The REAL losers from Liberty will be...

[bopst]

Re: The REAL losers from Liberty...

Yeah, it is a great tune by the criminally neglected group.

So, is getting a station on the FM band a false hope or a possible reality? If possible, it would require a team effort (duh), but can this be assembled? God knows, I don't have anything close to 1.5 million lying around.

Are there any stations out there willing to take a risk?
<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.wclmradio.com/pages/bopst.html>The Bopst Show</a>
Monday-Friday (1-4 PM EST-USA)
WCLM 1450 AM
Richmond, Virginia
http://www.wclmradio.com
Request Line: (804) 231-7685

</P>

 

[Radio-X]

Some info that might help...

> So, is getting a station on the FM band a false hope or a
> possible reality? If possible, it would require a team
> effort (duh), but can this be assembled? God knows, I don't
> have anything close to 1.5 million lying around.
>
> Are there any stations out there willing to take a risk?
>

In Richmond, it's doubtful any company would 'buy' your programming ideas, for reasons mentioned in previous posts

As for the possiblity of buying a station...YES, it is possible, provided you have others willing to help (I'm game! But I have no money!) and can find a loan for your LLC, and can get a good lawyer. When WVGO was sold to Benchmark, the owners (Daytona Group?) sold it for 6(?) million...but that's in 1990 dollars for an underperforming station riddled with debt. When they sold to ABS, I'm sure they doubled their money...

Mention your situation on one of the appropriate national boards, and I'm sure someone will notice and let you know more...I have never been through buying a station

Your easiest and cheapest bet would be to buy out a rimshot signal. I have compiled a list of stations that are probably fairly cheap to pick up (under $3 mil) and offer some sort of decent signal into the RIC area.

93.5 WBBC Blackstone...class C3, puts a decent signal into Chesterfield
96.9 WWUZ Bowling Green...class A, GOOD signal in Hanover and Henrico, decent in Midlo
99.3 WKJS Petersburg...most expensive out of all of them, OK downtown signal...bad interference north of Ashland because of WYSK
100.3 WARV Petersburg...this, I think, is the sleeping giant out of all of them. Downtown signal is OK...and you're game reception-wise for 50+ miles with the exception of North of RIC
100.5 WZEZ This one could be picked up cheap...iffy signal in Downtown, good in Midlo

There's also some pretty marginal signals comming from Southside and Freddyburg...but they're over-priced for the reception they'll give

Either 107.3 or 101.1 could be picked up fairly cheap (107.3 would go for 5, 101.1 would go for 7-10)

Other than that, unless you can work some engineering magic, expect any station with a rock-solid downtown signal to cost anywhere from $15 mil-$40 mil.

Hope this helps, and if I can do anything else, let me know, man! I would love to see something fresh on the air, and I'd support it as much as I could! (Even if it's only voiceover work!)

Radio-X
<P ID="signature">______________
If a DJ talks into a microphone, and no one's there to listen to him, does he make a noise?</P>

 

[Encyclopedia]

Re: Some info that might help...

Look RadioRichmond,from what I gather on your profile,you're not IN the Richmond radio market,I AM,for thirty years now.I know that NONE of those stations are for sale and I really don't think the current owners would sell even if they had offers.You're obviously speaking from a misinformed or unknowing perspective.And even IF any of these properties were for sale,you're talking SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.And from my experience in the banking industry,most lenders these days will not loan money to purchase radio stations unless the lendee has previous successful experience running a radio station.Plus,most of the major lending institions AND the SBA will not loan money to buy Class As (the 3 & 6kw) stations.Bopst,here's an idea for you.All you have to do is form a non-profit company,apply to the FCC,and you can probably get your OWN LPFM license,then all you have to do is get equipment and a plae to operate.And once you've got that you've got an FM station on the air YOU'RE in control of.That's what the RIR people did.I know a church minister who simply got the forms,filled 'em out,sent 'em in,and BAM,he got a LPFM license for his church in the mail.This may be easier than you think.

 

[Radio-X]

Re: Some info that might help...

> Look RadioRichmond,from what I gather on your profile,you're
> not IN the Richmond radio market,I AM,for thirty years now.I
> know that NONE of those stations are for sale and I really
> don't think the current owners would sell even if they had
> offers.You're obviously speaking from a misinformed or
> unknowing perspective.And even IF any of these properties
> were for sale,you're talking SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.And
> from my experience in the banking industry,most lenders
> these days will not loan money to purchase radio stations
> unless the lendee has previous successful experience running
> a radio station.Plus,most of the major lending institions
> AND the SBA will not loan money to buy Class As (the 3 &
> 6kw) stations.Bopst,here's an idea for you.All you have to
> do is form a non-profit company,apply to the FCC,and you can
> probably get your OWN LPFM license,then all you have to do
> is get equipment and a plae to operate.And once you've got
> that you've got an FM station on the air YOU'RE in control
> of.That's what the RIR people did.I know a church minister
> who simply got the forms,filled 'em out,sent 'em in,and
> BAM,he got a LPFM license for his church in the mail.This
> may be easier than you think.


Yes, you're right...I don't work in Richmond...I work in FARMVILLE, which in my opinion, has better listening options than most of the RIC metro area (REAL variety!!). Seriously, what a concept to have DJ's that are free to actually create compelling radio! I guess being 20 years backwards in time isn't such a bad thing 'round here. I have used the radiodxrichmond name for quite sometime NOT because I live in Richmond (I lived in Amelia at the time), but because I enjoy DXing and the nearest metro area to Amelia is RIC. I have also not worked in radio for nearly the amount of time that you have (Worked about five years). I can tell Bopst and you this, if you want a class A rimshot radio station, you can get one...just be prepared for long nights and AT LEAST 2 MILLION or so...It has happened before, and can happen again. I also pointed out that I have NO experience in buying radio stations, and encouraged Bopst to ask around on a national board to find out more about the particulars.

Those stations mentioned in my previous post may not be for sale, but money greases a squeaky wheel, correct?

Yes, Encyclopedia, a relatively inexperienced DJ owning a radio station is a pipe dream at best, if not downright childish sounding. It can happen, though, if you work at it!

As for getting a LPFM license, Bopst has said his goal is to prove that real variety on commercial radio is a viable option. Whether this is possible, or if it will ever materialize or not...well, we will soon see...

Now, I'll leave the big city and the liner cards behind and go back to the farm report

Radio-X

<P ID="signature">______________
If a DJ talks into a microphone, and no one's there to listen to him, does he make a noise?</P>

 

[bopst]

Re: Some info that might help...

Hey Encyclopedia, judging from your profile, you must be a ghost in the machine.

Oh, and when are you going to stop referring to me anything but what I am: a professional DJ. I'm going on my 4th year on the air, you know.

And again, I want to do what I do on a mainstream level. Low Power is fine, but, as I said before, I want to do an innovative show and make money. In order to do that, LPFM's ain't gonna cut it.

Of coarse, I can't do it alone. I'd like to find like minded souls out there who would enjoy doing something different. Are the days of radio mavericks gone? I certainly hope not. Granted, it is a long shot, but a man is defined by his dreams and the desire to turn those dreams into reality.

I refuse to believe that it can't be done....<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.wclmradio.com/pages/bopst.html>The Bopst Show</a>
Monday-Friday (1-4 PM EST-USA)
WCLM 1450 AM
Richmond, Virginia
http://www.wclmradio.com
Request Line: (804) 231-7685

</P>

 

[Encyclopedia]

Re: Some info that might help...

> Hey Encyclopedia, judging from your profile, you must be a
> ghost in the machine.
>
> Oh, and when are you going to stop referring to me anything
> but what I am: a professional DJ. I'm going on my 4th year
> on the air, you know.
>
> And again, I want to do what I do on a mainstream level. Low
> Power is fine, but, as I said before, I want to do an
> innovative show and make money. In order to do that, LPFM's
> ain't gonna cut it.
>
> Of coarse, I can't do it alone. I'd like to find like minded
> souls out there who would enjoy doing something different.
> Are the days of radio mavericks gone? I certainly hope not.
> Granted, it is a long shot, but a man is defined by his
> dreams and the desire to turn those dreams into reality.
>
> I refuse to believe that it can't be done....
>
I'd certainly like to see it done.Can you imagine if the old WGOE had been on FM? It would be right up there now with the Legendary AORS like WMMS/Cleveland,and WBCN/Boston.When WGOE was in thier innovative days I listened all the time.I was in another town for about a year more recently and they had a station with "no rules" and I found would listen to them when I wanted to "intresting" programming.I love to listen to the current crop of commercial stations,but I have a side of me that's "adveturous".I would have loved to be working in San Fransisco radio in 1967 when KMPX and KSAN were making progressive radio history.YES,it would "shuffle up the deck" if you were able to get your concept on a high powered commercial frequency.But in this town,in the curent regulatory enviroment,in this time in history,I think it's going to be impossible.If it were me,I'd start with a LPFM.A little known fact,commercial radio stations have sales staffs who sell "spots",non-commercial statiions have sales staffs who sell "grants".I know that WCVE-FM in Richmond and WNRN in Charlottesville have revenues comperable to some commercials station.As many of you know,the ONLY diffence between a spot and a grant is that in grants,you cannot do a "call to action".A call to action would "Come down to the Big Sale at Plan 9 Records" a grant would be "Plan 9 Records,where you can listen before you buy,located in Richmond,Williamsburg,Charlottesville,and Harrisonburg".In non-coms,it's just supposed to be information,not enticement.But you could say in a non com "There is a big sale at Plan 9 Records.You can come to the store in Carytown" No enticements in something like that,and WNRN does it everyday.Take this under consideration,that IF you could make it with a LPFM,you could always resign from the board of the LPFM if you see a commercial frequency open up and get some investors together who saw how well you did with the LPFM to back you.It's at least worth thinking about.

 

[bopst]

Re: Some info that might help...

It seems that we are more alike than different.

I'm on a station that allows me the freedom (i.e.: responsibility) to do my show as I see fit. And, most importantly, I like WCLM. That kinda stuff is real important to me.

The most you can get with a LPFM is a 100 watts, isn't it? That's too weak for a raging narcissist such as myself. Its too much work for far too little (signal wise).

It's time to take it to the mainstream and, quite frankly, anything else is a cop out. And yes, I know the troubling monopoly of the nation's airwaves prohibits any semblance of local involvement or programming diversity as a rule of thumb. But the pendulum is already swinging back.

Case in point: Liberty

Think that would have been approved by anyone 5 years ago? Let alone in a backwater market? Too bad, Liberty is a vapid, soulless imitation of the real deal, but what can you expect from stations concerning themselves solely to pleasing Mr. and Mrs. Average with blandness.

To illustrate my point: I've heard Styx's, "Grand Illusion" 3 times in the last couple of days.

Take this time to spew copious amounts of vomit at the mention of Styx

Its got no soul when you get down to it and that's a pity. It could have been a contender....<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.wclmradio.com/pages/bopst.html>The Bopst Show</a>
Monday-Friday (1-4 PM EST-USA)
WCLM 1450 AM
Richmond, Virginia
http://www.wclmradio.com
Request Line: (804) 231-7685

</P>

 

[Oldiesgal]

Re: Some info that might help...

> It seems that we are more alike than different.
>
> I'm on a station that allows me the freedom (i.e.:
> responsibility) to do my show as I see fit. And, most
> importantly, I like WCLM. That kinda stuff is real important
> to me.
>
> The most you can get with a LPFM is a 100 watts, isn't it?
> That's too weak for a raging narcissist such as myself. Its
> too much work for far too little (signal wise).
>
> It's time to take it to the mainstream and, quite frankly,
> anything else is a cop out. And yes, I know the troubling
> monopoly of the nation's airwaves prohibits any semblance of
> local involvement or programming diversity as a rule of
> thumb. But the pendulum is already swinging back.
>
> Case in point: Liberty
>
> Think that would have been approved by anyone 5 years ago?
> Let alone in a backwater market? Too bad, Liberty is a
> vapid, soulless imitation of the real deal, but what can you
> expect from stations concerning themselves solely to
> pleasing Mr. and Mrs. Average with blandness.
>
> To illustrate my point: I've heard Styx's, "Grand Illusion"
> 3 times in the last couple of days.
>
> Take this time to spew copious amounts of vomit at the
> mention of Styx
>
> Its got no soul when you get down to it and that's a pity.
> It could have been a contender....

Definitions
>
Encyclopedia----someone who built a career in commercial radio just before the huge consolidations. He worked in a pioneer top 40 AM'er and moved to FM. Roy H. Park Broadcasting pioneered jockless radio in Richmond before Cox and CC.

Bopst---------Never heard you, but having been a hippie once, I think you would have been a natural on Pacifica in its heyday.

Me------------I consider myself a free thinker and a radical feminist socialist, but My favorite radio is main-stream corporate Lite AC. I don't think it insults me and I never listened to XL-102 or WGOE in any of their incantations. Sorry