Will the Phanitic go after the phillies contract? It would be a great advantage not only would the game be on FM. It would be on WPEN-AM with a great nightime signal and improved daytime signal as well.
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When 1210 WPHT's Phillies Contract Runs Out will 97.5 go after it
- Thread starter athegymtday
- Start date
It would be on WPEN-AM with a great nightime signal and improved daytime signal as well.
Unless I'm somehow misreading this sentence, 1210 WPHT has a far better nighttime signal than 950 WPEN - AM at least in Wilmington. During the day WPEN does come in OK, not perfect, but OK. WPHT comes in almost as clearly as Wilmington AM stations. At night WPEN disappears completely where as WPHT still is coming in OK as it does during the day. I can't speak for areas in PA or NJ, but that's how the reception is in Delaware. Of course, we get the Phillies on Wilmington's 1150 WDEL so WPHT's reception isn't as big of an issue for the Phillies games, but might be if someone wanted to hear the other night time programming on WPHT.
Now having the Phillies on FM might be a good thing. 97.5 still isn't the best signal into Wilmington as many of the other Philly FM's. There might be some listeners in Wilmington though who'd prefer hearing the Phillies on FM over AM via WDEL. My guess is, that WDEL did lose some of their Eagle's audience when the Eagles moved from AM to WYSP-FM which does have a great signal into Wilmington.
However, if WPHT is making good money with the Phillies, they may not just sit back and allow 97.5 to out bid them for the rights to be the flagship station for the games.
Unless I'm somehow misreading this sentence, 1210 WPHT has a far better nighttime signal than 950 WPEN - AM at least in Wilmington. During the day WPEN does come in OK, not perfect, but OK. WPHT comes in almost as clearly as Wilmington AM stations. At night WPEN disappears completely where as WPHT still is coming in OK as it does during the day. I can't speak for areas in PA or NJ, but that's how the reception is in Delaware. Of course, we get the Phillies on Wilmington's 1150 WDEL so WPHT's reception isn't as big of an issue for the Phillies games, but might be if someone wanted to hear the other night time programming on WPHT.
Now having the Phillies on FM might be a good thing. 97.5 still isn't the best signal into Wilmington as many of the other Philly FM's. There might be some listeners in Wilmington though who'd prefer hearing the Phillies on FM over AM via WDEL. My guess is, that WDEL did lose some of their Eagle's audience when the Eagles moved from AM to WYSP-FM which does have a great signal into Wilmington.
However, if WPHT is making good money with the Phillies, they may not just sit back and allow 97.5 to out bid them for the rights to be the flagship station for the games.
J
JaMa
Guest
I don't think the Phils will end up on 97.5. I don't see Greater Media spending the kind of money it would take to get the Phillies. It seems like CBS Radio likes having all four teams, and it will take a lot to get them to give that up. Remember, when the Phillies left 'PHT years ago and went to 'PEN, it wasn't because the Phillies took a better offer. It was because at the time, CBS didn't want baseball interfering with the talk on 'PHT. CBS decided not to renew the deal, and 'PEN was one of the only options for the Phillies. Also, 'PHT's signal is incredible. You can hear it halfway across the country, and as far north as Maine and as far south as Florida.
I guess living in Montgomery Co. Pa. is the reason why WPEN comes in great since they share the towers with WWDB. I don't get a great signal on WPHT between the IBOC crap. I listen to the Phillies on WNPV until the pattern change.
athegymtday said:
WPEN operates from the WWDB site only at night; during the day, WPEN continues to operate from its legacy site in West Philadelphia. A couple of years ago, WPEN did increase its day power, however. They did this by going directional during the daytime. The day signal used to be 5 kW ND-D; now it is 25 kW DA-D. WPEN still holds a CP for a further increase in its day power--to 43 kW DA-D. They will use the extra power to slighty broaden the day pattern over Philadelphia proper and south Jersey. BUT does anyone know whether GM is still planning to complete this final upgrade, and if so, when it will go on the air?
DanStrassberg said:
When rivers flow upstream.
Would love to see an HONEST show of hands of how many people believe Greater Media would EVER spend the money to take the broadcasts rights away. Never going to happen in a million years!
Sam Lit said:
Easy answer, but not necessaily the right one. GM has shown surprising persistence with technical upgrades to WPEN. This would not be an especially expensive upgrade. I understand that WPEN's day site has a pair of identical 25 kW transmitters. I think an upgrade to 50 kW-D (or close to it) was in the plans from the time they gave up the idea of moving out beyond Norristown to a 50 kW DA-2 site that would have had eight 600' towers (six day, five night, three common). I suspect that they plan to use both 25 kW boxes for the higher power day operation and add a combining network between the transmitter outputs and the phasor. There is probably no need to replace the existing phasor--just change some of the components. I suspect the job can be done for ~$200k. The ROI would result from the station's increased market value, which, of course, can only be an estimate until they actually try to sell it.
DanStrassberg said:
Try to be serious when describing ROI.
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