iHeart sells off FM translator; a loss in the WQED family
December 16, 2020WBGG-AM (970) listeners might be a bit put off by iHeartMedia’s recent sale of the station’s FM translator – W292DH (106.3) to Relevant Radio. The organization which features a Catholic format with a network similar to that of EMF’s “K-Love”, made the deal with iHeart in November.
There is no word if iHeart is seeking another translator for 970, or if there are other plans in place.
WQED Multimedia announced a huge loss in their work family today. Kevin Conrad has died. Conrad started at the station fresh out of college in 1977 and was the station’s second longest tenured employee. Most viewers know the name Kevin Conrad as Rick Sebak’s cohort on the famous Pittsburgh and National history specials. He had a 10 year battle with cancer.
I noticed that WBGG’s FM was religious programming and didn’t know what to make of it at first. The RDS title was still saying ESPN 970 last week, and thought maybe the translator had gotten connected on to the wrong feed. I didn’t know you could trade an AM to FM translator like that, I thought they had to be closely tied with the AM side.
Maybe Pittsburgh was thought to need a second Catholic voice beyond WAOB, like KLOVE and Salem have their Christian pop music stations here.
Back to AM for 970 listeners. I just wonder what’s wrong with AM 970’s sound, most of the time it’s so muffled it’s hard to hear what the voices are saying, and it has to be turned up louder than other stations. It’s not the radio, AM 860 to the left is much clearer, and KDKA is too loud, but still has much more treble in it.
Boomer
The translator probably sold for more money than 970 was making. No considerations of the market “needing” another Catholic station.
The AM signal is a directional mess north of the city. If you are on McKnight Rd it sounds like it’s under water, and doesn’t even make it to Cranberry (protecting Ashtabula, OH if I recall correctly).