WCRB 99.5 Poor Signal

[Casablanca]

Live on the South Shore and am having a hard time getting clear reception on the new WCRB frequency 99.5.

They are now licensed to Lowell. So, if you are not in the Merrimac Valley what do you do.

WCRB cannot be a commercial success in the future unless it improves its reception in the Boston area.

 

[Laurence Glavin]

Live on the South Shore and am having a hard time getting clear reception on the new WCRB frequency 99.5.

They are now licensed to Lowell. So, if you are not in the Merrimac Valley what do you do.

WCRB cannot be a commercial success in the future unless it improves its reception in the Boston area.

The correct spelling of the river is "Merrimack"; as far as being a success in the Boston area, perhaps one reason for the sale is the decline in revenue from $8.4-million to $7.5-million the past two years as reported by bostonradiowatch.com. Although some supporters of WCRB's dumbed-down approach cite ratings figures as a justification for WCRB's format, a million-dollar decline in revenue would seem to indicate that the station wasn't reaching the moneyed-demo with 18th-Century dreck and Viennese waltzes...and Nassau predicts more of the same.

 

[Casablanca]

Not that it matters to the question I raised, but a Google search shows that "Merrimac" is an acceptable spelling as is "Merrimack".
Now, without slamming this poster or those who may listen to a classical music format on WCRB might get a better signal. I have several top quality radios and all have the same problem.

Live on the South Shore and am having a hard time getting clear reception on the new WCRB frequency 99.5.

They are now licensed to Lowell. So, if you are not in the Merrimac Valley what do you do.

WCRB cannot be a commercial success in the future unless it improves its reception in the Boston area.

The correct spelling of the river is "Merrimack"; as far as being a success in the Boston area, perhaps one reason for the sale is the decline in revenue from $8.4-million to $7.5-million the past two years as reported by bostonradiowatch.com. Although some supporters of WCRB's dumbed-down approach cite ratings figures as a justification for WCRB's format, a million-dollar decline in revenue would seem to indicate that the station wasn't reaching the moneyed-demo with 18th-Century dreck and Viennese waltzes...and Nassau predicts more of the same.

 

[raccoonradio]

Be glad that Nassau didn't make it Frank 99.5

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Live on the South Shore and am having a hard time getting clear reception on the new WCRB frequency 99.5. They are now licensed to Lowell. So, if you are not in the Merrimac Valley what do you do.

WCRB cannot be a commercial success in the future unless it improves its reception in the Boston area.

I have no answer for you, but if you're aware of the situation that preceded this move, you'll know why WCRB is now being broadcast on a Lowell station.

Former owners Charles River Broadcasting put WCRB 102.5 up for sale. Greater Media bought it, but just to transfer their WKLB station and country programming from 99.5 to a signal closer to Boston.

This put Greater Media over the ownership limit of five stations on one band in a market, so they had to spin one off, and of course they chose to unload 99.5, their farthest signal from the center of the market.

Nassau Broadcasting stepped in and acquired 99.5 (their first station in the Boston market area) to continue the WCRB classical format on it. They can not acquire any other FM station transmitting any closer to Boston, and for various technical and logistical reasons, they can not move the 99.5 transmitter any closer to Boston than it's present Andover location.

WCRB listeners are now stuck with that situation, however if Nassau hadn't come in and put WCRB on 99.5, there may not have been any WCRB on the air at all after last Friday. So, I guess their listeners have to reconcile that having a WCRB which is weaker than the old one in the Boston area and to the south is better than having no WCRB at all.

 

[raccoonradio]

>>however if Nassau hadn't come in and put WCRB on 99.5, there may not have been any WCRB on the air at all after last Friday.

exactly--similar to the WCLV situation in Cleveland
Nassau has run classical stations before. They also run stuff like "Frank" in Portland, Barre VT, Nashua, and Cape Cod.
It could have been something besides classical now airing on 99.5...
Could have been classic rock, not classical...example:
http://www.1063frankfm.com/

Nassau press release about WCRB: http://www.nassauholdings.com/NassauPressCenter/pressreleases/pr_06_120106.htm

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Nassau has run classical stations before. They also run stuff like "Frank" in Portland, Barre VT, Nashua, and Cape Cod.
It could have been something besides classical now airing on 99.5...
Could have been classic rock, not classical...example:
http://www.1063frankfm.com/

The "Frank" format is too close to established Classic Hits/Classic Rock stations in Boston like WROR and WZLX, and even WODS (off-Xmas) to some degree. At least they have their own niche in the market with commercial classical.

 

[skimartyb]

Absolutely true...without Nassau, there probably would have been no full time classical station at all, based upon what has happened to classical stations in other markets around the country, so most 'CRB listeners are likely thankful at least for this...as for the areas that no longer can be reached, WCRB now streams live audio from their website so you can get the station no matter where you live.

 

[raccoonradio]

>>The "Frank" format is too close to established Classic Hits/Classic Rock stations in Boston

Right; that plus the reason that WCRB was a heritage station and had a following are among the reasons
they stayed with classical.

 

[Casablanca]

WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

WCRB doesn't even have an operating website. Says new website will be coming soon.

Did they move their studio from Waltham as well?

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Re: WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

WCRB doesn't even have an operating website. Says new website will be coming soon.

The website doesn't have it's feature pages up yet, but it DOES have an operating "Listen Live" stream button. I just tried it, and it played on Windows Media Player.

[url]http://www.wcrb.com[/url]

Did they move their studio from Waltham as well?

Not yet as far as I know.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

Did they move their studio from Waltham as well?

Not yet as far as I know.

[/quote]

This morning, Laura Carlo referred to "outside our studios in Waltham." Didn't sound like a mistake, so I have to believe they are still there and may not even have plans to move. What's left of Charles River Broadcasting probably owns the land and buildings. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the terms of the sale was that the new owner of the radio station should lease the space that WCRB had been occupying (and apparently continues to occupy).

I must say that a couple of days of extended listening to 99.5 might easily convert me to believing in Mr Galvin's ceaseless diatribes against WCRB's programming. The Pir Gynt (or however it's spelled) Suite every day gets to be a bit much. The play list is tight as a drum. I wonder if there are even 40 selections in the rotation. Your average casual listener may crave the familiar, but this IS a bit ridiculous! After a certain point... well, you know the old adage about familiarity and contempt.

Five or six years ago, I became quite enamored of the format of a Toronto FM that streamed on the Web. Calls may have been CHFI. They broadcast a nice mix of pleasant classical music (that no doubt wouldn't pass muster with Mr G) and great American standard songs (Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers, et al). Other than the nontraditional music mix, the presentation was very much in the tradition of erudite, low-key classical music radio. Maybe most classical music listeners wouldn't appreciate the classic songs, but the format was apparently working in Toronto and had been for many years. Could it work elsewhere? Could it work in ultra-traditional New England?

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Re: WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

This morning, Laura Carlo referred to "outside our studios in Waltham." Didn't sound like a mistake, so I have to believe they are still there and may not even have plans to move.

Well, I believe WMJX hosts still always say "It's __ degrees in the Back Bay, at Magic 106.7...", although they moved from Stuart St. to Morrisey Boulevard a number of years ago. They never changed that weather tag. Perhaps they might feel that Dorchester may not ring as well with their demographic?

 

[MarcB]

Boston's not the only place where Commercial Classical Music ended up on a weaker stick. Back in January Bonneville moved WGMS in Washington DC to the 103.9/104.1 simulcasters in the DC suburbs. The stations have a weaker signal than the old WGMS at 103.5 did. Now however there gonna put a booster on one of the signals so there will soon be a WGMS-1.

 

[Mickey37]

Re: WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

[/quote]

Well, I believe WMJX hosts still always say "It's __ degrees in the Back Bay, at Magic 106.7...", although they moved from Stuart St. to Morrisey Boulevard a number of years ago. They never changed that weather tag. Perhaps they might feel that Dorchester may not ring as well with their demographic?

[/quote]

Perhaps they're talking about the Back of Dorchester Bay......?

 

[sp113]

Re: WCRB Doesn't Even Have A Website

Well, I believe WMJX hosts still always say "It's __ degrees in the Back Bay, at Magic 106.7...", although they moved from Stuart St. to Morrisey Boulevard a number of years ago. They never changed that weather tag. Perhaps they might feel that Dorchester may not ring as well with their demographic?

Well, they still broadcast from the Back Bay, as there antenna is on the Pru.

 

[sp113]

Although some supporters of WCRB's dumbed-down approach cite ratings figures as a justification for WCRB's format, a million-dollar decline in revenue would seem to indicate that the station wasn't reaching the moneyed-demo with 18th-Century dreck and Viennese waltzes...and Nassau predicts more of the same.

Billing for ALL stations in Boston is down....because overall ad dollars in the market are down.

From what I understand, WCRB expected to be hit hardest...since they are a stand alone station, owned privately. I assume they figured that the future would be difficult for them as a stand alone.

Being part of a group, you can negotiate ad rates collectively, etc. The corporate "home office" can generate national revenue, etc.

WCRB would not have been able to compete in that environment.

I think the reason for the sale is simply mathmatics:

If the station is worth $85 million (by some estimates).....a meager (bank-style) return on investment of about $4 million would be expected.

With "risk" involved (as opposed to the banks FDIC insurance), the investor would expect even more of a return.

Even with WCRB's 8.5 million in billing...I don't think they could post a profit that would/should keep up with the standard rates of return on an asset of that size.

 

[rickkelly]

WCRB listeners are now stuck with that situation, however if Nassau hadn't come in and put WCRB on 99.5, there may not have been any WCRB on the air at all after last Friday. So, I guess their listeners have to reconcile that having a WCRB which is weaker than the old one in the Boston area and to the south is better than having no WCRB at all.

Similar situation came up in 1980 with WDCS and WJBQ Portland ME.

WJBQ was a Top 40 lower power station on 106.3 (with an AM on 1440-AM was still something then for music in 1980). WDCS was classical at 97.9 with 50kw. They swapped frequencies (and I presume, some cash) and WJBQ turned into a Top 40 powerhouse. Classical remained in the market... and I believe is still there (but with different call letters).

-Rick Kelly

 

[Casablanca]

The Barbarians are not at the gate; they are inside it.

 

[raccoonradio]

>>a Toronto FM that streamed on the Web

maybe CFMX 96.3?
http://www.classical963fm.com/
CHFI is an AC station

I've enjoyed tapes of Toronto stations like CKDX "Foxy 88.5" ("Music with class"), "Jazz FM 91",
and AM 740, "All Time Favourites" (oh, and the Sunday morning show on CHUM 1050...)