RANK THE COLUMBUS RIMSHOTS AND MOVE-INS

[OhioMediaWatch]

No, not by format or execution, by signal.

I'm only an occasional visitor to Central Ohio, but I get the idea that:

* 93.3 is basically the only new move-in that approximates a full-market station
* 106.7 is a notch or two behind them

The rest seems a muddle, except perhaps my observation elsewhere that 103.1 is perhaps the worst rimshot, and 104.3 is a notch "ahead" of it.

What about 102.5? Does that rank closer to 106.7? How will 101.7 do? Where does 107.9 fit in?

What other factors are holding back these rimshots? (i.e. downtown interference, which has been cited here before)

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

No, not by format or execution, by signal.

I'm only an occasional visitor to Central Ohio, but I get the idea that:

* 93.3 is basically the only new move-in that approximates a full-market station
* 106.7 is a notch or two behind them

The rest seems a muddle, except perhaps my observation elsewhere that 103.1 is perhaps the worst rimshot, and 104.3 is a notch "ahead" of it.

What about 102.5? Does that rank closer to 106.7? How will 101.7 do? Where does 107.9 fit in?

What other factors are holding back these rimshots? (i.e. downtown interference, which has been cited here before)

-- I'd say 93.3 is the equal of a full-market station.

-- 95.5 would be next, but still well behind 93.3.

--106.7 has turned out to be a quite a disappointment signal-wise (relative to expectation). If you go by the 60db-contour map its coverage should be seamless throughout Franklin County, but in reality it seems to suffer more-widespread interference from the Dispatch tower than some lesser rimshots do. Just today I drove up N High from downtown all the way to Worthington, and endured interference on 106.7 well into Clintonville! Around campus it was only marginally listenable, while pipsqueak Class A 103.9 sounded fine.

--Unlike 106.7, 102.5 actually seems to outperform what you'd expect. On that drive up High, it certainly did better than 106.7, at least through Clintonville (EN Broadway).

--You're right about 104.3 and 103.1 being the worst. Re which one has the edge, it depends where you're listening.

I'll let others comment on the rest and give their own opinions on those I've mentioned. But there's another issue I had already planned to raise which seems appropriate as a sub-topic of this one: As I said, 106.7's signal performance is surprisingly deficient in many areas where it should theoretically be fine. This is presumably because of the Dispatch tower. And all the Class A's that aren't on the Dispatch tower suffer substantially from the interference it creates. I have limited knowledge of technical issues, so can someone help me understand if this kind of interference is FCC-condoned? Is it just an issue of timing? I.e., if 106.7 had already been in Dublin before the Dispatch tower was built, would the FCC have required modification of the Dispatch CP to avoid the substantial damage to 106.7's signal in large, populous areas that are well within its supposed 60db-contour area?

 

[xmusicmatt]

I'll let others comment on the rest and give their own opinions on those I've mentioned. But there's another issue I had already planned to raise which seems appropriate as a sub-topic of this one: As I said, 106.7's signal performance is surprisingly deficient in many areas where it should theoretically be fine. This is presumably because of the Dispatch tower. And all the Class A's that aren't on the Dispatch tower suffer substantially from the interference it creates. I have limited knowledge of technical issues, so can someone help me understand if this kind of interference is FCC-condoned? Is it just an issue of timing? I.e., if 106.7 had already been in Dublin before the Dispatch tower was built, would the FCC have required modification of the Dispatch CP to avoid the substantial damage to 106.7's signal in large, populous areas that are well within its supposed 60db-contour area?

I am no engineer..but is it possible that 106.7 suffers around the Dispatch Group tower because of the IF? 106.7 is 10.6 away from 96.1 which is the first adj from 96.3.. which is on the dispatch tower.. I wonder if that has something to do with the interference near downtown?

Speaking of 106.7...couldn't CC had possibly opted for lower power/height closer into town? When Sandyland had a translator on 106.7 it broadcasted from the Dodridge St tower if I remember (the old ch6 tower).... though I know translators have their 'own' set of rules. Or would have locating on the Dodridge St tower hendered their 60dbu over Dublin (the COL) plus created more IF issues between the dispatch tower and 106.7?

 

[xiradiodotcom]

Speaking of 106.7...couldn't CC had possibly opted for lower power/height closer into town? When Sandyland had a translator on 106.7 it broadcasted from the Dodridge St tower if I remember (the old ch6 tower).... though I know translators have their 'own' set of rules. Or would have locating on the Dodridge St tower hendered their 60dbu over Dublin (the COL) plus created more IF issues between the dispatch tower and 106.7?

At the power level that 106.7 is using now, they would be too close to 106.3 and 107.1, I believe. Perhaps with less power they could move south, and I too am surprised how poorly 106.7 performs south of 161 in general. Maybe CC thinks it's good enough, but the actual signal is nothing like the predicted coverage.

Also, when they changed over to Gen X a few weeks back, me and a coworker noticed the HD/HD2 signal was much improved. This was especially so downtown. It must have been weather related because it's back where is was before.

 

[xmusicmatt]

At the power level that 106.7 is using now, they would be too close to 106.3 and 107.1, I believe. Perhaps with less power they could move south, and I too am surprised how poorly 106.7 performs south of 161 in general. Maybe CC thinks it's good enough, but the actual signal is nothing like the predicted coverage.

ahhhh 106.3 and 107.1 slipped my mind. Forgot about their existance.

 

[wilson1000]

I have no problems with recieving 1067, And I'm in Victorian Village! A stones throw from the Twin Rivers Super Tower. Of course I don't have a crappy radio. I have a Sangean. Iwill say it's hard to pull 1043 in, but 1035 comes in great!

 

[Clinton70]

95.5 and 93.3 are beefy.
103.5 and 106.7 are very good.
106.3 is alright
103.9 107.1 107.9 are subpar
101.1. is near crap
93.7 (pretty far though), 103.1, 104.3 is absolutely horrendous

107.1 is like a couple hundred feet tall and is behind someones barn/house near 674/US22. You can't get near it because of a stupid guard dog.

 

[Dave Sarnoff]

106.3 is alright
103.9 107.1 107.9 are subpar
101.1. is near crap
93.7 (pretty far though), 103.1, 104.3 is absolutely horrendous

There is nothing wrong with any of these signals. They are not Columbus radio stations, even though they try to be. Their signals are exactly the way they are supposed to be based on their licenses. It's not that their signals aren't good - they are fine in the communities they are licensed to serve. Their owners choose not to serve their cities of license, but instead try to get a piece of the Columbus pie.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

106.3 is alright
103.9 107.1 107.9 are subpar
101.1. is near crap
93.7 (pretty far though), 103.1, 104.3 is absolutely horrendous

There is nothing wrong with any of these signals.  They are not Columbus radio stations, even though they try to be.  Their signals are exactly the way they are supposed to be based on their licenses.  It's not that their signals aren't good - they are fine in the communities they are licensed to serve.  Their owners choose not to serve their cities of license, but instead try to get a piece of the Columbus pie. 

The irony is that if it weren't so hard to find a couple rimshots that were upgradeable to true full-market signals here (only one FM has done so in 45 years!), there wouldn't have been so many lame static-laden move-ins.  But Columbus has remained extremely under-radioed in big signals -- which is virtually a screaming invitation to outlying stations to "grab their piece."  That situation is maddeningly exacerbated by the fact that the only true city-grade move-in -- 93.3 WLZT -- is also the one that doggedly persists with a "me-too" AC format despite perennially anemic ratings.  But as someone pointed out in another thread, the PPM may drive some of the worst rimshots back into serving their true hometowns.

 

[gr8oldies]

It depends how separate these towns consider themselves and if there's enough mom and pop retail businesses to support them. I doubt a lot of people live, shop and work entirely in Westerville or Delaware.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

It depends how separate these towns consider themselves and if there's enough mom and pop retail businesses to support them. I doubt a lot of people live, shop and work entirely in Westerville or Delaware.

Suburban stations could be regional, e.g a Westerville station could say it serves "Columbus' Thriving North Corridor," etc.

 

[gr8oldies]

I don't know..a station in Anderson, IN promoted itself as serving "Circle North" (Indianapolis's Circle and points north). Circle North Weather, traffic etc. They ended up selling to Moody.

 

[chad43358]

106.3 is alright
103.9 107.1 107.9 are subpar
101.1. is near crap
93.7 (pretty far though), 103.1, 104.3 is absolutely horrendous

There is nothing wrong with any of these signals. They are not Columbus radio stations, even though they try to be. Their signals are exactly the way they are supposed to be based on their licenses. It's not that their signals aren't good - they are fine in the communities they are licensed to serve. Their owners choose not to serve their cities of license, but instead try to get a piece of the Columbus pie.

I agree fully. 104.3 for instance when it was still Big Hits, their top of the hour ID said "Richwood-Columbus!" I really wish that station would quit trying to get into Columbus and become more localized to Marysville and Union County. I live 14 miles northwest of Marysville and we really have no "local" station. The only news we get is from the paper. The only local weather we get is from the paper. Maybe the paper is paying stations not to localize around here? Haha.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

106.3 is alright
103.9 107.1 107.9 are subpar
101.1. is near crap
93.7 (pretty far though), 103.1, 104.3 is absolutely horrendous

There is nothing wrong with any of these signals.  They are not Columbus radio stations, even though they try to be.  Their signals are exactly the way they are supposed to be based on their licenses.  It's not that their signals aren't good - they are fine in the communities they are licensed to serve.  Their owners choose not to serve their cities of license, but instead try to get a piece of the Columbus pie. 

I agree fully. 104.3 for instance when it was still Big Hits, their top of the hour ID said "Richwood-Columbus!" I really wish that station would quit trying to get into Columbus and become more localized to Marysville and Union County. I live 14 miles northwest of Marysville and we really have no "local" station. The only news we get is from the paper. The only local weather we get is from the paper. Maybe the paper is paying stations not to localize around here? Haha.

Of course the big irony here is that many of the rimshots move in (to the degree possible) by "demonstrating" to the FCC that the closer-to-Columbus town they want to serve is a truly independent community, and desperately needs its own first aural service -- e.g., CC justifying moving 93.3 from Chillicothe to Ashville by pointing out that Ashville has its own public library & newspaper, etc.  I'll bet those 300 Ashvillains just can't imagine what life was like before they got a station that is truly focused on their community ;D.   BTW, exactly when is "Ashville Today" on 93.3 now?  5:35am - 5:37am Sundays, perhaps?

That said, in the case of a 93.3 I disagree with the two of you because Columbus is so under-radioed in decent signals relative to its size.  Chillicothe isn't, and CC moved a signal there from Circleville to replace 93.3 anyway.  (I really don't think Roundtown needs its own station.)   Of course, the sad fact is that getting 93.3 didn't help Columbus because CC is still wasting that "mother of Columbus move-ins" just to needle WSNY instead of providing the market (and their cluster) with a distinct format, as they are now (commendably) doing with all their other stations.

 

[jharmon]

why does it matter? Rimshots will disappear with PPM.

 

[gabigley1]

why does it matter? Rimshots will disappear with PPM.

Translation: Go broke and leave the air?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

why does it matter? Rimshots will disappear with PPM.

Translation: Go broke and leave the air?

Seems to be lots of disagreement on that, although I bet at least a couple of the weakest will go dark. Perhaps a bit less likely in Columbus since it is particularly short on big signals relative to its size.

Will PPM cause weaker rimshots to go dark?
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=170036.0
(As usual, lots of the posts veer off-topic.)

 

[Allfirdup]

Columbus isnt the first market to get the PPM, and there have been few stations around the country that have gone dark for that reason, not to say that they may have to start marketing themselves to their local markets again. and not just the big city from afar.

Stations like Joy 106.3 will probably do ok, as it is the only one of its kind in Columbus. But 103.1 may as well start trying to capture more of the Newark, Delaware, and Mt Vernon Business.

the stations in the most trouble out of all of this i think will still be the Smaller AM stations, WYTS for example, it doesnt show up in the diarys how do you think it will fare in the PPM. also WMNI, will its numbers be as strong in the PPM world?

and finally will the PPM finally bring and end to WLZT as TalkRadio 933 WTVN will more likely than not become a reality.

 

[schmave]

What a shame these stations might have to do what they should have been doing all along and start serving their city of license!

 

[gr8oldies]

"Serving their city of license" is fine if there is enough mom and pop retail business to keep them afloat. How much do people who live in Delaware and work in downtown Columbus think of themselves as Delaware residents first and foremost? They aren't going to listen to "the Delaware station" when they are commuting downtown, even if there is one available that's trying to superserve one suburb. Eeking out a living in a bedroom community can be next to impossible. If you're in a place like Bellefontaine or Marion it's a different story. I don't know how the suburbs of Columbus came into existence, but west of you in Dayton, cities of license like Beavercreek and Huber Heights only exist because these former townships incorporated to escape that fact that Dayton wanted to annex everything in sight. Everyone knows the "city of license" and "first aural service to West Podunk" is a joke, but those are the rules as they are written.