Beasley Media is taking Brokered 1330 WRCA Watertown/Boston MA off the air on Tuesday, November 15.
In the STA filing made to the FCC, Beasley states that WRCA will be dark for over 30 days as the station moves its studios into the former Greater Media complex in the market. The timing will also allow Beasley to complete construction of 106.1 W291CZ Boston as it completes its move from 94.1 Utica NY. The new 99w/244m signal will operate from the John Hancock tower in downtown Boston.
WRCA currently features a mix of Ethnic and Religious programming.
I suspect WRCA-1330 and it’s new FM translator likely won’t return to the air until at least early January, maybe longer, depending on how long it takes to move the studio and erect the translator’s antenna.
Beasley does own the WBCN callsign on the 1660 facility in Charlotte (which wasn’t spun off with WFNZ to Entercom).
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if both WRCA and WBCN swap call letters and a rock format (to flank alt-rock WBOS) launches on 1330/106.1 next year.
When Boston already has a heritage Rocker in WAAF?
“Time Warp” programming is for dorks, geeks, and retro snobs. Beasley Media does not do “Time Warp” stuff.
What about all 80s? Or is that stupid too?
Variety hits stations are predominantly 80s heavy, which make them so-called “time warp stations.” And Beasley now has the successful 95.7 WBEN-FM via the Greater Media merger.
So… you’re wrong.
And why does Nathan want to bring back a radio station that existed 40 years ago? THAT is “time warp” stuff.
Responsible broadcasters do not live in the past.
Remember that CBS still uses the WBCN brand on HD2/streaming. Likely a part of the deal that swapped Tampa/Charlotte to Beasley.
Also the 106.1 translator does not reach the parts of the Boston market where a Rocker would be the best use of a signal. Plus it would hurt WBOS and Classic Rock leaning Classic Hits 105.7 WROR just as much as WAAF. Makes ZERO sense to do Rock on 106.1.
What I can see Beasley do is run a format of contemporary Spanish-language music on WRCA-1330/106.1.
While according to the Radio-Locator.com signal map (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=W231BI-FX&s=C), the 106.1 signal would be very weak in the heavily Hispanic Lawrence area and nonexistent i n heavily-Hispanic Worcester, it would be strong in Hispanic neighborhoods in Boston as well as the nearby suburbs of Chelsea and Lynn, both of which also have decent-sized Hispanic communities.
What I can see Beasley do is run a format of contemporary Spanish-language music on WRCA-1330/106.1.
While according to the Radio-Locator.com signal map (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/patg?id=W231BI-FX&s=C), the 106.1 signal would be very weak in the heavily Hispanic Lawrence area and nonexistent in heavily-Hispanic Worcester, it would be strong in Hispanic neighborhoods in Boston as well as the nearby suburbs of Chelsea and Lynn, both of which also have decent-sized Hispanic communities.
What never made sense is why CBS Radio simply let the WBCN call letters get out of their grasp. Ditto with WHFS (and those calls were juggled between markets and stations for a decade).
Call letters are Government-Speak — and no city has exclusive rights to any particular callsign.