Is the FM station in Franklin still owned by the crooked preacher with the last name that fits?
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Franklin FM
- Thread starter Steppenwolf
- Start date
Without confirming or denying all of the post, the Hood family still owns it.
J
jimbo700
Guest
Re: Franklin FM OT- WXLW Power & Array change
I don't even know if Dr. Hood still owns/programs/LMA's/controls WXLW, but I did notice that the value of the property of the land at the transmitter site must have finally exceeded the value of the station. WXLW has filed an application to reduce power from 5KW days to 1,250 watts, and 120 watts nights to 30 watts.
They will eliminate the 3 tower array and go with a single tower, omnidirectional, at same location according to the application. Or perhaps it was a move to save on the electric bill. In any event, there goes the pristine signal on the southside into Columbus and points to the south.
It's all about the memories, though. Not much to hear there these days but at the height of Naptown Radio Wars, Bill Shirk took an underperforming AM daytimer and made it sound like WABC. It was nice to see Bill Shirk in the film, but I don't think they gave Super XL and WNDE enough credit for their rolls in "radio wars".
Nevertheless, a great film about a great time radio.
I don't even know if Dr. Hood still owns/programs/LMA's/controls WXLW, but I did notice that the value of the property of the land at the transmitter site must have finally exceeded the value of the station. WXLW has filed an application to reduce power from 5KW days to 1,250 watts, and 120 watts nights to 30 watts.
They will eliminate the 3 tower array and go with a single tower, omnidirectional, at same location according to the application. Or perhaps it was a move to save on the electric bill. In any event, there goes the pristine signal on the southside into Columbus and points to the south.
It's all about the memories, though. Not much to hear there these days but at the height of Naptown Radio Wars, Bill Shirk took an underperforming AM daytimer and made it sound like WABC. It was nice to see Bill Shirk in the film, but I don't think they gave Super XL and WNDE enough credit for their rolls in "radio wars".
Nevertheless, a great film about a great time radio.
Re: Franklin FM OT- WXLW Power & Array change
Are you sure that wasn't a special temporary authority to operate at 1/4 power that expired Sept 1 2011?jimbo700 said:WXLW has filed an application to reduce power from 5KW days to 1,250 watts, and 120 watts nights to 30 watts.
J
jimbo700
Guest
Right you are BOTJ. Perhaps I should read things a little more in-depth before posting about them.
Still, that land up there is in a hotbed of construction. Looks like it's value will eventually call for a relocation of XL's sticks.
Still, that land up there is in a hotbed of construction. Looks like it's value will eventually call for a relocation of XL's sticks.
jimbo700 said:Still, that land up there is in a hotbed of construction. Looks like it's value will eventually call for a relocation of XL's sticks.
But where would they go where land would be cheaper?
Where are you going to find another plot of land at any price where you will not be facing a bunch of angry owners yelling at a zoning meeting: "Not In My Back Yard!"
What would it cost to move? If they currently have audio lines in place to deliver programming to the towers, will they be able to get lines to a new location? The phone company does not appear to be very user-friendly in setting up new program circuits. (Sorry, I haven't been in Indy and driven past their site in several years. Maybe they have studios at the transmitter site today and audio lines are not a problem.)
If and when they decide someday to reduce power and go to ONE STICK, there is more than the power bill. A directional array takes additional man-power to maintain and monitor. Painting three towers costs a lot more than painting one tower. Replacing "johnny-balls" and maintaining the guys wires costs a lot more than maintaining one tower.
There was a time in small market radio when moving a simple radio station was not as complicated and expensive as today. More and more AM stations are likely to go silent year after year because they are not worth the cost of moving them.... or worth the cost of the zoning battle.
I've sat at the console of a few stations in "god-awful" locations. In this day and age when there is often only one person in the building at any one time, and a larger percentage of broadcast people or female, I would think the day and age of putting a radio station on cheap land which means some isolated back-road or street, may be over. Would you want your wife or daughter working at some dark, isolated cheap location?
Audio feeds can be economically "cheap" done. Microwave STL's, (no phone company), or an internet "tunneling" protocol via Cable or Telco "naked" DSL (in a lot AT &T locations this is a "regulated" rate as a result of the Bell South / AT&T merger) If this land is near development there might even be a choice of cable or phone company. Is Clearwire or one of the cellular providers offering wireless internet?
Yes I too have worked the on site rural studio / transmitter sites, but any economically viable station can be almost anywhere within the FCC mileage limits for a control point.
Yes I too have worked the on site rural studio / transmitter sites, but any economically viable station can be almost anywhere within the FCC mileage limits for a control point.
secondchoice said:Yes I too have worked the on site rural studio / transmitter sites, but any economically viable station can be almost anywhere within the FCC mileage limits for a control point.
Oh my! I think this thread got hijacked into a new direction but maybe the new direction is more wholesome than the original inquiry.
Just color me "old fashioned, old school" if you like. In a metro like Indy (we were discussing WXLW earlier) I guess studio location/control site location are not that critical. Very few people will ever see it no matter where it is.
In small markets... county seat markets... "village" markets... I have a strong affinity for putting the station out where it can be seen and can be handily accessed. Hopefully a location with enough traffic on the street to discourage vandals, copper thieves and those who would create mahem upon the lone employee in there doing their thing. And whatever the cost of the technologies you mentioned are, they may be less costly than renting the high visibility space that I like.
I think WXLW is pretty safe. With the economy in the midwest the way it is, I can't see any developer breaking down the door to buy property in a place as visually unappealing as Indianapolis... Old neighborhoods are blighted, and in disrepair. New residential construction in Indianapolis is very rarely high-end... It's usually vinyl sided, brick only in the front, cheaply constructed crap.
There was a time that neighborhood held some promise, but as one who has keys to that site, I pray that I never have to go there at night. I can't imagine that property's value is anywhere near what it was 30 years ago.
BobOnTheJob said:There was a time that neighborhood held some promise, but as one who has keys to that site, I pray that I never have to go there at night. I can't imagine that property's value is anywhere near what it was 30 years ago.
And as someone who does your NRSC, I have to agree with you! ;D
Enough about WXLW! I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.
Steppenwolf said:I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.
You have made it hard for us to address your question head on. By doing so, we appear to be confirming your assertion that "the preacher is crooked". Maybe he is. Maybe he isnt.
Take your choice. Ask who owns the station in Franklin..... or.... ask if a particular preacher is crooked. The second question might belong in another area like "Take it Outside".
Steppenwolf said:Enough about WXLW! I'm talking about the crooked preacher's Franklin station, the station that is LICENSED to Franklin.
He's never been "crooked" toward me.
And yes, he still owns the Franklin FM.
"Crooked preacher" is a lot like "arrogant salesperson" -- redundant
You have made a couple of blanket claims that I must contest.
I've met a few irritation salesmen, I've met a few arrogant salespersons, but I have met a lot of very useful, accurate and helpful sales people. I have been at times in my life a "sales people" and I hope my customers found me to be useful, accurate and helpful.... most of the time.
I have met preachers of every sort, shape, size, temperament and veracity you can imagine. Some are loud. some are much too ardent about a mis-constructed gospel they have assembled. Some are over-bearing, some are boring, some preach way too long. Some are naive. But most of them have been delightful people. Very, very few were crooked! If the only preachers you are meeting are all crooked, you must be hangin in the wrong places. ;D (I am currently "training" my 37th pastor and he appears to be rather straight-arrow.)
I've met a few irritation salesmen, I've met a few arrogant salespersons, but I have met a lot of very useful, accurate and helpful sales people. I have been at times in my life a "sales people" and I hope my customers found me to be useful, accurate and helpful.... most of the time.
I have met preachers of every sort, shape, size, temperament and veracity you can imagine. Some are loud. some are much too ardent about a mis-constructed gospel they have assembled. Some are over-bearing, some are boring, some preach way too long. Some are naive. But most of them have been delightful people. Very, very few were crooked! If the only preachers you are meeting are all crooked, you must be hangin in the wrong places. ;D (I am currently "training" my 37th pastor and he appears to be rather straight-arrow.)
stereolane said:I think WXLW is pretty safe. With the economy in the midwest the way it is, I can't see any developer breaking down the door to buy property in a place as visually unappealing as Indianapolis... Old neighborhoods are blighted, and in disrepair. New residential construction in Indianapolis is very rarely high-end... It's usually vinyl sided, brick only in the front, cheaply constructed crap.
I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder.
Indianapolis is blessed with a vibrant downtown that has been fueled by the renewal and constrution of downtown residential communities. I visit my hometown frequently, and I am impressed at the number of people walking, running, dining and partying in the downtown area.
Have you taken a trip north from downtown? It is amazing to see how well maintained those older (often very old) homes are.
Of course, there are undesirable areas. But on the whole, Indianapolis has done exceedingly well for itself.
And Indianapolis did it all without a trolley to nowhere.
The last time the WXLW property sold it was North of a million dollars. Money went to an education fund. Currently the area is low income housing and apartments.
The old Art Deco looking building for the transmitter is still there. The WXLW letters are above the door, just no neon in them. A paint job in the 1970's is well faded. The see through glass block appears intact in the windows that have them. The other windows are a product of aluminum in the pre 1960 style. This is a product of the WW2 era construction. I have the old RCA blueprints in the back room. Tired of seeing them fade I had them laminated. They may not mean anything to most but look impressive in today's world to someone in the business.
When it was developed by Lyman Ayres in 1954 it was cornfields as far as the eye could see, Interstate? None, 65 was a pipe dream at that point. The old aerial photos had no houses on the multiple prints and most of the roads there were gravel.
It will take a specific use need to cause the site to be sold. If an apartment complex wanted to build it would be elsewhere as this area is now rather blighted. A Marsh that was new when we moved there in 1995 is now in decline. There was a McDonalds the last time I was through. The same influence of 38th Street and High School Road exists and this low income inhabitation makes it a less desirable place to live. When Shirk owned the place it was still an okay area. I didn't worry about leaving the door open while working there, now though, I wouldn't be there at night.
Inside the old SX 5 is gone. If you get the camera and take a trip, take pictures. Transmitter visible through the front window. The old RCA BT? 5 is gone but the massive ducting for it remains. There is or was an old MW 5 that was set for backup duty but it was on another frequency, and needed much help. Still a classy old building. Needs lots of TLC. Ground system is original and was repaired in the mid 1980's. Pattern still held through the late 90's. I would believe a 58 year old ground system might need some help now. Not sure about the painting of the towers as they had rusted in the late 90's.
Lots of memories. Space Station Shirk.
The old Art Deco looking building for the transmitter is still there. The WXLW letters are above the door, just no neon in them. A paint job in the 1970's is well faded. The see through glass block appears intact in the windows that have them. The other windows are a product of aluminum in the pre 1960 style. This is a product of the WW2 era construction. I have the old RCA blueprints in the back room. Tired of seeing them fade I had them laminated. They may not mean anything to most but look impressive in today's world to someone in the business.
When it was developed by Lyman Ayres in 1954 it was cornfields as far as the eye could see, Interstate? None, 65 was a pipe dream at that point. The old aerial photos had no houses on the multiple prints and most of the roads there were gravel.
It will take a specific use need to cause the site to be sold. If an apartment complex wanted to build it would be elsewhere as this area is now rather blighted. A Marsh that was new when we moved there in 1995 is now in decline. There was a McDonalds the last time I was through. The same influence of 38th Street and High School Road exists and this low income inhabitation makes it a less desirable place to live. When Shirk owned the place it was still an okay area. I didn't worry about leaving the door open while working there, now though, I wouldn't be there at night.
Inside the old SX 5 is gone. If you get the camera and take a trip, take pictures. Transmitter visible through the front window. The old RCA BT? 5 is gone but the massive ducting for it remains. There is or was an old MW 5 that was set for backup duty but it was on another frequency, and needed much help. Still a classy old building. Needs lots of TLC. Ground system is original and was repaired in the mid 1980's. Pattern still held through the late 90's. I would believe a 58 year old ground system might need some help now. Not sure about the painting of the towers as they had rusted in the late 90's.
Lots of memories. Space Station Shirk.
Icangelp said:I guess it is all in the eyes of the beholder.
Indianapolis is blessed with a vibrant downtown that has been fueled by the renewal and constrution of downtown residential communities. I visit my hometown frequently, and I am impressed at the number of people walking, running, dining and partying in the downtown area.
Have you taken a trip north from downtown? It is amazing to see how well maintained those older (often very old) homes are.
Of course, there are undesirable areas. But on the whole, Indianapolis has done exceedingly well for itself.
I've been gone from Indy for almost 14 years now. 18 months ago we made a rush trip to the land of cheese and Harley's for a funeral. The trip home was not quite as rushed so we come back by way of Indy and spent the night. A couple of hours of looking up the places where we worked and lived, and a couple more hours on Sunday morning doing the same.
Yes, parts of Indy shine, particularly that downtown. Parts of Indy, including two neighborhoods where we once owned homes, disappointed us in that they were less than sparkling. But every city seems to have it's share of that process. That out-of-control building booms fueled by criminally insane mortgage schemes made it easier to build new than to maintain the old.
But in this discussion of of WXLW, it dawned on me that I did not get to the part of town where I once had my own little piece of The Free Enterprise system. I suspect that a trip to 34th and Moeller might have left me muttering: "And I thought this little journey down memory lane was good because????????"
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