Fybush on FB: WMSX wants to move to Dedham

[wickedwritah]

I always thought the Readville neighborhood slightly dipped over into Dedham. That's why I asked. (Since then I have found the coordinates on Langer's application and, if I interpreted them correctly when plopping them into Google Maps, the stick is just inside the city limits.)

 

[DanStrassberg]

I can't imagine 610 watts at 1410 doing much, though.

Well, 250W on 740 into a conventional tower covers a lot more territory by day than would 610W on 1410 into a 74' Valcom whip in an area of similar conductivity. (Well, during the daytime, anyhow. With only 5W-N and Toronto blasting in on 740 at night, WJIB might cover less ground at night than would a 25W AM on 1410.) However, what you might infer is that if Bob Bittner ever wanted to get out of the business and if he were willing to see WJIB become a commercial station, Bob might find an interested buyer in Alex Langer. OTOH, I suspect that Bob and Alex are roughly the same age, so if one of them were interested in getting out of the business, both of them might be. Also, lots of WJIB listeners would be inconsolable if Bob were to even consider selling out to someone who was interested in converting his stations to commercial brokered time, even if the new owner were not your typical large corporate broadcasting company. But on the third hand, few large corporate broadcasters are interested in owning low-powered AM daytimers (even ones with with nighttime authority). Any buyer of either of these stations would, therefore, likely have to be an individual. Also, unlike Bob, who has shown a strong interest in hanging on to his radio properties through thick and thin, Alex has shown himself to be an "entrepreneurial seller" when the right opportunity presented itself.

 

[MickeyD]

That's what I'm beginning to think, too.

A lease deal for "Touch 1410".

Somehow, I doubt that "Touch" wants to lease time, or move to AM. They seem to be operating under a delusion that they're somehow legal, or at least trying to convince everyone else of that.

Also, the 25 watt night signal from this application may not even cover Roxbury all that well given all the nighttime background noise (mainly from WPOP Hartford) on the frequency. I could see it covering well in Hyde Park (of course) and Mattapan, West Roxbury, Roslindale, and the south sides of J.P. and Dorchester, but by north Dorchester and Roxbury it may begin to get compromised, and by the South End and Boston proper the night signal would probably be "in the mud" most nights.

The day signal would not be a "full-market" Boston signal either. I'd guess it would be strong in all ofthe Boston urban neighborhoods listed above, as well as in the south suburbs along Route 128 such as Needham, Dedham, Westwood, Norwood, Milton, Canton, Quincy, Braintree, etc... (though maybe weakening a bit toward the coast) and also in the south sides of Newton and Brookline south of Route 9.

I'm guessing it may weaken a bit by Boston's South End, and that in downtown Boston it may fade in and out among the buildings and be susceptible to electrical interference in the city. Across the Charles River (from Cambridge northward, etc...) it may be listenable but not prominent on the dial, and maybe not very consistent in a car. It may be a just weak fringe by Route 128 north of Boston. Around Medford, Everett, Chelsea, Charlestown it may get some second-adjacent noise from WKOX's IBOC.

Given this kind of a (possible) signal, I would think that brokered/leased programming by and for Boston's urban ethnic communities, and any organizations in the south suburbs along 128, would probably be the most practical use for it.

Why would they do that? They are paying nothing but the electric bill for Touch. Why would they want to pay to lease an AM station? No one would listen to it. It is a music station.

 

[wickedwritah]

I can't imagine 610 watts at 1410 doing much, though.

Well, 250W on 740 into a conventional tower covers a lot more territory by day than would 610W on 1410 into a 74' Valcom whip in an area of similar conductivity. (Well, during the daytime, anyhow. With only 5W-N and Toronto blasting in on 740 at night, WJIB might cover less ground at night than would a 25W AM on 1410.) However, what you might infer is that if Bob Bittner ever wanted to get out of the business and if he were willing to see WJIB become a commercial station, Bob might find an interested buyer in Alex Langer. OTOH, I suspect that Bob and Alex are roughly the same age, so if one of them were interested in getting out of the business, both of them might be. Also, lots of WJIB listeners would be inconsolable if Bob were to even consider selling out to someone who was interested in converting his stations to commercial brokered time, even if the new owner were not your typical large corporate broadcasting company. But on the third hand, few large corporate broadcasters are interested in owning low-powered AM daytimers (even ones with with nighttime authority). Any buyer of either of these stations would, therefore, likely have to be an individual. Also, unlike Bob, who has shown a strong interest in hanging on to his radio properties through thick and thin, Alex has shown himself to be an "entrepreneurial seller" when the right opportunity presented itself.

I swear I read a profile of WJIB somewhere (Globe?) in the past couple years that indicated WJIB could be sold to some form of non-profit if/when Bob steps aside. Given what Bob's done in the past couple decades there, it would be a fitting legacy. (Would also love to see him get a Boston area translator, but pigs fly, etc.)

 

[JIBGUY]

That article was in The Boston Phoenix last August. While it was a VERY well-written article, the ending of it describing my future plans was not exactly how I would have described it. I will probably die (many many years from now) in a studio. But I do have a problem.... How do I assure that the same format continue after I'm gone? It is VERY popular and a lot of people would be crushed if it went away. My wife doesn't know how to run a station, altho she is very much quite an advocate of the format. The Phoenix suggested (as I did), possibly to a non-profit org before or after I'm gone. But the article implied that it was an urgent thing, which it's not. - And yes, Dan is right... I am not an entrpreneur buying and selling stations. And yes, some very "loaded" people (lots of them) have made the approach to buy WJIB; none of them wanting to do the current format, but rather brokered ethnic or ethnic-religion.

 

[aaronread]

Well, Bob, as I'm sure you're aware, the WCRB 102.5 sale shows that even a fairly explicit mandate for a non-profit trust doesn't always mean what people think it means. :-[

I imagine it can be done...but at the same time, one does have to leave "escape clauses" for the inevitable day when the format ISN'T as popular as it is now, and a change must be considered if the enterprise is to keep going financially (or, worse, to avoid losing so much money that it goes in the red). That might be five months or five decades from now; one never knows, but that necessary clause is the devil in the details.

 

[4CX1000A]

WCRB was always a for-profit operation, even while Ted Jones's stock was held by his family trust. Not until WGBH bought WCRB from Nassau did it become a not-for-profit.

 

[JIBGUY]

Well, Bob, as I'm sure you're aware, the WCRB 102.5 sale shows that even a fairly explicit mandate for a non-profit trust doesn't always mean what people think it means.

Yes, quite aware of that happening with the Jones trust. My idea is one where perhaps some of WJIB's most intense listeners may form a group (with my help bringing them together, then they decided what they want to do) to take it over. Them being listeners is the advantage over the WCRB situation. And true, I would not expect to stay the same for a real long period of time. After all, who wants to hear 1920's music anymore. In 2030, who will want to hear 1940's music?

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

After all, who wants to hear 1920's music anymore. In 2030, who will want to hear 1940's music?

ME!....That's Who! However....I realize I'm in the minority on this one. After all, some moments ago, I just finished listening to a 1927 recording of Josephine Baker singing "Then I'll Be Happy".

Like I just said....I'm in the minority.

 

[4CX1000A]

There is a weekly show featuring music of the 1920s and 1930s; it's running as part of WMSX's temporary jazz format in Brockton, and also on WBCQ (shortwave) in Maine, where it airs Fridays from 5 to 6 PM.

 

[wickedwritah]

As of now, it appears the plan is to // 650.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...tlet-boston/GPXBqYnsctnxUgavg2j5UI/story.html

 

[DanStrassberg]

My guess is that, as soon as Langer gets a CP to move 1410, completes construction of the new facilities, and finds an LMA partner different from the folks who already LMA 650 (someone whose checks don't bounce would be good), you'll hear a language other than Brazilian Portuguese on 1410. The 650 upgrade made that signal nicely audible in Dedham/Hyde Park, so running the same programming on 1410, while OK temporarily, is kind of superfluous for the long haul. Are there many Portuguese speakers in Dedham/Hyde Park? I thought they were mostly out in MetroWest. I can understand running 1410 // 650 as a temporary placeholder, but to generate enough revenue to pay for the upgrade, Langer needs something other than a simulcast of another of his properties.

 

[DanStrassberg]

If I read yesterday's (7/1/2013) NERW correctly, Langer is NOT planning a 650//1410 simulcast, though he IS planning to program 1410 in Portuguese. Are there really enough Portuguese speakers in the "upgraded" 1410's coverage area to support such programming and to bring in enough revenue to pay for the three staffers and the separate (from 650) studio/office facility in Hyde Park that Scott says Langer will construct?

 

[tvradiogeek]

enough with the Portuguese radio stations,not to be rude but what ever happened to English radio on am?? those were the days

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

I knew about their intended move to Dedham months ago.

AM radio is not what it was when I was a young kid. I grew up
listening to Top 30 on WRKO, transistor radio pressed to my ear.
There was no internet, no 200+ TV channel universe then, like there
is now. AM radio is now playing to niche audiences. The prices for
FM stations in major markets are just too high for niche
programming to succeed on FM. Here at WLYN and WAZN, we do
brokered (mostly) foreign language programming. Our parent company probably
does more of it than just about anybody else in the US.

I find it quite hypocritical that, seemingly, the same people who
complain that specific radio programming is not available to the masses,
put down the very same programming. There are a lot of costs involved in putting
a station on the air, maintaining it properly and legally, and running it.

This is what brokered time actually does -
it provides an opportunity for the little guy to start up his own program, and
try to promote and expand on that. If you were a professional in the broadcast business,
you would know this...

If you think that you have the next great programming idea, why not buy some time somewhere
(not soliciting here, for us!), put up some of your own cash, and have at it? Best of luck to you!

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

.This is what brokered time actually does -
it provides an opportunity for the little guy to start up his own program, and
try to promote and expand on that.

Very well put. However......

There IS a nagging perception out there....whether real or imagined....that brokered time programming is somehow "less legitimate"....or even "illegitimate" ....compared to programming that makes it to the air by the conventional method.

Also....it doesn't help matters that a lot of the folks who make it to the air by means of brokerd time are novices to broadcasting....and it shows....PAINFULLY SO. And that only adds to the perception of inferiority.

And in some cases.....the brokered programming airs on stations with less than perfect technical facilities....whether it be aging or poorly functioning equipment, or signal issues that have come about from years...or even DECADES of neglect and disrepair. This FURTHER adds to the preception.....dare I use the word "stigma"?

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Look at a program like The Lost 45's. It started out small,
and has grown into what it is today. Kudos! You need to realize
that when one buys a "station", all you get for that price is a license
to operate - a piece of paper. The "stigma" is only on the part of the
wannabe's who did not, or do not have the guts to put their money
where their mouths are. Brokered programs are not all infomercials
that seek to sell snake-oil... Brokered programs are more like condominiums,
in that each hour potentially is "owned" by a different individual. You may be
able to afford one apartment, even if you cannot afford to own an entire
apartment building...

If you have a great programming idea(s) -- roll the dice, and try to build it into
a success story!

 

[JIBGUY]

Brokered programs are more like condominiums,
in that each hour potentially is "owned" by a different individual. You may be
able to afford one apartment, even if you cannot afford to own an entire
apartment building...

Not quite..... If one buys a condo, then he/she cannot get kicked out if they pay their bills and follow the condo-association rules. Brokered-time radio stations often (often, not all) will kick a brokered-time-buyer off or move him/her, if his/her program is in the way of someone else wants that time who is willing to pay more. Many brokered-time stations use contracts with a 30, 60 or 90-day "out" by the station for no reason at all.

 

[Schuyler]

Look at a program like The Lost 45's. It started out small,
and has grown into what it is today. Kudos! .....

Kudos indeed, but that program is done by someone who knows a thing or two about presenting a radio program. Your example does not negate Dighton Rockhead's point that too often play-for-pay shows are done by persons with big egos, enough money, and insufficient talent.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

All of our programmers have a contract, for a specific length of time, with
specific terms. This protects them from that time being sold to somebody
else, and their program being taken off the air arbitrarily. Most of our
programs are long term contracts. It takes time to establish and promote
a new program. In a free marketplace, a truly terrible program will probably not
last very long. Yea, a program could go on for a while if it is strictly a vanity/ego project.
Certainly it will not find outside sponsors to defray its costs.

Program quality is also quite subjective - it is largely one's personal opinion.
Who has the final say if a program is good, or it is not?

Personally, I do not believe that real people actually listen to infomercials.
We have done but a handful of them, in all of my time here. I have also turned down business
for various reasons, and I will continue to do so, if it is in the stations' best interest.
Let the games begin! ;D