Magnum Communications has applied to change the frequency of a suburban Milwaukee FM translator and relocate a Madison translator, and also plans to change the stations’ programming.
In Milwaukee’s northern suburbs, W283CJ/104.5 (Cedarburg) is currently licensed to relay Country-formatted WMBZ/92.5 (West Bend). The station’s application says it wants to move to 93.9 to escape incoming interference on the present frequency.
The application cites overlap with WXER/104.5 (Plymouth). There are also two other stations on 104.5 in the region as well as Milwaukee-area stations on 104.3 and 104.7. (See: Milwaukee Radio Stations)
On 93.9, the translator would face less interference, being farther away from the next closest signal on the same frequency (which is in Chicago) and adjacent-channel stations in Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
The 93.9 translator would remain 250 Watts and slightly increase its antenna height, providing a strong signal to Mequon, Theinsville, and Grafton.
It would also switch the station it rebroadcasts to Classic Hits outlet WIBD/1470 (West Bend). WIBD would also continue to be relayed on W267CL/101.3 (West Bend).
Meanwhile, in Madison, Magnum has applied to relocate W258CM/99.5 from its present site near Maple Bluff to a tower near Sun Prairie, upgrading from 120 to 250 Watts and increasing its antenna height.
Though the current facility is closer to the core of Madison, its reach is limited by its low antenna height. The proposed change would maintain most of the existing coverage area and add northeastern suburbs.
W258CM would also switch its input station from Relevant Radio’s WHFA/1240 (Poynette) to Magnum’s WSJY/107.3 (Fort Atkinson), which delivers a rimshot signal to Madison.
The change would replace a previous construction permit to move W258CM to a tower in the Lakeview Hills neighborhood.