WCHL Locally Sold

[Josh Owens]

Chris Ehrenfeld, Mark Vitali, and James Kitchen’s Chapel Hill Media Group sells Full Service AAA “97.9 The Hill” 1360 WCHL/97.9 W250BP Chapel Hill NC and Chapelboro.com to the John Stillman led Chapelboro Media Group for $525,000. The station’s real estate assets are being sold separately in a deal not needed to be filed with the FCC.

Station Sales Week Of 7/3

After announcing its intent to acquire 89.5 KEWU-FM Cheney/Spokane WA in February 2025, Oldies Preservation Society has filed its deal

radioinsight.com

 

[ncairguy]

I've always wondered how/why WCHL was assigned 1360 when it is geographically close to WPTF. I don't know the name of the phenomenon but because 1360 is 680 times two, WPTF interferes with WCHL on I-40 in Research Triangle Park.

 

[Josh Owens]

I've always wondered how/why WCHL was assigned 1360 when it is geographically close to WPTF. I don't know the name of the phenomenon but because 1360 is 680 times two, WPTF interferes with WCHL on I-40 in Research Triangle Park.

In'er'stin'. Kinda like years ago, when the (in those days) well-modulated WPIP, Winston-Salem first started up, a friend who has passed on now, but used to live in Walkertown, could hear them on 1660, 880 times 2. I believe that's called the first harmonic.

 

[ted chittenden]

Question. Since the real estate is *not* included in the sale, will the new owners have to find a new home for WCHL's transmitter and towers. If so, then (unless I am corrected), then at least one additional application related to the sale would have to be filed with the FCC for approval.

 

[Josh Owens]

Question. Since the real estate is *not* included in the sale, will the new owners have to find a new home for WCHL's transmitter and towers. If so, then (unless I am corrected), then at least one additional application related to the sale would have to be filed with the FCC for approval.

I thought of that, too, the real estate not included in the sale. That seems to be happening a lot these days. If that be the case, I'd say you're right on both counts.

 

[secondchoice]

I've always wondered how/why WCHL was assigned 1360 when it is geographically close to WPTF. I don't know the name of the phenomenon but because 1360 is 680 times two, WPTF interferes with WCHL on I-40 in Research Triangle Park.

Without hijacking this thread into a radio receiver discussion, a lot of stations were licensed back in the tube and early transistor receivers. Hetrodyning AM receivers have to be protected from IF interference. AM in the US uses 455 khz which someone with a really deep knowledge of the pre 80 90 AM station licences awarding can explain how they did it. AM receivers now are different but that's another thread. I bet if you got an old tube radio and go to the areas of 2 times interference you would not have that issue.

In the late 1960s & 70's I lived and drove around Nashville and listened to 1300 WMAK a regional channel station with 5kw* non directional daytime. Nashville also has 50kw 650 WSM. I drove down Interstate 65 past the WSM tower listening to WMAK with no interference.

*At that time regional channel stations were licensed between 500 to 5000 watts daytime power. Nighttime was also maxed out at 5kw. There were a lot of directionsl nighttime stations because there were no clear channel or 50 kw night stations to protect.

 

[The Maestro]

In'er'stin'. Kinda like years ago, when the (in those days) well-modulated WPIP, Winston-Salem first started up, a friend who has passed on now, but used to live in Walkertown, could hear them on 1660, 880 times 2. I believe that's called the first harmonic.

880 x 2 is 1760 ... Fix that cipherin' machine of yours ... LOL

Crazy how 1360, WCHL and 680, WPTF would mess with each other as Chapel Hill wasn't too far from that WPTF tower in Cary ... I can't think of any other similar examples of this kind of phenomena ...

 

[RadioDaze]

I thought of that, too, the real estate not included in the sale. That seems to be happening a lot these days. If that be the case, I'd say you're right on both counts.

Last July 6, the WCHL transmitter site was badly damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. The phaser was damaged beyond repair and 1360 is broadcasting at extremely low power, maybe 4 watts. Their translator, W250BP, is at a different site and was unaffected. (Another Chapel Hill AM, WLLQ 1530, was damaged in the storm and has been off ever since). Given the state of AM and that WCHL exclusively markets themselves by the translator as "97.9 The Hill", I don't see a big investment to restore the AM plant beyond what's required to keep the translator active. Their two towers sit in a flood plain, but that hasn't stopped lots of development on that end of Chapel Hill, which is right along Franklin Street.

 

[Josh Owens]

880 x 2 is 1760 ... Fix that cipherin' machine of yours ... LOL

Crazy how 1360, WCHL and 680, WPTF would mess with each other as Chapel Hill wasn't too far from that WPTF tower in Cary ... I can't think of any other similar examples of this kind of phenomena ...

OOPS... Thanks. My hair's older than I am, but I still got a full head of it. )

 

[Josh Owens]

Last July 6, the WCHL transmitter site was badly damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. The phaser was damaged beyond repair and 1360 is broadcasting at extremely low power, maybe 4 watts. Their translator, W250BP, is at a different site and was unaffected. (Another Chapel Hill AM, WLLQ 1530, was damaged in the storm and has been off ever since). Given the state of AM and that WCHL exclusively markets themselves by the translator as "97.9 The Hill", I don't see a big investment to restore the AM plant beyond what's required to keep the translator active. Their two towers sit in a flood plain, but that hasn't stopped lots of development on that end of Chapel Hill, which is right along Franklin Street.

Roger on that, thanks for the info. That'll be a year ago, tomorrow. Like four watts? Wow.