FCC Auction:

[Radio_bored-Op]

Read on the opening page of R-info. that were
93 "bids" on (available_permits) for lower class stations..

1. do I have that correct?

I am (of a 1-10 tier scale) about at a 2,
for the techie stuff...an intern being rated 1.
hence, the "board op" handle, lol

and 2. (secondly) does that mean I have this correct:

the permits, sold in smaller markets ( I Couldnt read the
link to pdf.file) as it was too tiny on the FCC website,
are "considered undesirable" or not even worth it..

hence they all didnt sell, and of the ones that did
they went for "cheap" ( most less than 200,000)...
do i have that right ??

some one educate me!

 

[TheBigA]

You are correct, sir.

Buy a permit for $200,000, and that gives you the right to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and take about five years to start a radio station in a town of less than 3000 people. I'm not kidding. It would be cheaper to buy a McDonalds franchise, which you could start immediately, with no regulations, and make more money. That's why they didn't sell.

There's no money in radio. The FCC is clueless. They can't sell new licenses, existing licensees can't sell hundreds of stations in trusts, and meanwhile, the Congress wants to license LPFM and a minority coalition wants to increase ownership diversity. Why doesn't the FCC just give those unsold licenses to the minority groups and say "Have fun?" Probably because the minority groups wouldn't want them either.

 

[Groove1670]

Actually, the reason they didn't sell was because the cant be upgraded or moved to make more of a investment, or couldn't be added to an existing cluster.

Some of the permits were overpriced or in a market overadioed (is that a word ;D)


Some of The permits that did go were priced fairly, and will be a fine asset to their community. I hope some some of the winners (who seem to be new winners) will keep them local.

Some of these stations will go on the air for 75k or less (not including operating expenses).

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

musiconradio.com

its just a "tease" for me -
If I had a choice: Buy a house or AM(well FM) operation

I would rent an dingggggy apt - and be on the aire!!!
with the listen live option, hopefully use that to attract
more attn to my new FM station!!!

 

[bossbill]

Most of the allocations were due to previous operators moving signals out of markets towards larger population centers and having to have "leave-behinds".

 

[TheBigA]

Some of these stations will go on the air for 75k or less (not including operating expenses).

The legal and engineering requirements will cost at least $75K. Then add equipment and facilities purchases, staffing, and insurance.

Unless you do your own legal and engineering, and I know people who have done that.

 

[Groove1670]

If I had a choice: Buy a house or AM(well FM) operation

There are some nice opportunities out there but you will need to work the station yourself to make it a success. No GM, PD, traffic person etc. My suggestion, hire a salesperson with experience (any kind of sales) and lead the charge. You will need to sell too. If you just have programming experience I would reconsider. I have done it this way for the past 20 years with success.

The legal and engineering requirements will cost at least $75K. Then add equipment and facilities purchases, staffing, and insurance.

Once again, knowing all aspects of the business is a must.
Rent your tower space, hire your salesperson, shop for your equipment
on Ebay (get new antenna & transmission line.) Knowledge is key.