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WALX Now Has A HD Station

R

R.D.P.

That's right everyone. 

It's on the air. 

As of now, they're doing the ALEX FM brand on here. 

I don't own a HD radio per se but heard about the addition, during the station ID breaks. 

I have a feeling that the new 101.5 FM translator will end up relaying this new HD station, once it's built out.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Hope this new HD station will have major success and work out for those involved with it.  I'm so excited for you ALEX FM. ;D
 
Would WJAM-AM be able to max out a translator or would they need to use WALX HD2 to max out a Selma translator?

WJAM to an FM translator with a new format for the AM or just shudder the AM all together?

Is their a tougher business environment than Selma anywhere in Alabama?
 
WJAM 1340 AM has a relay going at 96.3 FM. 

This relay is very impressive for a 250 watt rebroadcast.

It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

I do see the HD broadcast of WALX and the new relay doing something other than classic hits, in the near future.

I'm almost certain on that.

I may not be the smartest 42 year old person in this room but I'm predicting one of these formats will soon have a home on this new HD/Relay set up: AC, Country, Talk and/or Top 40.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Now if you're looking for this HD/Relay station to go Southern Gospel or Adult CCM, forget it Mr. Poledo.  The only way Selma will ever get a new Christian radio station, is for someone to build it from scratch.  Well wait a minute, I'm trying to do just that.  Hope to have something in the works by years end.  Want to do the very profitable and successful Adult CCM format.

B.T.W. This new HD is billing itself as WALX HD (1) Orrville/Selma.  Heard the ID fellow say that, earlier today.
 
Are the new translators in Selma taking away coverage that you've historically had from the more powerful Montgomery or Birmingham radio stations?
 
96.3 is the only translator we have in place, as of this posting.

Hey I won't complain about them interfering with Q 96 from Montgomery and/or Magic 96 from Birmingham.

ALEX FM is my go to place for all things Classic Hits anyway, here in Selma.

R.D.P. <><
 
I know money ain't free, RDP, but with WALX going HD this could be your best opportunity to get your own radio station. You'd have to buy a translator and lease the HD3 channel from WALX to feed programming. It would be a full commercial operation as opposed to a non-com LPFM so perhaps you have strong local ties to get enough advertising support to make a viable station.

All it takes is money and you've been dreaming and praying for a radio station for so long you must have some financial ideas by now.
 
Concerning me, I'm going to see where God leads me on this.

Want to build something from scratch.

Don't want to entertain the idea of leasing from someone else.

Want to outright own and program this station.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Have plans of building me two HD stations as well, once I get the first station going and established.  All of this does take money. I'm currently living on a fixed income but I also believe that God will see me through, if He wants this to happen. I have no doubts about it.
 
You'd own the translator. You'd own and have complete control of the station as long as you followed all FCC rules to keep WALX from getting in trouble. Leasing the WALX HD3 is just a technicality you may be able to overcome one day.
It's being done in Atlanta right now. Streetz 94.5 leasing Star 94.1's HD3 to compete with market Hip Hop leader Hot 107.9.
 
And yes I can make this prediction here and now.

Outside of WALX and possibly me, I don't see any of the other Selma stations going the HD route.

(Con)Fuzion you see is still paying off those moving bills, they got, when making their half crack move to the Gump.  

Z 105.3 is always having some Tech issues.  They're too busy spending all their money just to keep this one radio station on the air.  Just imagine if they had a HD station, Mr. Zach.  

Talked with the owner of Moody Radio South's WRNF, financially it doesn't make sense for him to get HD going here.

AFR, NPR and the other players may never go the HD route here.

WALX is the first.  Yours truly will be the second, if my project works out and comes to pass.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. For years now, I've always dreamed of pursuing a radio station of my own.  I don't want to lease anything from anyone.  I want to own everything outright and possibly start up a new Church inside this same building. I want to see the People for Jesus brand grow, expand and relocate to it's own facility.  That's the game plan for me.  I hope that I can do that, when the LPFM dream works out.
 
Besides Streetz in ATL there's EMF leasing the HD-2 of Birmingham's 95.7 Jamz to feed a translator there as well.

I understand wanting to own everything outright, but owning a translator and leasing space on an HD-3 is probably not a bad situation. If the HD signal is making the station money they won't care what you put on, especially if it isn't a competitive format.
 
In addition, when or even if a LPFM license becomes available in Selma it will be limited to 10 watts with a 2-3 mile coverage radius. With a translator you could push 250 watts with about a 20 mile coverage radius.

HD won't be an option unless you can pull off a full power license. Class As aren't going to cut it either. You'll probably need a minimum 25kw FM to utilize HD in any form other than to push a signal to a translator. Not to mention that as of right now HD is in a coma and completely useless to 99% of the public. Iniquity, Cumulus, Clear Channel, and other broadcasters would have to start using their translators to advertise HD signals expanded coverage and sound quality to breath life back into the medium... Plus some more technical upgrades that would probably render all curent HD equipment useless.
 
Thanks for your help and advice Mr. Zach and Poledo. 

I appreciate it.

Plan on obeying God and following His instructions, should my return work out.

I'll take whatever He allows me to get involved with.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Not giving up on this dream yet. Want to see something happen real soon. I have a feeling that my return to Radio broadcasting is fixing to happen.
 
R.D.P., I would have to agree with poledo and Zach about leasing an HD subchannel from WALX. At least to get your project up off the ground and running. You would have the freedom to run it however you wanted to just as if it were your own (as long as it doesn't compete with WALX). It'd be a good way to get some revenue built up to maybe one day aquire something of your own to take your translator to. There's lots of room in the Selma area on the dail for translators and like poledo said a 250 watt translator would sure reach a LOT more people then a 10 watt LPFM would. The examples of Streetz in Atlanta, and Way-FM in Birmingham are good ones to look into and see how it is done. If WALX is up for leasing their HD3, then all you need to do is get you a translator. I know its not as easy as I just made it sound lol, but it may be the easiest and quickest route right now. I don't see why WALX wouldn't agree to a little lease income if they have no plans for an HD3 format of their own. It's worth looking into at least. Let God lead you, and good luck!
 
From what I've been hearing, WALX has only one subchannel in place. Not too sure if they plan on adding any new ones. If they do, I'm sure they'll tell us about it. If they do add any new ones, I might check into that idea and see if they would go along with it.

And yes I live on a fixed income too. Since that's the case, I can't earn an income from it. Will have to use all the money I get, to help keep this radio station in business and pay off my lease.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. If God leads me this route, then I'll thank Him for the blessing and make the most of this opportunity. I also promise you this, should this be His chosen route, I would make sure this station is programmed right and would advertise heavy for it. I want this outlet to have success and do very well. (A.K.A. Follow after the WDJC model, All Music, All Jesus, All The Time.) From what I've also been reading, the unbuilt 101.5 FM 250 watt Translator will relay WALX, once it comes to the air. I believe the new HD station will be heard over this relay. If that's the case and God wants me to lease a part of their HD setup, I could see about buying out that translator and then relaying my leased HD presentation over it.
 
WALX has no reason to go HD unless they plan to run an HD2 to program a translator. As far as I know all HD setups are capable of running an HD3 also.

I was going to make a second suggestion that you contact management at WALX and try to lease their HD2 and translator before they launch. But you through out the very important factor of being on a fixed income. It would be foolish to do any business with WALX unless you could afford to do it as an "expensive hobby". Don't spend one dollar looking any further into this. I am far from the right person to put dollar figures on such a venture but I'd guess it would cost you $20,000 to $100,000 just the first year to attempt to go on the air legally. Breaking even in the future is the great unknown an entrepreneur has to swim through.

Since you live in Selma you could probably get away running a pirate operation for a few thousand a year. That's what I'd do. Churches do it all the time and get away with it or just asked to shut down if caught.
 
R.D.P. said:
From what I've been hearing, WALX has only one subchannel in place. Not too sure if they plan on adding any new ones. If they do, I'm sure they'll tell us about it. If they do add any new ones, I might check into that idea and see if they would go along with it.

And yes I live on a fixed income too. Since that's the case, I can't earn an income from it. Will have to use all the money I get, to help keep this radio station in business and pay off my lease.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. If God leads me this route, then I'll thank Him for the blessing and make the most of this opportunity. I also promise you this, should this be His chosen route, I would make sure this station is programmed right and would advertise heavy for it. I want this outlet to have success and do very well. (A.K.A. Follow after the WDJC model, All Music, All Jesus, All The Time.) From what I've also been reading, the unbuilt 101.5 FM 250 watt Translator will relay WALX, once it comes to the air. I believe the new HD station will be heard over this relay. If that's the case and God wants me to lease a part of their HD setup, I could see about buying out that translator and then relaying my leased HD presentation over it.
Click to expand...
There must be more to the story behind that HD channel. An opportunity to rebroadcast it on a translator seems the most plausible to me. How many folks actually listen to an HD radio (or know/care what it is) here in Birmingham? Much less there in Selma, I'm sure...

RDP, just an observation...It's evident that your desire to operate your own station, translator or otherwise, has been something you have been wanting to do for quite some time now...and it seems unwavering. I have found that many times in my life when I have had a strong desire to do something, particularly of a ministry nature, and that desire never seems to "lose steem", it was usually indicative of something God wanted me to do. So...I would suggest to you, regardless of how daunting the task may seem, to pursue that which He is leading you to do. If He wants you to do it, He will open the "windows of Heaven" and provide the resources you need...seen it happen many times in my life. Stay on course and don't ever lose hope! :) I will be praying for you that God will open doors for you to see your dream become reality.
 
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