Cant have that one.. it's gone, license has been deleted.. and you cant file for a new license till they open a window.... and anyone who builds a multi tower array, which this will need.... needs their head examined
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New Buffalo FM?
- Thread starter SirRoxalot
- Start date
Cant have that one.. it's gone, license has been deleted.. and you cant file for a new license till they open a window.... and anyone who builds a multi tower array, which this will need.... needs their head examined
Another case of the land under the towers having more value than the license, which brings into consideration the acres of land in Hamburg under the six towers of WGR-WWKB. A person familiar with the operation of that site has said there are more than 125 acres of prime real estate in the Big Tree Road tract, including land not under the towers. WGR could move to Grand Island, diplexing from the two tower WBEN array. Seems 550 would have to revert to its long ago two-tower 1kW night power and pattern. Could 1520 go the way of Albany's 1540? Before pooh-poohing the notion, the person familiar with the operation also says it's been discussed, but would happen only if Entercom Buffalo faces financial hardship, something presently not the case.
A few years ago when urban sprawl was at its peak the Hamburg land that WKBW/WGR operates might have been more of an attraction that it likely is now. Instead, the sprawl established itself north of the snow belt into East Amherst and Clarence. There's plenty of undeveloped land in the same general area as the tower farm. I'm not sure it would be worth enough to cover the cost of the move, re-engineering, and fighting the NIMBY battle that would ensue.
I suspect that the WGR pattern problem has been studied closely over the years and that the possibilities were found to be lacking. Since 'KB shares the WGR towers, it's likely that it will be allowed to languish as long as it doesn't cost too much to run. It's surprising to me that Entercom didn't dive into the FM translator pool. Perhaps there wasn't much left by the time it was their turn. They also have 107.7, which could be the best translator in the city if they decided to use it for WGR. It would not only fill in the holes in their pattern, it would put Buffalo's major sports teams all over a swath east of Buffalo and south of Rochester. It could hit several of the small stations who are part of the Bills and/or Sabres networks, which might be a revenue concern for Entercom. And, it appears that David Field likes the Alternative format (much to the chagrin of a poster or two here).
I suspect that the WGR pattern problem has been studied closely over the years and that the possibilities were found to be lacking. Since 'KB shares the WGR towers, it's likely that it will be allowed to languish as long as it doesn't cost too much to run. It's surprising to me that Entercom didn't dive into the FM translator pool. Perhaps there wasn't much left by the time it was their turn. They also have 107.7, which could be the best translator in the city if they decided to use it for WGR. It would not only fill in the holes in their pattern, it would put Buffalo's major sports teams all over a swath east of Buffalo and south of Rochester. It could hit several of the small stations who are part of the Bills and/or Sabres networks, which might be a revenue concern for Entercom. And, it appears that David Field likes the Alternative format (much to the chagrin of a poster or two here).
It's always an option. They have actual data on what happened when they used it that way for WBEN. But right now, it's not necessary. They can accomplish their goals with just the AM. In other cities, the only way to keep your content relevant is to put it on FM. Buffalo is not one of those places. Entercom has a similar situation in Chicago with The Score. Cumulus has KNBR in San Francisco. So WGR isn't that unique.
The WBEN simulcast was a debacle. The actual data showed the ratings sagged in spite of adding an FM signal.
Epic fail.
It's curious that Buffalo is frozen in time. The past was the heyday. Maybe WGR and KB can run a 1968 War Of The Worlds remake that nobody outside of Buffalo or under 65 remembers. The Bills and Sabres are also totally irrelevant on a national level and are poorly run organizations. "The future's so bright, you gotta wear shades"...
Epic fail.
It's curious that Buffalo is frozen in time. The past was the heyday. Maybe WGR and KB can run a 1968 War Of The Worlds remake that nobody outside of Buffalo or under 65 remembers. The Bills and Sabres are also totally irrelevant on a national level and are poorly run organizations. "The future's so bright, you gotta wear shades"...
Good to see you've expanded your sour view of life from radio into the sports world. Next thing you'll know you'll be tackling politics.
Radio programming is targeted at - and revenue comes from - local audiences. If they like the WKBW version of War of the Worlds, then that's the one you program. Most people under 55 would only know of a radio version if they heard one of the rebroadcasts that happened in the last 20 years - and most of them have been the 'KB version.
As far as the WBEN vs. WGR simulcast is concerned, most WBEN listening is daytime. The AM signal does just fine for both stations during the day. At night - when the Sabres play most of their games - the WGR signal is spotty in significant parts of the metro. That's when the 107.7 simulcast would help the most.
The point may soon be moot as online listening grows even in cars. Maybe you should try it. You can even listen to The Lake online. There's also an app for that so you can hear it on your phone or tablet. None of those pesky disk jockeys and very few ads.
As far as the WBEN vs. WGR simulcast is concerned, most WBEN listening is daytime. The AM signal does just fine for both stations during the day. At night - when the Sabres play most of their games - the WGR signal is spotty in significant parts of the metro. That's when the 107.7 simulcast would help the most.
The point may soon be moot as online listening grows even in cars. Maybe you should try it. You can even listen to The Lake online. There's also an app for that so you can hear it on your phone or tablet. None of those pesky disk jockeys and very few ads.
The point is moot already. People who care about Sabres games are watching or listening online. Do you really think Entercom can generate extra revenue by simulcasting WGR on 107.7.? It didn't work for WBEN. If WGR were to move to 107.7, then they wouldn't need the AM signal at all...
B
Buddy Shula
Guest
The only thing that would be achieved by WGR moving to 107.7 is a greater signal reach. Entercom would not make any more money from it. The signal as it stands now is a total waste, we all know that. The only thing it is good for is 107.7 shows, like Kerfuffle, and that is not a product of the programming, it is a product of sales. Billing at 107.7 is in the toilet. I will say it again, these three major wall street companies should be ashamed of the products they put out on powerful signals. The revenue is terrible. Ratings are terrible. They are just giveaways. Very sad! You never know who may purchase 107.7 and you never know when it will be a country station. My 1KW AM is beating the shit from a ratings and revenue standpoint against stations like WBUF and WMSX and WLKK. WECK is now right behind GR. Radio continues to bullshit itself that they reach young people. They don't. Not by choice at least. It is really funny how easy it is to beat these 50K FM's in Buffalo. This is an old city. RBR TVBR, a sister product of this very radio discussion board, interviewed me for their national magazine regarding why I am targeting 50 plus. It was a huge article -check it out if you can. These wall street companies are just trying to survive, and explain to their stock holders that their is "hope". There isn't. Not for them at least, as they bought stations for way more than they are worth. A station like YRK bases everything on freaking ratings. Ratings are only derived from the people who get diaries, not from the people who don't. BLK is the top 2 station in every book, yet, they do horrible in revenue. The total audience for WBLK is about 20K more per week than WECK. That's it. I know I am rambling, but the bottom line is that corporate radio has sucked the life out of the industry. Because it is all about selling hope to stock holders, not what's really going on.
I'm told that at least two companies that have owned WGR have studied the 4 tower WGR night time signal which uses only one of the three towers from which 1520 radiates fulltime. WGR is directional only at night. Reportedly, one of those studies explored the potential of moving 550 to Grand Island and reducing KB to lower power levels, perhaps 25kw day, 10kw night, with a directional pattern that is less restrictive than present. The FCC has in the past, frowned upon such a power and service area reduction. However, recent reports indicate the FCC is considering reducing the protection of night time service contours of the big 50 kW non-directional signals, such as KMOX, WLW, WLS and KDKA. KB, utilizing a three tower array that protects 1530 in Cincinnati and 1520 Oklahoma City, isn't part of the class of AM stations that were once known as the 1A clear channels. Perhaps the FCC will allow stations in the same class as WWKB to "test" any R&R changes that may occur. Too late, however, for the recently deleted 1540 in Albany.
GR and KB share tower #1 at night on the Big Tree Road tower farm. It was interesting a few years back when we had the towers repainted, we had to switch KB to non-d to paint towers #1 and #3 and again when tower #2 was painted - I received DX reports from areas east who never were able to pickup 1520. Plus, we were running the DX-50 at 1kw during the painting.
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