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102.5 WHIZ Move in...

Noticed that one of WHIZ Media Group's website is off the web as of today: http://www.whizamfmtv.com/. The appears to means that they are getting ready to move the WHIZ-FM 102.5 operation into the Columbus radio market within the next few days. Their other web site is still on the web: http://www.whiznews.com/ so this leads me to believe this web site was deliberately taken down to accommodate the move of the 102.5 signal into
the Columbus radio market.
The reason I think this is so is because WHIZ-FM 102.5 would NOT be associated with Zainesville anymore once the tower in Zanesville is turned off and the tower in Columbus is turned on the 102.5 frequency. This is assuming 102.5 will retain it's WHIZ-FM call letters once it moves to Columbus.
 
Looks to me more like they're just consolidating their web presence on what looks to be a redesigned WHIZNews.com site.

There are even pull down menus for radio there, though there isn't much content, and there's even a "coming soon" placeholder for "Highway 102" now!

I don't recall seeing this design before, but I'm admittedly not a regular visitor to WHIZNews.com. This could have been there for months.

You're treading into dangerous-fall-into-the-pothole territory if you try to predict a radio station's moves by website changes....
 
They did some program tests from the Columbus tower site last night.

OhioMediaWatch said:
Looks to me more like they're just consolidating their web presence on what looks to be a redesigned WHIZNews.com site.

There are even pull down menus for radio there, though there isn't much content, and there's even a "coming soon" placeholder for "Highway 102" now!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure but the http://www.whiznews.com/radio/highway102 placeholder could have been there for months.

There was some stuff on the old site: http://www.whizamfmtv.com/ that will be obsolete once the 102.5 move-in to Columbus takes place.. They mentioned that 102.5 WILL STAY in Zanesville, for instance. That will not be the case next week?
 
They alternated their web pages yesterday to reflect the 102.5 move in to Columbus. That plus the fact that they are conducting equipment tests
from their Columbus transmitter leads me to believe they will turn on their Columbus transmitter sometime in the next few days or so.

This history of the WHIZ-FM transmitter site was removed yesterday from this site: This is Google's cache of http://www.whiznews.com/techfm.php. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Sep 17, 2009 22:45:53 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime.
http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...ediagroup+whiz+102.5&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

FM Z-102.5

WHIZ-FM, or Z-102 as it is referred to now, began operation in 1961. Today, Z-102 is a 50,000-watt directional station. We are the “Right choice for the best music” serving Zanesville, Muskingum and the surrounding counties.

Z-102 has been going through quite a growth over the past few years. With the building of a new tower for our TV stations, it was decided to keep the Z-102 transmitter facility here at the Downard Rd. location, where it has been since first signing on the air in 1961. Housed on the new TV tower is a new antenna for Z-102. The antenna is side mounted just below the TV antenna.

WHIZ-FM first went on the air with a RCA 5D transmitter. In later years, this transmitter was upgraded to a 10KW transmitter, allowing us 20,000 watts effective radiated power. Z-102 currently uses a Harris FM-20K transmitter. The transmitter went into service in 1978, as part of our beginning into stereo broadcasting. The transmitter uses 3 tubes. (2) 4CX250B tubes are used as the IPA (intermediate power amplifier) and a 4CX15000A is used as the final amplifier for the transmitter. The exciter that is currently used is a Harris digital exciter.

In 1985, we were faced with a decision to either increase power and utilize a directional antenna, or decrease power. After engineering studies were completed, we decided that increasing the power with a directional antenna was in the best interest of our listeners. With this change in power came a new antenna and changes made to the transmitter. This was completed in the fall of 1985.

We have a state of the art studio facility for Z-102. All primary source material is digital. Our music and commercials are played from a hard drive system. The heart of the studio is the digital AudioArts D75 console. The studio was completely rebuilt to improve guest functionality and improve audio quality. This studio also utilizes a 360 Systems Shortcut audio editor, as well as DAT and CD’s.

And THIS was removed from their website yesterday here: (This is Google's cache of http://www.whizmediagroup.com/)

Highway 102, as it is referred to now, began operation in 1961. Today, Highway 102 is a 50,000-watt directional station. Highway 102 plays a mix of country favorites, serving Zanesville, Muskingum and the surrounding counties.
 
I wouldn't read too much into that wording. The "it was decided to keep the transmitter facility here" clearly refers to whenever they built the current tower for WHIZ-TV. All of that refers to 102.5 with the "Z" moniker, which has clearly migrated (with the format) to 92.7.

In the end, we're all just guessing.
 
All is very quit these days as to what will happen when WHIZ-FM's October 1st deadline to move it's CP to Columbus is up. It seems to me they are
planing on making this deadline because they have yet to ask the FCC for an extension of their CP. At least there is no filing as of today. So, are they
planning to move their Highway 102 format into Columbus with it's country favorites and compete with the big boys? That may explain why they
have been so quiet lately, they don't want the competition to know what they are up to. Thoughts?
 
gabigley1 said:
So, are they planning to move their Highway 102 format into Columbus with it's country favorites and compete with the big boys? That may explain why they have been so quiet lately, they don't want the competition to know what they are up to. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Columbus is already flooded with Country. If these guys do come to town and really want to be accepted as bona fide Columbus-style broadcasters, they need to follow the strict local credo that any decent signal must duplicate what's already available instead of filling one of the holes.

Which means yes, they will do Country.
 
Nu_Roo_2 said:
gabigley1 said:
So, are they planning to move their Highway 102 format into Columbus with it's country favorites and compete with the big boys? That may explain why they have been so quiet lately, they don't want the competition to know what they are up to. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Columbus is already flooded with Country. If these guys do come to town and really want to be accepted as bona fide Columbus-style broadcasters, they need to follow the strict local credo that any decent signal must duplicate what's already available instead of filling one of the holes.

Which means yes, they will do Country.
Click to expand...

So sad but true.
 
Note that the corporate owner of WHIZ just won the auction for Class A 103.7 at McConnelsville. My rough calculations indicate this can go as far north as Philo while still making minimum separations (primarily to 103.7 WCKY formerly of Tiffin). This would put a city grade over at least part of Zanesville, and could be used to replace 102.5.
Would also require a city of license change, so could not be done over night. But certainly by spring.
 
TomT said:
Note that the corporate owner of WHIZ just won the auction for Class A 103.7 at McConnelsville. My rough calculations indicate this can go as far north as Philo while still making minimum separations (primarily to 103.7 WCKY formerly of Tiffin). This would put a city grade over at least part of Zanesville, and could be used to replace 102.5.
Would also require a city of license change, so could not be done over night. But certainly by spring.
Click to expand...

Interesting.. I saw the winner of that. Wonder what they will do with it? put their country jukebox there?

I would think if 102.5 stays country after the transmitter site change it will only be until the station is sold (unless its bought by someone currently doing Country on another stick and moves one of their current formats there)
 
I hate to keep beating a dead ....you know.

But I don't see any evidence that Mr. Littick and company intend to operate 102.5 long-term as a Columbus market station.

Will they throw the "Highway 102" automated country format up from the new site? Possibly. Could they make a run at trying to sell some "easy" spots (if anything is "easy" these days) while the stick is warming up? Possibly. Do they intend on anything resembling a long-term competitive position in Columbus? Of course now.

Of course, I said similar about the folks in Newark, and I might be wrong there.
 
OhioMediaWatch,

100% agree with you.

The station has yet to apply for an extension of their CP to move their signal Columbus, so that leaves me to believe they will sign on sometime on or before October 2, 2009, their deadline for turning on their Columbus transmitter site. All call to the station reveals no comment from management.
All I would like to know is if they intend to sign on buy this date or will they apply for an extension of their CP? They certainly don't want to lose the
millions they have already invested in the tower move-in to Columbus. Here is their FCC application list:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=61230

Why is WHIZ-FM 102.5 being so quiet when they are under the gun to either sign on the Columbus tower site or apply for a extension of their CP?
Of course, asking for an extension of their CP is no Guarantee they will get an extension from the FCC but with this economy, who knows.

I'm going with the "Highway 102" automated country format for now unless they have a big surprise in store for Columbus.
 
gabigley1 said:
Why is WHIZ-FM 102.5 being so quiet when they are under the gun to either sign on the Columbus tower site or apply for a extension of their CP?
Of course, asking for an extension of their CP is no Guarantee they will get an extension from the FCC but with this economy, who knows.

I'm going with the "Highway 102" automated country format for now unless they have a big surprise in store for Columbus.
Click to expand...

What to extend for? The plant is already in place.. I don't see why they would waste the FCC's time.

The only reason I could think is they don't want to run it as a Columbus property and are looking for someone to LMA or buy it at the last minute?

If they don't want to soft launch it with the Country format... why not just run an automation system on shuffle with songs from various formats.. or heck throw up a Christmas format... it's that time of the year after all! (and that would get people talking).

(or if they are really that hurting for programming ideas and have no programing options left... I got a Christian CHR/Rock format I will provide them free of charge until they figure what they want to do with the stick... all they need is internet at the transmitter site) .
 
xmusicmatt said:
The only reason I could think is they don't want to run it as a Columbus property and are looking for someone to LMA or buy it at the last minute?
Click to expand...

And we're back to the economy again. Who's out there? I can see them picking up an LMA, but who's buying? We've kicked this around a thousand times.

EMF/K-Love is buying, from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis to all over this part of the country. Yeah, I know. I'm not exactly itching to see K-Love on 102.5. But they don't appear to have anything even close to serving Columbus, judging from their station list.

I don't think they really care about "battling" with WCVO for the CCM audience...they don't seem to have those competitive concerns, it's about building their empire/network, not whether they'll face "The River".

I'm having a hard time thinking of anyone else who could buy 102.5 post-move. Any others re: potential LMA partners?
 
Noticed that they have changed their call letters to WCVZ as of today. So, the WHIZ-FM call letters will go over to its sister station on 92.7. I looks like they WILL be on the air in a day or so from their new Columbus tower site.

Call Sign History
Current Call Sign: WHIZ-FM
Facility ID Number: 61230
Call Sign Begin Date
WCVZ 09/30/2009
WHIZ-FM 05/31/1979
WHIZFM

Call Sign History
Current Call Sign: WCVZ
Facility ID Number: 11126
Call Sign Begin Date
WHIZ-FM 09/30/2009
WCVZ 10/07/1981
NEW00383
 
Hard to figure why they would keep the WCVZ call unless they are planning to lease the signal back to WCVO.

Are for playing the guess the format game, I would love to see Jammin Oldies. They could call it 102 point JIVE!
 
Keep in mind that the contour shown is just the city grade signal. Also consider that as with the 107.1 signal, they will do quite well just from the height of their site, which literally looks over Columbus.
 
It looks like I've was right all along.
Via the WhizNews.com website:

Changes at the WHIZ radio stations

Story Video(s):
Call Letters ChangeTags:
radio, WHIZ Share:

By: Katie Jeffries
Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 3:48pm
Some of your Favorite WHIZ Radio Stations are making a change. 102.5 FM, known as Highway 102, is moving to Baltimore, Ohio and will become WCVZ. The current WCVZ signal, known as 92.7, will revert to WHIZ FM here in Zanesville.

It has been a process that started almost 5 years ago. WHIZ Media Group President Hank Littick says it is happening tonight (Wednesday) and it's an exchange of call letters, applied to their frrequencies. He says 92.7 WCVZ will become WHIZ FM and 102.5 WHIZ FM will become WCVZ. Litttick says it's a little confusing, but essentially the call letters are going to swap.

The new WCVZ will continue with a country music format and will serve most of the Muskingum County area, but not all, It will open up access to hundreds of thousands of listeners west of Zanesville and all around the Columbus market. Littick says where a lot of impact will be felt is the northwest and west side of Columbus. He says starting today (Wednesday) that area will have a new radio station. Littick says the move will also be a big win for advertisers who will have access to over 1.4 million potential listeners in the new signal area in an affordable
 
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