CBS flipped Classic Hits 103.3 WODS Boston to CHR “Amp Radio 103.3” on Thursday, June 28 at 12:00pm.
Update 6/28: Amp Radio debuted at 11:55am with a launch package leading into its start at noon. You can listen to the launch at FormatChange.com.
WODS’ personalities said farewell at 11:20 with Beach Boys’ “Fun Fun Fun”, which was the first song the station played as “Oldies 103.3” in 1987. The final song overall was Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” leading into the launch package.
The first few songs on Amp Radio 103.3 consisted of:
Rhianna – Where Have You Been
Calvin Harris f/ Ne-Yo – Let’s Go
LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It
Cher Lloyd – Want You Back
Maroon 5 – Payphone
Original Report 6/27: The move positions the station in direct competition with Clear Channel’s pair of “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM and Rhythmic “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN. The combo combined for over 15% of the audience share in May’s PPM monthly. WODS was ninth in the market with a 4.4 share albeit with a much older skew. The move concedes the Classic Hits audience to Greater Media’s 105.7 WROR.
The current format will continue to be heard on 103.3 HD2 and online.
The Press Release follows:
In an exciting move for Boston area Top 40 music fans, WODS 103.3 will launch a brand new format on Thursday, June 28 at 12N featuring today’s most popular songs. 103.3 AMP Radio will be a contemporary hit radio station that is programmed for listeners who love pop, pop rhythm, and dance music. Artists such as Rihanna, Usher, Maroon 5, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj to name a few will be featured on the station which is available on-air, online at http://www.1033ampradioboston.com and via mobile apps including iPhone and Android devices.
“When looking at the habits of Boston radio listeners, it is clear the music most favored by the biggest group of people is contemporary hit music,†said Mark Hannon, SVP/Market Manager for CBS RADIO Boston. “Boston’s New 103.3 AMP Radio will serve the audience with all of the hits from artists topping the charts, and create a number of ways for listeners to interact with the station – from live events to special appearances and contests.”
The launch of Boston’s New 103.3 AMP Radio will be led by a team of programmers including Mike Thomas, Vice President of Programming for CBS RADIO Boston, along with Michael Martin, Vice President of CHR Programming for CBS RADIO. A full- time program director for the station, as well as the line-up of live and local talent, will be named at a later date.
In a related announcement, listeners who enjoy classic hits can hear all their favorite songs from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s on the HD multicast channel of WODS (WODS103.3 HD-2). The station will also be available online at http://www.wods.com.
103.3 AMP Radio is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 127 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation’s top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates WBZ-AM NewsRadio 1030, WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub, WBMX-FM MIX 104.1, and WZLX-FM 100.7 Classic Rock in Boston.
George Greene 
phillyradiogeek 
Joseph 
casey1027 
The Fat Man 
Brian 
Chucky 
Frank 
Nancy Charves
They are also planning to make the current oldies format available online….and the stream will likely draw a lot more listeners than the HD2 will
What does this mean for CBS’s other classic hits stations, such as CBS-FM, K-Earth, and WOGL?
Nothing right now.
I am surprised about this.
I thought that if CBS were to change the format of 103.3, it would have been to a simulcast of WBZ-1030, using the call letters WBZ-FM (and with the current user of those calls, the all-sports station at 98.5 getting new call letters that perhaps would spell out “Sports Hub”.
There is a WAMB-AM in Tennessee, but I don’t think it would have precluded CBS from getting WAMB-FM (for “AMp Boston”).
Ironically, WODS would have celebrated 25 years as an oldies/classic hits format this October.
My guess is that unless CBS Radio decides to flip the format of classic album rocker WZLX-100.7 at year’s end (for which, a 24/7 Christmas format would be a stunt), WBMX-104.1 will become CBS’s new all-Christmas station in Boston.
I think this may also convince Greater Media to flip WMJX-106.7 i nstead of WROR-105.7 to all-Christmas this Fall, since ‘ROR may get a ratings bump this Summer thanks to former WODS listeners.
Another thought: Could CBS decide to dump the paid programming on Saturday nights over WBZ-1030 and run a local oldies show from 7:05 P.M. to 12 Midnight??
BTW, this w8ill be “Back To The Future” for Top-40 on 103.3 here in Boston: From the Fall of 1982 through mid-1986, the station (briefly as WEEI-FM, then as WHTT) programmed Top-40, branding themselves as “Hitradio”. For a time in 1983 and 1984, it was the most popular (both in overall audience and target demographics) radio station in Boston, according to Arbitron.
this is big!!!
More proof there is a circular theory of history. 103.3 FM was a CHR in the 1980’s as WHTT. I can’t believe that CBS is trying to get into a CHR war with Clear Channel in Boston – especially since they are getting out of a 3 way CHR war in Tampa with the coming flip of WSJT to sports. The numbers (at least 6+) for WODS were not that bad. Greater Media must be happy since this has to help both WMJX and especially WROR.
My prediction is the Mix we know now will change a great deal or beflipped. I also wonder if CBS is waiting to see how the rock landscape fairs with WFNX going away. Maybe a possible resurrection of 104.1 WBCN? I can’t see Mix and AMP surviving in the same market. Is it working on New York? Or, is 92.3 Now on it’s way out?
What is happening to the current DJ’s/”On Air Personalities” who have been at 103.3 over the past few years? Will they be with the HD2 Station or on the new AMP Radio. Or are they leaving the station altogether?
They’ve been laid off.
Mix 104.1 in Boston and 92.3 Now in NYC are not changing format, not now, not next week.
The way the economy is, you don’t throw away advertising revenue just to satisfy some fanboys’ wet dream.
Fanboy? I’m talking of true ratings. 92.3 Now is in the freaking toilet the last I heard. And does it make sense to keep two very similar stations alive? I guess ratings will tell. As for Fanboys’ wet dreams. I’ve never came in contact with you, but I can see what excites you. Next time state your point without being a donkey about it. I stand by my statement.
enough with name calling on both sides.
WXRX has shown growth in recent months. Up to ninth overall in the market in the cosmetic 6+ race and stronger in key demos.
What about 102.7? Here’s why I ask, as of now Mix and Kiss in Boston are very similar. Not the same, but similar. I can’t see Mix as it is now being at 104.1, with AMP at 103.3 playing similar music, and both thriving. There isn’t any frequency between the two stations. I think that CBS really messed up on this decision. So, how’s WWFS doing? Does it have a simular playlist as WXRK?
You’d be surprised at the amount of musical overlap that these stations can and get away with and both succeed. Clear Channel is doing it in Dallas with Kiss 106.1 and Now 102.9. The key is not the musical overlap but the programming between the songs and the audience being targeted. In Boston, Amp will be superserving 12-34, while Mix is focusing on 25-49. In many markets CBS runs a younger skewing CHR (or Rhythmic CHR) and a Hot AC/Adult CHR including San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa (for now), Houston, Washington, and New York. Its not about the actual format, but the audience niche they are targeting.
This was done in response to Clear Channel a/k/a/ AMFM Radio Licenses LLC buying the tiny signal of 101.7 WFNX. Clear Channel can now downgrade its 101.5 signal to the south in RI and then upgrade 101.7 in Boston from Class A to Class B. No doubt there will be a flip for 101.7 when CC takes control in July. If the flip is not to Oldies, it may very well cause any of the big 4 Boston broadcasters to flip to an Oldies format to fill the void left by the flip of WODS.
This had nothing to do with WFNX. CBS has been planning this flip for months.
Regardless of whether WODS flips, there are a lot of factors that could prevent 101.7 from being upgraded. And don’t expect another full powered commercial FM to fill the void.
I am a fan of the previous ‘classic hits’ format at Boston’s 103.3 FM. Can someone please tell me how the ratings have faired since the change? Thks!
WODS was at a 4.9 share 6+ in its final book as Classic Hits. In September Amp was at a 3.6 up from a 3.0 in August. However, the station is still in the growth phase and we do not have access to the demographic breakdowns. Ratings do not tell the whole story as its about CBS carving a niche of the 18-34 demographic sales. As long as revenue is up over what WODS produced once the station settles in, it will be deemed a success.