Update 2/18: Cox has shifted 96.5 WHTQ to a broader Rock format as “96 Rock“. The station describes its new format as adding Metallica, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Pearl Jam to their existing core artists AC/DC, Rush and Ozzy Osbourne. The station is also adding a 96 minute commercial-free block at 5:00pm daily.
Listen to the debut of 96 Rock at FormatChange.com
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Original Report 2/17: Cox Classic Rock 96.5 WHTQ Orlando has been teasing an announcement for this Friday at 5:00pm. As we all know that usually riles up people expecting a format change when its usually just a programming stunt or minor tweak. However Cox is fueling the flames with the registration of 96RockOrlando.com.
If a change is coming here it will shift the station towards Mainstream Rock similar to the move made by sister 104.5 WFYV Jacksonville last summer. The move would pit WHTQ directly against Clear Channel’s 101.1 WJRR and give much of the softer Classic Rock hits to sister Rock AC 98.9 WMMO.
Good idea….the station will sound like how it used to sound before it went full blown classic rock…