FCC Visits WGTM

[A 94Z Fan]

I doubt they could make that 15 day recovery with that. And they probably wouldn't be able to pay the fines either. They're shall we say history.

I agree!

 

[sam1]

If the management signs the station back on the air, the FCC will inspect it again and find new violations.. This station will be sold or go dark..period

 

[allenv]

I doubt you'll get an answer if you call WGTM or if there is even an answering machine....WGTM is the blueprint on how you can totally**((**&&$$# up a once great radio station.....


Allen

 

[ZAX Double J]

I doubt you'll get an answer if you call WGTM or if there is even an answering machine....WGTM is the blueprint on how you can totally**((**&&$$# up a once great radio station.....


Allen

I agree with you there my friend!

 

[Marathon Don]

Amazingly, the old warhorse is back on the air. Even more amazingly, the audio sounds better than it's sounded in years. The signal was obviously not at full thrust, as powerline noise on Forest Hills Road was beating it up pretty good. I did hear some awful hollering and yelping noises... oh, wait, that's their format.

They even had imaging!!! No legal ID, though. You can't have everything.

 

[ToddJenkins]

Yes.

WGTM came back to life with studios in the transmitter shack on Wednesday, April 21st. That's why the sound is so clear. If you didn't notice, GTM's not at full throttle - and may only be using one tower with much lower power. I'm getting this info from a couple of reliable sources, but not RFGuy.

On the air, the owner wasted no time begging for donations. She repeatedly stated that she wasn't sure why she needed fences, lights, EAS boxes, etc. But said that "if we don't get these items, we will have to sign off". No legal ID's were ever given. She spent a lot of time selling GAP Pills and asking for local pastors to buy time. I couldn't stand to listen for more than 45 minutes.

As I said before, she is pretty much clueless about running a regional AM station.
No one can expect a happy ending out of this.

I'm still thinking that when she has to face reality, she will elect to go class D 500 watts (or so) just to hang on to the station that her pappy gave her.

 

[tothedj]

I have a feeling WGTM may be going silent soon, unless a buyer comes forward, i'm sure Wilson doesn't want to lose this
station which has a lot of broadcasting history behind it.

 

[smedge2006]

i'm sure Wilson doesn't want to lose this station which has a lot of broadcasting history behind it.

Candidly, it's hard to believe anyone in Wilson cares, or things would have never gotten this far.

Perhaps it's better to look at who could benefit if this station goes away. 560 in Elizabeth City is trying to promote itself as the Outer Banks talk station -- could going to 590 allow them a power increase and a clearer signal at night in Kill Devil Hills and Hatteras?

 

[allenv]

The apple don't fall far from the tree in WGTM's case..I think the apple has clocked certain folks on the old noggin'....That is the only logical explanation for what has/is going on..Sad.....

 

[midatlanticengineer]

i'm sure Wilson doesn't want to lose this station which has a lot of broadcasting history behind it.

Candidly, it's hard to believe anyone in Wilson cares, or things would have never gotten this far.

Perhaps it's better to look at who could benefit if this station goes away. 560 in Elizabeth City is trying to promote itself as the Outer Banks talk station -- could going to 590 allow them a power increase and a clearer signal at night in Kill Devil Hills and Hatteras?

Im not sure if WGAI could move to 590 and get a power increase in that way. You have to look at co-channel and adjacent channel interference issues from Elizabeth City. Its a bit more involved when moving, increasing power or changing frequencies of an AM station. Its not as simple as an FM station. The station could however -probably- up the day power ( maybe 5kw ) and night power ( maybe 1 kw ) on 560, but this would require more towers and a different transmitter site north of Elizabeth City, leaving its original transmission site from the day it signed on in late 1947, early 1948. There isnt enough room at its Lovers Lane transmitter site for three more towers. ( taking the station from 2 towers, directional fulltime to something like 5 towers directional fulltime. )
In the end, one has to weigh the cost and how long it would take to recoup the cost to upgrade verses income.

( new property, new towers, new ground system, new transmitter...etc etc etc...all of which is not cheap and would take a long time to recoup the expenses in that small market )

AM radio's hey day seems to be a thing of the past. Upgrading any AM in any market other than one in or very near a major market doesnt make much business sense.
I used to work for this station from April 1994 til August 2005....honestly I dont think having a studio on the Outer Banks and promoting the station as an Outer Banks station has done 560 any favors. At any rate, its good that the company that owns this station has done what needs to be done to at least keep it on the air.....its just depressing to see the station loose and seemingly leave behind its "River City" heritage and content.

Bob Carter - KC4QLP - WQJK414
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Mid-Atlantic-Engineering-Service of Utica NY

http://www.midatlanticengineeringservice.com/