WFAS move?

[ansky212]

What ever happened to the alleged WFAS move to the Bronx tower location? Is that still happening? I haven't heard anything since last fall.

 

[FLjack2]

Radio-locator still shows the change listed. Looks like the construction permit will expire in a few months.
I'm surprised. I would think the move would affect 103.9 in Philly.

 

[Barry]

Perhaps Cumulus has had difficulty finding a buyer for WFAS? It's been difficult getting large sums of money for stations in this economic environment.

 

[fybush]

There's no spacing issue to Philly - they're both class As, with some breathing room for co-channel spacing.

The Bronx transmitter site is built out and has been on the air testing. My understanding is that they don't intend to license it until (and unless) they find a buyer for it.

 

[luperm]

Why wouldn't they just license it as an aux?

 

[fybush]

The 60 dBu contour of an aux can't extend beyond the 60 dBu contour of a licensed main, so the Bronx site can't be licensed as an aux without reducing power significantly.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

Why would Cumulus want to move one of Westchester's most successful FM stations out of the county? WFAS (and its AM sister) have been longtime institutions in Westchester - and used to be trusted sources for county news and school closings on snow days.

What could 103.9 possibly find in New York that it doesn't already have in Westchester?

 

[WNTIRadio]

Let's see... Even with the reduced station prices, K-Love paid $15million for 96.7 and that has the CP to move to New Rochelle. This is going to be in the Bronx, and have good coverage of the city as well as the suburbs. Sure it's not 6kw off of Empire, but it's worth more than it is next to the Tappan Zee bridge.

Does anyone know how the coverage is of 93.5 from the WFUV site in NYC proper? I haven't been in Manhattan for awhile so I haven't been able to check it out. I think the CP for WFAS is higher up on the tower (on the very top I believe) so even with the reduced ERP it should help get it over the buildings and into parts of Brooklyn/Queens.

 

[WNTIRadio]

PS- That AM with the "service to the community" is now automated except for AM drive and a smattering of brokered programming. No real loss there, I would imagine they would sell the AM separately from the FM if a sale does happen.

 

[Barry]

I wonder what Cumulus would do with WFAF 106.3, which currently simulcasts WFAS. I hope that if WFAS is sold, WFAF would then simulcast sister station country WDBY, Kicks 105.5. That would bring country music into northern and central Westchester county, and some points south. WFAF used to simulcast 105.5 in the Danbury CT area a few years ago.

 

[nd2023]

I'd be in the battleground between the 103.9 in the Bronx and the 103.9 in Philly. But there will be plenty of pirates at 103.9.

 

[GSP163]

Hey here is a thought (and I am not a dance music fan).....Why doesn't JVC purchase 103.9 WFAS-FM and link it with 103.9 WRCN Riverhead........Then move Party to both 103.9's (and keep 101.5 for the area where both 103.9's interfere).......WRCN's Classic Rock format can be moved to 105.3........I'd rather see a move like this then 103.9 ending up as brokered, religious or ethnic.

 

[WNTIRadio]

The question is, does JVC have the $15-18 million that WFAS is worth with the Bronx CP? That sounds like a good plan until the economic realities set in. A station in or next to NYC has a far different value than one out on the end of Long Island.

 

[luperm]

The 60 dBu contour of an aux can't extend beyond the 60 dBu contour of a licensed main, so the Bronx site can't be licensed as an aux without reducing power significantly.

Thank you, Scott.

 

[ansky212]

I'd be in the battleground between the 103.9 in the Bronx and the 103.9 in Philly. But there will be plenty of pirates at 103.9.

There is already a strong pirate on 103.9 in the Newark area. I wonder if the new 103.9 Bronx signal will be strong enough in Newark to force the pirate off that frequency.

 

[SmashTim]

The question is, does JVC have the $15-18 million that WFAS is worth with the Bronx CP? That sounds like a good plan until the economic realities set in. A station in or next to NYC has a far different value than one out on the end of Long Island.

Agreed. It would be a good idea, but the cost factor would certainly surpass anything they have now and may be beyond JVC's budget.

 

[BRH]

Why isn't Cumulus interested in operating the station in the New York market themselves? I don't get it. They have the approval for the upgrade and already own it. Why not do the move in and put a cheaply ran music format of any kind on the signal. Anything they do on the upgraded signal covering NYC would surely make them more money than operating it as a suburban station. Is there something I'm missing here? Personally, I agree, I'd love to see a pure dance format like Pulse 87 return on that signal. I think returning Pulse's format or possibly putting a country format on would make sense. Why not move it in, program one of those formats cheaply, and sell advertising themselves?

 

[frozenfiresb]

WFAF's signal doesn't reach much further south than White Plains. I'm 15 minutes from both Mount Kisco and White Plains and 103.9 comes in stronger than 106.3. I live on the western side of Westchester, so I can't speak for how rapidly the signal would deteriorate if you were to head south on 684.

 

[GSP163]

Talks continue that Cumulus wants to aquire Citadel......If this goes through it would be smart for Cumulus to keep 103.9 and put them with 95.5 & 770.

 

[Barry]

If that were to happen, WFAS would be part of a cluster and would need a format that does not compete with 'PLJ or the other established stations in New York. Country still seems to be a logical choice. Its signal could be augmented in the northern suburbs and parts of Nassau County by sister station WFAF 106.3.
Or perhaps contemporary rock, if WRXP flips or is sold as the rumors predict. But there could be some overlap with 'PLJ. Country would avoid that problem.