Re: Phillips Academy Andover Open; WPAA-FM Is B-a-a-a-ck

["A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyross.com>]

On 11 Sep 2002 at 15:10, Aaron [Bishop] Read wrote:

> That may be the rule, but I think it's ridiculous that such a valuable
> commodity in Top-20 markets is legally allowed to be completely unused for
> 88% of every week.

I doubt this rule has been changed since the 1950s.  Back then, 
commercial FMs often weren't on for much longer than that.  I remember 
WBZ-FM signing on at 5:00 PM and signing off at midnight.   WXHR, a stand-
alone FM, used to operate from 4:30 PM till midnight or 1 AM.  WEEI-FM, 
simulcasting AM, signed on at 2 PM.  The non-commercial stations didn't 
operate for much longer.  WGBH-FM signed on around 5:00 PM in those days. 
 WERS and WBUR used to sign on at 2 PM during the school year and 5 PM 
during the summer.  

And, BTW, Channel 2 generally signed on around 5 PM on weekdays.  They 
were off the air all day Saturday and were on in the daytime only on 
Sunday -- except for programming aimed at schools during weekday 
mornings.   During the 6-Day War in 1967, they came on in the daytime, 
pointing the camera at a UPI teletype, so that viewers could read the 
news typing out.

When I was at WMUA in the 1960s, we came on in the morning with "Coffee 
On Campus" from 7 to 9 or 10, then we were off until 4:30.  We had longer 
broadcast days on Saturday and Sunday.  We were off during the summer and 
all school vacations.  These days, with the help of local alums and some 
other non-students, the station is on daily from early morning until at 
least 12:30 PM, and often till 3 AM, even during the summer.

-- 
A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                           617.367.0468
 15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@attorneyross.com
Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         http://www.attorneyross.com