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WAVL Apollo

The story quotes Ray Rosenblum as saying he's in the process of selling another AM daytimer in the Pittsburgh area for $65,000.... wonder if that's 1550?
 
It's not. I think it might be WKZV-1110 in Washington, from what I've heard. I know it is not WLFP-1550, which by the way is a fulltimer, even if it only punches out a mighty four watts at night.
 
KeyTimes950 said:
It's not. I think it might be WKZV-1110 in Washington, from what I've heard. I know it is not WLFP-1550, which by the way is a fulltimer, even if it only punches out a mighty four watts at night.
If it is, Don't Suprised If it Moves to 1340 Fulltime.
 
I remember when they were a Christian station beyond the days of so-called Christian Contemporary Music. People like Carmen Tubby and others were there. They served the purpose for which they were originally set up. Perhaps a return to their "roots" is in order.
 
PHIL Z said:
KeyTimes950 said:
It's not. I think it might be WKZV-1110 in Washington, from what I've heard. I know it is not WLFP-1550, which by the way is a fulltimer, even if it only punches out a mighty four watts at night.
If it is, Don't Suprised If it Moves to 1340 Fulltime.

I would be surprised.
 
Could someone possibly buy 910 and take advantage of that CP near Bridgeville?
 
From The Daily News, McKeesport, Jan. 26, 2010 ...

The construction permit expired for a swap of WMNY's AM 1360 with WAVL's AM 910. It would have moved a longtime McKeesport AM to Apollo, while the Apollo frequency would go to Mt. Lebanon.
The swap was OK'd Jan. 18, 2005, by Renda and Evangel Heights Assembly.
 
What Evangel Heights should have done was leave this station alone from the moment they bought it. The station was producing very substantial revenue, it didn't cost much to run, and once they got nighttime power, they could have just added programs and it would have flourished.

I talked to Bob Dain about this many, many years ago when his family still owned it. They did not, repeat, NOT want to sell WAVL. They loved that station and believed in what they were doing. Unfortunately, family problems (I believe it was a divorce) forced their hands. I for one, do not listen to Christian formatted radio, but for an old-school Christian station, it had a lot of character. And Carman Tubby was THE voice of it since Cecil Clifton laid the first brick and only retired a few months before he died.

Evangel Heights, unfortunately, fell prey to an overzealous CCM consultant from the West Coast who believed that WAVL could serve a niche audience with a CCM format and some very aggressive marketing and promotion, which included a live local airstaff, AND market themselves as a Pittsburgh station. The overhead alone was just plain nuts, and though EH has some pretty deep pockets, every pocket eventually does have a bottom.

Not only that, but no one of average intelligence is going to believe that an AM signal some 45 miles away from its intended target is going to effectively do its job. EH finally cut its losses and went satellite, trying to salvage what they could, but I think the damage had already been done. And they can't go back to the time-brokered religious shows they had. They're now on WPIT or WORD.

I still believe WAVL can be successful if it's purchased by a local operator who knows small-market radio and the local market, and doesn't go hog-wild with spending. Run it on the cheap as an A-K Valley station that it's licensed to be.

I once looked into buying that station. Anyone seriously interested, message me. I'll tell you what I know.
 
so...you're saying that consultants have not only ruined another radio station,
they've now bankrupted a church?
 
Yes Kenhawk, for what they were doing during the Clifton-Dain-Tubby days was perfect for them. Although at times I laughed at how corny they sounded, it was perfect for those who liked that format. I think even Dain's wife read poetry or was it Clifton's wife. Carmen came thru as one hell of a nice guy and with one fantastic set of pipes...remember? I think he was still working there when he died.
 
The church and Pastor Jeff are good people. Certainly were hurt in the situation with TR. Last time I talked to the church they wanted 1.4 million for it.
 
1250WTAE said:
The church and Pastor Jeff are good people. Certainly were hurt in the situation with TR. Last time I talked to the church they wanted 1.4 million for it.

Ah...so that's why they didn't acknowledge my offer! :D I have talked to both Pastors Jeff and John. They are good people...but by their own admission, they're not radio people either.

But the price tag doesn't really surprise me...they spent about $40,000 on a new transmitter and made some studio upgrades at the church, as well as the site. You add up the costs of the purchase price and the length of time when it was hemorrhaging red ink, that's about right. They'll never get that amount, but they can certainly try.

DXDXDX...that was Mrs. Clifton who did the poetry readings. She was still very much involved after her husband died, even though Bob Dain was running things. As for Carman, I believe he retired from full-time radio about seven months prior to his death, but he was still retained on a part-time basis. His house (at that time) was only fifty yards away from the transmitter site. I never met him, but I heard only very good things about him.
 
Broker Ray is right, and I have to agree any more. If they take this station dark, its worth nothing. Doesn't matter any more what someone paid for it, and put into it. AM radio is what it is, and a dark one is worthless.
 
Right now they're not playing much of anything. I don't know if it's a computer problem or if they've pulled the plug but the carrier is going with dead air and it's been that way since late in the week. I did catch an ABC newscast (that actually was a recording then kicked into a replay of itself) and then some Dave Ramsey on Friday, but nothing Saturday or Sunday. The 5,000 watts still are going, as there's a clear difference in sound between 910 and adjacent 900 and 920, but WAVL definitely isn't doing much broadcasting.
 
They were loud and clear today running Dave Ramsey.

It's actually quite a good signal to the north, picked them up near Hermitage. This could be viable in the right situation.
 
A Short History of WAVL's Beginings. In 1947 WAVL was Appling for 890 with 250 Watts Day, WHOD wanted 860 with 250 Watts Day. Some Sort Of Conflict came up Between the Two. However WLOA in Nov. of 1946 Changed it's Application from 910 to 1550. In June 1947 WAVL asked for 910 1 KW Day. WHOD refiled it's Application for 860 250 watts day. Jan 12 1948 WAVL was Granted a License to Cover with 1KW Day. On March 14 1949 WAVL Applied for Night Service with 100 Watts. Sept 17 1951 The 100 Watt Night Service was Denied. All the Hard work, Time and Money to get WAVL on the Air, It would be a sad day if it Signed Off For Good.
 
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