Format Changes
WHAN Drops WTJU Simulcast To Launch Local Community Format
University of Virginia’s 91.1 WTJU Charlottesville VA has opted out of its LMA with Fifth Estate Broadcasting’s 1430 WHAN/102.9 W275BQ Ashland VA. The LMA, which began in February 2015, was set to run until February 2018 and included an option for UVA to purchase the station. The station has now flipped to a locally programmed Community based AAA branded as “The Mator“. WTJU programmed WHAN/W275BQ in an attempt to reach nearby Richmond, but the station was 20 miles north of the city and barely reached its intended market. The station also carried programming from the Richmond based Virginia Commonwealth University’s WVCW.org at night. In a memo to WTJU staffers, General Manager Nathan Moore stated: I’m writing today to let you know that WTJU’s broa...Read More
Mijo Joins Power 96 Miami For Nights
CBS Radio CHR “Power 96” 96.5 WPOW-FM Miami has announced the addition of Miguel ‘Mijo’ Irizarry for nights. Irizarry joins WPOW-FM from Mainestream Media Rhythmic CHR “Hot 104.7” WHTP Portland ME where has was Music Director/Afternoon Host. He has also worked at Cumulus Media’s “Hot 106.3” WWKX Providence and Beasley’s “Wired 96.5” WRDW-FM Philadelphia in his career. He fills the opening created by the move of Ivy Unleashed to afternoons last month. Miguel “Mijo” Irizarry will join the air staff of CBS RADIO’s Power 96 (WPOW-FM) in Miami beginning Monday, August 28. He will host weeknights from 7:00 PM to Midnight and engage with listeners across the station’s social media channels. The announcement was made by Rob Mo...Read More
True Oldies Moves In West Palm Beach
Following the sale of 93.5 WBGF Belle Glade FL, JVC Broadcasting has moved the True Oldies Channel programming in the West Palm Beach market. Soft AC “95.9 The Palm” 960 WSVU North Palm Beach/95.9 W240CI North Palm Beach/106.9 W295BJ Jupiter dropped its format on Tuesday and picked up the syndicated Oldies programming that had been heard on 93.5 WBGF and 92.5 W223CJ West Palm Beach. We are awaiting confirmation on what programming W223CJ is carrying now. WSVU registered a 0.7 share in the July 2017 Nielsen Audio ratings trending down from a 1.2 in May. WBGF’s Oldies format, which launched in January, held a 0.3 share.
SiriusXM Makes Lineup Changes
SiriusXM has announced that it will debut two new music formats as part of a lineup revamp on Thursday, August 17. PopRocks will debut on Channel 17 featuring pop rock from the ’90s and 2000s, including The Killers, Coldplay, Sheryl Crow, Goo Goo Dolls, Train, No Doubt and Matchbox 20. Turbo is upgraded from the SiriusXM Online service to Channel 41 with hard rock from the 1990s and early 2000s from artists such as Linkin Park, Korn, Papa Roach, Godsmack, System Of A Down, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit and Disturbed. Channel 41 was previously Punk “Faction“, but currently home to Guns ‘N Roses Radio. Faction’s music programming will move to the online channel 314. The Talk part of the channel including the Jason Ellis Show was merged into the former ...Read More
MARC Radio Begins Gainesville Shuffle
MARC Radio has flipped Christian AC “106.9 The Pulse” WPLL Cross City/Gainesville to Classic Country “I Am Country” simulcasting 980 WDVH/94.1 W231DH Gainesville. WPLL was required to drop its format as part of a non-compete in the spinoff of 101.7 WDVH-FM Trenton. That station will drop out of the WDVH Classic Country format on Thursday, August 17 and join Radio Training Network’s non-commercial Christian AC “The Joy FM” network as its sale is finalized. The divestiture of WDVH-FM will enable MARC Radio to close on its acquisition of Classic Hits “Wow 100.9” WXJZ Gainesville from JVC Broadcasting. Original Report 5/24: MARC Radio is selling 101.7 WDVH-FM Trenton FL and acquiring 100.9 WXJZ Gainesville. MARC will pay $500,000 to purchas...Read More
El Zol Moves In Philly
Aztec Capital Partners Spanish CHR “El Zol” 1340 WHAT Philadelphia has moved its programming from Priority Radio’s 97.1 W246AQ Collingswood NJ to new sign-on 99.9 W260CZ Philadelphia. WHAT began broadcasting on W246AQ in January 2016 after now defunct competitor “Supra 97.1” WPEN-HD3 moved to 95.3 W237EH Pennsauken NJ. Aztec Capital Partners acquired then 102.5 W273CM Clayton NJ in April 2016 for $10,000. After a move to 92.1 was squashed due to interference complaints by Oldies 92.1 WVLT Vineland NJ, the translator has now completed its move to Philadelphia on 99.9 with 50w/46m. 97.1 W246AQ Collingswood has now returned to carrying the programming of Priority Radio’s Christian CHR “Reach Radio” 89.1 WXHL-FM Christiana DE.
Lazer Broadcasting Acquires Three In Reno
Lazer has filed its acquisition of Active Rock “Z105.3” KZTI Fallon Station, CHR “106.3 Pop-FM” KWNZ Lovelock, and Conservative Talk “107.3 K-News” KNEZ Hazen NV with the FCC. Lazer will pay $425,000 for the three stations and will begin operating the three stations via LMA today. Update 8/3: Bighorn Media has completed the flip of 104.1 KRZQ Fallon/Reno NV to Soft Oldies “Easy 104.1” KUEZ. Shamrock has parked the KRZQ call letters on the former 105.9 KZNV Amargosa Valley NV, which holds a CP to move to 106.1 where it will rimshot into Las Vegas. Shamrock has also announced the sale of the remainder of its Reno cluster to Lazer Broadcasting (and not Entravision as we incorrectly noted below). Active Rock “Z105.3” KZTI Fallon Stati...Read More
Fort Collins’ iHeart 90s Rebrands As B107.3
Just weeks after flipping to 1990s Hits as “iHeart 90s 107.3“, iHeartMedia’s K297AK Loveland CO/97.9 KXBG-HD2 Cheyenne WY has rebranded as “B107.3“. Now positioned as “Everything 90’s”, no other changes accompanied the name and positioning change. Original Report 6/29: After four days of stunting with Christmas music, iHeartMedia has flipped Christian AC “Up 107.3” K297AK Loveland CO/97.9 KXBG-HD2 Cheyenne WY to 90s Hits “iHeart 90s 107.3“. The new station is being voiced by iHeartMedia Tucson Operations Manager Chris Kelly, who used to serve as PD/Morning host at “96.1 Kiss-FM” KSME Greeley/Fort Collins. The first hour of “iHeart 90s 107.3” consisted of: House of Pain – Jump Around Foo Fi...Read More
Arizona Pair Complete Frequency Changes
Two Arizona stations are finalizing their moves to new frequencies. Petracom of Holbrook AC “96.5 The Storm” KRFM Show Low moved to 98.5 at 2pm this afternoon. KRFM makes no changes to its 100kW/310m Class C0 signal with the move, which was facilitated to allow 1TV.com’s “Oldies 97.3” KIKO-FM Claypool/Globe to relocate to 96.5. KIKO-FM will also retain its current 670w/1015m facilities with the move to 96.5, but applied back in June for another modification to upgrade from a Class C2 to Class C with 34kW/966m where it would rimshot the eastern side of the Phoenix market.
Butte/Great Falls/Helena Swap Completed With Multiple Format Changes
Cherry Creek Radio and The Montana Radio Company have completed their multi-market swap and divestitures in Butte, Great Falls, and Helena MT leading to multiple format changes in those markets. In Butte, Cherry Creek has added previously Silent 107.7 KMTZ Walkerville to their cluster there and has launched the station as Variety Hits “107.7 Dave-FM“. Great Falls had previously seen two format changes as Cherry Creek flipped their Classic Rock “Rock 92.9” KLFM Great Falls to Classic Hits “Kool 92.9” in April and newly acquired 107.5 K298BL from a simulcast of Country “107.3 The Mighty Mo” KIMO Townsend/Helena to Alternative “107.5 The Peak” in May. Also in Great Falls, Classic Country “96.3 Mo Legends” KVMO Fort Benton...Read More
The Vault Reopens In Montgomery
Bluewater Broadcasting has flipped CHR “Hits 107.1” W296AI/WQKS-HD3 Montgomery AL to Classic Rock “107.1 The Vault“. The change reverses the change made in September 2015 when Bluewater replaced The Vault with the CHR format. It comes just after the Hits brand had its best ratings period as it rose from a 0.5 share to 0.8 in the Spring 2017 Nielsen Audio ratings. The reversal puts the station back in direct competition with Cumulus Rock “95.1 The Fox” WXFX.
WUUU Roars Back To Cat Country
Pittman Broadcasting Services has flipped CHR “98.9 Triple-U” WUUU Franklinton LA back to its previous “Cat Country 98.9” identity. Morning hosts David Storm and Erin Brennan remain in place although their show has been rebranded as “The Cheese and Crackers Morning Show”. The station, which serves the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain north of New Orleans, had previously dropped Country in December 2013 and stunted with a loop of Katy Perry’s “Roar” for seven weeks before flipping to CHR. The station began playing “Roar” again all weekend every other song leading into the return of the Country format.
