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Starting your own terrestrial Radio Station

Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:00 pm
Posted by FAT SEXY
California
Member since Jun 2020
1224 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:00 pm
Have any of you baws ever looked into this?

If so, what kind of hoops do you have to jump through?

What kind of startup and operating costs?

Is it a worthwhile venture these days?
Posted by Porpus
Covington, LA
Member since Aug 2022
2617 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:11 pm to
quote:

Is it a worthwhile venture these days?



I think it's a highly-consolidated, low margin industry at this point. Earnings multipliers and ROI are probably on par with an investment in supermarkets, airlines, or paper mills. Anyone making money off of the business now is big, and either invested in bankrupt assets or went through bankruptcy and got zeroed out. Pretty bleak stuff, and of course it reflects the fact that we don't all rely on broadcast radio to get through our weekday commutes anymore.

That said, if you just want a broadcast radio station and you're not too worried about the poor return on your money, I think you can probably pick up the necessary license and equipment for a small fraction of what it would have cost you 20 or 30 years ago, in inflation-adjusted dollars at least.
Posted by danilo
Member since Nov 2008
24669 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:14 pm to
quote:

Is it a worthwhile venture these days?

Can’t think of the last time I started listening to a new terrestrial radio station. I listen less since I work from home now and have transitioned away from regular radio to podcast or Spotify
Maybe a French station might work in Springfield, Ohio
That all I got
This post was edited on 9/24/24 at 8:16 pm
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
72708 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:20 pm to
Buying an existing one or starting your own?

The infrastructure and building of a 300 ft tower and all the antennae and electricity and communication infrastructure to the tower isn't cheap.







Posted by Tempratt
Member since Oct 2013
14885 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:21 pm to
If low power then it’s easier to do it.
If conventional power 25kw to 100kw it can take hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees just to apply.

The radio biz is slowly dying.

Start an internet streaming radio station. No FCC.
Posted by SomethingLikeA
Member since Jul 2013
1218 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:22 pm to
I have no idea what you said but it sounds highly relevant to the subject matter. You really know your stuff or you stayed at a holiday inn express. I’d buy from you.
Posted by GregMaddux
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2011
18597 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:34 pm to
quote:

I think it's a highly-consolidated, low margin industry at this point. Earnings multipliers and ROI are probably on par with an investment in supermarkets, airlines, or paper mills. Anyone making money off of the business now is big, and either invested in bankrupt assets or went through bankruptcy and got zeroed out. Pretty bleak stuff, and of course it reflects the fact that we don't all rely on broadcast radio to get through our weekday commutes anymore. That said, if you just want a broadcast radio station and you're not too worried about the poor return on your money, I think you can probably pick up the necessary license and equipment for a small fraction of what it would have cost you 20 or 30 years ago, in inflation-adjusted dollars at least.


OT is the most smartest forum on the internet. Or chatgpt

If not AI how the frick do you know this shite ?
Posted by SidetrackSilvera
Member since Nov 2012
2653 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:40 pm to
The Choice of Chinquapin Parish!
Posted by N2cars
Close by
Member since Feb 2008
37867 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:44 pm to
He's spot on.
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
5735 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:47 pm to
As opposed to an extraterrestrial one? No idea.
Posted by HarryBalzack
Member since Oct 2012
16222 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:52 pm to
120w transmitter was about $20k when I worked at the student station in college, 20 yrs ago. That doesn't include the tower, board, etc. You also have to have an FCC license. Not sure how much that costs. The good news is that with the move to digital you don't need all the expensive production equipment we had then. I bet you could get that kind of station done for around $70k, but it wouldn't go but about ten miles from the tower.

Paying the BMI license fees can get pricey in a hurry if you're looking to play non-live music, however. And if you don't have an automated system to track those spins, it's a PITA having to identify artist and composer to for every track played. Or at least it was back then...
Posted by DoctorTechnical
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2009
2981 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:56 pm to
quote:

Have any of you baws ever looked into this?


It's kinda my job -- see username -- and I cannot strongly-enough say: don't do it.

Old radio joke: How do you make a small fortune in the radio business? Start with a large fortune. Only by now it's how do you piss away ever dime you have ever seen.

The answer to your original question? Stream, stream, stream. Digital, digital, digital. If, and I mean IF, your idea and execution is good enough -- and by that I mean flawless -- you might be able to move to broadcast in a few years. But I suspect that by that time traditional radio will be done.
Posted by Porpus
Covington, LA
Member since Aug 2022
2617 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:20 pm to
quote:

If not AI how the frick do you know this shite ?



I really just spend a lot of time reading the FCC website. I have an amateur radio license, and my work involves auto-dialing and texting customers and employees. You have to have all your paperwork filled out correctly with the FCC and the carriers to auto-dial or text people effectively. So I pretty much read the FCC enforcement database word for word, lest I repeat others' mistakes. There's all sorts of interesting stuff in there.
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
38263 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:24 pm to
No more Rush, no more radio for me.


Just LSU football podcasts from here on out.
Posted by GregMaddux
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2011
18597 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:25 pm to
You deal with fcc compliance?




You know what id rather do? Let queen latifah shite in my mouth from a frickin hot air balloon.








Couldnt pass it up

This post was edited on 9/24/24 at 9:27 pm
Posted by Porpus
Covington, LA
Member since Aug 2022
2617 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:32 pm to
quote:

You know what id rather do? Let queen latifah shite in my mouth from a frickin hot air balloon.



I've dealt with Palmetto GBA. The FCC is My Little Pony compared to that.
Posted by Porpus
Covington, LA
Member since Aug 2022
2617 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:42 pm to
quote:

If low power then it’s easier to do it.



I think this is true, and the hardest part of operating a low-power station is finding a suitable location and frequency. You can't interfere with any normal-power stations, even in a small area, and you also have to demonstrate that people will be able to hear you over all the other RF in your area. I believe you also have to operate as a non-profit.
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