simulcasting

[JH_Radio]

This could be posted in any number of places.
With Philly soon maybe having a simulcast of WIP at 94.1, my question is why?
What's the point in having an AM/FM combo with the same coverage area?
I've heard the same content on 97.5 and 950.
This seems to be the new trend. WBBM now on FM. here WPEN AM/FM. There are others, no doubt.
Cheaper to run one format rather then two? Better billing and advertisers can reach more of a geographic area as one frequency covers more area then the other? (FM being stronger then AM?
This sounds like the new trend to me, like Rhythmic Oldies, 80's Rock, etc. With the only question being, how will all of these new simulcasts shape out in the ratings?
Perhaps they should combine the AM/FM simulcast as one rated station, unless its not simulcasted 24-7, in which case it wouldn't make sense (Not a total simulcast.

 

[jhguthlac]

Actually, we are returning to the 50's and 60's. Before the FCC ordered separate programming on FM, you had WIBG AM&FM. WIP AM&FM (93.3), etc.

 

[Radio Wreck]

Well if this is where it's going, it won't be too long before the AM band is gone. And then what? Maybe it could be opened to amateur broadcasting!

 

[Steve_Green]

TBTB saw the calls of a former directional AM station from the #9 market listed as the top-billing station in the country. Only it was on FM now, along with a few other signals to help it saturate the region through simulcast. And those eyes widened like fried eggs.

The lofty finish of WTOP, now on FM, was the shot heard 'round the nation.

The piling-on is well underway, and in major markets. News, talk, news-talk and sports-talk, etc., are replacing music stations. Since the only music stations are on FM, there's little doubt toward where this latest rush to the golden goose is headed.

* * * * *

Not directly related, inasmuch as they're music stations, but ....

WJVC is an FM station so far out on Long Island that it's almost in Rhode Island. They have managed a 2.7 in the latest Nassau-Suffolk book, even showed in the NYC book, and are trending up. Never before has a station from that far east -- almost in Atlantic Standard Time -- gone anywhere near a 2.0. Naturally, there is some chatter that they might be looking for an FM closer to NYC. With two FM signals they may crack a 5.0 share. Playing Country music.

The WGMF aegis officially belongs to an awkwardly directional station considerably northwest of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as to put a marginal signal into those two places. Yet, armed with a collection of Oldies, plus another AM and a few FM's in simulcast, they're making other stations in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre book nervous as this collection of smoke signals ascends in the ratings in quite respectful fashion.

Like John Holcomb questions, I don't know when the FCC relaxed the rules to allow for violation of their own separate-broadcast rules. But with every bit of available music seemingly aimed at the only music audience left -- the 30-40 demo -- prepare for more talk simulcasts on FM. This syndrome is not a trend nor a fad at which companies are throwing a few mad-money bucks forthe fun of it. It's now a niched necessity ; the latest speculative corner into which these visionaries have painted themselves.

 

[aindik]

This could be posted in any number of places.
With Philly soon maybe having a simulcast of WIP at 94.1, my question is why?
What's the point in having an AM/FM combo with the same coverage area?

I agree. There's no point to that.

I've heard the same content on 97.5 and 950.

Those are not the same coverage area. 950 fills some holes in the 97.5 signal. I don't think that would be true of a 610/94.1 simulcast, however.

Also, what Greater Media did was essentially move 950 to 97.5, and then realize that it has no better option for 950 than as an overflow for 97.5, and a simulcast when there's nothing to overflow.

Another theory: As a second-in sports station, Greater Media needed to make it easier for people to flip from their primary competition to their station. Their primary competition is on AM, and it's easier to flip from one AM station to another than it is to flip from AM to FM.

Perhaps they should combine the AM/FM simulcast as one rated station, unless its not simulcasted 24-7, in which case it wouldn't make sense (Not a total simulcast.

They are already rated together if they are 24/7 simulcasts. 97.5 and 950 are not 24/7 simulcasts because of the occasionally different play by play.

 

[JH_Radio]

Is this to say headed twoard the shore, 950 would go further due to protection of 97.3 in Millville?
I'm not one to listen to sports radio.

 

[DG02816]

It probably would. WPEN's daytime signal is now 43 kW, and the major lobe goes right through So. Jersey. Not sure what the 21 kW night signal from WWDB's site would do there.

 

[aindik]

What would really make a lot of sense is a 97.5/97.3 simulcast. I know the owners are different. But it would be a substantial cost savings for the owner of 97.3 to just pipe in 97.5's content 24/7 and still have content that is "local" for his audience. Sports is regional, more than other formats, like news or news/talk, that could benefit from being more local than just focused on the region. In sports, you're only as local as the nearest pro teams.

A 97.5/97.3 simulcast could be a major player for sports play by play rights in the Philly market.

 

[deepstblu]

Is this to say headed twoard the shore, 950 would go further due to protection of 97.3 in Millville?

It does. 97.5 starts having trouble with 97.3 splatter around Hammonton.

 

[stoshman]

RadioWreck; i know of 2 amateur am stations; one, phillipsburg NJ near Easton PA; playing oldies and my parents told me about an AM station in Simpson PA (north of scranton) playing polkas..............i think the one in simpson is genius playing pretty much heritage music for the area but i don't know how much the signal covers.........most of the big boys don't know what to do with the AM band; why not give the 'rookies' a chance...............

 

[Wright County Guy]

most of the big boys don't know what to do with the AM band; why not give the 'rookies' a chance...............

I think you're singing the right song, but not in the right key. The trend seems to be owners keeping their AMs but brokering the signal to ... well, anyone who can pick up the tab.