Morgantown Pirate Located

[fearpeddler]

would they admit to them the main reason they want it shut down is it's obviously kicking their butts???

[genlock]

Broadcasting cannot survive without regulation.
Even bad regulation.
Licensing is the basis for the whole thing.
It is meant to produce a limit on stations (for several reasons).
Lose that limit and the business plans will fail.

Well, I guess the business plans are failing now.
Entirely different reasons tho.
I blame transistors.

[fearpeddler]

believe me, i'm not saying dont have dude shut down, i'm just laughing at the "professionals" while the laughing is still good..

[Hoosier Daddy]

Broadcasting cannot survive without regulation.
Even bad regulation.
Licensing is the basis for the whole thing.
It is meant to produce a limit on stations (for several reasons).
Lose that limit and the business plans will fail.

No argument with your theory, Genlock.
Over the last 30 years, the broadcast industry has molded FCC rules into a self-serving wall of protection.
One only needs to look at how LPFM played out to see how misguided and wrong the FCC can be.
Incumbant broadcasters operate a virtual cartel. In any other business, what they have done would be illegal.

Apparently, this guy has the smarts, the tecnical ability, the programming sense, and the money to operate a successful radio station.
His station is popular and is attracting listeners and advertisers throughout the Morgantown area.
How do you propose he get one of those licenses you talk about?

[Lester]

I'm still waiting for someone to sue a radio station for its license based on a failure to provide for the public interest. (I suspect, should it happen, a Clear Channel "Jock in a Box" station would be the first to get it.)

[AmpedNow]

Shows you he doesn't know what he's doing. Two females in a row. C'mon now, be a PROFESSIONAL...

Fairly common on modern day CHRs. At least two.

I'm still waiting for someone to sue a radio station for its license based on a failure to provide for the public interest. (I suspect, should it happen, a Clear Channel "Jock in a Box" station would be the first to get it.)

Probably because "the public interest" is such a subjective term. Local news and content serves it obviously. But so does American Idol with its immense popularity. And, like it or not, someone is obviously listening to On Air w. Ryan Seacrest.

Take this a step further, one could argue that playing mass appeal hits in jukebox fashion with minimal chatter serves the public interest by playing songs many know and love.

And, even the automated jukeboxes have EAS installed and throw on a news feed if the local emergency is severe.

So, it's one of those cases that would be hard to argue. Good thing, too, to keep the Sharptons and Jacksons and ACORNS from making it even worse by ruining more stations.

[Dave Harman]

Most of the time, he streams http://977music.com,

That's not local, or doing much for the public interest.

[AmpedNow]

I agree. But try proving it in court.

[Kiddconley]

This story certainly takes me back. Long-time posters to the board will remember the infamous "South Point Pirate" who planted a large tower directly adjacent to US Route 52 in Ohio, only a few air miles from downtown Huntington. The guy had a van plastered with call letters and frequency and even had the kanhunas to do paid remotes at places like Lowes and local restaurants. It was a blast to watch him get by with this for so long while the "powerhouses" squirmed.

Myself and a couple of other guys visited the house/studio one day. Under the guise of selling home inspections, we got to meet the pirate and shake his hand. Imagine a portly, unshaven, unkempt man in a dirty t-shirt and jeans. Thats the guy. The crazy thing is that he spoke and acted like he had a masters plus thirty. He had the smarts, skills and cash to pull this off, but he just didn't seem right.

In the end the Great South Point Pirate Radio Party came to a crashing halt. The tower crashed too, days after the feds stopped by the guy's house one day to chat for a bit.

For several years thereafter the infamous "station van" could occasionally be seen around Huntington with very light glue stains that mimicked the call letters and frequency. I haven't seen it now for a few years. The house/studio still stands as a silent sentinel to this guy's achievements

Great story! Thanks for that.

[Scott Reppert]

Still on this morning, but the signal was the worst ever coming into downtown Morgantown. Combine that with the fact that he was playing "Part Time Lover" means that it is definitely over...

[darkpower]

Hmm...he's good enough to get listeners and get way ahead of the big boys?

How about instead of taking him to jail, maybe offer him a JOB! Prolly would be better than 3/4 of the people we have running radio now.

[ashton]

I wouldn't say that he's better than 3/4 of today's broadcasters, but production quality for his jingles is A+ for a pirate station.