New Jersey Broadcasters Assn. opposes "HD" FM power increase

[radioskeptic]

The NJBA is principally concerned with the interference that NJ stations would recieve from NYC and Philly "HD" signals, but they also cut Iniquity's flawed tecnology down to size in another area:

And if coverage weren't the only issue, consider audio quality. Ibiquity advertises audio quality to be "better than FM". The truth is, it doesn't even come close to typical MP3 quality... much less analog FM.

It's a nine-page letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and you can read it here:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020383697

 

[Carmine5]

Yeah, the NJBA letter lays all the arguments out there. I'm not so sure Genachowski cares, however. It seems he and his cronies at the FCC think very little of the broadcast industry as it is. You can't help but get the impression that they would much rather throw the entire industry under the bus as they frantically come up with a broadband plan then work with it.

But you have to admit, on paper, HD Radio sounds like a great idea:

A pathway to digital
No new spectrum to allocate
Efficient use of existing spectrum by means of additional channels, datacasting
Backward compatibility with analog radios
A solution for both FM and AM.

You can see why the FCC so readily endorsed it. But the reality has been quite different as we know. A 1% injection level is not enough to provide drop out-free reception or coverage and any more power is surely going to cause interference problems with many broadcasters because, as the NJBA letter emphasizes, IBOC is really IBAC.

c5

 

[Savage]

In the end, it doesn't matter. The fate of HD will be determined in the marketplace. And so far, broadcasters and radio listeners, outside of a few enthusiasts, have overwhelmingly rejected HD Radio.

I just hope the whole thing gets dumped before the interference chases away too many listeners.

 

[Play Freebird]

The NJBA is principally concerned with the interference that NJ stations would recieve from NYC and Philly "HD" signals, but they also cut Iniquity's flawed tecnology down to size in another area:

It's a nine-page letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and you can read it here:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020383697

Wow. This is very interesting, considering that several members of the NJBA Board work for companies which have been strong IBOC supporters (Clear Channel, Buckley/WOR, Greater Media, Pillar of Fire). This may formally mark "the point of no return" for IBOC.

Needless to say, the arguments presented here are quite convincing and will be difficult for iBiquity to refute. In particular, I sympathize with NJBA here:

... The Commission rejected the pleas of the more "ubiquitous" analog
Class "A" FMs over 20 years ago, who begged for a meager (3db) power increase to do exactly
what HD Radio now prays for; that is, to increase coverage and building penetration. Absent a
suspension of reality or a disingenuous application of reason, why should the IBAC stations'
request now be granted at the unjustifiable expense of the remaining 80+% of analog FMs that
have faithfully served their communities and proven their vitality through the immutable test of
time. It is not only inequitable, it is dangerous.

Their 307 (a) and (b) argument is also right on target, as is the call to consider the use of 76-88 MHz for digital radio.

My guess is that iBiquity's lawyers will respond that the NJBA letter missed a comment filing deadline and will try to get it thrown out on a procedural error.

Note that Millennium Broadcasting (one of NJ's leading groups) never bothered with IBOC at WKXW (their biggest property) yet "New Jersey 101.5" continues as a phenomenal success, outbilling many NYC stations. And their "secret" is -- LOCAL CONTENT

 

[davideduardo]

Note that Millennium Broadcasting (one of NJ's leading groups) never bothered with IBOC at WKXW (their biggest property) yet "New Jersey 101.5" continues as a phenomenal success, outbilling many NYC stations. And their "secret" is -- LOCAL CONTENT

While I tend to agree with the broadcasters' association, your comparison of WKXW with New York stations is a bit over the edge. If we look at the New York FM's (which I would defend as being those on the ESB), and eliminate one start-up, all billed historically two times or more what WKXW billed.

On the other hand, for market 143, WKXW does extremely well. In markets 140 or smaller, KKXW is the second highest biller of any and all FMs. Only WEBE in Stamford-Norwalk bills more (market 148) and WPST, also in Trenton, bills about the same.

 

[Play Freebird]

While I tend to agree with the broadcasters' association, your comparison of WKXW with New York stations is a bit over the edge. If we look at the New York FM's (which I would defend as being those on the ESB), and eliminate one start-up, all billed historically two times or more what WKXW billed.

On the other hand, for market 143, WKXW does extremely well. In markets 140 or smaller, KKXW is the second highest biller of any and all FMs. Only WEBE in Stamford-Norwalk bills more (market 148) and WPST, also in Trenton, bills about the same.

Consider also that WKXW's overhead is much less than in New York. Their studio is in a nondescript building near Trenton (not expensive Manhattan office space) and I'm sure the transmitter site rent is more reasonable than at Empire, not to mention the lower cost of labor.

WKXW also ranks first place in market 51 (Monmouth-Ocean) and usually second in market 40 (Middlesex-Somerset-Union) where much of the population resides well outside the 70 dBu contour. This may explain why they've shown no interest in IBOC; I doubt the digital signal would stay locked very long out there, anyway. They're smart not to kill the "golden goose" by being spectrum pigs.

How does WKXW's revenue compare to FMs in markets the size of Boston or Seattle?

I just think their format is brilliant and I don't even live in NJ. They "work hard" during the week with local talk, and "play hard" on the weekends with Jersey's Favorite Hits!

http://www.nj1015.com/

 

[davideduardo]

Consider also that WKXW's overhead is much less than in New York. Their studio is in a nondescript building near Trenton (not expensive Manhattan office space) and I'm sure the transmitter site rent is more reasonable than at Empire, not to mention the lower cost of labor.

Those are certainly good points. Although I have heard from former employees that they pay quite well, and are thus able to cultivate and keep good talent.

How does WKXW's revenue compare to FMs in markets the size of Boston or Seattle?

Boston, being a top 10 market (and with the exception of recent format flips) has billings from about $9 to the mid 20's... using the last full year's data. Seattle, which is vastly over-radioed due to move-ins, goes from the sixes to the very high teens. Of course, the two Trenton FMs take nearly 100% of the billing in that Central NJ area, while in the other two markets, there may be 20 to 25 viable signals chipping away at the same revenue rock.

I just think their format is brilliant and I don't even live in NJ. They "work hard" during the week with local talk, and "play hard" on the weekends with Jersey's Favorite Hits!

It's definitely one of the more unusual stations in the US, creatively programmed going back to a time when the idea of doing content on FM caused people to question the sanity of the originator of such a bad idea. In a sense, with its signal, this is NJ's equivalent of a clear channel radio station. And they have made the best of it, too.

 

[8638]

I just think their format is brilliant and I don't even live in NJ. They "work hard" during the week with local talk, and "play hard" on the weekends with Jersey's Favorite Hits!

It's definitely one of the more unusual stations in the US, creatively programmed going back to a time when the idea of doing content on FM caused people to question the sanity of the originator of such a bad idea. In a sense, with its signal, this is NJ's equivalent of a clear channel radio station. And they have made the best of it, too.
[/quote]

I live in New Jersey, and WKXW is certainly our premiere radio station. You want Jersey news, weather, opinion, you go to 101.5. The signal is killer, listenable in most of the state (a little co-channel interference with WPDH Poughkeepsie in the northeast part of the state, and not so good in Cape May county). And, although I disagree with el Senor Eduardo frequently, his descriptive analysis of the station is spot on. Kudos to Millennium for maintaining the format instituted by Press twenty some odd years ago.

 

[Play Freebird]

I live in New Jersey, and WKXW is certainly our premiere radio station. You want Jersey news, weather, opinion, you go to 101.5. The signal is killer, listenable in most of the state (a little co-channel interference with WPDH Poughkeepsie in the northeast part of the state, and not so good in Cape May county). And, although I disagree with el Senor Eduardo frequently, his descriptive analysis of the station is spot on. Kudos to Millennium for maintaining the format instituted by Press twenty some odd years ago.

Yes, Millennium was smart to follow the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" (in contrast to IBOC's attitude towards analog: "if it ain't broke, go ahead and pound it with a sledgehammer")

But I'm concerned WKXW's "killer" signal may suffer in the suburbs of Philadelphia and New York if WBEB 101.1 and WRXP 101.9 decide to go ahead and increase digital power.

At -14 dB digital injection, each of WBEB's sidebands will be down 17 dB from the FM carriers, which equates to 280 watts. (For the sake of comparison, WPPZ 103.9 is only 270 watts - its antenna is 50 m higher in same antenna farm - but puts a very listenable signal into many of the Jersey suburbs.) So in parts of Camden County, based on the FCC prediction curves, the interference signal in the 101.3 channel will actually be stronger than that provided by 101.5.

Car radios probably won't be affected (unless they're within a few miles of the offending transmitters) but less selective clock radios and portables may have trouble with this increase in first-adjacent noise.

Also expect some additional co-channel interference to WKXW from WKCI 101.3 during the summer when inversions set up over the coastal waters, but the FCC won't take action because this is regarded as "transitory". To anyone who questions these seasonal effects, I suggest you talk with some of the public safety radio officers in Camden and Ocean Counties, whom have had to deal with serious interference caused by DTV operations on Channel 20 in Boston. See:

http://www.house.gov/andrews/archive/111402.html
http://www.scanboston.com/dtv.htm

 

[radioskeptic]

It could be even worse than that, Freebird. Remember, WCBS-FM in NYC is also on 101.1, and CBS is one of the most stalwart boosters of Iniquity technology. WKXW could be getting it from bothe ends in the New York metro!