Palm Beach Stations

[bat manny]

im curious, some of the palm beach stations are on clean frequencies... but why are all the West Palm stations of such low-low power... i mean i can get all the miami stations up there with no hitch but the ones comming from up there are so underpowerd they barely get into central broward ? is there a reason for this ?
i think if they were at higher power it will make the diversity of radio in south florida a lil better. there are a few formats up there that can do pretty well if the stations reached miami.


thoughts anyone ?

 

[Radio-X]

Pretty simple...the FCC has certain rules designed to keep stations distanced apart. In these large metros, 95% of all stations are running at maximum power/height and are generally as close to the metro as they can get.

The Palm Beach stations have to co-exist with other radio stations in Fla. Examples:
- WPBZ cannot increase their power because of 103.1 in Orlando.
- 94.3 cannot juice up because of 94.7 in Vero, 94.5 in Orlando and Ft. Meyers, and 94.1 in Tampa
- WKGR really can't increase power because of 98.3 Miami, 98.9 Orlando, or 98.5 Ft. Meyers
- 92.1 can't move because of 92.3 Miami

Plus, in all reality, Palm Beach stations really don't care about Broward/Dade Counties. With the exception of occasional mentions of Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach ads and traffic reports stop at Boca. Even the two stations that put a signal into Miami (WRMF/WEAT) really don't get ratings there. If these stations were to even put just one salesperson in Broward/Dade, they would lose money because the station just doesn't have the following it does in WPB where the signal is stronger.

But yes...seeing the Buzz on the 104.3 stick would own. Too bad 93 Rock came in so quick, otherwise I have a feeling CBS/Palm Beach would have given thought to swapping frequencies w/ the Buzz (though looking at the station now...might have been a good idea not to ;D )

Radio-X

 

[ScottBurns]

In addition, many Palm Beach stations are not actually located in Palm Beach County, and thus have weak signals in many areas of the county. Some examples:
1. WLDI/Wild 95.5 - its stick is in Fort Pierce. While its signal is strong is most of Palm Beach County, it fades fast in parts of Boynton, Delray Beach, and especially Boca Raton.
2. WPBZ/103.1 The Buzz - Its stick is in Indiantown. While its signal is better than Wild's, the Buzz comes in best in Northern and Western Palm Beach County.
3. 98.7 The Gater - I might be mistaken, but I think their tower is also in Fort Pierce. Again, the Gater's signal is terrible in Southern Palm Beach County (funny, considering their is a billboard for The Gater near the Glades Road exit in Boca on I-95).

 

[bat manny]

thanks for the replies, the way i was thinking was if wrmf/weat can get a signal down here i thought all the others could too but just chose not to. o well problem solved for me ;D

 

[Radio-X]

Nah...if it was that easy, I'm sure some stations would want to attempt to make some Broward County dough.

Plus, what a group of whopper signals that would be? My car radio stops on 104.3 nightly in Orlando.

Radio-X

 

[livingfruitvirus]

If these stations were to even put just one salesperson in Broward/Dade, they would lose money because the station just doesn't have the following it does in WPB where the signal is stronger.

And yet some still try to do it. WRMF used to attempt to target Broward and Dade counties, but it didn't work out. Now WMEN is trying to do the same.

 

[Radio-X]

That's somewhat different though. While I cant pick up WRMF on most clock radios, boomboxes, or walkmans in Central/Southern Broward, WMEN does an OK job of coming in during the daytime.

Notice I said OK job...so it will probably bomb like the "guy talk" formats in the Pacific NW did in the late 90's

Radio-X

 

[oldhack1965]

As a former employee of WRMF, I can tell you that they do have a salestaff in Broward County and have about a dozen Broward County clients. Since WRMF has been around for quite some time, they were given (you'd think I know this as a former employee) a class C FM license and they broadcast with an unheard of 100,000 watts. That's quite rare these days. You can pick up their signal almost in to Key West! The problem basically is their format: They give you no reason to listen in Broward County because it's the same ol music that Miami stations are playing. Give them something unique like a "Jack FM" or an 70's-80-90's DANCE/Urban format and you'll see the numbers in the Miami-FLL book. As it is now, WRMF barely eeks a 4.5 share in it's Palm Beach Market.