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100.3 translator finally on the air?

I don't know why they moved smooth jazz, either. Switching the parent station of a translator is supposed to be a simple task. I think it can be done online at no cost by the translator owner. And I'd want whatever is feeding the translator on the best HD signal around, and that is most definitely not WMXC!

Not that anyone listens to HD radio in this market, but going from contemporary country to smooth jazz side by side is a bit jarring. But then the same could be said for smooth jazz next to CHR on 107.3.
 
But those that listen to the 100.3 translator and have a fancy HD car radio can scan one drop down to 99.9 HD 2 while crossing the Bayway.

I'm just now realizing that all the translators I know of relay an AM. I've never heard a station ID for a translator and HD-2. It'll be interesting to see if they push both frequencies equally when they officially launch.

Since the other discussion has "stepped out for a bit" and my access to a HD radio is limited right now, why don't we just use this thread to keep track of 100.3.

What's the format today?
 
seedless said:
But those that listen to the 100.3 translator and have a fancy HD car radio can scan one drop down to 99.9 HD 2 while crossing the Bayway.

I'm just now realizing that all the translators I know of relay an AM. I've never heard a station ID for a translator and HD-2. It'll be interesting to see if they push both frequencies equally when they officially launch.

Since the other discussion has "stepped out for a bit" and my access to a HD radio is limited right now, why don't we just use this thread to keep track of 100.3.

What's the format today?
Click to expand...

At least as of 1:30 this morning it's still hair metal. Do you know when they have been changing from one thing to another?

Mobile and Pensacola both have been slow to get on the HD/translator bandwagon. Montgomery and Columbus both have four translators fed by HD subchannels; Birmingham has 8 with possibly more planned.
 
Alex_0490 said:
iHeart HD2 Updates for Mobile are:

WKSJ-FM HD2 - Smooth Jazz
WRKH-FM HD2 - News Talk/WNTM-AM
WMXC-FM HD2 - Uncertain*

*Uncertain because the past few days the format has changed. I thought it was Beach Radio like you said above but it was Slippery When Wet format this morning. yesteday, they were playing Gospel music...so who knows, what's up?!? Maybe they are doing a format shuffle for the time being before they pick out the final one but I know this, the PD of WMXC has confirmed that there will be a new format for WMXC HD2.

If you ask me, I don't understand why they moved Smooth Jazz to 94.9 HD2 and put a new format on 99.9-2? I wonder what they will do with WRGV-FM HD2? Right now, thats a total of TWO Smooth Jazz HD2 channels within the Mobile-Pensacola listening area.
Click to expand...

tomservo said:
At least as of 1:30 this morning it's still hair metal. Do you know when they have been changing from one thing to another?

Mobile and Pensacola both have been slow to get on the HD/translator bandwagon. Montgomery and Columbus both have four translators fed by HD subchannels; Birmingham has 8 with possibly more planned.
Click to expand...

Yes I know because I was flipping through the stations and 99.9-2 was airing a different format than it is currently. I am not sure of the official day when they switched over. Like I said, they were playing two different formats on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Slippery When Wet is horrible. Compliments TK and The Rocket a little but provides no meaningful compitition for 92Zew. Doesn't make cents so this ain't the new format.

99.9-HD2 is still using Smooth Jazz in their RDS display. Meaningless?

I'm still thinking Hip Hop will end up on 100.3 soon.
 
Are these Premier Choice formats they're scrolling through or something else?
We know where Beach Radio came from. Bet that means our old bud cceng was working in Mobile last week.
Any idea where there's other formats are based?

Edit to add-
99.5 is the only other translator iHeart owns in Mobile, right? I had been thinking all along that the WNTM simulcast on WRKH HD-2 would feed a second translator on the Eastern Shore.
I guess at this point we can't assume WNTM will end up on any FM translator.
 
Last edited:
tomservo said:
I still don't know when exactly they pick to change formats but today it's 50s/60s oldies, so I'll be listening all day. :cool:
Click to expand...

OLDIES are indeed on for 99.9-2! I am not understanding the methodology with trying to pick a station in replacement of Smooth Jazz, lol. I mean, it's not like everyone has an HD radio equipped to their car stereo. But I thought it would be smart to add the My 80s channel or the Hot AC "Mix" sub channel considering Lite Mix ranges between an AC-Hot AC station.

As for 107.3, if they don't get their #s up in future books, looks like WNTM will find its new home. But I love to see a station that will compete head on with BLX' but this can be talked about on another future thread.
 
seedless said:
Are these Premier Choice formats they're scrolling through or something else?
We know where Beach Radio came from. Bet that means our old bud cceng was working in Mobile last week.
Any idea where there's other formats are based?

Edit to add-
99.5 is the only other translator iHeart owns in Mobile, right? I had been thinking all along that the WNTM simulcast on WRKH HD-2 would feed a second translator on the Eastern Shore.
I guess at this point we can't assume WNTM will end up on any FM translator.
Click to expand...

Yes - these are Premiere Choice radio stations run by iHeart Media. Beach Radio is actually on in Panama City on the FM translator. I think it's 96.3FM.

As for 99.5, is it open for business because I thought 100.3 was the only translator owned by iHeart Media. What are there plans for 99.5? Interesting how they are so close together on the radio dial: 99.5 - 99.9 - 100.3..Is this an intentional coincidence?
 
seedless said:
Slippery When Wet is horrible. Compliments TK and The Rocket a little but provides no meaningful compitition for 92Zew. Doesn't make cents so this ain't the new format.

99.9-HD2 is still using Smooth Jazz in their RDS display. Meaningless?

I'm still thinking Hip Hop will end up on 100.3 soon.
Click to expand...

I'd like to see an iHeart Alternative music format compete with 92ZEW! That sure would be interesting.
 
99.5 is listed as having WNTM 710 as its parent station, so I presume it's tired to iHeart for the moment.

This oldies feed matches the online feed called Real Oldies. It's been very glitchy all morning. Many songs have jumped from the beginning to the end and then been 2 minutes of silence. And two or three times this morning the music has segued to smooth jazz before seamlessly transitioning back into oldies. I bet that is where local insert commercials would go on the online stream.
 
tomservo said:
99.5 is listed as having WNTM 710 as its parent station, so I presume it's tired to iHeart for the moment.

This oldies feed matches the online feed called Real Oldies. It's been very glitchy all morning. Many songs have jumped from the beginning to the end and then been 2 minutes of silence. And two or three times this morning the music has segued to smooth jazz before seamlessly transitioning back into oldies. I bet that is where local insert commercials would go on the online stream.
Click to expand...

When is 99.5 set to "debut" on the FM? I know it won't be clear as day but somewhat listenable I am presuming...
 
Alex_0490 said:
When is 99.5 set to "debut" on the FM? I know it won't be clear as day but somewhat listenable I am presuming...
Click to expand...

That's the big mystery. We've been waiting for WNTM on 99.5 from a tower a mile down the road from 100.3 for a few years now and nothing. Now suddenly there's movement on 100.3, which is a newer purchase/CP.
 
Alex, you got a link to a current list of Premeir Choice formats that includes these played in Mobile last week?
 
seedless said:
Alex, you got a link to a current list of Premeir Choice formats that includes these played in Mobile last week?
Click to expand...

After doing some research, it appears the formats we hear on these HD2 broadcasts are not Premiere Choice but Format Lab. I think Premiere Choice is offered as a standalone, fully commercialized product to other radio stations and HD2 channels, whereas Format Lab is commercial free feeds of music. Here's the formats on WMXC-HD2 so far:

1. Smooth Jazz
2. Real Fun Beach Radio
3. Gospel
4. Slippery When Wet
5. Real Oldies

All except the gospel are on the Format Lab lineup, which according to TuneIn Radio (the only people who provide an actual list!) is over 140 formats and feeds. It also includes Josh Groban Guest DJ which is on WTKX-HD2 and Foggy Mountain which was on WKSJ-HD2, the Classic Rock Channel that was on WTKX-HD2 prior to Josh Groban and Sixx Sense w/ Nikki Sixx which was a HD2 channel on WTKX before everything else.
 
tomservo said:
After doing some research, it appears the formats we hear on these HD2 broadcasts are not Premiere Choice but Format Lab. I think Premiere Choice is offered as a standalone, fully commercialized product to other radio stations and HD2 channels, whereas Format Lab is commercial free feeds of music. Here's the formats on WMXC-HD2 so far:

1. Smooth Jazz
2. Real Fun Beach Radio
3. Gospel
4. Slippery When Wet
5. Real Oldies

All except the gospel are on the Format Lab lineup, which according to TuneIn Radio (the only people who provide an actual list!) is over 140 formats and feeds. It also includes Josh Groban Guest DJ which is on WTKX-HD2 and Foggy Mountain which was on WKSJ-HD2, the Classic Rock Channel that was on WTKX-HD2 prior to Josh Groban and Sixx Sense w/ Nikki Sixx which was a HD2 channel on WTKX before everything else.
Click to expand...

You are correct, my apologies Poledo. There are Premier Choice radio personalities in the Mobile-Pensacola market however and that list can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programming_syndicated_by_iHeartMedia

And yes, its from Wikipedia but the information is valid.

I wonder how long will the WMXC-FM HD2 will be spinning the Format Lab until they PICK ONE.
 
Alex_0490 said:
You are correct, my apologies Poledo. There are Premier Choice radio personalities in the Mobile-Pensacola market however and that list can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programming_syndicated_by_iHeartMedia

And yes, its from Wikipedia but the information is valid.

I wonder how long will the WMXC-FM HD2 will be spinning the Format Lab until they PICK ONE.
Click to expand...

I dunno but it's still oldies as of right now. Since this is a format I like, it was cause for doing something I haven't done in probably two years: I took my little HD radio into the car with me to listen to broadcast radio while I was running errands this morning. And you know what? The digital didn't drop out once. Granted, I only went a few miles, but that was something new. I think this newer model Insignia HD portable is a little more robust with HD signals than the old black model. If nothing else, it was nice hearing music I like "on the radio" and not eating up my data allotment streaming my personal collection from Google Play Music.
 
Isn't iHeart putting those 140 Format Lab streams on somewhat random HD2s and translators around the country in order to pay lower streaming rates?

Mobile appeared to be deemed "not viable" for translators by Clear Channel and Cumulus. Perhaps iHeart will maintain the status quo and put up some random format that needs a OTA home?
 
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