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WMOB, W239CW, and WOWB "WOW Radio"

passtheword

passtheword

Anyone know what is happening with WMOB-AM 1360, their FM translator W239CW (95.7 FM) and their connection with WOWB "WOW Radio" 90.9 FM in Brewton? WMOB and its FM translator were sold last year; WMOB is shown as the originating station for W239CW (at least that what is showing at the FCC) but from what I've read online, WOWB is airing over the FM translator and WMOB-AM is not even on the air (that may have changed since I saw that information, of course).

This afternoon I came across a post on WOW Radio's Facebook page from someone posting about WOW Radio now being available on 95.7 in Mobile. The station itself does not mention any reference to a 95.7 signal being used in conjunction with 90.9 on the station page. I decided to check out WOW Radio's online stream today and the legal TOH ID is given as "WOWB, Brewton, W239CW Mobile, and WMOB-AM Mobile", so it appears at least that the Mobile AM and FM translator are simulcasting the WOW Radio programming. In the past, I have been able to receive WMOB-AM here around sunset with the station broadcasting around 9 kw, but I haven't heard the station on AM 1360 since it went off the air a couple of years ago. Is WMOB actually rebroadcasting the WOW 90.9 programming on W239CW? If WMOB-AM is not on the air, what station is being used to legally rebroadcast over the 95.7 FM translator? Also, are the owners of WOW Radio and WMOB/W239CW one and the same? Or are the Mobile stations being operated as some LMA by WOW Radio?
 
I've checked the dial pretty regularly since the WMOB and WTOF deal was announced but have not heard either station on the air in the last several months. I'm pretty sure WMOB was on maybe six months ago, but it was just a carrier and only lasted for a day. Someone is definitely maintaining the site, though; last time I was down the Causeway during the day, I noted that the grass was cut and the building was pretty clean looking, not neglected at all.

It's possible that 95.7 isn't operating all the time, too. I was just up in Loxley last week and all I heard was K-Love from Pensacola, but all the other times I've been up around I-10 I've heard WOW FM instead.

If there's some sort of deal between WOWB's owners and WMOB's owners, I can't find anything about it anywhere. UM Enterprises is the name of the company that bought WMOB and WTOF for $100, and it seems to be something run by Dave Minard, who I think was a Cumulus engineer back in the early 2000's.
 
I figured WMOB must not be on the air. I tried listening for WMOB last night around sunset and didn't hear the station. I have been able to receive WMOB here just south of Birmingham during the winter months in the mid afternoon hours, if I null out WIXI-AM in Jasper.

So if WMOB-AM is not feeding the FM translator (or no other FM HD channel in Mobile area is), what station is being used to rebroadcast WOWB on the 95.7 FM translator? Can WOWB be used to legally rebroadcast over W239CW i.e. is it permissible for an analog FM signal to feed an FM translator? If so, would the FM translator be required to be within the primary service contour of the full service FM being rebroadcast? Or are noncommercial stations exempt from such a requirement? I know that some FM translators are allowed to rebroadcast noncommercial FMs from areas way beyond their service area.
 
if i recall correctly.

an analog FM can feed a trans;lator.. thats been going on for decades.

they can even even own it... IF .. its a non comm, it can be anywhere,. if its not a non comm, it has to beinside the 60dbu contour.

non commercial station or not, if the ttanslator is in the commercial band, it has to be fed over the air.. so this would be fed over the air.

Could WMOB be off the air and this is their replacement feed? Absolutely.

i dont see anything filed.. doesnt mean it hasnt been or wont be.

I've seen translator primary stations mentioned for and filed for within apps that were filed for for other reasons.
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
Could WMOB be off the air and this is their replacement feed? Absolutely.

i dont see anything filed.. doesnt mean it hasnt been or wont be.

I've seen translator primary stations mentioned for and filed for within apps that were filed for for other reasons.
Click to expand...
Exactly how long of a grace window will the FCC give a station owner for making these changes? The translator's license to cover was filed in early September 2022, and it's been on the air at least since the end of September '22 with WOWB. Surely if something was gonna be filed it wouldn't wait eight freakin' months to happen.
 
tomservo said:
Exactly how long of a grace window will the FCC give a station owner for making these changes? The translator's license to cover was filed in early September 2022, and it's been on the air at least since the end of September '22 with WOWB. Surely if something was gonna be filed it wouldn't wait eight freakin' months to happen.
Click to expand...

That i dont know.. like, theres a bit of a grace period, wether officialyl or unofficially when filign an Silent STA.. but i dont think theres much if any of that with this type of thing.
 
An update to this mystery, sort of.

WMOB has a currently authorized STA for 500 watts days, 50 watts nights from a longwire on the grounds of the WALA TV tower east of Spanish Fort. Weirdly, the filing I saw mentioned this was first applied for back in August of 2022, and granted in January 2023, but I can't find anything about it on the station's application list. I guess it's legit, however, since the FCC granted the extension.

I've been up in Spanish Fort, Loxley and even up to Stapleton a few times this summer and never once heard a peep from anything on 1360. If this thing has been on, it's been a bare minimum deal with coverage that must not make it south of I-10.

They've also filed an app to move to the WASG tower in Prichard, 1 kW days and 59 watts night. That'll be the end of it being one of Mobile's best (daytime) signals. The filing says they lost the lease on the Causeway property. I guess we'll be seeing yet another seafood shanty springing up there in a few years.
 
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