Clear Channel will flip Modern Rock “105.5 The Vulcan” Birmingham, AL to News/Talk as a simulcast of sister 960 WERC. WERC’s program lineup includes local hosts Steve Shannon (of the long syndicated Steve & DC show) and Leah Brandon from 6 to 11am and syndicated hosts Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, and George Noory the remainder of the day.
Update 7/3/09 10:00am: At 9:40am, WRWM became CHR “I-94″ going head-to-head against Radio-One’s “Radio Now 100.9″.
Update 7/2/09 7:00am: WRWM is now stunting with construction sounds and promos for a new format launch Friday, July 3 at 9:40am.
Original Entry: The Indianapolis Star reports that Cumulus AC “Warm 93.9″ WRWM Indianapolis will drop its format at midnight tonight and begin stunting in advance of a new format to launch this weekend.
Update 7/14/09: In the 12 hours since this post was made, lots of new details have come out. CBS has announced that they will launch “98.5 The Sports Hub” in Boston on August 13.
Additionally, buried in the press release is this snippet: “Designed with the most passionate sports fan in mind, The Sports Hub and 106.7 The Fan will launch with exclusive content partnerships with CBSSports.com, one of the leading sports destinations on the Internet with an average of more than 12 million unique visitors a month. The station’s websites, powered by CBSSports.com, combine the best assets of the renowned national brand with a uniquely local approach. Original commentary from distinguished columnists and local beat reporters; blogs from station personalities; premium video highlights available on-demand; in-depth community participation; fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey leagues; polls; real-time scores; breaking news alerts; and high school coverage are among the many features of the sites.”
Original Entry: Back in February 2008, we asked why there was no integration between CBS’ Sports Radio stations and CBSSports.com. Now it looks as though it may be happening. With the impending flip of 106.7 WJFK Washington, D.C. to Sports, 1067TheFanDC.com is currently redirecting to CBSSports.com/DC. Additionally, CBS has registered a number of domains for the markets is operates sports stations and a few additional cities:
CBS has officially announced that FM Talk 106.7 WJFK Washington will flip to Sports as “106.7 The Fan” on Monday July 20 at 6:00am.
The station’s lineup will feature:
6:00 – 10:00am – The Sports Junkies (current WJFK morning team)
10:00am – 2:00pm – Bill Rohland and Washington Post reporter Mike Wise
2:00pm – 6:00pm – Chad Dukes (holdover from WJFK midday show) and former Washington Redskin LeVar Arrington
106.7 The Fan will also feature Washington Wizards NBA Play-By-Play and national NFL broadcasts.
The CBS Radio Sports and CHR movement takes another leap forward in August as a pair of Boston FM’s will take on new identities.
On August 13, Hot AC “Mix 98.5″ WBMX will become Sports as “98.5 The Sports Hub” WBZ-FM.
The Boston Phoenix reports that WBCN morning hosts Toucher & Rich will host mornings on the new 98.5 and WEEI’s Mike Felger and Comcast Sportsnet New England’s Gary Tanguay will be part of the afternoon show. New England Patriots Football PBP will also slide from WBCN to the new WBZ-FM, while the NHL Boston Bruins move from 1030 WBZ. We can add that 985TheSportsHub.com was registered on June 22.
More on the local Boston perspective can be found at Fang’s Bites.
As of now word is that 104.1 will become the new home of Hot AC WBMX. CBS already has Mix1041FM.com and 1041Mix.com, in its portfolio from a former format in Minneapolis.
The New York Times Company has announced that it has sold Classical 96.3 WQXR New York for $45 Million as part of a three way deal with Univision and WNYC.
The way the deal is structured, Univision will pay $33.5 Million for the 96.3 frequency while WNYC pays $11.5 Million for the 105.9 frequency from Univision and the WQXR intellectual property. Spanish Tropical “La Kalle” WCAA will shift to the stronger 96.3 allocation.
96.3 WQXR is a Class B broadcasting with 6kw at 1362′, while 105.9 is a Class B1 with 610 watts at 1365 feet. The Non-Commercial WNYC operates Talk 820 WNYC and Talk/Classical 93.9 WNYC-FM in New York. In addition to La Kalle, Univision operates Spanish News/Talk 1280 WADO , rimshot Regional Mexican “92.7 La Que Buena” WQBU and two television stations in the New York market.
Another heritage Rocker is gone as Main Line Broadcasting has flipped 105.1 WLRS to News/Talk as “105.1 FM Talk“. WLRS’ lineup consists of all syndicated hosts from Talk Radio Network and Premiere Radio Networks including:
5am to 9am: Mancow
9am to 12pm: Laura Ingraham
12pm to 3pm: Michale Savage
3pm to 6pm: Glenn Beck
6pm to 9pm: Jerry Doyle
9pm to 10pm: Monica Crowley
10pm to 1am: Jim Bohannon
1am to 5am: Phil Hendrie
Ed Stolz, who recently purchased a pair of stations in Las Vegas, adds to his portfolio with the acquisition of Dance “Energy 92.7” KNGY Alameda/San Francisco from Flying Bear Media for $6.5 Million. Stoltz will take over the station via an LMA on September 13 if the sale has not closed by then.
Over the past few months we have reported on plans for New York Dance CHR “Pulse 87″ WNYZ to expand to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.. Those plans are all out the window now as Mega Media Group simply attempts to survive until next week.
The station is in danger of losing its lease on the frequency from its owner Island Media Group if it doesn’t make its next payment by next week. In order to reach its necessary financial goal, WNYZ is taking the unorthodox step of running a pledge-drive on a commercial radio station.
Our Insight: Pulse 87 and Mega Media Group are an underdog and the little guy deserves a chance to succeed, but in this economic time is it really in the service of the listener to expect them to temporarily stave off your demise when there are other musical options available to them (Granted none are on the FM dial)?
Updated with more Bakersfield info
American General Media has begun a shakeup of its Albuquerque and Bakersfield clusters. Starting off in Albuquerque, Classic Country “106.3 The Range” KAGM flipped to Rhythmic CHR as “Power 106” at 1:06 MDT today. Eddie Go, the PD at sister Rhythmic KDLW “Wild 97.7” slides over to KAGM for the same duties, however the future status of KDLW is unknown at this time as the remainder of the airstaff has been dismissed.
Meanwhile in Bakersfield, Variety Hits “93.1 Pirate Radio” KKXX signed-off at midnight last night and stunted with construction sounds in preparation of a new format. At 4:00 the stunting gave way to CHR as “Hot Hits 93.1″ to flank sister Rhythmic “Hot 94.1” KISV.
