J
Jul
Guest
if they don't find a buyer according to the Daily News: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20101207_Dan_Gross__Chef_is_loco_over_Loko.html
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That would be a shame. Their format definitely fills a niche. WHAT's ratings, although not great, are better than at anytime since they were running African-American talk/music several years ago. The biggest problem is coverage, especially at night - which becomes critical with the early sunset and late sunrise times this time of year. I have measured nighttime interference levels on 1340 as high as 22 mV/m which severely limits night coverage. The only hope for improvement would be a frequency change, which would be difficult (if not impossible) to accomplish, and would require a directional antenna. They are pretty well boxed in on 1340 with WMID and WRAW and nearby adjacents.
I hope the story proves to be false because I really enjoy the music.
I hope the story proves to be false because I really enjoy the music.
I enjoy the music, too. Shame I almost never am where I can receive the station clearly. I can listen online but there are a lot of nostalgia audio streams on the Internet with better selections of music, no incessant chatter, fewer or no commercials and no brokered programming. I am surprised they lasted this long. Some dumb moves, too: Like sticking "Missy's" girl talk show in the middle of a music format.
If broadcasters were serious about HD Radio, they'd do more than run spots for it. They'd program their sub-channels with niche formats, especially those that generate high listener loyalty: Like Nostalgia, True/Real Oldies and progressive talk. These formats on HD might actually get people to buy HD radios and then make a point of rewarding local advertisers with their business.
If broadcasters were serious about HD Radio, they'd do more than run spots for it. They'd program their sub-channels with niche formats, especially those that generate high listener loyalty: Like Nostalgia, True/Real Oldies and progressive talk. These formats on HD might actually get people to buy HD radios and then make a point of rewarding local advertisers with their business.
rtetro said:
22 mV/m is certainly close to average for Class D AMs in the northeast. In fact, I would say it's a skosh lower than average. I think the average is about 10% higher than that. Still, for all six of the graveyard channels, I think you'd be hard pressed to find one on which one station is distinguishable from the huge pack in the background jumble. That kind of indistinguishable jumble has got to be preferable to the situation for some Class B and D stations on Class A channels, where one interferer dominates the entire background. IMHO, it's harder to compete with one signal than with a large jumble that has the same RSS.
To what extent are WHAT's signal problems the result of a compromised ground system? I've heard it alleged that not many radials are intact and that most of them are much shorter than 90 degrees. Is that true?
M
Maxxxi
Guest
Some dumb moves, too: Like sticking "Missy's" girl talk show in the middle of a music format.
When you're friends with the owner you can get any show you want.
When you're friends with the owner you can get any show you want.
DG02816 said:
I already wrote to Bob Bittner to call his attention to this thread. He seems skeptical about how well his listener-support model could work for WHAT.
DanStrassberg said:
Typical. People in this business are generally skeptical of anything they didn't think of themselves.
Matt Parker said: "Shame I almost never am where I can receive the station clearly. I can listen online but there are a lot of nostalgia audio streams on the Internet with better selections of music, no incessant chatter, fewer or no commercials and no brokered programming."
Exactly. Why would anyone pay one penny for an AM signal in the digital age? Makes no sense as a business model. Folks can be nostalgic until they're blue in the face but it makes no sense. The sooner those left in terrestrial radio recognize that, the better to try and save their audio entertainment business, but it's not going to happen because that train is long gone, they've already lost two generations and counting. New players will rule the audio entertainment roost by the end of the decade. Towers, transmitters, signal disruptions? Come on now, get real. It's not a shame, it's simply the continued evolution of technology which will be at lightning speed in the "teens decade."
Exactly. Why would anyone pay one penny for an AM signal in the digital age? Makes no sense as a business model. Folks can be nostalgic until they're blue in the face but it makes no sense. The sooner those left in terrestrial radio recognize that, the better to try and save their audio entertainment business, but it's not going to happen because that train is long gone, they've already lost two generations and counting. New players will rule the audio entertainment roost by the end of the decade. Towers, transmitters, signal disruptions? Come on now, get real. It's not a shame, it's simply the continued evolution of technology which will be at lightning speed in the "teens decade."
MattParker said:
But you don't know Bob; he's pretty open-minded. He is also thoughtful and thinks of angles that get past your average bear.
Why's that? Doesn't it work for his stations? What does WHAT have going against it? Yes, I know that the signal leaves much to be desired and it might be better to just shut the station down if it can't succeed. I think that asking $800k is ludicrous for that facility! Call me someone who lives in the past, I think that future smaller AM broadcasters (like WHAT) should focus on brokered time or offering a service that no-one else will touch with a 20-foot pole. I also think that it shouldn't cost an arm-and-a-leg to purchase one!DanStrassberg said:
I
imhomerjay
Guest
They're offering a service no one else will touch with a 20-foot pole...thus the fire-sale price. There's frequently a good reason when lots of businesspeople avoid the same strategy. 
This station had a consistent niche for years serving Philly's African-American community, first with soul music then later as a talk station. Yes, it doesn't have a big signal, but the signal was exactly where it needed to be to serve that community. It never should have been changed.
DanStrassberg said:
It's nice of you to stand up for a friend. I doubt even an "average bear" would think he could make money on an AM station with a weak signal at the high-end of band playing nostalgia. As Ray points out, the station was well suited for an urban talk format; not for a format targeting older White people in the suburbs and the (few) local advertisers who want to reach them. Brokered shows. A talk show stuck in the middle of a nostalgia schedule.
I know radio people here get enthused about the WHAT's and WCHE's of the world (and previously the WCOJ's and WILM's among others). Maybe that's nostalgia for stations reminiscent of what radio used to be. But I don't see that anybody else is paying much attention.
I don't understand the knee-jerk "skepticism" of going listener-supported and non-profit. It works in Cambridge. It also works closer to home at WRDV and WDVR. Reincorporate as a non-profit, make donations tax-deductible, and maybe even get some CPB money. Get rid of the "call to action" and keep selling spots. Given what management makes at non-commercial stations around here, the owner could take home more money running WHAT as listener-supported.
J
jhguthlac
Guest
I was a steady listener on-line at work and in the car for the first part of the drive home to Delaware from Ridley Park. Then they moved Mike to the afternoon and put this Missy person on in mid-day. Haven't listened since.
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