WBEN announced that effective Thursday, it's dropping the 107.7 FM simulcast. I thought WBEN on FM was a bad move from the get go, but whatever. What's next for 107.7? Stand alone or simulcasting WGR?
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WBEN dropd FM Simulcast
- Thread starter benson8620
- Start date
Interesting, when the WBEN simulcast on 107.7 was first announced, there were more than a few posters here who noted that Entercom would best be served by simulcasting WGR, offering sports on the frequency rather than news-talk.
If the end of the 'WBEN on FM' effort is in fact true, how does this reflect on the station's ability to move its considerable 12+ audience to FM or attract a 'younger demo' by virtue of being on FM?
More than likely, WGR will get the nod on 107.7. Simulcasting 'WGR on FM' would be a better 'younger demo' fit. It also may have something to do with the Buffalo Sabres and 96.5 WCMF. And it may have a lot to do with the Buffalo Bills. As 107.7 gets into Rochester like a local station, the Buffalo Sabres on 107.7 would allow WCMF Rochester to maintain a consistent music based format.
Some well-placed sources say the decision to put "WBEN on FM" was a gamble because the revenue generated by The Lake was taken out of the cluster equation when news-talk replaced music on 107.7. It could be that a 'Sports on FM' simulcast will generate more revenue than "News-Talk on FM' and some of that revenue is likely to come from the Rochester side of the I-90. FCC watchers will note that a WGR simulcast on 107.7 might result in a call letter change request for WGR-FM. Heh... there'd be WGRF and WGR-FM.
The WLKK call letters are still intact on 107.7. As outside the box as it may seem, it might not be a surprise to hear a return to a music based format on 107.7. At its best, The Lake drew in the 3+ share range, offered nice demos consisting of devoted music fans who sought an alternative to other rock based formats, and it generated revenue.
If the end of the 'WBEN on FM' effort is in fact true, how does this reflect on the station's ability to move its considerable 12+ audience to FM or attract a 'younger demo' by virtue of being on FM?
More than likely, WGR will get the nod on 107.7. Simulcasting 'WGR on FM' would be a better 'younger demo' fit. It also may have something to do with the Buffalo Sabres and 96.5 WCMF. And it may have a lot to do with the Buffalo Bills. As 107.7 gets into Rochester like a local station, the Buffalo Sabres on 107.7 would allow WCMF Rochester to maintain a consistent music based format.
Some well-placed sources say the decision to put "WBEN on FM" was a gamble because the revenue generated by The Lake was taken out of the cluster equation when news-talk replaced music on 107.7. It could be that a 'Sports on FM' simulcast will generate more revenue than "News-Talk on FM' and some of that revenue is likely to come from the Rochester side of the I-90. FCC watchers will note that a WGR simulcast on 107.7 might result in a call letter change request for WGR-FM. Heh... there'd be WGRF and WGR-FM.
The WLKK call letters are still intact on 107.7. As outside the box as it may seem, it might not be a surprise to hear a return to a music based format on 107.7. At its best, The Lake drew in the 3+ share range, offered nice demos consisting of devoted music fans who sought an alternative to other rock based formats, and it generated revenue.
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theradiokid
Guest
Bring back the lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake! Bring back the Lake!
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stevensonair
Guest
I'd love to hear the Lake return. Don't know the likelihood of it, but I did enjoy the format. I've streamed it too but occasionally they throw in things like Evanescence and Linkin Park which disrupts the "flow" somewhat for me, no pun intended.
According to Tim Wenger's official post about the change (at http://www.wben.com/We-re-Making-a-Change-/12609793?pid=355216), their latest research shows that "95% of listening to WBEN is happening on the 930 AM signal". Yikes!
Or 95% of WBEN's listeners are 65+...
I'll be surprised if 107.7 doesn't simulcast the Bills and Sabres. Whether it's a full-time simulcast of WGR remains to be seen. They could offer some kind of hybrid. I'm sure that both the Bills and Sabres are unhappy with WGR's nightime coverage east of the city.
I agree. They had to decide which format, news/talk or sports/talk, would transition to FM. This week, they make the decision.
107.7 remains the local poster-child for the recklessness of the post-Telecom acquisition/feeding frenzy.
If you live in the Buffalo/NF metro, the signal is HORRIBLE. And what did they pay? Almost $10 mil? LOL
If you live in the Buffalo/NF metro, the signal is HORRIBLE. And what did they pay? Almost $10 mil? LOL
Given the signal covers a good deal of rural area wouldn't a Country Music format work if promoted well? I know it was tried before but it just seems like a natural fit.
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Mike Brewer
Guest
Format-wise, perhaps. Revenue-wise, no way.
Funny to hear the promo spin WBEN is putting out now about how great it is to be on only one frequency!
"One great station. One great dial position" LOL
They're working really hard to make sure that 5% of listeners goes back to the AM.
"One great station. One great dial position" LOL
They're working really hard to make sure that 5% of listeners goes back to the AM.
Watch for a simulcast of country WBEE out of Rochester. That's my guess...Entercom protects their Rochester station and gives a little competition to WYRK in Buffalo.
Wrong. The FM is located near dead center in a county that is not part of the Buffalo Arbitron MSA. In fact, the FM puts a 65 dbu signal over less than 15% of the MSA population and is a classic inferior rimshot. As a Warsaw, NY, station, it is great. Not so much for Buffalo.
In fact, the FM does not even put a 60 dbu over downtown Buffalo, and in Niagra County, does not place a 60 dbu anywhere. It did not contribute to the WBEN total because it does not cover 85% of the metro population well enough to be listened to.
Makes sense to me, no cost other than the power bill.
According to Tim Wenger's on air visit with Susan Rose this morning, 107.7 will switch to a "new product" so that means --at least to me--no simulcast of WGR 55. I'm also thinking country, since they won't want to compete with their own KISS/STAR combo. Urban is a non starter since the signal is bad in the City, or some permutation of "oldies" perhaps?
Rochester people don't want to hear about Buffalo. Buffalo people don't want to hear about Rochester. WBEE got to be #1 in Rochester by being hyper-local Rochester. It's the only station in town staffed 24/7, and it's everywhere in the community. Start talking about Cheektowaga and Lackawanna instead of (or even in addition to) Henrietta and Greece and you risk endangering the cash cow that WBEE is to Entercom Rochester. You don't mess with #1.
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dand5780
Guest
WBEE wouldn't be expected to talk about Buffalo. Sounds to me no different than Buffalo people listening to Toronto stations like CHFI or CJED. They certainly don't talk about Buffalo and I'm sure have many Buffalo listeners.
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