Monday, October 17, 2011
WKFK-LD Pascagoula upping power, moving to channel 13.
WKFK-LD (300 watts on RF channel 7 with a highly directional figure-8 pattern, carrying RTV and other programming) has updated their construction permit for RF channel 13. They're boosting power from the current 300 watts to 3,000 watts. This will increase coverage significantly along the I-10 corridor.
Hallelujah 105-1 to get a little boost in coverage
A construction permit has just been issued for W286BK, the 99-watt translator for WERC-HD2 that Clear Channel is branding as Hallelujah 105-1, with gospel music. The current facility is at the Magic 96 tower on Ishkooda Mountain and is directional away from the south. The new facility will still be 99 watts, but will be non-directional from a taller perch atop a tower on Red Mountain. This will greatly increase coverage for areas east of downtown and the nearer over the mountain suburbs.
Friday, October 7, 2011
W277CC marches on towards Pensacola
Translator W277CC had a license to cover filed with the FCC according to today's digest. The station started off in Atmore, Alabama as W278AR, a silent station authorized for 2 watts vertical-only on 103.5 MHz, relaying Faith Radio's WSTF in town.
The newest license is for 250 watts vertical-only from a site in northwest Escambia County, Florida, near the Walnut Hill community off FL-97. This facility is shown to be relaying "Cat Country" WYCT of Pensacola.
Of interest is a yet-to-be-granted application for this translator, which will put it right on the WYCT tower off Old Pensacola Road in Baldwin County. That application lists 250 watts H/V, with WYCT still as the parent, but actually reaches some of the Pensacola metro area, as well as cows and trees in Baldwin County. This strongly suggests something that locals have inferred: ADX is looking to bring a new FM signal to Pensacola proper.
It's been all but confirmed that ADX is going to put sports on FM. They are in a LMA with the owners of 1450 WBSR, which dropped its long-time soft AC format for ESPN sports. But word is that's going to be on a translator at 101.1 MHz, which is likely going to come from Bay Minette (eventually). So what's this one for? ADX was an early adopter of HD digital broadcasts, with both their 98.7 frequency and TK 101 jumping on the bandwagon. Cat Country hasn't run HD in ages but the equipment might still be there. TK 101'sHD-2 is still active but is broadcasting only static HD signal has recently been shut off completely, the HD-2 having formerly been a more alternative flavor to TK's straight up rock format. Maybe there's plans to do something with an HD-2 channel? It's all the rage in other markets.
The newest license is for 250 watts vertical-only from a site in northwest Escambia County, Florida, near the Walnut Hill community off FL-97. This facility is shown to be relaying "Cat Country" WYCT of Pensacola.
Of interest is a yet-to-be-granted application for this translator, which will put it right on the WYCT tower off Old Pensacola Road in Baldwin County. That application lists 250 watts H/V, with WYCT still as the parent, but actually reaches some of the Pensacola metro area, as well as cows and trees in Baldwin County. This strongly suggests something that locals have inferred: ADX is looking to bring a new FM signal to Pensacola proper.
It's been all but confirmed that ADX is going to put sports on FM. They are in a LMA with the owners of 1450 WBSR, which dropped its long-time soft AC format for ESPN sports. But word is that's going to be on a translator at 101.1 MHz, which is likely going to come from Bay Minette (eventually). So what's this one for? ADX was an early adopter of HD digital broadcasts, with both their 98.7 frequency and TK 101 jumping on the bandwagon. Cat Country hasn't run HD in ages but the equipment might still be there. TK 101's
Saturday, October 1, 2011
WALJ Northport and WFAZ Goodwater sign on
Alabama's newest FM signals have hit the airwaves. First is WALJ Northport, owned by former market owner Apex Broadcasting. It's being leased to Cox and is running their "Jamz" urban contemporary format to compliment 95-7 Jamz in Birmingham. For years, Jamz broadcast from a tower site halfway between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham and enjoyed good ratings in both markets, but that ended when Jamz relicensed to Midfield from a site on Ishkooda Mountain closer to town (and the target demographics). This sign on has been extensively covered already, so we'll move on to another property…
…and that is WFAZ in Goodwater, licensed to the First Assembly of God church in Ashland. It transmits 6 kW from a site halfway between Ashland and Goodwater in east central Alabama, and appears to be at least partly locally-programmed. Going by "Vision 90.9", the station is currently airing CCM, or Christian Contemporary Music.
…and that is WFAZ in Goodwater, licensed to the First Assembly of God church in Ashland. It transmits 6 kW from a site halfway between Ashland and Goodwater in east central Alabama, and appears to be at least partly locally-programmed. Going by "Vision 90.9", the station is currently airing CCM, or Christian Contemporary Music.
Miscellaneous news: WSLV Ardmore airchecks, WASG Mobile sold, Eufala call sign change and more LDTV permits
It seems like only yesterday that a whole slew of new low power digital construction permits were issued through Alabama, including several in and around Montgomery. Now, we're in round two and once again central Alabama is the region getting all the permits.
For Montgomery, there's: W21DK-D and W04DR-D
Opelika gets: W39DQ-D
Auburn snags: W38FE-D
Selma wins: W49DZ-D
The outlier is Pensacola, who nets W38FF-D.
Now, whether ANY of these, or any of the previously issued CPs will ever be built out is anyone's guess. More than likely it's all spectrum squatting, hoping for a profitable payoff from a buyer or government "repacking" scheme.
In other news, Eufala's WULA, which has had the same calls since sign on in 1948, finally loses those historic calls after coming under ownership of Big Fish Broadcasting, who picks the curious WNRA calls. The format is currently ESPN sports and runs 600 watts fulltime, although on last check the station was on the FCC silent list.
Tallassee's sports/classics hybrid WTLS has received a permit to boost the power of their translator, W293BK. It currently runs 80 watts from a site just south of town. The boost is to 250 watts from a site northwest of the community.
Moving to the coast, Daphne-licensed WASG 540 AM, which is been back on from the WIJD tower in Mobile after a lengthy absence, has been sold to Wilkins Communications, who on WIJD. WASG is currently running a middle of the road religious music format, while WIJD is Christian teaching.
Finally, up on the state line with Tennessee, lies the tiny town of Ardmore and the country daytimer known as WSLV. Thanks to my buddy and all around nice guy Paul Walker (website), we have a bevy of airchecks for this, erm, unique station. By all acounts, they go most of the day with no commercials or legal IDs. They appear to do neither a legal sign on nor a legal sign off of any kind, instead preferring just to turn the transmitter on or off during a song. This is small town radio at its finest — or worst — depending on your perspective!
For Montgomery, there's: W21DK-D and W04DR-D
Opelika gets: W39DQ-D
Auburn snags: W38FE-D
Selma wins: W49DZ-D
The outlier is Pensacola, who nets W38FF-D.
Now, whether ANY of these, or any of the previously issued CPs will ever be built out is anyone's guess. More than likely it's all spectrum squatting, hoping for a profitable payoff from a buyer or government "repacking" scheme.
In other news, Eufala's WULA, which has had the same calls since sign on in 1948, finally loses those historic calls after coming under ownership of Big Fish Broadcasting, who picks the curious WNRA calls. The format is currently ESPN sports and runs 600 watts fulltime, although on last check the station was on the FCC silent list.
Tallassee's sports/classics hybrid WTLS has received a permit to boost the power of their translator, W293BK. It currently runs 80 watts from a site just south of town. The boost is to 250 watts from a site northwest of the community.
Moving to the coast, Daphne-licensed WASG 540 AM, which is been back on from the WIJD tower in Mobile after a lengthy absence, has been sold to Wilkins Communications, who on WIJD. WASG is currently running a middle of the road religious music format, while WIJD is Christian teaching.
Finally, up on the state line with Tennessee, lies the tiny town of Ardmore and the country daytimer known as WSLV. Thanks to my buddy and all around nice guy Paul Walker (website), we have a bevy of airchecks for this, erm, unique station. By all acounts, they go most of the day with no commercials or legal IDs. They appear to do neither a legal sign on nor a legal sign off of any kind, instead preferring just to turn the transmitter on or off during a song. This is small town radio at its finest — or worst — depending on your perspective!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
W241AI Gorgas, AL
While updating some stuff on the site, I happened to search the FCC query for info on this station. There's a pending application (which aren't normally discussed on ABMP) that caught my eye and is worth sharing.
W241AI is currently licensed for 10 watts on the eastern side of Birmingham, relaying Glen Iris' WGIB. The application boosts power to 43 watts and relocates it to… wait for it… Red Mountain. Where the parent station is to be changed to WERC-FM. Which means, in reality, a WERC-FM HD signal.
WERC HD-2 is currently heard on a translator, relaying gospel "Hallelujah FM". Could this be to bolster its signal, or is there an HD-3 planned with an entirely new format?
W241AI is currently licensed for 10 watts on the eastern side of Birmingham, relaying Glen Iris' WGIB. The application boosts power to 43 watts and relocates it to… wait for it… Red Mountain. Where the parent station is to be changed to WERC-FM. Which means, in reality, a WERC-FM HD signal.
WERC HD-2 is currently heard on a translator, relaying gospel "Hallelujah FM". Could this be to bolster its signal, or is there an HD-3 planned with an entirely new format?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Two new Journey stations hit the road, other minor odds and ends
Note: I'm writing this via mobile phone today as the internet at ABMP World Headquarters (what, you didn't know we had a World HQ?) has been out all day. The entire city's only high speed internet is delivered by CenturyLink, who generally sucks. Special kudos today to the folks who make the AnyFTP Android app for allowing me to get my site updated despite the outage!
A Friday full of odds-n-ends today as both Huntsville and Mobile/Pensacola pick up new "Journey" formatted stations, featuring a variety of 80s and 90s pop hits.
First up in Huntsville, country Wolf WWFF was blown up to bring in Journey 93-3. It's surprising that Cumulus chose this format as it overlaps with several existing stations locally. Huntsville may be the most oversaturated AC/variety hits market in the US now. This flip happened at 9:33am.
Later, Pensacola's WJLQ picked up the Journey format after dropping CHR as "i100" and a few days of stunting with a very short playlist of TV theme songs. The RDS has been off since the flip, although the HD signal is still active and still 7 seconds behind the analog.
Both cities debuted with the EXACT same playlist, which was a direct copy of the one used for the launch of Journey in Atlanta a while back. Just think, if Cumulus and Citadel merge, you'll have twice as many radio stations run this poorly and with so little thought given to them!
Staying on the coast for a moment, Pensacola's other pop music station, WRGV "The Groove" took this opportunity to finally shed their name, which had stuck around from the rhythmic AC days; they're now "107-3, Hit Music NOW".
Two AMs received minor construction permits today. WJUS in Marion has one that changes almost nothing, just dropping nighttime power for 34 to 33 watts. It will put the FCC record in compliance with the actual transmitter site, as ABMP has listed correctly for some time.
The other AM is WEBY in Milton, Florida, part of the Pensacola market. As far as I can tell this is only a "cosmetic" update, with the same facilities at the same location with basically the same coverage. WEBY is an unusual facility in that they use different night and day locations. The day location with 3 towers is co-located with Pensacola's WPNN, south of I-10 near FL-281 on Garcon Point. The night site is further north in the city of Milton, east of the river near downtown. With this update I've fixed the entry for WEBY, which had listed the night site with 3 towers. That was incorrect. It's directional days and non-directional at night only.
A Friday full of odds-n-ends today as both Huntsville and Mobile/Pensacola pick up new "Journey" formatted stations, featuring a variety of 80s and 90s pop hits.
First up in Huntsville, country Wolf WWFF was blown up to bring in Journey 93-3. It's surprising that Cumulus chose this format as it overlaps with several existing stations locally. Huntsville may be the most oversaturated AC/variety hits market in the US now. This flip happened at 9:33am.
Later, Pensacola's WJLQ picked up the Journey format after dropping CHR as "i100" and a few days of stunting with a very short playlist of TV theme songs. The RDS has been off since the flip, although the HD signal is still active and still 7 seconds behind the analog.
Both cities debuted with the EXACT same playlist, which was a direct copy of the one used for the launch of Journey in Atlanta a while back. Just think, if Cumulus and Citadel merge, you'll have twice as many radio stations run this poorly and with so little thought given to them!
Staying on the coast for a moment, Pensacola's other pop music station, WRGV "The Groove" took this opportunity to finally shed their name, which had stuck around from the rhythmic AC days; they're now "107-3, Hit Music NOW".
Two AMs received minor construction permits today. WJUS in Marion has one that changes almost nothing, just dropping nighttime power for 34 to 33 watts. It will put the FCC record in compliance with the actual transmitter site, as ABMP has listed correctly for some time.
The other AM is WEBY in Milton, Florida, part of the Pensacola market. As far as I can tell this is only a "cosmetic" update, with the same facilities at the same location with basically the same coverage. WEBY is an unusual facility in that they use different night and day locations. The day location with 3 towers is co-located with Pensacola's WPNN, south of I-10 near FL-281 on Garcon Point. The night site is further north in the city of Milton, east of the river near downtown. With this update I've fixed the entry for WEBY, which had listed the night site with 3 towers. That was incorrect. It's directional days and non-directional at night only.
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