Alternative "95X" Launching In Raleigh

[DToTheJ]

It will be via a pair of translators at 95.1 FM and 95.3 FM. (Source)

[robbie roundhouse]

So is this going to become a trend in the Triangle - using multiple crappy sticks for one station?

[RadioDaze]

In a somewhat related translator move, His Radio's W300AR/Durham (107.9) is now 1-watt W246CG at 97.1 FM, which you can barely hear in northern Durham within a mile of the transmitter site for Greensboro's 100kW co-channel WQMG. Why the FCC okayed this I'll never know, but Radio Training Network must be keeping the thing alive so they can shop it to someone with a subchannel or AM signal. They relicensed their Creedmoor translator, W256AH 99.1, to Durham with 250 watts and have applied to move their Chapel Hill translator W299AQ towards Hillsborough on 107.9 and boost the power from 10 to 50 watts (to make room for the big power boost to Apex's W299AP, which is moving to a 1,171-foot perch on the WDCG/WKSL tower).

[acheron82]

Hopefully this one will be different but I doubt it.  Most of clear channel's "Alternative" stations lean active and stay away from the more indie/alternative style music.  It's a start for the modern rock lovers but I still think 96 has room to make a move because their new format is not cutting it.

[w00t]

WRNS will absolutely murder the 95.1 stick in the mornings during the warmer half of the year.

[RadioDaze]

Even little class A WHLF over in South Boston will interfere with the 95.3 half of it. That station doesn't even operate at peak height for its class (part of an agreement to enhance co-channel WKHK in Colonial Heights a few years back), and has a regular, yet weak presence here, obviously moreso in Durham, but just enough to cause some picket-fencing in Raleigh.

[DToTheJ]

@w00t: You're right... distance between the two 95.1's is 75 miles... And during E-skip periods, forget about it... Perhaps the adjacent 95.3 signal will be able to pick up some of the slack during such times.

[w00t]

It will be pretty bad.  Without the translator on the air, you can listen to WRNS in eastern Wake County.  Johnston County is inside the grade B contour.

[robbie roundhouse]

Obviously there won't be any jocks. Clear Channel will likely put Premium Choice on those signals. But here's my question. Not much is going to happen if the X stays on the two translators. Could Clear Channel be testing the water to see if there is enough interest in new rock to put that format on one of its stronger Triangle signals?

[chrocket87]

Obviously there won't be any jocks. Clear Channel will likely put Premium Choice on those signals. But here's my question. Not much is going to happen if the X stays on the two translators. Could Clear Channel be testing the water to see if there is enough interest in new rock to put that format on one of its stronger Triangle signals?

CC did this same thing in Cleveland with 99x a month or so ago. No DJs, PC playlist, and a translator signal. It's purpose in CLE is to 1) bring in some extra value to the cluster, as rocker WMMS has gone more talk than ever and is losing the listeners who want more music and 2) Bring alt-rock back to the area, as the previous alternative station was pretty popular, yet was blown up for sports about nine months before. Are there any stations in CC's Raleigh cluster that this could possibly complement, like 99x does for WMMS?