Re: WCAT-AM Now Spanish (Ethnic?)

["Steve West" <stevewest106@hotmail.com>]

>After my assorted limited dealings with various
>Citadel properties and staff around New England and
>New York State, the answer is probably not.  Sounds to
>me like its the cheapest programming they can find
>that they can just slap on the air to keep something
>on WCAT.

My thought exactly.

The day I missed my interview for a job at
>WCAT, and listened to them in and around the
>Orange/Athol area, AM 700 (??) didn't exactly come
>across as the best signal in the world in a thriving
>megalopolis.

There's a reason for that.  The original tower (located in back of the 
studios) had an excellent ground system.  A couple of years ago after Dick 
Partridge sold out to that small CT outfit (before it was sold to Citadel), 
the new owner got the bright idea that he would install a new tower which 
would be used for the 700 AM transmitting antenna, along with pager/cell 
phone service.  In the process of installation, the construction crew 
literally destroyed the WCAT ground system.  This is why they were off the 
air for nearly a year, attempting to fix the ground system around the 
transmitter.  The 'new' ground is, well... barely adequate.  An eye opener 
would be to see the coverage map that Partridge had made up after the freq 
change to 700 back in 1985- The original 700 signal used to reach into 
northern CT, east to about I495 (which at the northeast fringe would mix 
with the former CHSJ Country signal from St. John NB), west out to the 
Berkshires and north as far as the other side of Keene, NH/Bellows Falls, 
VT.  It was a nice signal once.

In fact, I'm even surprised that Citadel
>didn't just return WCAT(AM)'s license a year or so
>back when they were almost deleted.

Frankly, so am I.

A station like
>that wouldn't seem to fit in today's state of
>corporate, "profit profit profit at all costs" radio,
>so it doesn't surprise me at all they they would just
>throw the cheapest garbage they can find on the air
>just so that there's something there.

No, but if I had the cash I'd buy it and program SOMETHING local (and, in 
English), even if it were from the Athol/Orange YMCA.  But, being a radio 
guy, I could do something interesting.

Realistically, the value of the station is that of a donation to a local 
church or something.  Unless one is independently wealthy it would be 
exceedingly difficult to turn a nickel of profit on WCAT-AM with it's 
daytime only status - yet it COULD be done, IF someone knew what they were 
doing (maybe only a nickel, lol).  Best way (for Citadel) to promote the AM 
is from the FM side.  And folks, if I did own WCAT, I would return the 
Standards/nostalgia format to 700.  Considering the fact that Orange/Athol 
Mass has 3 stations and 3 more close regionals, I'd take the AM and shoot 
for the upper end of the demos (you guys have to make a trek out to Orange 
mass and see how many retirement communities there are).

Steve [West] Sawyer
Memphis, Tn


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