Another site mentioned that iHeartMedia registered a Philly-specific website URL for their Black Information Network. No word on a launch date, or what station though.
Let the speculation begin!
Let the speculation begin!
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iHeart's BIN coming to Philly
- Thread starter atthestars
- Start date
The only frequency that would make sense is WDAS-AM. I doubt that syndicated sports is something that’s worth saving, and none of their FMs are doing poorly enough to warrant cleaning the slate, not to mention the station’s history
The Gambler (WDAS-AM) debuted a new local evening show Monday. While it's not impossible to flip the station even with a new show launch, for some reason, I don't think it'll be WDAS-AM. Not a clue though who it might be.
If not WDAS-AM, then I’d imagine they’d take the translator of it and rebroadcast an HD sub-channel.
In several markets the network is on an HD channel without a translator.
True, I know they’ve at least done that in several major markets. Not that it is conclusive or really means anything, but the fact that iHeart registered domains for Philly leads me to believe they are going to put it on some sort of analog signal.
When I checked last week, JJZ sounded like it had pretty much already gone away. Other than a few songs that were missing (probably being covered up for commercials), its playlist was identical to the Smooth Jazz Network. It even played the songs in the same order.
I agree it's a shame. I always found the mix was more relaxing than the Smooth Jazz Network, and I really enjoyed it in the evenings and early mornings. I guess not enough other people did.
I agree it's a shame. I always found the mix was more relaxing than the Smooth Jazz Network, and I really enjoyed it in the evenings and early mornings. I guess not enough other people did.
It looks like Premiere Networks is getting ready to offer BIN updates (not sure about the full format). Is it possible a non-iHeartMedia station could pick it up?
https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/black-information-network-news
https://www.premierenetworks.com/shows/black-information-network-news
Seems like a good idea. Treat it like other networks they offer to indie stations.
I think we found where BIN is going to end up in Philly.
It's not one of the signals you were thinking:
Crossing Broad has the info here
It's not one of the signals you were thinking:
Crossing Broad has the info here
I expected to lose a sports signal, but thought it would be one of the Gambler's feeds. I wonder if this ties into the aforementioned article on Premiere starting to distribute the service. Will Beasley still own the station and just run 24/7 BIN automation? Will full control be handed over to iHeart? I always thought it was smart to keep some kind of sports on 610 (first CBS Sports Radio, then ESPN) for the muscle-memory types who knew to go there for sports talk. Then again, those types were probably going there for local sports talk, and forgot all about 610 once they found their way to 94.1.
According to that link, Beasley will lease the signal to iHeart. So Beasley will retain ownership.
However, they could also run the BIN service from Premiere, as they ran CBS Sports Net and ESPN Radio.
And the interesting just gets interesting-er...
Radio Insight apparently has domain insight that The Gambler could be shifted to 610, with BIN taking 1480 AND 102.5. I could certainly see them wanting an FM outlet for BIN. I'm just hoping they keep The Gambler on 105.3 HD2 (The Jason Smith show is my nightly teeth-brushing accompaniment). 102.5 is spotty at best in my area and the audio difference between 1480 and 102.5 HD2 is massive.
Radio Insight apparently has domain insight that The Gambler could be shifted to 610, with BIN taking 1480 AND 102.5. I could certainly see them wanting an FM outlet for BIN. I'm just hoping they keep The Gambler on 105.3 HD2 (The Jason Smith show is my nightly teeth-brushing accompaniment). 102.5 is spotty at best in my area and the audio difference between 1480 and 102.5 HD2 is massive.
It's not really necessary, since BIN is a totally talk network. An FM outlet would be more expensive.
Well, we're talking 102.5 here which is already in their wheelhouse and has had no real success since signing on a few years ago (the miniscule signal doesn't help). I imagine it's up for grabs. And regardless of content, I do feel that there is a modern listener perception of "prestige" in terms of the sound quality of FM versus AM. Don't get me wrong, I loved the circa-2012 WDAS-AM with 70's hits in crispy, crunchy AM quality, but I'm not your average radio listener (I'd go so far as to say none of us are). I'd think that in introducing listeners to BIN, iHeart would like to give them an FM option if they could, and they can do that here on 102.5 without affecting any "heritage" FMs.
If the cost is the same, sure. But all they need is a market clear. They could run it on a small station in NJ and get the same result. This is not being done for local ratings.
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