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Palm Springs KWX-Why?

D

DavePSP

Regarding KWXY's FM translator. It's been on but without any audio for at least 3 months. Nothing. Dead air. No ID's. Nothing. 3 months.
Obviously, there's nobody's in town.
The AM is on but seems to be on autopilot.
Is there anyone who knows why:
1) They can't get audio back on the translator, and if that's not possible ...
2) They can't/won't turn the FM translator xmtr off?
You'd think they would want to minimize the electric bill!

These people do NOT deserve to hold the license. (Just my opinion.)
 
There were reports of financial problems for the owner and apparently the station is, indeed, running on autopilot.

Side comment: the electric bill for a translator or even a lower power AM or full FM is a minor expense. For the translator, it is likely consuming less power than a "big screen" TV.

What I don't understand is why the AM keeps operating as they are incurring ASCAP, BMI, et. al. license fees by being on the air. Why not file for a temporary silence period until they sell or reorganize?

From Wikipedia and, surprisingly, accurate:

In June 2021, Desert Broadcasters sold KWXY, KKGX, and two translators to Louie Comella’s IVOX RADIO LLC for $105,000. The sale included the old KDES (AM) tower site in Palm Springs for $220,000 and the KWXY Broadcast Center building for $550,000. Comella plans to expand the Broadcast Center’s 28.4-acre site into a media hub featuring the IVOX+ streaming platform, a motion picture studio, and a theater venue.
 
He is in violation of FCC rules and regs. Pretty sure he doesn't give a sh*t about that?
And - as far as music licensing fees - "bankruptcy" will take care of that?
Like I said - this guy should NOT hold a license.
ARGH!
 
DavePSP said:
Regarding KWXY's FM translator. It's been on but without any audio for at least 3 months. Nothing. Dead air. No ID's. Nothing. 3 months.
Obviously, there's nobody's in town.
The AM is on but seems to be on autopilot.
Is there anyone who knows why:
1) They can't get audio back on the translator, and if that's not possible ...
2) They can't/won't turn the FM translator xmtr off?
You'd think they would want to minimize the electric bill!

These people do NOT deserve to hold the license. (Just my opinion.)
Click to expand...
By the time you finish reading this thread, most of your questions will be answered.

 
I read the thread. Again - this is about the Palm Springs FM translator - NO AUDIO - nothing - for at least 3 months. My question was: Why? If you're not using the signal - turn it off.
 
DavePSP said:
I read the thread. Again - this is about the Palm Springs FM translator - NO AUDIO - nothing - for at least 3 months. My question was: Why? If you're not using the signal - turn it off.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering if that's being done to avoid filing any STA's with the FCC, which they haven't done.
 
KilowattKat said:
This is hilarious! They came out of a Nirvana song with one of the old liners from the Beautiful Music days (with the harp and voiced by the lady with a british accent)...Music as beautiful as the desert, KWXY. Good grief!
Click to expand...
I'm sure it was unintentional, but still more entertaining than a lot of radio these days.

I always thought a fun stunt would be "classical hip-hop" - NPR voiced announcers back selling contemporary rap tracks.
 
Nirvana into the desert lady - NOT intentional I'm sure. And NOT entertaining, in the "Wow! WTF" way.
Aw, Cmon Andy. "Let's make it so bad, it makes us laugh?" OK. Maybe a 15 minute segment. But NOT a format. And - you gotta make sure the audience gets and appreciates it. And - you better make sure it's good.
 
It's an undercapitalized licensee and a station likely at this point no one listens to. It is what it is, might as well laugh at it.

It's far from the only outlet in that situation. The market's got too many stations, what do you propose iVox should do to turn it around and start printing cash? Go back to beautiful music? Who are the clients going to be?

I'm not endorsing the licensee or their practices, just not something that's going to ruffle my feathers much. Play polkas for all it matters.
 
I actually think it's intentional. On the website they wax nostalgic about the 'original' KWXY and it's history, while acknowledging having updated the sound and music being played. But how many current listeners (if they have any) or going to recall and be reminiscent about the Beautiful Music KWXY? A year ago, they mentioned digitalizing the BM tracks, and creating an online stream for that Definitely, a more appropriate place for the harps and the british lady.

KWXY ● The Sound of the Desert for More than 50 years ▪ 92.3FM ▪ 1340AM ▪ Palm Springs ▪ kwxy.com

KWXY has been the Sound of the Desert for More than 50 years, bringing independent, and iconic music to Palm Springs, the Desert Cities, and the Coachella Valley. KWXY Music Radio - 92.3FM 1340AM - streaming at kwxy.com
www.kwxy.com www.kwxy.com
 
Andy Travis said:
It's an undercapitalized licensee and a station likely at this point no one listens to. It is what it is, might as well laugh at it.

It's far from the only outlet in that situation. The market's got too many stations, what do you propose iVox should do to turn it around and start printing cash? Go back to beautiful music? Who are the clients going to be?
Click to expand...
The biggest problem is the combination of the nation's worst ground conductivity and huge, expansive growth in the market.

A (former) Class IV AM station on a high frequency with low power and today's noise levels can't even cover well more than 25% to 30% of the market.

The translator is not one of the best in the market, but it does add coverage and it is FM. But the market, as you say, is hugely over-radioed. And local TV is selling at "yesterday's" radio rates, making it hard for any station that is not part of a larger cluster or the unique case of KGAY.
 
Agree - way too many signals for this market. Nobody can make any money.
Back to the start - Can't honor the requirements of the license? No audio on translator? No audio on translator for 3 - now 4 months?
TURN IT OFF.
Or - Maybe go "All Polka?" I'd listen! Of course, that depends on being able to get audio to the translator. Mmm. Good luck with that!
 
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DavidEduardo said:
The biggest problem is the combination of the nation's worst ground conductivity and huge, expansive growth in the market.
Click to expand...
I get that sand is a poor conductor of AM signals. But... isn't the Coachella Valley sitting on a huge aquifer (basically an ancient extension of the Salton Sea)? Isn't that how they can water dozens of golf courses? Or, does the presence of an aquifer have nothing to do with AM signal conductivity?
 
Signal Geek said:
I get that sand is a poor conductor of AM signals. But... isn't the Coachella Valley sitting on a huge aquifer (basically an ancient extension of the Salton Sea)? Isn't that how they can water dozens of golf courses? Or, does the presence of an aquifer have nothing to do with AM signal conductivity?
Click to expand...
Generally speaking, unless the aquifer is very, very close to the surface, it has little to no effect. There are places in the piedmont Mid-Atlantic which can tap into aquifers at 40 feet below ground…still noticeably bad AM conductivity due to dense red clay.
 
Signal Geek said:
I get that sand is a poor conductor of AM signals. But... isn't the Coachella Valley sitting on a huge aquifer (basically an ancient extension of the Salton Sea)? Isn't that how they can water dozens of golf courses? Or, does the presence of an aquifer have nothing to do with AM signal conductivity?
Click to expand...
The aquifer is way below the surface area that conducts AM signals. And the water in it is not salt water; it is fresh water that has relatively low conductivity.
 
DavePSP said:
I read the thread. Again - this is about the Palm Springs FM translator - NO AUDIO - nothing - for at least 3 months. My question was: Why? If you're not using the signal - turn it off.
Click to expand...
Unidentified transmissions are illegal. If it's not technically possible to hourly identify an otherwise unmodulated carrier wave it must be turned off and the FCC notified of the situation.
 
TomásEstefan said:
Unidentified transmissions are illegal. If it's not technically possible to hourly identify an otherwise unmodulated carrier wave it must be turned off and the FCC notified of the situation.
Click to expand...
The already understaffed FCC will be hit with huge budget cuts by you know who. At least for the next 4 years, we can expect FCC enforcement of regulations like these to become a very low priority for the agency. The focus for now is an assault on the media for payback.
 
KilowattKat said:
The already understaffed FCC will be hit with huge budget cuts by you know who. At least for the next 4 years, we can expect FCC enforcement of regulations like these to become a very low priority for the agency. The focus for now is an assault on the media for payback.
Click to expand...
The FCC rarely visited individual markets for technical monitoring in recent decades. They depend on third party reports to start investigating a situation.
 
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