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WGTM Rumor Mill

M

Marathon Don

Guest
Word is that WGTM has lost it's lease on the Hwy 42 studio building. They were off the air this afternoon. Anyone have the scoop?
 
Wow, what a sad story in those pictures. I guess with enought money and time, someone could bring bring that station back to life without a yard rake holding in the contactor...but...how would you ever turn a profit or break even? AM directionals are money eaters. Looking at the FCC database, I you could start over at a new site with a two tower 5 kW daytime array and drop nightime power in that array to some value that meets FCC interference limits? Something like 136 watts. Lawrence Behr could come up with something. Would you have any listeners day and/or night? What would you program? We have had several AM stations here in Eastern NC that have gone dark for some period of time then returned. All that I have heard have either returned as religion or Hispanic. This one would be a lot of work. It looks like it was at one time a fairly nice 5 kW plant. I'm sorry, RIP.
 
Eddie:
Thanks for the pics. Anyone that buys WGTM we have to spend $$$$$ to rebuild the plant. FCC messed up on the night pattern and made them leave with it. Night always would create a problem jumping out of pattern plus Cuba blasted in. You could hear it under the carrier it was so strong. Someone said they could go 10,000 but no 590 anyway is that. One in Atlanta applied recently. So WGTM will take a major top to bottom overall. Pics so typical Willis. Pics on line of Edenton and others they have trashed. So sad. Deep pockets would be required. Behr rebuilt the tower site in the 70s. He's or was one of the best. FCC and OSHA both would get Willis on the transmitter site. Again, 3 Wilson stations all religion and has awful owners. So sad. I love WGTM and hate what has happen as well as the others.
 
I have put more pictures up, and as I take more, I will add them as well. I will have more sites to post.
 
That has nothing to do with WGTM in Wilson. Have seen that before. WGTM is typical Willis black gospel with cds and snake oil people. Nothng local. Someone could challenge WVOT, WLLY, WGTM on doing anything local and get a license. Sad.
 
Those are indeed depressing pictures. I drove by the studio today and there was a big dumpster right behind the building. Hey, since WGTM has a transmitter site (barely) and no studio and WVOT has a studio and no transmitter site, maybe they should strike a deal.

Whooda thunk WLLY would be the last man standing?

Don
 
Such a shame....Makes me mad to see that happen to any radio station much less a classic like WGTM...
Shows no respect for the business..Another example of not having a clue or not giving a ^&*&^%%%% or both..

Allen
 
WGTM at one time was a great sounding radio station, i have not been up toward Wilson in almost 4 years, and someone could have made 590 AM a powerhouse if the right owners came along, and i have no objection to christian broadcasters owning a station, it bothers me if they are not ran in a
proper manner, look what's happened to others there such as WVOT, WLLY, and even low-powered WUBN(at least they stream online) if ministries
are in charge of a broadcast license, they should maintain their facilities in a proper manner, and not let the sound or signal coverage get to a point
where they aren't listenable, and it's not just in Wilson, but other places.
 
First Media should pick up WGTM (for a song) and simulcast Power on that bad boy. As it is, 95.5 puts a marginal signal into Wilson--not bad, but not overwhelming--and the folks in Wilson can pick up those 5,000 watts @ 590 on their damn toasters. And, of course, it would be a great demographic match. But more to the point, the extra 2-and-a-half shares that WGTM generally pulls in the old Arbitron would/could kick WPWZ-AM/FM into first place in the Rocky Mount/Wilson book--and the additional billing generated by #1 rankings would pay for 590 within a couple of months, in cash. GTM might also add a share over in the Greenville book, as well, maybe inching Power into the Top 10 over there. Don't know if that's worth anything, really, aside from giving them something to brag about. But when you're looking for an outfit with the money, the technical savvy to rebuild the SOB's tech side, and a legitimate reason to want to snag WGTM, it boils down to these guys pretty quick.
 
WGTM with 10kw at the current approved pattern is not available now. 570 in Raleigh juiced up recently, and other stations in nearby states have changed patterns/power as well. 10kw with a new pattern may be an option, but it would really screw up the signal. A move to Greenville with 5kw non-directional daytime, 100watts night time looks good. (Class-D 1 tower) But I would have to find the time to do the math.

For me, WGTM is dead. It has been for years.

And did you know that the Campbell family still owns the studio real estate? I just looked it up on the Wilson County GIS server.
 
ToddJenkins said:
And did you know that the Campbell family still owns the studio real estate? I just looked it up on the Wilson County GIS server.
Click to expand...

Looks like they want to unload the building & property. There's a "For Sale" sign in the front yard. The real estate is probably worth more than the dial position.
 
I don't know.....I think they have a very good approved signal as it is (if the facilities are brought back into tolerance)...Day and night...they hit every city in ENC with a pretty good signal...as the old saying goes... "If I had the money"

IMHO..the owners of WCPS should buy them....make them the same format..."Jammin oldies/blues" and go like that, there is a big following behind WCPS and it sounds like thye know what they are doing as well.

I doubt first media will touch that station since they just unloaded two stations in roanoke rapids.... WBXB is up for sale as well it has potential to go up to a class C1 and put a signal into the hampton roads market
 
Has First Media got financial issues?, If so, sell WRMT, since 103.1 may eventually simulcast "99.9, The Fan" with ESPN Radio in the Rocky Mount/Wilson radio market, and if they want to purchase WGTM, move the tower to serve both Rocky Mount & Wilson, and since there is not a News/Talk format here,
they could do that, with a local show in the morning, and other talkers weekdays and weekends.
 
tothedj said:
Has First Media got financial issues?, If so, sell WRMT, since 103.1 may eventually simulcast "99.9, The Fan" with ESPN Radio in the Rocky Mount/Wilson radio market, and if they want to purchase WGTM, move the tower to serve both Rocky Mount & Wilson, and since there is not a News/Talk format here,
they could do that, with a local show in the morning, and other talkers weekdays and weekends.
Click to expand...

Do some basic homework. The last thing they've got is financial issues. The thing that would keep them from trying to resuscitate a dead AM is the same as anyone else. Doing it in ENC where AM signal propogation is America's Worst just adds one more big reason to put their time & money to better use. The reality is that WGTM will disappear, forever.
 
While the economy certainly is playing a role in the demise of these stations the main reason is simply poor management...The downward slide began a long time ago for a variety of reasons....It was a long painful death and very sad to see...

Allen
 
I think putting talk will not work for GTM. First of all Curtis has all the good talk shows...Rush, Hannity and others. Their contact states that they can block Wilson County from getting any of these shows. They may be good trying to get Glen Beck or some other up and coming talk show.....Better hurry before PTF puts more talk shows under their umbrella. GTM needs some REAL revamping and money put into it. I don't know if it is worth it. Remember Wilson does not support local radio. They haven't in 20 years since the early 90's. They rather buy their pencils in Raleigh.
 
WGTM will if ever take a total new plant and deep pockets. Is the money in ENC to get it back in advertising? NO. WGTM is now the Titanic. Who'd ever thought little WLLY would be the last left with WVOT on its deathbed. Sad.
 
Is a move to another market possible? 570 and 620 would preclude a Raleigh-Durham move in but what about Fayetteville?

If WGTM goes dark will that mean some other 590 operator will be able to up its power?
 
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