up locking up those calls in some out-of-market
> station.
>
> My understanding of call sign policy is that WSPA will be
> listed as "available" soon after Davidson is authorized for
> the change, and neither Entercomm nor Media General will
> have incumbent rights to the calls, even though they own
> WSPA-FM and WSPA-TV, respectively.
>
> As to trademark use of WSPA, that is an FTC rather than FCC
> area of law enforcement. It would be interesting to see how
> such a complaint would hold up in court.
>
> Later...
> Matt Smith, Station Manager
> WGSR-TV "Star-39"
> Reidsville, NC
>
 
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