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Hourly station identification

L

Len14043

I know the FCC has a law which mandates that stations identify themselves by the call letters and city of license at the top of the hour. I wonder if its against the law to use creative means to hide the actual call letters or city of license. For instance, about 20 years ago, there was a station in Ogden Utah that had the call letters KJQN. However, the station was known and advertised as KJQ. (At that time, there was a station in California with the call letters KJQ) On the top of the hour, that station identified itself as KJQ N Ogden, which sounded like "KJQ in Ogden." I don't believe any casual listener knew the station was actually KJQN.

Here is another example: A top 40 station WGTZ is located in Eaton, Ohio, which is about 25 miles from Dayton. At the top of the hour, the station identifies itself as "WGTZ Eaton Dayton Alive." Obviously, any casual listener will hear: "WGTZ Eating Dayton Alive" and will think the station is located in Dayton instead of Eaton.
Is it illigal for a station to intentially mislead the public by creatively obscuring their actual call letters or city of license.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Len14043 on 10/01/05 05:04 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> I know the FCC has a law which mandates that stations
> identify themselves by the call letters and city of license
> at the top of the hour. I wonder if its against the law to
> use creative means to hide the actual call letters or city
> of orgin. For instance, about 20 years ago, there was a
> station in Ogden Utah that had the call letters KJQN.
> However, the station was know as KJQ. On the top of the
> hour, that station identified itself as KJQ N Ogden, which
> sounded like "KJQ in Ogden." I don't believe any casual
> listener knew the station was actually KJQN.
>
> Here is another example: A top 40 station WGTZ is located in
> Eaton, Ohio, which is about 25 miles from Dayton. At the top
> of the hour, the station identifies itself as "WGTZ Eaton
> Dayton Alive." Obviously, any casual listener will hear:
> "WGTZ Eating Dayton Alive" and will think the station is
> located in Dayton instead of Eaton.
> Is it illigal for a station to intentially mislead the
> public by creatively obscuring their actual call letters or
> city of license.
>


KCJF in Earle, AR is a jockless classic rock station, calling itself Earl-FM. There's some liners with a guy saying "This is Earl! It's my radio station, real classic rock, 103.9 Earl-FM!" or whatever...the legal ID is this guy saying "This is KCJF, Earle FM!"
 
> > I know the FCC has a law which mandates that stations
> > identify themselves by the call letters and city of
> license
> > at the top of the hour. I wonder if its against the law to
>
> > use creative means to hide the actual call letters or city
>
> > of orgin. For instance, about 20 years ago, there was a
> > station in Ogden Utah that had the call letters KJQN.
> > However, the station was know as KJQ. On the top of the
> > hour, that station identified itself as KJQ N Ogden, which
>
> > sounded like "KJQ in Ogden." I don't believe any casual
> > listener knew the station was actually KJQN.
> >
> > Here is another example: A top 40 station WGTZ is located
> in
> > Eaton, Ohio, which is about 25 miles from Dayton. At the
> top
> > of the hour, the station identifies itself as "WGTZ Eaton
> > Dayton Alive." Obviously, any casual listener will hear:
> > "WGTZ Eating Dayton Alive" and will think the station is
> > located in Dayton instead of Eaton.
> > Is it illigal for a station to intentially mislead the
> > public by creatively obscuring their actual call letters
> or
> > city of license.
> >
>
>
> KCJF in Earle, AR is a jockless classic rock station,
> calling itself Earl-FM. There's some liners with a guy
> saying "This is Earl! It's my radio station, real classic
> rock, 103.9 Earl-FM!" or whatever...the legal ID is this guy
> saying "This is KCJF, Earle FM!"

I'm guessing it's not. I think I'm right in believing that Z100 is one of the most famous example of this where the legal ID has WHTZ, Newark (with Newark said and produced so it sounds like New York)
<P ID="signature">______________
Owen</P>
 
Actually, WGTZ no longer uses "Eaton-Dayton and Springfield Alive". They do bash Clear Channel at the top of certain hours.
 
On a similar note, I've noticed some TV stations getting away with no ID at all. Last month, I was trying to identify two previously unseen DX catches. Made it to the top of the hour without losing either station, but all they showed was a 15-second clip that said "You're watching TBN" (Trinity Broadcasting Network). No local identity at all, not even station/translator or city of origin info overlaid on the "TBN" clip or anything...how can they get away with that?



> > > I know the FCC has a law which mandates that stations
> > > identify themselves by the call letters and city of
> > license
> > > at the top of the hour. I wonder if its against the law
> to
> >
> > > use creative means to hide the actual call letters or
> city
> >
> > > of orgin. For instance, about 20 years ago, there was a
> > > station in Ogden Utah that had the call letters KJQN.
> > > However, the station was know as KJQ. On the top of the
> > > hour, that station identified itself as KJQ N Ogden,
> which
> >
> > > sounded like "KJQ in Ogden." I don't believe any casual
> > > listener knew the station was actually KJQN.
> > >
> > > Here is another example: A top 40 station WGTZ is
> located
> > in
> > > Eaton, Ohio, which is about 25 miles from Dayton. At the
>
> > top
> > > of the hour, the station identifies itself as "WGTZ
> Eaton
> > > Dayton Alive." Obviously, any casual listener will hear:
>
> > > "WGTZ Eating Dayton Alive" and will think the station is
>
> > > located in Dayton instead of Eaton.
> > > Is it illigal for a station to intentially mislead the
> > > public by creatively obscuring their actual call letters
>
> > or
> > > city of license.
> > >
> >
> >
> > KCJF in Earle, AR is a jockless classic rock station,
> > calling itself Earl-FM. There's some liners with a guy
> > saying "This is Earl! It's my radio station, real classic
> > rock, 103.9 Earl-FM!" or whatever...the legal ID is this
> guy
> > saying "This is KCJF, Earle FM!"
>
> I'm guessing it's not. I think I'm right in believing that
> Z100 is one of the most famous example of this where the
> legal ID has WHTZ, Newark (with Newark said and produced so
> it sounds like New York)
>
 
In the 80's, WNFI had a legal ID that included Palatka, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Now, throw in that the studios were actually in Ormond Beach, Just north of Daytona. (and not mentioned in the legal ID). I always thought that this was playing fancy free with the FCC rules regarding Legal ID's. Of course, nobody was killed or injured by this infraction so I guess it was O.K.
 
I don't know aobut TV translators, but I know FM translators have sub-audible tones which, as longed as it's properly logged.. count as an official id.. but you won't hear it on the air.
 
> I don't know aobut TV translators, but I know FM translators
> have sub-audible tones which, as longed as it's properly
> logged.. count as an official id.. but you won't hear it on
> the air.

Yes, this is legal for TV translators as well and in my experience most TBN low-power stations use this method.

Regarding the other post (about WNFI), a legal ID may contain as many cities as desired, as long as the city that appears on the license comes first.
 
> > I don't know aobut TV translators, but I know FM
> translators
> > have sub-audible tones which, as longed as it's properly
> > logged.. count as an official id.. but you won't hear it
> on
> > the air.
>
> Yes, this is legal for TV translators as well and in my
> experience most TBN low-power stations use this method.
>
> Regarding the other post (about WNFI), a legal ID may
> contain as many cities as desired, as long as the city that
> appears on the license comes first.
>

KTRQ in Colt, AR has fun with that rule, changing the other cities just about every time they do an ID. One hour it might be Colt, Brinkley, West Memphis. Another it might be Colt, Olive Branch, Lakeland (that's three different states, there! And saying they come in in Olive Branch is pushing it) And I have no idea if they still do it like this but growing up in NW Arkansas my favorite was KMCK, Siloam Springs, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville!
 
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