Re: What's JJ up to?

["Dan Billings" <dib9@gwi.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Garrett Wollman" <wollman@khavrinen.lcs.mit.edu>
To: "Dan Billings" <dib9@gwi.net>
Cc: <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2001 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: What's JJ up to?

> Do any of you Mainers think 96.3 // 95.9 would work?

I haven't looked at coverage maps, but my initial reaction is yes.

96.3 has great signal that covers all of Western Maine, including
Lewiston/Auburn very well.  The signal is strong in the Brunswick/Topsham
area where I live.  I'm not sure about the Augusta area, but I would assume
the station can be heard well there.  When I have tried to pick up the
station in Portland, it has been very marginal.  A second station, like the
current simulcast on 1310, is necessary for the station to be much of a
factor in the Portland market.

95.9 covers York County and Portland fine.  In the Brunswick/Freeport area
in eastern Cumberland County, which is in the Portland metro for Arbitron,
the signal starts to disappear.  My guess is the signal is also pretty
marginal in the Bridgton/Casco area, which is also in the Portland metro.
These areas would all be covered by 96.3.

The problem with a 95.9 // 96.3 combo is that the stations would cover such
a large geographic area that it would be hard to target programming,
promotions, and sales.  If the programming was unique, it could work.  I
also wonder if kids in the more rural areas covered by 96.3 are into hip-hop
like kids around Greater Portland.

I like the 95.5 // 95.9 combo because it combines two Class A rimshotters,
one north of Portland and one south of Portland, and the result is excellent
coverage of the market.

My suggestion for the current 96.3 // 1310 combo would be a nostalgia
format.  The format is on Saga's 1490 WBAE in Portland and WMTW's 1470 WLAM
in Lewiston, but there are a lot of areas in southern/western Maine where
neither station is listenable.  There were also a number of letters in the
newspaper complaining about not being able to get the format on FM when WMTW
made the switch to talk.  The format is also gone in Augusta.  When the
format was on WLAM AM & FM it got decent numbers in the Portland book.  I
also can't believe that WMTW is making any money with WLAM in Lewiston.  An
FM competitor might convince them to simulcast their talk programming on
1470.  JJ could bring Bud Sawyer back to WLOB.  I think Bud worked there
between his WGAN and WPOR tenures.

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine