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Whatever happened with "Crossville" Stations?

T

tk

Does anyone know whatever happened with Southern Media concerning WBZH/Harriman (92.7 The Breeze)and WWSR/Rockwood (South 105.7)? The FCC fined them for multiple violations which includes in the link below moving their broadcast facilities beyond the allowed milege, etc. Did the studios have to be moved back to Roane County or at least back closer to their respective city of license?

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-261768A1.html

booger!
 
> Does anyone know whatever happened with Southern Media
> concerning WBZH/Harriman (92.7 The Breeze)and WWSR/Rockwood
> (South 105.7)? The FCC fined them for multiple violations
> which includes in the link below moving their broadcast
> facilities beyond the allowed milege, etc. Did the studios
> have to be moved back to Roane County or at least back
> closer to their respective city of license?
>
> http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-261768A1.html
>
> booger!
>

They moved the Harriman transmitter back to its licensed location, and filed the necessary paperwork to license WWSR at its new location near Crab Orchard, which has been approved.

I think you will eventually see 92.7 re-allocated to Crab Orchard or spun off.


They will not move the studios back to Roane County. He will sell off 92.7 and 580 before he'll move back to that radio sewer.
 
> > Does anyone know whatever happened with Southern Media
> > concerning WBZH/Harriman (92.7 The Breeze)and
> WWSR/Rockwood
> > (South 105.7)? The FCC fined them for multiple violations
> > which includes in the link below moving their broadcast
> > facilities beyond the allowed milege, etc. Did the studios
>
> > have to be moved back to Roane County or at least back
> > closer to their respective city of license?
> >
> > http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-261768A1.html
> >
> > booger!
> >
>
> They moved the Harriman transmitter back to its licensed
> location, and filed the necessary paperwork to license WWSR
> at its new location near Crab Orchard, which has been
> approved.
>
> I think you will eventually see 92.7 re-allocated to Crab
> Orchard or spun off.
>
>
> They will not move the studios back to Roane County. He
> will sell off 92.7 and 580 before he'll move back to that
> radio sewer.
>

Radio sewer? Pretty strong words... Just because know one ever knew how to sell radio in that market doesn't mean it couldn't be done. I also can't believe the FCC allowed the move after the numerous violations...unbelievable. How owners can continue to operate like this without losing their license is unreal. Now Cumberland County has too many stations which the economy cannot possibly support while Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
 
> Now Cumberland County has too many
> stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
>
Nothing unusual there. Loudon County is in the same situation. With 105.3 based out of Farragut and serving West Knox County, 93.5 going Spanish, and 99.1 being part of "the Sports Animal" Knoxville simulcast. Sorry to say it, but that's just the way it goes for small town markets. They are moving into the larger neighboring communities to remain viable, and I don't see this changing anytime soon. Most of these surrounding counties (Loudon, Roane, Jefferson, Grainger, etc.) listen to the Knoxville stations anyway. There really seems to be little interest in a small town (swap and shop) type station anymore (except maybe from the over 60 crowd).

Personally, I don't mind it because most of the time these stations end up sounding 100 percent better and more professional. Do we really want to go back 15 years to where there are 20 little small town outlets on the FM dial all running very badly done country formats? Yuck! I sure don't. I hated those days when there was nothing but the same badly done country format everywhere you turned. I like the fact that since many of these have been sold and moved into Knoxville and other markets, that there is now much more variety in formats and the presentation is certainly better. (I really have no interest in Jim Bob down in the hollar tryin' to sell his 1969 Dodge Dart engine on th' Tradin' Post. And as I said, the times have changed, and most of the 25-54 and 18-34 market, even in the smaller rural areas, aren't interested in this anymore either.)<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by BRH on 04/11/06 01:19 PM.</FONT></P>
 
>>
> Radio sewer? Pretty strong words... Just because know one
> ever knew how to sell radio in that market doesn't mean it
> couldn't be done. I also can't believe the FCC allowed the
> move after the numerous violations...unbelievable. How
> owners can continue to operate like this without losing
> their license is unreal. Now Cumberland County has too many
> stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
>

Check the numbers. Roane County has the lowest retail sales per capita of any county of 50,000 in the state, if not the South. Since such a huge percentage of the population works in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, they make a large number of their major purchases in those cities, leaving Roane County to sell Groceries and cheeseburgers.
And you can't sell your Roane Co stations to the Oak Ridge and Knoxville businesses because their advertising on WIVK, WJXB, TV, etc is already reaching more Roane Countians than your local stations could possibly offer.

Problem number two is the attitude of the old-line citizenry. People in Rockwood hate Harriman. Harriman hates Kingston and Kingston businesses would be as happy if none of those rednecks from Rockwood ever came into their stores.

Unless you can re-license your stations to Midtown, you have to deal with chauvanistic bickering.

Bear in mind that besides the current move to Crossville, there have been 3 AM stations that went dark 20-40 years ago. I mean just turned off and left. 970, 1600 and 1230 were all Harriman stations that just gave up. And that was before the big Knoxville FM's were such a major presence.

It's a nice place to live, but if you have a radio station, there....move it.
 
> Nothing unusual there. Loudon County is in the same
> situation. With 105.3 based out of Farragut and serving
> West Knox County, 93.5 going Spanish, and 99.1 being part of
> "the Sports Animal" Knoxville simulcast.

Monroe County's two FMs are now run out of Farragut and Athens. Rhea Counties three FM's are run out of Chattanooga, Cleveland and Athens. Two of Cleveland's three FM's are targeting Chattanooga, and the third is actually a move in from Calhoun, TN. Hawkins County's two FM's have moved to Morristown and Kingsport. Jeffrson County's FM is in Knoxville. Both Oak Ridge FM's long ago left town. Livingston's FM is in Cookeville, while a Monterrey FM moved to Livingston.

And the beat goes on.
 
Here's some more news. The non-comm FM in Kingston,WKTS, has been sold to Tom Moffitt. He owns WRJZ in knoxville also the non-comm's in Maynardville and Alcoa. My guess he will try to upgrade it and move the tower closser to Knoxville.
 
>
>
> Radio sewer? Pretty strong words... Just because know one
> ever knew how to sell radio in that market doesn't mean it
> couldn't be done.

Let's see here, AM 1230 (now dark) has been on off the air in Roane County at least three times with numerous owners, AM 1600 (now dark) came and went with several owners, AM 1410 sent at least three different owners into bankruptcy, 92.7 had four different owners who couldn't make it and AM 580 probably hasn't turned a profit since the late 70's. WKTS has been operated out of a guys basement for the past two years. 105.7 has probably never made a dime, but from what I've seen, has never had more listeners or been rated higher (Beat the other Crossville stations in Morning and Afternoon drive last spring)

>I also can't believe the FCC allowed the
> move after the numerous violations...unbelievable.

The FCC just granted WWSR an increase to Class C3:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/eng_fm.pl?Application_id=1071453

So not only did they grant the move, over the passionate objections of the other Crossville stations, but gave them more power!!


>How owners can continue to operate like this without losing
> their license is unreal.

They had one fine from one FCC visit, big deal...I heard it was generated by a disgruntled employee and paranoid competition. If it keeps happening, then maybe the FCC should do something more severe, but c'mon, look at the Knoxville area station's we've know have been operational with major FCC problems for years!


>Now Cumberland County has too many
> stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.

Have you been to Crossville lately??? It's the third fastest growing county in the state, has two new shopping centers going in, three new 4/5 lane highways about to be built and appears to be busting at the seams! I have heard both 105.7 and 92.7 do Roane County news, weather reports and Rockwood football last year, Other than the Wartburg station, no one else probably gives a darn about Roane County.

Booger, sounds to me like you have an axe to grind with someone?
 
South 105.7 is about the only country station I personally can tolerate. I like the way the blend the new country, classic country, and classic rock hits together on one radio station. Where else can you hear ZZ Top, Fleetwood Mac, Conway Twitty and Gretchen Wilson in one set of music? I have noticed some major on air changes with their dj's. The Tony & Roxie morning show is gone and have been replaced with two new people. They have no mid day personality on the radio. Finally around 5 or so, a new guy comes on and does the night show now. Just wonder what happened to the other guys?
 
> They had one fine from one FCC visit, big deal...I heard it
> was generated by a disgruntled employee and paranoid
> competition. If it keeps happening, then maybe the FCC
> should do something more severe, but c'mon, look at the
> Knoxville area station's we've know have been operational
> with major FCC problems for years!
>

It wasn't one fine. It was several fines. And it is a big deal. Disgruntled employees and paranoid competition can turn you in. But fines come only from real rule violations.

And as a guy who prepares FCC applications for other people, Kirk should know better than to move a radio station (92.7) 18 miles with no application or anything. The 105.7 thing was a paperwork issue, but the EAS is a huge FCC no-no, however goofy the system is.
 
> >
> >
> > Radio sewer? Pretty strong words... Just because know one
> > ever knew how to sell radio in that market doesn't mean it
>
> > couldn't be done.
>
> Let's see here, AM 1230 (now dark) has been on off the air
> in Roane County at least three times with numerous owners,
> AM 1600 (now dark) came and went with several owners, AM
> 1410 sent at least three different owners into bankruptcy,
> 92.7 had four different owners who couldn't make it and AM
> 580 probably hasn't turned a profit since the late 70's.
> WKTS has been operated out of a guys basement for the past
> two years. 105.7 has probably never made a dime, but from
> what I've seen, has never had more listeners or been rated
> higher (Beat the other Crossville stations in Morning and
> Afternoon drive last spring)
>
> >I also can't believe the FCC allowed the
> > move after the numerous violations...unbelievable.
>
> The FCC just granted WWSR an increase to Class C3:
>
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w> s.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/eng_fm.pl?Application_id=1071453
>
>
> So not only did they grant the move, over the passionate
> objections of the other Crossville stations, but gave them
> more power!!
>
>
> >How owners can continue to operate like this without losing
>
> > their license is unreal.
>
> They had one fine from one FCC visit, big deal...I heard it
> was generated by a disgruntled employee and paranoid
> competition. If it keeps happening, then maybe the FCC
> should do something more severe, but c'mon, look at the
> Knoxville area station's we've know have been operational
> with major FCC problems for years!
>
>
> >Now Cumberland County has too many
> > stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> > Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
>
> Have you been to Crossville lately??? It's the third
> fastest growing county in the state, has two new shopping
> centers going in, three new 4/5 lane highways about to be
> built and appears to be busting at the seams! I have heard
> both 105.7 and 92.7 do Roane County news, weather reports
> and Rockwood football last year, Other than the Wartburg
> station, no one else probably gives a darn about Roane
> County.
>
> Booger, sounds to me like you have an axe to grind with
> someone?
>

Not really. Roane County has had a history of owners who didn't know how to market their stations there. Both and WHBT and WOFE were once heritage stations, but sadly they were sold to broadcasters who didn't understand what it took to superserve the listeners and the community. The other stations you mentioned never had such a heritage to build on...and that just won't work in small market radio. Sure I'm sentimental since I grew up there. No axe to grind...it's just sad to have witnessed time after time all the bad radio that hit the airwaves there through the years. As far as Crossville..I'm well aware that it's booming...still too many stations to support there.
 
> >>
> > Radio sewer? Pretty strong words... Just because know one
> > ever knew how to sell radio in that market doesn't mean it
>
> > couldn't be done. I also can't believe the FCC allowed the
>
> > move after the numerous violations...unbelievable. How
> > owners can continue to operate like this without losing
> > their license is unreal. Now Cumberland County has too
> many
> > stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> > Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
> >
>
> Check the numbers. Roane County has the lowest retail sales
> per capita of any county of 50,000 in the state, if not the
> South. Since such a huge percentage of the population works
> in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, they make a large number of
> their major purchases in those cities, leaving Roane County
> to sell Groceries and cheeseburgers.
> And you can't sell your Roane Co stations to the Oak Ridge
> and Knoxville businesses because their advertising on WIVK,
> WJXB, TV, etc is already reaching more Roane Countians than
> your local stations could possibly offer.
>
> Problem number two is the attitude of the old-line
> citizenry. People in Rockwood hate Harriman. Harriman
> hates Kingston and Kingston businesses would be as happy if
> none of those rednecks from Rockwood ever came into their
> stores.
>
> Unless you can re-license your stations to Midtown, you have
> to deal with chauvanistic bickering.
>
> Bear in mind that besides the current move to Crossville,
> there have been 3 AM stations that went dark 20-40 years
> ago. I mean just turned off and left. 970, 1600 and 1230
> were all Harriman stations that just gave up. And that was
> before the big Knoxville FM's were such a major presence.
>
> It's a nice place to live, but if you have a radio station,
> there....move it.
>

Mmmmm...it really sounds like you also have some history there. I'd be curious to know more... Well read my other reply. Yes economic times have been tough but not impossible if you truly know how to be a small market station. BUT let's be clear on the history. The heritage stations that had that opportunity were ruined by owners who didn't know how to play small market radio. Once the heritage was gone...that was it.
 
> > Now Cumberland County has too many
> > stations which the economy cannot possibly support while
> > Roane County has essentially no viable FM stations left.
> >
> Nothing unusual there. Loudon County is in the same
> situation. With 105.3 based out of Farragut and serving
> West Knox County, 93.5 going Spanish, and 99.1 being part of
> "the Sports Animal" Knoxville simulcast. Sorry to say it,
> but that's just the way it goes for small town markets.
> They are moving into the larger neighboring communities to
> remain viable, and I don't see this changing anytime soon.
> Most of these surrounding counties (Loudon, Roane,
> Jefferson, Grainger, etc.) listen to the Knoxville stations
> anyway. There really seems to be little interest in a small
> town (swap and shop) type station anymore (except maybe from
> the over 60 crowd).
>
> Personally, I don't mind it because most of the time
> these stations end up sounding 100 percent better and more
> professional. Do we really want to go back 15 years to
> where there are 20 little small town outlets on the FM dial
> all running very badly done country formats? Yuck! I sure
> don't. I hated those days when there was nothing but the
> same badly done country format everywhere you turned. I
> like the fact that since many of these have been sold and
> moved into Knoxville and other markets, that there is now
> much more variety in formats and the presentation is
> certainly better. (I really have no interest in Jim Bob
> down in the hollar tryin' to sell his 1969 Dodge Dart engine
> on th' Tradin' Post. And as I said, the times have changed,
> and most of the 25-54 and 18-34 market, even in the smaller
> rural areas, aren't interested in this anymore either.)
>
You've missed what real radio was and can now only be found in small market radio. So go ahead turn on your generic cookie cutter format...with the same generic liners and jingles. You'll find one in every big city today...enjoy.
 
> > Nothing unusual there. Loudon County is in the same
> > situation. With 105.3 based out of Farragut and serving
> > West Knox County, 93.5 going Spanish, and 99.1 being part
> of
> > "the Sports Animal" Knoxville simulcast.
>
> Monroe County's two FMs are now run out of Farragut and
> Athens. Rhea Counties three FM's are run out of
> Chattanooga, Cleveland and Athens. Two of Cleveland's three
> FM's are targeting Chattanooga, and the third is actually a
> move in from Calhoun, TN. Hawkins County's two FM's have
> moved to Morristown and Kingsport. Jeffrson County's FM is
> in Knoxville. Both Oak Ridge FM's long ago left town.
> Livingston's FM is in Cookeville, while a Monterrey FM moved
> to Livingston.
>
> And the beat goes on.
>

Sure...sadly those are owners just seeing dollar signs when the corporate money comes to town. A few small towns are truly fortunate to have AM's that aren't as desirable as FM's. Yet they serve their towns well and make a decent living. WYSH/Clinton...WCRK/Morristown...WGRV/Greeneville and a few others. A rare breed yes...but they're doing what radio was meant to do...serve the community.
 
> South 105.7 is about the only country station I personally
> can tolerate. I like the way the blend the new country,
> classic country, and classic rock hits together on one radio
> station. Where else can you hear ZZ Top, Fleetwood Mac,
> Conway Twitty and Gretchen Wilson in one set of music? I
> have noticed some major on air changes with their dj's. The
> Tony & Roxie morning show is gone and have been replaced
> with two new people. They have no mid day personality on
> the radio. Finally around 5 or so, a new guy comes on and
> does the night show now. Just wonder what happened to the
> other guys?
>

Perhaps they don't know how to capitalize on their supposed
good ratings and are making cutbacks to survive...
 
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