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WPFT Pigeon Forge Flips to Talk

C

cdh8585

I’m not close enough to get their on air signal (and the streaming is dead air), but from their website it looks like WPFT in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area has flipped to talk as Talk 106.3. By my count this makes the 6th format flip since the frequency sign on in 2007?

2007 - Classic Hits
2009 - Sports Talk
2014 - Classic Country
2018 - Classic Hits
2023 - Spanish
2025 - Talk
 
I flipped by last weekend and heard talk (in English) and wondered if they flipped or if it was brokered programming or something.

Your timeline of formats seems correct but I think you’re missing one. In 2021 they flipped to news/talk after WOKI dropped Rush Limbaugh (because he died). 106.3 picked up the dead Rush show and went talk.
 
secondchoice said:
I just wonder why the whole "dead" Rush reruns lasted. Memorial shows are one thing and should be done but non current reruns played like he was still alive are just a little morbid to me.
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Premiere had no plans for when Rush kicked the bucket, and they should have. Perhaps they didn't want to anger him while he was fading away. Or they thought he was indestructible. Whatever the case, they kept playing repeats of his show, took a long time to put together a replacement, and saw lots of non-IHR affiliates defect. As a result, nobody really cares about Clay and Buck. Luckily for them, Cumulus hasn't had any luck filling the time slot either.

What was interesting is, after those stations dumped the endless best-of shows (they were patching together various bits and monologues), some other stations picked up the replays and ran those until Premiere ended them altogether. I don't think it increased their listenership, however.
 
The full lineup (overnights and weekends) isn't on the site yet. I like the morning drive show they've chosen. If they clear so 'How To' programming on the weekend (e.g. Kim Komando, Gary Sullivan) they might attract an audience.
 
There was thinking at the time that the style of talk radio Limbaugh popularized had a more limited marketability, KLBJ in Austin was already planning for that under Emmis. But apparently, the format for the most part will stay in that lane until it is no more.
 
Andy Travis said:
There was thinking at the time that the style of talk radio Limbaugh popularized had a more limited marketability, KLBJ in Austin was already planning for that under Emmis. But apparently, the format for the most part will stay in that lane until it is no more.
Click to expand...
Rumor....and it was only a rumor but from a legitimate source, was that Premiere wanted Limbaugh to announce his successor, who would fill in on his many absences, but Rush rejected the idea.
 


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