WNWR AM 1540 (Philly) New Format

[Radiomogul79]

So let's see. The same story was covered twice on the Philly board, but that wasn't enough. So now its a local station on the national board.

Look, this isn't brain surgery. They bought a small AM, and run brokered religious. It happens everywhere. Not just this one station. Its not a 'new format' or a 'new approach.' It's been going on since the 1920s. Why the fascination? Unless your name is Wilkins. There are people here who do the same thing in their towns.

My point is, they took a daytime AM that was regional Mexican and in two months have filled it up. You make it sound like that’s easy to do. I know it’s not a new idea, but if it’s as easy as you make out, why aren’t more people turning to this instead of turning in their licenses, etc? Its not that easy.

 

[TheBigA]

My point is, they took a daytime AM that was regional Mexican and in two months have filled it up. You make it sound like that’s easy to do.

I'm questioning what this one station has to do with national radio. I don't care if it's easy or hard. If you'd like to give more examples indicative of a national trend, I'd be more interested. Otherwise it's best kept on the Philly board where it already was.

I think owners make decisions based on local circumstances. If they own a 1K daytimer, they don't have a lot of options. That's not the case here.

 

[davideduardo]

My point is, they took a daytime AM that was regional Mexican and in two months have filled it up. You make it sound like that’s easy to do. I know it’s not a new idea, but if it’s as easy as you make out, why aren’t more people turning to this instead of turning in their licenses, etc? Its not that easy.

It was easy to do for this owner, as they have a bunch of similar brokered stations and have all the contacts. Only a few operators can do that,

 

[davideduardo]

I think owners make decisions based on local circumstances. If they own a 1K daytimer, they don't have a lot of options. That's not the case here.

In this case, 50 kw on 1540 with tiny night power is about the same as a 1 kw daytimer.

 

[Radiomogul79]

It was easy to do for this owner, as they have a bunch of similar brokered stations and have all the contacts. Only a few operators can do that,

Ok, thank you. Your response makes sense!

 

[TheBigA]

In this case, 50 kw on 1540 with tiny night power is about the same as a 1 kw daytimer.

But those that own 1kw daytimes are the ones turning in licenses. The high dial high power ones seem to find ways to stick around.

 

[Radiomogul79]

In this case, 50 kw on 1540 with tiny night power is about the same as a 1 kw daytimer.

It’s actually now non-directional 10KW day, 7 watts night. It has a good signal during the day for in car listening (IMO). The previous owner bought it and sold the land the towers were on and are now diplexing.

 

[Radiomogul79]

I'm questioning what this one station has to do with national radio. I don't care if it's easy or hard. If you'd like to give more examples indicative of a national trend, I'd be more interested. Otherwise it's best kept on the Philly board where it already was.

I think owners make decisions based on local circumstances. If they own a 1K daytimer, they don't have a lot of options. That's not the case here.

That was my mistake, please forgive me for being a noob on the site. I didn’t realize I posted it on both threads. Now that I found out who is behind the venture, it looks like this would be a national trend (www.wilkinsradio.com). They appear to have done this for the past 30 plus years.

 

[davideduardo]

It’s actually now non-directional 10KW day, 7 watts night. It has a good signal during the day for in car listening (IMO). The previous owner bought it and sold the land the towers were on and are now diplexing.

I forgot the daytime downgrade. 10kw on 1540 is like 250 watts on 550... or less.

And in studies done in a couple of diary markets, most of the block religious listening is in fixed locations, mostly at home.

 

[TheBigA]

I forgot the daytime downgrade. 10kw on 1540 is like 250 watts on 550... or less.

But as we all know, religious owners don't care about audience or ratings. The people buying time on this station aren't engineers thinking about it being a high dial station. All they care about is that Philadelphia is in its coverage area. During the day, the local coverage goes from Croydon to Chester. At night it covers all of center city. That's what they want to see. If the station was in eastern Camden county, it's not as interesting.

 

[Radiomogul79]

I forgot the daytime downgrade. 10kw on 1540 is like 250 watts on 550... or less.

And in studies done in a couple of diary markets, most of the block religious listening is in fixed locations, mostly at home.

Coverage looks descent IMO.

 

[davideduardo]

Coverage looks descent IMO.

Th real usable coverage for AM stations is about 30% inside the innermost red circle. The radio-locator maps are vastly exaggerated on AM because ambient noise has further restricted AM station coverage.

 

[Kelly A]

Th real usable coverage for AM stations is about 30% inside the innermost red circle. The radio-locator maps are vastly exaggerated on AM because ambient noise has further restricted AM station coverage.

True, and 7watts night? One maybe could hear the station a few blocks away.

 

[Radiomogul79]

Th real usable coverage for AM stations is about 30% inside the innermost red circle. The radio-locator maps are vastly exaggerated on AM because ambient noise has further restricted AM station coverage.

Even in cars? I can hear it clearly In my car all throughout the red.

 

[Kelly A]

Even in cars? I can hear it clearly In my car all throughout the red.

Clearly you're enjoying the programming. Glad to hear they have one listener.

 

[Radiomogul79]

But as we all know, religious owners don't care about audience or ratings. The people buying time on this station aren't engineers thinking about it being a high dial station. All they care about is that Philadelphia is in its coverage area. During the day, the local coverage goes from Croydon to Chester. At night it covers all of center city. That's what they want to see. If the station was in eastern Camden county, it's not as interesting.

Clearly you're enjoying the programming. Glad to hear they have one listener.

LOL, yeah it’s not bad. It’s a little different than Salems 560 WFIL. They have a lot of good programs I had never heard before.

 

[Radiomogul79]

True, and 7watts night? One maybe could hear the station a few blocks away.

True, but they got a 250 watt translator out of Pennsauken, NJ. A Lot of people In the 60dBu.

 

[michael hagerty]

True, but they got a 250 watt translator out of Pennsauken, NJ. A Lot of people In the 60dBu.

You seem to be of the belief that there’s a vast (or even half-vast) audience of people hungry for brokered religious programming in Philly,

 

[Radiomogul79]

You seem to be of the belief that there’s a vast (or even half-vast) audience of people hungry for brokered religious programming in Philly,

No, not really, I’m just amazed at how fast they have put it all together. I love radio…

 

[davideduardo]

You seem to be of the belief that there’s a vast (or even half-vast) audience of people hungry for brokered religious programming in Philly,

And we tend to have a profusion of half-vast posts on subjects like this. 🤣