= [ WLFM ]=

[stormy01]

we're looking forward to the updated PPM numbers for July.

The numbers are in for July and WLFM 87.7 is still growing! 471K listeners with a 1.0 share. Great job! See ratings here: http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/chicago

 

[radiotower40]

Not only are they moving up but their former home 95.5 went down to a 1.9, leaving less than one share point between
them. I would say that is a pretty good accomplishment for a low power TV station, that I'm sure a lot have people still
have not found.

 

[stormy01]

Not only are they moving up but their former home 95.5 went down to a 1.9, leaving less than one share point between
them. I would say that is a pretty good accomplishment for a low power TV station, that I'm sure a lot have people still
have not found.

Pat Kelley, the GM over at Smooth Jazz 87.7 has mentioned that there are many things "in the works". We're hearing some of them: there is a decent number of commercials, including some local businesses so their income is growing, some of the newer commercials are for local jazz concerts so there is more community involvement and the voice tracking is good, though I'm sure the WLFM people wish they could have live & local. I've asked Pat Kelley to promote 87.7 more with commercials, billboards, bumper stickers, etc. to "get the word out" - he says those are coming.

And the more traditional jazz on Sunday evenings is definitely worth a listen, not taking away from WDCB 90.9 who also does a great job!

I hope that WLFM gets on the iPhone and PDA app's so more people can hear them (as well as online) and that they have contingency plans to get on a 'regular' FM frequency someday just in case the FCC does not expand the FM band downwards to 76 MHz (supposedly) - though many of us hope that the FM band does get expanded.

 

[avtosalon]

Enjoy it now because eventually 87.7 "The L" may be going away.

Since it is actually a low-power television station, at some point the station will have to convert to digital. When the audio signal converts to digital, you won't be able to pick it up on a regular analog radio or HD radio.

I heard that the Channel 6 in New York (that also pretends to be a radio station) has already converted it's video signal to digital, but continues to broadcast the audio signal using analog, so the station can be received at 87.7 FM. The video and audio use different frequencies. Apparently this is allowed by the FCC. Oddly, the TV station is mapping to Channel 1-1 on digital TV's and converter boxes. I'm not sure if anyone hears audio when using a digital TV or converter box. I think eventually BOTH video and audio will have to be transmitted in digital only by low-power TV stations.

"The L" seems be doing OK with their ratings but do they subscribe to Arbitron? Arbitron costs thousands of dollars per month, and Advertising Sales Reps can not refer to ratings if their station does not subscribe.

Another thing, the station was going to be leased for $16,000 per month to the same progammers (Mega Media) who lease Channel 6 in New York, airing a Dance format. I would assume that "The L" is still available to anyone who comes forward with money to lease the station.

Fans of smooth jazz should also consider listening to WNUA-HD2 (with an HD radio) in case "The L" goes away. Does anyone remember the last time Chicago had 2 smooth jazz stations? There was WNUA and 106.7 WTWV Des Plaines 'The Wave', which did not last very long in the late 80's. Back then, the format was called "new age".

 

[stormy01]

Enjoy it now because eventually 87.7 "The L" may be going away.

"The L" seems be doing OK with their ratings but do they subscribe to Arbitron? Arbitron costs thousands of dollars per month, and Advertising Sales Reps can not refer to ratings if their station does not subscribe.

WLFM must be subscribing to Arbitron, how can it appear here? http://www.radio-info.com/markets/

Not to worry, by the time LPTV's have to go digital, either the FM band gets expanded or a new technology like WiMax will allow WLFM to be heard everywhere (and WNVR for that matter)

Down with the Corporate Suits that pulled Smooth Jazz off 95.5 I hope they crash and burn!

 

[avtosalon]

WLFM must be subscribing to Arbitron, how can it appear here? http://www.radio-info.com/markets/

WLFM-LP can appear on your link because that is not a list of subscribers. Your link is a list of the ratings, which has to include all stations, otherwise the ratings would not be accurate.

I suspect around half of the stations on the list do not subscribe to Arbitron. Usually the non-commercials, small AM's, and suburban Class A's whose signal does not reach the entire metro area.

Arbitron would be a waste of money for smaller stations who target just a small section of the Chicagoland metropolitan area because the ratings are for the entire metro area. For example, WXLC targets just Lake County, so of course their % would be alot higher if you count only Lake County. Also, smaller stations often sell to independent businesses who are not using ad agencies (the ones who pay attention to ratings).

I do not work in the broadcast industry, so I'm not an expert but I wonder if a station who recently was 'up for lease' and will probably go-away in a couple of years (because they are actually a low-power TV station licensed to Rochelle, Illinois) will be spending thousands of dollars per month to subscribe to Arbitron?

Down with the Corporate Suits that pulled Smooth Jazz off 95.5 I hope they crash and burn!

Cheap Channel pulled Smooth Jazz from their main station, but it STILL EXISTS on their HD2 station, so go buy an HD radio for around $100! The only people who should be angry are the listeners of Traditional Jazz (which was on WNUA-HD2) who lost their station altogether, and the fans of Alternative Country which was yanked off WLFM-LP by the corporate suits at Venture Technologies.