Question about 103.3 WRZX

[jmmt59]

Would it be possible for WRZX to slightly boost their signal just enough to cover the cites of Lafayette, Muncie, and Bloomington? I understand that X103 serves Indianapolis but just think about the masses of college students that they could reach with just a very slightly stronger signal. Many times people say that college students don't have any effect on radio ratings however I know that when The Rocket 95.7 was in Lafayette they had very good ratings and I'm sure the same would be true in the college towns of Muncie and Bloomington. WRZX always shows up on the Lafayette Arbitron Ratings even with the terrible signal. Comments? Thoughts?

 

[gr8oldies]

More than likely if there was any expansion possible, it'd be a higher tower to better cover Indianapolis and suburbs rather than outlying areas. Lafayette businesses aren't going to be able to sink the bucks into an Indianapolis signal. The terrain problems in Lafayette make it a rough go for any of the Indy stations.

 

[jmmt59]

What about Muncie and Bloomington????

 

[ScatzerFan]

Am I the only one that has wondered why somebody hasn't put an alternative format in Bloomington? Ducks on the pond...........

 

[perenoel6218]

In reply to the "alternative" format in Bloomington...what exactly do you mean by alternative??There is an alternative in Bloomington, called Community Radio WFHB at 91.3.Now there is a real alternative. Also they present some times a liberal slanton today's news, something NO ONE in Indy is doing....YET!

 

[ScatzerFan]

OK....I mean a college rock/alternative music type format. Yes....91.3 is literally an alternative.....but I meant something like an X-103 geared for Bloomington.

 

[Stephen-novice]

I think he is talking about more of a mainstrem/active rock approach.And I have wondered the exact same thing about X103's signal strength and thrying to pull in the outlying college towns.I still miss the Rocket. I used to listen all them time when I lived back in Logansport and Royal Center. It was also great having them around when I visited my girlfriend (now wife) at Purdue.The days of a college station like WOXY or Rocket-like in every college town or metropolitan area are long gone and boy do I miss them.Not to change the subject, and I really would rather not, but how are those Liberal talk stations doing? Start new thread ..........NOW!

 

[MightyFrenchman]

If you want to hear a liberal slant on the news, merely tune in any NPR affiliated station. In the case of Indy, that's WFYI.

In reply to the "alternative" format in Bloomington...what exactly do you mean by alternative??There is an alternative in Bloomington, called Community Radio WFHB at 91.3.Now there is a real alternative. Also they present some times a liberal slanton today's news, something NO ONE in Indy is doing....YET!

 

[Apollo7979]

I think he is talking about more of a mainstrem/active rock approach.And I have wondered the exact same thing about X103's signal strength and thrying to pull in the outlying college towns.I still miss the Rocket. I used to listen all them time when I lived back in Logansport and Royal Center. It was also great having them around when I visited my girlfriend (now wife) at Purdue.The days of a college station like WOXY or Rocket-like in every college town or metropolitan area are long gone and boy do I miss them.

Me, too.I very much enjoyed the old "Modern Rock 95.7--The Rocket." It was straight-forward modern rock with a few college rock tunes thrown in from time to time, something X103 would never do...albeit The X always leaned a little harder. You'd never hear "Friends of P." by The Rentals or "Polyester Bride" by Liz Phair, for example, on the X. I think that's what made The Rocket unique and enjoyable to listen to for many listeners in the Lafayette market. The ratings weren't bad either, especially in the male 18-34 range. IMO, there could have been great potential if AMP kept The Rocket alternative along side WAZY being CHR. They could have owned the young-end segment of the market....WAZY catering mainly to females, WGBD catering mainly to males, but from a revenue standpoint, I can understand why they flipped The Rocket classic rock. CHR & alternative in the same building would have either been a huge success or a horrible flop. That was a risk many smaller markets wouldn't want to take and Artistic wasn't an exception.As far as WOXY goes, I grew up within an earshot of "97X." I never really listened to it. A little too alternative for my tastes, but it was always a place I'd go to if top 40 and mainstream rock would get on my nerves. The station had a loyal following and a place in history as one of the first alt-rock stations in the country. Lots of people were disappointed with the flip...much like The Rocket's modern rock demise...but only on a much larger scale. By the way, is the internet only version of "97X" still going strong?

 

[Stephen-novice]

WOXY is streaming online, but the initial couple $million$ that was donated is gone and now they are doing subscriptions for the high quality streams. They still haven't figured out how to do advertising even though they are one of the most listened to stations on the net and the demos, I would think, lean towards adults and young adults with some money.www.woxy.comCheck out the WOXY vintage channel. www.woxy.com/vintage/

 

[Kelso66]

In reply to the "alternative" format in Bloomington...what exactly do you mean by alternative??There is an alternative in Bloomington, called Community Radio WFHB at 91.3.Now there is a real alternative. Also they present some times a liberal slanton today's news, something NO ONE in Indy is doing....YET!

You seem to always comment on news/talk or news-related issues. One would think, just at first glance, that you are desperarely trying to get a news job around central Indiana. Just a thought.Also, enjoying reading the comments on WOXY. Great, great station-its ten bucks for a monthly subscription and far superior to anything on the terrestrial airwaves around here these days!

 

[dmettler]

Back to the original question about WRZX, WRZX is a fully spaced Class B FM, for the non technical that is a facility equivalent to 50Kw ERP at 500 ft. The WRZX antenna is located at the top of the tower that supports the WFBQ (94.7) and WNTR (107.9), so it is over height for a Class B FM the center of radiation for the WRZX antenna is at 849 ft. The overall tower height is 888 Ft. The tower is owned by Clear Channel Radio and is the furthest north commercial FM tower in the city of Indy, As for "adding a little power" This is not an option, if you are in the Bloomington, Muncie or Lafeyette and listen to WFBQ, that is more than a few watts, WFBQ is on the same tower a little lower at 820 ft. center of radiation but is grandfathered at 58KW ERP, And even with the additional power the signal in these cities is not great but a little better.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Back to the original question about WRZX, WRZX is a fully spaced Class B FM, for the non technical that is a facility equivalent to 50Kw ERP at 500 ft. The WRZX antenna is located at the top of the tower that supports the WFBQ (94.7) and WNTR (107.9), so it is over height for a Class B FM the center of radiation for the WRZX antenna is at 849 ft. The overall tower height is 888 Ft. The tower is owned by Clear Channel Radio and is the furthest north commercial FM tower in the city of Indy, As for "adding a little power" This is not an option, if you are in the Bloomington, Muncie or Lafeyette and listen to WFBQ, that is more than a few watts, WFBQ is on the same tower a little lower at 820 ft. center of radiation but is grandfathered at 58KW ERP, And even with the additional power the signal in these cities is not great but a little better.

Is the bank one site a backup ? Looks like it was a new site at lower power with fewer listeners?

 

[dmettler]

Strictly Backup for both WFBQ and WRZX. 4 bay halfwave spaced ERI with radomes with an ERI 2 station combiner and 2 solid state transmitters in there own climate controlled transmitter suite on the 49th floor. (not the common equipment room that is as dirty as the alley down below. The site plays very very well at the ERP for a backup. Don't loose the in office listeners because all of the RF is downtown, and the thing is up high enough for nice line of site out to the burbs.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Who is building the BIG tower at the antenna farm?Is this Clear Channel. From a distance looks like about a 30 foot face tower. Has an observation platform of biblical proportions.is teh big object on the platform a crane or jinpole?

 

[perenoel6218]

In response to the MightyFrenchman's comments on NPR and WFYI giving liberalslant to news let me throw in my two cents worth. I have listened to NPR foryears...even worked at public radio and television for about a total of 15 years.I consider myself a liberal in some, but not all, arenas of political and social thought.To throw around the liberal tag can be dangerous. Just as many free thinkingfolks voted for Barry Goldwater way back when I think it is risky to label someoneeither conservative or liberal right off the bat. I know the hate-mongers on WIBCand WXNT do it everyday. In fact Thursday somebody by the name of Savage(?)kept blabbering on about CNN's liberalism and how Bush should shut them down.Of course that put me to thinking of the USSR and North Korea and Nazi Germanyand all the other societies that put the cabosh on free expression.NPR is hardly liberal. Do they delve into the story more than say FOX...do theytry to present another side of the story....do they perhaps avoid the ultraconservative side simply because most other AM stations are doing that anyway...well, I think YES to all three questions. But to simply cover a story as it shouldbe covered and not simply presented in the way MightyFrenchman wants tohear the story presented, hardly labels that network as liberal. I think we must all keep in mind it was liberalism that founded this country. It wasfar easier for Washington, Adams, Jefferson and the others to simply sit backand keep Britain in control. It was their Liberal ideas that made this country whatit is today. Free thinkers, independent thinkers, forward-thinking folks, that iswhat America is all about or should be. Think outside the box. That is what NPR does I believe. I have heard just as manyconservative comments and reports on NPR as I have liberal. But most of all Ibelieve NPR tries best to present both sides of the story. That said, please understand I am NOT a fan of NPR, but that has to do with their fight againstLow Power FM and the Point Supplemental System they challenged in court andput NCE MX groups behind years in getting their CPs. That alone should putthem out of the liberal arena....as they fought to limit more free speech inthis country.So, MightyFrenchman, I disagree totally with your comments on NPR and liberalbias. It just isn't there. I know the administration and its propaganda along withthe blabbermouths on WIBC and WXNT would want you to believe that, but openup your mind to the reality of it all.

 

[Stephen-novice]

Start a new thread for the political BS. Call it 'Conservative vs. Liberal Talk Radio in Indy'.I, as well, have been wondering about the new tower up here on the northside. Does anyone have some info?

 

[dmettler]

The tower is being built by Crown Castle, they do tower leasing across the country, The tower is on the same plot of land as the the current channel 40 who will move to this tower (I think along with there HD) The current channel 40 tower was sold to Crown Castle several years ago, I assume that it will come down once this tower is completed. As for the top there is a crane currently on the top of the tower that they are using to build the 3 Candle opera style towers on each leg. Not sure what the face size is but it is huge!! probably in the 15 to 18 feet area. If you happen to be in the area when they are working it is very cool to see the little spec's on the tower that are actually the tower crew, as the tower is so massive.Enjoy.