Friday, April 1, 2016

NEW “INSTANT FM STATION” WILL BRING FULLTIME CLASSICAL FORMAT TO BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY


WKYU has announced that they will debut a new Classical Music FM station in mid April. Like many public radio stations in small and medium markets, WKYU has had a dual NPR News & Classical for years.  Over time, news hours have increased and Classical hours have decreased.  WKYU now airs Classical during the evening and overnight hours.


The new classical station will be on translator W249CS 97.5 FM will repeat the Classical programming on WKYU’s HD-2 channel. It will provide excellent coverage of Bowling Green, Morgantown and Franklin, Kentucky.  The FM translator is owned by a Bowling Green resident who is a fan of Classical music.

WKYU will increase news programming on their primary signal at 88.9 FM when Classical begins on 97.5 FM.

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WJCT, JACKSONVILLE DROPS CLASSICAL & ADDS “BEAUTIFUL MUSIC” OVERNIGHT

WJCT, Jacksonville is primarily a NPR News station but it has been airing Classical music overnight for many years. Now they plan to drop Classical and play “Beautiful Music” (“BM”) overnight.


The reason for the change is that a unique noncom station, WKTZ, one of the nation’s few remaining BM stations, has been sold to EMF and will become a repeater of CCM K-LOVE


WKTZ was owned and operated for many years by Jones College, a private school in Jacksonville.  For reasons I never understood WKTZ has been playing the hits of the 1930s, 40s and 50s for many years.  BM station used to be ubiquitous in the 1960s and 70s but almost disappeared in the 1980s.  The reason: It attracted only older listeners.  Now, 30 years later, folks wanting to hear BM must be really, really old. It is not an oldies format, it is a museum format.

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EXCELLENT READER COMMENT ABOUT “THE CHANNEL SIX” PROBLEM

I hope my posts this week about the conflicts between noncommercial FM stations and channel six TV stations, based on my grad school thesis, kept readers awake.  I know it is a story about bureaucrats and legal disputes from a long time ago but we are living with its legacy now.

Radio Scholar and contract engineer Aaron Reed added important perspective in a comment about the issue. I am posting Aaron’s entire comment below.

Reed observes that:

The flip side to the TV6/FM "problem" is that in TV6 markets you often ended up with several very small FM stations in the non-commercial band.

This is so true.  For years channel six TV operators controlled the growth of noncom radio in their markets.  This often caused paralysis for new or improved FM service and lead to a checker-board of itty-bitty noncoms rather than full market stations.

A case in point is Indianapolis. In 1950 the “channel six problem” was clearly demonstrated by WFIU-FM. When it began, WFIU was located in the NCE reserved part of the FM band.  WFIU’s interference for viewers of channel six TV caused the FCC to move WFIU up the dial to 103.7 FM where it is today. The channel six issue meant that few full market noncom stations were allowed to broadcast in Indianapolis. 

Today there are 17 noncom stations between 88.1 and 91.7 and only two – WFYI & WICR – cover the full metro.  The rest are small coverage stations whose presence made it difficult for new professional noncom stations to be built in Indy.

FULL COMMENT BY AARON REED

The flip side to the TV6/FM "problem" is that in TV6 markets you often ended up with several very small FM stations in the non-commercial band. That's because of the quirk in the FCC's interference rules, where you can have an FM station that "interferes" with the TV6, but only if the interfering signal contour covers 2000 population or less (determined by the US Census). This was often achievable, but only because the signals were transmitting from college campuses (which generally don't have population as far as the Census is concerned) and were very, very small in terms of power.

The end result is a whole bunch stations that cover the college campus and not a whole lot more than that. They're not economically viable without a lot of subsides from their parent school. And with such tiny signals (usually 500 watts or less, and from low heights) it's exceedingly difficult to attract an audience, regardless of the content being broadcast.

You can see this on full display in the Providence market, for example. Just in and immediately adjacent to the tiny little state of Rhode Island, we have: WELH 88.1, WKIV 88.1, WGAO 88.3, WQRI 88.3, WJMF 88.7, WRIU 90.3, WJHD 90.7, WCNI 90.9, WXEV 91.1, WTKL 91.1, WDOM 91.3, WCVY 91.5 and there's a CP for a new station on 91.5 in the NW corner of RI, too. And that doesn't count the bigger signals from out of state that can also be heard here: WGBH 89.7, WUMD 89.3, WHUS 91.7, WPKT 89.1 and WBUR 90.9.

Of the "in state" signals, only WJMF, WELH and WRIU have any real "heft" to their signals, and none of them are all that big (they're all mid-sized Class A FM's around the equivalent of 3000 watts). Both WJMF and WELH immediately rushed to expand their signals after the local TV6 (WLNE) changed frequency as part of the DTV migration in 2009. The rest are mostly 100 to 500 watts and are functionally little different from the LPFM Class of license.

And unfortunately now all these little signals are all packed in so tightly that none of them can really expand. The entire non-commercial band is a mishmosh of overlapping signals, by and large, throughout the state. :(

Thursday, March 31, 2016

FCC’S CHANNEL SIX MISTAKE COST COLORADIO NONCOM RADIO STATIONS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS


Thirty years ago I was completing my Masters of Mass Communication degree at Arizona State University in 1986 while I was GM of KCSU, Fort Collins, Colorado. The topic of my thesis is “the channel six problem,” an issue created by the FCC and big corporate broadcasting. The ruling fluke pitted noncommercial radio broadcasters against television stations.

I was fortunate to have the perfect location to do the field test for my thesis: Colorado’s Front Range.  KCSU was/is located in Fort Collins about sixty miles north of Denver. The transmission site for KRMA-TV channel si, was near Denver.  There were a dozen noncom FM stations located in KRMA’s "theoretical coverage area" in 1986.

This is the third of three reports based on research for my Masters thesis. To demonstrate the real world impact of “the channel six problem” to Colorado noncommercial radio stations I interviewed General Managers and engineers at all 12 stations.

SUMMARY CHART
IMPACT TO NONCOMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE TO KRMA-TV CHANNEL SIX AS OF 1986
  
Viewers of the off-air signal of KRMA-TV, channel six, experienced disruption in the reception of KRMA from nearby noncom stations.  Most of the actual interference occurred in areas that were 20 to 70 miles from KRMA’s transmitter site near Denver.  Radio stations causing the interferece were required by the FCC to install filters (called “traps”) on TV sets of anyone who complained about problems receiving channel six. This denied thousands of people noncom FM service.

Mediating actual interference was only a part of cost to Front Range noncommercial stations.  The legal consequences were far greater.  KRMA’s “theoretical coverage area” was protected space. In this zone, regardless of the terrain or reality, KRMA could ask the FCC to deny any change of facilities. For instance, KAJX in Aspen could not increase its power because of the rules, even though KRMA could not be received over the air in Aspen.

KGNU & KUNC SUFFERED THE MOST DAMAGE DUE TO CHANNEL SIX PROBLEMS

From 1956 until 1978 KRMA-TV handled applications for new noncommercial radio stations on a case-by-case basis. That policy ended in 1978 when KGNU 88.5 FM in Boulder signed on. There were so many viewer complaints of interference that KRMA-TV filed a “cease and desist” order knocking KGNU off the air.  KRMA later allowed KGNU to return to the air at greatly reduced power.  From that moment, KRMA opposed every new noncommercial station or facility change within its “theoretical coverage area.”

Perhaps the worst damage to the noncommercial stations was damage to their reputations. Because the FM stations caused the interference to channel six many people publically questioned the FM station’s motives. Here are samples of the viewer complaints about KUNC's interference to KRMA-TV:



KRMA finally allowed KUNC to change its transmission site to a more rural location but it took years for KUNC to regain the trust of the public.

A “MAN-MADE PROBLEM” THE FCC REFUSED TO FIX

From the moment the FCC bowed to the big radio manufacturers and broadcasters in 1945, the FCC new it had created a major problem. These are some of the consequences:
 
Edwin Howard Armstrong
• FM broadcasting between 42 and 50 mHz was moved to 88 to 108 mHz causing a once-successful part of American media to die.  Transmitters and receivers became obsolete.  It took decades for FM to regain the lost ground.

• It turned out that the TV industry didn’t need the place on the spectrum FM once had. TV Channel One never became a reality.

• The mess cost noncom stations millions of dollars nationally.  Channel six broadcasters also endured significant costs.

• Major Edwin Howard Armstrong, the “inventor” of FM, jumped to his death from a New York skyscraper on January 31, 1954, a broke and bitter man.

It is sad but ironic that none of this needed to happen.  It did because the FCC refused to face reality and put financial greed before service to the public.  It reminds me of what is happening now with HD Radio.



Wednesday, March 30, 2016

PART TWO: FM GETS MOVED “FOR ITS OWN GOOD”


Thirty years ago I was completing my Masters of Mass Communication degree at Arizona State University in 1986 while I was GM of KCSU, Fort Collins, Colorado. The topic of my thesis is “the channel six problem,” an issue created by the FCC and big corporate broadcasting. The ruling fluke pitted noncommercial radio broadcasters against television stations.

KRMA TV COVERAGE IN 2015

I was fortunate to have the perfect location to do the field test for my thesis: Colorado’s Front Range.  KCSU was/is located in Fort Collins about fifty miles north of Denver and the transmission point for KRMA-TV channel six.  Around a dozen noncom stations were in KRMA’s coverage area.




In my thesis, I examined origins of “the channel six problem.” Yesterday’s post is PART ONE in the series. Today in PART TWO we tell of the robust FM growth in the years just prior to World War 2.  In 1941, there were 46 FM stations operating, including 5 noncom stations.  FM was heard between 42 and 50 mHz on the dial.

When the war ended RCA and other big manufacturers and broadcasters wanted the FCC to move quickly to expand television broadcasting. The corporate interests coveted the spectrum between 42 and 50 mHz.  That electronic real estate was where they wanted to place TV Channel One.  The FCC gave the TV folks everything thing wanted, but it meant the immediate end FM radio as it then existed.

TV won the day by presenting the FCC with closed testimony of “secret classified data” that falsely showed that the FM dial, between 42 and 50 mHz, was vulnerable to interference of sun-spot. Because it was “secret testimony” it couldn’t be refuted. One FCC Commissioner said moving the entire FM dial was “for FM’s own good.”

On June 27, 1945, the FCC announced that FM stations had to move “up the dial” to 86 mHz – 108 mHz. 

PART TWO OF THE STORY


THE IMPORTANT EXAMPLE AT WFIU-FM



Bloomington, Indiana is about 60 miles southwest of a channel six TV station in Indianapolis.  Many people who watched channel six, experienced interference from WFIU-FM.  The FCC did not take any action.





TOMORROW: THE CASE STUDY OF INTERFERENCE ON COLORADO’S FRONT RANGE

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

MY BACK PAGES: INVESTIGATING THE “CHANNEL SIX PROBLEM”


Thirty years ago I was completing my Masters of Mass Communication degree at Arizona State University while I was GM of KCSU, Fort Collins, Colorado. While doing some housecleaning this past weekend I found my Master’s thesis from 1986. As I read through it, I was amazed at how little things have changed, particularly the policies of the FCC.


I was the seventh person to recieve a Master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. The graduate program was just beginning at the time.  Now The Cronkite School is in a big new building in downtown Phoenix. Back then it was more humble – the third floor of Stauffer Hall on the campus in Tempe.

I met Uncle Walter once back then.  He was covered in sweat from head-to-toe from playing tennis.  The most trusted man in America didn’t smell so great that day.

The Cronkite School was a terrific place for me because there were few rules and requirements.  The Master’s program required a thesis comprised of original, first-hand research.  I decided to study and write about “the channel six problem” because I had a perfect research situation at KCSU, located on the Front Range of Colorado. The “channel six problem” was something I dealt with often while was at KCSU.

For those folks who aren’t familiar with “the channel six problem” I will give a very, very brief description: After World War 2 the FCC purposely located the new FM dial right next to channel six television frequency. This meant that wherever channel six TV was on the air, FM stations within the TV coverage area dealt constantly with complaints from TV viewers experiencing interference. The interference was the worst from stations in the noncommercial part of dial – 88.1 – 91.9.

The day I decided on “the channel six problem” for my thesis I had been climbing into an asbestos-filled attic to install a small device to filter out KCSU’s interference with KRMA-TV, channel six from Denver.

Colorado’s Front Range was the perfect place to assess the problem.  In addition to KRMA-TV, there were more than two-dozen noncom FM stations from Fort Collins on the north, to Pueblo on the south, to Aspen in the west and nothing to the east.

During my investigation, I learned about much more than “the channel six problem.” It is a story of corporate collusion, bureaucratic neglect and even a suicide. Here is the story from my thesis:

PART ONE: ARMSTRONG “INVENTS” FM RADIO


 Many people today don’t know that FM radio was alive and doing very well in the late 1930s and early 1940s. FM stations at the time were between 42 mHz and 50 mHz, often with power that exceeded 100,000 watts.  FM receivers (example on the left) were sold in the trendiest shops in New York.  It was hip to listen to FM because the audio quality was so much better than AM.
 
Photo: Scott Fybush

In 1938 Major Edwin Howard Armstrong built a massive tower (still sanding today) at Alpine, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Manhattan. (photo on the right) His FM station – W2XMN – covered an area larger than the New York metro, providing static-free reception to portions of five states.

If you want to read more about early FM and the Alpine tower check out Scott Fybush’s fine work at {link]

Armstrong offered to build FM stations for RCA who said “no” and stole Armstrong’s ideas.   


The story from my thesis continues:





TOMORROW: PART TWO – ARMSTRONG AND FM GET SCREWED AFTER WORLD WAR 2.

Monday, March 28, 2016

NONCOM HEADLINES: MILLENIALS ARE LISTENING TO RADIO & A HOT PROGRAMMING GIG IN OPEN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS


NIELSEN REPORT: RADIO USAGE BY MILLENIALS CONTINUES TO BE SIGNIFICANT

Last week Nielsen release its latest TOTAL AUDIENCE REPORT tracking use of all types of “measurable media.” The company’s detailed study of millennials examined the 18-34 age group by separating respondents into three life-stage categories. The majority of folks in all three groups listen to radio in a typical week:

On Their Own millennials (those living in their own home with no kids) have the lowest penetration of traditional media sources and spend the most of their time outside the home.They watch the least amount of live television of the three millennial group and they have the highest penetration of multimedia devices.

According to Nielsen, 89% listen at least once weekly to radio.

Dependents (those living in someone else's home) tend have the fewest multimedia interest and the least usage of digital devices.

According to Nielsen, 90% listen at least once weekly to radio.

Starting a Family millennials (those living in their own home with children) spends the most time at home. They are more likely to own DVRs (47%), DVD players (69%) and tablets (65%).

According to Nielsen, 92% listen at least once weekly to radio.

Here is a summary chart from Nielsen:


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BONNIE JEAN PRIMBISH IS NEW INTERIM GM AT KUSP

Bonnie Jean Primbsch
 Bonnie Jean Primbsch is the new interim general manager at Triple A KUSP-FM in Santa Cruz, California. Primbsch has worked at KUSP as a host and volunteer for more than 15 years. She succeeds Lee Ferraro, who led the recent format change from news and information to music.

Meanwhile KUSP has just concluded its first full-length membership campaign since its format change last November. The pledge drive exceeded expectations with more than 400 members donating during the drive.



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NICE OPPORTUNITY TO PROGRAM CLASSICAL KMFA, AUSTIN

One America’s most unique and successful Classical stations – KMFA in Austin – is searching for a Director of Broadcasting & Content.

 KMFA 89.5 FM will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017. Bucking a trend toward syndication at Classical radio stations, KMFA offers a full 22 hours every weekday of local curated and produced content, supplemented with national programming along with live hosting on weekends.

Because KMFA’s programming is locally curated in and for Austin, it seeks to reflect Austin’s creative spirit and eclectic tastes. Compensation is competitive according to experience and KMFA offers fully paid employee health coverage, vacation and pension benefits. See complete information here: [link]

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A MEMBERSHIP PREMIUM THAT KEEPS GIVING

 We recently covered The Infinite Dial research report that said fewer people have a radio set in their home [link]. We suggested noncom stations consider using radios as pledge drive premiums. Aaron Reed sent us information about a radio he says members like: The Eton FRX2 emergency AM/FM/WX radio.

The Eton FRX2 sells for around $15.00 per unit when purchased from a wholesaler.

Reed adds an additional reality-check caveat: Make sure you're giving away radios that can pick up your signal for most of your listeners. Thanks Aaron!