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Updates on Hits 94 moving?

A

audiomusiclover

Guest
Has anyone heard an update on 94.1 (Hits 94) moving their transmitter from northern Davidson Cty to an area just northeast of Mooresville? I know they had applied to move but was receiving some backlash from area neighbors, etc. I am curious as to what was determined. They were looking to put a 1300 ft stick in western Rowan Cty at a slightly less ERP, but still enough to give them a pretty nice signal in both metro markets of the triad and Clt. I know Charlotte could use some help here.
Any updates??
Thx
 
They come in pretty well in Charlotte as it is. Just what this market needs, more competition!

MikeM

> Has anyone heard an update on 94.1 (Hits 94) moving their
> transmitter from northern Davidson Cty to an area just
> northeast of Mooresville? I know they had applied to move
> but was receiving some backlash from area neighbors, etc. I
> am curious as to what was determined. They were looking to
> put a 1300 ft stick in western Rowan Cty at a slightly less
> ERP, but still enough to give them a pretty nice signal in
> both metro markets of the triad and Clt. I know Charlotte
> could use some help here.
> Any updates??
> Thx
>
 
> They come in pretty well in Charlotte as it is. Just what
> this market needs, more competition!
>
> MikeM
>
> > Has anyone heard an update on 94.1 (Hits 94) moving their
> > transmitter from northern Davidson Cty to an area just
> > northeast of Mooresville? I know they had applied to move
>
> > but was receiving some backlash from area neighbors, etc.
> I
> > am curious as to what was determined. They were looking
> to
> > put a 1300 ft stick in western Rowan Cty at a slightly
> less
> > ERP, but still enough to give them a pretty nice signal in
>
> > both metro markets of the triad and Clt. I know Charlotte
>
> > could use some help here.
> > Any updates??
> > Thx

It probably needs to move. As strong a stick as it is, It is waaay too close to 93.9 out of Raleigh/ Durham/ Burlington. The 94.1 signal gets severe interference the further east you go in the Triad.

Could be that if a move is afoot, the stick would be a candidate to broadcast some sort of Spanish format. Can't imagine any other need in the Charlotte market right now.
 
> Could be that if a move is afoot, the stick would be a
> candidate to broadcast some sort of Spanish format. Can't
> imagine any other need in the Charlotte market right now.

I hope you're kidding! I can think of a bunch of other formats althougth some kind of spanish format might be the most profitable.

As to what other formats they could do I'll leave that to someone else. If you've read any of my other posts you already know what I'm going to say!

Actually what they are doing now isn't bad!

MikeM
 
> > Could be that if a move is afoot, the stick would be a
> > candidate to broadcast some sort of Spanish format. Can't
>
> > imagine any other need in the Charlotte market right now.
>
> I hope you're kidding! I can think of a bunch of other
> formats althougth some kind of spanish format might be the
> most profitable.
>
> As to what other formats they could do I'll leave that to
> someone else. If you've read any of my other posts you
> already know what I'm going to say!
>
> Actually what they are doing now isn't bad!
>
> MikeM
>



Spanish would make soooooooo much $$$$$$$$$$$ in Charlotte or Greensboro. HItz 94 has been rumored to be moving for about 87 years now. Keep it where it is and try to hit both markets with a powerhouse Espanol station....
 
Spanish FM's

> Spanish would make soooooooo much $$$$$$$$$$$ in Charlotte
> or Greensboro. HItz 94 has been rumored to be moving for
> about 87 years now. Keep it where it is and try to hit both
> markets with a powerhouse Espanol station....
>
94.1 would be the logical choice but I don't see that happening.

If I was a betting man, I would place my money on Clear Channel switching 105.7 or 106.5 to 'hits in Espanol' similar to their Viva format in Atlanta. I can see them ticking off a swath of listeners by doing that too, no matter which station they chose.

Other darkhore bets on stations going Regional Mexican would be 97.3 in North Wilkesboro, 102.3 in Paigeland and 98.3 in Thomasville (after the Classic Country doesn't sitck).
 
94.1 / 106.9 The Light

Everyone does know the move involves a sale to Billy Graham so he can improve his coverage of the Triad and Charlotte as 94.1 - 106.9 The Light. Billy Graham will be the one paying for the new tower in Rowan County. I've heard the move was cancelled though. I also don't think 98.3 will go spanish, even though it would be the most profitable choice for them. Spanish is the kind of format that could work on a station near the Davidson/Rowan line trying to reach both markets. The audience is willing to pull out their antenna for it and advertisers don't care that it's between markets. It is an excellent choice for 94.1 or 105.7.<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com>http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com</a></P>
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> Everyone does know the move involves a sale to Billy Graham
> so he can improve his coverage of the Triad and Charlotte as
> 94.1 - 106.9 The Light. Billy Graham will be the one paying
> for the new tower in Rowan County. I've heard the move was
> cancelled though. I also don't think 98.3 will go spanish,
> even though it would be the most profitable choice for them.
> Spanish is the kind of format that could work on a station
> near the Davidson/Rowan line trying to reach both markets.
> The audience is willing to pull out their antenna for it and
> advertisers don't care that it's between markets. It is an
> excellent choice for 94.1 or 105.7.
>
105.7...definitely. This station has no "home". Is it a Winston station? A Charlotte station? Statesville? Who knows. They could put sattelite fed country on there and you'd never know. People in the Triad have 104.1 WTQR, Charlotte has 103.7 and 96.9. By the way 96.9 broadcasts from Iredell county! There is 103.3 and 92.1 to the west near Hickory....Blue Ridge country to the north...I doubt 105.7 would be missed...there would be no hole left....102.3 in Pageland...no, not Hispanic, not enough Hispanics in Pageland/Lancaster/Chesterfield....there signal is pretty bad in Monroe where there are a lot of Hispanics....106.5, CC would be crazy to go Spanish, they'd do well with alot of formats here, the signal is very good in Charlotte...My vote is 105.7...but I don't think CC owns them...isn't it a LMA?
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> > Everyone does know the move involves a sale to Billy
> Graham
> > so he can improve his coverage of the Triad and Charlotte
> as
> > 94.1 - 106.9 The Light. Billy Graham will be the one
> paying
> > for the new tower in Rowan County. I've heard the move was
>
> > cancelled though. I also don't think 98.3 will go spanish,
>
> > even though it would be the most profitable choice for
> them.
> > Spanish is the kind of format that could work on a station
>
> > near the Davidson/Rowan line trying to reach both markets.
>
> > The audience is willing to pull out their antenna for it
> and
> > advertisers don't care that it's between markets. It is an
>
> > excellent choice for 94.1 or 105.7.
> >
> 105.7...definitely. This station has no "home". Is it a
> Winston station? A Charlotte station? Statesville? Who
> knows. They could put sattelite fed country on there and
> you'd never know. People in the Triad have 104.1 WTQR,
> Charlotte has 103.7 and 96.9. By the way 96.9 broadcasts
> from Iredell county! There is 103.3 and 92.1 to the west
> near Hickory....Blue Ridge country to the north...I doubt
> 105.7 would be missed...there would be no hole left....102.3
> in Pageland...no, not Hispanic, not enough Hispanics in
> Pageland/Lancaster/Chesterfield....there signal is pretty
> bad in Monroe where there are a lot of Hispanics....106.5,
> CC would be crazy to go Spanish, they'd do well with alot of
> formats here, the signal is very good in Charlotte...My vote
> is 105.7...but I don't think CC owns them...isn't it a LMA?
>

WFMX is owned on paper by Mercury Broadcasting- an entity with ties to Clear Channel. It has appplied for, and I think gotten a CP- to move toward the Triad market. Of course, who really knows whether they'll actually move it or not...

The scoop on 94.1 is they finally have been turned down a second time by Rowan County for zoning approval to build the 1350 ft stick. They had 30 days to appeal the decision to the courts, and have filed the requisite appeal. The outcome of that appeal is TBD.
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> > > Everyone does know the move involves a sale to Billy
> > Graham
> > > so he can improve his coverage of the Triad and
> Charlotte
> > as
> > > 94.1 - 106.9 The Light. Billy Graham will be the one
> > paying
> > > for the new tower in Rowan County. I've heard the move
> was
> >
> > > cancelled though. I also don't think 98.3 will go
> spanish,
> >
> > > even though it would be the most profitable choice for
> > them.
> > > Spanish is the kind of format that could work on a
> station
> >
> > > near the Davidson/Rowan line trying to reach both
> markets.
> >
> > > The audience is willing to pull out their antenna for it
>
> > and
> > > advertisers don't care that it's between markets. It is
> an
> >
> > > excellent choice for 94.1 or 105.7.
> > >
> > 105.7...definitely. This station has no "home". Is it a
> > Winston station? A Charlotte station? Statesville? Who
> > knows. They could put sattelite fed country on there and
> > you'd never know. People in the Triad have 104.1 WTQR,
> > Charlotte has 103.7 and 96.9. By the way 96.9 broadcasts
> > from Iredell county! There is 103.3 and 92.1 to the west
> > near Hickory....Blue Ridge country to the north...I doubt
> > 105.7 would be missed...there would be no hole
> left....102.3
> > in Pageland...no, not Hispanic, not enough Hispanics in
> > Pageland/Lancaster/Chesterfield....there signal is pretty
> > bad in Monroe where there are a lot of Hispanics....106.5,
>
> > CC would be crazy to go Spanish, they'd do well with alot
> of
> > formats here, the signal is very good in Charlotte...My
> vote
> > is 105.7...but I don't think CC owns them...isn't it a
> LMA?
> >
>
> WFMX is owned on paper by Mercury Broadcasting- which is a
> shell corp for Clear Channel. It has appplied for, and I
> think gotten a CP- to move toward the Triad market. Of
> course, who really knows whether they'll actually move it or
> not...
>
> The scoop on 94.1 is they finally have been turned down a
> second time by Rowan County for zoning approval to build the
> 1350 ft stick. They had 30 days to appeal the decision to
> the courts, and have filed the requisite appeal. The outcome
> of that appeal is TBD.
>

94.1.....leave it right where it is. 80's is a niche format soon to be considered the "oldies." 107.9 could be the true 80's station if they would play music again and clean up there terrible audio. I heard that WAGI Gaffney 105.3 is moving into Charlotte and rumor has it......Spanish might be the format.
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

So it is still moving foward, but towards defeat? They should just give up and stay where they are. I can remember living in Winston-Salem and waiting for the day someone would move WWGL (today's Hitz 94) to Charlotte. You could listen to 94.1 on Cable channel 6, on the AM band between 1250-1400 and my computer speakers with the computer turned off. Listening to 94.5, 95.1 or 96.1 required very high-end equipment. If you love 80's and live in Winston-Salem, it's wonderful. You don't even have to turn the radio on or plug it in to listen. (lol) Billy Graham's 106.9 also covers Winston-Salem well and was once licensed to Winston-Salem years ago. I've never had any problems listening to WMIT in Charlotte or Winston-Salem. If there are any weak spots, he should use translators, like what his broadcasting company is already doing. Having two stations in Charlotte and Winston-Salem with the same format isn't good. It's a waste of a good signal. A 94.1 The Fish (sell to Salem) would be a welcomed alternative.

With WFMX's downgrade and move to the Forsyth-Stokes county line in the Saurtown Mountains near Winston-Salem, one of the short spacings will be out of the way. Is it possible to move-in WAGI 105.3? I didn't think it was, due to a short spacing with 104.7, but an engineer in Athens told me it is possible and it is part of the grandfathering. I just can't imagine the FCC making a short spacing even shorter for a station to cover a larger market. I would guess if it did move-in, it would move to western Gaston County as a C1?<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com>http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com</a></P>
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

Is it possible to
> move-in WAGI 105.3? I didn't think it was, due to a short
> spacing with 104.7, but an engineer in Athens told me it is
> possible and it is part of the grandfathering. I just can't
> imagine the FCC making a short spacing even shorter for a
> station to cover a larger market. I would guess if it did
> move-in, it would move to western Gaston County as a C1?

I would think they could become neighbors with WBAV 101.9 on Crowders Mtn. in Gaston County. They would gain Charlotte coverage and still hit Gaffney well. I don't even think they'd need to change COL's as their current site and Crowders Mtn are equidistant from Gaffney. Gaffney to WAGI's transmitter=24.7 miles, Gaffney to WBAV's transmitter=24.0 miles.


> http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Gaffney&state=sc&x=19&y=7
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

For now, I believe we can put the WAGI rumors to rest. It is my understanding that Bright Parker's will was VERY specific that anybody who bought the station could not move it.

And, even if somebody wanted to, it would be difficult to move into the Charlotte market and get a city-grade signal. There are several problems, most notably 105.1 in Durham, 105.5 in Sanford, and 105.7 in Statesville. Lately, the Commission has been leaning heavily toward REDUCING short-spacings. I can't imagine they'd make one worse under any circumstances.

Currently, I think it's a waste of a monster signal. I bet they wouldn't see a lot of revenue reduction if they reduced their signal to a C3.
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> For now, I believe we can put the WAGI rumors to rest. It is
> my understanding that Bright Parker's will was VERY specific
> that anybody who bought the station could not move it.
>
> And, even if somebody wanted to, it would be difficult to
> move into the Charlotte market and get a city-grade signal.
> There are several problems, most notably 105.1 in Durham,
> 105.5 in Sanford, and 105.7 in Statesville. Lately, the
> Commission has been leaning heavily toward REDUCING
> short-spacings. I can't imagine they'd make one worse under
> any circumstances.
>
> Currently, I think it's a waste of a monster signal. I bet
> they wouldn't see a lot of revenue reduction if they reduced
> their signal to a C3.
>

Oh yes......it is a monster of signal 105.3! I can hear WAGI in Concord on any given day. I love listening to smaller market radio with huge signals. There is so much potential but revenue is not there. How much are stereo coders now days......why haven't they invested in one?
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> > For now, I believe we can put the WAGI rumors to rest. It
> is
> > my understanding that Bright Parker's will was VERY
> specific
> > that anybody who bought the station could not move it.
> >
> > And, even if somebody wanted to, it would be difficult to
> > move into the Charlotte market and get a city-grade
> signal.
> > There are several problems, most notably 105.1 in Durham,
> > 105.5 in Sanford, and 105.7 in Statesville. Lately, the
> > Commission has been leaning heavily toward REDUCING
> > short-spacings. I can't imagine they'd make one worse
> under
> > any circumstances.
> >
> > Currently, I think it's a waste of a monster signal. I bet
>
> > they wouldn't see a lot of revenue reduction if they
> reduced
> > their signal to a C3.
> >
>
> Oh yes......it is a monster of signal 105.3! I can hear
> WAGI in Concord on any given day. I love listening to
> smaller market radio with huge signals. There is so much
> potential but revenue is not there. How much are stereo
> coders now days......why haven't they invested in one?
>
WAGI runs stereo when they are playing music. They turn it off when they air talk or religious programming. The transmitter is located near the Rutherford/Cleveland County line in North Carolina. I've always beens suprised that it hasn't moved into the Greenville, SC market. I think that would be a smarter move than into Charlotte.

wncmacs
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

> There are several problems, most notably 105.1 in Durham,
> 105.5 in Sanford, and 105.7 in Statesville.

105.1 is downgrading from C0 to C1 and moving east.
105.5 can be moved.
105.7 is trying to move northeast and downgrade to C1.

It looks like everything is falling into place for WAGI to move-in. They only have to move a few miles east or southeast and they will be a Charlotte station. They already have city grade signal over Gastonia. Something tells me Clear Channel has their eyes on it. ;-) I wouldn't be surprised if they found a way to purchase it and move it to Gaston County as Viva 105.3. I don't think they have to change COL at all. Just looking at the moves made recently, I think CC is aware of WAGI.<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com>http://www.winstonsalemskyscrapers.com</a></P>
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

I've heard just the same thing actually...music in stereo, then a preacher giving it paydirt in mono a few hours later. Anybody have any idea why on earth they'd do this? I see no method to the madness...it's just something else to fool with, when there's really no advantage, financial or otherwise.

Personally, I can't see why anybody'd want to fool with moving it to either market, Charlotte or Greenville. It'll take a fortune in legal fees by the time the spitting contests are done and the move-in is approved. Any time rulemaking is applied for, everybody and their brother contests it. Lots of money has to be tossed around to make people go away usually. And every time somebody files a motion in the rulemaking file, you have to pay your ten-dollar-a-word lawyer to draft a six-thousand page response.

And all those legal fees will garner you an FM in a market which already has too many. Sure, it'll be worth a lot of money, but the big guys won't even see a blip on their balance sheet by acquiring another over-valued station which won't bill enough to cover its debt service. But, maybe the obsession some companies have with owning lots of stations will win out. We'll see. Sorry if I sound bitter about the whole move-in process, but I've done it, and I know what a nightmare it can become!

I really can't see a single hole in either market which WAGI could fill better than a station already in the market. It's not really as if either market is under-radioed on the FM side.
 
Re: 94.1 / 106.9 The Light

The stereo/mono thing goes back to a fact of physics: FM signals can be received farther away in monaural mode than in stereo, and, with the modulation drops that occur when the human voice is broadcast, a mono signal will allow that voice to be heard clearer farther from the transmitter. That's why WBT turned off the stereo generator on 99.3 (and it allows me to listen to them in Spruce Pine, a good 100 air miles from the transmitter, even with a co-channeled 99.3 in Elizabethton, Tennessee just across the mountain from us).

I'd say that's how WAGI has so many preachers and other religious programming from areas quite far from Gaffney, as they can tell those in the "fringe" areas that they will be heard in their location, and that keeps them interested in airing programs on the station. I'm sure their rates are better than WMIT's.

However, with the audience being used to music broadcast in stereo, WAGI turns on their exciter when they are broadcasting music.

Yes, I'm sure it's a pain for the board op (and I doubt 105.3 is automated very much), but I'd bet that mono is a sales tool for keeping the station loaded with programming that "brings home the bacon."
 
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