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I see only two possibilities for WFNX-101.7 under Clear Channel ownership:
(1) A simulcast of WXKS-1200. But I don't think that's likely.
(2) A Spanish-language music station targeting young Hispanics under 40 years old. I feel this is the most likely course of action for Clear Channel, given that Boston (as far as I know) is the largest market without a Spanish-language FM station.
Such a station, given Boston's growing Hispanic population, would probably be a huge success even with a "Class A" signal (although I suspect WFNX's signal is pretty strong almost anywhere inside the I-495 belt). Despite it's limited signal, a Spanish-language music station on 101.7 could actually crack the "Top 10" (both in 12-plus and young adult demographics) within six to twelve months of it's debut.
While WFNX has been a modern rock station for over 30 years (starting in 1981 as WLYN-FM, programming a modern rock block evenings and overnights that expanded to 24/7 in 1982 and was retained when the Phoenix Media Group bought the station in 1983 and changed the call letters to WFNX), the station has long struggled for an audience.
I have long thought that Boston needed a Spanish-language FM radio station, however, I wish it hadn't come at the expense of WFNX.
(1) A simulcast of WXKS-1200. But I don't think that's likely.
(2) A Spanish-language music station targeting young Hispanics under 40 years old. I feel this is the most likely course of action for Clear Channel, given that Boston (as far as I know) is the largest market without a Spanish-language FM station.
Such a station, given Boston's growing Hispanic population, would probably be a huge success even with a "Class A" signal (although I suspect WFNX's signal is pretty strong almost anywhere inside the I-495 belt). Despite it's limited signal, a Spanish-language music station on 101.7 could actually crack the "Top 10" (both in 12-plus and young adult demographics) within six to twelve months of it's debut.
While WFNX has been a modern rock station for over 30 years (starting in 1981 as WLYN-FM, programming a modern rock block evenings and overnights that expanded to 24/7 in 1982 and was retained when the Phoenix Media Group bought the station in 1983 and changed the call letters to WFNX), the station has long struggled for an audience.
I have long thought that Boston needed a Spanish-language FM radio station, however, I wish it hadn't come at the expense of WFNX.
Joesph you are alive. 
Joseph_Gallant said:
No way Gen X comes here, but I like your thinking. According to what I've read, Mike FM made money, but it was the least profitable, so they were the one to get canned. I think CC could make instant money by slapping a PC Jack format (like in Baltimore and Cleveland), but I still think 101 is most likely to go talk.CatCall said:
sad news. FNX over the last year or so, has sounded as fresh and interesting as it as sounded in years. My vote is for urban ac, wouldn't that make sense given the group with kiss and jamn ?
L
LowellRadio
Guest
Boston FM is pretty boring already. I don't think it will improve much. I'm an AM listener.
Someone else mentioned it and hope that others can provide more technical insight to suggesting that CC turn off 101.7 all together and physically move 101.5 up to the Boston market verses it being in the Providence market. Is it possible to amend the Table of Allocations to have 101.5 licensed to Needham, or Dedham for example with a transmitter at FM128? Would they have to protect WCIB and WGIR, how much protection would there have be to protect WWHQ, also on 101.5 up in the Lakes region of N.H?
Format wise, could they try to bring back Mike FM? Entercom received decent ratings with it, would it work again?
Why didn't Entercom go after WFNX?
Format wise, could they try to bring back Mike FM? Entercom received decent ratings with it, would it work again?
Why didn't Entercom go after WFNX?
They did. FNX didn't like the offer from them.
Last time you could see FNX in the ratings, the stream almost tied the terrestrial signal. Whatever CC does with the signal, they'll have the same issues that hampered FNX's ability to get ratings in a market that stretches from Providence to Worcester to Manchester NH. It won't be any more successful than FNX was ratings wise, and likely do worse revenue wise given FNX's college educated demographic.
I really hope they keep it alternative, even if they run it lean WBOS style.
I really hope they keep it alternative, even if they run it lean WBOS style.
chrocket87 said:
Other way around - Entercom thought Mindich was squeezing them. Mindich had been advised that Entercom did not want to blow up the other FM's.
Does anybody know how much the Phoenix paid for WLYN-FM 29 years ago?
wcozBoston said:
You can't delete WFNX from the table of allotments. You'd be taking away the theoretical "first local fm service" to the community of Lynn. That's of course in addition to the other technical considerations. You can't just pick up a B and move it from Providence to Boston. There are a lot of first and second adjacents to protect beyond WFNX.
The best case scenario for the 101.7 signal would be WWBB going directional to provide a little more wiggle room for WFNX. WCIB will always be a concern, however.
Fenway1912 said:
$1.1 Million in 1982
http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/BC-1982-11-29-Page-0051.pdf#search="wlyn"
reelyreal said:
It's a little more complex than that. WFNX is actually the second local service to Lynn (thanks to WLYN), but it doesn't matter whether a station is first, second or 34th local service to its community of license: you can't delete a commercial FM allocation, period. If you hand in the WFNX license, 101.7A Lynn simply becomes an open channel, still protected, and available at auction the next time the FCC auctions off open FM channels.
And even if you could do all that, you still can't put 101.5B in Needham or Dedham or anywhere useful around Boston, since you have to provide 24 km of spacing between WBUR's transmitter in Newton and a theoretical 101.5B facility.
OK...it's a lot more complex, actually, come to think of it.
Yup. It's not giving anything away to say that some of the best minds in the FM allocations community are looking extremely closely at what could be done here, and the options are extremely limited at best. There's just too much to protect: IF spacing to WBUR, WWBB and WCIB (and Meredith NH, too) on first-adjacent channels, WGIR-FM on the third-adjacent, and you can't move any of those without affecting even more short-spaced allocations around eastern New England.
I'm hearing more for spanish, and perhaps a simulcast of AM1200.. No one is saying urban, or urban AC ? Clear Channel would look like 'rock stars', sort of speak, having 101.7 programmed for the African-American community in the local Boston area, where most of the signal is. CC has many urban / urban AC stations in their portfolio, nationwide.
Seems to me the IF with WBUR is the main fly in the ointment? You would figure it would be easy to deal with interference issues with two co-owned stations.
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