I'm kind of surprised to be the first to be apparently commenting on this. 970's broadcast is following 105.9 by half a beat it seems, and comes in clear throughout Tampa, and across the bridge, dropping out fairly quick by Kenneth City. I listened carefully, but did not hear any TOH ID's at 105.9. I think WYNF in Sarasota is on 105.9, and Orlando's Cool is also at that position. It seems weird that a translator (however small) would be allowed on that otherwise crowded spot. Did WYNF get moved north? Does this mean that 98 Rock is safe for now? When you think about it, 970 really doesn't have heavy competition in Talk... why the move to FM on such a small station? Kind of reminiscent of the time that 970 was also on Shortwave (why - except for the fun of it?) Unless this is to make sure next year's Lightning broadcasts are clearly heard in northern neighborhoods, there is not much on 970 that WXJB doesn't already have on a much stronger signal.
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WFLA on FM 105.9
- Thread starter SCMcKinney
- Start date
C
cd637299
Guest
I cannot speak for Tampa, but WIOD in Miami (also a Clear Channel property) has a translator at 100.3; in fact just yesterday I heard on one of CC's FM stations a traffic report or something similar, mentioning WIOD on 100.3, and NO MENTION of 610.
This is the wave of the future---news/talkers going to FM.
Orlando is already a step ahead of the game by having a full blown 100,000-watter on 96.5 relaying AM 580.
Get ready, because FM is where the news/talk & sports are going; it'll take more time in some markets than in others.
Miami isn't quite ready (apparently) to blow up a 100,000-watter for news/talk*, but it's a matter of time....
cd
[*CC just this week took its 103.5 into a Jack-ish direction; if any station woulda gone news/talk on FM by Clear Channel, I understand it woulda been them!]
cd
This is the wave of the future---news/talkers going to FM.
Orlando is already a step ahead of the game by having a full blown 100,000-watter on 96.5 relaying AM 580.
Get ready, because FM is where the news/talk & sports are going; it'll take more time in some markets than in others.
Miami isn't quite ready (apparently) to blow up a 100,000-watter for news/talk*, but it's a matter of time....
cd
[*CC just this week took its 103.5 into a Jack-ish direction; if any station woulda gone news/talk on FM by Clear Channel, I understand it woulda been them!]
cd
Will have to check their signal out next time, I'm up by one of the bridges connecting St. Petersburg and Tampa. WTZB - The Buzz licensed to Englewood (antenna in Venice) is all I've been picking up near downtown St. Petersburg, by day and at night it's usually the Buzz as well, unless there's some tropo going and then it will be the 105.9 out of Orlando.SCMcKinney said:
Nearly all these translators will be good for people to hear WFLA on the FM band, but night time coverage for WFLA 970 AM is not a problem for the Riverview, Ruskin and Tampa areas, 970 coverage issues are at night in parts of Pasco and Hernando county- deep fade and a weak signal at night in Hernando county, east of I-75), their broadcast on 97.9 HD2 addresses that issue for northern Pinellas and s.w. Pasco county. But for people in those areas (Riverview, Balm, Ruskin etc) with FM only radios, it will be a boon for WFLA 970. Nearly all the radios I've seen lately with I-Pod docks are FM only and what few HD radios still available are nearly all FM only.
drt,
st. petersburg
cd637299 said:
In Orlando cheap channels news talker 540 WFLF (they like to call themselves 540 WFLA) was supposed to be going on a translator on 104.5 that is currently owned by the Reach-FM people once that station got it's power increase. That was a few months ago. The power increase has not happened yet. BTW WFLF is also heard on sister station WTKS-FM's HD2. Also someone had asked about the TOH ID of WFLA's translator. From what I've read according to the FCC you only have to ID translators three times a day ( I believe around 9:00AM, 1:00PM and 5:00PM ).
And speaking of news/talk migrating over to FM, and the 100,000 watt WDBO-FM in Orlando, their AM 580 has been around for over 80 years and if you were to listen to that station now you wouldn't even know that there ever was an AM except during the TOH ID, and that's only WDBO-AM & FM
In the South, most of Clear Channel's news-talkers have an FM presence. Charleston has been on FM since 2004; Savannah's WTKS added a translator last year that is almost as strong as a class A, Columbia's WVOC moved from a powerful AM to a weaker FM last year, while Raleigh/Durham and Greensboro have been FM talk for several years.
B
BrianMedlin
Guest
WYNF hasn't been on the Sarasota 105.9 in years. We had a hell of a time when we we were moved to 105.9. (Original calls were WLTF. "Little Tiny Frequency". Orlando would kill us in the winter every time a front came through. We couldn't even get the signal in the studio on City Island on some days!
Putting 'FLA on a translator at 105.9 in Tampa, was the least they could do - and they did it.
It DOES NOT address several issues, the least of which is the coverage to the North. (remember, they don't care about South of the Bay)
It DOES, however, help building penetration in the buildings of downtown Tampa.
St. Pete buildings? Well, you're out of luck.
I certainly can't hear it here, and nor am I likely to listen when I am in the area, I listen to the AM HD because the HD on FM will revert to the HD-1 of 98Rock, which I find annoying. That annoyance is now duplicated with the translator because the 105.9, here, soon overrides it with a similar screaming format. They couldn't have found a worse programming combination to complement the WFLA format.
But, I don't count anymore, anyway.
On the other hand, it is a start.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
It DOES NOT address several issues, the least of which is the coverage to the North. (remember, they don't care about South of the Bay)
It DOES, however, help building penetration in the buildings of downtown Tampa.
St. Pete buildings? Well, you're out of luck.
I certainly can't hear it here, and nor am I likely to listen when I am in the area, I listen to the AM HD because the HD on FM will revert to the HD-1 of 98Rock, which I find annoying. That annoyance is now duplicated with the translator because the 105.9, here, soon overrides it with a similar screaming format. They couldn't have found a worse programming combination to complement the WFLA format.
But, I don't count anymore, anyway.
On the other hand, it is a start.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
Well, NOBODY in radio, print, or TV really cares about anything south of the Skyway bridge, even though Manatee County is on the south side of the actual Tampa Bay... WFLA USED to give local temps for Sarasota during their newscasts, but hasn't for years...Manatee and Sarasota counties apparently don't even count in ANY of their opinions... Nice being ignored...
Well said; from time to time I watch the news on WWSB to get a picture of what is happening all around Tampa Bay and you're right Manatee county borders Tampa Bay unlike Pasco and Hernando counties.flwfg said:
As far as current temperatures, after 7PM during the week or afternoons on the weekends, you're doing good to get anything other than a pre-recorded weather forecast let alone a current temperature for even Tampa or St. Pete.
drt,
st. petersburg
From yesterday I had posted,
>> In Orlando cheap channels news talker 540 WFLF (they like to call themselves 540 WFLA) was supposed to be going on a translator on 104.5 that is currently owned by the Reach-FM people once that station got it's power increase. That was a few months ago. The power increase has not happened yet. BTW WFLF is also heard on sister station WTKS-FM's HD2.<<
I now stand corrected. The 104.5 simulcast of WFLF has begun. No mention of it on their website as of this posting yet.
http://www.540wfla.com/main.html
>> In Orlando cheap channels news talker 540 WFLF (they like to call themselves 540 WFLA) was supposed to be going on a translator on 104.5 that is currently owned by the Reach-FM people once that station got it's power increase. That was a few months ago. The power increase has not happened yet. BTW WFLF is also heard on sister station WTKS-FM's HD2.<<
I now stand corrected. The 104.5 simulcast of WFLF has begun. No mention of it on their website as of this posting yet.
http://www.540wfla.com/main.html
Per a post on RadioInsight.com yesterday, the 105.9/West Tampa translator is just the first one for WFLA, with a second one in the works with 250 watts at 94.5/Gulfport.
The interesting part of the Tampa translator is the deal they made with the previous owner in order to acquire it. From Radio Insight "The 250 watt translator is owned by Radio Training Network, whose “JoyFM” will use an HD subchannel of Clear Channel’s 95.7 WBTP to feed some of its translators in the Tampa Bay area."
Never heard a deal like that done by CC I dont think
http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/58363/970-wfla-tampa-adds-fm-translator/
The interesting part of the Tampa translator is the deal they made with the previous owner in order to acquire it. From Radio Insight "The 250 watt translator is owned by Radio Training Network, whose “JoyFM” will use an HD subchannel of Clear Channel’s 95.7 WBTP to feed some of its translators in the Tampa Bay area."
Never heard a deal like that done by CC I dont think
http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/58363/970-wfla-tampa-adds-fm-translator/
The 95.7 HD-2 has been Joy for a couple of months now. This looks as though it's all part of a plan rather than just some random acts.raydiodude said:
As far as WFLA is concerned, it doesn't seem as though they are now even caring about anything outside of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
The main idea for going to FM is filling in the blanks of the main signal ie, building penetration, and, on a marketing standpoint, attracting a younger audience who doesn't listen to the AM dial - at least that has been the thinking. This idea of translators all over the place is a thinking beyond me. The idea is that you have one frequency that is easier for people to remember and they don't have to touch the radio. Areas, such as New Jersey, radio stations are "short-spaced", so you have "Thunder Country" at 106.3/106.5, but this is not New Jersey.
I also see this a blatant way of alienating anybody outside of those Counties.
On the other hand, this could be a positioning, not for 'FLA on FM as much as a deal that gives "Joy" or "Reach-FM" a marketing partner. highly popular "98.7 Kiss" was blown up in favor of a long term agreement for ESPN on FM in New York.
We may be seeing, not so much as a News/Talk going to FM and AM eventually being relegated to a "Dolla-A-Holla" station with dayparted blocking broker deals, Clear Channel, and others, may be changing into a signal leasing company.
This is getting interesting as it continues to unfold.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
M
MsMusicRadio
Guest
Comes in great in Temple Terrace even on a small house radio
105.9 is excellent on the portable Sony ICR-7600GR here in central Pinellas (on the border of Clearwater and rudely intruding Larghetto). 94.5 (not WFLA simulcast, yet, still prophet (profit) schlock, is very poor here. But from Gulfport, I bet it will do fine throughout much of at least north and coastal Manatee County for 'FLA.
May 26, 2012 By Lance Venta Leave a Comment
Clear Channel News/Talk 970 WFLA Tampa has added the first of its two planned FM translators.
105.9 W237DI (Calls Soon To Change To Match New Frequency) West Tampa has signed on bringing the AM station to FM in Hillsborough County including the city of Tampa itself. The 250 watt translator is owned by Radio Training Network, whose “JoyFM” will use an HD subchannel of Clear Channel’s 95.7 WBTP to feed some of its translators in the Tampa Bay area.
WFLA will soon add a second translator to serve St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Reach Communication’s 94.5 W233AV Gulfport has a construction permit to upgrade to 250 watts with WFLA as its station of origination.
May 26, 2012 By Lance Venta Leave a Comment
Clear Channel News/Talk 970 WFLA Tampa has added the first of its two planned FM translators.
105.9 W237DI (Calls Soon To Change To Match New Frequency) West Tampa has signed on bringing the AM station to FM in Hillsborough County including the city of Tampa itself. The 250 watt translator is owned by Radio Training Network, whose “JoyFM” will use an HD subchannel of Clear Channel’s 95.7 WBTP to feed some of its translators in the Tampa Bay area.
WFLA will soon add a second translator to serve St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Reach Communication’s 94.5 W233AV Gulfport has a construction permit to upgrade to 250 watts with WFLA as its station of origination.
Looks like they're promoting it now on their web site:
http://www.970wfla.com/pages/wfla-on-fm.html
According to the construction permit, the new 94.5 signal will originate from the old 97.9 tower on Starkey just North of Park Blvd, not Gulfport.
Best guess on all this unless someone else has some better information:
WFLA gets 105.9 in Hillsborough in exchange for running Joy-FM on 95.7's HD2, thus allowing their Pinellas Park translator on 95.3 a receivable signal. Which by the way gets a bigger signal by moving off 49th Street to the 95.7 tower on Gandy. And since 94.5 is moving to Starkey, 95.3 gets the old 94.5 antenna at 525 feet (the permit for antenna height matches the old 94.5 antenna specs)
Meanwhile, WFLA gets 94.5 in Pinellas from Reach-FM in exchange for translators on 89.3 Bayonet Point and maybe the 92.1 signal in Hillsborough. I think Reach is already operating on those signals?
All these translators have construction permits for upgrades that give each one increased coverage. By my count, we've got a whole slew of em in the area:
89.3 - Reach-FM?
92.1 - Reach-FM?
96.5 and 96.7 (both in East Tampa and Brandon)
103.9 - WUSF
104.3 - Joy-FM?
http://www.970wfla.com/pages/wfla-on-fm.html
According to the construction permit, the new 94.5 signal will originate from the old 97.9 tower on Starkey just North of Park Blvd, not Gulfport.
Best guess on all this unless someone else has some better information:
WFLA gets 105.9 in Hillsborough in exchange for running Joy-FM on 95.7's HD2, thus allowing their Pinellas Park translator on 95.3 a receivable signal. Which by the way gets a bigger signal by moving off 49th Street to the 95.7 tower on Gandy. And since 94.5 is moving to Starkey, 95.3 gets the old 94.5 antenna at 525 feet (the permit for antenna height matches the old 94.5 antenna specs)
Meanwhile, WFLA gets 94.5 in Pinellas from Reach-FM in exchange for translators on 89.3 Bayonet Point and maybe the 92.1 signal in Hillsborough. I think Reach is already operating on those signals?
All these translators have construction permits for upgrades that give each one increased coverage. By my count, we've got a whole slew of em in the area:
89.3 - Reach-FM?
92.1 - Reach-FM?
96.5 and 96.7 (both in East Tampa and Brandon)
103.9 - WUSF
104.3 - Joy-FM?
M
MsMusicRadio
Guest
a 250 watt translator delivers a lot more than 250 watts on AM and during the sixties lots of major stations operated on those frequencies
badjef said:
OK you lost me there. Kiss in NY was sold to ESPN by Emmis because it was not profitable enough and didn't project to do well under PPM. What does that have to do with CC leasing out an HD-2 in Tampa?
badjef said:
1250 WHNZ is extremely profitable. Why let Dave and Lola have the whole pie?
No, ESPN is owned by Disney. Disney made a deal with Emmis to lease the frequency long term. There was no sale involved. I refer you to the New York Board. The deal is explained very well there.Parttimer said:
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/f...&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9
If Emmis sold 98.7, they would not be the Licensee, Disney would be.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
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