WGBT going talk

[JimA]

http://www.wxii12.com/news/21499776/detail.html

[tothedj]

"Clear Channel" is really determined to undermine the 'Curtis Radio Group" properties, with WRDU going talk, and now WGBT, there is not a doubt in my mind with the combined signals of 100,000 watts each, these two radio properties are poised to take away numbers from WSJS & WPTF, with the lineup of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and maybe Jason Lewis & overnight George Noory, they should score
some good numbers, this will be one to watch during the winter and spring books into 2010.

[EncSpy]

WRDU is about 5 watts now since they moved to WRAL's tower

[Markieo]

Now that 94.5 is going talk, shouldn't they be playing Christmas music now? Feliz Navidad, 24-7!! 

[carolinaradio]

Now that 94.5 is going talk, shouldn't they be playing Christmas music now? Feliz Navidad, 24-7!! 

Why would they do that?  It would cut in to WMAG's all-Christmas share.

[Mr_Winston-Salem]

When I lived in Winston-Salem, 94.5 and 98.3 had the worst signals. You couldn't listen to 94.5 on a clock radio, couldn't listen on a Walkman or any portable radios and radios with telescoping antennas. The signal was gone inside a reinforced concrete building (hospitals, skyscrapers, etc.). I could listen to 94.5 on a car radio and a high-end receiver, but it wasn't easy to listen on other radios. Using DX/Local switches usually led to static and more problems from 94.1. In downtown, 94.5 FM was a combination of 94.1/95.5/98.1 and one other cutting-in. I think it was 100.3? 94.1's signal was so strong, I could listen to it on Cable TV 2 and 6, AM on a Sony radio and on computer speakers, with the computer turned-off. Someone (Billy Graham Ministries) moving 94.1 to Faith, NC would help CC. When CC was on Fifth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, you couldn't listen to 94.5 The Rock Alternative on a Walkman outside their building. It was noise. I'm guessing listeners in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Mocksville, Yadkinville, Mount Airy, Welcome, Lexington, Mebane, Thomasville parts of Burlington and many in High Point will have problems. The reason 94.5 can't compete has nothing to do with formats and has everything to do with a directional C1 signal, protecting short spacings at 94.1 and 94.7. Combine this with the tower sites of 94.1 and 95.5, sandwiching it in interference in a densely populated part of the Triad. Listeners in Greensboro, Reidsville, Danville and Martinsville will love it. Listeners in Forsyth, Davidson, Surry, Yadkin, Davie and Alamance at home, at work, at the gym, in their garage or out for a jog, won't like this change.

[BIG APE]

When I lived in Winston-Salem, 94.5 and 98.3 had the worst signals. You couldn't listen to 94.5 on a clock radio, couldn't listen on a Walkman or any portable radios and radios with telescoping antennas. The signal was gone inside a reinforced concrete building (hospitals, skyscrapers, etc.). I could listen to 94.5 on a car radio and a high-end receiver, but it wasn't easy to listen on other radios. Using DX/Local switches usually led to static and more problems from 94.1. In downtown, 94.5 FM was a combination of 94.1/95.5/98.1 and one other cutting-in. I think it was 100.3? 94.1's signal was so strong, I could listen to it on Cable TV 2 and 6, AM on a Sony radio and on computer speakers, with the computer turned-off. Someone (Billy Graham Ministries) moving 94.1 to Faith, NC would help CC. When CC was on Fifth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, you couldn't listen to 94.5 The Rock Alternative on a Walkman outside their building. It was noise. I'm guessing listeners in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Mocksville, Yadkinville, Mount Airy, Welcome, Lexington, Mebane, Thomasville parts of Burlington and many in High Point will have problems. The reason 94.5 can't compete has nothing to do with formats and has everything to do with a directional C1 signal, protecting short spacings at 94.1 and 94.7. Combine this with the tower sites of 94.1 and 95.5, sandwiching it in interference in a densely populated part of the Triad. Listeners in Greensboro, Reidsville, Danville and Martinsville will love it. Listeners in Forsyth, Davidson, Surry, Yadkin, Davie and Alamance at home, at work, at the gym, in their garage or out for a jog, won't like this change.

Yep, but 94.1 is moving the tower to Faith in Rowan County.. Over my dead body!BIGAPE

[dittohead1]

When I lived in Winston-Salem, 94.5 and 98.3 had the worst signals. You couldn't listen to 94.5 on a clock radio, couldn't listen on a Walkman or any portable radios and radios with telescoping antennas. The signal was gone inside a reinforced concrete building (hospitals, skyscrapers, etc.). I could listen to 94.5 on a car radio and a high-end receiver, but it wasn't easy to listen on other radios. Using DX/Local switches usually led to static and more problems from 94.1. In downtown, 94.5 FM was a combination of 94.1/95.5/98.1 and one other cutting-in. I think it was 100.3? 94.1's signal was so strong, I could listen to it on Cable TV 2 and 6, AM on a Sony radio and on computer speakers, with the computer turned-off. Someone (Billy Graham Ministries) moving 94.1 to Faith, NC would help CC. When CC was on Fifth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, you couldn't listen to 94.5 The Rock Alternative on a Walkman outside their building. It was noise. I'm guessing listeners in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Mocksville, Yadkinville, Mount Airy, Welcome, Lexington, Mebane, Thomasville parts of Burlington and many in High Point will have problems. The reason 94.5 can't compete has nothing to do with formats and has everything to do with a directional C1 signal, protecting short spacings at 94.1 and 94.7. Combine this with the tower sites of 94.1 and 95.5, sandwiching it in interference in a densely populated part of the Triad. Listeners in Greensboro, Reidsville, Danville and Martinsville will love it. Listeners in Forsyth, Davidson, Surry, Yadkin, Davie and Alamance at home, at work, at the gym, in their garage or out for a jog, won't like this change.

Yep, but 94.1 is moving the tower to Faith in Rowan County.. Over my dead body!BIGAPE

I'm not exactly sure why moving the 94.1 tower closer to Charlotte is so offensive to you, Ape.  Care to enlihgten us on that one.  Afarid they'll lose a heritage no one is aware of?

[Matt Smith]

Just my opinion, but . . . .

It seems that various owners have been trying to make 94.5 viable as a "metro" station for about 25 years now.  All of the format changes, tower tweaks and power increases have not resulted in a signal that can be competitive across a large section of the market.

That's a LOT of $$$ sucked up into the ether without getting much in return.

There comes a point when these group owners ought to realize that some things are definitely beyond their control with this station.  There are physical laws that cannot be altered, and ownership situations that are not conducive to improving that signal.

Clear Channel should "fire sale" 94.5 to a local owner who can make that station "super-serve" its city of license, Eden, and the southside Virginia community.

Face it . . . . If "La Preciosa" could not draw an audience that would be loyal enough to overcome the noise, signal drop-outs and places where you just cannot get WGBT, what is there left for that station to do?

Later . . . .

[carolinaradio]

Keep in mind, when 94.5 goes talk it will probably be put in mono, which should help the signal a lot.