What will be the new format for WRCA?

[frnkp2000]

Is Irish permanent or not?

Hard to say! This "stunt", if that's what it is, seems to have gone on an unusually long time! I would think the owners would have better plans for such a signal. I have a "soft spot" in my heart for 1330, being the last on-air jock under the WDLW call sign. The "new" WRCA ID was carted, (voiced by Engineer Extrordinaire Grady Moates) and I gave the PD the honor of hitting the button at 12:00:01. The aircheck of that night is out there somewhere.

 

[Deleted User]

Hard to say! I have a "soft spot" in my heart for 1330, being the last on-air jock under the WDLW call sign. The "new" WRCA ID was carted, (voiced by Engineer Extrordinaire Grady Moates) and I gave the PD the honor of hitting the button at 12:00:01. The aircheck of that night is out there somewhere.

at least you didn't flush a toilet ...

 

[frnkp2000]

at least you didn't flush a toilet ...

Nope! We all remember the final moments of WHDH! Went out in a dignified manner. Last song: "Happy Trails"-Roy Rogers/Dale Evans.

 

[CTListener]

Hard to say! This "stunt", if that's what it is, seems to have gone on an unusually long time! I would think the owners would have better plans for such a signal. I have a "soft spot" in my heart for 1330, being the last on-air jock under the WDLW call sign. The "new" WRCA ID was carted, (voiced by Engineer Extrordinaire Grady Moates) and I gave the PD the honor of hitting the button at 12:00:01. The aircheck of that night is out there somewhere.

The explanation of being sucker punched by WKAF's flip to urban AC kind of makes sense, but you'd figure what Beasley had planned for 1330 and its FM would have been a cheapo format-in-a-can and not a fully staffed local thing, so how long could it take to decide on "something else" (classic country? some kind of rock? some safe flavor of rhythmic-leaning AC?), buy the format and put it on the air?

Speaking of Grady Moates, how long was WUMB simulcast on 1360 during WLYN's ownership change some years back? Two or three weeks?

 

[davideduardo]

The explanation of being sucker punched by WKAF's flip to urban AC kind of makes sense, but you'd figure what Beasley had planned for 1330 and its FM would have been a cheapo format-in-a-can and not a fully staffed local thing, so how long could it take to decide on "something else" (classic country? some kind of rock? some safe flavor of rhythmic-leaning AC?), buy the format and put it on the air?

I can not see a mass appeal format on two signals where neither covers more than 30% of the market with a usable signal.

Because the translator is obviously the superior signal as to coverage, the question is what would be a good niche format for the "central" Boston area.

 

[CTListener]

I can not see a mass appeal format on two signals where neither covers more than 30% of the market with a usable signal.

Because the translator is obviously the superior signal as to coverage, the question is what would be a good niche format for the "central" Boston area.

Some flavor of urban, but bigger signals have that market wrapped up -- unless they try hip-hop throwbacks, a format which apparently jumped the shark before the shark even had time to surface.

Lots of colleges will be within earshot of the FM signal, but do today's college kids listen to radio in great enough numbers to even notice a new signal targeting them?

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Speaking of Grady Moates, how long was WUMB simulcast on 1360 during WLYN's ownership change some years back? Two or three weeks?

Longer than that, I thought I remember it was for at least a few months. And, it was in AM Stereo!

 

[Deleted User]

... the question is what would be a good niche format for the "central" Boston area.

That signal 106.1 reaches over the NH border, I can get it here just over the border ... and it is causing quite a problem for WNBP's translator on the same freq...

I know Translators don't have protected contours, but an existing translator should not have interference by a new translator in an area that anyone with half a brain would consider the first stations core area.

WNPB has to suck it up WRT to WCOD blasting across the water, but Beasley needs to dial it down on 106.1... that 99 watts at over 400' HAAT is killing the Translator in Amesbury.

LPFM has strict distance limitations, there are wattage limits, but the power and H.A.A.T are calculated to reach but not exceed the statutory coverage limitations.

My point being that Beasley's 106.1, in its current incarnation, can hardly be considered " Central Boston" .

Same thing with Costa-Eagle's translator for 1110 AM on 98.7, city of license Salem NH, but the transmitter is on that big tower at exit 3 off 93N in Windham.

That is covering a good part of the North Shore down to 128 and up into Essex County, and north into Manchester.

 

[jlehmann]

It may carry in places that far away, but I doubt it's what most people would consider a usable signal that far away. It is very directional away from WCOD, so there are places on the SE expressway where you can see the Hancock tower, but WCOD comes in. It's not all that great heading west on the mass pike just beyond the Boston city limits either.

My theory is that Beasley is unimpressed with the coverage, and they're in a panic as to what to do with it. They're probably used to the 1000' high translators down south in Florida, where the land is flat, that cover as good as, or better than a class A signal.

 

[CTListener]

It may carry in places that far away, but I doubt it's what most people would consider a usable signal that far away. It is very directional away from WCOD, so there are places on the SE expressway where you can see the Hancock tower, but WCOD comes in. It's not all that great heading west on the mass pike just beyond the Boston city limits either.

My theory is that Beasley is unimpressed with the coverage, and they're in a panic as to what to do with it. They're probably used to the 1000' high translators down south in Florida, where the land is flat, that cover as good as, or better than a class A signal.

Something doesn't ring true with that theory. I can see a rank amateur, a stupid rich guy with money burning a hole in his pocket, buying a station as a plaything then getting "in a panic" when it's not what he thought it would be. But not an experienced operator of radio stations elsewhere. I don't think anyone is panicking. The problem is that there are so few formats advertisers have any interest in, especially in major markets, that once urban AC was snatched away, the options have become extremely limited. I'm sure Beasley didn't buy this combo with the intention or turning it dollar-a-holler religion or infomercials or some other junk format. but what can be done when advertisers keep saying "too old"," "too poor", "too cynical", "too ethnic", etc. about the audience any potential format you come up with appeals to?

 

[davideduardo]

It may carry in places that far away, but I doubt it's what most people would consider a usable signal that far away. It is very directional away from WCOD, so there are places on the SE expressway where you can see the Hancock tower, but WCOD comes in. It's not all that great heading west on the mass pike just beyond the Boston city limits either.

The coverage is definitely central Boston. The 60 dbu hits Milton, but misses Quincy. It goes to Dedham, up to Needham, just west of Waltham, south of Lexington and then on a curve from Woburn to Stoneham and Lynn. That is the Central core of the market, and the 60 dbu covers about 1.6 million people in a market of 4.9 million.

Even if we only look at the 65 dbu signal, it covers 1.3 million persons, which is decent for a secondary service tied to an AM... and perfect if there is a population that is less served that predominantly lives inside the usable signal area.

My theory is that Beasley is unimpressed with the coverage, and they're in a panic as to what to do with it. They're probably used to the 1000' high translators down south in Florida, where the land is flat, that cover as good as, or better than a class A signal.

Beasley is used to translators in more rugged markets, too. Such as the Carolinas, Las Vegas and northern Georgia for example. Florida is not their home state, although they do have a presence there. In any case, their consulting engineer likely has done terrain based studies for hundreds of translators, including much more rugged terrain than in the downtown and central Boston area.

 

[davideduardo]

WNPB has to suck it up WRT to WCOD blasting across the water, but Beasley needs to dial it down on 106.1... that 99 watts at over 400' HAAT is killing the Translator in Amesbury.

Beasley's translator is 99 watts at 255 meters, or around 750 feet.

https://fccdata.org/?facid=144592 shows the 60 dbu. If you click on the "show advanced coverage map" you can see additional contours.

 

[CTListener]

The coverage is definitely central Boston. The 60 dbu hits Milton, but misses Quincy. It goes to Dedham, up to Needham, just west of Waltham, south of Lexington and then on a curve from Woburn to Stoneham and Lynn. That is the Central core of the market, and the 60 dbu covers about 1.6 million people in a market of 4.9 million.

There's a large and growing Asian minority (Cambodian and Vietnamese) in Lynn, Revere and Chelsea. Russian Jews, too, in places like Swampscott and Marblehead. But that signal is also reaching a lot of towns with nearly zero minority population of any kind. I'm still trying to figure out what sort of niche, non-mainstream format could (a) attract an audience and (b) attract agency buys. If Beasley's original intention was to make 106.1 Boston's place to turn for urban AC, it's hard to see a Russian or Cambodian, at least partially leased-time, format as a fallback that would represent anything close to acceptable return on investment.

 

[Wimmmex]

My theory is that Beasley is unimpressed with the coverage, and they're in a panic as to what to do with it.

My theory would be the excat opposit. That 99 watt signal is far better than most people thought it would be.

There is no deadline for it to be formatted.....and they have (much) bigger concerns.

And no panic....I assume they simply just have it "parked" for now....and just another facility in the portfolio.

 

[Deleted User]

Beasley's translator is 99 watts at 255 meters, or around 750 feet.

https://fccdata.org/?facid=144592 shows the 60 dbu. If you click on the "show advanced coverage map" you can see additional contours.

I stand corrected on the H.A.A.T., more proof that H.A.A.T is king.

As for the advanced map, they are hitting that fringe pattern dead on, with enough signal that the RDS works

As for WNBP's translator at 99 watts at about about 320 feet H.A.A.T, they cover less than a quarter of the area Beasley does , same power, 400 feet give or take difference in the antenna height.

https://fccdata.org/?facid=150780&appid=1519288&i=2

 

[Jimmy128]

There's a large and growing Asian minority (Cambodian and Vietnamese) in Lynn, Revere and Chelsea. Russian Jews, too, in places like Swampscott and Marblehead. But that signal is also reaching a lot of towns with nearly zero minority population of any kind. I'm still trying to figure out what sort of niche, non-mainstream format could (a) attract an audience and (b) attract agency buys. If Beasley's original intention was to make 106.1 Boston's place to turn for urban AC, it's hard to see a Russian or Cambodian, at least partially leased-time, format as a fallback that would represent anything close to acceptable return on investment.

A niche non-minstream format could be something like '80s/'90s Country, or Bluegrass.

Don't laugh, it could take some pressure off of WKLB to go to even newer country than WBWL The Bull.

As for advertising, they could make some sort of deal with advertisers who advertise on other Beasley stations for a few extra bucks.

But I'm just a former College DJ, what do I know. Just my two cents.

 

[davideduardo]

A niche non-minstream format could be something like '80s/'90s Country, or Bluegrass.

Or it could do Spanish language CHR.... like the t wo Spanish language Beasley stations in FL.

 

[CTListener]

Or it could do Spanish language CHR.... like the t wo Spanish language Beasley stations in FL.

Outside of pirates, nobody's ever tried any Spanish-language format on FM in Boston. Is the population large enough? Is it a population advertisers want to reach, with a prosperous middle class, or is it largely an economic underclass? Still, it certainly makes more sense than bluegrass (really!). I kind of hope Spanish CHR doesn't happen, though, just because of the all-too-predictable "what a waste of a signal" and "those people should learn English" whining that will take over this thread almost immediately afterward.

 

[johnster]

Outside of pirates, nobody's ever tried any Spanish-language format on FM in Boston. Is the population large enough? Is it a population advertisers want to reach, with a prosperous middle class, or is it largely an economic underclass? Still, it certainly makes more sense than bluegrass (really!). I kind of hope Spanish CHR doesn't happen, though, just because of the all-too-predictable "what a waste of a signal" and "those people should learn English" whining that will take over this thread almost immediately afterward.

Do we already forget Mia1430 or Rumba 1200/1430? Oh wait you said FM..... nevermind!

 

[davideduardo]

Do we already forget Mia1430 or Rumba 1200/1430? Oh wait you said FM..... nevermind!

Of all "other language" groups, Hispanics are the least likely to listen to an AM station. Hispanic smartphone usage over-indexes the general population, so rather than AM thy will stream.