How much longer , WHFS

[Unregistered]

When is that ship gonna sail ? ......Options for new format ?......Rock ala hard classic rock ? I think yes...opinions ?

 

[jmtillery]

A mass appeal format will always have challenges gaining any momentum on 98.7 due to signal issues. It doesn't have the coverage and building penetration the bigger C1, C0 and full-market Cs have. The only format that performed well on that signal was WLLD "Wild 98.7" and that is because the format, at the time, was unique and was targeting a way underserved demographic. Sports, classic rock, adult contemporary, etc. all are well represented in the Tampa Bay market on one or more other bigger market signals. WLLD on 98.7 had no local competition.

 

[Obtuse]

A mass appeal format will always have challenges gaining any momentum on 98.7 due to signal issues. It doesn't have the coverage and building penetration the bigger C1, C0 and full-market Cs have. The only format that performed well on that signal was WLLD "Wild 98.7" and that is because the format, at the time, was unique and was targeting a way underserved demographic. Sports, classic rock, adult contemporary, etc. all are well represented in the Tampa Bay market on one or more other bigger market signals. WLLD on 98.7 had no local competition.

Classic Rock is unlikely (hard or otherwise). Between 98Rock, Eagle, and Thunder there's not much more classic rock audience to go around....and even a flamethrower like WHPT couldn't make it work.

A "Jack" format is a no-go (too close to WRBQ).

CHR and AC/Hot AC are out (too many players).

Alternative? Nope (there's already an established player, and WHFS's signal might even be worse than WSUN's in key areas).

Country? Spanish? No (WQYK and WYUU).

Urban AC? Now that's a possibility. Or perhaps either Standards or back to Smooth Jazz (which did no worse than "Play" or WHFS).

 

[gamefreak]

What about Classic Alternative. Playing Alternative Music between 1976 and 1992. You know the stuff WSUN isn't playing. Thats a format that you don't hear elsewhere, which makes people overlook the less the exceptable signal. Core Artists include.

The Ramones
The Clash
R.E.M
Kate Bush
The Cure
O.M.D
Yaz
Depeche Mode
Blondie
Devo
The Church
Midnight Oil
Talking Heads
Joy Division/ New Order

Entice former 97x listeners that are dissatisfed with the newer Alternative sound and what not. Or the fact that the new "Choose the music" format is just enticing people to play the same music over and over again. 1,800 song playlist but listeners keep picking the same stuff. CBS could also take a further step by having concerts and promotional events with said classic artists.

 

[DweebTaco]

What about Classic Alternative. Playing Alternative Music between 1976 and 1992. You know the stuff WSUN isn't playing. Thats a format that you don't hear elsewhere, which makes people overlook the less the exceptable signal. Core Artists include.

The Ramones
The Clash
R.E.M
Kate Bush
The Cure
O.M.D
Yaz
Depeche Mode
Blondie
Devo
The Church
Midnight Oil
Talking Heads
Joy Division/ New Order

Entice former 97x listeners that are dissatisfed with the newer Alternative sound and what not. Or the fact that the new "Choose the music" format is just enticing people to play the same music over and over again. 1,800 song playlist but listeners keep picking the same stuff. CBS could also take a further step by having concerts and promotional events with said classic artists.

No. Just no.

There's no longterm business logic with a format like that. Fact is, Rich Herreira's mushmouth fills a bigger void with the Tampa Bay listener than a New Wave/Pre-Grunge format would every day of the week. 98.7 is a bad penny and it's likely that it will turn into the Village Inn of the airwaves. I don't even know what that means.

 

[SarasotaJim]

This is an example of a move-in being a not particularly good idea. The station should have been left in the Sarasota market where it had a fighting chance.

 

[jcurtis1027]

Here is an idea.... Adult CHR

 

[chrocket87]

CBS blowing up a sports talker? Nahhhhh. Sports is too much of a part of the company mission, no matter what.

 

[jmtillery]

Urban AC? Now that's a possibility.

Which is a watered down version of what 98.7 was programming when it was highly successful as WLLD. The key is to identify a market void and fill it, and, I believe you have hit the nail on the head with urban adult contemporary. No other Tampa market station is providing this format, so direct competition in non-existent.

 

[Obtuse]

What about Classic Alternative. Playing Alternative Music between 1976 and 1992. You know the stuff WSUN isn't playing. Thats a format that you don't hear elsewhere, which makes people overlook the less the exceptable signal. Core Artists include.

The Ramones
The Clash
R.E.M
Kate Bush
The Cure
O.M.D
Yaz
Depeche Mode
Blondie
Devo
The Church
Midnight Oil
Talking Heads
Joy Division/ New Order

Entice former 97x listeners that are dissatisfed with the newer Alternative sound and what not. Or the fact that the new "Choose the music" format is just enticing people to play the same music over and over again. 1,800 song playlist but listeners keep picking the same stuff. CBS could also take a further step by having concerts and promotional events with said classic artists.

Really it's the PD and the software that ultimately "chooses the music" over at WSUN. The listeners' votes influence the order of the selections somewhat, but hits and "songs that test well" are given the strongest priority by design. Recently they've removed a lot of the "Classic" stuff from the playlist that you could previously request through the app (because on a rare occasion it would actually air), so it seems they are moving in more of a "current" direction (and sadly with an even tighter playlist). If that's the case, IMHO I would also cut back on the burned-out 90's stuff as well.

As much as I'd like that format, I don't think it would fly. WSUN does Classic Alt. on their HD2 subchannel...too bad it's basically 300 songs on repeat/autopilot, and you can't receive it unless you live under the Holiday transmitter. Move it/duplicate it on WHPT's HD2, program it well, and you may get a few ears. Classic Alt. can work when sprinkled in with currents, but is a bit too "niche" to stand on it's own on a primary FM signal.

 

[Unregistered]

Whfs

There is little doubt an Urban Adult would have great success on 98.7. It would compliment the current brands in the cluster and prove to be very successful. UAC's when done well have a significant non-ethnic cume. This partnered with an older ethnic Tampa demo could be a home run!

 

[nd2023]

How about bringing the format most associated with the WHFS call letters in the Baltimore/DC area to Tampa?

 

[byron]

Wasn't rimshot-at-best WTMP-FM Urban Adult or something similar before it went to Spanish when Tama lost the station? It sure seemed like Urban AC. 1150 didn't last too much longer after the FM flip, either.

I think spoken word (Sports or some form of Talk) is best for 98.7. A music format is either not going to be listened to (or streamed) by enough in the marketable area to amount to anything, and it's likely not going to sell well, for that same reason. Sure, Wild worked, but everything since really hasn't...and before Wild moved to 94.1, you couldn't hear Wild on the north side of Lakeland for a translator in Auburndale. The signal just doesn't pop and sizzle where it needs to. But perhaps it's best use is the way it is being used now, as Sports that attempts to convince anyone with listening distance they're the "only" one on the FM dial...aside from that FM translator that almost compares in signal strength that 'DAE is using! (Joking on signal strength, there) Format-wise, I'm not thinking that CBS would desire to compete with 102.5 for FM Talk audience using 98.7, or with any of their signals.

Byron

 

[gamefreak]

You can also play Post-1992 music that blends it with the other music on a Classic Alternative station. I agree a Classic Alt channel on 102.5 HD2 with a web stream would not be bad. I would just avoid the 90's-2010 music that 98Rock and 97x already pounds to death. Heck the format could even be a cross between Classic Alternative and AAA.

 

[Unregistered]

Wasn't rimshot-at-best WTMP-FM Urban Adult or something similar before it went to Spanish when Tama lost the station? It sure seemed like Urban AC. 1150 didn't last too much longer after the FM flip, either.

I think spoken word (Sports or some form of Talk) is best for 98.7. A music format is either not going to be listened to (or streamed) by enough in the marketable area to amount to anything, and it's likely not going to sell well, for that same reason. Sure, Wild worked, but everything since really hasn't...and before Wild moved to 94.1, you couldn't hear Wild on the north side of Lakeland for a translator in Auburndale. The signal just doesn't pop and sizzle where it needs to. But perhaps it's best use is the way it is being used now, as Sports that attempts to convince anyone with listening distance they're the "only" one on the FM dial...aside from that FM translator that almost compares in signal strength that 'DAE is using! (Joking on signal strength, there) Format-wise, I'm not thinking that CBS would desire to compete with 102.5 for FM Talk audience using 98.7, or with any of their signals.

Byron

WTMP AM & FM were never on a great signal for Tampa. Put Urban AC on 98.7, you WILL have a top five radio station in the market!