Top 40 and Star coming to WNYZ-LP (87.9 FM)

[neo11]

Surprised no one has jumped on this story here already, but the Daily News is reporting that WNYZ-LP (TV channel 6 and audio 87.88 FM) has hired Star (of Star and Buc Wild fame) for mornings and will switch to a Top 40 format early next year. The station, as some already know, is an LPTV station whose audio is heard on the lower end of the FM dial. Channel 6 is typically heard on 87.76 FM, but recently, they moved it up to 87.88 FM, so most FM tuners can get a clear signal of the station on 87.9, just below the non-commercial part of the dial.

Apparently, the station also plans to air live video on the TV portion that would complement the video and probably stay kosher as far as the FCC is concerned.

Here's the link to the article: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...1-27_dj_star_may_return_to_radio_on_wnyz.html

 

[Walter Graff]

Wow big move, big station. Wonder if anyone but Star and his family will listen or be able to find it. Might as well have a public access show. At least with that, for a second while folks scan through channels you can actually say someone saw it.

 

[ITC Delta]

I agree, and the argument has been brought up that when analog tv goes bub bye in 2009, what will happen to channel 6 then???

I could see progressive talk if 1600 were to go away or some other seek-able niche format...but CHR with a hip hop guy in mornings...really?????

 

[DToTheJ]

Surprised no one has jumped on this story here already...

Actually... we have.

And as far as that Daily News story is concerned, it's just speculation until the official announcement.

In the interest of fairness, this Newsday article also focuses on Star's return to radio, though it mentions stations like WBLS and WXRK, and nary a reference to WNYZ. Oh, and it has a quote from Tom Taylor, who has a newsletter here on Radio-Info...

 

[8638]

Wow big move, big station. Wonder if anyone but Star and his family will listen or be able to find it. Might as well have a public access show. At least with that, for a second while folks scan through channels you can actually say someone saw it.

Not that I intentionally seek it out, but when I rotate the antenna toward NYC, I get the audio of this LPTV, and the video of WPVI in Philly. I'm 55 miles south of NYC.

 

[neo11]

Wow big move, big station. Wonder if anyone but Star and his family will listen or be able to find it. Might as well have a public access show. At least with that, for a second while folks scan through channels you can actually say someone saw it.

Definitely a big move if it in fact turns out to be true. Let's see if the press conference pans out and if this is the real deal. I'm sure, however, that most people won't have much trouble finding it if the station is aggressively marketed. Most people would be looking initially for the FM signal since I'd imagine it would me marketed as a radio station first, though perhaps they can convince the cable companies for must-carry status if they put something reasonable on video. The FM signal actually carries out pretty well, it's not much worse than one of the weaker commercial FM sticks like 105.9. I also can't imagine the ratings being much worse than K-Rock or the old Jack FM

I agree, and the argument has been brought up that when analog tv goes bub bye in 2009, what will happen to channel 6 then???

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I've heard that LPTV stations may get an exemption from the switchover to digital which would allow them to continue broadcasting an analog signal. Can someone here confirm this? If that is indeed the case, that would explain how they could conceivably stay on the air for several years, by which time they could have als developed more TV programming and gotten must-carry status on cable and the dishes, and perhaps even hitched on the radio somewhere as an HD subchannel.

Not that I intentionally seek it out, but when I rotate the antenna toward NYC, I get the audio of this LPTV, and the video of WPVI in Philly. I'm 55 miles south of NYC.

That makes sense. I don't think the video signal is active right now, or if it is, it's probably broadcasting bars, at most. The video signal is also highly directional. When I lived in Astoria, only a few miles north and within eyesight of the Citicorp Tower, where the station broadcasts from, I would only get the faintest of signals with my rabbit-ears and only after some massive antenna tweaking, as my area wasn't in one of the video signal's directional lobes. The audio gets out quite far, however, I've heard it almost up until New Haven, CT and in Port Jefferson on Long Island on the hill overlooking the village, as well as far into Westchester county.

 

[lalumia]

but CHR with a hip hop guy in mornings...really??

........in case you hadn't noticed, CHR/Top 40 is 90% hip hop/r&b /reggae ANYWAY!

 

[Clayton Douglas]

friends and relatives in manhattan tell me they can neither see nor hear WNYZ-TV-6/fm -- 87.7 or 87.9. and they've tried on various receivers! are low power tv stations usually carried by cable tv systems or by satellite tv systems ?

 

[ansky212]

friends and relatives in manhattan tell me they can neither see nor hear WNYZ-TV-6/fm -- 87.7 or 87.9. and they've tried on various receivers! are low power tv stations usually carried by cable tv systems or by satellite tv systems ?

If I remember correctly, WNYZ-6 is very directional. I live in Jersey City and I don't get a signal from them either. I don't think they are carried on any cable or satellite company. The only LP carried by Directv is WNYN-39 - the Azteca America affiliate.

 

[w9wi]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe I've heard that LPTV stations may get an exemption from the switchover to digital which would allow them to continue broadcasting an analog signal. Can someone here confirm this?

This is true. The act of Congress that created the deadline applies only to full-power stations.

I wouldn't bet on this exemption going on indefinitely though. The FCC does have the power to set a different deadline for LPTV, and I would be quite confident they will do so. My guess is 2-3 years after the full-power deadline.

That makes sense. I don't think the video signal is active right now, or if it is, it's probably broadcasting bars, at most.

The FCC has argued, in a case of an Alaska station trying to do the same thing, that it is illegal to operate only the aural transmitter. But that the video program material doesn't have to be related to the audio. (so color bars with a legal ID on them would be fine)

I have some serious questions about the legality of this operation.

First and foremost, their choice of 87.88MHz as an operating frequency. The way I read the rules, the highest frequency on which the aural carrier of a channel 6 LPTV station can legally operate is 87.762MHz. (that includes tolerances for any frequency drift in the transmitter)

Secondly, from what I'm hearing this station's audio is as loud as that of a radio station. For TV, that would comprise 300% modulation.

Some observers think the coverage is too great for legal power levels, though that kind of thing is pretty difficult for the layman to accurately determine.

I would not bet money on this operation continuing with its current technical parameters for more than a few months.

 

[DToTheJ]

I have some serious questions about the legality of this operation.

First and foremost, their choice of 87.88MHz as an operating frequency. The way I read the rules, the highest frequency on which the aural carrier of a channel 6 LPTV station can legally operate is 87.762MHz. (that includes tolerances for any frequency drift in the transmitter)

Secondly, from what I'm hearing this station's audio is as loud as that of a radio station. For TV, that would comprise 300% modulation.

Some observers think the coverage is too great for legal power levels, though that kind of thing is pretty difficult for the layman to accurately determine.

I would not bet money on this operation continuing with its current technical parameters for more than a few months.

Agreed. If this deal with WNYZ is reportedly true, then Star & Buc Wild will be broadcasting on nothing more than a glorified pirate radio station.

 

[DToTheJ]

Confirmed: "Pulse 87" Coming In '08 With Star & Buc Wild (Press Release)

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYW06328112007-1.htm

November 28, 2007: 11:00 AM EST


NEW YORK, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mega Media Group, Inc. announced today the forthcoming launch of "Pulse 87" (87.7 FM), which will feature the return of the Star & Buc Wild Show. The 87.7 format change will take place in early January of 2008 and the new Star & Buc Wild Show will debut January 15, 2008.

Star & Buc Wild are popular radio personalities who hosted their morning show in New York City from 2000 to 2006. At its peak, the Star & Buc Wild Show was consistently one of the top-rated morning shows in New York City, at one point surpassing the market's long-time leader, "The Howard Stern Show." In addition to featuring the morning show, Pulse 87 will offer listeners a variety of music programming, including pop, hip hop, dance, rock and top 40 hits.

"I am excited to return to the New York City airwaves and look forward to working with Mega Media Group and Pulse 87," said Troi Torain, professionally known as "Star." "Times have changed and I am ready to deliver the great entertainment that my listeners have come to expect from me, while also offering responsible social commentary. The Star & Buc Wild journey continues!"

"Star & Buc Wild are seasoned, national radio personalities who will help to build the Pulse 87 brand," stated Alex Shvarts, CEO of Mega Media Group. "The show will fill what we believe is a void in the New York City marketplace and will act as the driver for the station's launch."

About Mega Media Group: Mega Media Group, Inc. (MMDA.OB) is a multi-media and entertainment company whose divisions offer a broad range of services, including corporate and celebrity branding, talent management, music production and distribution, video production and distribution and radio broadcasting.

Safe Harbor Statement: This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Mega Media Group's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of November 28, 2007, and Mega Media Group undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.



CONTACT: Reggie Dance
5W Public Relations
212-584-4282
[email protected]

 

[GSP163]

87.7 WNYZ already has a website @ www.pulse87.com

 

[Groove1670]

I was going to ask the question about the modulation. Are either of those stations running a stereo carrier on the FM dial, and can they do that, and would they do it (if it is not being done) :-\

 

[JayD]

The press release said the D word - Dance! I hope they come correct with some real dance music programming....

 

[Walter Graff]

The press release said the D word - Dance! I hope they come correct with some real dance music programming....

Pulse 87 aka "the station no one can hear" will shift formats according to the time of day. Late afternoon will be programmed to appeal to teenagers, and late night will feature dance music aimed at “the going-out crowd.” Perhaps going out with an aerial to try to find this station.

 

[neo11]

I was going to ask the question about the modulation. Are either of those stations running a stereo carrier on the FM dial, and can they do that, and would they do it (if it is not being done) :-\

Yes, the station (which at the moment is back on 87.75 FM) is running full FM stereo modulation instead of TV audio modulation. They sound as loud and crisp as any other FM station. I'm not sure what the rules regarding that are. They've been doing it for quite a while now, so I don't know if the FCC just hasn't caught on (they are slow to go after the pirates, however, this is an FCC licensed operation and I'd think they'd be quicker to catch on to a violation as a result of that), or if it's somehow within the limits of the law.

And as for "not being able to hear it"...the station's signal gets out pretty far. Not as far as any of the sticks on the ESB but their signal is strong in most of the five boroughs, Nassau county, Westchester, Northern NJ. I've gotten them on a not-too-sensitive car radio past Bridgeport, CT and in Port Jefferson, LI. Couple that with a mainstream format and they might get some attention, not Z100 numbers but quite possibly something respectable. Maybe even better than K-Rock or the numbers Jack was getting ;D

 

[Clayton Douglas]

This is just another trivial topic we spend far too much time on here. and it's pathetic how much media/press coverage TV6/ 87.7 has received.

 

[DToTheJ]

The press release said the D word - Dance! I hope they come correct with some real dance music programming....

Oh gawwwwd...

 

[w9wi]

I was going to ask the question about the modulation. Are either of those stations running a stereo carrier on the FM dial, and can they do that, and would they do it (if it is not being done) :-\

As I understand it, the rule is that **if you use a system that uses 15.734kHz as your "pilot carrier"**, then you must use the TV stereo scheme. If you *don't* have a 15.734kHz pilot, you can use any system that doesn't cause interference.

The "pilot carrier" in the FM stereo system is 19kHz. So as I understand it (but I'm an engineer, not a lawyer) is that **it's legal to use the FM stereo system on a TV station**.

Of course, if you're running a TV station that you expect people to actually watch on a TV, you'd want to use the TV scheme. (You can't use both at the same time. They'd interfere with each other.)

I'm not sure how well the FM system would work with modulation levels that are legal for TV. For FM, 100% modulation is defined as 75kHz - but for TV the definition is 25kHz. A FM radio, tuned to a TV sound signal, "would think it was only modulated 33%" - I would suspect that would get rather noisy rather quickly.