Philly's LPFMs

[radiodx10]

92.1FM
WEMQ

92.9FM
WOOM
WGGT
WRGU
WRLG
WZML

98.5FM
WJYN
WQEW

105.7
WEMZ

106.5
WHII
WPPM

Which, if any of these, do you listen to? Personally it depends on my area, because these all are flea power stations. WOOM comes in best in my area, but I also sometimes enjoy WPPM and WJYN.

The reason I bring this up is because most of these have license renewals coming up and I hope we don't lose one of these unique local radio stations. I wonder (and worry) that Covid may have affected these stations negatively.

 

[Bill_W]

93.3FM

 

[b-turner]

From what I gather, a couple of the stations are likely near the financial edge like so many LPFM stations, but it looks like most are pretty well funded through other successful branches of the original non-profit.

I wonder about the viability of a couple of the groups on shared frequencies. A couple have odd hours/days and minimal hours. It's really tough to build listeners when you are not on the air every day or just a few hours a week. Here's the data on the 4 LPFMs that share 92.9 FM:

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101664002&qnum=5000&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

The breakdown: G-town Radio: 88 hours per week. Germantown United CDC: 10 hours per week. Germantown Life Enrichment Center: 10 hours per week. South Philadelphia Rainbow Committee: 60 hours per week. What is exceptional about these groups is they seem to get along, promoting 92.9 FM and their fellow broadcast partners.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

None of the above.

 

[b-turner]

May I ask what "none of the above" means? I'm sure open to correction if my opinion is incorrect but I'm clueless to what you are trying to say in so very few words.

 

[JBraddock]

May I ask what "none of the above" means?

The OP's question was "Which, if any of these, do you listen to?" 'None of the above' is a responsive answer (though I don't know what "93.3" means since that's not an LPFM in Philly).

I occasionally sample WZML's stream. A bit too mainstream overall for my tastes, but an interesting jukebox nonetheless (and the story a few years ago in Radio World regarding their technical setup is a good read; wonder what they're going to do about an STL now that Reciva is going kablooey in a few months?)

How long is Montco going to fund their 5 LPFM network since they don't appear to be programming it with anything that will attract listeners (looped multi-lingual COVID warnings and bland PSAs isn't going to do it. Someone should put a music or comedy format on those stations to draw attention to the signals so that people will know they're there in case of an emergency. I'll bet right now next to no one knows, or cares, that they exist. Plus, the left channel of their stream is extremely low right now.)?

Does Montco have signs on county roads promoting the LPFM frequencies as they would a TIS?

 

[Bill_W]

The OP's question was "Which, if any of these, do you listen to?" 'None of the above' is a responsive answer (though I don't know what "93.3" means since that's not an LPFM in Philly).

Ok. I change my answer to none of the above. 93.3 means more rock! 103.9? It acts like one. If I’m listening to FM in Philly, it’s WMMR or KYW. I’ve had Sirius and XM for so many years, a lot of my radio listening is from Sirius.

 

[daddyoo]

all I know is these lp's and lators are popping up all over blocking signals that were once receivable for years. and by no means are they flea powered, take for instance W241CH which barrels into South Jersey just like the ROX full power signals, wiping out everything in its path and penetrating steel office buildings with ease. There should be some law (joke), to keep these annoyances confined to a small area like W297AD's minuscule coverage.....

​

 

[davideduardo]

all I know is these lp's and lators are popping up all over blocking signals that were once receivable for years. and by no means are they flea powered, take for instance W241CH which barrels into South Jersey just like the ROX full power signals, wiping out everything in its path and penetrating steel office buildings with ease. There should be some law (joke), to keep these annoyances confined to a small area like W297AD's minuscule coverage.....

As Scott Fybush has previously detailed, translators, while limited to 250 watts, can locate as high as is technically possible without encroaching on the protected contours of other stations. So we have cases like a number of translators in Albuquerque that are literally thousands of feet above the market and are fully legal.

There are cases where stations have proven useful coverage outside the FCC protected contour and have, thus, prevented a translator from operating. But most stations don't care about that "outside" coverage as very few people listen to a weak signal. So the FCC sees this as adding new options for listeners.

 

[daddyoo]

I do know there are many upset LOYAL listeners that can no longer receive WVLT because of​

WEMQ and cannot receive WCTO because of W241CH. These stations know about it and are​

concerned but their hands are tied, the FCC helps who they choose and it will only get worst​

with this new administration. This is a prime example of these move​

in's, depriving listeners of hearing a signal they once enjoyed and now its gone. why is my type large?...RIP RUSH...​

 

[davideduardo]

I do know there are many upset LOYAL listeners that can no longer receive WVLT because of WEMQ and cannot receive WCTO because of W241CH. These stations know about it and are concerned but their hands are tied, the FCC helps who they choose and it will only get worst with this new administration. This is a prime example of these move in's, depriving listeners of hearing a signal they once enjoyed and now its gone.​

Stations that have listeners outside the protected contours have remedy based on obtaining declarations from a certain number of listeners in those areas. However, the burden of proof lies with the affected stations and they must find those listeners to get them to "write" a complaint.

But in most cases, the areas where weaker signals are used are outside the ratings based metro so they are of no value to those stations. Nearly nobody is going to spend money on protecting a coverage area that does not produce revenue.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

If you can’t monetize it, it doesn’t matter. A company can feign concern to look how they want, but advertisers aren’t buying those audiences. Such is life. It’s not an entitlement.

 

[b-turner]

Their hands are not tied. There are specific procedures for a remedy and they apply to everyone. You should contact the affected stations and ask them if they need written complaints. If they aren't actively going after 'loyal' listeners like yourself, then they are simply satisfied with they coverage they have. If they want your complaint and you are within the protected coverage area, by all means help them get the number of complaints they need to get something done.

It does no good to complain here. You should be sending your comments to the FCC. They set the rules we all follow. With the new administration, there might be a different attitude, which is usual with each election but normally existing rules stay put. The FCC works without playing favorites regardless. And Congress is the FCC's boss, not the President. In fact, the appointees in Congress that oversee the FCC and hold their feet to the fire are made up of both parties.