WDUV scaling back the holiday music.

[Obtuse]

From The Dove website:

Merry Christmas!

All week long, 105.5 WDUV The Dove is playing Christmas music, along with all your Continuous Lite Favorites. But, for those of you that can’t get enough of the holiday spirit, we will play ALL Christmas music on nights and weekends (and also all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Enjoy and Merry Christmas from The Dove!

Looks like non-comm WCIE might get a boost this season.

 

[Gregg.]

In years past WDUV did not go All-Christmas. Instead, it was usually WWRM 94.9, also owned by Cox. So I am confused why Magic 94.9 is not All-Christmas this year. In fact, the Holiday ratings were the one time each year where WDUV would be #2, with WWRM #1. You'd think if Magic isn't doing it, The Dove would. Surprising that Cox hasn't switched one of its stations to a Holiday format.

 

[Obtuse]

In years past WDUV did not go All-Christmas. Instead, it was usually WWRM 94.9, also owned by Cox. So I am confused why Magic 94.9 is not All-Christmas this year. In fact, the Holiday ratings were the one time each year where WDUV would be #2, with WWRM #1. You'd think if Magic isn't doing it, The Dove would. Surprising that Cox hasn't switched one of its stations to a Holiday format.

Last year, Cox moved the "All Christmas" from Magic 94.9 to The Dove (they were all holiday music last year). You'd think Cox (at the very least) would flip WDUV HD-2 to "all-holiday" and/or provide a web stream.

Doubtful IHeart would jump in at this point, though they could either flip MIX, or use one of the HD2/translator networks (perhaps put Alt 100.3 on hold for the season and launch Santa 100.3? That would give 'em an FM, an HD2, and a stream). As for Beasley, if they were going to flip anything (by "anything" I mean The Fan, of course), this might be a good way to stunt....

 

[billalm]

Have you seen the ratings for WDUV over the last 4 months? Up every single book and is now more than double than second place in the market. Obviously they don't need to upset that so just sticking to nights and weekends is probably smart. Just because the trend has been over the last 6-8 years to flip to all Christmas a month before doesn't always means it's right. iHeart isn't gonna do it with any of their signals (especially the translators) and I wouldn't expect anything to happen with either The Fan, Wild, or Maxima till after Christmas. That's when I think we may hear something.

 

[Unsatisfied]

Unsatisified Listener

What a disappointment. I wait all year for time spent with my daughter listening to Christmas music in the car....previously on 94.9 and last year on 105.5. When I tuned in the other day as was subjected to Michael Bolton and not Bing Crosby or Burl Ives, I was terribly disappointed. You are making a HUGE mistake. It's the only time of the year I listen to the Dove.

 

[Obtuse]

I can certainly see why Cox may not want to upset the apple cart, and as I stated above it's doubtful iHeart would flip anything (just posing a possible scenario....)

I'd agree it's probably too soon for Beasley to think about any major changes over at The Fan. Plus, canning or uprooting a bunch of staff during the holidays (though it has been done before), certainly wouldn't reflect well on the new kid in the market. (Still "all holiday" would make a for good stunt). As for the rest of the Beasley FM stable, there's no reason to change anything, as far as I can tell.

 

[Unregistered]

Last year, Cox moved the "All Christmas" from Magic 94.9 to The Dove (they were all holiday music last year). You'd think Cox (at the very least) would flip WDUV HD-2 to "all-holiday" and/or provide a web stream.

Doubtful IHeart would jump in at this point, though they could either flip MIX, or use one of the HD2/translator networks (perhaps put Alt 100.3 on hold for the season and launch Santa 100.3? That would give 'em an FM, an HD2, and a stream). As for Beasley, if they were going to flip anything (by "anything" I mean The Fan, of course), this might be a good way to stunt....

Good call. Just flipped on 98.7 when I heard about the switch being immediate and it is indeed all Christmas (possibly until January 6 as that's when they will apparently announce the new format).

 

[Unregistered]

For Beasley, THEY JUST DID! 98.7 REALLY DID DUMP ITS SPORTS FORMAT.

 

[Obtuse]

As for Beasley, if they were going to flip anything (by "anything" I mean The Fan, of course), this might be a good way to stunt....

Nailed it....

I'd agree it's probably too soon for Beasley to think about any major changes over at The Fan. Plus, canning or uprooting a bunch of staff during the holidays (though it has been done before), certainly wouldn't reflect well on the new kid in the market. (Still "all holiday" would make a for good stunt). As for the rest of the Beasley FM stable, there's no reason to change anything, as far as I can tell.

...kind of.

 

[billalm]

The Fan's days were numbered. Everyone knew that when Bubba became available and Beasley came to the market. You gotta figure Cox expected a stunt and probably why WDUV is staying the course. Little if anyone is gonna notice 98.7 is playing Christmas music. Really.

As for the rest of the group, I'd expect more tweaks over time with 92.5 and 94.1.

 

[Unregistered]

You guys are way over-thinking it. Six months of Christmas music on Magic was a Bob Neil/Tom Paleveda powerplay for ratings. Neither of those gentlemen are on-staff at CMG anymore. Ever since Bob retired and Tom was let go, Magic and Dove have gone through major changes that would have never been approved under former leadership. Hell, Bob Neil wouldn't even let Dove upgrade to a digital Orban because he liked the warmth of analog processing. That has all changed.