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OLDIES ON WDJZ-1530AM
- Thread starter musicgal
- Start date
musicgal said:
If they had any sense they'd try to capitalize on WICC's downward fall as well as their epic fail of not simulcasting Sandy coverage on WEBE.
A decent format in addition to filing for a translator would give AM 600 a run for the money.
Re: O
Do they broadcast at a lower power after sunset????????
Do they broadcast at a lower power after sunset????????
What sort of "great oldies" are we talking about here? The '50s and '60s kind that DRC-FM, for the most part, won't touch anymore?
WDJZ is a daytime only station. I don't remember what station(s) they're protecting with their pattern but they would be a perfect fit for a translator since the other two AMs licensed to Bridgeport have nighttime operating power.
There is another 1530, WJDM, to protect in Elizabeth, NJ and a Long Island broadcaster WTHE 1520 from Mineola, so WDJZ really has to null southwest. At night, WCKY Cincinnati points their 50,000 watts east in this general direction, but WWKB 1520 Buffalo really blasts into the Northeast.
What happened to John Labarca at 1530????
WDJZ is Daytime Only to protect WCKY. They also have a "dogleg" tower array, creating a very deep null toward Elizabeth NJ, to protect the 1530 there. (Interesting trivia: WJDM, 1530 in Elizabeth, NJ was the FIRST station in the US to get an Expanded Band frequency, on 1660. They were supposed to SHUT DOWN the 1530 after 5 years. They didn't. They sold it, instead.)
For MANY YEARS, 'DJZ was signing on in winter, well before sunrise, with much more power than they are allowed. (50 watts from 6am to sunrise, but they appeared to be using full day power.) Then they'd stay on the air well past their legal sign-off. For some time, their air staff would punch the transmitter back up, after the automation shut it down. I heard that their CE "fixed" that problem, so they CAN'T override the sign-on, low power, and sign-off anymore. Kudos to him!
As for their format... they are the absolute definition of "Dollar-a-hollar" radio. If you have money, they don't care what you have to say, you're on the air. Makes for a less-than-listenable overall format.
When they first signed-on in the late 1970's, they had a "standards" format. Then they tried being "full-service" for a while. I don't know how well they'd make it with those formats, though, since they are limited to daytime only.
Despite being a Daytimer with ZERO pre-sunrise and a PITTANCE for post-sunset, WFIF does well with their all-talk Christian format. Why? Because they hold their program providers to high standards, so that the programming is quite consistent in its content and quality. WDJZ's programming is not. At all.
I am honored to say that I worked for WFIF for 20 years. I was their CE for the last 15, and Music Director & Production Manager, for the last 17.
For MANY YEARS, 'DJZ was signing on in winter, well before sunrise, with much more power than they are allowed. (50 watts from 6am to sunrise, but they appeared to be using full day power.) Then they'd stay on the air well past their legal sign-off. For some time, their air staff would punch the transmitter back up, after the automation shut it down. I heard that their CE "fixed" that problem, so they CAN'T override the sign-on, low power, and sign-off anymore. Kudos to him!
As for their format... they are the absolute definition of "Dollar-a-hollar" radio. If you have money, they don't care what you have to say, you're on the air. Makes for a less-than-listenable overall format.
When they first signed-on in the late 1970's, they had a "standards" format. Then they tried being "full-service" for a while. I don't know how well they'd make it with those formats, though, since they are limited to daytime only.
Despite being a Daytimer with ZERO pre-sunrise and a PITTANCE for post-sunset, WFIF does well with their all-talk Christian format. Why? Because they hold their program providers to high standards, so that the programming is quite consistent in its content and quality. WDJZ's programming is not. At all.
I am honored to say that I worked for WFIF for 20 years.
I was their CE for the last 15, and Music Director & Production Manager, for the last 17. WPHA said:
Minor correction -- WJDM did not have to turn in it's license. WJDM, and station in Vallejo, CA received expanded band allocations due to a technicality of the expanded band rules. Apparently, if you were licensed to a city with over 100,000 residents that did not have a full-time radio station (WJDM is a daytimer), you could get an expanded band station without shutting down your old station. In all other cases, if you applied for and received an expanded band allocation, you had to surrender your old license (or expanded band license) after 5 years. That did not apply to WJDM and to Vallejo, CA. It was a narrowly created exception to benefit Elizabeth, NJ. Incidentally, it also benefited the CA station too.
Interestingly, WHWH/Princeton, NJ (1350) received an expanded band allocation on 1680. That station was moved closer in to Philadelphia and recently the old WHWH was activated again after being silent for several years.
musicgal said:
The only problem I see is that the "dolla-a-holla" religious programming with the overmodulated screaming presenters will drive what audience would have stuck around away. If this format is something that the station is committed to they need to advertise it to see if it will gain traction.
musicgal said:
At least in the format presented on 'DJZ. A very successful station that could be considered a "dolla-a-holla" advertiser based is Long island's WLNG - very community oriented and quite successful as a small station in a sea of larger broadcasters. It has a special charm that is quite unique.
The leased time model with programs of limited interest and poor production quality will drive 'em away in droves.
Bill DeFelice said:
Listenership is irrelevant. Dollar-a-holler works because there are miracle cure hucksters and salvation peddlers and other subspecies out there who'll pay for airtime on the off chance that some similar lower lifeform may tune across the signal and part with his or her money. The radio station needs only an owner, a salesperson, a billing department and a couple of engineers. I would think it's hard to fail if you succeed in selling all your airtime.
CTListener said:
Interesting take on that, but if radio stations are (still) licensed "in the public interest" how do dollar-a-holler hucksters serve the public interest? Granted, depending on the rates it may keep a station afloat but if the station's a dying patient why not just pull the plug and call it a day?
If a station isn't on the air for listeners what purpose does it serve?
MarcB said:
Looking to convert Roman Catholics into evangelical Protestants, no doubt, and seeking "goodwill donations" to stay on the air. Like I said, salvation peddlers.
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