• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WHLY 1580 back from being SK? New ownership maybe?

M

michianaradio

Guest
I am wondering what is going on with South Bend's newly re-re-named WHLY 1580 AM (now back as such). I noticed they were SK (Silent Key and off air) since Sunday. Now all of a sudden I turn the dial yesterday afternoon and notice Adult Standards songs-sometimes shortened versions- are back, with a pinch of classic country thrown in. Other oddities include: Gaps between songs, which seemed shortened, and 1-2 commercials that seem like they are from the same firm. The once/hour station ID is not reminicient of an AMP station ID due to the person who gives it-the person has a deeper voice-almost like the Catholic Priest who has his parish's service on WWLV. So that leaves us with these questions?1. What happened to the required FCC shut-down? Did it happen and someone else buy that station?2. Is AMP up to some trick to please the FCC by going SK for a few days then and re-start the station (as more and more songs seem to be added)?2b. Will this not cause a problem for their sister station WWLV?Anyone have ideas?
 
If you can believe the FCC database it appears Times Communications has retaken ownership of WHLY. It seems weird as the license expired 5/18/06.But anything is possible and with AMP you never can tell. ???
 
Well at about 6:30 PM the programmed Station ID said 'This is WHLY South Bend' and the station again went silent, but still dead-key. I tried to pick up the station at 7:15 PM, but could not pick them up east of South Bend. Whoever hears it, keep this list posted.
 
Well it looks like the station returned that night. Same format.
 
Well now, with a playlist growing and a new moniker of Soft Oldies/Light Oldies.
 
Doesn't Times Communications have a JSA with Artistic Media Partners for 1580 and 1620? If that is true, then why didn't 1580 have to shut down. I thought that was the whole purpose of adding a station on the X Band 5 years ago. Why is AMP, Times Communications, or whoever owns 1580 exempt from this FCC rule? Could it be possible if Times filed for 1580's license once it went dead key if AMP did in fact own the station? Anybody have any answers? Inquiring minds want to know. :p
 
Apollo7979 said:
Doesn't Times Communications have a JSA with Artistic Media Partners for 1580 and 1620? If that is true, then why didn't 1580 have to shut down. I thought that was the whole purpose of adding a station on the X Band 5 years ago. Why is AMP, Times Communications, or whoever owns 1580 exempt from this FCC rule? Could it be possible if Times filed for 1580's license once it went dead key if AMP did in fact own the station? Anybody have any answers? Inquiring minds want to know. :p
Click to expand...

Several stations that were tied to expanded band AM's have either stayed on past their signoff deadline or have returned after signoff in recent months. What I've been told is that there is a proposal before the FCC to allow these stations to remain on-air so long as they are either owned by a small business that is under the ownership cap or are sold to a small business. Small business is defined under the Small Business Association's definition, which means any business having less than $6.5 million in gross receipts. As a result, some of these stations are apparently staying on-the-air or returning to the air pending action on this proposal.

As for Times Communications, the owner of Times Communications owns a small percentage of Artistic Media Partners. It's apparently an unattributable interest.
 
michianaradio said:
I noticed they were SK (Silent Key and off air) since Sunday
Click to expand...

Why are you using the term Silent Key? I thought that was a tribute for a deceased amateur radio operator, not a commercial radio station.
 
spark gap said:
Why are you using the term Silent Key? I thought that was a tribute for a deceased amateur radio operator, not a commercial radio station.
Click to expand...

While silent key is a tribute for a deceased amateur radio operator, it's also the symbol sent when an amateur station is ending a conversation in Morse code and signing off. I suspect that's what he's alluding.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom