Radio-One has flipped Urban Talk “1230 The Buzz” WDBZ Cincinnati to Gospel “Praise 1230“.
WVXU’s John Kiesewetter reports that PD/Afternoon Host Jeri Toliver, Morning Host Nathan Ivey and weekend host Ken Anderson were let go with the flip. Midday talk host Lincoln Ware will remain with the station from 10am-2pm as will Reverend Al Sharpton’s syndicated talk show from 2-4pm. WDBZ will add the syndicated Yolanda Adams morning show distributed by co-owned Reach Media.
WDBZ had previously flipped to a Gospel format surrounded by Ware’s talk show in 2008 before returning to a Talk format soon after. It now becomes the third Gospel station in the market joining CBSL’s “Inspiration 1050” WGRI and Great Lakes Radio’s “Gospel 1320” WCVG.
Kyle G.
Radio One has an Urban Talk in Detroit as well, WCHB-AM 1200, or W260CB 99.9 in northern areas of Detroit and southern Oakland county. The station also plays Smooth Jazz at nights, which is a unique add-in for the market and enjoyable to listen to, however the station only pulls a 0.3, similar to WDBZ’s 0.4 in the November books. With this change popping up, maybe Radio One will move 102.7’s Gospel format as “Praise” over to AM1200/FM99.9 due to 102.7’s scrappy signal in the western suburbs due to interference from WWWW-FM on 102.9 in Ann Arbor and put something new on 102.7? With this change as well as the frequency swaps with R1 in Columbus, it wouldn’t surprise me.