Who will buy Dover Translator

[ka3kza]

Now that Family Radio has applied to sell WFSI to CBS, who will buy their translator on 103.3. Since they are in the commercial band they have to take the signal off air. Might Clear Channel buy it and try to move it to Wilmington? Delmarva Broadcasting? Maybe Temple for an HD repeater?

 

[MikefromDelaware]

I could envision Delmarva buying it and using it to boost WDEL to cover the lower part of the state making WDEL a statewide radio station and the only state wide radio or TV news source (the News Journal is today the only state wide news source). Of course Clear Channel might want to use that and move it up above the canal to boost WDSD to make it more competitive over rival WXCY.

Another slant might be WGMD from Rehoboth Beach buying it and moving it up state to give them an upstate presence (from Wilmington to Dover) as they too carry Rush, but on FM. They are all conservative talk. That could be a real night mare for WILM/WDOV having Rush on a solid FM signal here.

 

[jhguthlac]

Clear Channel owns the Rush affiliation rights in both New Castle and Kent counties. If they tried to simucast on an FM in Dover, they would not be able to air Rush noon-three.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

So even though WGMD has the rights for Sussex they couldn't air it on a repeater in Kent or NCC. Does that work both ways. Could CC Delaware buy the repeater and put it in Sussex County to give WILM/WDOV a full state wide coverage area, not be allowed to air Rush on that repeater for the same reason? Or does CC Delaware have a special deal going for them.

Temple's WRTI has a regular FM signal on WRTX in Dover.

 

[jhguthlac]

Rush and Hannity are distributed by Premier Networks, owned by Clear Channel. There is no way WGMD is going to mess with them.

And common sense dictates that all Rush affiliates would have a non-compete clause. That was not true in the beginning, when Rush was put on every suburban AM station until he got a Philadelphia affiliate. BTW, stations pay big money for Rush and Hannity.The shows don't come for free.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Got to believe WILM and possibly WDOV are losing their shirts in that deal. I don't listen to Hannity, but the rare times I put on Rush on WILM I rarely hear any local spots, just PSA's during the local avails. So I guess being able to claim the show airing in Wilmington helps the CC national bottom line, it can't be doing much for the CC Delaware bottom line. I don't know if WDOV is doing as poorly with local spots during Rush as WILM. I've been to the beach and listened to Rush on WGMD and they've got tons of local spots during Limbaugh's show. I guess as long as there isn't a CC station in Sussex County WGMD will be able to keep Rush. Either way CC via Premeire benefits. It is what it is.

 

[jhguthlac]

Another point. I believe translators can only be used by non-profit FMs. I am pretty sure an AM station cannot use an FM translator. Otherwise, we would have done that at WNRK.

So this rules out WDEL, WILM and WGMD.

 

[johndavis]

Another point. I believe translators can only be used by non-profit FMs. I am pretty sure an AM station cannot use an FM translator. Otherwise, we would have done that at WNRK.

So this rules out WDEL, WILM and WGMD.

Commercial stations have always been allowed to be on translators, although they can't own the translator if it's inside their coverage area.

Recent rules changes allow AM stations to be put on translators. If it's a daytimer AM, the FM translator can stay on after sunset.

 

[jaydog]

Commercial stations have always been allowed to be on translators, although they can't own the translator if it's inside their coverage area.

Recent rules changes allow AM stations to be put on translators. If it's a daytimer AM, the FM translator can stay on after sunset.
[/quote]

The FCC rules for an AM station to use a translator is simple. The translator must be with-in the AM's 2.0 contour of their signal. Also with-in the contour they can get the max of 250watts. If any station is using a translator for repeating a station, the must pull the signal in by a high power antenna and the FCC will set their watts (this doesn’t include noncommercial).

 

[w9wi]

Commercial stations have always been allowed to be on translators, although they can't own the translator if it's inside their coverage area.

...can't own the translator if it isn't inside their coverage area.

 

[w9wi]

The FCC rules for an AM station to use a translator is simple. The translator must be with-in the AM's 2.0 contour of their signal. Also with-in the contour they can get the max of 250watts. If any station is using a translator for repeating a station, the must pull the signal in by a high power antenna and the FCC will set their watts (this doesn’t include noncommercial).

Uh, a few corrections here...

The translator's service area must be confined to the AM station's daytime coverage area. (is it 2mV/m?, don't have the exact figure handy) That means the translator itself may not be at the very edge of the AM service area -- as the translator's coverage area would extend past that of the AM station.

The FCC doesn't assign powers to stations. (translator or otherwise) The applicant requests a particular power level. If the FCC finds that level to comply with maximum power limits, and to not interfere with any existing stations, they'll grant the request. The maximum grantable power for a translator is indeed 250 watts. However, a translator may be licensed for a lower power if the applicant requests. (for example, if higher power would interfere with some other station on a nearby frequency)

Translators located outside the coverage area of the primary station must receive the primary station off-air.* Since translators of AM stations must not be located outside the coverage area of the primary, this isn't applicable to them. Translators within the primary's coverage may use any means.

* This is the one provision that doesn't apply to non-commercial stations. Translators of non-commercial stations located outside the primary station's coverage may receive the primary station's signal via means other than off-air, *provided* the translator is owned by the same organization that owns the primary station. But again, this isn't applicable to AM stations, whose translators must be located within the primary's coverage.

 

[jhguthlac]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[ka3kza]

Translators can be used for HD channels in the coverage area of the main station, so for example Delmarva could try to move the translator to Wilmington to air Graffti Radio from WSTW HD2, or WSTW HD3 which is WDEL. I had heard they had already purchased a downstate translator and were moving it. Also 105.1 which has been moved from Felton to the DSP Tower in Dover is silent since 1600 already has a translator on 98.3, and you can not put the same signal on two translators covering the same area.

 

[w9wi]

...and you can not put the same signal on two translators covering the same area.

I don't know of any regulation that prohibits this. If there is.. then there's a violator in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as there are translators on both 100.5 and 101.9 relaying WGNS-1450.

That said, just because something's legal doesn't necessarily mean it makes sense!

 

[jaydog]

Translators can be used for HD channels in the coverage area of the main station, so for example Delmarva could try to move the translator to Wilmington to air Graffti Radio from WSTW HD2, or WSTW HD3 which is WDEL. I had heard they had already purchased a downstate translator and were moving it. Also 105.1 which has been moved from Felton to the DSP Tower in Dover is silent since 1600 already has a translator on 98.3, and you can not put the same signal on two translators covering the same area.

Ka3kza this is the 2nd time I have sceen you post that you can not have 2 translators in the same area. You dont know what you are talking about. See FFC 47 CFR Section 74.1232(c). "(c) Only one input and one output channel will be assigned to each FM translator. Additional FM translators may be authorized to provide additional reception. A separate application is required for each FM translator and each application shall be complete in all respects."

So as you can see from the FCC website, you can have two. So Ka3kza, please make sure you know your facts before speaking!

 

[ka3kza]

Let me clarify, you can not put the same station on two translators at the same location, you can own two or more, and put different stations on different translators, example: an AM ON ONE, AN hd-2

 

[w9wi]

Let me clarify, you can not put the same station on two translators at the same location, you can own two or more, and put different stations on different translators, example: an AM ON ONE, AN hd-2

No, again that's not true. The FCC doesn't care if you carry the same station on two (or more) translators at the same location. (and again, I am personally familiar with one such installation)