Holy (Bush) Geography Batman! Stow Ohio is now in West Virginia!

[zbdent]

Or so Clear Channel is trying to promote. (Sorry if I missed this being reported, or if it's a dupe).

WWVA, a station out of West Virginia (and a Clear Channel owned one at that), is seeking a permit to build a transmitting tower in Stow Ohio (for the geographically challenged, or Repukes, this is just east of Akron Ohio).

I missed this on Friday, so here's the lin:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/2004/03/26/living/8281589.htm

They'll stop at nothing for total world domination.

[Catfight]

1. I don't get the connection?

Why is this a big deal?

[Florida_Geek]

3. Once the station is moved

they CC plan to have one of thier automated programming stations run the new station, and all the old DJs etc will be fired.

[Ohio Dem]

5. All the DJ's have already been fired.

Most of them, anyway. They were replaced by Sean Hannity et al. I posted here not long ago that the DJ's on this station had started giving Bush the business over a few things, and how refreshing it was to hear. Then, they were fired, as was predicted by several DU'ers.

It's a big ol' 50,000 watt station that can be heard as far away as California under certain circumstances. No reason to move it that I can see.

Actually, they're just planning on moving the 50,000 capability, as I understand it. There will still be a WWVA, but little. Ever since CC bought the station, it has gone steadily downhill. I don't know if this move will make any difference in that regard, but I suspect not. I do know that the locals here have been giving CC a hard time for getting rid of all the local DJ's, so maybe that's why they're moving.

[DerBeppo]

2. not odd

some L.A. stations have transmission towers in mexico.

[DarkPhenyx]

4. Having one in Stow...

...would help them to reach the backsides of the mountains. No, it isn't that unusual at all.

[starroute]

6. WWVA is of historical importance

http://members.aol.com/jeff570/wwva.html

"It was 2 am on a cold and wintry 13th of December in 1926 when electronics wizard John Stroebel threw the switch that sent power surging through the tiny, home-built 50 watt transmitter set up in the basement of his Wheeling, West Virginia home. Upstairs, from the Stroebel parlor, that first WWVA broadcast crackled triumphantly over the air waves, while crystal set owners patiently endured noisy static to listen to that initial history-making radio transmission.

<snip>

"In January, 1933 with George W. Smith managing director of the 5000 watt station, the idea was conceived to program something special for the late night Saturday night listeners. A program of country style music was put together, using local talent: the show was called a 'Jamboree' with Howard Donohoe as announcer. At 11 pm January 7, direct from the WWVA studios in the Hawley Building, and a little over 6 years after John Stroebel's first home broadcast, country music history was made when the WWVA Jamboree went on the air for the first time. Listener response to this unique program was overwhelmingly favorable and for 3 months, until the end of March, regular Saturday night Jamboree broadcasts were aired.

<snip>

"During 1971 and 1972, the station won 7 major national awards in broadcasting journalism, prestigious recognition indeed for a radio station generally recognized as the most listened-to country music station in the Northeast and Canada."


WWVA isn't just one more station. Clear Channel is trashing both radio and country music history.

[thatgemguy]

7. It is a BIG deal...

I posted about this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x6624

WWVA is the highest powered radio station that is licensed in West Virginia.

If Clear Channel can get away with this, it would set a precedent that could result in smaller cities losing higher powered media outlets to major metro areas, leaving only lower powered stations to serve the smaller markets.

The local Clear Channel manager has tried to spin this as that only the transmitter would be moving. It is presumed that the call letters and programming of WWVA would be transfered to a 1000 watt station in Wheeling, one that cannot be received outside a 10 mile radius of Wheeling at night.

I happen to live in the Wheeling area, and know first hand of the value of local radio in a emergency situation or disaster, such as flooding that occurs frequently here in the Ohio River valley.

Broadcast licenses are supposed to be issued to serve in the public interest as a public trust. If Clear Channel cannot or does not want to serve the local market, they should be obligated to sell or transfer the license to someone who would stay and serve the local area.

[zbdent]

8. To clarify

(sorry for posting to myself, but this might clarify why I'm pointing this out).

Stow is in the "Cleveland/Akron/Canton" area, which is already inundated with CC. I think there are at least 5 CCs in Cleveland, minimum of 3 CCs in Akron.

Stow is not far from Akron.

WTAM-1100, one of the several CCs in the area, a 50K watt station, reaches "38 states and half of Canada" - a boast they do every so often in the station breaks.

WWVA-1170 already admits reaching Toronto, and is a 50K watt station.

Yet another attempt to drown out an area while technically "having the legal market share".

[HootieMcBoob]

9. That's really sad

I grew up on the Pennsylvania side of West Virginia and WWVA was an important station for a lot of people there. It's one of the great old unique radio stations, especially for fans of country music. Jamboree USA is like the Grand Ole Opry. People used to listen to that all over the country on WWVA.

Clear Channel is fucking scum. I hate them.