96.7 W244EN Flint/Lapeer. Junkalator

[Ben Zonia]

Put PTK into this link in the upper left corner to center the map on the PTK Oakland Airport. The darker green area that stretches from around Brighton to around Amont is the area above 1000 feet AMSL, which is as much as 1200 feet AMSL, and as much as 500 feet higher than the land on either side 20 miles or so to the NW or SE. This attenuates all VHF and UHF signals from the other side of the ridge. The gravelly to rocky soil left by the glaciers in that area also attenuates AM BC signals from the other side. There are terrain breaks like this in North Central parts of the Lower Peninsula that affect radio and TV signals. These areas show up on measured AM BC signals to be well under signal levels predicted by M-3.

http://vfrmap.com

[darcyh]

Hope it is okay to revive this older thread. Yesterday I listened to this via WLCO 1530 for an hour. There were two weather forecasts with an automated current temperature at the end. No commercials or even public service ads. There was a top of the hour ID an several Bridge 94.7 promos between songs. So it appears they have been maintaining this programming for a few years.

I am speculating that the value of WLCO is really its translator but the 1530 AM is needed to comply with the translator rules; in short no 1530 no 96.7. This would be the only reason to keep an old power hungry 5000 watt daytimer on the air. With no commercials it can't pay its electrical bill which I calculate at about $720 / month based on 12 hours / day at 20 cents a kilowatt hour using 10 kilowatts of electricity when the transmitter is on. Add to this maintenance, taxes etc.

Initially I found the first couple of songs interesting but after a few more it became fatiguing. You could easily automate a classic country, smooth jazz, beautiful music, adult standards, or geez, even a new age or celtic format. Perhaps making some money with the signal.

It sure seems like a waste of RF and electrical energy.

Comments appreciated.

[ChrisWL1980]

I had thought the Bridge format was just a stop-gap measure until Smile could figure out what to do with the station, but it's persisted for several years now. If this is the best they can do they're better off shutting it down and/or trying to sell it to someone who could do something useful with it. Or at least tweak the music mix. Who on earth wants to listen to karaoke instrumental tracks for pop hits?
I'm honestly surprised Smile has never attempted to expand its "Positive Country" format beyond the Thumb (yes, 103.7 is a commercial license, but I would think they could still easily duplicate the playlist). Especially in areas where they have multiple signals covering the exact same area. Positive Country would probably go over well in the heavily rural parts of Genesee, Lapeer and Oakland counties the translator covers.

[hb2]

Truth be told they have expanded THIS over Positive Country and Smile FM on at least 2 other stations that I know of: WDRQ 89.9 (LPFM) and WDRZ 89.1 Shelby, and probably others by now too. The newer stations are operating under "Full Potential Ministry" as the owner name (info matches a church in Imlay City), of which just completed a purchase of LPFM KDTI (90.3) Rochester Hills within the last week. But KDTI is not airing Bridge (yet?), it is currently airing mostly Smile FM but has some Bridge music and some Positive Country music sparsely mixed in with Smile FM. A bit unique and weird all at once. Not to mention they air the station ID after every other song, probably averaging around 20-30 times an hour.

Either they have a loyal audience for Bridge (which has no webcast) or they are working on building out a secondary sister network to Smile FM, who knows what the plan is?

[edj]

Many AMs are reducing power and/or removing multiple towers and selling the land because the extra coverage vs the FM translator isn't worth the money. WLCO may do this in the future.

[darcyh]

Many AMs are reducing power and/or removing multiple towers and selling the land because the extra coverage vs the FM translator isn't worth the money. WLCO may do this in the future.

My understanding is they need to keep the AM station on the air to keep the FM translator. If they shut 1530 off the translator would have to shut down too. Perhaps I misunderstand the rules.

[ChrisWL1980]

Truth be told they have expanded THIS over Positive Country and Smile FM on at least 2 other stations that I know of: WDRQ 89.9 (LPFM) and WDRZ 89.1 Shelby, and probably others by now too. The newer stations are operating under "Full Potential Ministry" as the owner name (info matches a church in Imlay City), of which just completed a purchase of LPFM KDTI (90.3) Rochester Hills within the last week. But KDTI is not airing Bridge (yet?), it is currently airing mostly Smile FM but has some Bridge music and some Positive Country music sparsely mixed in with Smile FM. A bit unique and weird all at once. Not to mention they air the station ID after every other song, probably averaging around 20-30 times an hour.

Either they have a loyal audience for Bridge (which has no webcast) or they are working on building out a secondary sister network to Smile FM, who knows what the plan is?

They did once do a "Smile FM Praise" format on what is now 88.9 WDTR (when it was on 89.1). With the growing popularity of Praise and Worship music the past few years (as evidenced by Air1's format change from Christian CHR to Praise a few years ago), perhaps they plan to give that another try?

[edj]

Many AMs are reducing power and/or removing multiple towers and selling the land because the extra coverage vs the FM translator isn't worth the money. WLCO may do this in the future.

My understanding is they need to keep the AM station on the air to keep the FM translator. If they shut 1530 off the translator would have to shut down too. Perhaps I misunderstand the rules.

There’s no rules against reducing power and demolishing one tower on the AM. Many have done it.

[hb2]

Truth be told they have expanded THIS over Positive Country and Smile FM on at least 2 other stations that I know of: WDRQ 89.9 (LPFM) and WDRZ 89.1 Shelby, and probably others by now too. The newer stations are operating under "Full Potential Ministry" as the owner name (info matches a church in Imlay City), of which just completed a purchase of LPFM KDTI (90.3) Rochester Hills within the last week. But KDTI is not airing Bridge (yet?), it is currently airing mostly Smile FM but has some Bridge music and some Positive Country music sparsely mixed in with Smile FM. A bit unique and weird all at once. Not to mention they air the station ID after every other song, probably averaging around 20-30 times an hour.

Either they have a loyal audience for Bridge (which has no webcast) or they are working on building out a secondary sister network to Smile FM, who knows what the plan is?

They did once do a "Smile FM Praise" format on what is now 88.9 WDTR (when it was on 89.1). With the growing popularity of Praise and Worship music the past few years (as evidenced by Air1's format change from Christian CHR to Praise a few years ago), perhaps they plan to give that another try?

Maybe. We shall see. Maybe Smile FM is trying to grow their brands to be a contender against Family Life Radio and K-Love/ Air1. I have noticed Smile FM is broadening their playlist in recent weeks and some newer (or unfamiliar) songs are airing.

Bridge 96.7 isn't too bad as a niche karaoke/variety format but it gets repetitive and the playlist needs expanding, a refreshing or an overhaul. The songs aired have gotten stale. But admitted there is better potential for both of these stations than this.

[Casey]

Why did they put this station on the air? It literally does nothing but play instrumental versions of classic hits songs. Does anybody know if there are future plans to actually use this frequency for anything worthwhile? Right now it's just a waste of a frequency. I don't know about you but I have no interest in instrumental versions of songs we all know. Makes no sense.

What would you rather hear them play Metallica over and over again?