Major Changes with the K-LOVE stations

[anotherguy]

From what I found out from Brian Marchand who does a great job of keeping with these things, EMF has applied for several changes to their Memphis area stations. They have applied to move 94.9 in Byhalia to Germantown, and to also lower the power for 94.7 and move it further Northwest. The biggest change though is that they have applied to move 94.9 in Ripley, TN to Hayti, MO. Apparently they are trying to improve the signal for 94.9 in Memphis, although the move to Hayti won't cover anywhere that isn't already being covered by 90.7 in Dyersburg.

Along with this, they had already applied to move KAIA 91.5 in Blytheville, AR, which carries Air 1, to Bloomfield, MO. Between these 2 moves it might expand K-LOVE and/or Air 1 further into MO, but apparently most of West TN won't be getting Air 1 other than the areas that can already get it from Union City. I'm disappointed in this, but not really surprised.

I'm also wondering how this will affect the translator on 97.7 that just recently came on, along with the other one at 96.7 that is supposed to be on by October 6th. I'm hoping that at least one of them could become a translator for Air 1, but I don't know for sure. Everything in West TN  that I had hoped could become stations for Air 1 in West TN hasn't happened, except for the one in Union City. Thankfully I can get that one at home.

[DeadElvis]

I'm also wondering how this will affect the translator on 97.7 that just recently came on, along with the other one at 96.7 that is supposed to be on by October 6th. I'm hoping that at least one of them could become a translator for Air 1, but I don't know for sure. Everything in West TN  that I had hoped could become stations for Air 1 in West TN hasn't happened, except for the one in Union City. Thankfully I can get that one at home.

Well, that's an interesting question.  The new transmitter, if approved, would be on the same tower as the 97.7 translator.  It certainly would be odd to have a primary and translator on the same tower.  And, it would be a waste of spectrum.

But, would this allow EMF to add Air1?  It would be tough.  Since 97.7 is outside the "Reserved Band," it must pull its programming from a terrestrial station -- no satellite feeding.  It does not appear that EMF has a station they could use anywhere within earshot.  So, I m not sure where the programming stream would come from.  But, there may be other chess pieces moving about the board that I may have missed.

I can't imagine this would impact the 96.7 transmitter in Midtown at all.  In fact, they'll still be needing help in that part of town.

I did notice that the move to Germantown requires another station to at least make a paper move to Byhalia.  Playing that role will be WMSB/Senatobia.  EMF is paying AFR to make this change, though it requires AFR to really do nothing.  Sadly, they redacted the amount to be paid to AFR in the official filing.

By the way.  Read the application for the WMSB move.  Someone missed a huge typo on page 2 in one of the operative documents.  Silly mistake that might have to be corrected.

DE

[brian.marchand]

EMF should be able to relay air1 station WJBR 93.7 Marked Tree, AR. When I visited Memphis several years ago I could pick up WJBR. Although WJBR signal is weak if I could get it in a hotel room on the west side they should be able to get it on a tower. 

[DeadElvis]

That would be pretty risky.  Assuming one could get a yagi narrow enough to work most of the time (and I am far from sure of that), when tropospheric duct is up, it'll be all Oxford, a C3 not too far south of here.  Heck, the Germantown tower site is right on the edge of the WQLJ 40 dBu.

Not a great choice, I would think.

DE

[DeadElvis]

You know, come to think of it, there may be a way in the future...

The FCC just finished Comment Period on a Petition tendered by the NAB, asking that FM translators be allowed to translate AM stations.  So, if this were finalized rule, hypothetically, they could use 1170/1180 to feed the translator, assuming the night signal could even reach the translator.

Now, if this ever did happen, it would be quite some time.  This is only a Petition, that the Commission may not ever act on.  And, even if they did, they would have to file a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and go through some machinations required by the Administrative Procedures Act (the "APA").  That's a longshot, at best.  And, it's a long process in the best of circumstances. 

And, looking at some other indications I have seen from the Commission, I am not sure that this is something they are likely to champion.  The FCC has a freeze on FM translators, at the moment, as they weigh the usefulness of translators and LPFM stations.  It seems they find local origination from LPFMs to be preferable to retransmission of other stations.  But, I could be wrong.  It has happened before.

DE

[brian.marchand]

EMF has never broadcast Air1 on AM and I doubt if they do. Chances are they will eventually sell 1170/1180.

[radiosaur]

DE, you'd be surprised how creative one can be pulling in weak stations and phasing out co-channel interference. Cable operators do it all the time.

[FM Sales]

EMF has never broadcast Air1 on AM and I doubt if they do. Chances are they will eventually sell 1170/1180.

They were approached by a local group 2-3 years ago that had cash and was willing to pay more than the signal was worth. Maybe EMF would talk to them now.

[brian.marchand]

I wonder why they did not sell then. Maybe they wanted to sell it after they could upgrade it to get more money. Or maybe they wanted to keep it to to supplement the 94.9/94.7 coverage. Perhaps if the WKVP application is approved they will sell it. My guess is they will want to sell it.