We Own It, 98.7

[artsutton]

98.9/Spartanburg is not going to move or downgrade. They're a full Class C at close to the max height of 2,000 feet HAAT. In order to drop to C0, they would have to lose over 900 feet and/or cut output below 100kW. Doing so would seriously compromise their signal into Anderson which is part of their market. It would also weaken them in Asheville. As would moving south to a shorter stick. Even if Citadel offers significant $$$, it won't happen. Entercom doesn't need the money and they're smarter than this.

98.5/Kingsport is also a full C at maximum facilities. They're not likely to downgrade either since doing so would destroy their regional coverage.

98.7 is what it is: A drop-in allocation with limited coverage. Given the number of co and first adjacent stations in relatively close proximity, they're lucky to have a C3 this close to Knoxville.

Using the FCC spacing rules on a FM computer search program, at the WCYQ site, 98.7 as a C3 is fully spaced to everyone except co owned WNML. They are short spaced by 8 kilometers. At this location, the are short spaced to co owned WNRX 0.4 kilometers. The FCC allows 0.5 kilometer short spacing so it clears. It clears WSPA by 4 kilometers; Cookeville 14.7 K; Liberty KY 15.2 kilometers; Sweetwater 13 kilometers amd WTFM by 1.4 Kilometers. This would require no downgrades of anyone...just move WNML 8 kilometers or 5 miles on paper, get 98.7 grant then let 98.7 99.1 and 99.3 short space each other by using either a directional antenna or lower power on one, two or three of the stations. Odds are that WNML and WNRX could stay where they are now with just a slightly modified signal to protect 98.7. It doesn't have to be at the WCYQ site but close to that area. Citadel owns all the pieces so it would be easy to get done. I am in no way associated with Citadel...have no radio interests in Knoxville...but I would guess Citadel is in the best financial shape they have been in for a long time. They just came out of bankruptcy...shed billions in debt and the lenders put millions up for operating funds. Of the big operators, my guess is they are probably the healthiest at this time, from a financial standpoint. The rest of them are still hauling huge debt loads with Clear Channel's 17.4 billion debt the biggest of them all.

 

[secondchoice]

I just had a thought insert joke here) Citadel owns stations in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. They are having coverage issues in Knoxville and 106.7 in Atlanta could stand a signal upgrade. What is to stop them from doing a few downgrades in Chattanooga (106.5) and upgrading their stations in the bigger markets? I am not sure what they could move or swap to help Knoxville but as an earlier poster said CC has done it before other markets and Citadel has a little financial breathing room now.

Art says it could my up grade idea could be done less painfully and cheaper than my big “spectrum” juggle idea. That is why he owns stations and I don’t!

 

[boogiecheck]

I floated Art's ideas to a consulting engineer I'm friendly with over lunch today. He didn't seem to think any of it could actually be pulled off and there is one factor which hasn't been mentioned, East TN terrain.

 

[secondchoice]

Signal and coverage are only an issue, when the ratings include a lot of the second and third counties out. A temporary fix might be AM. Conservative Talk radio started on AM. So even say it “saved” AM after FM started to dominate Cities without good night time AM coverage. I consider good coverage at least 4 signals (Chicago, still has completive local AM service, but not too many cities have 4 50KW Class A stations, WIND which has very low dial position and AM1000 which gave WLS all it could handle in the 1960 and early 1970's). Someone somewhere in Citadel will do a short term financial (2 quarters at the most) model and figure out what the answer is.

 

[ARDONAVINDA]

When 100.3 goes country, and let's face it, they hired Ed Brantley, that's what they're going to do, I think you'll see Journal go Oldies on 93.1 by then, if not sooner.

Well for some reason Knoxville is afraid to do a Classic Top 40 gold format, unless it's Scott Shannon, They are not going to do an in house programmed Classic T-40 because they are afraid of sales not being able to sell it. Even though in NYC the #1 format is WCBS FM 101 and in Philly it's WOGL 98.1 Both Classic Top 40 from late 60's through mid 80's. Of course they are careful to what 80's they play and only the biggest 1960's cuts, as for 70's they play almost all of that decade including disco. So we will see I suppose, but If Journal ditches Q93 country and goes Classic Hits, my hunch is it will be True Oldies Channel. It's cheap to run, don't need an air staff. Last time Knoxville had an in house programmed Golden format was 5 yrs ago with Oldies 95.7 & 106.7 before it went Jack FM. Which I believe they will just continue because it's so low maintenance, and not to hard to sell in the 25 - 45 demo.

 

[BillBattle]

98.9/Spartanburg is not going to move or downgrade. They're a full Class C at close to the max height of 2,000 feet HAAT. In order to drop to C0, they would have to lose over 900 feet and/or cut output below 100kW. Doing so would seriously compromise their signal into Anderson which is part of their market. It would also weaken them in Asheville. As would moving south to a shorter stick. Even if Citadel offers significant $$$, it won't happen. Entercom doesn't need the money and they're smarter than this.

98.5/Kingsport is also a full C at maximum facilities. They're not likely to downgrade either since doing so would destroy their regional coverage.

98.7 is what it is: A drop-in allocation with limited coverage. Given the number of co and first adjacent stations in relatively close proximity, they're lucky to have a C3 this close to Knoxville.

Using the FCC spacing rules on a FM computer search program, at the WCYQ site, 98.7 as a C3 is fully spaced to everyone except co owned WNML. They are short spaced by 8 kilometers. At this location, the are short spaced to co owned WNRX 0.4 kilometers. The FCC allows 0.5 kilometer short spacing so it clears. It clears WSPA by 4 kilometers; Cookeville 14.7 K; Liberty KY 15.2 kilometers; Sweetwater 13 kilometers amd WTFM by 1.4 Kilometers. This would require no downgrades of anyone...just move WNML 8 kilometers or 5 miles on paper, get 98.7 grant then let 98.7 99.1 and 99.3 short space each other by using either a directional antenna or lower power on one, two or three of the stations. Odds are that WNML and WNRX could stay where they are now with just a slightly modified signal to protect 98.7. It doesn't have to be at the WCYQ site but close to that area. Citadel owns all the pieces so it would be easy to get done. I am in no way associated with Citadel...have no radio interests in Knoxville...but I would guess Citadel is in the best financial shape they have been in for a long time. They just came out of bankruptcy...shed billions in debt and the lenders put millions up for operating funds. Of the big operators, my guess is they are probably the healthiest at this time, from a financial standpoint. The rest of them are still hauling huge debt loads with Clear Channel's 17.4 billion debt the biggest of them all.

The only thing you forgot is that the FCC has a Table of Allotment sometimes called the Allocation Table. Radio and TV Stations are allocated to communitities not to owners. What you are suggesting has nothing to do with who the owner is but changing that Table. To do those changes, if it you can show how it serves "white space" or first service to new community, takes years if not decades. It can not be done in the next several months.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Cheapest and quickest fix: A channel on comcast and charter in the areas 98.7's signal doesn't go. Then get a really, reallllly long cable for your car.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

We Own 98.7... So WNOX is moving to 98.7... after renting... we will improve the signal... we are getting some new toys

It's three months later. Did we miss the announcement on the signal improvement and the new toys?

 

[Elkhosen]

I see the BIG announcement now... talk moves up as "SuperMegaPowerNewsTalk 107.7" and country moseys down to "98.7 The Tadpole" ;D

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

One of the younger pups (40-something. Only a couple decades in the business) says one of the established Frog sales babes is leaving. That'll be an improvement for some 98.7 sales rep wanting to get their income back. I wonder if the decision will be made by hair peroxide content or skirt length?

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Anybody else notice that when a sales babe thinks 140 lbs is more likely than 100k a year, she'll go where she has a better chance of being the prettiest rep in her office?

/not that it applies in this particular case
//I heard she was pretty AND could sell

 

[TnJanitor]

Every station has one of those

 

[BillBattle]

Only change is over modulations and destotration.

 

[TnJanitor]

That's a good one, coach.

 

[LeadSled]

Coach you are tha man

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Got some engineer in ya, coach?

 

[BillBattle]

Got some engineer in ya, coach?

May be .... but I forgot more than the person knows who set up the processing at 98.7 99.1 and 99.3.

 

[Big Bopper]

May be .... but I forgot more than the person knows who set up the processing at 98.7 99.1 and 99.3.

I disagree, Coach. I think the processing gives 98.7 more "punch" to penetrate the buildings in Aahver Sprangs. It is louder in some places than it was back in the gr8oldies days. Drive over there and check it.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Now the news is coming out about why 98.7's Morgan Co. sales office isn't happening: Somebody told their sales babes what a penal farm is.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

May be .... but I forgot more than the person knows who set up the processing at 98.7 99.1 and 99.3.

I disagree, Coach. I think the processing gives 98.7 more "punch" to penetrate the buildings in Aahver Sprangs. It is louder in some places than it was back in the gr8oldies days. Drive over there and check it.

Stealing your spelling of Oliver Springs. That pronunciation is usually found in the 'Uncle Daddy' families who come in from 'out yonder'.