Just shy of hitting their one year anniversary in the Washington market, Cumulus CHR “All The Hits 107.3” WRQX is dropping the Bert Weiss led syndicated Bert Show at the end of the week.
DCRTV.com reports that the station will shift afternoon host Marco to mornings on an interim basis while searching for a new locally-based replacement. The move comes as new Program Director Rick Gillette begins to make his mark on the station.
WRQX has struggled since replacing Jack Diamond with Bert last May and then shifting from Hot AC to CHR in August. The station registered a 2.1 share in the March 2014 PPMs, well behind Clear Channel’s “Hot 99.5” WIHT’s 7.2.
Only person I can think of that would be an obvious fit is Mark Kaye, who did well on Hot 99.5 before Kane took over. I think he’s in Jacksonville now.
I can’t think of any obvious candidates within Cumulus. That’s a big negative to the light-on-personality, mostly national format found on Cumulus CHRs. There’s not much talent currently in development.
If indeed WRQX-107.3’s morning show stays local for the long-term, it would be a welcome development.
Thank God! I wish Jack could come back, but since its CHR now, it won’t happen. 🙁 Though I have heard his former PD is now at WASH. Something could happen there…