WJOX now on W276BQ

[passtheword]

I heard W276BQ in south Shelby co today and it was rebroadcasting WJOX rather than Tuscaloosa's WUAL-FM. Up until now, the translator has just covered primarily the Pelham area, but given the strength of the signal today, it appears the CP to increase power and move to Red Mountain is complete. Question is: WHY is Citadel rebroadcasting WJOX on a translator when the 94.5 signal sufficiently covers the same areas already? My guess is it's some sort of temporary measure until other plans are made for the translator. The two scenaios I believe Citadel might implement:


1. Use W276BQ to rebroadcast WAPI to fill in coverage areas not currently served by WAPI-FM. Since the 100.5 signal doesn't cover the entire Birmingham metro area, the new translator could be used to complement WAPI-FM's signal in the Birmingham area.

2. Another format could be put into place on WJOX-AM and the translator could be used to rebroadcast the AM.


I figure scenario #1 is most likely. I could be way off base, but it just doesn't make sense that Citadel would rebroadcast WJOX on the translator when the 94.5 signal is already covering the entire Birmingham area well.

 

[tomservo]

Who knows what they're up to. :

I can't think offhand of any AM properties they own that don't have a presence on FM now. WENN is on 102.1, maybe if the coverage is better they'll shuffle it off to 103.1 next.

The WAPI fill-in scenario seems logical, but I sure hate to see that big 50 kW stick at 690 just wasting away; with an FM translator it could be the spring board for a whole new music format for them.

 

[passtheword]

Who knows what they're up to. :

I can't think offhand of any AM properties they own that don't have a presence on FM now. WENN is on 102.1, maybe if the coverage is better they'll shuffle it off to 103.1 next.

The WAPI fill-in scenario seems logical, but I sure hate to see that big 50 kW stick at 690 just wasting away; with an FM translator it could be the spring board for a whole new music format for them.

Even though option #1 is more likely, I, too, would like to see a music format on 690 once again. I doubt the AM side of that simulcast (now trimulcast) is drawing any numbers at all, so why not try a music format on the station and rebroadcast it on the translator? Rebroadcasting AM's over FM translators seems to have worked well for both Cox's WENN-AM and Richardson Broadcasting's WJLD-AM (Mix 104.1).

Just an observation I had today listening to the trimulcast on 103.1...don't know if it has any relevance or not, but the station ID was given as just "WJOX-FM"; there was no mention of WJOX (AM). I never listen to 'Jox, so I don't know if the AM signal is ID'ed separately from the FM, or whether Citadel has a habit of just IDing the FM and not the AM. IIRC, when the AM went back to the WJOX calls, Citadel was IDing them as WJOX/WJOX-FM. So...the lack of inclusion of the WJOX calls during the station ID may bear witness to what might be forthcoming (if Citadel were to scrap the sports format on 690 in favor of another format).

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

I would love to see AM 690 gain an FM translator and flip to a music format, such as oldies. Or, although I'm sure Citadel wouldn't have two rockers since they already own WZRR, they could always turn 690 alternative and call it "690 the 'ham" ;D

-Travis

 

[BamaGrrl]

I'd love for WAPI to get a stronger signal. Listening to them in BlountCo, driving down into St. Clair Co on 231, their FM signal is being over-ridden by a country station out of Centre. Even in Pell City, the FM signal is full of static and can't be picked up inside of buildings. Switching to the AM channel isn't so hard in the morning; but in the afternoon, they have the syndicated shows on the AM side and the local show on the FM side.