Seven Mountains Media made three additional changes in Altoona PA today.
AC 103.9 WALY Bellwood has moved to the stronger Class B1 signal at 100.1 replacing CHR “Hot 100“. The CHR format will reappear tomorrow on the currently stunting 1290 WFBG/104.5 W283DI as “Pop Radio” (see below).
The Classic Hits network based at 103.1 WOWY State College expands to more signals as it replaces WALY on 103.9 (with new WQWY calls pending) and Oldies “Toona” on 1430 WTNA//99.7 W259DG Altoona. WOWY is also heard on 1150 WHUN/97.7 W249DD and 103.5 WHUN-FM Huntingdon, while the new logo posted on the station’s Facebook page also references it being on a 101.7 (which is likely 101.7 WCCL Central City/Johnstown although at this moment that continues at this time with its separate “Cool 101.7” identity) and a 105.7 (EMF’s 105.7 WLKJ Portage/Johnstown is only other station on the frequency in the region)
Original Report 3/21: Seven Mountains Media has begun its realignment of the Altoona PA cluster that it closed on as part of its 34 station purchase from Forever Media earlier this year.
News/Talk 1290 WFBG/104.5 W283DI Altoona dropped its format at 4:30pm and began stunting with a loop of N’Sync’s “Pop”. Promoting a launch for Friday, March 24 at 10:00am, the stunt replicates the pre-launch done by Seven Mountains ahead of debuting its “Pop” CHR brand across the company including Bloomsburg, Clearfield/Dubois, State College, Olean NY, and Frankfort KY.
The debut of “Pop” on 1290/104.5 would be the first indicator of a change coming to current CHR “Hot 100.1” WWOT Altoona. Taking that a step further, Seven Mountains has applied to move the call letters of AC 103.9 WALY Bellwood to 100.1, while 103.9 will become WQWY on March 27. Based on those filings we can deduce that WALY will move from its current Class A signal to the Class B1 100.1 signal, with 103.9 perhaps joining the Classic Hits “WOWY” simulcast based at 103.1 WOWY State College.
In addition to 1290/104.5 WFBG, 100.1 WWOT, and 103.9 WALY, Seven Mountains Media also owns Country “Froggy 98.1” WFGY Altoona, Classic Rock “Rocky 104.9” WRKY-FM Hollidaysburg, and Oldies “Toona” 1430 WTNA/99.7 W259DG Altoona.
