FM newsers

[radiophile]

Any other markets ready for an FM all-newser like WTOP DC's new home at 103.5?

I vote for an FM for KYW in Philly. Its 50,000 watts at 1060 isn't so great in some parts of the suburbs.

Any other markets where an existing AM all newser could switch or simulcast on FM?

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

New York's WINS-1010 might be another candidate, especially if the FM simulcast's transmitter was in northern New Jersey.

 

[radionut987]

Actually, there are two news/talk stations currently broadcasting on the FM dial in Georgia, WRPG-103.9 out of the Hawkinsville/Macon/Warner Robins area, and WVGA-105.9 out of Valdosta.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I thought this thread was about commercial stations broadcasting an all-news format, and whether any other all-news stations might follow the lead of Washington's WTOP, which is moving from AM to FM.

 

[preferprivacy]

> New York's WINS-1010 might be another candidate, especially
> if the FM simulcast's transmitter was in northern New
> Jersey.
>
Recent events in the world of "standard" news/talk stations:
-Bonneville is simulcasting KSL=AM in Salt Lake on FM
-CC is launcing conservative talk in Minneapolis on an FM
-Infinity is going FM talk in San Francisco (new acquired signal)

Obviously these are just a few, curious to see how some of the
other major n/t operators respond in 2006:
ABC (lots of n/t stations, just not a lot of "extra" FM signals)
Entercom (more FM's available)
Cox (probably too bold a move)


CC and INfinity both have some "hot talk" FM's,
but I think this trend will continue to build in 2006.

Companies with multiple FM's and not enough formats
will consider it an option

 

[radionut987]

> I thought this thread was about commercial stations
> broadcasting an all-news format, and whether any other
> all-news stations might follow the lead of Washington's
> WTOP, which is moving from AM to FM.
>

There's just one problem with that. There are only so few "all-news" stations, and most of them are in big cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.

 

[KeithE]

> There's just one problem with that. There are only so few
> "all-news" stations, and most of them are in big cities such
> as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.

The 50 kW non-direcitonal stations (WCBS, WBBM, KNX) wouldn't move to FM, but maybe some of the 50 kW directionals (WINS, KCBS) or lower-powered ones (KFWB, WWJ) might think about it.

Depends on what CBS (who owns all of those I mentioned) wants to do. Maybe if Free-FM doesn't work out...

 

[ixnay]

> > There's just one problem with that. There are only so few
>
> > "all-news" stations, and most of them are in big cities
> such
> > as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.
>
> The 50 kW non-direcitonal stations (WCBS, WBBM, KNX)
> wouldn't move to FM, but maybe some of the 50 kW
> directionals (WINS, KCBS) or lower-powered ones (KFWB, WWJ)
> might think about it.

Or KYW, which has a null towards the NE to protect 1050 in NYC.

> Depends on what CBS (who owns all of those I mentioned)
> wants to do. Maybe if Free-FM doesn't work out...
>

ixnay

 

[otherradioboy]

Re: FM newsers - LA?

> Any other markets ready for an FM all-newser like WTOP DC's
> new home at 103.5?
>
> I vote for an FM for KYW in Philly. Its 50,000 watts at 1060
> isn't so great in some parts of the suburbs.
>
> Any other markets where an existing AM all newser could
> switch or simulcast on FM?
>
Los Angeles would be a good candidate. Infinity (CBS Radio) could combine the staffs of KNX and KFWB to put on one, good, all-news station. Take KNX and put their other talk and sports programming on it. Then, sell KFWB.

But which of their FM's would be best to do this on?

KCBS-FM Jack 93.1
KLSX-FM Free FM 97.1
KROQ-FM Alt Rock 106.7
KRTH-FM Oldies 101.1
KTWV-FM Smooth Jazz 94.7

 

[jh]

> > New York's WINS-1010 might be another candidate,
> especially
> > if the FM simulcast's transmitter was in northern New
> > Jersey.

A suburban FM simulecast to extend their signal might work, but I don't think you'll see WINS move to FM... there's nothing they could do on 1010 that would do as well as WINS.

> >
> Recent events in the world of "standard" news/talk stations:
>
> -Bonneville is simulcasting KSL=AM in Salt Lake on FM

This doesn't make sense, KSL-AM covers the market fine. I wonder if they plan to eventually go with seperate talk programming on the FM.

> -CC is launcing conservative talk in Minneapolis on an FM

CC may do it other places where they don't have a big signal AM for talk, they already did it in Pittsburgh. (They have a big AM in Minneapolis, but it's already successful with sports)

> -Infinity is going FM talk in San Francisco (new acquired
> signal)
>
> Obviously these are just a few, curious to see how some of
> the
> other major n/t operators respond in 2006:
> ABC (lots of n/t stations, just not a lot of "extra" FM
> signals)

They already tried it in Chicago, but the audience stayed with AM.

> Entercom (more FM's available)
> Cox (probably too bold a move)
>
>
> CC and INfinity both have some "hot talk" FM's,
> but I think this trend will continue to build in 2006.
>
> Companies with multiple FM's and not enough formats
> will consider it an option
>
Yes, in some markets there aren't many holes left for viable music formats.

 

[FloridaBear1776]

What they could do with 1010 in New York

Pull a KFRC... trade it to Family Radio for their FM in the New York market.

 

[D-I-B]

Houston has a Rimshot run by cumulus. http://fmnewsstation975.com. The signal is giving them problems, but they are actually finding their footing more as an FM Talker, not to be confused with hot talk. If fm talk could ever distance itself from Stern and Hot Talk (which may get easier with him on satelite) FM talk could really become a viable format.