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Which stations are under- or over-performing for their signal strength?

J

jhc2010

I have listed the stations in the market up with their rating (March 2011) and their ERP (in watts)

Which stations are under- or over-performing for their signal strength?

(I understand not all of these signals radiate from downtown)

WNCI (97.9) 7.8 175,000 watts
WLVQ (96.3) 6.7 18,000
WSNY (94.7) 6.5 22,000
WCOL (92.3) 6.2 22,000
WBNS (97.1) 6.1 20,500
WRKZ (99.7) 6.0 20,000
WXMG (98.9) 5.9 2,600
WCKX (107.5) 5.4 1,900
WLZT (93.3) 4.6 33,000
WCVO (104.9) 4.5 6,000
WBWR (105.7) 3.3 2,400
WWCD (102.5) 2.7 15,000
WHOK (95.5) 2.6 21,000
WVMX (107.9) 2.5 3,000
WCLT (100.3) 2.1 50,000
WCGX (106.7) 2.1 7,300
WOSU (89.7) 1.7 20,000
WNND (103.5) 1.7 4,200
WTDA (103.9) 1.6 5,300
WZNP (89.3) 1.1 4,500
WJYD (106.3) 1.0 6,000
WOSA (101.1) 0.8 6,000
WNKK (107.1) 0.8 3,000
WCBE (90.5) 0.8 11,000
WNNP (104.3) 0.8 3,400
WVKO (103.1) 0.5 1,600
WUFM (88.7) 0.5 5,000
WHKC (91.5) 0.3 15,000
WNKO (101.7) ??? 22,000

WHKC (91.5) looks like the biggest waste of 15,000 watts. And their tower is located just a couple of minutes from downtown.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=39.93722,+-83.02111+(WHKC-FM)&om=1

WCBE (90.5) also wastes 11,000 watts based on their current rating.

WLZT is the second strongest signal (behind WNCI) and obviously under-performs.
 
It's an interesting exercise, but in many cases it's difficult to draw hard and fast conclusions without demo ratings.  Then there's the station's strategic purpose (e.g., as a flanker/revenue protector).  However, the station could be fulfilling its strategic goals yet still under-performing by virtue of the fact that there are alternate strategies out there that could produce even more net revenue for the cluster (especially desirable if it would better serve the market at the same time).
 
You seem to be forgetting that tower height and location can be just as important as wattage for FM stations - what matters is how many prospective listeners can hear the station clearly. Wattage matters most for the electric company, tho' WNCI's 175 kw is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Some specialized formats (which Columbus has little of, apart from fundamentalist religion) deserve to have a strong signal, in order to reach the audiences they target over a wide area, and to attract enough listeners to get contributions, in the case of non-commercial outlets. A lot of the "class A" 6kw-ers are supposed to serve a particular suburban region - but their all music-and-commercials programming obviously has little to do with being on the east side, west side, etc. The station in London, Ohio, for instance, was intended by the FCC to primarily serve the interests of people living in Madison County. Obviously, that is no longer the way it's working. And that might be a factor in why so many of the smaller stations are limping along, if they forget to target, and sell to, the people in their primary coverage area - instead of watering it all down trying to be a "Columbus" station.
 
You didn't figure tower height into the formulas. A 16kw station at 1000 ft. will have greater coverage than a 50kw station at 500 ft. Aside from the rimshots and the grandfathered status of WNCI and WCOL, there are only three classes of stations and within the class, coverage should be fairly comparable. Class B's (with a statutory 50kw @ 496 ft.) are 88.7, 89.7, 90.5, 91.5, 93.3, 94.7, 95.5, 96.3, 97.1, 99.7, and 100.3. (As mentioned earlier, 92.3 and 97.9 are also class B allocations but grandfathered with higher power). Class B1's (25kw @ 356 ft.) are on 101.7, 102.5, and 106.7. Class A's (6kw @ 356 ft.) are 88.1, 89.1, 98.9, 101.1, 103.1, 103.5, 104.3, 104.9, 105,7, 107.5, and 107.9. One would not expect the non-commercial stations to have as high ratings as commercial stations (although in some markets they do) as their mission is to serve a more specialized audience.
 
SonoSational18 said:
the class, coverage should be fairly comparable. Class B's (with a statutory 50kw @ 496 ft.) are 88.7, 89.7, 90.5, 91.5, 93.3, higher power). Class B1's (25kw @ 356 ft.) are on 101.7, 102.5, and 106.7. Class A's (6kw @ 356 ft.) are 88.1, 89.1, 98.9,
Click to expand...

Minor nitpicking...

Class B: 50kw @ 492'. (actually 150m)
Class B1: 25kw @ 328' (actually 100m)
Class A: 6kw @ 328' (actually 100m)

Not that any of that invalidates your point.
 
Correct... I was rounding. Actually 92.3 and also 94.7 just slightly go beyond the standard... probably the equivalent of about 52kw at statutory height. WNCI, however, is one of those true grandfathered "Class B's on Steroids" with 175kw at 561 ft. It should also be noted that FM power is Effective Radiated Power, so a 50kw FM station is often a 15-20kw transmitter feeding a multi-bay antenna.
 
What you really need to look at is where the city grade signal falls. Even a Class A can perform well if it's city grade signal penetrates well in Franklin County (where most of the meters are now.) Conversely, a Solid 50kw Class B in Licking County wouldn't probably score all that great because it's city grade is over Newark and can't penetrate the buildings (interference) downtown or on the North Side very well.

If you're gonna be a Top 5 to 7 player in Columbus, You absolutely have to get in office listening downtown and on the North Side.

Signal is everything but it's not always the wattage. It's the tower location and city grade pattern over population. It's why a graveyard signal like WCOL (AM) did so well for so many years. They penetrated inside the Columbus city limits well. It's also why WTVN will get an FM signal soon.
 
Actually 92.3 and also 94.7 just slightly go beyond the standard... probably the equivalent of about 52kw at statutory height.
<------ NO. They not grandfathered. 50kw equivalent.
 
Nightpattern said:
Signal is everything but it's not always the wattage. It's the tower location and city grade pattern over population. It's why a graveyard signal like WCOL (AM) did so well for so many years. They penetrated inside the Columbus city limits well. It's also why WTVN will get an FM signal soon.
Click to expand...
WCOL worked when there weren't that many FM receivers (especially in cars) and the population was more concentrated in and around the city. Even the city limits have moved about 10 miles north into Delaware County. Back in the 70's places like Powell, Delaware, Canal Winchester, New Albany, Palatka, etc. were nothing but cows and copperheads. That's also one reason why WTVN is going to need an FM signal.
 
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