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WAXB 850 AM Silent 3 Months

B

Barry

This Danbury area station had been carrying the "Juan" Spanish A/C format.
A request for a silent STA was filed with the F.C.C. at the beginning of December. It cited serious transmitter issues. "It is uncertain exactly when the repairs will be able to be made because it is not certain exactly what needs to be repaired to resume operations."
Meanwhile, their website, Juan850.com, has apparently been shut down.
 
It's amazing it's lasted this long. I can't see much appeal in an AM daytimer in 2025...especially in an "over radioed" market like Danbury. Probably not worth the money to fix whatever is wrong.
 
Does the FCC frown upon stations faking "transmitter issues" when the real issue behind the STA request is that the station can't make enough money to keep going? Is there a retroactive penalty to such a station for doing so? Not saying that WAXB's owner is lying, but there are specific circumstances needed to qualify for an STA, and a station that invents "transmitter issues" rather than just turning in the license and slinking off in shame into radio history could easily get away with the deception.
 
As WAXB’s license apparently has not been turned into the F.C.C., perhaps Berkshire Broadcasting is hoping that a buyer may emerge.
 
luperm said:
I suspect that WAXB will soon experience the same fate as the late WPUT 1510, especially considering WAXB does not have a translator attached to it.
Click to expand...
That was their own stupidity. 850 had a translator. First on 107.3 and then on 94.5 they made 107.3 a country station fed by one of 98.3's HD subchannels and 850s programming moved to the new 94.5 translator. A few years after that 850 flipped to Juan without a translator and the format that had been on 850/94.5 moved to 94.5 only, being fed by an HD subchannel of 98.3
 
MarcB said:
That was their own stupidity. 850 had a translator. First on 107.3 and then on 94.5 they made 107.3 a country station fed by one of 98.3's HD subchannels and 850s programming moved to the new 94.5 translator. A few years after that 850 flipped to Juan without a translator and the format that had been on 850/94.5 moved to 94.5 only, being fed by an HD subchannel of 98.3
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t consider this ”stupidity.” Who would listen to classic rock on AM, when it was also on 94.5 FM? And the 94.5 FM translator could be fed by an HD channel of WDAQ 98.3. WAXB was not needed for this.
Berkshire Broadcasting may have tried Juan as a low cost effort to keep WAXB relevant. Apparently it did not work out, but at least they made an attempt.
 
According to a brief mention in InsideRadio, the station will be donated to Hudson Valley Public Radio. They own WJZZ 88.1, near Newburgh, NY. I believe that this noncommercial station broadcasts an EDM (dance music) format, branded as Pulse 87. That was the name of a station with that branding that had been broadcasting from New York in the past decade.
 
This website is possibly an indication that the new owners will be broadcasting an eclectic music format called 85X, once the donation is approved by the FCC.
There is a mention that it may eventually also be broadcast on FM. Maybe they will acquire a translator for it_

X Perimental Radio
 
WAXB was off the air when I drove through Danbury the other day. This is in the latest FCC STA request, submitted January 8...

"WAXB is in the process of being assigned to Hudson Valley Public Radio (HVPR). While the assignment application is being processed, the licensee and HVPR are working through the transition of the station, including location of new studio space in the town of Ridgefield, the community of license and establishment of local programming in the town.

HVPR has commenced development of programming for WAXB. Licensee respectfully requests authority to remain silent for a period not to exceed 180 days so that the consummation may be completed and HVPR successfully locates the local studio and can commence programming."

Here is the link to the application...

Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC

Licensing and Management System
enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov
 
Loving the format on WAXB. Looking at the website, though, it looks like most of it isn't working. Does anyone know if there is a way to contact WAXB or it's owners? I have some questions I'd like to ask. Thanks.
 
radiogirlsk said:
Loving the format on WAXB. Looking at the website, though, it looks like most of it isn't working. Does anyone know if there is a way to contact WAXB or it's owners? I have some questions I'd like to ask. Thanks.
Click to expand...
It's in the license application at the link in post 13.
 
radiogirlsk said:
Loving the format on WAXB. Looking at the website, though, it looks like most of it isn't working. Does anyone know if there is a way to contact WAXB or it's owners? I have some questions I'd like to ask. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The "85X" programming is coming from Andy Gladding, who owns WKZE-FM. You can reach out to him through the KZE website and he'll probably respond immediately.
 


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