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Small Radio Stations

J

Jim_Hicks

Guest
I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.

Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small stations.

His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off at sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.

The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime only stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is only 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime only station.

Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening. Does Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a purpose or are they simply taking up space?

I come down on the side that these stations should be taken off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to a level that would make them more competitive. One basic issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to lose his investment?

There are still areas where the small stations still meet a need. But they are few.

So, what do others think?
 
A case in point plus my $.02

I got my start working for small AM stations in Southwestern Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one particular station, I started there just after the owners signed on a sister FM station. They were still running their live country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC station mostly running off of a satellite feed. Eventually (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM and put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they were able to boost their signal and move their studios to also serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when it moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station and simply signed their AM off the air and turned the frequency back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up the AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the signal.

Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up the frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial broadcasters and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell the station to keep the stations out of the hands of larger broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of those non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to run as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my idea, but there's no perfect solution.


> I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
>
> Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small stations.
>
> His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in
> the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off at
> sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
>
> The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime only
> stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is only
> 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime
> only station.
>
> Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening. Does
> Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> purpose or are they simply taking up space?
>
> I come down on the side that these stations should be taken
> off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to a
> level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
> paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to
> lose his investment?
>
> There are still areas where the small stations still meet a
> need. But they are few.
>
> So, what do others think?
>
 
Re: A case in point plus my $.02

Keith,
I like your idea. It is very hard to maintain an audience when you sign on at different times each month. Jay, Charlie and myself put a lot of effort into a show that eleven people hear.
Randy Dascher
WCHE 1520 AM
West Chester

> Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up the
> frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial broadcasters
> and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the
> first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell
> the station to keep the stations out of the hands of larger
> broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of those
> non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency
> in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to run
> as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
> idea, but there's no perfect solution.
 
Re: A case in point plus my $.02

This would take more time, but it may happen anyway.

As Internet, satellite and podcasting become more popular, there is no need for a station in Elkton to be broadcasting a nationally syndicated sports format. The information broadcast by the Elkton station will be available, with better audio fidelity, via other sources.
At some point, an owner of that station (maybe not the current one) won't be able to run it profitably or sell it to another owner, and will just turn in the license to the FCC.

One more suggestion: If an AM is simulcating 75% or more of an FM's programming on its primary signal, and the AM signal doesn't go significantly farther than the FM, the owner should have to turn in the AM to the FCC to be signed off the air. Simulcasting an AM on an HD2 would not count.

I'm all for cleaning up the AM band.
 
To clean up the AM bandm stamp out the formats that clutter it up

It will be tough to clean up the AM band as long as stations are able to survive without any measurable audience, with brokered formats. As long as stations can get by running half hour infomercials promoting the latest all-natural weight loss product, and its makers can rake in a fortune before the Federal Trade Commission catches up, many of these otherwise useless stations will continue to junk up the band.

Since the government won't crack down, it would be a good idea to encourage a climate of consumer hostility toward this type of time-brokering, the specialized agencies that sell the time, and the snake oil companies that use it to promote their products.

One also has to wonder how much longer 80-year-old widows will send in two dollar checks to allow parasites to play tapes of dead preachers on almost-dead radio stations.

Other ideas to clean up the AM band:

The FCC should get serious about shutting down those stations that were supposed to be replaced by X-band allocations. It should also relax the "first aural service" rules, and allow purchasers to take such stations dark.

Overall, I think the number of AM stations should be reduced from the current 4800 or so down to about a thousand, and each of those should be protected
interference free out to 2 millivolts per meter.
 
Re: A case in point plus my $.02

Destroying FM altogether is not a good solution. There are some of us that consider the frequencies between 88 and 92(non commercial) the only thing worthwhile listening to on the radio. There is also good reason why XM and Sirius are gaining new customers every day. When not listening to the non commercial stations, I turn on XM. I no longer listen to the stations above 92. The solution to the AM mess is another subject.

> I got my start working for small AM stations in Southwestern
> Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one particular
> station, I started there just after the owners signed on a
> sister FM station. They were still running their live
> country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC
> station mostly running off of a satellite feed. Eventually
> (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM and
> put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they were
> able to boost their signal and move their studios to also
> serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when it
> moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station and
> simply signed their AM off the air and turned the frequency
> back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up the
> AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the
> signal.
>
> Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up the
> frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial broadcasters
> and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the
> first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell
> the station to keep the stations out of the hands of larger
> broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of those
> non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency
> in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to run
> as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
> idea, but there's no perfect solution.
>
>
> > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> >
> > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> stations.
> >
> > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in
> > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> > relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off
> at
> > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> >
> > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime
> only
> > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is
> only
> > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime
> > only station.
> >
> > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
> Does
> > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> >
> > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> taken
> > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to
> a
> > level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
> > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to
>
> > lose his investment?
> >
> > There are still areas where the small stations still meet
> a
> > need. But they are few.
> >
> > So, what do others think?
> >
>
 
No way

I don't care if there are only 6 listeners. We don't need to give any more power to the stations that are running 50ks with computers. I just heard "Time to Say goodbye" on community radio WRDV 107.3, followed with a jazz solo, and it all made my heart stir. Let's not say goodbye to the best diversity on the radio in favor of that bland canned Sunny 104-5 ad that plays itself into the ground. These stations don't need more power, we need to plunk down the extra $10 on something more than a shower radio is all.




> I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
>
> Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small stations.
>
> His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in
> the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off at
> sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
>
> The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime only
> stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is only
> 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime
> only station.
>
> Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening. Does
> Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> purpose or are they simply taking up space?
>
> I come down on the side that these stations should be taken
> off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to a
> level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
> paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to
> lose his investment?
>
> There are still areas where the small stations still meet a
> need. But they are few.
>
> So, what do others think?
>
 
Re: No way

Apparently you did not read my post. I was talking about AM stations. Not FM.

> I don't care if there are only 6 listeners. We don't need to
> give any more power to the stations that are running 50ks
> with computers. I just heard "Time to Say goodbye" on
> community radio WRDV 107.3, followed with a jazz solo, and
> it all made my heart stir. Let's not say goodbye to the
> best diversity on the radio in favor of that bland canned
> Sunny 104-5 ad that plays itself into the ground. These
> stations don't need more power, we need to plunk down the
> extra $10 on something more than a shower radio is all.
>
>
>
>
> > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> >
> > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> stations.
> >
> > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in
> > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> > relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off
> at
> > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> >
> > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime
> only
> > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is
> only
> > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime
> > only station.
> >
> > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
> Does
> > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> >
> > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> taken
> > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to
> a
> > level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
> > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to
>
> > lose his investment?
> >
> > There are still areas where the small stations still meet
> a
> > need. But they are few.
> >
> > So, what do others think?
> >
>
 
Re: To clean up the AM bandm stamp out the formats that clutter it up

We have noticed some drop in these brokered stations when Mega realized the money was drying up. At first the Mega owners thought "WOW! Look at all of these AM stations we can buy for almost no money!" They got a number of Hispanics to spend ad money. But then those business owners caught on that very few people, including Hispanics, were listening to AM anymore. The revenue dropped and mortgage payments could not be made. Some people are wising up.

> It will be tough to clean up the AM band as long as stations
> are able to survive without any measurable audience, with
> brokered formats. As long as stations can get by running
> half hour infomercials promoting the latest all-natural
> weight loss product, and its makers can rake in a fortune
> before the Federal Trade Commission catches up, many of
> these otherwise useless stations will continue to junk up
> the band.
>
> Since the government won't crack down, it would be a good
> idea to encourage a climate of consumer hostility toward
> this type of time-brokering, the specialized agencies that
> sell the time, and the snake oil companies that use it to
> promote their products.
>
> One also has to wonder how much longer 80-year-old widows
> will send in two dollar checks to allow parasites to play
> tapes of dead preachers on almost-dead radio stations.
>
> Other ideas to clean up the AM band:
>
> The FCC should get serious about shutting down those
> stations that were supposed to be replaced by X-band
> allocations. It should also relax the "first aural service"
> rules, and allow purchasers to take such stations dark.
>
> Overall, I think the number of AM stations should be reduced
> from the current 4800 or so down to about a thousand, and
> each of those should be protected
> interference free out to 2 millivolts per meter.
>
 
That's a fair criticism

That is a fair criticism, because the non-comm part of the band does offer eclectic programming that wouldn't be profitable for commercial broadcasters. I certainly recognize that my idea wouldn't be popular with everyone. However, part of the problem with the non-comm part of the band is that in some instances it too is cluttered with lots of low power stations that few people listen to and my idea would move some of this "clutter" to the AM dial...so instead of lots of little AM stations providing nothing but brokered programming or canned sports or talk shows, you'd have AM stations providing the eclectic programming now available on the non-comm FMs. My idea would instantly increase the value of the FM signals on the left side of the dial and would allow the owners of those licenses to earn some profit from the sell and still obtain an AM frequency so they can continue to serve the community through their broadcast license. There's no reason why much of the programming on the non-comm FM dial couldn't be done on the AM dial, and in many cases would have a wider audience on AM than some of the current AMers have right now.


> Destroying FM altogether is not a good solution. There are
> some of us that consider the frequencies between 88 and
> 92(non commercial) the only thing worthwhile listening to on
> the radio. There is also good reason why XM and Sirius are
> gaining new customers every day. When not listening to the
> non commercial stations, I turn on XM. I no longer listen
> to the stations above 92. The solution to the AM mess is
> another subject.
>
> > I got my start working for small AM stations in
> Southwestern
> > Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one
> particular
> > station, I started there just after the owners signed on a
>
> > sister FM station. They were still running their live
> > country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC
> > station mostly running off of a satellite feed.
> Eventually
> > (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM
> and
> > put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they were
> > able to boost their signal and move their studios to also
> > serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when it
> > moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station and
> > simply signed their AM off the air and turned the
> frequency
> > back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up the
>
> > AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the
> > signal.
> >
> > Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up
> the
> > frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial
> broadcasters
> > and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the
> > first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> > period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell
>
> > the station to keep the stations out of the hands of
> larger
> > broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of
> those
> > non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency
>
> > in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to
> run
> > as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
> > idea, but there's no perfect solution.
> >
> >
> > > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> > >
> > > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> > > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> > stations.
> > >
> > > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed
> in
> > > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> > > relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> > > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go
> off
> > at
> > > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> > >
> > > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime
> > only
> > > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is
> > only
> > > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a
> daytime
> > > only station.
> > >
> > > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
> > Does
> > > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> > > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> > > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> > >
> > > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> > taken
> > > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power
> to
> > a
> > > level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> > > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
>
> > > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going
> to
> >
> > > lose his investment?
> > >
> > > There are still areas where the small stations still
> meet
> > a
> > > need. But they are few.
> > >
> > > So, what do others think?
> > >
> >
>
 
Re: That's a fair criticism

Somehow I don't think WHYY-FM or any other NPR station would want to be bumped to the second tier of radio (AM). My guess is most college stations also wouldn't want to be moved. As you all point out so often most people under 45 will not listen to AM radio, so moving those eclectic formats there would not bring them more listeners. Even a station playing Big Band music that appeals to the 65+ crowd would prefer FM to AM if given the choice. Granted that demo would listen to AM to hear their music, but would prefer their music on static free FM just like everyone else. Just because a format isn't the most popular format that appeals to that special demo doesn't justify forcing them to go to AM. The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) moved many of their stations from AM to FM for that same reason of not wanting to lose the younger demo as their audience, thus the old 740 CBT Toronto and 930 CBM Montreal are now on FM. Unfortunately, AM is the second tier and will continue to be the lesser choice. I'm sure that all AM station owners would love to make a swap for an FM station, but why should those who have them now have to give them up.

You free enterprise conservatives and Libertarians really suprise me at your wanting "government intrusion". You'd want the government to force off small AM stations, just because you don't find any value for the informercials and brokered programming they air (I don't either), but as a legal business they have that right, just as your respective stations have the right to try to make a legal profit as they see fit. Granted not a large group listens to those stations, but apparently enough do or they'd go bankrupt. Those mom and pop AM stations like WCOJ, 1550 Elkton, 1260 WAMS, 1510 WFAI, 900 Philly, 860 Philly, etc have legal licenses and provide some sort of radio (I didn't say it was compelling or worth listening to in all cases, but I could say the same thing for much of what I hear on the large AM's and FM's as one man's music is another's noise, etc) and as this still is America should be able to stay on the air if they can pay their bills.

I realize I express a minority view, at least on this board, but if they can make a go of it, then they shouldn't be denigned that opportunity, in my opinion.

> That is a fair criticism, because the non-comm part of the
> band does offer eclectic programming that wouldn't be
> profitable for commercial broadcasters. I certainly
> recognize that my idea wouldn't be popular with everyone.
> However, part of the problem with the non-comm part of the
> band is that in some instances it too is cluttered with lots
> of low power stations that few people listen to and my idea
> would move some of this "clutter" to the AM dial...so
> instead of lots of little AM stations providing nothing but
> brokered programming or canned sports or talk shows, you'd
> have AM stations providing the eclectic programming now
> available on the non-comm FMs. My idea would instantly
> increase the value of the FM signals on the left side of the
> dial and would allow the owners of those licenses to earn
> some profit from the sell and still obtain an AM frequency
> so they can continue to serve the community through their
> broadcast license. There's no reason why much of the
> programming on the non-comm FM dial couldn't be done on the
> AM dial, and in many cases would have a wider audience on AM
> than some of the current AMers have right now.
>
>
> > Destroying FM altogether is not a good solution. There
> are
> > some of us that consider the frequencies between 88 and
> > 92(non commercial) the only thing worthwhile listening to
> on
> > the radio. There is also good reason why XM and Sirius
> are
> > gaining new customers every day. When not listening to
> the
> > non commercial stations, I turn on XM. I no longer listen
>
> > to the stations above 92. The solution to the AM mess is
>
> > another subject.
> >
> > > I got my start working for small AM stations in
> > Southwestern
> > > Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one
> > particular
> > > station, I started there just after the owners signed on
> a
> >
> > > sister FM station. They were still running their live
> > > country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC
> > > station mostly running off of a satellite feed.
> > Eventually
> > > (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM
> > and
> > > put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they
> were
> > > able to boost their signal and move their studios to
> also
> > > serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when
> it
> > > moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station
> and
> > > simply signed their AM off the air and turned the
> > frequency
> > > back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up
> the
> >
> > > AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the
> > > signal.
> > >
> > > Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up
> > the
> > > frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial
> > broadcasters
> > > and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs
> the
> > > first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> > > period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to
> sell
> >
> > > the station to keep the stations out of the hands of
> > larger
> > > broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of
> > those
> > > non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM
> frequency
> >
> > > in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to
> > run
> > > as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
>
> > > idea, but there's no perfect solution.
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> > > >
> > > > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at
> a
> > > > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> > > stations.
> > > >
> > > > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed
>
> > in
> > > > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no
> longer
> > > > relevant. Today's world does not understand the
> smaller
> > > > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go
> > off
> > > at
> > > > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> > > >
> > > > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that
> daytime
> > > only
> > > > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > > > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power
> is
> > > only
> > > > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a
> > daytime
> > > > only station.
> > > >
> > > > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
>
> > > Does
> > > > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any
> useful
> > > > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving
> a
> > > > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> > > >
> > > > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> > > taken
> > > > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power
>
> > to
> > > a
> > > > level that would make them more competitive. One
> basic
> > > > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who
> just
> >
> > > > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now
> going
> > to
> > >
> > > > lose his investment?
> > > >
> > > > There are still areas where the small stations still
> > meet
> > > a
> > > > need. But they are few.
> > > >
> > > > So, what do others think?
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
 
Re: A case in point plus my $.02

Aren't some of those lower frequencies on the FM band taken by Colleges?
I don't see the need for a station like WCHE, which is a daytime only 1,000 watt-er. they have a worthless morning show and play moldy-standards and PSA's the rest of the time. they are also a non-comm, so again I don't see their worth except for Jay Schurr to brag that he has a miniscule radio station which can't be heard outside of Downingtown.


> I got my start working for small AM stations in Southwestern
> Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one particular
> station, I started there just after the owners signed on a
> sister FM station. They were still running their live
> country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC
> station mostly running off of a satellite feed. Eventually
> (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM and
> put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they were
> able to boost their signal and move their studios to also
> serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when it
> moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station and
> simply signed their AM off the air and turned the frequency
> back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up the
> AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the
> signal.
>
> Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up the
> frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial broadcasters
> and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the
> first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell
> the station to keep the stations out of the hands of larger
> broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of those
> non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency
> in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to run
> as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
> idea, but there's no perfect solution.
>
>
> > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> >
> > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> stations.
> >
> > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed in
> > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> > relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go off
> at
> > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> >
> > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime
> only
> > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is
> only
> > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a daytime
> > only station.
> >
> > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
> Does
> > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> >
> > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> taken
> > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power to
> a
> > level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
> > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going to
>
> > lose his investment?
> >
> > There are still areas where the small stations still meet
> a
> > need. But they are few.
> >
> > So, what do others think?
> >
>
 
Re: That's a fair criticism

> You free enterprise conservatives and Libertarians really
> suprise me at your wanting "government intrusion". You'd
> want the government to force off small AM stations, just
> because you don't find any value for the informercials and
> brokered programming

This discussion has little to do with free enterprise since the government owns the radio spectrum in the first place. It hands out the licenses and can take them away. Government can now either get out or get in bigger, but something must be done to give the band a viable future. Clearing the dreck off the dial and freeing space for larger, regional signals is one way to do it.
1) If the FCC sold off the AM frequency assignments at a fair market value, most mom and pops could never afford to buy them (Aha! Perhaps a way to put them out of business and clear the junk from the band? Sort of like selling off public housing to private investors who want to upgrade it.)
2) Maybe the small AM owners could be offered cash or a new freq above 1600 in exchange for signing off of the lower bands. I suspect most would take the cash -- sort of an eminent domain for stewards of a no longer valuable public facility that must be replaced.
3) Or the FCC could just re-regulate the band with content requirements that the small station owners could never afford to meet.
 
Re: That's a fair criticism

I run an non-commercial station at a local college. Moving to the AM dial would kill our listening audience. We provide community programming and music that the commercial stations wont play. Why would we want to go AM? Even if we did whos paying for the new transmitters and antennas? I know my college wont do it.
 
MEGA Made lots of mistakes

You're wrong. MEGA sold all their stations because they went bankrupt. They went bankrupt because they spent $40+ million on an AM Station in NYC to start a Spanish Language All-News Format. An all-news format whether in Spanish or English is a very expensive format to run. The station never turned a profit and they sold in back to the previous owner for much less than what they paid for it. That's when Mega started selling all their station.

Another problem Mega had is several of their stations were rim-shotters. They were trying to promote 104.9 FM as a Philly station when they're not. In 2003 I was in a couple different parts of Philly and I could not recieve 104.9 FM.

In Western Massachusetts MEGA owned WARE. The station is located in Ware, Massachustts half way between Springfield and Worcester. The station reception wasn't that great in either city. They tried to promote themselve's as a Springfield station, but here's the problem. WARE is on 1250. Sprinfield has a long established Spanish station on 1270. You can't have 1250 and 1270 in the same city. Too close. After a failed attempt lease out the station 24/7 the sold the station for less than what they paid for it. It is now indpendently owned and runs and Real Oldies Format targetting central Massachusetts.

In DC they owned to rim-shot FMers. The simulcasts did ok considering their handicapped signals, but when Infintiy launched an FM Spanish station on a full market signal Mega went down hill fast. They flipped the simulcasters to a Spanish Oldies Station and with-in the past 3 weeks they sold out to The Washignton Redskins (Red Zebra Broadcasting) for $33 million.
 
Re: MEGA Made lots of mistakes

> You're wrong. MEGA sold all their stations because they went
> bankrupt. They went bankrupt because they spent $40+ million
> on an AM Station in NYC to start a Spanish Language All-News
> Format. An all-news format whether in Spanish or English is
> a very expensive format to run. The station never turned a
> profit and they sold in back to the previous owner for much
> less than what they paid for it. That's when Mega started
> selling all their station.
>
> Another problem Mega had is several of their stations were
> rim-shotters. They were trying to promote 104.9 FM as a
> Philly station when they're not. In 2003 I was in a couple
> different parts of Philly and I could not recieve 104.9 FM.
>
>

Also, the lone-remaining MEGA station in Philly (1310AM) was sold recently. The company's name escapes me right now. <P ID="signature">______________
I've done it all...HOO HOO...tell 'em, Fred!
FOX News Alert: YOU SUCK!!! Ya like apples?</P>
 
Re: MEGA Made lots of mistakes

In what way am I wrong? You simply repeat what I said with added specific detail. They bought stations thinking they could make a lot of money airing dreck and they went bankrupt.


> You're wrong. MEGA sold all their stations because they went
> bankrupt. They went bankrupt because they spent $40+ million
> on an AM Station in NYC to start a Spanish Language All-News
> Format. An all-news format whether in Spanish or English is
> a very expensive format to run. The station never turned a
> profit and they sold in back to the previous owner for much
> less than what they paid for it. That's when Mega started
> selling all their station.
>
> Another problem Mega had is several of their stations were
> rim-shotters. They were trying to promote 104.9 FM as a
> Philly station when they're not. In 2003 I was in a couple
> different parts of Philly and I could not recieve 104.9 FM.
>
>
> In Western Massachusetts MEGA owned WARE. The station is
> located in Ware, Massachustts half way between Springfield
> and Worcester. The station reception wasn't that great in
> either city. They tried to promote themselve's as a
> Springfield station, but here's the problem. WARE is on
> 1250. Sprinfield has a long established Spanish station on
> 1270. You can't have 1250 and 1270 in the same city. Too
> close. After a failed attempt lease out the station 24/7 the
> sold the station for less than what they paid for it. It is
> now indpendently owned and runs and Real Oldies Format
> targetting central Massachusetts.
>
> In DC they owned to rim-shot FMers. The simulcasts did ok
> considering their handicapped signals, but when Infintiy
> launched an FM Spanish station on a full market signal Mega
> went down hill fast. They flipped the simulcasters to a
> Spanish Oldies Station and with-in the past 3 weeks they
> sold out to The Washignton Redskins (Red Zebra Broadcasting)
> for $33 million.
>
 
Re: MEGA Made lots of mistakes

MEGA 1310 was sold to DAvidson Media Group, a company that owns mostly Spanish Radio stations. Some programmed in-house, others all-brokered. Davidson Media Group's Website, though the listing for their "Hartford" station is 4 months out of date.
 
Re: A case in point plus my $.02

Part of the point that I'm trying to make is that if part of the reason why some AM stations run brokered programming, or cheap satellite driven programming is because that's often the only way for an AM station to survive financially against the FM stations where most of the audience (especially advertising demos) is. If you open up the lower part of the band to commercial broadcasters and give the owners of some of these small AMs first crack at the frequencies, instead of carrying over the current programming on their AMs, they might find the opportunity to fill a niche in the market...like a Y-100 like modern rocker, or to give some other commercial broadcaster in the market some competition. I don't see why a lot of the programming currently being done by college FMs couldn't be done on an AM signal.


> Aren't some of those lower frequencies on the FM band taken
> by Colleges?
> I don't see the need for a station like WCHE, which is a
> daytime only 1,000 watt-er. they have a worthless morning
> show and play moldy-standards and PSA's the rest of the
> time. they are also a non-comm, so again I don't see their
> worth except for Jay Schurr to brag that he has a miniscule
> radio station which can't be heard outside of Downingtown.
>
>
> > I got my start working for small AM stations in
> Southwestern
> > Virginia, and they were mostly daytimers. At one
> particular
> > station, I started there just after the owners signed on a
>
> > sister FM station. They were still running their live
> > country format on the AM while they made the FM an AC
> > station mostly running off of a satellite feed.
> Eventually
> > (after I left), they moved the AM programming to the FM
> and
> > put a satellite oldies station on the AM. When they were
> > able to boost their signal and move their studios to also
> > serve a nearby city that lost its only FM station when it
> > moved to a larger market, they moved their FM station and
> > simply signed their AM off the air and turned the
> frequency
> > back into the FCC. The fact that no one has picked up the
>
> > AM frequency shows the value (or lack thereof) of the
> > signal.
> >
> > Here's my idea. What I would like to see is to open up
> the
> > frequencies between 88 and 92 FM to commercial
> broadcasters
> > and allow the current owners of local stand alone AMs the
> > first crack at getting the new FMs (and I'd set a time
> > period of perhaps 5 years that they're not allowed to sell
>
> > the station to keep the stations out of the hands of
> larger
> > broadcasters). In exchange, the current operators of
> those
> > non-comm FMs will be allowed ownership of the AM frequency
>
> > in exchange, free of charge (no FCC license fee) and to
> run
> > as they see fit. I know there are a lot of flaws with my
> > idea, but there's no perfect solution.
> >
> >
> > > I am just throwing out this idea for discussion.
> > >
> > > Several years ago I had a conversation with the OM at a
> > > AM/FM outlet in this region. The topic was small
> > stations.
> > >
> > > His point was simple. Radio stations which were needed
> in
> > > the new AM license boom of the early 60's are no longer
> > > relevant. Today's world does not understand the smaller
> > > stations that don't sign on until sunrise and then go
> off
> > at
> > > sundown. Or, just as bad, reduce power to 50 watts.
> > >
> > > The News-Journal observed in the late 70's that daytime
> > only
> > > stations were no longer showing in Arbitron in the
> > > Wilmington market. And let's face it: if your power is
> > only
> > > 50 watts (or even less) at night, you are still a
> daytime
> > > only station.
> > >
> > > Does Elkton, MD need an AM 1550? No one is listening.
> > Does
> > > Newark need AM1260? Are 860 and 900 serving any useful
> > > purpose in Philly? Are stations such as WCHE serving a
> > > purpose or are they simply taking up space?
> > >
> > > I come down on the side that these stations should be
> > taken
> > > off the air, allowing other stations to increase power
> to
> > a
> > > level that would make them more competitive. One basic
> > > issue to be resolved is how do you tell someone who just
>
> > > paid $250K for a worthless station that he is now going
> to
> >
> > > lose his investment?
> > >
> > > There are still areas where the small stations still
> meet
> > a
> > > need. But they are few.
> > >
> > > So, what do others think?
> > >
> >
>
 
My $2 worth

The only way to save AM is to prune the dying vine. Most of the world has abandanoned the medium wave band and amplitude modulation. But there still may be a place for it.

1. Turn channels five and six over to FM broadcasting. All Class D stations are given allocations on the expanded FM band (all other AM stations who want them may request them, in lieu of their current AM allocation).

2. In addition, move all AM stations which have gone on the air since 1940 to the expanded FM band. Any stations which have failed to show black ink during one of the prior three years would be required to turn in their licenses. The remaining AM stations would operate as Class A on clear channel frequencies at 50kw or as Class B on regional frequencies at 5kw (below 1000khz)or 10kw (above 1000khz). All local frequencies would become regional frequencies.

3. Set reception standards for AM receivers at least equal to those in common use before 1965 (especially for car radios).

4. Set limits on the number of AM stations any operator is allowed (seven is recommended). Require at least 50% local live programming during all dayparts for AM. Limit of 12 commercial minutes per hour. (Brokered programs including infomercials and paid religion is counted as commercial time.)

5. Experiment with super power on some class A stations (WLW would be a logical choice, they still have their 500kw transmitter). No IBOC on AM.

6. Keep the non-commercial FM band but do away LPFM entirely. No repeaters. No licenses for student radio stations. Broadcasting is a public medium. Get rid of the non-commercial dead wood and encourage public radio to offer multiple services in each city (News and Information, Classical, Jazz, Folk, or Alternative).
 
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