Will Jazz Return to the Pittsburgh Airwaves?

[dB]

From a Post-Gazette article by Adrian McCoy:

The nonprofit Pittsburgh Public Media, which owns a local online jazz radio station, has signed an agreement to buy the WVBC-FM (88.1) signal for $135,000. The station is owned by Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va., about 40 miles southwest of Downtown Pittsburgh. The plan is to use the 88.1 frequency to broadcast a jazz format in the Pittsburgh region.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories...return-to-area-airwaves-661349/#ixzz2BjarV7qF

 

[hypwr]

Keep in mind that WRCT is operating on 88.3

 

[KeyTimes950]

Keep in mind also that 88.1 in the eastern suburbs is WRWJ-FM, part of the He's Alive network, in Murrysville.

 

[hypwr]

Several colleges are dumping their radio stations. Do they know something that we don't?

 

[TheBigA]

Several colleges are dumping their radio stations. Do they know something that we don't?

If you look into the specifics, you'll see the colleges that are dropping their stations are doing so because (1) The colleges are small and need the money, or (2) the colleges don't have a strong communications/media department, and a radio station doesn't fit with their academic plans, or (3) the station is an expensive student activity, and rather than increase student fees for an expensive club, they're selling the station.

So the answer to your question is the colleges know that owning and running an OTA radio station costs a lot of money, in terms of equipment, license, tower & transmitter, and space. Even without any personnel costs, it's a big budget item. If it's not being offset in some way, then it's an expensive boat anchor.

This is a great situation, in that an organization that loves the format is getting another platform for it. A lot of Pittsburghers were upset when WDUQ went away. Specialized formats like classical and jazz are better left to fans of the music, rather than depending on colleges or universities. They will support it, and the organization will run the station more economically than a college.

 

[Rallen1st]

Several colleges are dumping their radio stations. Do they know something that we don't?

Yeah, just like you said - kids are bailing on radio.

 

[chrocket87]

The college I work at has been offered assistance from a local company with starting a radio station and broadcasting program. We've rejected the offer on numerous occasions because there's no job market for radio.

 

[TheBigA]

The college I work at has been offered assistance from a local company with starting a radio station and broadcasting program. We've rejected the offer on numerous occasions because there's no job market for radio.

Interesting point: These days it's easier and cheaper to place students interested in radio or media as interns at an actual station. That way, the college has none of the expense, and the kid still gets to work in radio. There's no shortage of commercial stations in any given town, and they all need cheap help. We've seen dozens of students through that process. Most are majoring in communications/media. And although there may not be a lot of jobs in radio, there are a lot of jobs in various related businesses, mostly having to do with social media, internet, web design and hosting, etc. They don't care about backtimes, hitting the post, or a cool segue, but they understand effective communication. It's amazing how these kids understand that, while there are a lot of boomers who only see things as transmitters and towers.

Back to the OP, the group buying this station began as an online streaming station after WDUQ was sold. Somehow, they managed to stay in touch with the jazz community, raise some money, and can now buy an existing station. This MAY be a trend for other local online streaming operations, seeking to reach their audience through a more traditional platform. Now the shoe's on the other foot, as the website is driving traffic to the radio station, instead of the other way around.

 

[Boss Radio]

The college I work at has been offered assistance from a local company with starting a radio station and broadcasting program. We've rejected the offer on numerous occasions because there's no job market for radio.

It's a smaller market, but there's still a market.

 

[wrsg915fm]

WKJL in Clarksburg, WV runs at about 23,500 watts on 88.1. After the eventual move of the Bethany station closer to Pittsburgh, will there be a problem with interference?

 

[KeyTimes950]

WKJL in Clarksburg, WV runs at about 23,500 watts on 88.1. After the eventual move of the Bethany station closer to Pittsburgh, will there be a problem with interference?

Interesting. Another "He's Alive" station.

 

[xm41]

WKJL in Clarksburg, WV runs at about 23,500 watts on 88.1. After the eventual move of the Bethany station closer to Pittsburgh, will there be a problem with interference?

Interesting. Another "He's Alive" station.

I HATE those stations. nothing but mega translators puking the same religious crap over nearly open freq they can fill.

 

[PHIL Z]

Several colleges are dumping their radio stations. Do they know something that we don't?

I Hope Pitt is looking at Dumping 92.1, when they were on 98.5 they Interfeared with 98.3 here in North Hills, Now they run over WKPL 92.1. We are 13 air miles away from Oakland. By the way I Get 88.1 From Murrysville Loud and Clear here. It will be Interesting to see This move into Pittsburgh.

 

[xm41]

Several colleges are dumping their radio stations. Do they know something that we don't?

I Hope Pitt is looking at Dumping 92.1, when they were on 98.5 they Interfeared with 98.3 here in North Hills, Now they run over WKPL 92.1. We are 13 air miles away from Oakland. By the way I Get 88.1 From Murrysville Loud and Clear here. It will be Interesting to see This move into Pittsburgh.

Pitt should have stayed on 98.5. If memory serves they were booted to make way for a 98.5 religious puke-lator in Glenshaw that has since been moved to 98.7 to make way for 98.3's move to the city.

Why does every religious group with a couple bucks feel they have to broadcast the same crap everywhere and anywhere?

The He's Alive radio network and others like it are run by Religious hypocrites. If they were so concerned with loving people they would spend their money on feeding the hungry or buying medicine for sick people or any other way than spamming the airwaves with their so called message.

 

[hypwr]

They were bumped when WESA got their power increase.

 

[xm41]

They were bumped when WESA got their power increase.

I heard long ago that WESA couldn't get an increase because of their tower height on Spears mountain. That was back in the early 90's when a lot of class A's were going from 3 to 6kw. I know that WJPA couldn't get an increase either.

 

[kenhawk1160]

I know that WJPA couldn't get an increase either.

They're maxed out where they are...to hike up the power would require a substantial stick move. They won't do that...they'd be losing their audience in the South Hills, and it's pretty substantial. Nonetheless, they don't need a power increase...they're doing VERY well at what they're doing now.

 

[PHIL Z]

I see no way 88.1 will get a listenable Signal into The Pittsburgh Area. I sing About AM Radio. 1550 is Available at 1/4 the Price, and even the 4 Watts Nighttime serves Braddock ,Rankin , Forrest Hills And that area of Mon Valley.It's Interesting that Lighting Mckeesport is Looking for an LPFM ,And Yearly they Broadcast low Power From Rainbow Village. They Also should look at 1550. It Could be Brokered like 620/770. They would make money on the deal.

 

[KeyTimes950]

I see no way 88.1 will get a listenable Signal into The Pittsburgh Area. I sing About AM Radio. 1550 is Available at 1/4 the Price, and even the 4 Watts Nighttime serves Braddock ,Rankin , Forrest Hills And that area of Mon Valley.It's Interesting that Lighting Mckeesport is Looking for an LPFM ,And Yearly they Broadcast low Power From Rainbow Village. They Also should look at 1550. It Could be Brokered like 620/770. They would make money on the deal.

First, I presume you meant Tube City Community Media, which I believe is the successor to Lightning Community FM (not Lighting), and International Village, the annual ethnic festival in McKeesport's Renziehausen Park, at which Tube City has done an Internet broadcast.

Second, AM 1550 could be a good daytime repeater for FM 88.1, but at night it will be blown out if, as was reported elsewhere, CBC returns to AM 1550 in Windsor, Ontario, this time with its French-language broadcasts.

Finally, if you're offering a non-commercial 24-hour jazz music service, where do you find the time for barter? Never mind find some way to sell this station?

 

[cingram]

Why does every religious group with a couple bucks feel they have to broadcast the same crap everywhere and anywhere?

They're evangelizing.

The He's Alive radio network and others like it are run by religious hypocrites. If they were so concerned with loving people they would spend their money on feeding the hungry or buying medicine for sick people or any other way than spamming the airwaves with their so-called message.

I wouldn't know if they're hypocrites or not. There's plenty of questionable messages on Christian radio (and
don't even get me started on Christian television) but I enjoy He's Alive in the late-night and overnight hours,
when the station/network is playing mostly music.

C.