W286BK Birmingham

[passtheword]

I found this app on the FCC website for WAY-FM's yet-to-be-built translator, W286BK, at 105.1. The primary station to be rebroadcast has been changed from WAYW to...WERC-FM. The following info appears on the application:

NOTE THAT THE TRANSLATOR WILL REPEAT THE HD-2 OF THE PRIMARY STATION.

Here's the app on the FCC website:
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...t=25&appn=101425322&formid=349&fac_num=150239

 

[tomservo]

WERC-FM's hd-2? Curious. Last time I listened, it was smooth jazz. And very difficult to pick up in Bessemer... More dropouts than the more powerful hd-equipped stations.

 

[Nate Wesley]

If you do an FM Query search on the FCC website, you'll also find that there's an pending application for W286BK to move to a tower near Midfield with a 'simulcast friendly' 99 watts instead of the ten watts its currently approved for.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=150239

This is an interesting find, passtheword. Is WAY-FM playing the translator sales game? I'd figure they'd be more about expanding format reach.

 

[passtheword]

If you do an FM Query search on the FCC website, you'll also find that there's an pending application for W286BK to move to a tower near Midfield with a 'simulcast friendly' 99 watts instead of the ten watts its currently approved for.

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=150239

This is an interesting find, passtheword. Is WAY-FM playing the translator sales game? I'd figure they'd be more about expanding format reach.

Appears so from this application, Nate, regarding your question about the translator sales game. I did contact WAY-FM a little more than a year ago regarding this translator and W222BK, their other Bham translator at 92.3 in the Pelham area to inquire of their status. I was told that WAY-FM was in the process of getting these two translators on the air soon, maybe by the Fall of last year. From all indications, that is no longer the case. I did check W222BK's record on the FCC website, and everything is the same as before.

Zach, i do believe WERC-FM HD2 is still programming smooth jazz, but I would imagine if this application is approved, we can probably expect Clear Channel to spin the format wheel for the "new" station.

 

[Chad-Stevens]

Is this translator currently on the air? And if not the smooth jazz that's currently on the HD2, then what format? Spanish on FM perhaps?

 

[passtheword]

Is this translator currently on the air? And if not the smooth jazz that's currently on the HD2, then what format? Spanish on FM perhaps?

Neither W286BK or W222BK has ever been on the air, to my knowledge. I'm usually up in the Hoover/Vestavia area once a wk and have never heard either one of them.