Savannah: Spanish on 94.7?

[upstate29651]

This appears to be the case. I received a Spanish station & carried it from downtown to Wilmington Island in crystal clear FM mono.

As it's in Spanish, I have no clue what the calls are, or where the station is broadcasting from.

G

 

[upstate29651]

This morning...nothing.

The closest 94.7 that I can find in the FCC database is an application for a WSGV-LP in Springfield, who's 60db countour doesn't even reach Rincon. The station doesn't sound like a pirate. In fact, it almost sounded satellite-fed.

G

 

[fussbudget]

You were probably hearing a Mexican or Cuban station via E-skip.

 

[Witchlover]

This morning...nothing.

The closest 94.7 that I can find in the FCC database is an application for a WSGV-LP in Springfield, who's 60db countour doesn't even reach Rincon. The station doesn't sound like a pirate. In fact, it almost sounded satellite-fed.

G

WSGV has moved to 105.7; it's my Mom's favorite. Gospel music and that old time religion. And no, you can't pick it up in the house: only in the car.

 

[trevor2]

You were probably hearing a Mexican or Cuban station via E-skip.

Almost positive this was E-skip. Tuesday night here in Macon, I was pulling in Radio Jamaica ("RJR 94-FM") on 94.3, 94.5 and 94.7 simultaneously. 94.3 sounded like a local, while the other two were intermittent. I've logged RJR on 94.7 in the past, but never the others. To knock them all out in one swoop was excellent.

 

[upstate29651]

Nope, not e-skip. It was back on, and I tuned in on my way home from work. They made mention of "Musica latina", and I'm sure stations in Mexico or Cuba don't hype the fact they play Spanish language music. I couldn't determine any calls or location, but I believe I could translate their dial position of 94.7. Again, it does sound like it's satellite-fed, so I doubt it's a pirate.

G

 

[tomservo]

Again, it does sound like it's satellite-fed, so I doubt it's a pirate.

A pirate could be pulling a feed off the internet - I've heard some pretty slick stuff online. Or it could someone playing XM or Sirius, which would make it a whole different kind of 'satellite-fed'. ;D

 

[upstate29651]

^ I am beginning to think it is a pirate, and a pretty powerful one at that. This past Friday, I carried 94.7 all the way to the old ractrack on 17 in Hardeeville before it started getting static-ky. By the time I reached exit 8 on I-95, it was gone.

G

 

[JeffMcDermott]

I've said for some time now that the first cluster to get a Latin format in Savannah will be the winner. But it would take so much infrastructure - a bilingual SM and two salespeople, a PD to be the face of the station (and all of the above would have to do the production of the spots) - that no one would want to spend the money to be first. Could an upstart do this, on a shoestring? Maybe. The upstart might only prime the pump for the carpetbaggers, which would put him/her/them out of business (see: Phat 104 Hinesville's free R&D job for the Beat).

And you know, you can't just lump all styles of Latin music together. For Savannah, a style of Mexican would be the obvious choice (I don't think we have a huge Cuban or Puerto Rican segment in that community). What type does the major satellite providers offer, and which do you choose? The people who put the right amount of thought and money into this would reap great rewards.

 

[Witchlover]

I think you hit on the key element, Jeff: the make-up of the audience.

Years ago, using only Census Bureau demographics, I realized that fully one third of the potential audience for WGEC in Springfield were black. When I mentioned this to the powers what was and suggested that programming to this segment was something worth considering, I was shot down cold. None of the owners wanted to even consider such a thing!

But the right outfit, doing a little basic market research and investing for the long term -- in personnel and content -- will all but guarantee great success.

I agree that targeting a Mexican-Latin American audience seems the most likely way to proceed, but that is just my personal perception. If I get a minute, I will see if I can find a demographic breakdown of Hispanics living in the market area. It ought to be interesting to see how it breaks down.

 

[upstate29651]

Tama realized they could move in 100.1 from Statesboro (granted, after smooth jazz), and deal a blow to WSOK by taking gospel to FM. It's a matter of time before the same thing happens with Spanish language programming on FM. Right now, 104.9 would be ideal, as it can target the Hispanic population over in the HHI/Jasper Co. area pretty well, and is still listenable in most of Sav & Effingham.

On this side of the River, a likely candidate in my mind would be Hinesville's 104.7, again, listenable in most of Savannah, or maybe even 92.3.

G

 

[Witchlover]

I will see if I can find a demographic breakdown of Hispanics living in the market area. It ought to be interesting to see how it breaks down.

According to the 2000 Census, the Savannah, GA SMSA had a total population of 293,000 people, of which 2.2% or 6,399 reported themselves to be of Hispanic descent. Forty percent of those, or 2,564 respondents, report themselves to be Mexican (0.9% of the total population). The next largest subgroup are the Puerto Ricans: 1,528 people, 24 percent of the Hispanics and 0.5% of the total population. Only 333 Cubans were counted, comprising 5 percent of the Hispanics and 0.1% of the total population of the SMSA. Respondents who classified themselves as "Other Hispanics" total 1,974 people, thirty-one percent of Hispanics and 0.7% of the total population.

As I say, that's the 2000 Census. Even though the city of Savannah has experienced a net population loss, according to 2003 estimates, the metropolitan area has a net gain of about three percent -- estimated to be 300,357 persons. Extrapolating that 2.2% figure, that comes to a little over 6,600 Hispanic citizens in the SMSA -- assuming the overall percentages haven't changed

Considering that there are without doubt a certain number of people living in the Savannah area who are in this country illegally, those numbers are probably low; but I would be guessing if I were to say by how much. And this doesn't even count Hispanics within range of Savannah stations who do not live in the SMSA proper, visitors or people here temporarily.

Since Spanish language programming would appeal not only to Hispanics, there would seem to be quite a market just ripe to be tapped. Or is there? In depth market research needs to be done, but I agree it would catch on, gain audience and thrive. If one of the clusters were to make a long-term commitment, that is.

 

[JeffMcDermott]

If there are any forward-thinking ad agencies in Savannah, they'd best find some production houses that have bilingual talent. Hope Pam Hartley and Lisa Joselove brush up on their non-Castillian Spanish.

 

[upstate29651]

Confirmed! This is a local station, not a pirate. They have started doing some fairly well produced commercials for places such as Club 51 Degrees & some latin club in Garden City (I could pick that out), amongst others. Still running in mono from either a satellite feed or an online stream. I have been unable to identify any calls. I'm presuming this is a low power FM, but it appears to "get out" more than a typical class D.

Still not running any programming in the mornings. the carrier isn't even on. [EDIT]

G


[EDIT-offensive content]

 

[Witchlover]

Is it possible someone is doing on-air equipment testing under a CP? If a Spanish language station is being brought to Savannah, why has there been no publicity? Time to don the old Deerstalker and do some detective work ... I still haven't picked it up in Rincon.

 

[tomservo]

Is it possible someone is doing on-air equipment testing under a CP? If a Spanish language station is being brought to Savannah, why has there been no publicity? Time to don the old Deerstalker and do some detective work ... I still haven't picked it up in Rincon.

There's an app for LPFM station WSGV-LP on 105.7 in Guyton to move to Springfield and 94.7. Maybe that's it, operating from an unauthorized location?

 

[Witchlover]

No, I doubt that: Ralph Davis has been doing the LP thing for quite a while now, and he would be well versed in all of the hoops he'd have to jump through to make the move. He's also well known as a straight player, so he would follow the rules just because they are the rules.

Just now, 94.7 appears to be rebroadcasting Joy 100.1's signal. I just heard the bottom hour stop set and the used 100.1's IDs, tags and ads. In English, BTW. I can get a strong signal in the end of the house closest to Springfield, but I get static at the other end. The joys of LPFM, I guess.

I'm going to do a search of the Legal Notices in the county organ and see who pops up. 94.7 is assigned to Springfield, so any activity would require a notice in the Herald. What Legal Notices there are mostly deal with real estate, so a license application ought to be easy to spot, I think ....

 

[JeffMcDermott]

If a Spanish language station is being brought to Savannah, why has there been no publicity?

There wouldn't be any need for outside advertising. Word of this new station would be ¡en fuego! throughout that segment of the community. And if they did do some marketing, would we know? I've never watched Telemundo or picked up a copy of La Voz...have you?

 

[Witchlover]

La Voz, no; Telemundo, yes! I saw one of the most entertaining skits on a variety show therefrom. My one year of high-school Spanish didn't allow me to follow much of the dialogue, but the actors really carried the script. It was something about a lion tamer.

 

[radiopilot]

Confirmed that this spanish station is a pirate station, they vary the power from the morning which I cannot hear in Wilmington Island and then at night the signal is at least 500 watts up or more... Wow, whoever is broadcasting is going way over the part 15 limits for sure.