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WPFB & WPAY Sold To WNKU

Supposedly Braden has received countless offers for the big Middletown 105.9 signal, presumably to move in closer to Cincy or Dayton. Ironic that in the end it goes to NKU, which apparently intends to keep it exactly where it is in order to reach Cincy's northern suburbs better than NKU's 89.7 signal as well as expand coverage north into Dayton.

I think the WPAY-FM part is a little odd. Sorry, but I just can't imagine the market for an eclectic AAA is all that extensive in what is essentially rural, blue collar Appalachia. Don't know how much support they'll get from over that way.

And can anyone explain why Braden is apparently keeping WPAY-AM but not WPFB-AM?
 
keys2 said:
I think the WPAY-FM part is a little odd. Sorry, but I just can't imagine the market for an eclectic AAA is all that extensive in what is essentially rural, blue collar Appalachia. Don't know how much support they'll get from over that way.
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Yea it seems odd... since 105.9 extends the reach of 89.7's listening area to the north... however WPAY would extend their signal to the East... Though as many have said... they may have bought 104.1 to get 105.9 and could sell 104.1 to say someone like EMF .. and fund their purchase of 105.9
 
NKU intends to sell 910 AM & their 94.5 West Chester translator. With Portsmouth having other signals, NKU could move that signal to another city of license closer to Cincy.
 
ouuc said:
NKU intends to sell 910 AM & their 94.5 West Chester translator. With Portsmouth having other signals, NKU could move that signal to another city of license closer to Cincy.
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There is no way to move WPAY 104.1 closer to Cincinnati. in fact there is an application to downgrade the 104.1 signal from class C to CO with a directional antenna and allow WNLT to upgrade their signal and move into Cincinnati from Harrison.
 
WPAY-FM was grandfathered as a class C, despite being short-spaced to 104.1/WLBC Muncie. A couple of years ago their original tower was taken down by an ice storm. FAA wouldn't allow new tower to be built as high. Hence, under the new rules, they would either be downgraded to a Class C-0 or would have to move south into the hills of Kentucky.

The new CP provides for a directional antenna that protects both WLBC and WNLT (at their new site).
 
TomT said:
WPAY-FM was grandfathered as a class C, despite being short-spaced to 104.1/WLBC Muncie. A couple of years ago their original tower was taken down by an ice storm. FAA wouldn't allow new tower to be built as high. Hence, under the new rules, they would either be downgraded to a Class C-0 or would have to move south into the hills of Kentucky.

The new CP provides for a directional antenna that protects both WLBC and WNLT (at their new site).
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Just to clarify, they were a Class C but were operating at below Class C minimum facilities (100kw/450m HAAT) prior to the tower collapse. Someone in Columbus (either 103.9 or 104.3) filed a minor change app that would have "triggered" a reclassification to C0. Then WPAY filed to try and get a taller tower at the existing site, but the FAA wouldn't allow it.
While all that wrangling was going on, the ice storm came and the tower collapsed. After a lot of back and forth, they did manage to get FAA permission and built a new tower that did meet the requirements (100kw/451m HAAT, directional to protect WLBC) at a location slightly to the south of the old site. They are downgrading to C0 by lowering the antenna to or slightly below the 450m HAAT requirement, but I don't think the directional pattern is changing at all.
 
I was told from an insider that WNKU was in Dire Straits financially. So I think they were faced with the decision to either go under or buy up some big signals to expand their reach into new areas to increase memberships. Good luck. They can spend their 6.8 mil for their crappy format. Better them than me! I don't see how this will help them garner more funding. Cows can't work a telephone!
 
I see this going over in the WPAY coverage area like a fart in church. Most of that area gets the same sort of programming from WOUL in Ironton (50kW noncomm FM that repeats WOUB in Athens). I still have to think that the 105.9 signal was what they were really after and that the rest will be spun off.
 
It's at 94.5, somewhere between Fairfield and West Chester. It doesn't do much to the north due to Dayton's 94.5. I was surprised it got approved at all. I live in Fairfield and could always pick up WDKF. At times, I still get their iboc and it will switch from WNKU analog to WDKF digital.
 
The Braden family turned down a 10-million dollar offer for WPFB-FM only, back in the 80's. So getting 6.5 million now for 3 or 4 stations seems like a deal. That station has a humongous signal. In the right hands it could be a real money maker. As a non-comm...not sure I get the plan yet. ???
 
I don't understand them translating on WPAY either. I've spent a lot of time in Portsmouth. WPAY was the station to listen to. Their signal is in fact huge, and their new tower is huge. People in that area WILL NOT agree with the new format. I live northwest of Columbus, and could get 104.1 on 270 on the south side. Also listened to it while visiting family in Perry County. Could also get it well in Athens. Folks down there love their country and western music. On a boombox, WPAY's signal would show up on about 10 places throughout the dial, and pretty much killed any other station. One question though.

I was there after their tower fell, and before they put the new one in. Where was their antennas at during that time? My ex-girlfriends house was in West Portsmouth, and the tower owned by OSU was right behind it. I wonder if they were temporarily on that tower, seeing how one night while driving down in a storm, I saw lightning hit the OSU tower, and WPAY went dead for about an hour.
 
What do you mean people in Portsmouth, Huntington, and Maysville "won't agree with the format" they'll get on WPAY when NKU takes it over? It's a noncommercial adult album format, heavy on the Americana and alt-country flavored material. Ain't no adults down there?
Maybe some right wingers can be corralled into hating yet another neighbor in anticipation of some inteelectualls takin' over the radio, but the state of Kentucky obviously sees a benefit into funding an expansion for the NKU signal area to actually reach most of Northern Kentucky and its neighbors. And the music format is substantially different from what WOUB airs most of the time, if you actually listened and understood that "public radio" is not a format, but a funding model - not to mention radio with a mission to do more than sell stuff or convert people's voting behavior and religious views. Public Radio which plays a AAA format is a rare one, so this will complement the classical music from W VA Public radio, and the talk programming out of Athens. Heck, I think they play some bluegrass on NKU, as well. Not to mention coverage and discussion of state politics, from a non-partisan position.

I would have never guessed on this move, so perhaps the "shock" of noncommercial radio taking over where the commercial radio world is faltering is what some of you are so pissy about here. 100kw is great to have in the hands of a broadcaster who actually wants to serve the people, and the signal really does reach a lot of rural areas where hill and hollers mess up reception. More power to 'em!
 
I remember when WPFB & WPFB-FM really had it going with: easy-listening music, country, rock all kinds of sports, good local news, etc. In addition, the company supplied background music for many super markets throughout Southwestern Ohio. While the AM had very minimal power at night, the FM had a powerful signal both north and south.
 
Wasn't it Power 106 for a short time, with Lincoln Ware doing evenings? I also remember it as Mellow 106 and Gospel too before it flipped to The Rebel.
 
I can't wait to hear it on 105.9. I'm a subscriber to WFPK 91.9 Radio Louisville and listen to NKU every time I come to the 'Nati (only since the AAA switch).

True music lovers will rejoice. I just hope that they have the success FPK has here in the 'Ville. FPK is very community-oriented and active in the local music scene. They are everything local radio SHOULD be and I, for one, prefer monetarily supporting this format as opposed to Satellite music that has a bit rate worse than some internet streaming.
 
Cincinnati Kid said:
I remember when WPFB & WPFB-FM really had it going with: easy-listening music, country, rock all kinds of sports, good local news, etc. In addition, the company supplied background music for many super markets throughout Southwestern Ohio. While the AM had very minimal power at night, the FM had a powerful signal both north and south.
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Do you remember 105.9 being in mono during the day so they could use more of their signal for super markets? After the stores closed, they went Stereo at night IIRC. And I do remember hearing Moon Mullins on 910 in the early-mid 1960's.
 
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