The Comedy format has made its way to Rockford, IL.
Maverick Media’s 1330 WNTA Rockford, IL which began simulcasting its programming on 100.5 W263BJ Loves Park last November, flipped to Comedy “Funny 1330” on July 16. The “NTA-FM” News/Talk format remains on 100.5 which is now being fed by an HD subchannel of 104.9 WXRX.
INSTANT INSIGHT: What does it say about the state of AM that a heritage station would choose to operate solely on a 230 watt FM translator than an AM?
The Comedy format has made its way to Rockford, IL.
Maverick Media’s 1330 WNTA Rockford, IL which began simulcasting its programming on 100.5 W263BJ Loves Park last November, flipped to Comedy “Funny 1330” on July 16. The “NTA-FM” News/Talk format remains on 100.5 which is now being fed by an HD subchannel of 104.9 WXRX.
INSTANT INSIGHT: What does it say about the state of AM that a heritage station would choose to operate solely on a 230 watt FM translator than an AM?
In regards to the AM side of thing, WNTA-AM 1330 is HIGHLY directional, and operates at only 90 Watts (Also highly directional) at night. 100.5’s overall signal pretty much takes care of the Rockford area (the market that it’s aimed at), plus it adds areas like Beloit, among others that 1330 loses at night when it powers down. Anywhere in the 1300s isn’t very good for coverage, especially at night. The frequency next to it is a flat out graveyard signal, making locals impossible to pick up outside of the parking lot in many cases.
I think that’s one of the reasons why they did it. AMs that have bad coverage or bad night coverage benefit from these translators. In regards to 1330, I guess they saw the opportunity to try something different with Comedy, which has been successful in some markets.
In regards to the AM side of thing, WNTA-AM 1330 is HIGHLY directional, and operates at only 90 Watts (Also highly directional) at night. 100.5’s overall signal pretty much takes care of the Rockford area (the market that it’s aimed at), plus it adds areas like Beloit, among others that 1330 loses at night when it powers down. Anywhere in the 1300s isn’t very good for coverage, especially at night. The frequency next to it is a flat out graveyard signal, making locals impossible to pick up outside of the parking lot in many cases.
I think that’s one of the reasons why they did it. AMs that have bad coverage or bad night coverage benefit from these translators. In regards to 1330, I guess they saw the opportunity to try something different with Comedy, which has been successful in some markets.