Musings: Jazz will move to 660
November 21, 2022Scott Fybush reported Monday that the donation of WAMO (660 Wilkinsburg) will allow it to be the new home for WZUM’s jazz format. What Pittsburgh Public Media will do with 1550 (the present WZUM) is anyone’s guess at this moment. Of course the lower dial position will allow for a broader spread of the programming. WZUM-FM will remain at 88.1 in Bethany, WV, and 660’s new translator will be W266CV (101.1 Braddock). The positioning of the 101.1 transmitter is on the Crown Tower on Pittsburgh’s North Side allows its 99 watts to spread pretty well over Pittsburgh.
So, how can WAMO continue to air on 107.3 without an AM station to originate the programming? Remember HD radio? It was “the next big thing” about 10-15 years ago that never took off the way some people thought it might. The HD subchannels work similarly to how they work with TV stations, but it has yet to really catch on. BUT if you can get an underserved format and an FM translator to simulcast the programming, you’re golden
Audacy took over the management of WAMO’s programming last year under a licensing agreement with WAMO owner Radio Power. Once the deal of the 660 donation goes through, WAMO will effectively become “WDSY-HD2” and continue to operate on 107.3. Radio Power will continue to lease the signals to Audacy because, as we know, Audacy just isn’t in a buyer’s position right now. Oh, yes I said “signals” because W261AX (100.1 Pittsburgh) is also leased as a translator for KDKA (1020).
If you aren’t thoroughly confused right now, congratulations! I am now exhausted from my short explanation but I will gladly answer any questions…
Hooking a translator on to an HD sub-channel seems like a shaky proposition compared to translating a signal from a physical AM or FM station. HD stations are just streams and could change any time, then what would keep the translator on the air, it would have to find another station to relay.