Saga Communication’s Capitol Radio Group has moved two of its Springfield, IL stations to new frequencies while launching a new format on a third.
Variety Hits “93.9 Abe-FM” WABZ Sherman slides to 250 watt 101.1 W266BZ Springfield/103.7 WDBR-HD2, which had been rebroadcasting CHR 103.7 WDBR.
Classic Hits “Cool 101.9” Springfield downgrades from the 50kW 101.9 signal to WABZ’s 15kW 93.9 frequency.
Those moves open up the 50kW Class B signal at 101.9 for the debut of Country “101.9 The Wolf” WLFZ.
Robb Rose, most recently at Hubbard’s “Rewind 100.3” WILV Chicago has been named Brand Manager/Morning Host. The station will also be commercial free from 9am to 12pm daily. The new format gives Neuhoff Media’s 104.5 WFMB-FM a direct format competitor in the market.
Saga’s press release follows:
Capitol Radio Group is proud to announce the launch of a new radio station. 101.9 THE WOLF is now on the prowl in the greater Springfield area.
The station, which launched Wednesday at 5:00 a.m., plays fresh contemporary country music. Robb Rose, most recently of Chicago’s Rewind 100.3, will host the morning show from 5 to 9 a.m and will also serve as the station’s program director/brand manager. Rose has worked in Topeka, Flagstaff, St. Joseph, Michigan and spent several years in Springfield.
“I have never been more excited about a new radio station than I am with this one,” said Rose. “THE WOLF is done right from nose to tail. We will be an extremely active station and have a lot of promotional plans we grow THE WOLF into the dominant country station in the region.”
THE WOLF’s claim to fame is its three hour commercial free block to take listeners through the first half of the work day. Weekdays from 9 a.m. to Noon will be commercial free. CRG General Manager Alan Beck says Springfield listeners wanted a fresh country station.
“Country fans throughout the region wanted a station that played more music and concentrated on being fun, fresh, fast paced and current,” said Beck. “So we created THE WOLF.”
The station, in addition to providing three hours commercial free from 9 a.m. to Noon weekdays, will feature limited commercial interruptions and the most music of any country station serving Springfield.
COOL MOVES TO 93.9
COOL has been a fixture in Springfield radio for decades, playing the Greatest Hits of All Time.
Now this legendary station will continue by moving its home from 101.9 to 93.9 on the FM dial.
ABE-FM MOVES TO 101.1
Springfield’s ABE-FM will continue to play anything ABE wants. The radio station today moved from 93.9 FM to 101.1 FM. ABE will also be heard on 103.7 HD2.
“We had a rare opportunity to use one of our HD signals and keep ABE on the FM dial at the same time,” said Beck. “We think this will give ABE fans the best of both worlds.”
101.1 FM was, until this morning, a simulcast of Springfield’s Number One Hit Music Station, 103.7 WDBR.
