In this letter to the editor, the reader responds to Archie Stulc’s letter, “The Dilemma of WBT’s Site,” as our readers continue to weigh in on the future of the WBT south Charlotte, N.C., transmitter location. Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email [email protected].
This is in response to the article by Archie Stulc published July 28. There are a couple of issues in the letter I would like to take exception with.
The comparison of WDGY(AM) to WBT is not a valid one.
WDGY’s history is nowhere near that of pioneer WBT, which traces its origin to the very beginning of broadcasting itself.
The historic three letters, WBT, provide ample evidence. The Class I-B designation gives WBT clear channel status, sharing 1110 AM with another station, KFAB.
WDGY is on a regional frequency requiring a tighter more restrictive directional pattern, hence the nine towers of WDGY compared to the three WBT towers.
Talk to any engineer: When it comes to AM directional arrays, more isn’t better. WBT is a powerhouse providing a local sounding signal from Canada to Cuba at night.
WBT has three Blaw-Knox diamond shaped towers. To the best of my knowledge, there are only two other stations using this tower design: WSM(AM) Nashville and WLW(AM) Cincinnati. I believe that makes the WBT towers very unique.
Urban One/Radio One purchased WBT five years ago along with what was then 610 WFNZ(AM) and 107.9 WLNK(FM).
[Related: “Leader of WBT(AM) Preservation Effort Meets With Beasley, Radio One Execs”]
Why purchase stations just to bulldoze them? WPZS will soon suffer a similar fate.
I’m sure these shrewd operators were aware of what they were entering into.
What we don’t know: Was WBT put on the market including the transmitter building, towers and land?
Currently, WBT is still in operation using a very modern, energy-efficient Nautel transmitter.
There has been a redirect message heard on 1110 for almost 8 months now. Enquiring minds want to know why. How can a company operate a 50,000-watt AM radio station that provides zero revenue?
As for public interest in this matter, so far, there are over 1200 signatures at Change.org requesting the site’s preservation, in some form.
Clearly this isn’t just a “radio geek” matter.
The public is well aware there are very few stations with the status of 1110 WBT.
It will be a shame to see the site vanish in favor of a sprawling condo complex, creating even more traffic headaches than we already can manage.
[Check Out More Letters at Radio World’s Reader’s Forum Section]
