From b5's Awesome Web Site

[R.D.P.]

The FCC recently held an auction of new FM signals nationwide. In the auction the 106.3 frequency licensed to Maplesville, AL was won by Valleydale Broadcasting. According to the FCC database the tower will actually be located south of Maplesville moving it closer to Montgomery and Selma. It is not indicated what wattage the frequency will be at which would determine where it could reach.
I did a search for Valleydale Broadcasting, LLC with Alabama’s Secretary of State LLC database and it did not return any results. Same goes for the State of Tennessee where the company purchased a 2nd frequency.
I’ll keep searching to find out who is behind the LLC and also to find out what the intended wattage is and where it will serve to see if it will affect Montgomery radio. In the mean time, here is a link for the information the FCC has on the new station:

FCC Database Search
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?stat...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9

Me thinks this new radio station will cater to Classic Country and/or 50s and 60s Oldies music and/or Southern Gospel. Been to Maplesville many times and know the surroundings very well. That's why I'm making those predictions on the format.

I just don't see this new station doing Urban, CCM and/or Top 40. That market is very small anyway and highly doubt that those formats would even work, seeing that the demos wouldn't favor them.

R.D.P. <><

 

[R.D.P.]

Just picked up this letter from Mr. Zach Rutledge.  We was talking about this new station and here's the exchange we made:

Just got this letter from Mr. Zach Rutledge of Alabama Broadcast Media Page. Here’s some predictions, he’s making about this new station:

Hi R.D.P., yeah I happened to catch that the application was granted. The station’s going to be on 106.3 and a class A, so no more than 6,000 watts at 328 feet, or equivalent. Whether or not it gets built out is up to the new owners of the permit. The people behind it are associated with Great South Wireless / Brantley Broadcast Associates, who run The Peach and the 97.7 that’s moving to Huntsville.

Your guesses as to viable formats are good. I’d go with oldies (repeating The Peach) or gospel of some sort. Another possibility is the company will move the site to a better location, or sell it to a religious group. At this stage, there are a ton of possibilities for the future of this (potential) station.

I’ll make a prediction now: this facility will be moved before it’s put on the air. It’ll either wind up southwest of Birmingham, or Clanton, or maybe even Selma! The station simply won’t be viable where it is. The primary service area will only be about 17 miles, and that puts it right on Selma’s doorstep, but also Clanton and Marion. So it could be moved just a few miles in any direction and become a player in those areas. What do you think?

Now for some I just shared with Him:

Love your predictions. I just don’t see it doing too well in Maplesville too. That town is so small, it only takes less than a minute to travel through it. One minute you’re on the south side and the next your on the north side. That is if you’re travel say from Selma to B-Ham on Highway 22. I don’t see this station moving to Selma but I could be wrong on that. Your prediction about B-Ham may be more accurate though. They have a bigger market and this station would be perfect choice for a “New Rock” type of station, since WVVB is now gone and is doing talk. Then again, this station could bring back FM Black Gospel to B-Ham and make a wonderful profit from it. I may be wrong but I still think this station may stay where it is and do the Oldies and/or SG thing.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. If this station does move to Selma, I could see Alexander Broadcasting doing a LMA and turning it into the new WJAM FM and putting an all talk format back on 1340 AM, with their original calls WMRK AM. If they do decide to sell off this station, I know of some people that might have an interest in it. (Redeemer Radio, K-Love and/or WAY FM) I’ve been trying for years to make a return to radio broadcasting and this may be my golden opportunity. I hope this station does succeed once it signs on. However If the current owner(s) decide to sell it, I might can help them get a buyer for it.

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

That area would probably do good with Classic Country. Since 97.7 WEZZ left in 06 and Catfish 102.9 left earlier this year that area (as far as I know) doesn't have a classic country outlet.

Travis

 

[StrayKats]

Can't help but think 106.3 would either be gospel or classic country or some kind of mix a la the old WEZZ 97.7 FM. I guess there isn't too much leeway with the transmitter site with 106.5 Demopolis to the southwest, 105.9 to the northwest, and the wasted powerhouse of 106.1 to the (distant) east. I would have thought the frequency of 105.1 allocated to Rockford, albeit in the least populated county in the state yet able to cover the more sizable market of Sylacauga, not to mention Clanton and Alex City along with northern Elmore County, would have been more desirable.

And has there been any word on the deliberations about 93.1 in Coosada (metro Montgomery)? This would seem to be one of the jewels of the remaining allocated frequencies in the state. Are the owners of the 1030 AM CP in Montgomery (Maxwell AFB, what a city of license) involved? Are the city brass of Pike Road interested? Is Eclectic eyeing the 100.3 opening being vacated by WGZZ Dadeville when they change frequency, assuming? Ah, the rumours and possiblities abound.