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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
1/21: South 107 gets a big-time signal upgrade, picks up NASCAR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Country station South 107 (WTSH-FM) will be gettin’ some getty up and go in the signal department later this year thanks to a major signal upgrade.
The Federal Communications Commission on January 14 gave the station the thumbs up to go from 45,000 watts (medium strong) to 100,000 watts (maximum strength).
Its tower will remain in Kingston, Ga. between Rome and Cartersville, about 50 miles northwest from downtown Atlanta. Given its signal, it now can cover a 40 mile radius comfortably. Currently, the station can reach well down into Cobb County but is very weak inside the Perimeter and directions East and South.
The upgrade will enable South 107 to not only penetrate buildings better in Cobb County but also clear up the signal in much of metro Atlanta by enabling the signal to travel about 20 miles further. Relatively speaking, it would still be a weak signal in the Southeast and Northeast parts of Atlanta but for the first time, South could be a true metro Atlanta player.
Kevin Daniels, operations manager, said the station hopes to have the signal ready to go by mid 2009, though it may be delayed if Radio One, which operates 107.5, takes too long in building its new tower. In other words, for South 107 to make the upgrade, 107.5 has to move its tower a bit further east. That move will enable Radio One’s Hot 107.9 to upgrade its signal and hopefully compete better with V-103.
For former Kicks morning host Moby, this move will be a boon because he’s currently heard in syndicated form out of Athens on 106.1 there as well as South 107 and the Bear in Griffin. With this upgrade, Moby will have near comparable coverage (if not better on the northside) as Kicks.
Right now, Atlanta has two major signal FM country radio stations (Kicks and the Bull) and four “fringe” stations (The Bear in Griffin, 106.1 in Athens, South 107 in Rome and 96.7/The Legend south of the airport).
You can see South 107’s current coverage map here.. And for comparision, here’s the Kicks’ coverage area.
South 107 is also picking up NASCAR coverage on weekends from 106.7, which recently ended its contract after many years. The fact 106.7 went oldies was a major factor in the switch. It had been a country station for many years, which was more compatible to NASCAR.
-(In other radio sports news, our Braves man David O’Brien has reported that Jim Powell from the Milwaukee Brewers is going to be working the radio play by play this year for the Braves, as was previously rumored.)[http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/01/21/atlantabravesbroadcasters.html] They also appear to be trying to get back Don Sutton from the Washington Nationals.
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1/21: 106.7 picks up Ga. Tech to simulcast basketball, football games with 790
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech has been airing basketball and football games on 790/The Zone for years. While during the day, that station gets a decent signal, even outside the Perimeter, that’s not the case at night, especially when basketball is aired.
But instead of using WREK-FM, the college radio station, the university has signed a simulcast deal with the 100,000 watt signal station 106.7, which plays True Oldies. The station recently dropped NASCAR, which is still seeking a radio home in Atlanta.
“We think it could be a profitable relationship,” said Paul O’Malley, the general manager for True Oldies. There is always a risk putting sports on a music station. But he feels the downside is modest since it’s only 32 evenings of basketball and maybe a dozen Saturday afternoon football games. NASCAR took up Sunday afternoons. Dave FM airs Falcons games. 94.9/The Bull does the Braves. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence that in either of those cases, sports helps build audience for the music. But it’s a good service to listeners since clarity and reach is much better on FM.
