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Davef1820
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First time posting a discussion here. I'm wondering why Entercom isnt doing a simulcast of WRKO on 97.7 to fill the void after 96.9 went belly up? Seems like a no brainer to me.
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Davef1820
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I get awful AM reception in my area and cant always listen on line. Would be nice to have it on FM. Thanks for replying.
Putting WRKO on 97.7 alone would likely exacerbate things, not help.
First, you make it much, much harder to hear WAAF inside Rt.128. That detracts from WAAF's value.
Second, 97.7FM doesn't really cover any areas that 680AM doesn't already cover, and cover well; 680's real weak spot is metrowest and 97.7 doesn't reach out that way.
Third, there's an argument to be made that almost any format is, generally speaking, more successful on FM than AM. However, putting WRKO on an FM signal that barely covers the 128 beltway would probably just frustrate listeners even more as they'd have to switch back and forth from 680 to 97.7 as they drive around.
Finally, FM is not a panacea for talk in Boston; witness the death of WTKK! I have to think Entercom looks at that and, knowing full well their problems extend far beyond just signal issues, thinks it'd be a losing proposition to put WRKO on 97.7FM.
Now an argument could be made to blow up WAAF entirely and putting WRKO on 107.3 and 97.7. But I'm not sure how strong that argument would be. And such a move would leave Entercom with 680 and nothing to put on it. Directional 50kW AM stations do have a certain minimum operation cost, so they'd have to find SOMEthing to put on the signal that would generate SOME revenue.
I wonder if there's anyone in Boston that would view acquiring 680 as a "step up" from whatever they've got now, and whatever they've got now is standing in the way of some other improvement. For example, and this is just an example, what if WRKO sold 680 to Westport (WBOQ) who in turn gave 680 to Northeastern in exchange for shutting WRBB's 104.9 off. That's mostly moot now that WBOQ moved inland but you get the idea.
First, you make it much, much harder to hear WAAF inside Rt.128. That detracts from WAAF's value.
Second, 97.7FM doesn't really cover any areas that 680AM doesn't already cover, and cover well; 680's real weak spot is metrowest and 97.7 doesn't reach out that way.
Third, there's an argument to be made that almost any format is, generally speaking, more successful on FM than AM. However, putting WRKO on an FM signal that barely covers the 128 beltway would probably just frustrate listeners even more as they'd have to switch back and forth from 680 to 97.7 as they drive around.
Finally, FM is not a panacea for talk in Boston; witness the death of WTKK! I have to think Entercom looks at that and, knowing full well their problems extend far beyond just signal issues, thinks it'd be a losing proposition to put WRKO on 97.7FM.
Now an argument could be made to blow up WAAF entirely and putting WRKO on 107.3 and 97.7. But I'm not sure how strong that argument would be. And such a move would leave Entercom with 680 and nothing to put on it. Directional 50kW AM stations do have a certain minimum operation cost, so they'd have to find SOMEthing to put on the signal that would generate SOME revenue.
I wonder if there's anyone in Boston that would view acquiring 680 as a "step up" from whatever they've got now, and whatever they've got now is standing in the way of some other improvement. For example, and this is just an example, what if WRKO sold 680 to Westport (WBOQ) who in turn gave 680 to Northeastern in exchange for shutting WRBB's 104.9 off. That's mostly moot now that WBOQ moved inland but you get the idea.
aaronread said:
Dollar-a-holler religion seems to be doing the trick in many dayparts on WWVA Wheeling. Maybe leased ethnic (Haitian?) here?
WKAF's stick is just S of town on Great Blue Hill. As has been said it's needed to bring WAAF into Boston clearly. WRKO weak to the west at night; would they // WRKO on 107.3 instead then? Not if having both signals for the AAF format brings in money for Entercom.
RKO does have its limitations (night signal, interference) but by day when most are listening it's half decent...tho of course still on the AM band that older folks still listen to. Does OK for them and we'll
see how they are in a couple years (talk still do OK for them? Howie contract up at end of '14). Of
course WBZ does have talk at night and I was listening to Jen Brien and Dan Rea talk about Menino last night.
Good points by Aaron--would they try RKO on both 680 and 107.3, to reach the west as well?
But again that concern is mostly at night (tho such a move would get them to FM). Is it worth
putting RKO on 107.3 (as well as 680) so those to the west can get Levin, Doyle, and Coast to Coast?
The main concern is daytime (and yes they suffer in winter) with Kuhner, Fin Exchange, Rush
and Howie and it's a half decent signal by day. (WCRN running Howie is a good solution for those to the west.) Older listeners on AM...though supposedly a move to FM may attract younger listeners. But younger listeners have other sources for news and talk, incl GBH and BUR...as well as Net/streamcasts/sat radio...
For a time I think Ent put RKO on 97.7 and 107.3 HD2 (Funkytown still on 93.7 HD2; the others now // WEEI-FM) just as there are HD homes for WBZ (98.5 HD3?) and even Bloomberg1200 (94.5 HD2); but HD isn't quite a big deal to many.
And yes the thread should have a question mark in its title. While we're at it, we know what day Monday is so expect "WJIB to Conservative Talk", "WKLB introduces Country-Rap, or C-RAP Format", "WRKO Makes Barnicle Carr's Co-Host", etc.
RKO does have its limitations (night signal, interference) but by day when most are listening it's half decent...tho of course still on the AM band that older folks still listen to. Does OK for them and we'll
see how they are in a couple years (talk still do OK for them? Howie contract up at end of '14). Of
course WBZ does have talk at night and I was listening to Jen Brien and Dan Rea talk about Menino last night.
Good points by Aaron--would they try RKO on both 680 and 107.3, to reach the west as well?
But again that concern is mostly at night (tho such a move would get them to FM). Is it worth
putting RKO on 107.3 (as well as 680) so those to the west can get Levin, Doyle, and Coast to Coast?
The main concern is daytime (and yes they suffer in winter) with Kuhner, Fin Exchange, Rush
and Howie and it's a half decent signal by day. (WCRN running Howie is a good solution for those to the west.) Older listeners on AM...though supposedly a move to FM may attract younger listeners. But younger listeners have other sources for news and talk, incl GBH and BUR...as well as Net/streamcasts/sat radio...
For a time I think Ent put RKO on 97.7 and 107.3 HD2 (Funkytown still on 93.7 HD2; the others now // WEEI-FM) just as there are HD homes for WBZ (98.5 HD3?) and even Bloomberg1200 (94.5 HD2); but HD isn't quite a big deal to many.
And yes the thread should have a question mark in its title. While we're at it, we know what day Monday is so expect "WJIB to Conservative Talk", "WKLB introduces Country-Rap, or C-RAP Format", "WRKO Makes Barnicle Carr's Co-Host", etc.
Aaron and raccoon are correct. Entercom bought 97.7 because they want WAAF to be a Boston rock station, and it's currently the only classic-to-current mainstream rock station in the Boston area.
WAAF's 107.3 signal is a metro-west and central MA signal that is not very good in metro Boston, and it can't be moved closer to Boston due to potential interference issues with other stations.
WAAF's 107.3 signal is a metro-west and central MA signal that is not very good in metro Boston, and it can't be moved closer to Boston due to potential interference issues with other stations.
Re: WRKO on 97.7??
I can eventually see WRKO-680 getting simulcast on 97.7.
However, one major issue may preclude it being simulcast on 107.3: The transmitter is near Worcester, and several of WRKO's syndicated shows are broadcast on either WTAG-580 or WCRN-830 in that city.
If WAAF gets "blown-up" on both frequencies, I would think 97.7 would become an WRKO simulcast, but 107.3 might become a WEEI simulcast, replacing 1440 (which would likely go 24/7 ESPN Radio), and giving 'EEI a strong FM signal in Central Massachusetts and parts of Metrowest to go along with 93.7 in metropolitan Boston and 105.5 in the Springfield area.
Adding 107.3 to the WEEI network would prevent the need for Red Sox games to air on WCRN to overcome 1440's poor night signal, but WCRN, being more than 35 miles from Fenway Park, could join the Evil Empire Propaganda Broadcasting Service, a/k/a the New York Yankees Radio Network. This would allow a strong signal for Pinstripes' ballgames in the Boston market, flaunting MLB broadcast regulations.
I can eventually see WRKO-680 getting simulcast on 97.7.
However, one major issue may preclude it being simulcast on 107.3: The transmitter is near Worcester, and several of WRKO's syndicated shows are broadcast on either WTAG-580 or WCRN-830 in that city.
If WAAF gets "blown-up" on both frequencies, I would think 97.7 would become an WRKO simulcast, but 107.3 might become a WEEI simulcast, replacing 1440 (which would likely go 24/7 ESPN Radio), and giving 'EEI a strong FM signal in Central Massachusetts and parts of Metrowest to go along with 93.7 in metropolitan Boston and 105.5 in the Springfield area.
Adding 107.3 to the WEEI network would prevent the need for Red Sox games to air on WCRN to overcome 1440's poor night signal, but WCRN, being more than 35 miles from Fenway Park, could join the Evil Empire Propaganda Broadcasting Service, a/k/a the New York Yankees Radio Network. This would allow a strong signal for Pinstripes' ballgames in the Boston market, flaunting MLB broadcast regulations.
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Davef1820
Guest
Ok jeez I forgot to put a question mark. One person saying it was sufficient. Twice is annoying.
A frequency change won't help WRKO unless and until they do something about the programming.
I was just going to same the same thing (Example 850am is National "ESPN" and 93.7 is locally during the day)thirdendorsed said:
Maybe 97.7 can be National (and have a mix of Politics & Non Politics and Variety Talk)
WAAF makes money for them which is why they haven't tried it. Political talk skews older in
audiences, not as attractive for the most part though certainly WBZ does it at night and
RKO has their local talk by day.
If you went to Entercom with this suggestion it would be like going up to someone in a brand
new, flashy Cadillac and asking them if they'd rather have a 15 year old beat up crappy car
with lots of mileage on it, instead... :
audiences, not as attractive for the most part though certainly WBZ does it at night and
RKO has their local talk by day.
If you went to Entercom with this suggestion it would be like going up to someone in a brand
new, flashy Cadillac and asking them if they'd rather have a 15 year old beat up crappy car
with lots of mileage on it, instead... :
Syndicated Conservative Talk still works well in some parts of the country, but not in Boston. It's amazing that the Boston area has lost FIVE Talk stations in the last couple of years...
96.9 WTKK
1200 WXKS
1510 WWZN (Progressive Talk)
1090 WILD (Black Talk)
980 WCAP
All that's left is WRKO, and WBZ at night. I suppose the thinking is, despite some signal problems, WRKO is still 50,000 watts. If it had better ratings, Entercom might consider an FM simulcast. But even with Rush and Howie Carr in the line up, WRKO is only ranked #14 after most of the compeition has been eliminted. It really doesn't deserve an FM simulcast.
In fact, the trend has been away from FM simulcasts for AM Talk stations. Clear Channel last year eliminated FM simulcasts for its Talk stations in San Diego and Tuscon. Those Talk stations will have to stand on their own on the AM dial. The company believes it will make more money with music on those FM stations, just as Entercom thinks simulcasting WAAF is a better choice for 97.7.
96.9 WTKK
1200 WXKS
1510 WWZN (Progressive Talk)
1090 WILD (Black Talk)
980 WCAP
All that's left is WRKO, and WBZ at night. I suppose the thinking is, despite some signal problems, WRKO is still 50,000 watts. If it had better ratings, Entercom might consider an FM simulcast. But even with Rush and Howie Carr in the line up, WRKO is only ranked #14 after most of the compeition has been eliminted. It really doesn't deserve an FM simulcast.
In fact, the trend has been away from FM simulcasts for AM Talk stations. Clear Channel last year eliminated FM simulcasts for its Talk stations in San Diego and Tuscon. Those Talk stations will have to stand on their own on the AM dial. The company believes it will make more money with music on those FM stations, just as Entercom thinks simulcasting WAAF is a better choice for 97.7.
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