What would you do if you bought WBAI

[nd2023]

Since 99.5 WBAI only has a few more days left, I just daydreamed about what I would do if I won the lottery and purchased the station.

HD1 / main format - Current dance "Party 99-5". Basically the same format as Party 105 on Long Island.
HD2 - Soft AC "Sunny 99.5 HD2" with primarily 60s-80s soft rock, with a few 90s and currents. I'd put this on a few analog translators around the area so that people can actually hear it without having to buy an HD radio.
HD3 - Classic dance "99.5 HD3 the Groove". Disco, freestyle, 90s dance
HD4 - "Real Oldies 99.5-HD4". Since it would have the lowest audio quality, I'd make it sound like a classic AM Top 40 station with loud audio processing and reverb. 50s, 60s, and early 70s oldies.

Of course I would make sure to turn off the HD transmitter whenever there is DX. And I'd turn off the transmitter from 3-5 AM on nights that there is tropo.
By filling so many format holes on both regular and HD radio, people might actually ditch SiriusXM and buy HD radios.

 

[AlNYRadio]

Since 99.5 WBAI only has a few more days left, I just daydreamed about what I would do if I won the lottery and purchased the station.

HD1 / main format - Current dance "Party 99-5". Basically the same format as Party 105 on Long Island.
HD2 - Soft AC "Sunny 99.5 HD2" with primarily 60s-80s soft rock, with a few 90s and currents. I'd put this on a few analog translators around the area so that people can actually hear it without having to buy an HD radio.
HD3 - Classic dance "99.5 HD3 the Groove". Disco, freestyle, 90s dance
HD4 - "Real Oldies 99.5-HD4". Since it would have the lowest audio quality, I'd make it sound like a classic AM Top 40 station with loud audio processing and reverb. 50s, 60s, and early 70s oldies.

Of course I would make sure to turn off the HD transmitter whenever there is DX. And I'd turn off the transmitter from 3-5 AM on nights that there is tropo.
By filling so many format holes on both regular and HD radio, people might actually ditch SiriusXM and buy HD radios.

Party 105 is not really the typical dance format, as it has a few elements of rap in there, which I do not see compliment a dance station.

There are really few formats that should be put.
-Dance, -Alternative Rock, -Smooth Jazz/AC, -Soft AC

These would be all the formats from HD1-4 on 99.5 (if they get HD).

I would lean for the main format to be:

-Dance 30%, -Alternative 40%, Smooth Jazz 20%, Soft AC 10%.

 

[chrocket87]

Radio 99.5, Alternative rock.

 

[xmradiopro]

1960s & 1970s top 40 radio

 

[Radio Owl]

Is there now a fourth HD channel on FM??

I know TV stations can have 4 channels if they are not doing HD on their main first channel.

But aren't FM stations (with a much smaller bandwidth allocation than TV stations) limited to
2 extra HD channels after the HD 1 channel being the main analog channel in HD.

There's the HD-1, HD-2, and HD-3 channels only.

If I'm wrong, please jump in on this thread and give some more info.

Thank You

 

[AlNYRadio]

Is there now a fourth HD channel on FM??

I know TV stations can have 4 channels if they are not doing HD on their main first channel.

But aren't FM stations (with a much smaller bandwidth allocation than TV stations) limited to
2 extra HD channels after the HD 1 channel being the main analog channel in HD.

There's the HD-1, HD-2, and HD-3 channels only.

If I'm wrong, please jump in on this thread and give some more info.

Thank You

Yeah, there are quite a few radio stations with HD4s, WOGL and WJFK most notably in the north-east.

 

[WNTIRadio]

Since 99.5 WBAI only has a few more days left, I just daydreamed about what I would do if I won the lottery and purchased the station.

Hahahahahaha... what's funny is that you have more of a chance of winning the lottery than the idiots "in charge" there making a decision.

They would be the ones that would turn the license in before they sold it to a "big evil corporation" on principle.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Since 99.5 WBAI only has a few more days left, I just daydreamed about what I would do if I won the lottery and purchased the station.

HD1 / main format - Current dance "Party 99-5". Basically the same format as Party 105 on Long Island.
HD2 - Soft AC "Sunny 99.5 HD2" with primarily 60s-80s soft rock, with a few 90s and currents. I'd put this on a few analog translators around the area so that people can actually hear it without having to buy an HD radio.
HD3 - Classic dance "99.5 HD3 the Groove". Disco, freestyle, 90s dance
HD4 - "Real Oldies 99.5-HD4". Since it would have the lowest audio quality, I'd make it sound like a classic AM Top 40 station with loud audio processing and reverb. 50s, 60s, and early 70s oldies.

Of course I would make sure to turn off the HD transmitter whenever there is DX. And I'd turn off the transmitter from 3-5 AM on nights that there is tropo.
By filling so many format holes on both regular and HD radio, people might actually ditch SiriusXM and buy HD radios.

Only, and I do mean ONLY, in your dreams. HD is already irrelevant, and your format suggestions (otherwise known as: formats that either don't work on main channels or were tried and failed before) will only hasten its descent. And what does "whenever there is DX" mean?

As for people actually buying HD radios, the problem with that is: They'd have to actually find some first. None of the big-box retailers sell them, and for a very good reason: They didn't move when they were on the shelves.

Let's please keep in mind what it takes to run a radio station these days. Pacifica can do just fine with an automation system, a contract engineer and a minimal management presence that satisfies the FCC. Staff? We don't need no steenkin' staff.

 

[HHH]

Since 99.5 WBAI only has a few more days left, I just daydreamed about what I would do if I won the lottery and purchased the station.

HD1 / main format - Current dance "Party 99-5". Basically the same format as Party 105 on Long Island.
HD2 - Soft AC "Sunny 99.5 HD2" with primarily 60s-80s soft rock, with a few 90s and currents. I'd put this on a few analog translators around the area so that people can actually hear it without having to buy an HD radio.
HD3 - Classic dance "99.5 HD3 the Groove". Disco, freestyle, 90s dance
HD4 - "Real Oldies 99.5-HD4". Since it would have the lowest audio quality, I'd make it sound like a classic AM Top 40 station with loud audio processing and reverb. 50s, 60s, and early 70s oldies.

Of course I would make sure to turn off the HD transmitter whenever there is DX. And I'd turn off the transmitter from 3-5 AM on nights that there is tropo.
By filling so many format holes on both regular and HD radio, people might actually ditch SiriusXM and buy HD radios.

Only, and I do mean ONLY, in your dreams. HD is already irrelevant, and your format suggestions (otherwise known as: formats that either don't work on main channels or were tried and failed before) will only hasten its descent. And what does "whenever there is DX" mean?

As for people actually buying HD radios, the problem with that is: They'd have to actually find some first. None of the big-box retailers sell them, and for a very good reason: They didn't move when they were on the shelves.

Let's please keep in mind what it takes to run a radio station these days. Pacifica can do just fine with an automation system, a contract engineer and a minimal management presence that satisfies the FCC. Staff? We don't need no steenkin' staff.

Pacifica might also consider running all their stations as a sat-fed network from a central location, saving studio and staff costs in their cities. At least for the time being in order to save the two commercial frequencies (NY and SF) from being sold to one of the usual groups who would just put another cookie-cutter format in place. Probably voice tracked and/or sat fed anyway!

 

[drchuck]

Radio 99.5, Alternative rock.

99-5 RXP? That is, if Cumulus ever got their hands on 99.5 FM.

 

[BobSmolarek]

Definately bring back WRXP 99.5, the rock fans need this.

 

[RBRadioWaves]

If I won the lotto and brought WBAI, I would do something that would most likely only work in dreams.

-I'd call it 99.5 WYNY, as a tribute to the old 97 WYNY (1977-1987).
-The music mix would be soft pop/rock tracks from the 70s to Today. Unlike WLTW and Fresh, there will be no heavier rock or rhythmic music. Think something like WFEZ from Miami, or (to a lesser extent) 4BH from Brisbane, Australia. Nights and Overnights would contain a more Smooth AC mix, like KTWV from LA.
-I would also have a completely local air-staff from day 1. It would be live around the clock. That would be a great selling point for advertisers and promotions for the station. (99.5 WYNY is NY's live and local station!)
-During the daytime, I'd have local news at the top of the hour (initially provided by a deal with NY1).
-I would try and get a transmitter somewhere in the NY area and rebroadcast an HD signal with Smooth Jazz.

The chances of this working in real life are pretty darn low. But, it would be worth a shot.

Other formats that I considered include Alternative, Urban/Rhythmic Oldies, and Mainstream Rock. Again, all would be live and local, although I would be less likely to do top of the hour news (outside of the morning) with those formats.

 

[ansky212]

As for people actually buying HD radios, the problem with that is: They'd have to actually find some first. None of the big-box retailers sell them, and for a very good reason: They didn't move when they were on the shelves.

That's not really true. I was in Kmart a couple weeks ago and they sell an Audiovox portable HD radio. It looked exactly the same as the Insignia model that is sold at Best Buy. Best Buy actually sells 3 different models of HD radios, just do a search on their website. Whether or not people are buying them, who knows.

 

[Ai4i]

Hire JMTillery to help me shuffle my favorite non-coms around:
Put WQXR on 99½
Put WBGO on 105.9
Whatever is best for WKCR.
Put Pacifica on 88.3 or something to reduce their antenna space rent, but keep them strong within the four contiguous boroughs, perhaps a first tier AM signal (I will always have an emotional attachment for 77WA-Beatle-C).
Get WNYU & WFDU to share a common transmitter site NOW (stop this Alpine tower BS).
WFUV, a full class B, is probably best left alone.
WNYE, according to WBBR's owner is "off the table", so we can't do anything with 91½!
Take my shoes off, sit back, and enjoy.

 

[mikerock]

New Rock 99.5 RXP

 

[HHH]

As for people actually buying HD radios, the problem with that is: They'd have to actually find some first. None of the big-box retailers sell them, and for a very good reason: They didn't move when they were on the shelves.

That's not really true. I was in Kmart a couple weeks ago and they sell an Audiovox portable HD radio. It looked exactly the same as the Insignia model that is sold at Best Buy. Best Buy actually sells 3 different models of HD radios, just do a search on their website. Whether or not people are buying them, who knows.

I know, and they're not.

 

[Hardrocker9]

Party 105 is not really the typical dance format, as it has a few elements of rap in there,

Are you serious?? Have you even listened to Party 105 lately, no rap what so ever. Matter of fact not even Mackelmore, just all dance and some more freestyle thrown in the mix. More EDM then Pulse 87 also. The only song close to rap is probably Calvin Harris - Drinking From The Bottle, but I'd call that hip-house. So before you post something false, listen or do a little research, it blows the doors off any NYC station.

 

[nd2023]

As for people actually buying HD radios, the problem with that is: They'd have to actually find some first. None of the big-box retailers sell them, and for a very good reason: They didn't move when they were on the shelves.

That's not really true. I was in Kmart a couple weeks ago and they sell an Audiovox portable HD radio. It looked exactly the same as the Insignia model that is sold at Best Buy. Best Buy actually sells 3 different models of HD radios, just do a search on their website. Whether or not people are buying them, who knows.

I know, and they're not.

There needs to be compelling programming on HD subchannels in order for there to be demand for HD radio.
Let's see what's available on HD
92.3 - Alternative (yeah, alternative fans would buy HD radios for K-Rock, if they knew it existed)
93.1 - not in HD
93.9 - WQXR
94.7 - no HD2
95.5 - True Oldies (same format as WCBS-FM)
96.3 - not in HD
97.1 - Indian music (the Indians would buy HD radios if they knew Hum Desi existed)
97.9 - more Spanish music
98.7 - ESPN subchannels
99.5 - not in HD (although my proposed HD subchannels would not duplicate anything else in NYC)
100.3 - CHR (almost the same as the HD1, yawn)
101.1 - WCBS-AM
101.9 - not in HD
102.7 - Last.FM, WINS
103.5 - Pride Radio (wish they'd change it to Evolution or Club Phusion to convince straight EDM fans to buy HD radios)
104.3 - alternative (similar to 92.3's format)
105.1 - no HD2 (leasing it was a failure)
105.9 - Q2 (more classical music, but can anyone hear it with the weaker signal)
106.7 - country (whatever listeners it had, they moved to Nash FM)
107.5 - no HD2

So unless you like alternative rock, are Indian, or like gay-flavored dance music, (or you're a DXer) there really isn't a compelling reason to buy an HD radio.

 

[fybush]

107.5 - no HD2

WLIB simulcast, actually. (Not that it matters.)

 

[myke25]

[So unless you like alternative rock, are Indian, or like gay-flavored dance music, (or you're a DXer) there really isn't a compelling reason to buy an HD radio.
[/quote]

Gay flavored dance music? LMFAO. Real nice Nick!