Power 100.1 Launches in Athens, GA
October 1, 2009
Cox Radio AAA “100.1 The Bulldog” WPUP-FM Athens, GA has flipped to CHR as “Power 100.1“. The station had been stunting as “Obama 100″ with a combination of President Obama’s speeches, Rhythmic Oldies, and Hawaiian music.
KZRQ Springfield, MO Flips To Variety Hits
October 1, 2009
Journal Broadcast Group has flipped Active Rock KZRQ “Z106.7″ to Variety Hits “106.7 The River” at 12pm today. A station press release reveals John Mayer, Madonna, Styx, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Chicago, Nickelback, and The Beatles among core artists for the new format.
Valorie Knight, OM of Journal’s Springfield cluster will be the PD of the new station, while “Z106.7″ PD Simon Nytes shifts over to sister Rhythmic CHR KSPW “Power 96.5“.
Amp Radio 98.7 Detroit Launches
October 5, 2009
After speculation dating back to March, CBS Radio flipped Smooth Jazz “V98.7” WVMV to CHR on Friday, October 2 under VP/CHR Programming Dom Theodore. Over the weekend, “98.7 Takeover” launched with an aggressive street promotional campaign hyping the the new format. At 8:00am today, the station unveiled its “Amp Radio 98.7” branding.
The Smooth Jazz format continues online at V987.com and on 98.7’s HD2 format. Dom Theodore, the CBS VP/Programming who will be overseeing the new station is the former PD at crosstown Clear Channel CHR WKQI “Channel 95.5” and a number of former WKQI personalities work at sister WXRK “92.3 Now-FM” New York.
WQXR New York Moves To 105.9; 96.3 Stunting
October 8, 2009
Update 10/8/09: WQXR made the move to non-commercial status on 105.9 as expected tonight at 8:00pm. Meanwhile, Univision’s 96.3 is stunting with a mix of Spanish music and English Rhythmic pop while promoting a new format to debut Thursday, October 15 at 6:00am.
We’ll have the audio of the flips coming very soon.
Original Post 9/11/09: The frequency swap of Classical 96.3 WQXR New York and Spanish Urban “La Kalle 105.9″ WCAA made possible by the $45 Million Three-way swap announced in July, will take place on October 8 at 8:00pm from the stage of Carnegie Hall. Univision paid the New York Times Company $33.5 Million for the 96.3 allocation. WNYC then paid $11.5 Million for the WQXR intellectual property and the 105.9 signal. WQXR will convert to non-commercial operation under WNYC’s ownership and will continue to air Classical Music programming. Soon-to-be sister 93.9 WNYC-FM will drop its nighttime and weekend Classical programming for more News/Talk.
New Format Coming to 96.3 New York
October 9, 2009
With Univision completing its acquisition of 96.3 in New York from the New York Times company and transfer of 105.9 and the WQXR assets to WNYC, they did not bring the “La Kalle” name and format along for the ride. Since its takeover of 96.3 last night, WCAA has been stunting with sweepers promoting a new format launch Thursday, October 15 at 6:00am. Univision may have inadvertently given away the new station’s name as “96 X” was placed on the RDS text data for the new station. We’ve confirmed that Univision registered X963FM.com on October 2.
Additionally, WCAA Morning Host Luis Jimenez’s website features a banner announcing his return on the 15th.
97.5 The Fanatic Debuts in Philadelphia
October 9, 2009
Update 5:02pm: WPEN has announced that as of Monday at 10:00am, “950 ESPN” will relaunch as “97.5 The Fanatic” as we mentioned earlier. However, 97.5 has already begun simulcasting the programming of 950.
Update 7:00pm: The station has unveiled its new lineup. ESPN’s Mike & Mike continue from 6 to 10am. Middayers Harry Mayes and Dan Schwartzman are split up. Mayes moves to 10am to 12pm teamed with Stephen A. Smith until a permanent host is named for that slot. Schwartzman will be joined by NBC 10 Sports Director (and former Eagle) Vai Sikahema for 12pm to 2pm. Mike Missanelli adds an hour to his show, which will now run from 2pm to 7pm. Specialty shows will run from 7pm to 10pm. Content Factory/Fox Sports Radio’s Into the Night with Tony Bruno airs from 10pm to 1am, while ESPN’s Jason Smith runs overnights.
Original Entry 10/9/09 1:35pm: AllAccess.com has reported within the last hour that Greater Media will move Sports WPEN “950 ESPN” Philadelphia to 97.5 FM on Monday, October 12 replacing Hot AC WNUW “Now-FM“.
With the move of the programming to the FM band, it appears as though a new name will accompany the shift. 975TheFanatic.com and 975FMTheFanatic.com were registered anonymously earlier this week. While most markets are familiar with the shortened term “Fan”, Philadelphia is home to the beloved Philly Phanatic.
In its current form “950 ESPN” carries local programming from 11am to 10pm, we’re going to guess that 950 will shift to a 24/7 simulcast of ESPN Radio’s national programming following the launch of 97.5.
Something Brewing in Jacksonville?
October 28, 2009
Since the launch of Cox Radio’s Alternative “X102.9” WXXJ in February, Clear Channel Active Rock “Planet Radio 107.3” WPLA Jacksonville, FL has dropped in the ratings from a 5.7 to 2.5 12+. Has Clear Channel seen enough?
Based on yesterday’s registration of 1073thebrew.com, we’d say yes. “The Brew” is an 80’s heavy Classic Rock brand used by Clear Channel in Milwaukee, Omaha, Columbus, and Portland, OR. The would take WPLA out of competition with WXXJ and would attack Classic Rock WFYV “Rock 105” head-on.
CBS Taking Stations National Via HD Radio
October 28, 2009
Update 10/31/09: Following our original report, CBS Radio has issued a release hyping all of the HD simulcasts we mentioned with the exception of KROQ potentially airing in New York. WFAN will air beginning today on 105.9 WOCL-HD3 Orlando, 94.1 WLLD-HD3 Tampa, and 104.3 WEAT-HD3 West Palm Beach. Additionally, “98.5 The Sports Hub” Boston will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM-HD3 Hartford in a few weeks.
Original Entry 10/29/09: CBS Radio has begun simulcasting a number of stations from other markets on its HD subchannels. In Los Angeles, Country 95.1 KFRG Riverside is now available on 94.7 KTWV-HD3 and Hot AC “Sophie 103.7″ KSCF San Diego is heard on 97.1 KAMP-HD2. This has drawn the ire of Saul Levine, owner of “Go Country 105” KKGO Los Angeles as he has filed a complaint with the FCC that CBS is using the HD subchannels as illegal translators to expand the reach of out-of-market stations. We personally think this is a stretch as HD subchannels have limited listener reach and have nowhere been declared as translators.
Regardless it looks as though CBS plans on more out-of-market HD simulcasts. Los Angeles’ 106.7 KROQ is now on in San Diego on 103.7 KSCF-HD2 and could soon be heading to New York based on the registration of kroqnyc.com. Additionally, Sports WFAN New York is heading to three Florida markets where many New Yorkers winter or have relocated. 105.9 WOCL-HD3 Orlando has reportedly already begun simulcasting WFAN and will soon be joined by stations in Tampa and West Palm Beach based on the registrations of WFANOrlando.com, WFANTampa.com, and WFANWestPalm.com.
100.3 The Beat St. Louis Format Flip Ahead
October 30, 2009
Update 10/30 1:02pm: The Urban format at KATZ-FM ended at 12:00pm central with Boys II Men’s “End Of The Road”. 100.3 is now stunting as “Halloween 100.3” playing “Scary Music For St. Louis”.
A format change appears to be imminent at Clear Channel Urban “100.3 The Beat” KATZ-FM ST. Louis. A number of newly registered domains are all pointing to the now bare-bones KATZ website hinting at the short-term and long-term futures for the station: Halloween1003.com, STLHalloween.com, Christmas1003.com, STLChristmas.com, and ChristmasSTL.com tease holiday music in the near future, with a permanent flip to Rock on the horizon via Rock1003.com, Rock1003STL.com, and STLRock1003.com. A flip to Rock of any sort will put the station into battle with Emmis’ Classic Rock 94.7 KSHE and Modern Rock “105.7 The Point” KPNT.
Pulse 87 New York Signs-Off
October 30, 2009
Update 7:20pm: Here’s a link to the sign-off of Pulse 87 courtesy of Tony Santiago of the New York Dance Music Coalition.
Update 6:00pm: After 10 minutes of silence, the WNYZ returned to the air with an automated Dance format. Meanwhile, Pulse 87’s webstream has continued with its own jockless Dance format.
Original Entry 5:05pm: After a roller coaster of a year, which saw planned expansion to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. halted to having to beg listeners to donate money to keep the commercial station afloat, “Pulse 87” signed-off today at 5:00pm. Operator Mega Media Group had filed for Bankruptcy in August, reportedly owing over $500K to Island Broadcasting, the owner of the TV Channel 6 that was re-purposed into the 87.75 FM frequency that Pulse called home.
The station signed-off with George Lamond’s cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and The Beatles’ “Back In The USSR” believing that the station will return to its previous Russian-language format.
