Clear Channel AC “Lite 94.5” WLQT Dayton has flipped to Country “Hot Country B94.5“. The move places the station in direct competition with Cox’ market leading “K99” 99.1 WHKO.
The station is running 1,000 songs in a row commercial free and will be jockless until Monday, July 15. WLQT middayer Kim Faris will remain with the station but move to afternoons. Bobby Bones will host mornings, Billy Greenwood middays and Michael Jay nights.
WLQT has dropped in the ratings since being moved from the Class B 99.9 signal to Class A 94.5 in May 2011. The station registered a 2.5 share in the Winter 2013 Arbitron ratings, well below WHKO’s leading 11.8. This is Clear Channel’s second recent attempt to go after WHKO. 106.5 WDSJ was branded “106.5 The Bull” for eleven months in 2009 and 2010 before dropping Country for Classic Hits.
Clear Channel is attempting to transfer Lite listeners to sister Hot AC “Mix 107.7” WMMX as they have done via the farewell message posted on the station’s site.