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WGBH-FM ID
- Thread starter mgpt6
- Start date
mgpt6 said:
There's no requirement to say the frequency. If they want to say 89.7, it's not supposed to go in between the call letters and the city. Typically, stations that want to include the frequency say it before the call letters.
I don't know whether there's a requirement for stations with HD to say so in the ID. Other Boston public radio stations WBUR and WUMB have HD-1 and don't include it in the ID, so I guess it's not legally required.
The "HD" on any station designation is for advertising purposes only (courtesy of Ibiquity). As far as I know, there is no FCC requirement for any station to have any HD designator on the legal ID. Also, if a station has two of more HD channels, just simply have the host station call-letters with an HD-2 designator at the end to make it "legal". It's kind of like (back in the 60's and 70's) when a FM station used to push their "Stereo" capabilities such as "You're listening to 97.5, WDNH-FM Stereo, Dover, New Hampshire" and so on. The FCC never required an FM station to add the word "Stereo" on the legal ID. Like Stereo, the HD "ID" is for cosmetic reasons only. (Personally, the HD stuff is a lot of hoopla, anyway.)
Peter Q. George
Whitman, Massachusetts
Peter Q. George
Whitman, Massachusetts
Not true, Peter. See 73.1201(b)(1)...the FCC modified it a few years ago to require identifying an HD broadcast as such.
http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/1201/
A radio station operating in DAB hybrid mode or extended hybrid mode shall identify its digital signal, including any free multicast audio programming streams, in a manner that appropriately alerts its audience to the fact that it is listening to a digital audio broadcast.
There is a lot of debate about exactly what this means, as AFAIK there aren't any HD Radio receivers out there that do NOT have a text display of some kind. So as long as that text display works, and you set your HD transmission to send out call letters in your PSD/PAD, then technically you have met the requirement. But this is a gamble that there will always be a text display on every single HD-capable receiver.
IANAL, but I think at a minimum WGBH's legal ID would have to be "WGBH-HD, Boston" (they don't need the -FM suffix, it's not part of their official call letters) Also legal would be "89.7FM-HD, WGBH, Boston" or "WGBH, Boston, in HD" or similar permutations. I suppose technically they could also say "WGBH-DAB, Boston" or "WGBH-IBOC, Boston" but it'd confuse the hell out of the listeners.
Also worth noting for multicast channels (i.e. HD2, HD3, etc), the rule states:
Where a multicast station is carrying the programming of another station and is identifying that station as the source of the programming, using the format described above, the identification may not include the frequency or channel number of the program source.
This isn't terribly problematic, but it does mean you have to be thorough with including the proper legal ID for both the origin station and the destination multicast channel/station.
http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/1201/
A radio station operating in DAB hybrid mode or extended hybrid mode shall identify its digital signal, including any free multicast audio programming streams, in a manner that appropriately alerts its audience to the fact that it is listening to a digital audio broadcast.
There is a lot of debate about exactly what this means, as AFAIK there aren't any HD Radio receivers out there that do NOT have a text display of some kind. So as long as that text display works, and you set your HD transmission to send out call letters in your PSD/PAD, then technically you have met the requirement. But this is a gamble that there will always be a text display on every single HD-capable receiver.
IANAL, but I think at a minimum WGBH's legal ID would have to be "WGBH-HD, Boston" (they don't need the -FM suffix, it's not part of their official call letters) Also legal would be "89.7FM-HD, WGBH, Boston" or "WGBH, Boston, in HD" or similar permutations. I suppose technically they could also say "WGBH-DAB, Boston" or "WGBH-IBOC, Boston" but it'd confuse the hell out of the listeners.
Also worth noting for multicast channels (i.e. HD2, HD3, etc), the rule states:
Where a multicast station is carrying the programming of another station and is identifying that station as the source of the programming, using the format described above, the identification may not include the frequency or channel number of the program source.
This isn't terribly problematic, but it does mean you have to be thorough with including the proper legal ID for both the origin station and the destination multicast channel/station.
This calls (pun intended) for another appearance by our legal ID
interpreter geek, Scott Fybush. (And I mean geek in only the
nicest sense, as I am one too.
)
Based on past threads about legals (not to be confused with
the "illegal power aliens" threads on the Phoenix board), if
WGBH is running the same programming on analog and HD1,
the legal ID--in its strictest interpretation--should be:
"WGBH Boston, WGBH HD1 Boston."
Some stations lump the calls first, then the COL, which seems
to pass Uncle Charlie's muster, based on the totally vague HD
ID rules they've published:
"WGBH, WGBH HD1 Boston."
As noted earlier, there is no "-FM" suffix in their callsign
(check the FCC FM Query), however this brings up the
question--since there is also a WGBH-TV, shouldn't the
FM need the -FM suffix? When there are common-called
AM and FM stations, the -FM is suffixed. Is there not
such a requirement when the calls are shared by FM/TV?
It is legal to add the frequency between calls and COL.
The alternate programming on the HD2, etc. channel(s)
would be IDed on those channels.
interpreter geek, Scott Fybush. (And I mean geek in only the
nicest sense, as I am one too.
)Based on past threads about legals (not to be confused with
the "illegal power aliens" threads on the Phoenix board), if
WGBH is running the same programming on analog and HD1,
the legal ID--in its strictest interpretation--should be:
"WGBH Boston, WGBH HD1 Boston."
Some stations lump the calls first, then the COL, which seems
to pass Uncle Charlie's muster, based on the totally vague HD
ID rules they've published:
"WGBH, WGBH HD1 Boston."
As noted earlier, there is no "-FM" suffix in their callsign
(check the FCC FM Query), however this brings up the
question--since there is also a WGBH-TV, shouldn't the
FM need the -FM suffix? When there are common-called
AM and FM stations, the -FM is suffixed. Is there not
such a requirement when the calls are shared by FM/TV?
It is legal to add the frequency between calls and COL.
The alternate programming on the HD2, etc. channel(s)
would be IDed on those channels.
It is legal to add the frequency between calls and COL.
I don't think so. As far as I know, you can have anything
before and/or after the legal ID, but a true legal ID
consists of assigned call letters, directly followed by
the city of license...
I don't think so. As far as I know, you can have anything
before and/or after the legal ID, but a true legal ID
consists of assigned call letters, directly followed by
the city of license...
WLYNgm said:
Unless the rules have changed (and they may have), it is definitely OK to include both the frequency AND the name of the licensee (or either one) between the call sign and the CoL. WLYN 1360 Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Incorporated Lynn would be legal as would WLYN 1360 Lynn or WLYN Multiculural Radio Broadcasting Incorporated Lynn. One would think that kilohertz immediately after 1360 would also be legal, but I don't know about that.
Frequency and/or licensee name and/or the network affiliation
(I did not know that!) is permitted between the calls and COL.
Here is the first part of 73.1201 from the FCC site (bold is mine):
Sec. 73.1201 Station identification.
(a) When regularly required. Broadcast station identification
announcements shall be made:
(1) At the beginning and ending of each time of operation, and
(2) Hourly, as close to the hour as feasible, at a natural break in
program offerings. Television and Class A television broadcast stations
may make these announcements visually or aurally.
(b) Content. (1) Official station identification shall consist of
the station's call letters immediately followed by the community or
communities specified in its license as the station's location;
Provided, That the name of the licensee, the station's frequency, the
station's channel number, as stated on the station's license, and/or the
station's network affiliation may be inserted between the call letters
and station location.
In case you want to read all of 73.1201 (and who wouldn't ;D):
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/47cfr73.1201.htm
(I did not know that!) is permitted between the calls and COL.
Here is the first part of 73.1201 from the FCC site (bold is mine):
Sec. 73.1201 Station identification.
(a) When regularly required. Broadcast station identification
announcements shall be made:
(1) At the beginning and ending of each time of operation, and
(2) Hourly, as close to the hour as feasible, at a natural break in
program offerings. Television and Class A television broadcast stations
may make these announcements visually or aurally.
(b) Content. (1) Official station identification shall consist of
the station's call letters immediately followed by the community or
communities specified in its license as the station's location;
Provided, That the name of the licensee, the station's frequency, the
station's channel number, as stated on the station's license, and/or the
station's network affiliation may be inserted between the call letters
and station location.
In case you want to read all of 73.1201 (and who wouldn't ;D):
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/47cfr73.1201.htm
I guess that I am an "old school" kind of guy!
(I've been at this for a looooong time...)
We play it straight, so there is never any question --
AM 1360 WLYN, Lynn , A MultiCultural Radio Station (top of the hour ID)
That would be the voice of me, that you hear...
(I've been at this for a looooong time...)
We play it straight, so there is never any question --
AM 1360 WLYN, Lynn , A MultiCultural Radio Station (top of the hour ID)
That would be the voice of me, that you hear...
The one I think gets bent a lot is "Hourly, as close to the hour as feasible, at a natural break in
program offerings." WMKK often ID's 10-15 minutes before the hour (I think it's having to say "Lawrence" that does it). I remember when the 1380 in Portsmouth NH and the 95.3 in York Center Maine were simulcasting as "Cool". The FM would be mumbled as part of the weather forecast at 10 minutes before the hour ("WCQL-FM York Center temperature 72 degrees") but then at the top of the hour, the full orchestra and choir burst forth fortissimo with "WCQL, Portsmouth"
program offerings." WMKK often ID's 10-15 minutes before the hour (I think it's having to say "Lawrence" that does it). I remember when the 1380 in Portsmouth NH and the 95.3 in York Center Maine were simulcasting as "Cool". The FM would be mumbled as part of the weather forecast at 10 minutes before the hour ("WCQL-FM York Center temperature 72 degrees") but then at the top of the hour, the full orchestra and choir burst forth fortissimo with "WCQL, Portsmouth"
aerie said:
Probably the most common place to "bury" the legal ID is between spots
in the :50 stopset.
Especially if you're a suburban town COL in a metro. While the legal is a
quick, filtered voice drop at :52 ("WXXX-FM Dinkytown"), the TOH has a
full-blown stager ending with a fake legal jingle ("Best Mix 102.5 Bigcity"
or "WXXX Bigcity").
Both of our ID's are fired by the automation at
hour:00:00. That way there is never
any doubt!
hour:00:00. That way there is never
any doubt!
Radio68 said:
They could avoid adding it to the AM by installing a separate automated ID to run on WODS HD-3 only.
If the main signal programming is not being aired on the HD channel, there's no need for the HD ID.
The need for the legal ID is on WODS, not on WBZ. So somewhere on that HD3 stream, CBS needs to insert "WODS-HD3, Boston". It might be good BRANDING for WBZ to include legal ID's on 1030AM that indicate that they're on WODS HD3 as well, but the only legal ID requirement on 1030AM is "WBZ, Boston"
I thought the total bit rate in the FM-band system was only 96 kbps, which would allow 32/32/32 or 48/32/16 and maybe some other workable combinations. Isn't the total bit rate of the AM-band system 24 kbps? Or is it 32 kbps?mgpt6 said:
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