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WLYQ Parkersburg Reducing Power

WLYQ airs the satellite-fed "Willie" Classic Country format and they have a translator on 94.7 FM.

About Us | willie-947

www.willie1050.com www.willie1050.com

If you read their STA extension request, it pretty much explains why they're requesting to reduce power:
THE LICENSEE OF WLYQ REQUESTS AN STA EXTENSION FOR DAYTIME OPERATION AT 1.0
KILOWATT INSTEAD OF THE LICENSED 5.0 KILOWATTS. THE MAIN TRANSMITTER HAS FAILED
AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO VERY OLD EQUIPMENT. NIGHT OPERATION IS PROPOSED AS
LICENSED AT 0.140 KILOWATT. THE LICENSEE HAS FILED AN FCC FORM 301 APPLICATION FOR
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TO OPERATE AT 1.0 KILOWATT DAYTIME, FILE NUMBER BP-20201218AAE.
UPON GRANT OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, THE LICENSEE WILL FILE AN FCC FORM 302,
APPLICATION FOR STATION LICENSE, AND TERMINATE THE STA.
Click to expand...
So their existing 5kW transmitter is on its last legs or dead, more people probably listen to them on 94.7 or via streaming than they do on AM, so they'll go with the 1kW transmitter as a replacement. It costs less up front and isn't as expensive to power longer-term.
 
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Many AM stations are downgrading. 85-95% of radio listening is to FM signals these days. AM stations, especially directional stations, require expensive upkeep to maintain the directional signal and frequently the land required is worth more than the station itself. Not too long ago a 50,000 watt AM in St. Louis dropped to 160 watts non-directional. Typically the downgraded stations have an FM translator where most listening is happening.
 
I live about 35 miles from Parkersburg, and travel there at least 3 days per week. I can get 94.7 almost all the way there. I am sure no one would care if 1050 went down to 1,000 watts, due to virtually no listenership there. I had noted that 94.7 was down for quite a while, and am glad they are back.
 
Mikey Radio said:
WLYQ airs the satellite-fed "Willie" Classic Country format and they have a translator on 94.7 FM.

About Us | willie-947

www.willie1050.com www.willie1050.com

If you read their STA extension request, it pretty much explains why they're requesting to reduce power:

So their existing 5kW transmitter is on its last legs or dead, more people probably listen to them on 94.7 or via streaming than they do on AM, so they'll go with the 1kW transmitter as a replacement. It costs less up front and isn't as expensive to power longer-term.
Click to expand...

Ironically, the other 1050 in WV, WAMN Bluefield is also classic country and has a translator one notch down att 94.5 but it has no relation to the Parkersburg Willie.

The Bluefield Willie runs the localized classic country format from Local Radio Networks
 
Good comments, thank you---part of the slide of AM radio. The AM transmitter and tower properties have now become worth more than the station license, so it's more attractive to sell the land and ditch the radio signal and its rising property taxes.
Here in Houston, AM 850 KEYH, licensed at 10KW directional, but the land was sold and is now operating at an alternate location with a long wire antenna at 100 watts on a FCC Special Temporary Authority.
AM 1180 KGOL is licensed at 50KW and is silent since last August.
That makes 70 silent AM stations in the US -- Silent AM Broadcast Stations List
 
Back in 1982-1983, I worked in Parkersburg at 1050 WADC and the former 99Z. 1981-1982, I was at 95XIL, I wondered if they were owned these days by Results Radio (Burbach Broadcasting) and they are.
 
Parkersburg's AM 1050 was originally WCEF. Here are some major-league funny comments by a former employee there in the early 1960s. Many of us can relate to badly arranged control rooms, air conditioners that hardly worked, and goof ball owners . . .

ADAM JONES stories - STAND-UP-SIT-DOWN AND THE MOP SINK

Adam Jones (Robert Ocepek) was in the broadcast industry from 1954 until 1991. Included here are places he has worked and information about his career.
www.adamjones.info
 
Speaking of West Virginia classic country AM'ers, West Virginia Radio Corp turned in the license of Clarksburg's WPDX 750 back in December. The 1,000 watt daytimer had been a simulcast of WPDX-FM for 12 years.
 
DXingRadio said:
Speaking of West Virginia classic country AM'ers, West Virginia Radio Corp turned in the license of Clarksburg's WPDX 750 back in December. The 1,000 watt daytimer had been a simulcast of WPDX-FM for 12 years.
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Noticed that. I'd put a super-wide ceramic filter into a Kenwood car stereo I had and Eq'ed that source to sound like FM, and had noted how good certain stations still sounded. WPDX-AM, 1230 in Parkersburg, 610 out of Columbus. I could tell when 910 dropped their fidelity off years ago, and it's a shame all the AMs are either doing that, or going to low power (or going away totally, like WPDX.) I don't think letting AM's go away is very smart long-term. But, the country doesn't manufacture much anymore either, so...
 
DXingRadio said:
Speaking of West Virginia classic country AM'ers, West Virginia Radio Corp turned in the license of Clarksburg's WPDX 750 back in December. The 1,000 watt daytimer had been a simulcast of WPDX-FM for 12 years.
Click to expand...
Actually, it was AM/FM both for decades. Going back to before when I was a kid.
 
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