How Will AM Revitalization in 2016-2017 Affect The Orlando AM Landscape?

[jimmydean]

With the FCC Allowing AM's to acquire translators from up to 250 miles away, how do you think it will affect the AM Landscape in Orlando?

From what I understand, Class C and D Stations get to go first in the translator Move-Ins, then the A And B Stations get to pick.

Second Window will be for those who did not purchase a translator from a Third-Party to move in, and want to apply for an open channel, with once again C And D Stations first in line in those respective windows.

My opinion is that the FM Band in Orlando is so crowded that maybe 1 or 2 Class C and D Stations may get a chance to move a translator in, but the rest will be left out in the cold.

By the time it gets to the Class A and B Stations, there will be nothing left.

I feel the AM Revitalization effort will benefit stations in small markets where there is room to breathe. In larger markets such as Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Etc., there is just not much room to work with.

I believe there is also the proposed rulemaking to ease up AM Protection Contours to allow AM's to increase in power. This could help some lower power AM stations gain a little more coverage.

Would love to hear from others on this topic.

 

[FrankF]

There are too many of these so called low power / translator stations here. How about starting by fixing up the AM band. That AM protection contour ease is a start. Now radio makers need to make better AM receivers. Once upon a time the stock AM radios in cars were able to pick up transmissions from Mars at night practically. And if you tell an AM station you'll get an FM, they won't do anything with the AM. They'll just concentrate on the FM and forget about the AM with the exception of the call letters at TOH.

 

[OrlandoGM]

There are too many of these so called low power / translator stations here. How about starting by fixing up the AM band. That AM protection contour ease is a start. Now radio makers need to make better AM receivers. Once upon a time the stock AM radios in cars were able to pick up transmissions from Mars at night practically. And if you tell an AM station you'll get an FM, they won't do anything with the AM. They'll just concentrate on the FM and forget about the AM with the exception of the call letters at TOH.

I agree.

Unfortunately carmakers like BMW don't believe AM Radios are necessary in some models of vehicles. That doesn't help. The translator window is a joke. An AM in Orlando will get a translator that covers less than 6 miles. Larger companies like Salem are already positioning themselves to gobble up what is remaining of available channels. They just filed to lower power from 350 watts to 110 watts nighttime, and be reclassified as a class D, so they can apply for a translator in the first round coming first quarter 2015.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101704182&qnum=5120&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

 

[FrankF]

I agree.

Unfortunately carmakers like BMW don't believe AM Radios are necessary in some models of vehicles. That doesn't help. The translator window is a joke. An AM in Orlando will get a translator that covers less than 6 miles. Larger companies like Salem are already positioning themselves to gobble up what is remaining of available channels. They just filed to lower power from 350 watts to 110 watts nighttime, and be reclassified as a class D, so they can apply for a translator in the first round coming first quarter 2015.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS....jsp?appn=101704182&qnum=5120©num=1&exhcnum=1

That's just f*#king pathetic, and it just goes to show these company's couldn't give a rats a*s about their AM's. Your willing to sacrifice your AM's signal in order to get a low power FM and if memory serves me correctly 1520 used to be a day timer. Salem has an FM translator at 94.9 for 950 WTLN, a station IMHO that does not need a translator. Run WBZW's programing on 94.9 instead and keep the airwaves clear. But yea I know it's a pipe dream.

 

[OrlandoGM]

That's just f*#king pathetic, and it just goes to show these company's couldn't give a rats a*s about their AM's. Your willing to sacrifice your AM's signal in order to get a low power FM and if memory serves me correctly 1520 used to be a day timer. Salem has an FM translator at 94.9 for 950 WTLN, a station IMHO that does not need a translator. Run WBZW's programing on 94.9 instead and keep the airwaves clear. But yea I know it's a pipe dream.

I can see the trend coming. All the big outfits filing modifications to change class in order to acquire more translators. So much for the initiative to help small AM broadcasters.

 

[ok walters]

I can see the trend coming. All the big outfits filing modifications to change class in order to acquire more translators. So much for the initiative to help small AM broadcasters.

Not very many "small" AM broadcasters that own class A & B AMs in Orlando and cities like Orlando. Most of them in Orlando own multiple stations and/or already have FM translators in place, so I wouldn't consider them small by any definition. No spectrum to argue about anyway - as you said, one or two very low power signals is all there will be available anyway in Orlando. The new rules will mostly help out suburban and rural AM stations as most top 50 markets have little spectrum left like Orlando. So the answer to the original question - how will it affect the Orlando AM market? It won't in any appreciable manner.

 

[OrlandoGM]

Not very many "small" AM broadcasters that own class A & B AMs in Orlando and cities like Orlando. Most of them in Orlando own multiple stations and/or already have FM translators in place, so I wouldn't consider them small by any definition. No spectrum to argue about anyway - as you said, one or two very low power signals is all there will be available anyway in Orlando. The new rules will mostly help out suburban and rural AM stations as most top 50 markets have little spectrum left like Orlando. So the answer to the original question - how will it affect the Orlando AM market? It won't in any appreciable manner.

OK my point was that the larger guys are making modifications to their A or B stations to be reclassified as a Class D by the FCC. This is something that could happen nationwide. They are basically trying to jump in the front of the line.

Take a look at this by Salem for 1520 AM.
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101704182&qnum=5120&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

 

[ok walters]

OK my point was that the larger guys are making modifications to their A or B stations to be reclassified as a Class D by the FCC. This is something that could happen nationwide. They are basically trying to jump in the front of the line.

Take a look at this by Salem for 1520 AM.
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101704182&qnum=5120&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

Front of the line? Not really. There are now seven Class D AMs in and around Orlando - 1080, 1140, 1220, 1310, 1480, 1520 & 1600. There are also four Class C graveyarders in and around Orlando - 1240, 1340, 1400, and 1490. How many frequencies are available even in that extended area? I would tend to agree with your earlier assessment - two or three with a six mile range max each. So the line went from 10 to 11 for about three spots? More like they got in the early game and will fight it out with quite a few others.

It would seem like the bigger concern would be people buying up the existing translators now and over the last year or so just to flip them at a higher price. That will force out more little guys than reclassifying stations by pricing them out of the market.

 

[OrlandoGM]

Front of the line? Not really. There are now seven Class D AMs in and around Orlando - 1080, 1140, 1220, 1310, 1480, 1520 & 1600. There are also four Class C graveyarders in and around Orlando - 1240, 1340, 1400, and 1490. How many frequencies are available even in that extended area? I would tend to agree with your earlier assessment - two or three with a six mile range max each. So the line went from 10 to 11 for about three spots? More like they got in the early game and will fight it out with quite a few others.

It would seem like the bigger concern would be people buying up the existing translators now and over the last year or so just to flip them at a higher price. That will force out more little guys than reclassifying stations by pricing them out of the market.

Let's break down the Class D players in the game. Here's my play-by-play

1600 I doubt will get a translator due to the fact that the FCC has already stated that they will issue an order for Extended Band stations to turn in one of their licenses. Unity owns 1600 and 1680 in metro and 1680 is a Class B. My guess is that Unity goes for sticks on 1240 and 1410, and 1680 gets left out in the cold because there will be nothing left by the time the A/B window comes.

1220 and 1480 are both owned by J&V, who also owns 1400, 1490, 1220, and 1440. With 1220 the chance or fitting something in Kissimmee is very remote due to the proximity to Tampa and Full power Stations blasting in, as well as the tons of lpfms there. 1480 will have a hard time as well being in the metro. My guess is that J&V goes after translators for their 1400 in Sanford and Deland on 1490 due to availability in those areas. 1440 gets left out in the cold as a Class B.

The outskirt stations should have a few channels available in their area that could fit. The 1310 and 1340 both have decent chances to obtain one.

That leaves 1080, 1140, and 1520, and I don't think there are even 3 channels available in Orlando. If two apply for the same channel, I think it goes to auction, and Salem obviously wins at that game. See where I'm going with this?

 

[TheBigA]

How about starting by fixing up the AM band. That AM protection contour ease is a start. Now radio makers need to make better AM receivers.

Sure...talk to the FCC. It's their job, and they punted.

 

[ok walters]

Let's break down the Class D players in the game. Here's my play-by-play

1600 I doubt will get a translator due to the fact that the FCC has already stated that they will issue an order for Extended Band stations to turn in one of their licenses. Unity owns 1600 and 1680 in metro and 1680 is a Class B. My guess is that Unity goes for sticks on 1240 and 1410, and 1680 gets left out in the cold because there will be nothing left by the time the A/B window comes.

1220 and 1480 are both owned by J&V, who also owns 1400, 1490, 1220, and 1440. With 1220 the chance or fitting something in Kissimmee is very remote due to the proximity to Tampa and Full power Stations blasting in, as well as the tons of lpfms there. 1480 will have a hard time as well being in the metro. My guess is that J&V goes after translators for their 1400 in Sanford and Deland on 1490 due to availability in those areas. 1440 gets left out in the cold as a Class B.

The outskirt stations should have a few channels available in their area that could fit. The 1310 and 1340 both have decent chances to obtain one.

That leaves 1080, 1140, and 1520, and I don't think there are even 3 channels available in Orlando. If two apply for the same channel, I think it goes to auction, and Salem obviously wins at that game. See where I'm going with this?

So 1220 can't get one in Kissimmee because there aren't any, and 1480 can't get one in the metro because there aren't any. So how will 1080 get one as they are in Kissimmee, and how will 1140 get one as they are in the metro? Not much likely available in Apopka either, so what does 1520 get? All of the jockeying for position means nothing if there is nothing to argue over. Lots of multiple applications in the latest LPFM window show the spectrum is very tight so the real question is what is even available and where? The only people with any options are in the suburbs, and they may not have many.

 

[OrlandoGM]

So 1220 can't get one in Kissimmee because there aren't any, and 1480 can't get one in the metro because there aren't any. So how will 1080 get one as they are in Kissimmee, and how will 1140 get one as they are in the metro? Not much likely available in Apopka either, so what does 1520 get? All of the jockeying for position means nothing if there is nothing to argue over. Lots of multiple applications in the latest LPFM window show the spectrum is very tight so the real question is what is even available and where? The only people with any options are in the suburbs, and they may not have many.

OK, I don't know if you are familiar with how AM Fill-In translators work. The 60dBu of the translator cannot be outside the 2mV of the AM's contour. 1220 and 1480 are extremely limited in coverage, therefore their options are very limited. The 2mV contours of 1520, 1140, and 1080 are much larger. None of these by any means will obtain a translator that will cover a huge amount of area, but their footprint to place one is much larger. The translator transmitter site doesn't have to be at the exact AM site. It sounds like you're referring to the city of license, which pretty much means nothing nowadays. No one is going to tell you what is available. That requires money and an engineer to conduct a channel search.

 

[ok walters]

OK, I don't know if you are familiar with how AM Fill-In translators work. The 60dBu of the translator cannot be outside the 2mV of the AM's contour. 1220 and 1480 are extremely limited in coverage, therefore their options are very limited. The 2mV contours of 1520, 1140, and 1080 are much larger. None of these by any means will obtain a translator that will cover a huge amount of area, but their footprint to place one is much larger. The translator transmitter site doesn't have to be at the exact AM site. It sounds like you're referring to the city of license, which pretty much means nothing nowadays. No one is going to tell you what is available. That requires money and an engineer to conduct a channel search.

Fully aware of the rules, but some of these stations are very close together so those contours overlap heavily. Their options will be somewhat similar, but some may have no options at all. Any way you look at it, it is an argument over a very few less than stellar remaining frequencies between many parties, so will it make any real difference in Orlando AM radio? Nope.