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WCTA 810AM Alamo,TN Dark?

If ever there was a station that should pack it in, this one is it. Far better stations have surrendered their licenses.

That youtube clip is absolutely riveting! *sarcasm* I will listen to it when I have more time. Do you know what time of day this was?
 
firepoint525 said:
If ever there was a station that should pack it in, this one is it. Far better stations have surrendered their licenses.

That youtube clip is absolutely riveting! *sarcasm* I will listen to it when I have more time. Do you know what time of day this was?
Click to expand...

It was yesterday from noon to 2 p.m.
 
Problem is that requires a filing window from the FCC. There might be frequencies but it may be years before one can apply and who knows if the frequencies available today will be around by then. Then again if WCTA has lasted this long, what's a few more years for a shot at a translator?

Thanks for that riveting listening with the aircheck.

I recall when KZEW FM, The Zoo, in Dallas came on in late 1973 or very early 1974, they used to have a poster that said they were more exciting than the refrigerator hum. Indeed they were. WCTA? I think the verdict is still out on that. Hmmm, WCTA or refrigerator hum? Tough decision.
 
b-turner said:
Problem is that requires a filing window from the FCC. There might be frequencies but it may be years before one can apply and who knows if the frequencies available today will be around by then. Then again if WCTA has lasted this long, what's a few more years for a shot at a translator?

Thanks for that riveting listening with the aircheck.
Click to expand...

There was a window a while back for translator apps but apparently they made no effort to do anything about it. But then wouldn't that be great to have an FM translator for their current "format?" :rolleyes:
 
anotherguy said:
There was a window a while back for translator apps but apparently they made no effort to do anything about it. But then wouldn't that be great to have an FM translator for their current "format?" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
They were likely expecting the "buyers" (next owners) of the station to do that, but such a buyer apparently never materialized. I'm guessing that nearly everyone in Alamo listens to Dyersburg and Jackson stations now, making this one unnecessary.
 
810 AM, WCTA, riveting production music beds and NOAA Weather Radio, now 24 hours a day on FM. Just imagine.

Who knows, if they had applied and received a translator construction permit, they might have had a cash offer or two they would find attractive.
 
Since yesterday was "all impeachment, all the time" on TV, I finally decided to listen to the entire two-hour clip of WCTA from youtube. Riveting, to say the least! I was not right next to the computer the whole time, but I was close enough to hear it, should anything interesting turn up. Even within this "format," programming was bad! Abrupt shifts from one event to another, even in mid-sentence! It would go to NOAA weather radio almost at random! The most interesting programming was the Osgood file on Monticello, interesting enough to make me want to go back!

BTurner is right. If they had at least tried for a CP for an FM translator during the open window for filing for one, this station might have had a new owner by now. But situated between Dyersburg and Jackson, with Humboldt not too far away, I don't see much use for a station in Alamo.

And with that, this thread is now officially 11 years old! Yay for us!
 
I suppose the good thing about WCTA is they just didn't go silent and remain silent year after year and hope the FCC wouldn't notice. Somebody has got to be paying the electric bill and doing some engineering work.
 
b-turner said:
I suppose the good thing about WCTA is they just didn't go silent and remain silent year after year and hope the FCC wouldn't notice. Somebody has got to be paying the electric bill and doing some engineering work.
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My thoughts here are that any engineer working for them would be doing so gratis. That leaves the electric bill. If the station were being operated out of someone's home, that would likely reduce the electric bill somewhat, but if they have a storefront, that means paying rent.

The only possible "income" that I see for them under this current scenario would be if they were reimbursed for the commercials that aired during the Osgood files, but even that would be nominal.
 
If I recall correctly, at one station where The Osgood Files was run, the right to carry it conveyed the requirement to air the commercial inside. Like programs like American Top 40, you cleared the national commercials in the program in order to air the program at no cost to the station.
 
firepoint525 said:
My thoughts here are that any engineer working for them would be doing so gratis. That leaves the electric bill. If the station were being operated out of someone's home, that would likely reduce the electric bill somewhat, but if they have a storefront, that means paying rent.

The only possible "income" that I see for them under this current scenario would be if they were reimbursed for the commercials that aired during the Osgood files, but even that would be nominal.
Click to expand...

They still have the building in downtown Alamo where the studio equipment is and can be seen from the front window, but I haven't seen any evidence of anything going on there. I hadn't thought about the possibility of someone running it from their house, but I don't know who that would be. Possibly someone from Mr. Williams's family, but I don't know any of them. But if it is being operated from someone's house it looks like they would be able to be on top of the times the station is off or illegally broadcasting at night, which makes it seem like they're not paying attention or don't care.
 
The NOAA weather radio, 80's production music fillers, and promises of new programming could be coming to an end in 2020. Unless it's renewed, WCTA's license is set to expire 08/01/2020.
 
AMFMKYTN said:
The NOAA weather radio, 80's production music fillers, and promises of new programming could be coming to an end in 2020. Unless it's renewed, WCTA's license is set to expire 08/01/2020.
Click to expand...

I'd say just let it go silent if they can't or won't sell to someone that will actually do something with it.
 
Another update: They were back on for a short time around Christmas (Some present! :rolleyes:) but are back off again. I saw an envelope from the electric system on the door. I didn't look at it but I wouldn't be surprised to find out their power has been cut off. If that's the case this could very well be the end.
 
anotherguy said:
I'd say just let it go silent if they can't or won't sell to someone that will actually do something with it.
Click to expand...

with no translator and having been amount to nothing for over a decade and all the competing signals in the area. .let this one go by the way side and get deleted
 
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