w-g-n future - Tom Wells

[Prais]

Tom Wells got me thinking,

First, let me tell you I'm a big wgn fan. I have been since 1959, when my mom punished me, taking away tv because I lied to my teacher - so I HAD to listen to radio, and my career was born!

I was also a "lucky" Trib stockholder who sold my nice Trib shares back to them, just prior to the Zell takeover.

Notwithstanding corporate bankruptcy (they will survive) and old technology (including newsapapers and ancient modulation radio), why doesn't wgn just BUY a great fm signal in Chicago, simulcast alot for a few years, and, slowly put better stuff on the fm, including 25-50 appeal music?

They tried a few am signals (wjaz/webh) before settling on 720, and they tried fm along time ago (wgna, wfmt). The Colonel, though quite a copycat and idea thief (i'm told) was an innovator.

Personally, I'll die without wgn 720, because living in Michigan (great state for me but horrible radio) I can get NO Chicago fm's, but then I'll probably migrate to internet radio, and listen to them anyway.

Thanks, Mr. Wells.

 

[DToTheJ]

Notwithstanding corporate bankruptcy (they will survive) and old technology (including newsapapers and ancient modulation radio), why doesn't wgn just BUY a great fm signal in Chicago, simulcast alot for a few years, and, slowly put better stuff on the fm, including 25-50 appeal music?

I think you answered your own question. If it were financially feasible for WGN to migrate to the FM band, they would have found a way to do so, bankruptcy be damned.

Now, with WGN currently faring quite well in the PPM's, it becomes a case of "if it ain't broke..." whereas you're currently getting as much juice out of an AM signal as you can. So why not just enjoy the ride?

 

[KeithE4]

Notwithstanding corporate bankruptcy (they will survive) and old technology (including newsapapers and ancient modulation radio), why doesn't wgn just BUY a great fm signal in Chicago, simulcast alot for a few years, and, slowly put better stuff on the fm, including 25-50 appeal music?

I believe the 1970 court ruling is still in effect, going back to when they tried to buy WFMT. WGN can't buy an FM without selling either the newspaper, AM, or TV station. They were grandfathered as far as keeping their current properties is concerned, but FM is out - they aren't allowed own all four media types in the same city.

They tried a few am signals (wjaz/webh) before settling on 720, and they tried fm along time ago (wgna, wfmt). The Colonel, though quite a copycat and idea thief (i'm told) was an innovator.

They owned WGNB 98.7 (not WGNA, which IIRC was the original assigned, but never used on-air, callsign for Channel 9) before selling it to WFMT, then on 105.9.

 

[davideduardo]

Now, with WGN currently faring quite well in the PPM's, it becomes a case of "if it ain't broke..."

Huh? In the PPM, the station hovers around 22nd or so in 25-54 outside of baseball season... meaning the regular programming is not appealing to the key sales demos.

 

[secondchoice]

Notwithstanding corporate bankruptcy (they will survive) and old technology (including newsapapers and ancient modulation radio), why doesn't wgn just BUY a great fm signal in Chicago, simulcast alot for a few years, and, slowly put better stuff on the fm, including 25-50 appeal music?

I believe the 1970 court ruling is still in effect, going back to when they tried to buy WFMT. WGN can't buy an FM without selling either the newspaper, AM, or TV station. They were grandfathered as far as keeping their current properties is concerned, but FM is out - they aren't allowed own all four media types in the same city.

They tried a few am signals (wjaz/webh) before settling on 720, and they tried fm along time ago (wgna, wfmt). The Colonel, though quite a copycat and idea thief (i'm told) was an innovator.

They owned WGNB 98.7 (not WGNA, which IIRC was the original assigned, but never used on-air, callsign for Channel 9) before selling it to WFMT, then on 105.9.

What Tribune needs is better lawyers. COX in Atlanta had AM750 WSB, Channel 2 WSB TV, The Atlanta -Journal Constitution (the only daily newspaper in the whole Atlanta Market vs. Sun Times and Tribune) and WSB FM 98.5. Acquired after 1980: WSRV 97.1 COL Gainesville GA very tall tower, covers most of North Ga better than the Atlanta TV stations, but they want to move to Atlanta to do better inside office buildings, 95.5 The Beat same tower as WSRV but they want to move to 98.5’s tower, and 104.1 WALR which they are moving in town.

 

[Tom Wells]

I believe they don't wish to challenge the court ruling and draw attention.

They also know the AM has a huge audience that doesn't get "measured" but are REAL listeners.
I've listened to WGN from so many far away places, to keep in touch with Chicago news while I was on the road.

Even the Three Stoooges listened to WGN, I wish I could post a video....where they are somewhere out west and trying to break into a
"safe": Curly turns the knob, Moe says " Did you hear those tumblers click?" , and then in a second or two....
"This is radio station W - G - N.. "

Moe: "That's a RADIO, you moron."

Since the iboc is off, and they've tweaked the audio some, I couldn't be happier, and wouldn't want to trade a few khz upper end
response for 700 miles of coverage.
Trib corp. probably wouldn't either.

 

[secondchoice]

Rereading David Eduardo got me thinking:

IMHO Radio and even AM will survive. The current business model (programming) will change. Think back 30 or 40 years ago. The WIFI / Cell providers will someday provide reliable nationwide coverage when they can make money doing it. Terrestrial radio will be around because it is free and works in emergencies. Ask the digital only TV / Cable dependant folks in Nashville what worked during the flood. Unfortunately there was no staff to cover and give out emergency info during the flood, but that is another thread. I have friends in the Music business and the hardest part is to get the under 30’s to pay for music. Western Union was supposed to go away after the phone companies wired America. They adapted. Somebody will figure this out, buy up a bunch of AM’s and make a killing.

Of course the political – regulation angle can fix or really mess up everything. The commission is going to “AM” the FM band soon by ending the “3th” channel protection for more class D’s.

A few Ideas to help AM: (most are not mine but I know a good idea when I steal one)

The FCC could help by offering the class C & D AMs a class A or D FM for their less than a the tower lights nighttime service AM’s, and let the remaining stations increase power.

The Commission should move the audio “stone wall” filter to 10KHZ. There should requirement all radio sets to have a decent AM receiver on any radio.

One DTV channel can carry a whole market’s programming if set up correctly.

I have an idea for an AM antenna system that will stop almost all of the sky wave. (I have a physics professor checking to see if I am violating any science laws) It was a HAM project that failed, but if it works there will be no need for night time power reductions on AM.

 

[secondchoice]

Terrestrial radio will be around because it is free

AT&T has just "saved" terrestial radio:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0216207120100602?type=marketsNews

 

[amisdead]

Notwithstanding corporate bankruptcy (they will survive) and old technology (including newsapapers and ancient modulation radio), why doesn't wgn just BUY a great fm signal in Chicago, simulcast alot for a few years, and, slowly put better stuff on the fm, including 25-50 appeal music?

Setting aside the financial and regulatory issues, who would you suggest Tribune buy?

The big FM clusters aren't for sale: Clear Channel, CBS, Bonneville, Univision. WFMT isn't on the table. Probably forever. What's left? The only decent stand-alone FM in Chicago is 107.9, which is way out in DuPage county. Power? But, that isn't a downtown stick either.

Emmis might unload Q101 and The Loop for the right price. Maybe the same with Citadel and WLS (although that would force them to buy another ancient modulation station).

I don't think there are any great buying options, even if they had their cash and FCC waivers in hand.

That being said, if they want to continue being "The Voice of Chicago" they should probably get on FM soon, since that is where more than 4/5ths of the market is.

 

[KeithE4]

A few Ideas to help AM: (most are not mine but I know a good idea when I steal one)

The FCC could help by offering the class C & D AMs a class A or D FM for their less than a the tower lights nighttime service AM’s, and let the remaining stations increase power.

The FM band is already overstuffed in most non-rural areas. Where would these stations go? Expand the band down to 76 MHz? I like that idea and it's been talked about to death, but it doesn't look likely right now.

The Commission should move the audio “stone wall” filter to 10KHZ. There should requirement all radio sets to have a decent AM receiver on any radio.

For who? Only about 20% (if that) of non-sports radio listening is AM. It's also physically impossible to put an AM or FM radio in a modern cell/smartphone because the antenna requirements are too large. FM is easier, but using the earbud leads for an antenna isn't very efficient (but it's better than nothing).

One DTV channel can carry a whole market’s programming if set up correctly.

Only practical if the cellphone manufacturers include a tuner chip that would cover those frequencies.

I have an idea for an AM antenna system that will stop almost all of the sky wave. (I have a physics professor checking to see if I am violating any science laws) It was a HAM project that failed, but if it works there will be no need for night time power reductions on AM.

I've heard stories about these types of antennas in the past, mostly concerning proposed 11 meter (26 MHz) broadcasting. You can't change the laws of physics and the ionosphere is what it is. Sorry, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for a sky-wave canceling antenna.

 

[davideduardo]

That being said, if they want to continue being "The Voice of Chicago" they should probably get on FM soon, since that is where more than 4/5ths of the market is.

In 18-49, the average share of all FMs in the market is around 15%.