Strange, I used to get it fairly well driving through there, but I haven't listened since when it ran a satellite oldies format.
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WAAF sold to EMF....
- Thread starter Time Traveler
- Start date
Strange, I used to get it fairly well driving through there, but I haven't listened since when it ran a satellite oldies format.
I guess I'm just being a cranky old guy right about now, but of what use, really, are these "FM translators"? In some cases, they seem to be designed to reach an area where their "mother" AM station either can't reach or doesn't reach well. It almost seems as if we're saying, "Since our AM signal can't get there from here, we'll put our programming on a super-directional, low-power FM channel, with probably less reach than the AM signal has in its coverage area." Yet, they must have something going for them, because they seem to be all the rage, especially if associated with a more powerful AM station, but then, who needs it, other than for the AM station owner/operator to be able to say 'Hey, we're on FM!' "
Maybe you haven't noticed, but other than WBZ and WRKO, what do all of the other stations in the Top 20 have in common?
The translator idea was proposed by the FCC for something they called "AM revitalization."
A couple of facts about radio listening: about 5 to 15% of radio listening is to AM radio depending on where you are in the country. FM radio listening is 85 to 95% of all radio listening again depending on where you are. A 250 watt AM might not reach but 10% of what the AM does but even at 10% it can have more listeners than the AM. And given priority was given to daytime only stations, the FM translator was a godsend. In the minds of advertisers and folks that lease stations, not having a FM translator is a deal breaker.
English please...
Other than WBZ and WRKO, all of the other stations in the Top 20 are FM.
So, tell me again if having an FM translator has really helped any other AM station?
So, an FM translator "can have more listeners than the AM", but are people REALLY listening, especially if these translators are so highly restricted regarding their coverage areas?
Maybe not so necessity ratings wise, but Bob Bitner's reach has been much appreciated by some of the audience anyway.
Depends on what you mean by "help." Nationally, stations with translators see a revenue improvement. That's what the intent was here.
They're not going to be competitive with the full power FMs. That would have been an unfair advantage to those stations. But having the translator makes them at least relevant to advertisers, and that's what matters to owners.
There is no way to measure "listening." There is a way to measure revenue. Revenue increases with a translator.
Sure the coverage is restricted, but in that coverage area, the quality of the audio is much better than the AM signal.
I know of one station that covers about 5 million on the AM side with ethnic programming. Their FM translator in a suburb is targeting that ethnic community of about 250,000. Hardly anyone listens to the FM preferring the FM. The guy leasing the station doubled his gross income the first year. He's getting close to triple...or was before this corona thing.
In many cases, the translator has saved the station.
In Albuquerque, to give one example, several daytimers got translators and put them up on the mountain. From Sandia they cover about 80% or more of the market. Going from sure losers, they are now profitable.
There are many examples of daytime AMs that got translators that now have a 24-hour service. Same thing with the "graveyard" channel AMs and very low power or highly directional AMs at the high end of the dial. The two Spanish language AMs in Philadelphia believe that the translators are the only reason they are still viable.
In lots of cases where the AM was on the upper end of the dial with limited or low power and/or very directional, the FM does better than the "originating" station. I've heard many owners which there was a legal way to turn off the AM and continue just with the FM.
Maybe you could proofread before you hit 'post'? ;-)
Big 105.3--WUBG Methuen (1570)--later went to K-Love
Vermont's Beat 105.7--WSNO Barre (1450) VT (First song when they flipped in '16 was by Justin Timberlake)
Vermont's Beat 105.7--WSNO Barre (1450) VT (First song when they flipped in '16 was by Justin Timberlake)
Every now and then I check out the HD radio website to see if their listings of local stations is accurate. Some are but quite a few are not; Bloomberg is indeed on 92.9 HD2 but no longer on 94.5 HD2. Irish 96.9 no longer is around.
And while the call letters are right, the HD1 of 107.3 is listed as WKVB. "Boston's Rock Station", with a WAAF logo. (WEEI-FM is listed as being on the HD2 though I don't know what is on there at the moment. Still owned by Entercom with an LMA; maybe they are indeed putting 93.7 on the HD2, still. They have yet to include WKVB as being on 100.7's HD3.
And while the call letters are right, the HD1 of 107.3 is listed as WKVB. "Boston's Rock Station", with a WAAF logo. (WEEI-FM is listed as being on the HD2 though I don't know what is on there at the moment. Still owned by Entercom with an LMA; maybe they are indeed putting 93.7 on the HD2, still. They have yet to include WKVB as being on 100.7's HD3.
I saw someone post that it's actually K-Love via WUBG on 100.7's HD3. They could be getting it from the WUBG 105.3 FM translator in Medford. That would come in well at the iHeart studios in Medford.
Oh OK...and speaking of WAAF while their Big Gig concert was supposed to still take place despite the sale, Mistress Carrie says it has been rescheduled for
April of 2021.
April of 2021.
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