Re: WCNB To Become "Super Oldies"
> BTW...He disclosed to the Connersville community
> > in a local newspaper interview last March (right before
> the
> > final public comment period) that "Connersville would
> still
> > have an FM station...It just wouldn't be at 100.3"...His
> > most recent comment to the press this past Monday states,
> > "We're actively searching for a new FM frequency to serve
> > Connersville and Fayette County"..."'would still" and
> > "'actively searching" don't form a proper equation.
> >
>
> Whenever most radio owners say something like that, it
> usually never materializes, and I can honestly say that a
> new FM station allotment cannot just be dropped into
> Connersville. The dial is already extremely overcrowded in
> East-central Indiana due to 3 metropolitian areas within a
> 70 mile radius of Connersville and a good chunk of those
> stations operate at 50,000 watts (or equivalent to) and
> several communities closer to Connersville have class As
> scattered all over the dial as well. The only way Rodgers
> could get a station licensed to Connersville is if they
> change the city of license of their soon-to-be directional
> class B1 station, WFMG 101.3. However, what kind of signal
> will 101.3 be putting toward that direction once the new
> pattern takes affect? It's either that or start yet another
> daisy chain of frequency changes with several stations in
> Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. I can't imagine the mess that
> would result of that.
>
> On a more positive note: I like the "Super Oldies" idea.
> If they would have dropped country from 100.3 (one of FOUR
> signals within a 30 mile radius with that format) years ago
> and went with oldies, they may have had some community
> support to keep the station around.
>
I concur on your view of a replacement FM for Connersville…NO practical way that can happen. Both statements from Rodgers to the local press amount to little more than an owner’s attempt to “fly under the public radar” during a complicated and possibly provocative FCC procedure. As for 101.3 in Richmond; the “round robin” originally required WFMG to not only lower its power—but also move the site well north of Richmond (further away from Connersville). That may have changed to an arrangement requiring a DA at their current site, which would save poor 'ole Radio One some bucks but would impair the signal further over parts of Wayne County. Part of the "big pitch" for this whole exercise involved the sacrifice of WFMG's Class B status--not just to accommodate WIZF, but also to finally relieve a long-standing short-space with 101.5 in Columbus, IN. Nevertheless, the modified facility falls far short of placing a 70dbu signal over Connersville.
As for "Super Oldies" on 1580 AM...Only time will tell. They have a capable older PD there who is an oldies fan, and could do that well.
NOTHING short of the Commission deciding to enforce their historic priorities could have worked "to keep the station (WIFE) around". I will never be convinced that Rodgers initiated this (hence the tone of my initial post), and I can't blame him for cashing his $18mil check despite the outrageous poclivities of this modern-day industry. Finally, as a person who grew up and still has family and friends in business there, I was not under the impression that "community support" for the current WIFE was a problem. As I mentioned in my original post--Rodgers has been the best operator in that station's long history. Certainly by large market standards, WIFE is no Federal Reserve, but it maintains a good reputation and client base. When it leaves, it will have left in its best operating condition. BTW...WIFE has for many years maintained a 24/7 live format...YES--a "body" is there at 3AM. In todays world, that's NOT an indication of a lack of support (at least financial).
http://www.newsexaminer.com/articles/2006/03/07/latest_news/news01.txt
