It appears UC again this season will take a back seat to the Reds on WLW, Kentucky on WCKY and Louisville on WSAI. Two of these teams are not even in the area.

It's beyond reason why UC takes such treatment from Clear Channel. It seems UC has really excepted that back seat tossed to them. Sure UC gets WLW when Reds aren't playing. But recently even the Bengals have been on both WLW & WCKY bumping UC to FM. Why do the Bengals need two 50,000 watt stations in the same market? Why should Louisville get preferential treatment in Cincinnati. I understand the Kentucky treatment more then the others. It's time UC took control over it own media area. If they don't UC will never grow its fan base. What do you think?

I've been b!#$ing ábout this for YEARS! If I were AD, changing media situatiin would be in my list of top 3 things to accomplish.

I don't have a big problem with radio coverage . UC is on WLW unless the reds are playing then they are on Webn. Louisville and Kentucky are buried on some AM stations you cant get after the sun goes down . The reds (and bengals) will always have preference on WLW. I don't recall too many instances when the bengals and UC football had a timing conflict. I could be wrong

How many times is there a conflict? Last I checked it was only the three September games because the Reds have priority. The last nine games should be on 700 wlw. For the Miami-Ohio and Ohio State games you should be able to pick up the both the Bearcat broadcast and the opponent broadcast as well. I think Louisville and Kentucky have contracts with those stations which gives them priority.

The only thing I want is another UC themed shows besides the coaches show.

I don't disagree with the premise here--UC does deserve more and better coverage in the Cincinnati market. WLW, as noted, has a hierarchy--even the Bengals get bumped for the Reds and UC follows the two pro teams. X, gets bumped for UC games.

Even with declining listenership, WLW is still the dominant station with a daytime signal that reaches most of Ohio and a signal at night that often hits 30+ states providing almost network level coverage. So UC faces a dilemma: reach tens of millions of potential listeners on the Big One or move to FM with a reach of maybe 50 miles or a low power AM with poor signal quality--even in parts of the I-275 metro area.

While interest in UC is growing across Ohio, I'm not sure a network is economically feasible. For better or worse, state flagship schools wear the state name on their jerseys and become the de facto "state team" for those who buy the gear at Wal-Mart and couldn't find the campus with a map and a flashlight.

One alternative I believe is viable: keep WLW; add one of Clear Channel's lower power AM stations refocused on college sports and specifically the 'Cats. Simulcast UC games/coaches shows there and add some original programming that features extended pre-game and post-game segments plus a weekly call-in show for UC. This is not a high cost proposition for Clear Channel. There is an abundance of network and syndicated programming available for the balance of that station's broadcast day.

When has a Bengals game ever bumped a UC game to FM?

Louisville and UK dont get special treatment, they buy airtime with 1530 and 1360, just like UC buys airtime with 700. Do you really think those stations would turn down that money and say youre not a cincy team so we wont air your games?

1530 and 1360 are also garbage stations, I work less than 5 miles from 1530 and I have a hard time getting it almost anywhere in the city as I drive around all day.

Clear Channel defenders to chime in 3,2,1...

(09-09-2014 07:23 AM)indycat Wrote:  I don't disagree with the premise here--UC does deserve more and better coverage in the Cincinnati market. WLW, as noted, has a hierarchy--even the Bengals get bumped for the Reds and UC follows the two pro teams. X, gets bumped for UC games.

Even with declining listenership, WLW is still the dominant station with a daytime signal that reaches most of Ohio and a signal at night that often hits 30+ states providing almost network level coverage. So UC faces a dilemma: reach tens of millions of potential listeners on the Big One or move to FM with a reach of maybe 50 miles or a low power AM with poor signal quality--even in parts of the I-275 metro area.

While interest in UC is growing across Ohio, I'm not sure a network is economically feasible. For better or worse, state flagship schools wear the state name on their jerseys and become the de facto "state team" for those who buy the gear at Wal-Mart and couldn't find the campus with a map and a flashlight.
One alternative I believe is viable: keep WLW; add one of Clear Channel's lower power AM stations refocused on college sports and specifically the 'Cats. Simulcast UC games/coaches shows there and add some original programming that features extended pre-game and post-game segments plus a weekly call-in show for UC. This is not a high cost proposition for Clear Channel. There is an abundance of network and syndicated programming available for the balance of that station's broadcast day.

I like its idea so now see if UC AD Bone can get this done. Can we say emails to the board of trustee. Those guy's are the big hitters in the market and have advertising dollars to spend I.e our friendly car salesman .

(09-09-2014 07:30 AM)Buckets Wrote:  When has a Bengals game ever bumped a UC game to FM?

Louisville and UK dont get special treatment, they buy airtime with 1530 and 1360, just like UC buys airtime with 700. Do you really think those stations would turn down that money and say youre not a cincy team so we wont air your games?

1530 and 1360 are also garbage stations, I work less than 5 miles from 1530 and I have a hard time getting it almost anywhere in the city as I drive around all day.

I got some news for you if you lived 5 miles from WCKY you would get the station on you fillings of your teeth.. Is 50,000 watts and covers a night time signal all the way to Florida and a day time signal that covers about 100 miles around.
Now if your are talking about 1360 WSAI there signal is more local the towers for that station are just north of the city while WCKY towers are by the airport in Villa Hills.

I can't get 1360 or 1530 with any consistency in Dayton. 102.7 comes in pretty well. I'd say they are on the right station since Dayton is a market they need to continue to tap into.

(09-09-2014 08:31 AM)kyucat Wrote:  I got some news for you if you lived 5 miles from WCKY you would get the station on you fillings of your teeth.. Is 50,000 watts and covers a night time signal all the way to Florida and a day time signal that covers about 100 miles around.
Now if your are talking about 1360 WSAI there signal is more local the towers for that station are just north of the city while WCKY towers are by the airport in Villa Hills.

They have an antenna that is directionally pointed south and east. North is not a good signal at all. They don't necessarily always broadcast at 50,000 watts either.

(09-09-2014 08:57 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 08:31 AM)kyucat Wrote:  I got some news for you if you lived 5 miles from WCKY you would get the station on you fillings of your teeth.. Is 50,000 watts and covers a night time signal all the way to Florida and a day time signal that covers about 100 miles around.
Now if your are talking about 1360 WSAI there signal is more local the towers for that station are just north of the city while WCKY towers are by the airport in Villa Hills.

They have an antenna that is directionally pointed south and east. North is not a good signal at all. They don't necessarily always broadcast at 50,000 watts either.

That is not the info I got on WCKY. They are 50,000 full time.

(09-09-2014 08:57 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 08:31 AM)kyucat Wrote:  I got some news for you if you lived 5 miles from WCKY you would get the station on you fillings of your teeth.. Is 50,000 watts and covers a night time signal all the way to Florida and a day time signal that covers about 100 miles around.
Now if your are talking about 1360 WSAI there signal is more local the towers for that station are just north of the city while WCKY towers are by the airport in Villa Hills.

They have an antenna that is directionally pointed south and east. North is not a good signal at all. They don't necessarily always broadcast at 50,000 watts either.

That is not the info I got on WCKY. They are 50,000 full time.

(09-09-2014 09:12 AM)kyucat Wrote:  That is not the info I got on WCKY. They are 50,000 full time.

Either way, they definitely are directional. I don't get a good signal when at work in Huber Heights (just north of Dayton). WLW comes in fine, as does WEBN. I think it is probably better that the Bearcats get the WEBN spot instead of 1530/1360.

(09-09-2014 10:01 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 09:12 AM)kyucat Wrote:  That is not the info I got on WCKY. They are 50,000 full time.

Either way, they definitely are directional. I don't get a good signal when at work in Huber Heights (just north of Dayton). WLW comes in fine, as does WEBN. I think it is probably better that the Bearcats get the WEBN spot instead of 1530/1360.

Yes, WCKY has always been directional--can't pick it up on the Norwood Lateral at times but you can listen @ night in Tennessee! Great point about the WEBN signal clearly reaching Dayton. It's often discussed here but Dayton should be part of a university-wide strategy to build alumni relations, donors and football/basketball fanbases.

(09-09-2014 10:01 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(09-09-2014 09:12 AM)kyucat Wrote:  That is not the info I got on WCKY. They are 50,000 full time.

Either way, they definitely are directional. I don't get a good signal when at work in Huber Heights (just north of Dayton). WLW comes in fine, as does WEBN. I think it is probably better that the Bearcats get the WEBN spot instead of 1530/1360.

I was picking 1530 up on the west side of Louisville last week. Its no different than UK games on 840 in Louisville during UL games at the same time.

1530/WCKY is non-directional days, and switches to a directional antenna at local sunset in Sacramento California. The reason they go directional, is to protect another AM station, KFBK/Sacramento, which is also a 50,000 watts.

Most stations required to switch to directional at night do so at their own local sunset. WCKY is a rare exception, staying on past Cincinnati local sunset.

WCKY's night time pattern looks like this.



At night, the actual coverage area is far greater than shown. This represents local-like coverage (red), and reliable near local (purple). I have found that the real local and reliable areas can be up to 25% less that this website indicates.

Daytime looks like this. (25% less than shown) Between purple an blue is "fringe" reception.



Day an night, AM stations signals are carried by a "groundwave", and the lower the frequency, the better the signal travels. That means if 55/WKRC were non directional, their 5,000 watt signal would travel much further than WCKY's 50,000 watt signal on 1530.

At night AM Signals are also reflected off the ionosphere, allowing the signals to travel great distances. Opposite of daytime, the higher the frequency the greater the distance traveled.

AM is also affected by ground conductivity and obstructions such as downtown's and mountains.

As to a dedicated local station for UC sports. Ain't gonna happen. The revenue stream cannot be generated to make a "WCRD" type station viable. Unless UC wants to purchase time, generate its own programming plus solicit advertising for their time spot. That might work. For all I know, UL may have a similar deal going at 790/WCRD.

I probably lost you in the first sentence , but I don't care.

I think this a bunch of nothing,I will be at the game and if I wasnt ESPN U is i think on everybody's basic cable package!!!!!!

(09-11-2014 07:43 AM)OneUChoopsfan Wrote:  I probably lost you in the first sentence , but I don't care.

I'd say it is very inaccurate. I have to drive down every Friday to Alexandria to pick up my kids and bring them back to Dayton. I have trouble with 1530 until I'm past Middletown. I can't get a solid signal on 1530 in Kettering (where I live) or in Huber.

I live about 30 miles east of Cincinnati on the edge of Clermont County. I can pick up WCKY in my car in during the mid to late afternoon but not when I drive to work in the morning. Nor can I hear at in the evening on a radio - I had to listen to the TT show on line last night.