The “hacking” of the former “105.1 Bob Rocks” WTGD Bridgewater/Harrisonburg, VA came to an end at 7:00am as Saga Communications launched Classic Hits “Rewind 105.1” WWRE.
Concurrently sister AC “Fresh 96.1” WJDV Broadway rebranded as “More 96.1” WMQR to bring it inline with the brand utilized by the company’s recently rebranded AC stations elsewhere in the country.
Update 8/1: As Saga began operating the stations it acquired from Verstandig Broadcasting today, the Rock format of “105.1 Bob Rocks” WTGD Bridgewater, VA gave way to the same “We Hacked Your Radio” stunt utilized by Saga’s 92.5 WREE Champaign, IL earlier this year.
The station stunt is requesting “compliance” with their demands by Monday, August 3 at 7:00am. Programming includes a broad mix of odd songs like the theme of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood to beat poetry. The demands listed are:
THE NAME OF JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY MUST BE CHANGED … TO “DOLLY MADISON ZINGER UNIVERSITY.”
ALL THE QUILTS IN THE VIRGINIA QUILT MUSEUM ARE TO BE SEWN TOGETHER INTO ONE GIANT QUILT. THIS QUILT IS TO BE CALLED … MEGA-QUILT.
FROM NOW ON, ANNA’S TOP-TO-BOTTOM CLEANING … WILL CLEAN ONLY THE TOP.
RANDY’S DO-IT-BEST HARDWARE MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP OVERACHIEVING.
ALL SEATS IN THE THE JOHN C. WELLS PLANETARIUM WILL BE REMOVED AND IT WILL BE TURNED INTO A GIANT BALL PIT.
As indicated below all expectations are that WTGD will flip to Classic Hits “Rewind 105.1” WWRE at that time.
Original Report 6/2: Saga Communications has given strong indicators of pending changes at its soon-to-be acquired Harrisonburg, VA cluster.
Saga has reserved new call letters for two of the stations it will be acquiring that point to brands utilized by the company in multiple markets. AC “Fresh 96.1” WJDV Broadway will become WMQR and likely the company’s fourth “More” branded AC joining stations in Des Moines, Mitchell SD, and Spencer IA.
Saga already operates five “Rewind” branded Classic Hits stations in Champaign, Clarksville, Columbus, Ithaca, Portland ME. The reservation of WWRE for what is now Rock “105.1 Bob Rocks” WTGD Bridgewater will bring a sixth station positioned with “Amazing Variety” to the cluster.
Via the acquisitions of Verstandig Broadcasting and Gamma Broadcasting’s properties in Harrisonburg and a swap with Liberty University, Saga will end up operating 2 AM’s, 4 FM’s, and 2 translators in the Harrisonburg market. The stations are WJDV, Classic Country “Real Country 96.9” WSIG Mount Jackson, CHR “Q101” 100.7 WQPO Harrisonburg, 101.3 W267BA Harrisonburg, WTGD, News/Talk 550 WSVA/92.1 W221CF Harrisonburg, and Sports “ESPN 1360” WHBG Harrisonburg.
