Joel Salkowitz to be PD at WNYZ/Pulse 87

[Jeffrey]

Apparently Joel Salkowitz ex-PD of HOT 97 and Jammin' 105 will be PD of WNYZ.
Should be interesting to see how this station comes into it's own. Quite exciting really.
A rhythmic CHR but perhaps with less cookie cutter type programming....
remains to be seen but looks like it'll be interesting.
They've shaped up there website too. http://www.pulse87.com/
Debut should be Feb. 4.

 

[NoMoreLurking]

....oh, how the mighty have fallen........

 

[SwapMeetLouie]

Interesting concept, but what's the plan for Pulse after February, 2009? Won't it lose it's signal when all the analog TV signals are forfeited? :-\

 

[w9wi]

Interesting concept, but what's the plan for Pulse after February, 2009? Won't it lose it's signal when all the analog TV signals are forfeited? :-\

Only the full-power analog TV signals are forfeited. WNYZ has a -LP license; it can continue to broadcast in analog after that date.

However...

I don't believe the FCC will allow low-power analog to continue forever. They have discussed setting a drop-dead date for -LP stations and I'm sure they will eventually do so. I think it will be sooner rather than later - if forced to bet I'd say February 2010.

Also, -LP stations may voluntarily switch to digital operation right now. WNYZ already holds a construction permit to switch to digital operation on channel 6. It's my understanding this permit is valid for three years. So they have to convert by late 2010 or their permit will expire. (not that they couldn't get another one...)

 

[VARTV]

Interesting concept, but what's the plan for Pulse after February, 2009? Won't it lose it's signal when all the analog TV signals are forfeited? :-\

Only the full-power analog TV signals are forfeited. WNYZ has a -LP license; it can continue to broadcast in analog after that date.

However...

I don't believe the FCC will allow low-power analog to continue forever.

I agree... This station could have a short life. On the other hand, isn't there talk of using channel 6 and maybe 5 for more radio stations??

 

[w9wi]

I agree... This station could have a short life. On the other hand, isn't there talk of using channel 6 and maybe 5 for more radio stations??

Not at the FCC, at least not yet.

I rather doubt we'll see the FM radio band expanded. The NAB would never allow anything that would create new FM stations not controlled by existing stations. They fought LPFM tooth and nail, despite the service being limited to non-commercial facilities.

If such a thing were to happen, what I'd support is to open the entire 54-88MHz band [0] to digital radio broadcasts, on a secondary basis to existing LPTV and DTV operations and co-primary to any new television facilities. Either IBOC (but in full-digital mode) or Eureka could be used. (though the FCC should pick one and stick with it) In most markets there will be no TV operations in this band after transition, and there's only one market (Butte, Montana) where more than one of these channels will be used for TV.

[0] of course with the exception of the 72-76MHz airnav band.

 

[dave388]

if they do x-pand the FM band it would prob be modled a bit like japan FM
start at 76MHz and run thu 107.9 ( about 60 more fm channels) which would be nice but big questions if they did do this
1. would it be all non-com
2. would it have a similar rule like the x-panded Am band (station has to be a current station and no new)
3. would they move current non-coms down and x-pand the commercial band?

 

[LIradiofan226]

It's February 4th launch day 11:50 ten to noon and the station has yet to launch. I hope they don't keep us waiting much longer.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

WNYZ already holds a construction permit to switch to digital operation on channel 6. It's my understanding this permit is valid for three years. So they have to convert by late 2010 or their permit will expire. (not that they couldn't get another one...)

Current FCC policy is that CPs are issued for three years...period. If the station hasn't been constructed at that time, and the reasons why it wasn't constructed were not completely beyond the licensee's control, the CP is not renewable. Too many licensees were taking year after year after year and then some to construct stations that should have been up and running in 18 months (the former length of CPs), abusing the nearly automatic renewal that was granted basically by just asking for it. No more.

 

[LIradiofan226]

10 to 3 on what was announced as the official launch day and still no launch of the new format as promised. Still waiting as of this writing for them to make their switch which is supposed to be today. I don't like liars. If it's not launched today I will not listen to the new station. One listener won't really matter to them but it pisses me off when anyone much less management of major stations tell blatant outright lies.

 

[JohnParker]

I think the real interesting thing to watch here will be if the station CAN attract listeners will it force another underperforming station with better Tri-State area coverage to make the leap. Of course it will be hard to prove listenership without Arbitron but if your walking into every retail store and this is the station that they are listening to that could be proof enough.

jp

 

[fybush]

WNYZ already holds a construction permit to switch to digital operation on channel 6. It's my understanding this permit is valid for three years. So they have to convert by late 2010 or their permit will expire. (not that they couldn't get another one...)

Current FCC policy is that CPs are issued for three years...period. If the station hasn't been constructed at that time, and the reasons why it wasn't constructed were not completely beyond the licensee's control, the CP is not renewable. Too many licensees were taking year after year after year and then some to construct stations that should have been up and running in 18 months (the former length of CPs), abusing the nearly automatic renewal that was granted basically by just asking for it. No more.

The FCC won't extend an existing CP that's expired, true. But there's nothing stopping a station from simply reapplying for the same facilities that were in the expired CP, assuming nobody's come on in the meantime to make another grant of the same CP impossible. This happens all the time, even under the current rules.