M.B. wrote:


Just a guess, but they may use 2 different transmitters...one for days, and
one for nights, given the large discrepancy between operating power levels.
Heck, the control circuits of the high-power 50 kW xmtr probably use more
than 270 watts of AC power just running in standby !! In any case, it may
be as simple as the low-power transmitter not being equipped with a C-QUAM
exciter (or it not being in working condition) ..... and judged not to be
worth the $$ it would take to repair/replace/install in the first place.



Doh! This had never occurred to me for some reason. At 270 watts, in a
city as RF noisy as Washington D.C., I can't imagine that they'd have a
huge listenship at night in the first place - so the financials probably
don't make sense to maintain the C-Quam at night.

Which begs the question: why don't these stations just throw in the
towel for the after sunset crowd? Are they really generating enough
revenue with their non-existant nighttime numbers to justify the AC for
the xtmr? I can't count a half dozen stations in the D.C./Baltimore
markets that *barely* cover their C.O. at night. And turning down all
those pip-squeak stations at night *just* might lower the noise floor
for everybody else...

How do AM stations with sunset flea power price their overnight
inventory? Surely the sales team doesn't price these spots the same as
a daypart spot, right?

- Jeremy Powell