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Is iHeart planning for a WBZ simulcast on FM?

If they did, “Newsradio WBZ” would be keeping with the trend. A few other examples

In Chicago, WBBM tends rotate around “Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM” “Newsradio on 105.9FM” and “Newsradio WBBM”

In Milwaukee, WTMJ went from “Newsradio 620 WTMJ” to “Newsradio WTMJ” when they added a translator.

WBZ’s sister in Denver KOA went from “850 KOA” to “KOA Newsradio” when they added a translator.
 
If anything the change is due to putting emphasis on streaming the station via the iHeart Radio app. I think the station is performing well enough that they don't need to sacrifice an FM. Also, most AM sound quality issues are on the receiver side - of course it doesn't really matter where the problem is but streaming is a quick fix for that. Secondarily - they have some new management. One thing about management is they always want some metrics on what people are doing to prove to their superiors that everyone is doing something. For the managers themselves, sometimes a steady hand on the tiller doesn't seem like enough so they do re-orgs (basically people keep doing what they always did but the team names are changed around on the organizational chart) or they do something cosmetic like drop 1030 from a lot of the on air branding. Check - we made this big change so now give me my well earned bonus, thank you.

Look at it this way, I'd rather have this really minor change to the branding then having them do a lot more substantial changes than they have so far so I'll take it and be happy.
 
In 2010...Clear Channel (IHeart Media) blew up Alternative Rock WHRL 103.1 Albany, NY....turning it in to a full time simulcast of 50,000 watt WGY-810 as WGY-FM. It seemed unnecessary at the time...since 103.1 is a 6000 watt signal....and 810 is a non-directional full time 50,000 watt signal...but the simulcast exists to this day..
 
I agree. Let's hope there are no substantial changes ahead like the ones they've already done across this vast landscape
 
CTListener said:
Also WFAN New York, which now gives the FM frequency first at the top of the hour. It would be interesting to know the AM/FM split of their ratings. If AM is being deserted, could 660 soon drop local content and go to a satellite lineup, like WEEI(AM) has? Or would there be problems with the pro sports teams whose play-by-play is currently on both signals? I'd imagine those teams would have to build out their networks significantly should their games go FM only on the flagship.
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I can't see 660 going away. You can pick up the signal as far north as Hartford. The FM doesn't travel nearly as far for what they are paying for Yankees games.
 
Don CT said:
So do "clear channels" matter anymore? Is the better FM signal worth more than the stronger AM?
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Yes, as radio sells local markets and coverage (and ratings) outside the home market is hard to impossible to monetize.
 
Don CT said:
I can't see 660 going away. You can pick up the signal as far north as Hartford. The FM doesn't travel nearly as far for what they are paying for Yankees games.
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But WFAN does not make any more money because of that...
 
DavidEduardo said:


But WFAN does not make any more money because of that...
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Would the Yankees, though, have a legal basis for getting out of their contract with WFAN on the grounds that the FM wasn't delivering as many homes as the AM signal? Pretty sure the loss of the team on AM would leave a coverage gap between midtown Manhattan and WICC's signal from Bridgeport, and probably several other areas that depend on WFAN for the games, not having local affiliates on the Yankees radio network. Obviously WFAN won't care because listeners outside the metro don't improve the bottom line, but the baseball team must have signed its deal with WFAN on the assumption that the games would be heard on a 50,000-watt blowtorch AM in addition to a Manhattan FM.
 
I was thinking about the "1030" thing a bit more. The contributors have stopped using it (weather, traffic, business reports, features, etc.) and the anchors always tended to just say WBZ or WBZ news anyway. The station's reporters still add the 1030 and it is still used at the top of the hour, bottom of the hour and a couple other places. They probably figure everyone knows the 1030 part so they don't have to reemphasize it all the time - just once in a while. If you figure it takes 1 to 2 seconds to say 1030 depending on the speaker, and you cut 10 or 20 of them an hour (they say it a lot - so it could be more) you suddenly have room for another commercial or two without cutting any real content.
 
This has probably been pointed out, but giving the dial location in a PPM market is extraneous. If you're listening, you know the dial location, and the PPM meter senses that you're listening. WBZ Newsradio is the brand.
 
CTListener said:
Would the Yankees, though, have a legal basis for getting out of their contract with WFAN on the grounds that the FM wasn't delivering as many homes as the AM signal? Pretty sure the loss of the team on AM would leave a coverage gap between midtown Manhattan and WICC's signal from Bridgeport, and probably several other areas that depend on WFAN for the games, not having local affiliates on the Yankees radio network. Obviously WFAN won't care because listeners outside the metro don't improve the bottom line, but the baseball team must have signed its deal with WFAN on the assumption that the games would be heard on a 50,000-watt blowtorch AM in addition to a Manhattan FM.
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Good point about the sports deals. The Yankees may have specific coverage conditions in the contract, and they certainly have something about overlapping competitive signals.
 
The Mets had been on 710 WOR, also a 50,000 watt station, although not quite as good as WCBS, since WOR is somewhat directional. But for the vast majority of New Yorkers, the signals are equal.

It could just be that WOR's parent, iHeart, is working through its bankruptcy and didn't want to continue the expense of the Mets.
 
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