Update 3:30pm: As we thought, “Oldies 92” is just a stunt leading into the eventual launch of Variety Hits “92.3/101.1 Jack-FM“. The website and stream for “The Touch” have been updated with the new Jack branding.
101.1 refers to WQZL Belhaven/New Bern, which currently airs the “SAM: Simply About Music” Variety Hits format distributed by Dial Global. The flip to Jack will take place at 12pm on Friday.
A lot of effort went into WQSL’s “Oldies 92” stunt as it is currently live-jocked with jingles and a 60’s style presentation.
The Press Release announcing the launch of Jack follows:
NextMedia Radio Group will switch two signals in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington, N.C. markets to bring the highly popular “JACK” radio format to WQSL and WQZL, beginning on August 30 at noon. These stations will operate on a full simulcast basis.
WQSL, at 92.3 on the FM dial, is licensed to Jacksonville, N.C. and the WQSL signal area serves the Coastal Carolina region from Jacksonville south to and including the Wilmington market.
WQZL, at 101.1 on the FM dial, is licensed to Belhaven, N.C. and the WQZL signal area serves the northern half of the Greenville-New Bern market including the cities of Greenville, New Bern and Washington.
JACK FM is the most successful new radio programming approach in North America. It offers upbeat and unconventional “Playing What We Want” branding. The JACK FM Adult Hits format presents an energizing presentation of hit songs from the late 1960s through the 2000s that has attracted a significant following, reaching more than 15 million listeners weekly.
”NextMedia is excited to launch the highly successful JACK format in the Greenville-New Bern and Jacksonville-Wilmington N.C. markets,” commented General Manager Larry Weiss. “Our two signals, at 92.3 and 101.1, will carry the distinctive sound of JACK FM to the entire coastal Carolina region, and the unique playlist and music mix is perfectly suited to our North Carolina lifestyle. Both listeners and advertisers will love the new JACK FM at 92.3 and 101.1 on the FM dial. The station will also be found on the web at myjackfm.com.”
Original Report 12:15pm: Nextmedia Urban AC “92.3 The Touch” WQSL Jacksonville, NC has flipped to Oldies as “Oldies 92“.
The station, which serves the Greenville/New Bern/Jacksonville market of Eastern North Carolina has seen ratings erosion since the launch of Curtis Media’s 96.9 WBZJ Goldsboro/Raleigh in January, which shares some signal overlap with WQSL.
While the new 60s/70s based format picks up where Beasley’s 107.9 WNCT has shifted away from in a retiree heavy area, we are a little hesitant whether this is the longterm play here as the only internet presence for the new station is on Facebook with no domains registered for the new format.
