WOKV moves to 104.5 FM...now what is next for 106.5 FM & the WFYV calls?

[benale]

All news on 690 sounds like a viable option. Simulcast the morning news on 690,then use America's Radio News or other sources, run a local newsblock during the noon hour and afternoon drive. I suppose more simulcasts at night and the weekends. That signal is incredible.

I really hope Cox doesn't switch it to sports,like they did in Orlando. What a waste of a great signal there. All news would have been a nice alternative, as well.

 

[Louis_009]

I was talking about the daytime singal not the nightime singal. of WKOV AM-690

 

[jmtillery]

I was talking about the daytime singal not the nightime singal. of WKOV AM-690

The daytime signal doesn't reach that far inland from Jacksonville which is just over 200-miles. The only reason the daytime signal can be heard as far North as Wilmington, North Carolina is because the signal follows the Atlantic Ocean salt water shore line up the coast and goes inland about five miles before the signal is completely gone. By way of another example, WWL-AM 870 New Orleans can be heard in Crystal River, Florida during the day with a clear signal along the Gulf salt water coast and inland only a few miles. AM signals will follow very impressively along wet lands and salt water but not very well along sand with very poor ground conductivity which is commonly found in Florida.

 

[cd637299]

I remember hearing OKV in the day from where I lived, now called Miami Gardens FL, in the mid 80s, when the Cuban on 690 was off.

Although the Cuban isn't a powerhouse as it once was, still it is just enough to make WOKV impossible here.

cd

 

[upstate29651]

I don't see 690 changing...

Agreed. The notion that OKV (former APE) couldn't monetize their signal in the 60's & 70's...and it's an issue now, is laughable.

G

I'm not sure I quite understand how you came to the conclusion that anything positive regarding AM 690 is laughable considering the success it had in the '60s and '70s as Top 40 WAPE and again in the '90s and today as WOKV. To think that nothing relevant, productive and profitable can be accomplished with that massive low dial position non-directional day signal is laughable.

Re-read my comment. In the 60's & 70's, WAPE 690 was THE station to listen to at the beach from Myrtle Beach down to Daytona. Yet, were advertisers sought outside of metro Jax? The answer is no. So, what was the monetary gain to broadcast out 50k watts to those areas? None. But they did it...and they do it today, which is why I openly wonder why NOW is the time to change things when it was a-ok for many decades.

 

[upstate29651]

To think that anything productive cannot be accomplished with that massive low dial position non-directional day signal is laughable.

The three most important considerations for an AM radio station are signal, signal, and signal.
I don't live in or near Jax, but I believe 690 is number one on all three, even at night.

ABSOLUTELY!!! Not only does AM 690 have the best AM signal in Jacksonville, it has the best AM signal in Florida and the Southeast!!!

Sooo..where are advertisers in GA? SC? Where's the ROI on that 50k signal, since its been determined to not be effective locally, hence, the move to 104.5.

G

 

[Ai4i]

...which is why I openly wonder why NOW is the time to change things when it was a-ok for many decades.

Um, because to quote the late Robert F. Kennedy,
"I...ask, why not" ???

 

[jmtillery]

Re-read my comment. In the 60's & 70's, WAPE 690 was THE station to listen to at the beach from Myrtle Beach down to Daytona. Yet, were advertisers sought outside of metro Jax? The answer is no. So, what was the monetary gain to broadcast out 50k watts to those areas? None. But they did it...and they do it today, which is why I openly wonder why NOW is the time to change things when it was a-ok for many decades.

Somehow I get the distinct feeling you are attempting to play devil's advocate, so if this is the case, I'll play along. Furthermore, I understood your comment during the first read so a second read isn't necessary.

With regards to your comment about WAPE not seeking advertisers outside the Jacksonville metro, the answer is quiet elementary and simplistic.

The cost associated with attracting advertisers outside the metro outweighs the monetary gain while, by your own admission, WAPE was THE radio station to listen to along the beaches, the Big Ape generated more than enough ad revenue from its Jacksonville home MSA that it wasn't, and still isn't, necessary to seek advertising dollars outside its home metro.

As for its 50kw signal, this enhances and strengthens the local signal within the Jacksonville MSA and TSA giving AM 690 a far more superior local signal than it will have at 10kw or 5kw. As a result, the massive signal is used as a marketing tool to generate higher ad rates that it would not generate at a lower operating power while the higher power allows AM 690 to have superior building penetration that many of the other MSA AM stations does not have. This is the same basic principle Cox is using by moving its news-talk programming from the lower powered 106.5 FM to the bigger 100kw 104.5 FM signal. Coverage and building penetration is essential in addition to having compelling programming content, imaging, promotions and superior sales and marketing initiatives.

Lastly, this isn't 1965 any longer; therefore times have changed and what worked in the past doesn't always work well in the present. Likewise, what didn't work in the past sometimes "come of age" and work very well today.

 

[jmtillery]

Sooo..where are advertisers in GA? SC? Where's the ROI on that 50k signal, since its been determined to not be effective locally, hence, the move to 104.5.

G

As I explained in my previous post, it isn't necessary to target advertisers outside the Jacksonville MSA with few exceptions such as targeting regional advertisers that have multiple locations throughout Jacksonville and the immediate surrounding area, including South Georgia. However, from a general advertising perspective, targeting select advertisers outside the metro does not generally work very well for the advertiser nor the station. Furthermore it isn't necessary for AM 690 to target said advertisers in order to generate a reasonable or even impressive ROI for Cox Radio. With few exceptions, consumers will not take the time to drive long distance to make a purchase from a distant advertiser unless, by way of example, it is to purchase an automobile from a distant auto dealer whom the consumer believes will get a better deal from said dealer.

 

[tomservo]

If everyone is listening on FM and online, what good does all that building penetration and useless signal hundreds of miles away actually do for Cox?

In one case I'm aware of, a formerly relatively high powered AM dropped power to the minimum needed to allow its translator to stay at 250 watts. Why spend the money on the AM signal when everyone's migrated elsewhere? It's wasted money on the power bill. If the format migrates to a full power FM, that's even less incentive to keep paying the bill for 50 kW when 5 or 10 might do with a niche format.

Of course with interference only getting worse on the AM, I also feel like lowering power is a bad move. So it's a trade off of signal versus money. With today's corporate owners, money always comes first.

 

[Ai4i]

Might a high power AM be a good fit for Salem ???
Salem targets a dying mature demo with unique programming.

 

[upstate29651]

Might a high power AM be a good fit for Salem ???
Salem targets a dying mature demo with unique programming.

right wing, intolerant. Christian.

We know what you meant. :

G

 

[Kmagrill]

Let's be careful of labels. I generally find Christians to be quite tolerant, as opposed to certain members of both political parties who are quite the opposite regardless of their stated religious affiliation.

 

[Ai4i]

OK OK, lets stay on topic:
Those who grew up on AM would be more tolerant toward a station on AM.

 

[cd637299]

Based on Upstate's past posts, I think that post was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. +1 on labels, tho'.

cd

 

[upstate29651]

Based on Upstate's past posts, I think that post was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. +1 on labels, tho'.

cd

+1 back to you!

G

 

[jpm3002]

Once again, I do not think Power will be moving. That is out of the question. Would a hot talk/classic rock on the weekends type of station work for 106.5?

I like the idea of Cox using the 690 frequency for an all news station.

They could simulcast Action News at 6PM and 11PM and use some national affiliates for worldwide news. Maybe sprinkle in some sports news as well.

Thoughts?

 

[TommyR]

How about this? A new active rocker that doesn't have 33 years of heritage to maintain, nor is compelled by such image to play an inordinate amount of Skynyrd. I'd think its numbers would justify working on a 6kW stick vs. a 98kW one.

 

[Parttimer]

Spanish on 106.5.

 

[upstate29651]

Spanish on 106.5.

It doesn't hit where most of them live.

On a related note, the stereo has been turned on, on 106.5.

G