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Laurence Glavin
Guest
Does the minor change application mean WQEW can once again do pattern change according to local sunset in Bakersfield?
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Here's the application you're likely referring to - WQEW is all the way at the end:
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0420/DOC-305919A1.pdf
No specifics, just reads "license to modify."
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0420/DOC-305919A1.pdf
No specifics, just reads "license to modify."
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Laurence Glavin
Guest
I initially saw the "license to modify" at fcc.gov; then went to read the application list. The most recent application there indicated WQEW's pattern-switch was tied to sundown in Bakersfield, CA, but I thought that the addition of other 1560s besides Paducah, KY required WQXR-AM, now WQEW to do the pattern change at local sunset. Maybe I missed something.DToTheJ said:
The authorization associated with the newly modified license still includes "condition #4" specifying that daytime facilities may be used between local sunrise at WQEW and sunset at KNZR.
http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1424019.pdf
http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1424019.pdf
badjef said:
No.
ai4i said:
The "WOWO job" involved a class D station (WLIB) buying a class A station (WOWO) and downgrading it to class B to remove the skywave interference protection WOWO formerly received from WLIB.
WQEW and KNZR are both class A stations already. They're both former "class I-B" stations, which means they receive skywave protection from all class B facilities and mutually protect each other. There's not much Disney could do to KNZR that would help WQEW, especially because WQEW doesn't even have to switch to night mode until Bakersfield sunset. I don't think WQEW considers the dayparts after 8 PM (the earliest it has to switch to night pattern) very important at all.
With an overall rating of .1, and a cume in July of only 96,000 despite a 50,000 watt signal, it may not be worth putting much money into upgrading WQEW's audio chain.
They do broadcast in AM HD. Given their abysmal ratings, and the tiny amount of people with HD radios, I wonder how many people are actually listening to them in HD.
They do broadcast in AM HD. Given their abysmal ratings, and the tiny amount of people with HD radios, I wonder how many people are actually listening to them in HD.
I wish they would do one "minor change": turn off the IBOC and increase the audio back to full 10 kHz NRSC bandwidth. With the 4 kHz (!) audio they're using now, the music sounds nearly unlistenable. The bandwidth is so narrow that even on a narrowband receiver you can hear the lack of highs compared to the other AM stations. It's like listening to Justin Bieber through a telephone.
Disney only cares about having a national presence for Disney. A NYC 50kw signal adds
to the "legitimacy" of Radio Disney.
Like WBBR, it is a national station.
The argument could be made for WABC, as well.
The change is so infinitesimal, I hardly think it's worth it.
It was a great sounding station when it was WQXR in Kahn stereo.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
to the "legitimacy" of Radio Disney.
Like WBBR, it is a national station.
The argument could be made for WABC, as well.
The change is so infinitesimal, I hardly think it's worth it.
It was a great sounding station when it was WQXR in Kahn stereo.
Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!
BTW, Radio Disney already turned off the IBOC on their Philadelphia-area affiliate (640 WWJZ Mt. Holly, NJ) about a year ago... which really makes it strange why they could choose to continue using it on an inferior signal (50 kW at the top of the band which is mostly lost at sea, vs. 50 kW at the bottom of the band which covers all of Philly and the entire southern half of NJ).
Barry said:
It is a really rotten sound. I think it's an small indicator of what a big stick in a big market is really worth these days -- really, not that much, without an established brand and listener base.
However, the station even sounds like an embarrassment to Radio Disney, such as it is -- is it so important to have a national presence that they keep the format on a big stick with such an awful signal? I guess it doesn't really matter to Disney that much.
ai4i said:
Yet the total price tag for 101.9 places a value on that station of around $190 million.
badjef said:
You mean operations that were based on sunrise or sunset at co-channel stations? There were a number of them...
640 Akron could use daytime facility until sunset at KFI.
1160 Chicago could stay on air as daytimer until sunset at KSL
1020 Los Angeles could sign on at sunrise at KDKA and operate at night at any time that KDKA was silent.
Those are the ones I can remember.
DavidEduardo said:
A couple of additions are 1110 KFAB going to their daytime pattern at sunrise WBT Charlotte sunrise. That's still in effect, unlike the weird situation with San Francisco's 1100 KFAX which would stay on their day power until sunset then go off the air. They would return with 1000 watts at 9PM, corresponding to 12M Eastern time at the dominant station in Cleveland, and continue broadcasting until 3AM (again, mirroring 6AM Eastern). They'd then sign off and return to the air at local sunrise.
Here are a couple more: 1510 WLAC can use their daytime pattern for two hours past sunset, until sunset at KGA in Spokane and 1080 WTIC Hartford can continue operating with their day pattern until sunset at KRLD Dallas.
Also 1560 KILE Bellaire/Houston (now KGOW) was allowed to operate for a number of years at night until two hours past their local sunset, which corresponded with sunset at kPMC in Bakersfield. But that was at relatively low power (800 watts) before they upgraded to 50kW day and added nighttime service as well.
But the WQEW situation is somewhat ridiculous. Due to the distance involved I see no reason whatsoever for them to have to alter their pattern at night.
Also 1560 KILE Bellaire/Houston (now KGOW) was allowed to operate for a number of years at night until two hours past their local sunset, which corresponded with sunset at kPMC in Bakersfield. But that was at relatively low power (800 watts) before they upgraded to 50kW day and added nighttime service as well.
But the WQEW situation is somewhat ridiculous. Due to the distance involved I see no reason whatsoever for them to have to alter their pattern at night.
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