Here is a thread about Automated FM Radio from the "Steve Hoffman Music Forums"...

(apologies if this has been posted before)

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/automated-fm-radio-anybody-remember-the-stereo-rock-format.306170/

As many here will already know, Buffalo's Rock 102 used the TM Productions Stereo Rock programming.  
I was amazed at the number of other competing companies that also offered a tape format syndication package... 

Loved the one mention of the Scully 270 machines with Maytag washing machine motors in them....  And having to make sure that the 14" reels/hub were securely lock down on the transport, or they might go flying off and get embedded in the wall board, or injure someone....   who knew that automation could be so dangerous!!!
 

Last edited by Glen Warren (February 20, 2023 9:50 pm)

Glen Warren wrote:

Loved the one mention of the Scully 270 machines with Maytag washing machine motors in them....  And having to make sure that the 14" reels/hub were securely lock down on the transport, or they might go flying off and get embedded in the wall board, or injure someone....   who knew that automation could be so dangerous!!!
 

Whoever said automation was the death of live announcers wasn't kidding! 


PJ
 

The Radio Discussions Board has also suggested that maybe WECK's Buddy Shula could somehow manage to find the funds to buy one of the Audacy FM stations, maybe even WTSS. It's unlikely but if you're speculating, you can add that remote possibility to the pile. 

It may not be my taste, but it turns out Christian stations are growing - at least in the U.S. - and according to the numbers, the format is spreading. So it's small wonder they're looking to expand to new markets. K-Love added 11 stations on its own last year. 

Consistently Adding More Stations, Christian Broadcasters Are 'Solid As A Rock.'

 

RadioAaron wrote:

Done deal:

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/250830/audacy-sells-wlfp-memphis-wtss-buffalo-to-educational-media-foundation/

This is perfect because, way back in the day, then Entercom paid way too much money for 107.7 in an effort to prevent WKSE from having any competition.  (They also bought Magic 102, to remove competition, lol)

Long story short, the sale of 102.5 most likely secures that there will continue to be no competition.
 

RadioAaron wrote:

I'm going to assume that the Star brand will move to 104.7/107.7

I don't see why not.  At the end of the day when all is said and done, all Audacy wants is to have no competition at all, if at all possible. 
Heck, they even bought WGR to remove competition with WBEN. 
If anything right now, one might even say K love is their friend.
 

The K-Love format currently airs on 89.9 WBKV, with a 16.000 watt signal that barely reaches St. Catharines and Welland. A move to 102.5, with that 110,000 watt signal would easily introduce the format to the entire GTA. As for Star102 current listeners, perhaps they would migrate to 96.1 WMSX.

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

So what is going to happen to Star 102.5? I don't understand the article at all. Is Audacy selling Star 102.5? Does not make any sense to me.

Yes, they are. A few months ago, Audacy created a holding company called Audacy Atlas and placed Star, as well as a couple other stations into that new company(one of them, a station in Memphis, Tenn. also factored into that sale to EMF). As for what will happen to Star, that's a good question. No one knows if Audacy is going to move the format at staff to another station(IF that's the case, WLKK(107.7 and 104.7 the Wolf)would be likely; they have an antenna that's in Wethersfield, but their 104.7 translator does give metro Buffalo good coverage). Or some other station will shift format to hot AC. 

What I suspect is that this isn't going to be the last domino to fall in the Buffalo radio landscape any time soon.

mace wrote:

The K-Love format currently airs on 89.9 WBKV, with a 16.000 watt signal that barely reaches St. Catharines and Welland. A move to 102.5, with that 110,000 watt signal would easily introduce the format to the entire GTA. As for Star102 current listeners, perhaps they would migrate to 96.1 WMSX.

CJED(105.1 the River)runs the same format as WTSS.

Coincidentally, this appeared on Forbes' website Saturday. One the networks that was a victim of a recent hacking on its website was - you guessed it - K-Love.

A Christian Radio Network Stands Powerless To Social Media Hackers. But Why?

In case you're not familiar with the kind of programming a K-Love station offers, here's a look. I know it might be somewhat sacrilegious to say on Easter Sunday, but this is the kind of stuff I go out of my way to avoid. I should note that I'm not anti-religious in any way, but this seems to be over doing it.

I suppose it appeals to somebody though, because the network of K-Love stations continues to expand. But I have to wonder what the ratings are.

Here's a brief look at their playlist for the past half hour, as of 10:45 AM Sunday. Is this something you would tune in to hear?

paterson1 wrote:

According to Radio Discussions in Buffalo and on wiki, K LOVE has over 500 stations in the US and broadcast on over 600 signals when translators are added in.  Their overhead is tiny since all of the 500+ stations are simulcast out of one outlet in Nashville.  Education Media Foundation (EMF) the parent company of K LOVE could well afford the $15.5 million it paid for the Buffalo and Memphis stations in this deal. K LOVE reaches about 12 million listeners every week in the US.  Broken down this would average less than 24,000 listeners per station.  

My quick and dirty math estimates 17,000 weekly radio listeners on average to every signal in the US.

I'm not religious in the least and will never listen to K-LOVE, but how many people would donate money to Star 102.5?

Given the massive population areas the signal covers but were never monetized by WTSS, this might be a more productive use of the signal.

It's entirely possible the new format will have more listeners, especially if it's marketed here. The signal covers hugely populated areas with a format currently available by at least half a dozen in all of them - and with no real extra value beyond its playlist.

Maybe?

If they'd put effort into creating something that would grab attention beyond the station's rated market they'd end up with a mish-mash of different ratings systems and no clear path to monetization.

Now that the signal's market is "anywhere it's heard" and the business plan doesn't involve ratings or advertising, taking advantage of a signal bigger than its home market becomes a lot easier. Apples and oranges.

(And Star was probably "working," Audacy just needed quick cash and EMF saw the value in a signal that's bigger than it needs to be for its current use)

Last edited by RadioAaron (April 9, 2023 6:02 pm)