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nephi1
Guest
Rumors going around that they are struggling at the new WPAZ. They think they will change thier fortunes by changing the call letters. What do you think.
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those calls are the biggest thing going for it right now...60 years of goodwill and community history. it would be like changing the name of The Mercury (the local daily).
the 1st thing that would help it is fix the audio stream. it is 180 degrees out of phase and unlistenable...so annoying. please, just reverse one set of wires on ONE channel analog, left or right-not both, feeding in/out of your server computer. it will make it sound rich and warm, like the other 4 million streams.
second would be to apply for a translator at 103.5 or 106.7. one of these should already BE on the air. i wrote of this ages ago, but it looks like no one acted. i don't want to sound harsh, but i believe this group is well meaning and truly motivated, but sorely lacking true business and broadcast experience. I don't mean time and temp hosting a show, i mean the grasp of running a station behind the scenes, just like herb scott and bob eppiheimer did.
i really want to see the station and group succeed, but saw this coming. patience and finances are finite, which is why it went dark in the 1st place. the business plan needed one more ingredient, cash flow. electric, royalties, insurance, payroll(?), commissions, upkeep, leases, equipment...even for a non-profit occur every month.
i wish them the best. changing the heritage calls will be the death nell of 1370Kc.
the 1st thing that would help it is fix the audio stream. it is 180 degrees out of phase and unlistenable...so annoying. please, just reverse one set of wires on ONE channel analog, left or right-not both, feeding in/out of your server computer. it will make it sound rich and warm, like the other 4 million streams.
second would be to apply for a translator at 103.5 or 106.7. one of these should already BE on the air. i wrote of this ages ago, but it looks like no one acted. i don't want to sound harsh, but i believe this group is well meaning and truly motivated, but sorely lacking true business and broadcast experience. I don't mean time and temp hosting a show, i mean the grasp of running a station behind the scenes, just like herb scott and bob eppiheimer did.
i really want to see the station and group succeed, but saw this coming. patience and finances are finite, which is why it went dark in the 1st place. the business plan needed one more ingredient, cash flow. electric, royalties, insurance, payroll(?), commissions, upkeep, leases, equipment...even for a non-profit occur every month.
i wish them the best. changing the heritage calls will be the death nell of 1370Kc.
How long has the current ownership operated WPAZ?
The previous sentiment about being patient and committing resources is spot-on. You're not going to make a dime with a resuscitated AM for at least a year, and that's assuming experienced and talented broadcasters are hands-on managers, doing everything right. If you don't have that kind of money or patience you shouldn't even attempt it.
I thought I read somewhere that neophytes or non-radio people are running the station. That could spell trouble. Not that I'm wishing that on them. I wish them good luck.
The previous sentiment about being patient and committing resources is spot-on. You're not going to make a dime with a resuscitated AM for at least a year, and that's assuming experienced and talented broadcasters are hands-on managers, doing everything right. If you don't have that kind of money or patience you shouldn't even attempt it.
I thought I read somewhere that neophytes or non-radio people are running the station. That could spell trouble. Not that I'm wishing that on them. I wish them good luck.
ix:
1210 is NOT 1370. it lost it's heritage calls when CBS sold WCAU TV10 to NBC, remember? Then the format changes. And it's 50kw clear, not 1kw D n-d class d (IV).
In my opinion, removing the WPAZ heritage calls from 1370 will do for it what installing Wizzard 100 did for WIBG @990Kc.
It is akin to removing the fins on a '57 Chevy, even when doing a resto-mod...some things you don't mess with.
btw, the stream sound HUGELY improved today
1210 is NOT 1370. it lost it's heritage calls when CBS sold WCAU TV10 to NBC, remember? Then the format changes. And it's 50kw clear, not 1kw D n-d class d (IV).
In my opinion, removing the WPAZ heritage calls from 1370 will do for it what installing Wizzard 100 did for WIBG @990Kc.
It is akin to removing the fins on a '57 Chevy, even when doing a resto-mod...some things you don't mess with.
btw, the stream sound HUGELY improved today
vmelis said:
Maybe it'll be related to the Phillies, who are expected to return to the World Series, which starts right around that time... really, why else would they spend more than a month teasing something? Though, as a WPAZ listener as well as "personnel" (they do carry my music show on Saturdays) I hope it's nothing bleak.
By the way, what does everybody think of WPAZ's new morning host?
the transmitter will interfere with WKTU on 103.5 and WLTW on 106.7. and also on the station in Camden at 106.9 FM. and also 103.3 in Trenton
guys/gals, get up to date on rulemaking for translators and lpfm. I'm not talking about a Class A 6kw @ 300 mters here. I'm talking about a translator! More like 100 watts @ 100' haat. If nounted on their Maugers Mill tower, it won't hit Boyertown because of the mountain to the north, but it will cover better than their 52 watts does at night in stereo. WTKU has zero protection in Pottstown, as does Hershey. Not in their 60 dbu contour.
I live in Coastal SJ (but grw up in P'town). This area is saturated with translators. Some cover no more than 10 miles. Most from Philly PBS and Colleges. Some from Religious kooks. Here's one where the local high school shoe horned one in next to WKXW 101.5 in Trenton! www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WMRH&service=FL&status=L&hours=U Burlington County Community College has translators on CO-channels of stations on the air in Atlantic City! Throw those mileage seperation charts out the window.
I live in Coastal SJ (but grw up in P'town). This area is saturated with translators. Some cover no more than 10 miles. Most from Philly PBS and Colleges. Some from Religious kooks. Here's one where the local high school shoe horned one in next to WKXW 101.5 in Trenton! www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WMRH&service=FL&status=L&hours=U Burlington County Community College has translators on CO-channels of stations on the air in Atlantic City! Throw those mileage seperation charts out the window.
Don't know if he was serious, but Angelo Cataldi mentioned something this morning about WIP will soon be simulcasting on an AM I think in the 1300's (I was just getting in the car and didn't hear the exact station). He then said so soon if your driving and start to lose us on 94.1 or 610, you will be still be able to listen.
So maybe he was talking about wpaz.
So maybe he was talking about wpaz.
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nephi1
Guest
Apparently they have also talked someone into giving them an fm translator and signal as well. The fm frequency is like 103.3 something like that.
As one who has managed a community radio station (WABN, Abingdon, VA, 1230 kHz, 1KW), as they are trying to do at WPAZ, I would offer a couple of suggestions: one programming and one technical.
Firstly, they need to avoid the extremes and garner some consistency. The music is all over the place, depending upon whose program is on. It can range anywhere from oldies to hard rock. I understand that one philosophy of doing community radio is to allow anyone who wants to do a show to have at it and go for broke. Unfortunately, this often leads to 'going for broke' literally, rather than figuratively. A better philosophy, and one which WPAZ needs to adopt, is it is to pick a genre (preferably not hard rock) that will maintain an audience base throughout the day and night. Every station that I know of in this region that has attempted to do some kind of hard rock format on AM in recent years has failed miserably (examples: WHAT and WCHE). The audience just isn't there on AM; most people of the generation who want to hear that music are not going to turn off their IPODs to listen to an AM station. Additional music programs on nights and weekends that complement the standard format are great, but stay away from the extremes.
Local talk programming is also a great interest generator and revenue source, if it is done well. If the host is a complete dunce who is only interested in shooting his mouth off and thinks he's Rush, forget it. Be local, be relavent.
WABN programmed oldies during Monday-Saturday, and Christian teaching, southern gospel, and CCM shows on Sundays (the radio station was owned by a church). While I would not necssarily recommended such a dramatic shift here one day per week, in the central Appalachian Bible belt, it was not an issue. Many stations did the same thing. The station had many loyal underwriters and we did well financially, always running in the black. (Most of our revenue was generated from high school sports play-by-play, the Sunday preachers, and about 20 regular underwriting businesses).
So the first thing WPAZ needs to do to survive (and mayber even thrive) is to pick a genre and stick with it.
Technically, they have one BIG issue. They MUST do something about their processing. It is far too weak. While it's nice to hear very clean audio (which they have), it has to be hurting their coverage, espcially at night when they need all the audio they can push to fill in that 52 watt signal. Even during the day, however, their audio is not nearly as loud as it was under Scott.
Resolving the programming and technial deficiencies of the station would go a long way toward making them viable and keeping them on the air.
Firstly, they need to avoid the extremes and garner some consistency. The music is all over the place, depending upon whose program is on. It can range anywhere from oldies to hard rock. I understand that one philosophy of doing community radio is to allow anyone who wants to do a show to have at it and go for broke. Unfortunately, this often leads to 'going for broke' literally, rather than figuratively. A better philosophy, and one which WPAZ needs to adopt, is it is to pick a genre (preferably not hard rock) that will maintain an audience base throughout the day and night. Every station that I know of in this region that has attempted to do some kind of hard rock format on AM in recent years has failed miserably (examples: WHAT and WCHE). The audience just isn't there on AM; most people of the generation who want to hear that music are not going to turn off their IPODs to listen to an AM station. Additional music programs on nights and weekends that complement the standard format are great, but stay away from the extremes.
Local talk programming is also a great interest generator and revenue source, if it is done well. If the host is a complete dunce who is only interested in shooting his mouth off and thinks he's Rush, forget it. Be local, be relavent.
WABN programmed oldies during Monday-Saturday, and Christian teaching, southern gospel, and CCM shows on Sundays (the radio station was owned by a church). While I would not necssarily recommended such a dramatic shift here one day per week, in the central Appalachian Bible belt, it was not an issue. Many stations did the same thing. The station had many loyal underwriters and we did well financially, always running in the black. (Most of our revenue was generated from high school sports play-by-play, the Sunday preachers, and about 20 regular underwriting businesses).
So the first thing WPAZ needs to do to survive (and mayber even thrive) is to pick a genre and stick with it.
Technically, they have one BIG issue. They MUST do something about their processing. It is far too weak. While it's nice to hear very clean audio (which they have), it has to be hurting their coverage, espcially at night when they need all the audio they can push to fill in that 52 watt signal. Even during the day, however, their audio is not nearly as loud as it was under Scott.
Resolving the programming and technial deficiencies of the station would go a long way toward making them viable and keeping them on the air.
I don't think another oldies on AM is an answer. Other than the same old(ies) answer.
Yes, community radio stations should stay local, but why do they in the meantime have to program oldies.
What worked or may have worked in the old days, may not work now.
Maybe nothing will for a little AM. But looking backwards isn't the answer. There are plenty of oldies to be found on satellite and other media outlet types.
As with any station, WPAZ has good and bad slots.
THANK GOD it's not the same old same old rigid format as a big time commercial... Why would anyone want or suggest they want another one of them.
To be fair, I must mention I do host a show there. And what a nice thing it is to have some freedom of expression.
What listeners, programmers and advertisers need to decide is, is it good? Is it worth supporting?
As a listener of radio, I listen for entertainment. Not the same old talk. Definitely not the same oldies.
But Entertainment... just my 3 cents... inflation you know...
Yes, community radio stations should stay local, but why do they in the meantime have to program oldies.
What worked or may have worked in the old days, may not work now.
Maybe nothing will for a little AM. But looking backwards isn't the answer. There are plenty of oldies to be found on satellite and other media outlet types.
As with any station, WPAZ has good and bad slots.
THANK GOD it's not the same old same old rigid format as a big time commercial... Why would anyone want or suggest they want another one of them.
To be fair, I must mention I do host a show there. And what a nice thing it is to have some freedom of expression.
What listeners, programmers and advertisers need to decide is, is it good? Is it worth supporting?
As a listener of radio, I listen for entertainment. Not the same old talk. Definitely not the same oldies.
But Entertainment... just my 3 cents... inflation you know...
wcradio2 said:
FYI...read my post again. I was not suggesting that WPAZ does oldies. I only used that as an example of what we did in Virginia. Different market, different audience. Every market is different. WPAZ needs to find their niche and stick to it. Even a community radio station cannot be all things to all people.
wcradio2 said:
Since you do a show on WPAZ, you might want to mention the audio processing issue to the powers that be. No matter what you do formatically, people have to be able to hear the station. Right now the audio is weak and that does not support the overall potential of the station.
I admire that people have taken on the challenge of running a community station. It is a tough row to hoe...especially in the first couple of years. I will say this: whatever is on the air is better than another silent station.
I'm not really arguing the point of that certain genre (oldies), although it's been done to death.
I do think that trying to be just one thing to everyone is also a killer.
Unless of course you do classic rock/hits. That seems like it will never go away. And we're all the poorer for it. (unless you're greater media... then I guess you're richer for it!)
I don't have all the answers... but with stations dying while force feeding a certain genre and trying to tinker with that one genre... They just fall by the way anyway.
Broadcast media needs to change that mentality. To what? I'm not sure. I have my ideas... but I'm a small cog within a small wheel.
I just feel trying to be one thing to everyone is just as unhealthy as trying to be everything to everyone.
Except maybe being good at entertaining people. As a listener (and hopefully a broadcaster) that's the key for me.
Entertainment! No matter the genre or programming. If it doesn't work, at least people tried to do something worthwhile and not the same old stuff.
This little cog passed on the info. I'm sure it's been noted though.
I do think that trying to be just one thing to everyone is also a killer.
Unless of course you do classic rock/hits. That seems like it will never go away. And we're all the poorer for it. (unless you're greater media... then I guess you're richer for it!)
I don't have all the answers... but with stations dying while force feeding a certain genre and trying to tinker with that one genre... They just fall by the way anyway.
Broadcast media needs to change that mentality. To what? I'm not sure. I have my ideas... but I'm a small cog within a small wheel.
I just feel trying to be one thing to everyone is just as unhealthy as trying to be everything to everyone.
Except maybe being good at entertaining people. As a listener (and hopefully a broadcaster) that's the key for me.
Entertainment! No matter the genre or programming. If it doesn't work, at least people tried to do something worthwhile and not the same old stuff.
This little cog passed on the info. I'm sure it's been noted though.
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