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That ticking sound? That's the clock starting to run on 87.7.

D

DeadElvis

On Friday, the FCC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment regarding a drop-dead date for low-power analog TV. The FCC asks if 2012 is a reasonable time frame.

That means, of course, that Memphis TV channel 6 would be forced to go DTV, making listening on analog radios impossible by that drop-dead date. The NPRM does not specify a date in 2012, but some of the language implies it MIGHT coincide with the third anniversary of full-power DTV transition -- June 12.

All of this is subject to change, of course. But, I would not bet the farm that The Pig/87.7 can last much longer than 2 years.

DE
 
The Zombie (aka: "The Pig") manages to hang around Flinn's stable of rimshot stations in Memphis and even had a short-life in Little Rock as a "placeholder" format for KZTS back when it was a reactivated KWBF-FM in 2009.

It may end up on WHBQ-AM someday...with the glut of current sports talk radio in Memphis, its possible.
 
With radio listening slowly shifting to online for niche formats, maybe WHBQ wouldn't be such a bad place for it. The AM would be "fill in" for those who still can't stream music in their cars. The bulk of the ads could be targeted towards online listening.

As it stands, I'd be surprised if the 87.7 signal has much in-building penetration even in Midtown due to the flea power of the audio component. I've heard it clearly out to the Dairy Queen west of West Memphis, but I doubt it's even present on a radio in the builds of downtown.
 
I have trouble getting it in my condo in Midtown.

Drove a car with a radio that tuned to 87.7 this week and it came in pretty well in midtown. The stereo blend was a bit annoying in that area though.
 
WHBQ would suit me fine,since on a clear day you can pick it up in Jackson, MS where I live. not that clear but you can still hear it on a good radio.
 
Don't know how much of this is actually true as I read it on the internet, but, when WNYZ-LP applied to flash cut to digital, someone claiming to be affiliated with the station said there was a loophole in the FCC rules that allowed stations to run digital video and analog audio so long as they didn't also run digital audio. In other words, it would be different from the FCC's precedent prohibiting WRGB from operating analog audio for radio listeners after the conversion because WRGB also ran digital audio. If that's truly the case, these TV's acting as radio stations won't go away.

Again, I don't know how much of that is true, but that rumor has been going around...
 
Keep in mind that if LPTVs are forced to go digital, more than half would be forced to shut down because of the expense of going digital. This is the primary reason why LPTVs were not mandated to convert to digital. The FCC’s LPTV division is against the digital conversion. There is a lot more to mandating a digital conversation then just picking a date. Including the lawsuits from the LPTV [87.7] owners that will follow.

Most 87.7 stations are ranked in Arbitron, but not Memphis’s 87.7, what’s the reason? Format, signal, lack of promotion or . . .
 
I suppose they can file a lawsuit. But...

It's not something that a Motion for Summary Judgment won't fix. They can propose no novel arguments not already made by full-power stations. In fact, considering none are required to build-out a "temporary" facility that would become obsolete on transition day (e.g., WHBQ's channel 53 facility, or ANYONE else with an out-of-core channel), their arguments are weaker.

If the 87.7(5) guys make an argument that transition will kill their little rule-bending scheme, a federal judge will be hard-pressed not to laugh.

"Simply stated, rules are rules...." Reuters Ltd. v. FCC, 781 F.2d 946 (D.C. Cir. 1986).

DE

DE
 
DeadElvis said:
"Simply stated, rules are rules...." Reuters Ltd. v. FCC, 781 F.2d 946 (D.C. Cir. 1986).
Click to expand...

Since the dawn of television, Channel 6 stations can broadcast audio on 87.7. Them are the rules. So bring it on. . . .
 
KirkSherwood said:
DeadElvis said:
"Simply stated, rules are rules...." Reuters Ltd. v. FCC, 781 F.2d 946 (D.C. Cir. 1986).
Click to expand...

Since the dawn of television, Channel 6 stations can broadcast audio on 87.7. Them are the rules. So bring it on. . . .
Click to expand...

If the station is forced to switch over, that audio will be in digital form. :p

If you've never had the opportunity to hear the digital spillover of a channel 6 station on an FM radio, it sounds like the hash from HD sidebands, only much, much stronger. Last time I was in Birmingham, WUOA-DT 6 was so strong it stopped the scan on my car radio!
 
> Them are the rules. So bring it on. . . .

But, they may not, Mr. Sherwood, broadcast in a mode not authorized for the service. And, once the rules change, broadband FM will not be authorized. Having the happy accident of being heard on FM radios does not change that argument.

There is an attorney at the FCC ready and willing to write a memorandum of law to accompany his Motion for Summary Judgment. He is, indeed, thinking, "bring it on."

Any further discussion would be billable.
 
Zach said:
If you've never had the opportunity to hear the digital spillover of a channel 6 station on an FM radio, it sounds like the hash from HD sidebands, only much, much stronger. Last time I was in Birmingham, WUOA-DT 6 was so strong it stopped the scan on my car radio!
Click to expand...

Isn't WUOA out of Tuscaloosa? If so, hard to figure. . . .although the Denver 87 can be heard 100 miles away (since its antenna is located on a mountain!).

From what I heard, the Memphis, Ft. Worth, Denver, Lafayette, LA and Chicago 87s sound every bit as good and as a strong C-2. In the early going the volume on one 87 was lower than other FMs, but I understand that an equipment change corrected that problem. But nothing regarding spill-over hash.
 
DeadElvis said:
And, once the rules change, broadband FM will not be authorized.
Click to expand...

That was a quick about face, you going from “those are the rules,” to “change the rules.”

Personally, I hope a motion is filed posthaste, so yes, bring it on, please. A decision is in the best interest of those on staff, to those employing staffs, purchasing equipment, etc. As is, there are too many varied opinions on what might, or might not happen, or what kind of compromise might be reached . . . pick whatever side you want, but know that none of these opinions are a “slam dunk” in deducing the ultimate outcome.
 
KirkSherwood said:
Isn't WUOA out of Tuscaloosa? If so, hard to figure. . . .although the Denver 87 can be heard 100 miles away (since its antenna is located on a mountain!).

From what I heard, the Memphis, Ft. Worth, Denver, Lafayette, LA and Chicago 87s sound every bit as good and as a strong C-2. In the early going the volume on one 87 was lower than other FMs, but I understand that an equipment change corrected that problem. But nothing regarding spill-over hash.
Click to expand...

Back in the analog days WUOA broadcast from the 'Tuscaloosa tall tower', I believe. But after the digital switchover, they began broadcasting from Red Mountain, though still licensed to Tuscaloosa. With all the troubles people have receiving VHF-low digital, I can't imagine anyone in T-town really being able to pick up the station anymore. "Parent station" WVUA-CA still serves the city in glorious analog.

Although I don't have any real confirmation to this, I suspect that WBRC (analog channel 6) donated their VHF antenna to the University of Alabama and WUOA just moved TX to the WBRC tower. The move gave the campus TV station a real presence in Birmingham for the first time and they're on most if not all the cable headends now. (Previously, they appeared to be only carried on DirecTV.)

I've heard the Chicago and Memphis 87.7 stations. The one in Chicago has a pretty good coverage area and definitely defied my expectations. They had decent punch, stereo separation and ran RDS. The station definitely crapped out earlier than all the 'real' FMs from downtown, but they managed to reach most of the suburbs.

The Memphis station has been a bit more disappointing. At least to me, they don't sound like they're using any real FM style processing and are very treble-heavy. The signal is strong in the suburbs where the TX site is but weak just a few miles away in downtown. Not bad, but more like a weaker Class A signal than a C2.
 
Thanks for the info. I figure if you knew you would have noted the tower height of the Memphis 87. But let me ask anyway, what is their HAAT? Surprised that their technical sound is not what it should be ― I figured the good Dr. would have everything gold-plated.

Going back to my original question. Is there an obvious reason why the Memphis 87 did not make the latest Arbitron. Is it because the station is too new, signal challenges, format , music or jock are wrong, or . . . .
 
KirkSherwood said:
Thanks for the info. I figure if you knew you would have noted the tower height of the Memphis 87. But let me ask anyway, what is their HAAT? Surprised that their technical sound is not what it should be ― I figured the good Dr. would have everything gold-plated.

Going back to my original question. Is there an obvious reason why the Memphis 87 did not make the latest Arbitron. Is it because the station is too new, signal challenges, format , music or jock are wrong, or . . . .
Click to expand...

I believe the HAAT is 682 feet. It's on the tower that's just north of Stage Road on Brother Blvd in Bartlett. As to the Arbitron question, that's better left to someone who's an expert. ;)
 
It's located on the WTWV-23 Tower. It is the western most tower located just north of Appling and Stage Rd in Bartlett.

That tower also holds W15CH (Analog), WPGF-LD (ch17), W46EF-D, and some day WFBI-LD CH33.

WFBI-LD is interesting as the application came about as W08DH licensed to South East Memphis in 1992. It has never been on the air AFAIK but has lived on all these years through filing 1 STA after another until it was became displaced from ch 8 by KAIT. An application was filed for digital on 33 to as WFBI-LD. It appears it will come out of the same antenna at 15,17, & 46 on the ch 23 tower.
 
> That was a quick about face...

My fault. Never argue with a non-lawyer.

The rules are what the rules are. When they are changed -- and they will be -- they will be the rules. That's the point you missed.

You opine that upon the change, lawsuits will follow. You may be right about that. But, those suits will be without merit.

Once analogs are phased out, any suits by former analogs will be disposed of quickly. They can "bring it on" as you say, but, as Judge Starr (Yes, that Judge Starr) wrote the in the case I cited, the rules are the rules.

Sorry. Once the rules change, it's over. There will be no injunctive relief. If you would like to offer a legal argument, please make it (hint: The Takings Clause). But, sadly, there aren't any good arguments to be made.

DE, LL.M.
 
Michael said:
WFBI-LD is interesting as the application came about as W08DH licensed to South East Memphis in 1992. It has never been on the air AFAIK
Click to expand...

You know, I think it was...

I used to get music videos on channel 8. Clearly, it WASN'T cable leakage, so I suspect it was that LPTV.

DE
 
oh wow... I never saw it but I think it was very directional to the SE from the tower at 6080 so that would be why I could never see it.

The coverage maps only showed it going out a few blocks if i remember correctly.
 
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