Re: WNAN-FM 91.1 To Make "Minor" Change

[Aaron Read <aread@speakeasy.net>]

Precisely, Ron.   Read the discussion again:

WGBH controls WNAN.

WNAN wants to increase power.  They can't do that without shafting WSMU.

WSMU wants to move to 89.3.  They can't do that without WGBH's approval.

WGBH (probably) doesn't want WSMU on 89.3 until WGBH moves to Needham.

So now that WGBH is going to move to Needham, WGBH/WNAN can scratch WSMU's 
back by allowing WSMU to move to 89.3...which in turn allows WSMU to 
scratch WGBH's back by allowing WNAN to increase power.

That would be the logical deal...but I have little or no hard info to back 
it up.

The only involvement of WBUR would be that if WSMU moves to 89.3...it opens 
up room in Rhode Island for an allocation on or near 91.1, esp. in the 
Kingston area (URI).   I know WBUR would like to get a decent-sized 
transmitter down there for WRNI.




At 09:36 AM 4/3/2003 -0500, Ron Bello wrote:

>One big problem with the discussion below,
>WNAN is controlled by WGBH not BUR.
>They also have WCAI Marthas Vineyard/Woods Hole.
>
>
>At 05:48 PM 4/2/03 -0500, Aaron Read wrote:
>>At 06:29 PM 4/2/2003 -0400, Laurence Glavin wrote:
>>>I see in today's (04/03/03) FCC Daily Digest that WNAN-FM 91.1, on the
>>>island of Nantucket, MA has applied for a "minor" change, nearly doubling
>>>its power (is that about a 40% increase in signal strength?).  WNAN
>>>is almost exactly 50 miles away from same-channel outlet WSMU, S. 
>>>Dartmouth, MA.
>>>There's an application on file for WSMU to vacate 91.1 and move to 89.3;
>>>in today's $$$$$$$$ environment, that's not about to happen, unless UNLESS
>>>WBUR offers to take WSMU off UMass's hands, switch it to 89.3 and then
>>>boosts the Mother Ship's power.  Where will they get the cash?  Sell 
>>>WRNI to CCU!
>>
>>Even if they won the Powerball lottery, I doubt WBUR could afford to 
>>offer the kind of money it'd take to get UMass/Dartmouth (or the State) 
>>to let go of WSMU.  Especially in their current financial 
>>shape.   Besides, it'd have to be at least $10-$15 million would be my 
>>guess...a serious wad even in good times, and WRNI/WXNI aren't worth 
>>anywhere near that.
>>
>>However, if WSMU vacates 91.1 it probably opens up room for a new 
>>allocation in the Kingston, RI area for 91.1 and I know WRNI (WBUR) would 
>>love to reach the Kingston/Newport area better...esp. with an FM signal.
>>
>>The WSMU application to move to 89.3 has, IIRC, been on file since at 
>>least 1996 but also IIRC it was dependant on WGBH successfully moving to 
>>Needham, which it now appears will happen.  There's no way WSMU can move 
>>to 89.3 without WGBH's say-so and I'll wager that WSMU allowing WNAN to 
>>boost is part of the deal - assuming there is a deal.
>>
>>Of course, I would think that WERS might have something to say about WSMU 
>>being on 89.3, but it would depend on what power & height WSMU were at.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron "Bishop" Read             aread@speakeasy.net
FriedBagels Consulting          AOL-IM: readaaron
http://www.friedbagels.com      Boston, MA