93.3 isn't exactly deficient in signal. It's equal to a class B, and places like Plano, Richardson, Frisco, and Lewisville are within its 60 dBU coverage. It's not like you can gain a lot by covering, say, Hillsboro.
I have listened to Hot very recently. It is definitely programming, but it is also absolutely signal.
I'm not sure if it's really vital to target Waxahachie, White Settlement, Ennis, or Terrell. A lot of large/major markets seem to do fine with class B (C2 equivalent) signals, like NYC, Boston, Chicago, DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Having spotty coverage in the farthest exurbs hasn't hurt the stations in these markets. Even in Atlanta, WHTA used to score high ratings with a semi-rimshot C2. Also in Miami, WCMQ, a C2, is a Top 5 station, while in Orlando, WPYO used to be competitive against WXXL with a C3 signal.
DFW rimshots are in a good situation as the urban growth is, for the most part, happening in the same direction as the rimshot sticks. Many of the northern burbs are the same distance from the rimshot transmitters as they are from Cedar Hill.
Why is it that in NYC you see a lot of 6kw signals (Class B), and in Chicago it's a similar deal (most being around 21kw)? Does it have to do with being on top of, per se, the John Hancock center, or the Empire State Building?
A lot of it has to do with the 50kW/150m HAAT limit for FM stations within Zone I (class B territory). And NYC FM stations perform best when placed in Manhattan, given that tall buildings make receiving stations that are even a little distant difficult. Hence why there are concerns about WXBK underperforming due to signal issues in Manhattan and the Bronx.
So the tall buildings do block some of the signal. Thank you for your response
A smaller signal is not always a handicap. In addition to WPYO once being competitive with WXXL in Orlando, WKSL (as a C2) in Jacksonville has had higher shares than heritage WAPE (a C) in the past few books. Both Orlando and Jacksonville house lower-density sprawling metros. Also, in Melbourne FL, WFKS (an A) remains fairly competitive with WAOA (a C1). In the Hampton Roads, WUSH (a B1) remains competitive with WGH (a superpower B). In Atlanta, WPZE (an A) has about the same cume as WKHX (a C0) and WUBL (C1). Speaking of WUBL, it currently has similar cume and share as WHTA. Of course, the aforementioned Atlanta stations have different demographic targets, but the point is that superpowered signals are not everything. It may help, but if the programming is below par or less attractive to the market, it won't matter.
Hard to say for sure, but many stations decide to list streaming separately on the ratings. However, streaming is less often than not a low share.
I would rephrase this slightly... a smaller signal is always a handicap but it can be overcome if the smaller signal covers most of the audience the format is targeting and if the programming is compelling enough.
Yes. There is a limited exception, intended to satisfy stations with sports contracts that prevent streaming of games and which allow only Over the Air broadcast. That exception allows for a certain number of hours per month of non-simulcast for such situations.
Those NYC and Chicago stations that are a power levels such as 6 kw in NYC and either about 6 kw or 4 kw in Chicago are the equivalent of a Class B which is limited to 50,000 watts at 500 feet. Unlike AM, FM coverage is based on a combination of power and height. If you go over the standard height, the power goes down so that coverage is maintained in conformance with the Class B allocation.
They should have never allowed that. What a mess. 101.1 and 100.3 in 3 major cities in a row. At least have Philadelphia have 100.3 at 100.5 (directional signal) and 101.1 moves to 101.3 (directional signal) 101.3 in Lancaster moves to 101.5 and 101.5 in Trenton would move to 101.7.
