WSBR (740 kHz) and WHSR (980 kHz) to cease operation

[johntherogger]

I just can't believe it. It's like "who cares about radio" anymore.

If they don't intend to move the stations to another tower site, couldn't they at least try to sell the license to someone who might want to? I'd hate to see it just deleted. It's not like any of us are getting a chance at an AM auction anytime soon :/

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I just can't believe it. It's like "who cares about radio" anymore.

If they don't intend to move the stations to another tower site, couldn't they at least try to sell the license to someone who might want to? I'd hate to see it just deleted. It's not like any of us are getting a chance at an AM auction anytime soon :/

and just where are you gonna rebuild 3 towers that wont cost you a few million for land and towers? or where will you put up one tower that puts a useable signal over anything and what will you program?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I just can't believe it. It's like "who cares about radio" anymore.

If they don't intend to move the stations to another tower site, couldn't they at least try to sell the license to someone who might want to? I'd hate to see it just deleted. It's not like any of us are getting a chance at an AM auction anytime soon :/

They certainly can. I imagine they will entertain any offers that come, as other AM stations that have lost their transmitter sites like KQV in Pittsburgh and WFLI in Chattanooga have done after being sold to new licensees.

 

[davideduardo]

I just can't believe it. It's like "who cares about radio" anymore.

If they don't intend to move the stations to another tower site, couldn't they at least try to sell the license to someone who might want to? I'd hate to see it just deleted. It's not like any of us are getting a chance at an AM auction anytime soon :/

I'm sure they looked at the value of the stations, both of which are very limited coverage and highly directional facilities, and found that nobody would want to pay for the license(s) knowing that several million in reconstruction costs were involved, as well as finding land that was zoned for the intended use and getting all the need permits.

One station in Miami that moved its site to the west spent the better part of a decade getting permits and the like, ranging from NIMBY complaints to environmental activists to the EPA to all the other government permitting boards and entities.

 

[johntherogger]

and just where are you gonna rebuild 3 towers that wont cost you a few million for land and towers? or where will you put up one tower that puts a useable signal over anything and what will you program?

I would have an engineer figure out a way to put them on an existing tower somewhere else. You may have to change a few things, but as long as it's kosher with the FCC....you could get it back on. Land west into the everglades and into portions of Palm Beach is much cheaper....isn't that way stations like WFTL made the move? Stick it out on 27!

 

[johntherogger]

I'm sure they looked at the value of the stations, both of which are very limited coverage and highly directional facilities, and found that nobody would want to pay for the license(s) knowing that several million in reconstruction costs were involved, as well as finding land that was zoned for the intended use and getting all the need permits.

One station in Miami that moved its site to the west spent the better part of a decade getting permits and the like, ranging from NIMBY complaints to environmental activists to the EPA to all the other government permitting boards and entities.

It wouldn't happen to be my former station would it? Because last I checked they're still trying to get the tower site approved.

All I am saying is, it may not be worth it to some big conglomerate.....but is that any reason not to entertain offers from small guys who might want to try it? Just saying....that's all...

 

[davideduardo]

I would have an engineer figure out a way to put them on an existing tower somewhere else. You may have to change a few things, but as long as it's kosher with the FCC....you could get it back on. Land west into the everglades and into portions of Palm Beach is much cheaper....isn't that way stations like WFTL made the move? Stick it out on 27!

If you get too far west, you are on protected land, and it takes a lot of work to satisfy different government and environmental authorities.

And both stations have to be directional at the current power levels, both day and night. They might be able to revert to daytime status, but with lower power. And at that point, coverage would be an issue.

Going on an existing tower requires finding another directional array in the same area where the towers can be configured to create the desired pattern.

 

[strangelove]

The more I think about it the more it makes sense from a business standpoint. WWNN is able to absorb a number of the clients who are probably happy to be a station with a more powerful (if not highly directional) signal along with the FM translators that serve central Broward up to south Palm Beach County. Beasley is then free from having to maintain the transmitter plants for the two stations plus having to pay property taxes and upkeep for the site. Also, the sales people only have one station to worry about now instead of three.

Without seeing their books there's no telling how long it would have taken WHSR and WSBR to generate $7.1 million in revenue but I'm sure it's much longer than the Beasleys were willing to wait.

As for entertaining offers from other buyers you'd be hard pressed to find someone willing top Parkland's offer for the property alone. Even the vaunted 770 WABC went for only around $10 million earlier this year.

Seeing two perfectly good signals go dark because it's more profitable that way is a bad sign for AM radio but had they remained on the air and were programmed with something that had more mass appeal could it have been more of a money maker? We'll never know the answer to that but obviously it wasn't a question the Beasley family were willing to pay to get the answer to.

 

[johntherogger]

If you get too far west, you are on protected land, and it takes a lot of work to satisfy different government and environmental authorities.

And both stations have to be directional at the current power levels, both day and night. They might be able to revert to daytime status, but with lower power. And at that point, coverage would be an issue.

Going on an existing tower requires finding another directional array in the same area where the towers can be configured to create the desired pattern.

Again, I am just saying it's possible....not saying someone will jump in and do it. Just saying it's still possible. I am surprised they didn't consider/haven't considered moving 980 to the 1470 towers. That at least they could do with little issue. 740 would be a bigger issue.

 

[davideduardo]

The more I think about it the more it makes sense from a business standpoint. WWNN is able to absorb a number of the clients who are probably happy to be a station with a more powerful (if not highly directional) signal along with the FM translators that serve central Broward up to south Palm Beach County.

The 980 signal covered about 50% more people than the 50 kw 1470 one. However, 1470 covers a bit more than 740's signal did. At night, none of them cover(ed) much of anything well.

Beasley is then free from having to maintain the transmitter plants for the two stations plus having to pay property taxes and upkeep for the site. Also, the sales people only have one station to worry about now instead of three.

When I was expanding my group of stations, each one added increased revenue and audience. The increases in expenses were less than the increases in revenue, and the sales synergies of having more stations to sell was considerable. I found that the optimum was about 8 or 9 stations in a single market.

Without seeing their books there's no telling how long it would have taken WHSR and WSBR to generate $7.1 million in revenue but I'm sure it's much longer than the Beasleys were willing to wait.

Based on billings, I doubt the cash flow on the two was over $500 thousand a year. If the $7 million is used to pay down debt that is currently paying perhaps 6% to 7% interest, they have a long-term win instead of having AM stations that will continue to decline in value and income.

Seeing two perfectly good signals go dark because it's more profitable that way is a bad sign for AM radio but had they remained on the air and were programmed with something that had more mass appeal could it have been more of a money maker?

Neither signal covered a whole market... neither WPB nor Miami/Ft Lauderdale. They were suburban stations, covering small parts of two major markets. There is really nothing they could do other than the brokered option on one and Kreyol on the other, neither being a big profit proposition.

 

[Sammi Brie]

The more I think about it the more it makes sense from a business standpoint. WWNN is able to absorb a number of the clients who are probably happy to be a station with a more powerful (if not highly directional) signal along with the FM translators that serve central Broward up to south Palm Beach County.

Given that the WHSR operation, aside from some of the Saturday/Sunday brokered programming, is largely leaving the Beasley universe and going to 1580 (which also has a translator), this can be sort of a win for Beasley. For Lesly Jacques and his Radio Haiti Amérique Internationale, WSRF gives him an FM translator WHSR never had.

 

[strangelove]

On another note WSB 750 Atlanta comes in halfway decent after dark on my car stereo and yesterday morning a few of the 500 watts from WWTK 730 Lake Placid were making it into west Broward.

 

[OrlandoGM]

Could they not just diplex from 1470s towers?

My sources tell me that 980 will be Diplexed from the 1470 site and 740 will most likely be turned in.

 

[johntherogger]

My sources tell me that 980 will be Diplexed from the 1470 site and 740 will most likely be turned in.

That makes a lot of sense......exactly what I figured would happen.

 

[Ai4i]

Once they do turn them off...

I believe that WAQI had been protecting the third adjacency on 740 in the daytime from the start.
I cannot think of any other reason that they would have that null before and after both moves?
Will WAQI be able to reduce their daytime null in that direction IF they want to?

 

[davideduardo]

I believe that WAQI had been protecting the third adjacency on 740 in the daytime from the start.
I cannot think of any other reason that they would have that null before and after both moves?
Will WAQI be able to reduce their daytime null in that direction IF they want to?

WAQI originally protected the FCC monitoring station in Broward County. That explains the WINZ pattern, too, from back in the day.

Remember, WAQI moved from Ft Lauderdale to Miami long ago, but the change in power and the tower location required daytime protection.

I doubt WAQI will be spending much on engineering improvements for a Miami AM.

 

[strangelove]

WAQI originally protected the FCC monitoring station in Broward County. That explains the WINZ pattern, too, from back in the day.

Someone once told me that the owners of WINZ (may have been Gannett at the time) lobbied the government to have the Broward FCC station either closed entirely or moved to Ft. Pierce so they could increase power and adjust their pattern to get more signal into Broward. Was that the case?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

From Allaccess.com

Among the filings to make it to the FCC, BEASLEY MEDIA GROUP LICENSES, LLC made its formal applications for Silent STAs for the two SOUTH FLORIDA stations it took dark SUNDAY night (12/1), WHSR-A/POMPANO BEACH, FL and WSBR-A/BOCA RATON, FL (NET NEWS 12/2). BEASLEY says in the filings that it is seeking a new site for the stations after selling the land under their transmitters to PARKLAND, FL.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

AM radio died years ago in South Florida. The final stake through the heart was the Dade/Broward combined rating book. AM'S like WSBR, WEXY, WHSR, WSRF and the old 1400 WFTL didn't stand a chance because they couldn't be heard in Dade County most of the time. Same with some of the smaller Miami stations.

It probably won't be long before that parcel of land on Sheridan Street near Pine Island Road starts looking attractive to someone. Then WLQY 1320 will also be history.