WALI goes silent

[DudeFan]

He's got 30 days to file an STA to stay silent. Usually should file it right away, but some don't.

[stereolane]

WALI always has had a very respectable signal in the city of Beaufort for being a class A 30 or so miles away. Given the lack of population to NIMBY about a tower and fairly lax zoning rules, a very tall tower could be built to cover most of the north of the Broad River and still put city-grade into Walterboro as an A. Or, better still, use that unlit 1200' aircraft hazard on the north end of St. Helena Island that 99.7 used to use...I do believe that is still standing as of 2011 and has been cited by various Fed organizations for not having the lights turned on the tower.

However, I just picture (almost bet) this station is going to the God Squad. It's the perfect scenario for them...will be sold for a song and will go AFR or Air 1 simulcast or something. Highly doubtful anybody who has $$ in Colleton will want to mess with it, and I don't see an independent owner from Charleston or Beaufort wanting to play radio down there.

Unless somebody wants to sell me the station for a song! I think if you can't at least tread water in a rural area as the only local station in town, you're doing something wrong! Cut some staff or better yet make them all earn their keep by VTing or doing commercials!

Radio-X

(BTW: No silent STA from WALI yet...wonder if Mr. Hess forgot or if there's something else in the works?)

I wouldn't want to be the 5th country station in 4 country station contest. I had a daytime AM an hour or so outside of a major market back in the 90s, and a had a bad time convincing my GM that nobody would listen to our little AM over the big city country FM's. Fast forward to 2012, and I see WALI in the same situation.

Regarding the big tower on St.Helena, it was lit the last time I was on Edisto Island. I believe an LPTV operates from there. Correct me if I am wrong... I understand that the out of town owner of that stick is quite a character to work with.

[somdradioguy1]

Do any of those other four country stations ever mention Colleton County. Of course not. Local always trumps if it's done right. That of course is a big IF.

[vchimpanzee]

Probably. But given the more stringent requirements for such moves, it would be tougher to get the commission to approve the loss of primary service to Walterboro even with the economic hardship.

Then again, there's always a Beaufort Co move in potential with enough city grade to keep the COL in W'boro.

G

What I would want to see is a format like WLOW had for nearly 20 years back on FM.

[charlestondxman]

Does anybody know what is going on with that station? Has been off the air over 3 months after Mr. Hess turned the station off, and haven't heard anything about it.

[radiodxrichmond]

I'll go on the record to say if Mr. Hess wants a body to program his station so he's at least not losing money on the station, sign me up. It has a reasonable Charleston signal (on the western sides of town, at least), and covers Beaufort almost like a local at its current tx site. I think it could be moved a little east of Yemassee with little issue and cover most of Beaufort/Jasper counties with a good signal.

I can think of two formats that would at least keep things solvent for a good while in a market like Colleton County. Although my bet is the God Squad will pick this signal up for a song...

...although I miss the Lowcountry and would like to be back in the programming chair! I'll pay my own salary!! 

Radio-X

[upstate29651]

Hilton Head's 1130 am is simulcasting on 93.7 with an LPFM.

G

[charlestondxman]

That's 93.5, not 93.7. It has a very good signal. A couple weeks ago I heard it skip into Charleston. A good format.

[radiodxrichmond]

1130/93.5 is about as close as one will get to the WLOW format from yester-year.

The tx for 93.5 is on their Bluffton stick with 103.1, 106.1, 106.9, and 107.9. Word on the street was that they were supposed to open up a translator in Beaufort but haven't seen/heard anything...and that signal goes a good way on flat terrain...even 250w at 400'!

And just remember, if WALI returns and if WALI moves closer to Beaufort, there could be a case to shut off the 93.5 translator, but in terms of moving WALI closer, it would be a moot point. They'd have more of an issue with the 93.7 allotment to St. Simons than the translator.

Radio-X