Who's holding 107.3 back?

[Poledo]

I posted this question in one of the dozens of WABB threads but I can't keep up with them. What stations, besides 107.1 in Biloxi. are keeping 107.3 from upgrading to a full C1 or C0 from the Wilcox Road tower farm?

 

[Rob]

I don't know, they used to be 100KW and their signal was strong, now it's crap.

 

[R.D.P.]

I believe that WFXX "The Fox" 107.7 FM Georgiana, might be another one keeping Pensacola from upgrading to a higher amount of power.

R.D.P. <><

 

[tomservo]

This is by no means totally thorough, but I believe the ONLY thing in 107.3's way is The Monkey. I checked spacing to WFXX, and stations in Tylertown, MS and Uniontown, AL and WRBE in Lucedale and they all would support WRGV bumping up to a full C with 100 kW from its existing tower. It's just The Monkey wrench in the works, so to speak. It ran 100 kW from a shorter tower closer to Pensacola because it was far enough away from The Monkey to fit in.

I noticed the maximum for WRGV's Class C0 is 100 kW from 450 m, or about 1400 feet. If they were willing to lose about 200 feet of height they could probably do the full 100 kW. It would effectively not change the coverage but might help during severe tropo events. And would allow a good power boost to the HD as well.

 

[Rob]

How about just a 25,000 watt increase? Make it 75,000 watts at its current tower height..Somethings got to give especially with the new 104.1. This will be tight competition.

-Rob

 

[Poledo]

During tropo the only station that comes in strong in Pensacola (city limits) is Magic 106.1. 107.3 used to also come in, but not anymore. Just have to find some distant station to listen too in the summer. Usually something from PC Beach or New Orleans.

Seems like CC could afford to do something about the Monkey over there to get 107.3 back up to par. How much could it cost to take a class A on the coast silent? I know being wedged between Mobile/Pensacola and New Orleans that there's no place on the dial to move 107.1. I wonder if 107.1 going silent would also help that new 107.5 New Orleans move in?

 

[the golden boy]

There's almost literally nowhere for 107.1 Gulfport to be able to move. Maybe except a slight westward move, perhaps changing the COL to Long Beach or Pass Christian.

 

[Poledo]

There's almost literally nowhere for 107.1 Gulfport to be able to move. Maybe except a slight westward move, perhaps changing the COL to Long Beach or Pass Christian.

If it can't move it can always be taken dark. Could 106.9 move south-west and 107.3 go full power without the Monkey?

 

[Hotseat]

Why did they downgrade to begin with. 107.3 used to be a big signal.

 

[Poledo]

They didn't "really" downgrade, they just moved their transmitter from the Cantonment area to the main Pensacola-Mobile tower farm near Robertsdale/Seminole Alabama, co-located with sister station WTKX 101.5. The new antenna is much higher up in the air than the old tower would allow but due to 107.3's C1 status they had to drop power from 100kw to 50kw(?) when they went up in HAAT. Anywhere else in the country this would have probably been a good thing but being here so close to the gulf and with the listener base 30 miles or so away from the tower they didn't get very good results with the move. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between a full powered C1 (107.3) and a full powered class C (101.5) broadcasting from the same height on the same tower (same antenna too?).

Clear Channel is certainly aware of the signal limitations but they haven't done anything to correct it. They've had plenty of time at the new location to get the ball rolling on a signal improvement for 107.3, so there must not be any feasible way to upgrade to a C0 or a full class C at the same tower location and putting up a new tall tower outside of the two central Baldwin County "tower farms" is not going to happen with all the military aviation in the area.

It seems like it would be smart for Clear Channel to buy 107.1 out of Biloxi or trade one of their Biloxi properties (i.e. 92.5) for the Monkey(wrench) and take the 107.1 frequency dark if that is all that is necessary to allow 107.3 to upgrade to a full Class C... otherwise 107.3 is not a good location on the Mobile-Pensacola dial for a music oriented radio station... So what is holding Clear Channel back from taking action to fix the signal or accepting what they have and using it to launch a (first for the dual-market and potentially very successful) news/talk or sports talk station on 107.3? I don't have a clue. Someone on this board surely knows the answer, but they aren't sharing with us.

 

[tomservo]

I don't think the loss of money from taking a Biloxi signal off would be offset by getting 107.3 a boost in coverage to be a second player in an already crowded market.

 

[Poledo]

I don't think the loss of money from taking a Biloxi signal off would be offset by getting 107.3 a boost in coverage to be a second player in an already crowded market.

Your assuming I believe that 107.3 will be keeping the CHR format. Another possible option for Clear Channel may be to trade 107.3 for 97.5. It has been posted here that Clear Channel has a good working relationship with EMF... To those folks out in California, 107.3 + cash or something may appear to be a good trade for the full class C signal on 97.5. On paper 107.3 looks like a good signal.

Or as I said in the other post, Clear Channel has already had quite a bit of time to fix the signal problems on 107.3 and they have apparently done nothing. Perhaps things will stay as they are. With the limited signal of 107.3 and no future upgrade in the works I'm sure Clear Channel has made plans for a way to use it. It seems that 107.3 would be better suited to a non-music format. Mobile-Pensacola doesn't need two CHR stations... two Rap stations, or two Active Rockers, or two Classic Rockers... just two or more AC and Country stations. EMF's just taken one signal out of play, now's as good a time as any to tighten up and get Sports and News/talk on FM.

Two wheels have just turned with 97.5 and 104.1. There's no reason to stop there. Come on, spin the wheel on 100.7 and 107.3! And if Pamal has any balls they should spin 94.1... even if it results in Cumulus grabbing the adult AC format for Pensacola and placing it on 100.7. Christian AC as a new format for 97.5 is shocking but boring. The worn out Jack format going away doesn't bother anyone. CHR WABD with the WABB airstaff returning to the air on 104.1 isn't that big a deal. When is something that is actually interesting going to happen with one of those big sticks in Baldwin?

 

[Rob]

It can be news talk WTAM-FM since their (mono) signal covers areas that WFTW doesn't cover at night. Drop the stereo carrier and maybe apply for a 25,000 watt upgrade on their signal.. walla. I can clearly see this happening to 107.3 We REALLY need a news talker. Another hint is that the rocket dropped their HD signal which is a shame. That might be a clue to bringing WTAM on a full time analog station such as 107.3.

I don't know why the *rest* of FL has a WFLA affiliate but we don't are we that inferior? The WFLF jammer is back in full force airing DEAD AIR (minus the dead dr's don't lie show). I honestly think Pensacola would be an ideal market for a 100KW FM news talk station since I seriously doubt a regular listener would tune to AM to hear talk radio.

*** can put 106.1 to a news talker as well. Their signal is strong here but not in Ft Walton.

Time to see what the big wigs have in store for our area. Hale needs to either drop the jammer or move to a new frequency. Watch him pick 107.3 or would the FCC deny him that frequency (since 107.3's signal is crap now in ft walton)

 

[Poledo]

.. can't help but wonder if 107.3 would be better off lowering their HAAT and upping the power back to 100k... I seriously doubt they'll move back to the old tower unless a hurricane comes through and knocks down the current one later this year.

 

[tomservo]

Rob-42, there is no way 107.3 can upgrade unless they move back to their old stick in Pensacola. Which, I guess, could happen if they decided to flip it to news/talk, but that's not going to happen. There's probably too much money in CHR even if they are destined to be a perennial #2 player.

106.1 is definitely not going anywhere. I think it's the highest rated station in the Pensacola market, and the only adult urban signal around.

 

[Poledo]

106.1 is definitely not going anywhere. I think it's the highest rated station in the Pensacola market, and the only adult urban signal around.

... unless K-Love is satisfied with the coverage of 97.5 and drops their contract with 95.7 and 95.7 winds up on the market and Cumulus buys it. Magic 106.1 moved to 95.7 covering Pensacola and Fort Walton would nearly double their listener base! And if the engineering would allow it and 95.7 could move to the taller WUWF/WPAN-TV tower even better. 106.1 as WCOA would be a consistent top 5 radio station in Pensacola... maybe even top 3. And 1370 could simulcast WGOK and stay a top 10 Pensacola radio station, especially if they got a hold of a FM translator for it.

I know, aint gonna happen. But it makes perfect sense to me. Heck, Pensacola's never going to get an FM translator and Cumulus is more worried about Mobile and FWB than Pensacola.

 

[Rob]

Why us and not pensacola? They have more audience. I'm starting to hear Coast 93.3 play more oldies from the 70s. Wonder if that's a clue for a possible format change as the majority of women are starting to listen to Country 105.5, 99 Rock and now 103.1 the Blaze. I think Coast might need to do some re vamping to maintain their audience. The 80s weekends gets old fast and it would be nice if they played 70s through 2000's and told their listeners for today's best music, tune to Z96.

I think the next flip we see will be highway 98 country. Dull, boring and lifeless. I bet more people listen to WAAZ's mono signal then 98.1 (I do)

-Rob

 

[Poledo]

I think Highway 98.1 will stay as is for a couple more years. I'm not worried about Cumulus changing any formats but I do think they need to find a translator for WFTW's pitiful AM signal. I'm thinking that WWAV 102.1 may have a format change or at least some significant tweaking coming in the near future. It's all over the place and "Jack" formats are dying. 102.1 should complement 103.1 The Blaze and I would think real Classic Rock would be the way to go if they want to take listeners away from 99Rock. 99Rock still has the advantage of live bodies on the air during day shifts which will go a long way in maintaining their loyal following... but some old timers like me would like to hear back to back to back classic rock tunes on 102.1.

Any of you insiders know if WAAZ's owner (names slips my mind right now) has family members interested in keeping 104.7 running after he gets out of the biz? Or would it become a significant part of his estate with greedy kids forcing the station to be sold so they could split up the assets? Based on what's been posted here about his (Wittiker?) attitude in the past it seems like he may be willing to sell 104.7 for the right price if he could keep 1050 going with a good translator in Crestview. I can remember posts stating that he only upgraded from 6000 watts to 100kw to keep his signal clear and protect his property/investment. He isn't (or wasn't) interested in serving the people outside of Crestview. Doesn't care about Destin/Panama City/Pensacola coverage... just getting that as a bonus and isn't charging advertising rates that reflect coverage of the larger cities. 1050 with a 250 watt translator on a good frequency on top of the tallest tower in Crestview (the WAAZ tower?) would cover the city just fine.

I know nothing, I am probably wrong.

 

[macab4490]

Rob-42, there is no way 107.3 can upgrade unless they move back to their old stick in Pensacola. Which, I guess, could happen if they decided to flip it to news/talk, but that's not going to happen. There's probably too much money in CHR even if they are destined to be a perennial #2 player.

106.1 is definitely not going anywhere. I think it's the highest rated station in the Pensacola market, and the only adult urban signal around.

Yeah, 107.3 will NOT flip to News/Talk. However, I think they have the huge disadvantage of being a number #2 CHR cause of their signal. It's a shame that they can't fix it. 104.1 is so strong as well as K-Love on 97.5. So, the ratings might not be all that good for 107.3 because it can't be heard all over their intended listening range. Also, Reid is back on the radio on the Gulf Coast. He is doing midday's?? Really...You put him on middays instead of nighties who is replaced by a man that is on Premium Choice...now that's is ridiculous, poor management there.

 

[Rob]

I'm curious to find out if they can move 97.5's transmitter to a point where it blankets mobile/ft walton and sell off 95.7 would this be possible? Also, if we are going to get a news talker (WFTW-FM?)

I feel like we are inferior as the rest of florida has WFLA's and Clear Channel (heard at night) Coast affiliates and we do NOT. Are we that small?

-Rob