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Earth FM to move to 95.5

K

KyleAndMelissa22

It was just posted on Facebook, and it's already showing up on the Salem Media Group website.
Soon to be "103.3/95" Earth FM WRTH.

I believe it's been about 2 years since we first heard the news about their intent to move (WLTE) from 95.9 to 95.5 and closer to Greenville and non-directional, this would be great and cover areas in Greenville County where 103.3 is weak.

I just hope that after 95.5 goes online, 103.3 would consider moving their tower site a few miles east, to better serve the Eastern Upstate, like Gaffney and Union. Perhaps a tower closer to or near downtown Spartanburg, like the 105.7 WOLI AM tower for example, or maybe even upgrade power from class A (2700 Watts current) to class C3 (up to 25,000 Watts) and directional to protect WJMX in the Cheraw / Florence area, just an idea, but I hope its considered...thoughts?

Not sure if they moved from 95.9 yet,
but if not, then they plan to very soon.

Source:

103.3 FM & 95.5 FM WRTH | Salem Media Group

salemmedia.com salemmedia.com
 
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I guess this means goodbye to WSB on 95.5 in Anderson County as it starts to come in when you are headed down to Atlanta. Disappointing in that regard, but back to 750AM and a bit of static for a few miles. Used to always listen to Neal Boortz and Clark Howard. But WSB is still essential for traffic reports when travelling around Atlanta and south of Commerce.
 
How will this help or hurt the Earth formats ratings? Looking at the recent ratings for the 103.3 and 95.9 simulcast they’ve really faIlen from where they were even a few years ago, but I know I’ve spoken endlessly of how outdated I think the station sounds compared to the music they play, and there’s too much talking so perhaps that’s actually a factor to others as well.
I wonder if Salem will eventually change formats on these two signals to something more in line with what they traditionally offer now that they will have full market coverage. I find it odd they would invest in something so off beat from their normal formats.
 
tylerSC said:
I guess this means goodbye to WSB on 95.5 in Anderson County as it starts to come in when you are headed down to Atlanta. Disappointing in that regard, but back to 750AM and a bit of static for a few miles. Used to always listen to Neal Boortz and Clark Howard. But WSB is still essential for traffic reports when travelling around Atlanta and south of Commerce.
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Traffic reports on the radio? That's so 2000. Just use Waze. It's "on" all the time, no waiting for "traffic on the 10s" or whatever.

And how long has Boortz been off the air? 2013. That's 10 years!
 
WMXP-LP seems like it’s off the air half of the time. I wonder if they don’t have the means to relocate to another frequency? Then again other than FCC fees to re-file they shouldn’t have that much cost.
Are there many open frequencies even left in GSP? Seems like almost every frequency has something on it of some sort. I can sit in my car in Greenville and get clear signals on 103.1, 103.3, 103.5, 103.7, and 103.9. Similar with 96.1, 96.3, 96.7, and 96.9 then 97.1.

I forget - where did 95.9 even come from? The first I remember ever hearing of it was when Salem bought it. Wasn’t it a result of that whole early 2010s move that involved WCCP, WGOG, WJNA, WQNS, WROO, etc? I think those moves were all related. I’m surprised it was able to be moved in since it seemed like the market was pretty full.
 
101tm said:
WMXP-LP seems like it’s off the air half of the time. I wonder if they don’t have the means to relocate to another frequency? Then again other than FCC fees to re-file they shouldn’t have that much cost.
Are there many open frequencies even left in GSP? Seems like almost every frequency has something on it of some sort. I can sit in my car in Greenville and get clear signals on 103.1, 103.3, 103.5, 103.7, and 103.9. Similar with 96.1, 96.3, 96.7, and 96.9 then 97.1.
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I don't know if this is possible for an LP station. Can they apply for a change and move to the non-commercial band? Not sure if the rules, but I'd it's allowed, that might be their best option. Probably a little more space
 
WMXP will have to leave the air. There is no other space in Greenville for another signal. That's why there have been no changes filed. A few others will have to leave the air too.
 
The Beat said:
WMXP will have to leave the air. There is no other space in Greenville for another signal. That's why there have been no changes filed. A few others will have to leave the air too.
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Do LPFM’s not get priority over translators? Ouch.

I’m still surprised Salem was unable or didn’t try to buy 103.9 back in the day instead of 95.9. 103.3 was signed on to simulcast 103.9 in to Spartanburg county and was never really intended to be a stand alone, but 103.3 is fortunate that most of the market’s growth took place inside their 60dbu. Those two paired perfectly though. RTN was able to get 103.9 up to a C3. With the 95.5 signal I expect more of Earth FM’s listening will be on the 103.3 signal even in a lot of Greenville. 95.5 will serve Pickens and Anderson counties well but fill in that gap in SW Greenville county where both 103.3 and 95.9 weren’t great.
 
I drove past Furman University earlier this week, and all I heard on 95.9 was a weak Earth FM signal so obviously the Furman station (WPLS-LP) is already off the air. No sign of 95.3 (WWOK-LP) either.
 
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LPFMs and translators are equal in status at the FCC. Secondary services. Neither outweighs the other. But both can just as easily be bumped off the air by a primary station like WRTH if it upgrades into an area that either service covers..
 
AMRocks said:
Traffic reports on the radio? That's so 2000. Just use Waze. It's "on" all the time, no waiting for "traffic on the 10s" or whatever.

And how long has Boortz been off the air? 2013. That's 10 years!
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I thought Boortz retired about 2015. But anyhow, he was the famous long time personality on WSB and also carried live on Cox sister stations including Orlando. Also on delay on WBT. I used to travel to Atlanta rather frequently back then and always listened to WSB starting at the Clemson exit off 85. First on AM-750 then 95.5 was added. And traffic reports are essential around Atlanta and always save me major delays, even on the weekends. But now since 98.9 has flipped, I can listen to some news talk programming on WORD to about Commerce, although I don't agree with the viewpoint of most of their commentators. I appreciated Boortz because he was more libertarian rather than strictly right wing opinonated.
 
tylerSC said:
I thought Boortz retired about 2015. But anyhow, he was the famous long time personality on WSB and also carried live on Cox sister stations including Orlando. Also on delay on WBT. I used to travel to Atlanta rather frequently back then and always listened to WSB starting at the Clemson exit off 85. First on AM-750 then 95.5 was added. And traffic reports are essential around Atlanta and always save me major delays, even on the weekends. But now since 98.9 has flipped, I can listen to some news talk programming on WORD to about Commerce, although I don't agree with the viewpoint of most of their commentators. I appreciated Boortz because he was more libertarian rather than strictly right wing opinonated.
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Boortz wouldn’t have a chance in today’s “ultra MAGA” talk radio landscape, sadly. His style of talk radio is what I miss.
 
Looks like 95.9’s current transmitter will be given to 103.3 as a replacement since 95.5 is getting a new one. I’m assuming it’s probably much newer than what 103.3 would have since it hasn’t been THAT long since 95.9 signed on.

95.5 is nothing but static in Greenville as are the adjacent 95.3 and 95.7 signals so I would assume it’s only a matter of time before they start testing. I wonder if 95.5 will get new calls - WHTR is available 🤣
 
If and when 103.3 gets the newer transmitter, I wonder if that could mean a better (cleaner) signal / sound than it already is, maybe the signal could get out a bit further east..if configured properly.

99.3 WBT recently upgraded and now their signal reaches a bit further into Eastern Greenville with less interference from WCON.

Also good to note this will be an SC only signal, because once going into GA, it will fade out from not just WSBB on 95.5 Atlanta, but the new 95.3 signal (WEGG) in Royston GA, not that far from Lake Hartwell.

Earth FM (on 95.9) sends a weak signal a few miles into Northeast Georgia near Lavonia...
.
 
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KyleAndMelissa22 said:
If and when 103.3 gets the newer transmitter, I wonder if that could mean a better (cleaner) signal / sound than it already is, maybe the signal could get out a bit further east..if configured properly.

99.3 WBT recently upgraded and now their signal reaches a bit further into Eastern Greenville with less interference from WCON.

Also good to note this will be an SC only signal, because once going into GA, it will fade out from not just WSBB on 95.5 Atlanta, but the new 95.3 signal (WEGG) in Royston GA, not that far from Lake Hartwell.

Earth FM (on 95.9) sends a weak signal a few miles into Northeast Georgia near Lavonia...
.
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WBT replaced their antenna for 99.3 sometime last year. Unfortunately the interference from WCON still persists and spills over into parts of Spartanburg County. Looks like when WCON increased power they could have made it directional to the north so it didn't spill into SC from Georgia. But it's a good small town all purpose station that really sounds like an AM station on FM. I'm a bit surprised some big broadcaster hasn't bought it and tried to make it more of an Atlanta station and move it closer to the Perimeter, rather than northeast Georgia serving Cornelia.
 
I seem to recall in the 2010s? 103.3 either got a new transmitter or their current one required extensive repair. If they’re still running off the original, it’s 30 years old but should have been properly maintained considering who its owners have been other than in the mid-late 2000s through early 2010s. Being one of the few analog FM’s left around here (other than religious or translators) it sound good to me, better than 106.3 even after their processing issues were fixed. But perhaps a new setup would help their signal get out more, but it’s pretty dang impressive for a class A as is.

Thinking about it, 103.3 is a facility I don’t think can ever be moved or upgraded. It was almost shoved in when it signed on with 103.1 and 103.5 bookending it and cutting in to the signal to the south/SW, it could only be moved to the NE (maybe) which wouldn’t make much sense because they still need that east Greenville, Greer, and Five Forks area coverage where I expect 95.5 may start to have issues. A lot of Greenville folks will probably continue to listen on 103.3.
 
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