Low Power AM & the FCC

[Carmine5]

     If the Uncle just happens to own the local car dealership, here comes the revenue that would never end up at one of David's type of radio station; AM or FM! I don't think broadcasters of David's mindset could ever understand community radio, and how to sell it. Community radio, requires the station management develop relationships with the business and community it serves, which can takes months if not years to develop.

That is also a significant point.

Broadcasters will make the argument that a part 15 station (or LPAM) selling air time would take money away from them.  But I know of many small, local businesses who will not buy on a large or medium market station either because they're too expensive or too far away.

Even in a large county like Los Angeles, there are many small communities or communities within cities whose businesses would never buy LA radio.  A part 15 (or LPAM) station could be a great, cost-effective solution for them.

C5

[William C. Walker]

Carmine.  A friend of mine was the GM of a 5 kw AM station in a medium sized northeast market a few years back and he found it was more difficult to find advertisers for the 5 kw station than his commercial Part 15 AM.  Apparently a number of the corporate owned stations in his market utilized sleazy tactics when signing up clients and it wound up creating a very bad atmosphere in which to sell ad time.  Ironically he had little difficulty selling time on his Part 15 AM because people could distinguish between that station being locally owned vs. the behemoths being corporate entities.  One account, a local car dealership, brought in $840 a month for a very long time!

[XRQKFM]

One account, a local car dealership, brought in $840 a month for a very long time!

It doesn't take that many good accounts to make a Part 15 AM successful; three or four $500  a month to a Part 15 station will put in the black in short order. A part 15 AM station can be very successful selling spots in the $2-3 range, after all who is going to turn down sponsoring a little league game? Even our Equestrian Radio Network is starting to generate revenue broadcasting horse shows live after less than six months in operation. It only takes a few tack stores and feed supply stores to turn a radio station dedicated to horses green.

Even in a large county like Los Angeles, there are many small communities or communities within cities whose businesses would never buy LA radio.  A part 15 (or LPAM) station could be a great, cost-effective solution for them.

Little communities like Green Valley, Lake Hughes, Lebec and Neenach in Northern Los Angeles County are perfect examples of communities that won't spend a dime on L.A. Radio, yet these under served communities offer good opportunities for the micro broadcaster. Sometime the small business can only afford a trade out, while others can afford a bit more like a restaurant tucked away in a tiny community.

If my tire needs replacement on the van, then a trade out is the perfect solution. Revenue does not always have to be green backs, when a good trade will fill the bill; Take it!.


Steve
www.radiobrandy.com/RBpart15am.html

[Chuck]

There is no point in an AM trying to out-program someone with an identical format on a nearby 100 KW FM.  You are simply wasting your time if you try

I don't think the folks at WDIA in Memphis got that message.

More power to 'em.  Who is winning the war?