101.9 wldr

[CK-722]

Maybe somebody remembers why they channel change occurred. Looking at both History Cards, the WLDR and WTCM-FM applications may have been mutually exclusive, and WTCM-FM changed channels to solve the mutual exclusivity.

It looks like WTCM-FM signed on just seven months before WLDR, WTCM-FM on December 13, 1965 and WLDR on July 17, 1966.. This is consistent with somewhat contemporaneous applications. From the 1967 Broadcasting Yearbook, from David Gleason's americanradiohistory.com. David Gleason, aka David Eduardo, had a Spanish language program on WCCW 1310 in the early 1960s for migrant workers. It was one of his first radio jobs.

[EdWalker]

A few weeks ago, while browsing the FCC history cards online, WTCM-FM was originally planned to be on 101.9 before it changed its CP to 103.5. I wonder if the 103.5 frequency was originally allocated to Manistee or Ludington at that time (early to mid 1960s; I found it odd that neither Manistee nor Ludington had a Class C in the pre-80-90 days as they had a much higher population at the time than Petoskey or Gaylord, both of which had a Class C)

Did some searching on old Broadcasting Magazine FCC sections. Turns out 103.5 was originally assigned to Cadillac, but moved to TC in 1964. 96.7 was then assigned to Cadiilac.

See "Rulemakings" https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/ID ... %20city%22

[CK-722]

Usually, an equivalent Class channel is required for substitution. 244A was substituted for 278C.

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids back around 1980, but then WTCM-FM moved South to serve Cadillac better, and 272A 102.3 was substituted for 280A 103.9, and WAAQ signed on on 272A 102.3. WTCM-FM was recently downgraded to Class C0, and after preventing it for three years by filing an application for 453 meters HAAT to preserve Class C status, 280A 103.9 could be fit into Big Rapids again. WBZX now occupies 103.9, and WYBR now occupies 102.3.

[EdWalker]

Usually, an equivalent Class channel is required for substitution. 244A was substituted for 278C.

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids back around 1980, but then WTCM-FM moved South to serve Cadillac better, and 272A 102.3 was substituted for 280A 103.9, and WAAQ signed on on 272A 102.3. WTCM-FM was recently downgraded to Class C0, and after preventing it for three years by filing an application for 453 meters HAAT to preserve Class C status, 280A 103.9 could be fit into Big Rapids again. WBZX now occupies 103.9, and WYBR now occupies 102.3.

I saw the original 1962 Table of FM allocations. TC just had two Class A FMs.

[EdWalker]

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids

WBZX was originally allocated to Harrison and moved into Big Rapids. The incumbent Big Rapids broadcaster did everything they could to prevent WBZX from getting licensed.

[CK-722]

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids

WBZX was originally allocated to Harrison and moved into Big Rapids. The incumbent Big Rapids broadcaster did everything they could to prevent WBZX from getting licensed.

The Schaberg McCluskey drop in was done around 1980. It was also in West Branch at one point.

Several others long ago upgraded Class As to Class Cs. WMBN went from 96.7 to 96.3, and WMKC swent from 102.3 to 102.9. All the later changes from Docket 80-90 allowed many Class As to upgrade to C2.

Quite a few UP stations were able to upgrade from A to C, at least originally.

[ftballfan]

Usually, an equivalent Class channel is required for substitution. 244A was substituted for 278C.

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids back around 1980, but then WTCM-FM moved South to serve Cadillac better, and 272A 102.3 was substituted for 280A 103.9, and WAAQ signed on on 272A 102.3. WTCM-FM was recently downgraded to Class C0, and after preventing it for three years by filing an application for 453 meters HAAT to preserve Class C status, 280A 103.9 could be fit into Big Rapids again. WBZX now occupies 103.9, and WYBR now occupies 102.3.

McCluskey ran into trouble with the FCC years ago regarding some noncommercial stations he said he built but either weren't built or were built in the wrong location.

[ftballfan]

Usually, an equivalent Class channel is required for substitution. 244A was substituted for 278C.

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids back around 1980, but then WTCM-FM moved South to serve Cadillac better, and 272A 102.3 was substituted for 280A 103.9, and WAAQ signed on on 272A 102.3. WTCM-FM was recently downgraded to Class C0, and after preventing it for three years by filing an application for 453 meters HAAT to preserve Class C status, 280A 103.9 could be fit into Big Rapids again. WBZX now occupies 103.9, and WYBR now occupies 102.3.

I saw the original 1962 Table of FM allocations. TC just had two Class A FMs.

What were the two frequencies? I'm guessing 92.1 was one (WCCW's original frequency)

[ftballfan]

Dave Schaberg and Jim McCluskey tried to put 280A 103.9 into Big Rapids

WBZX was originally allocated to Harrison and moved into Big Rapids. The incumbent Big Rapids broadcaster did everything they could to prevent WBZX from getting licensed.

The Schaberg McCluskey drop in was done around 1980. It was also in West Branch at one point.

Several others long ago upgraded Class As to Class Cs. WMBN went from 96.7 to 96.3, and WMKC swent from 102.3 to 102.9. All the later changes from Docket 80-90 allowed many Class As to upgrade to C2.

Quite a few UP stations were able to upgrade from A to C, at least originally.

Did WMKC ever broadcast on 102.3 or did they move before signing on?

[ftballfan]

Much of Northern's cluster will soon be broken up, as deals are becoming lined up for each property; which will move to various buyers; including the multiple signals presently used to air ESPN. I would imagine the agenda of the new various owners would be to put new formats across those frequencies. It's possible ESPN could remain on one, but I don't speculate that will be the case. It would free up a low maintenance format for WLDR to scoop up and cover the market.

Very interesting!

106.7 (and possibly 105.5 - I don't recall for certain) were originally slated to be sold to a Catholic radio group a couple years ago, but that deal was contingent on Blarney Stone actually following through on its purchase of 92.5, 94.3, 97.5 & 98.9.

KLT/KLZ is definitely the prize of the group. Cannot wait to see who winds up with those heritage stations!

A couple groups have been sniffing around for acquisition opportunities for a while.

As far as I know, I think Blarney Stone was supposed to acquire 105.5 as well

[EdWalker]

What were the two frequencies? I'm guessing 92.1 was one (WCCW's original frequency)

92.1 and 103.1

https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/ID ... %20city%22

[WC8KCY]

Just tuned into WLDR's de facto replacement, WWMN 106.3 Thompsonville. The audio is just gross: it's broadcasting in mono, and it sounds to me as though there is an overload, alignment, or lightning-damage issue somewhere along the chain.

To their credit, the imaging is more coherent than I'd expect for something they had to throw together in a hurry.

[Ben Zonia]

What were the two frequencies? I'm guessing 92.1 was one (WCCW's original frequency)

92.1 and 103.1

https://americanradiohistory.com/hd2/ID ... %20city%22

Except for WWTV-FM, which was already there, it's amazing how all the rest are assigned Class A frequencies in Northern Michigan. And of course, the vast majority of AMs were Class IV Locals. And it looks like that except for the existing stations, Class B-C channels were in the largest cities statewide. No wonder younger people still listened to WLS and WCFL.

That Big Rapids 280A was an earlier attempt. Interestingly, both were blocked by WTCM-FM upgrades. If all radios had decent selectivity, there really would be no problems created. I do remember being at a hotel near the LAX airport, and the clock radio couldn't receive KOST 103.5 because of the 103.1 and 103.9 nearby.

[CK-722]

Modification of minimized duplicate post.

Here we go. Big Rapids Channel 272A substituted for 280A. 283B Muskegon precluded coordinates of Big Rapids from being used, and upgrade of WTCM-FM precluded it on the other side.

https://books.google.com/books?id=sKekq ... 0A&f=false