Update 7/1: The second format launch at WWNQ brings a return of a previous format. WWNQ returned to the Classic Country “Country Legends 94.3” branding at 12pm today that it previously used from 2004 to 2008.
Did we have something to do with that? Clear Channel’s 97.5 WCOS added the “My Country” tag to its imaging during WWNQ’s CHR tease. Or is Country Legends just another prolonged stunt?
Listen to the launch of Country Legends 94.3 at FormatChange.com.
Update 6/30 7:30pm: At 6:00pm today the CHR format which we properly pegged as a stunt gave way to the return of the ticking clock counting down to 12pm on Friday.
Update 6/30 12:00pm: If CHR really is the permanent format for WWNQ, then why are they building a website for a Country station?
Our sources in the market indicates that the imaging and jingles have been recycled from another station in South Carolina that used the Q94 name a few years ago.
Update 6/29: At 6:00am today 94.3 ended stunting and launched a new format as CHR “Q94“. The launch consisted of the University of South Carolina fight song leading into the new format.
Is this the final format? Or just a swerve before heading Country? We’ll know more as the holiday weekend approaches.
Update 6/28: WWNQ is now stunting with a ticking clock. The new format is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 29 at 6:00am.
Original Report 6/18: Double O Radio is preparing to flip Classic Hits “94.3 The River” WWNQ Columbia, SC to Country.
MyCountry943.com was registered by Tim Miller, General Manager of the cluster this week. Prior to July 2010, Double O programmed Country on what is now Soft AC “Carolina 92.1” WWNU as “New 92”
The only Country station currently in the market is Clear Channel’s 97.5 WCOS.
WWNQ just relaunched as “The River” last July. It had previously been satellite Classic Hits “Flashback 94.3“.
WWNQ 94.3 launched as Q94 this morning at 6pm at CHR/Pop!
Interesting find on the possibility that the CHR flip may be a smokescreen. There aren’t exactly a ton of Class A station success stories using a CHR format.
so let the clock tick yet again. oy!
Heritage Class C country WCOS has already started using “My Country” and variations thereof on the air in anticipation of WWNQ debuting a competing format.Query whether the CHR stunt allowed Clear Channel time to prepare.