The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Ever Wanted To Buy Your Own Radio Station? It May Only Take $750 U.S.

RadioActive · February 10, 2021 10:02 am

I'm not sure what the rules are in the U.S. and whether Canadians can actually buy an American radio licence. But if it's possible, all you may need is about $750 for permission to sign on an FM station. The FCC is auctioning off some 140 bits of radio spectrum across the country, most of them FM (just 4 are AMs, and one is daytime only.)

The opening bids range from $75,000 (in places like Pembroke, Georgia or Sanger Texas) to just $750 for places called Medicine Bow, Wyoming and San Isidro, Texas. Almost all of the stations are located in out of the way small towns, but one is in St. Louis. It's an AM frequency on 1430.

You can see the list of all the places up for auction - and the minimum opening bids - here.

FCC To Auction Off 140 Radio Stations

It's a fantasy of many, even in these troubled times for the medium, to own your own shop. And though none of us are likely ever to entertain a bid for one of these - even if we could - I'm curious. If you did somehow win the lottery and could afford to buy and run a radio station, what format would you want on it? And would you put yourself on air?

Jody Thornton · February 10, 2021 10:14 am

It would make ZERO sense, but I would by one of those AM licenses and put full service and classic hits on it (late 60s to early 90s). It would have the energy and tightness of an 80s CHR. I probably would aim 50 plus, leaning male.

I’m sure revenue would be tough to amass, and I’d need to maintain the transmitter, but I’m rich in this scenario, right? I have a good sense of talent I’d seek out. I’d really want to run analog board consoles (say 80s and early 90s). I like Allied Harris or even Aarakis (I know many hate the latter). I’d stick to digital studio sources though, and I’d have backup CD Players and perhaps a couple turntables, but they would not be key sources of air content.

i haven’t even ventured into sales and news talent yet. But I have news people in mind.

Now should I install a C-QUAM encoder? Oh come on I had to at least consider it. 😁

Hansa · February 10, 2021 10:34 am

Unless the rules have changed in the past few years you have to be a US citizen to hold an FCC license.

RadioActive · February 10, 2021 10:37 am

Jody Thornton wrote:
It would make ZERO sense, but I would by one of those AM licenses and put full service and classic hits on it (late 60s to early 90s). It would have the energy and tightness of an 80s CHR. I probably would aim 50 plus, leaning male.

I’m sure revenue would be tough to amass, and I’d need to maintain the transmitter, but I’m rich in this scenario, right? I have a good sense of talent I’d seek out. I’d really want to run analog board consoles (say 80s and early 90s). I like Allied Harris or even Aarakis (I know many hate the latter). I’d stick to digital studio sources though, and I’d have backup CD Players and perhaps a couple turntables, but they would not be key sources of air content.

i haven’t even ventured into sales and news talent yet. But I have news people in mind.

Now should I install a C-QUAM encoder? Oh come on I had to at least consider it. 😁

OK, but who would do traffic?

Hansa wrote:
Unless the rules have changed in the past few years you have to be a US citizen to hold an FCC license.

I wonder if you would be able to partner with someone in the U.S. to get around the rules, especially if you were the primary investor?

In Phase · February 10, 2021 10:39 am

Hansa wrote:
Unless the rules have changed in the past few years you have to be a US citizen to hold an FCC license.

damn

Jody was soooo close.......

RadioActive · February 10, 2021 11:03 am

Well, perhaps CFAJ may become available and Jody's dreams can live on north of the border. And just think - all the testing has already been done!

(Tomorrow marks exactly one year since a signal was first detected on 1220. Still no sign of a sign-on.)

Jody Thornton · February 10, 2021 11:08 am

Yes but I’d want to replace any newer digital board console with something to my liking (meaning older). I’d stick with the computer as a source but I’d still want an analog front end.

Anyway, I’m expending too much effort contemplating this ....lol.

Jody Thornton · February 10, 2021 11:19 am

RadioActive wrote:
OK, but who would do traffic?

OK I’ll pick two people that I don’t work with, just so I remain impartial 😁. I would hire Jennifer Young and Amber Payne for traffic. They’d be expensive, but I’m rich, right.

I wonder if I could afford to convince Evelyn Macko to hop on her motorbike and anchor afternoon news. Hmmmm.

Glen Warren · February 10, 2021 11:28 am

Go Fund Me / Crowd Sourcing.... ???

The auctions are the construction permits only... so you'll need deep pockets of cash for capital, engineering, marketing... real estate (purchase of lease)... operating costs....

But Jody says he already has that covered... as he is rich, so shouldn't be a problem...

But I do offer to throw in a couple of bucks if you get a traffic helicopter (or plane)... and promise to do a turkey drop promotion every US Thanksgiving...

RadioActive · February 10, 2021 11:31 am

Jody Thornton wrote:
RadioActive wrote:
OK, but who would do traffic?
I wonder if I could afford to convince Evelyn Macko to hop on her motorbike and anchor afternoon news. Hmmmm.

You wouldn't need to. We've proven people can work from home with perfect quality. So she can stay there and do it remotely, if that what it takes to get her back on the air. (Which I'd love to hear, too!) A terrific lady and a great newscaster.

RadioActive · February 10, 2021 11:36 am

Actually, I was recently re-reading Cousin Brucie's autobiography (yes, there IS such a thing!) and at one point, he left New York City and - with a partner named Bob Sillerman - bought a number of radio stations in mostly small towns and ran them as he always wanted.

It was great for a while and a dream come true, until Sillerman-Morrow Broadcasting got too big and all he did was run to the next airplane to catch a flight to the markets where his stations were located for endless meetings that he hated. He eventually became so fed up with the demands of it, he sold all but one of two of the properties and got his life back under control.

So I guess the lesson is: it's a wonderful fantasy, but be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, reality bites.

Radiowiz · February 10, 2021 12:22 pm

There is no law preventing anyone from renting a radio station in the States.
You have to be American to own a radio station there though.
Solution: Find an American friend to buy a radio station.
As a Canadian, rent the station 24/7 from that friend.
Problem solved.

Last edited by Radiowiz (February 10, 2021 12:24 pm)

paterson1 · February 10, 2021 12:24 pm

And here is a list from the FCC of AM stations that haven't been on the air for at least two months, some have been silent for over a year. These may be the stations to purchase, since they have the transmitters, equipment and studios already. Also there is a tab for the list of FM frequencies gone silent too. Let the bidding begin!!
https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/silent-am-list

Last edited by paterson1 (February 10, 2021 12:26 pm)

Glen Warren · February 10, 2021 12:26 pm

quick... call Mr. Fybush...

fybush · February 11, 2021 10:42 pm

Glen Warren wrote:
quick... call Mr. Fybush...

What's that disturbance I'm feeling across Lake Ontario?

In fact, the FCC does now allow non-US citizens to own stations, though the process isn't easy. There's a background check involved and it can take many months for approval, but it's do-able. I have a friend who's a UK citizen and he and his wife (a Polish citizen) now own several stations in eastern New York state.

As for the auction... there's a reason these allocations either didn't get bids the last time, or in some cases have never received bids. You'd have to have a very creative business plan to make some of these work, even if you could get the license for a pittance.

RadioAaron · February 11, 2021 10:49 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
There is no law preventing anyone from renting a radio station in the States.
You have to be American to own a radio station there though.
Solution: Find an American friend to buy a radio station.
As a Canadian, rent the station 24/7 from that friend.
Problem solved.

You can actually do this. Rogers "rents" out WLYK Cape Vincent NY 24/7 to run Kiss 102.7 Kingston.

Jody Thornton · February 11, 2021 10:51 pm

Hmmmmm - Scranton, PA is not too far from here. It's a low powered transmission on 590 KHz, and it only went dark in July 2020 - which means likely the transmitter is still WARM. (thank you, thank you )

I'm sure being in Scranton, there's enough space for an "Office" . Seriously though, I wish there was something in upstate New York, New Hampshire or Vermont. There was another on 1050, WKYC but would that be close enough to cause interference from CHUM?

paterson1 · February 11, 2021 11:59 pm

Jody Thornton wrote:
Hmmmmm - Scranton, PA is not too far from here. It's a low powered transmission on 590 KHz, and it only went dark in July 2020 - which means likely the transmitter is still WARM. (thank you, thank you )

I'm sure being in Scranton, there's enough space for an "Office" . Seriously though, I wish there was something in upstate New York, New Hampshire or Vermont. There was another on 1050, WKYC but would that be close enough to cause interference from CHUM?

If I was looking for a station in the US, it would need to be somewhere warm. Couple of interesting full service FM operations that have been dark in California, Texas, Florida or Arizona according to the FCC list for FM frequencies. Quite a few haven't been running in the past few months but a lot of low power operations. KEDP FM in Las Vegas has been silent since March last year. hhhmmm.. back in college, they did call me Mr. Vegas!

RadioActive · February 12, 2021 12:25 am

Jody Thornton wrote:
Hmmmmm - Scranton, PA is not too far from here. It's a low powered transmission on 590 KHz, and it only went dark in July 2020 - which means likely the transmitter is still WARM. (thank you, thank you )

I'm sure being in Scranton, there's enough space for an "Office" . Seriously though, I wish there was something in upstate New York, New Hampshire or Vermont. There was another on 1050, WKYC but would that be close enough to cause interference from CHUM.

Speaking of WARM and CHUM, the Scranton station was one of the first places to employ a disc jockey at the beginning of his career. His name? Frank Coxe. You may know him better as Jungle Jay Nelson.

Fitz · February 12, 2021 7:20 am

Jody Thornton wrote:
It would make ZERO sense, but I would by one of those AM licenses and put full service and classic hits on it (late 60s to early 90s). It would have the energy and tightness of an 80s CHR. I probably would aim 50 plus, leaning male.

I’m sure revenue would be tough to amass, and I’d need to maintain the transmitter, but I’m rich in this scenario, right? I have a good sense of talent I’d seek out. I’d really want to run analog board consoles (say 80s and early 90s). I like Allied Harris or even Aarakis (I know many hate the latter). I’d stick to digital studio sources though, and I’d have backup CD Players and perhaps a couple turntables, but they would not be key sources of air content.

i haven’t even ventured into sales and news talent yet. But I have news people in mind.

Now should I install a C-QUAM encoder? Oh come on I had to at least consider it. 😁

I was fooling around with my home use AM stereo C-QUAM transmitter yesterday and achieved AM stereo for an AM station in a convoluted way. I took the FM HD feed for Zoomer 740 and then played it through the AM transmitter. Here's a two song sample. The second track played is Iko Iko by the Dixie Cups. I first herad the gumbo verson of the track on FM by DR John in the 70's and I don't think I heard the Dixie Cups version until the 1980's but it was a diffrent sound for Top 40 in the early 60's:

Zoomer 740 via HD and then AM stereo

Last edited by Fitz (February 12, 2021 7:36 am)