103.9's Next Format

[Nu_Roo_2]

So I told a buddy of mine about 103.9 because he loves that genre of music. He's not into radio like we are or anything, he's just a regular Joe. So anyway, he just called me and said WTF is this crap? He said his 17 year old son could do a better job picking classic hit songs than what he heard on 103.9. He also said thanks but no thanks, I've got QFM.

I thought that his last statement was kind of funny about QFM.

Hal Fish, I have two words for you...

EPIC FAIL!

Dawg, get a grip.  Remember that we're talking about a rimshot here, not something with significant potential like bazillionth Country Yee-Haw-Hey 102.5 had.  103.9 doesn't deserve a 30-point-font cry of angry frustration, no matter what they changed to.  The general guideline for angry-frustration font is to make it directly proprtional to the market coverage of the signal that just changed.  I believe the latest official recommendations in the Columbus-Radio-Makes-My-Blood-Boil Users Manual are: 13-point for a 104.3, 17-point for a 103.9, 27-point for a 102.5 and 75-point for a 99.7 or a 93.3.

 

[dawg4life]

Actually, it's not quite as cookie-cutter as others.(BTW, for me "cookie-cutter" means "like the same approaches we've heard elsewhere *in Columbus* ad nauseum.) I've heard stuff I haven't heard locally in years, from "Tusk" to "Tupelo Honey" to "Rainy Day Women" to "All the Young Dudes. to "Tied to the Whipping Post." As well as a broader mix -- "Something to Talk About" always seemed boring on Sunny 95, but it sounds fresher coming after, say, "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers (NOT Gregg Allman), or "Honky Tonk Women."

But despite the fact that I'm probably the only one that some positive feelings about 103.9, I still see much inconsistency. In fact, much of the time it's as boring as all get-out. While there have been long stretches that are very listenable, there have also been long stretches where it sounds VERY cookie-cutter and very boring -- either like a cookie-cutter Mainstream AC or a cookie-cutter Classic Rock. (And I'm not even mentioning the other elements, which leave a lot to be desires, e.g., playing music over the entirety of at least two newscasts this morning.) Some other posters mentioned preferring WODB) also from Dial Global, and I tend to agree. Since Dial cleaned up their act on that format a couple months ago, they sound much better and have a lot of consistency, something their Classic Hits format seems to need a lot more of. Hopefully they're next on the tidy-up list, because there are elements that are definitely positive and provide musical elements from all the other 35+ demo non-LP stations.

Nu Roo 2, you have an uncanny ability to say all the things that so many of us are thinking. I do, however, need to quit getting so pissed off and calling people out. That's where I was directing my negativity with the large font. I was directing it towards Hal Fish and I agree that I need to take a chill pill. What can I say, it's the holidays.

 

[CatFM]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is how the impact of having WTDA as the second Oldies station in the Columbus market will affect the format plans of WNKO when they make the move into the market. Hopefully it won't be a situation like we saw with 102.5, moving yet another unnecessary canned format duplication into the market.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is how the impact of having WTDA as the second Oldies station in the Columbus market will affect the format plans of WNKO when they make the move into the market. Hopefully it won't be a situation like we saw with 102.5, moving yet another unnecessary canned format duplication into the market.

Re ODB and TDA there are lots of markets that have both "oldies-type" Classic Hits (WODB) and "rock-type" Classic Hits (WTDA), with both doing well despite the overlap. Only ODB approximates what has been traditionally been called Oldies, albeit a modernized version. And as you know, they are both supplied by Dial Global.

But that's an interesting point re NKO. I haven't heard it often, but despite being called Kool they are more like 103.9 (Classic Rock based), and even use the Classic Hits handle like 103.9. So yeah, that might be over-saturation.

BUT...it's all a moot point, because we all know that if/when NKO moves to New Albany it is required by ordinance to switch to Country.

BTW, I see that in my post about 103.9 and whether it is cookie-cutter, there are even more typos than usual. The last sentence was pretty screwed up, although maybe the point was clear from the context. I meant to say, "Hopefully [103.9 is] next on the tidy-up list, because it has certain musical elements that are definitely positive and distinct from from all the other 35+ demo non-LP stations in town."

 

[alans613]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is how the impact of having WTDA as the second Oldies station in the Columbus market will affect the format plans of WNKO when they make the move into the market. Hopefully it won't be a situation like we saw with 102.5, moving yet another unnecessary canned format duplication into the market.

Re ODB and TDA there are lots of markets that have both "oldies-type" Classic Hits (WODB) and "rock-type" Classic Hits (WTDA), with both doing well despite the overlap. Only ODB approximates what has been traditionally been called Oldies, albeit a modernized version. And as you know, they are both supplied by Dial Global.

But that's an interesting point re NKO. I haven't heard it often, but despite being called Kool they are more like 103.9 (Classic Rock based), and even use the Classic Hits handle like 103.9. So yeah, that might be over-saturation.

BUT...it's all a moot point, because we all know that if/when NKO moves to New Albany it is required by ordinance to switch to Country.

BTW, I see that in my post about 103.9 and whether it is cookie-cutter, there are even more typos than usual. The last sentence was pretty screwed up, although maybe the point was clear from the context. I meant to say, "Hopefully [103.9 is] next on the tidy-up list, because it has certain musical elements that are definitely positive and distinct from from all the other 35+ demo non-LP stations in town."

Nu Roo is right about "Format overlap" and you don't have to look for a far away market to find it. Dayton has Classic Hits 95.3 WZLR "The Eagle" and Adult Hits Fly 92.9 WGTZ.

 

[alans613]

So I told a buddy of mine about 103.9 because he loves that genre of music. He's not into radio like we are or anything, he's just a regular Joe. So anyway, he just called me and said WTF is this crap? He said his 17 year old son could do a better job picking classic hit songs than what he heard on 103.9. He also said thanks but no thanks, I've got QFM.

I thought that his last statement was kind of funny about QFM.

Hal Fish, I have two words for you...

EPIC FAIL!

Dawg, get a grip. Remember that we're talking about a rimshot here, not something with significant potential like bazillionth Country Yee-Haw-Hey 102.5 had. 103.9 doesn't deserve a 30-point-font cry of angry frustration, no matter what they changed to. The general guideline for angry-frustration font is to make it directly proprtional to the market coverage of the signal that just changed. I believe the latest official recommendations in the Columbus-Radio-Makes-My-Blood-Boil Users Manual are: 13-point for a 104.3, 17-point for a 103.9, 27-point for a 102.5 and 75-point for a 99.7 or a 93.3.

Nu Roo, you left out one on the Columbus-Radio-Makes-My-Blood-Boil users manual...97.1. I think that one registers around a 99-point for yours truly. Looks like they've been an epic fail so far(From what i'm told they've lost half of their audience since flipping from Hot AC). All the rimshots around town with Country could've used the crappy Sports format, not a big stick.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

So I told a buddy of mine about 103.9 because he loves that genre of music. He's not into radio like we are or anything, he's just a regular Joe. So anyway, he just called me and said WTF is this crap? He said his 17 year old son could do a better job picking classic hit songs than what he heard on 103.9. He also said thanks but no thanks, I've got QFM.

I thought that his last statement was kind of funny about QFM.

Hal Fish, I have two words for you...

EPIC FAIL!

Dawg, get a grip.  Remember that we're talking about a rimshot here, not something with significant potential like bazillionth Country Yee-Haw-Hey 102.5 had.  103.9 doesn't deserve a 30-point-font cry of angry frustration, no matter what they changed to.  The general guideline for angry-frustration font is to make it directly proprtional to the market coverage of the signal that just changed.  I believe the latest official recommendations in the Columbus-Radio-Makes-My-Blood-Boil Users Manual are: 13-point for a 104.3, 17-point for a 103.9, 27-point for a 102.5 and 75-point for a 99.7 or a 93.3.

Nu Roo, you left out one on the Columbus-Radio-Makes-My-Blood-Boil users manual...97.1.  I think that one registers around a 99-point for yours truly.  Looks like they've been an epic fail so far(From what i'm told they've lost half of their audience since flipping from Hot AC).  All the rimshots around town with Country could've used the crappy Sports format, not a big stick.

Alan, for me the un-coveted 99-point frustration font is reserved for deservedly-reviled 93.3, but I do have to agree with you that 97.1 ranks up there on the boiling-blood scale.  97.1's sports ratings sure have been underwhelming for a full-signalled station in a market that's that's short on them.  Haven't seen any indication of even slow growth.  Guess we'll have to wait and see how things may have changed with Buckeye football, but I'd wager that neither ratings nor revenue come in anywhere near expectation.  I'm not denying that Sports is viable on FM, but I don't think it's working for them.  Maybe they'll switch to Country  .  Given that 97.1's GM Dave Van Stone once was PD (or Ops Mgr?) of the first really successful major market Hot AC, KHMX in Houston, I've been surprised at how much 97.1 has sputtered.

 

[gabigley1]

Hal's research showed that the Talk FM concept was going to be hugely successful, and I think he should've given it a few more years so that we couldn't found out for sure.

Did Hal even do any research on Talk FM? There were rumors on the board that he was going to change WTDA
to all Talk long before they changed 103.9 to Talk. Rumors started very early in 2006 but they did not go Talk
until a year later, in January of 2007. They did that when WTVN drooped Glenn Beck. The decision to go Talk
on FM was probably made within a day or two after the word got out that WTVN was going to drop Beck.
After Glenn Beck went back to WTVN, the rating on WTDA dropped some. They then tried the new local morning
show on WTDA and they could see that wasn't going to work. So now we have Classic Rock back on 103.9 again. Don't see this format getting better then a ONE 12+ share.

 

[del_griffith]

So is it too early to guess what the next format will be and how soon?

 

[gabigley1]

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is how the impact of having WTDA as the second Oldies station in the Columbus market will affect the format plans of WNKO when they make the move into the market. Hopefully it won't be a situation like we saw with 102.5, moving yet another unnecessary canned format duplication into the market.

WNKO had about a 1.5 12+ ratings in the latest trends. What kind of Classic Rock is WNKO doing?
Is this another reason WTDA changed to Classic Rock? To get a head start on the WNKO move in?
The 1.5 is an impressive number given the fact that WNKO currently has a very poor signal over Columbus metro.
Just consider the potential of this format once WNKO moves into Columbus.

 

[heresjohnny]

So is it too early to guess what the next format will be and how soon?

I think this is it. They've finally surrendered. Thrown in the towel. Given up. They've taken the 100% satellite feed and walked away. How many locals lost their jobs in this? Not that there are many locals left working in radio. Admittedly I'm not much of a listener. Is the Shark gone? What about Thick Rick? These guys have been with NABCO forever. In answer to an earlier question about how does a boomer feel about such programming well I'm here to tell you I'm not impressed. I heard all this well researched music way too much decades ago and don't want a steady diet of it now. Aside from some Conners and/or Corby and a bit of country the only local radio I spend any appreciable time with is WCBE. Their programming is outside the box. Okay maybe it's eclectic at times. But at least it's not safe. And yes I've sent them money, something I would have never believed I'd do back in the 20 or so years when I actually worked in radio. I know a lot of people want to listen to the music of their past but not me. Show me something new, something different. I have fond memories of the decades past. But I'm not living there anymore and there's more to this world than some programming genius's idea of the best 300 songs ever.

 

[gabigley1]

So is it too early to guess what the next format will be and how soon?

I think this is it. They've finally surrendered. Thrown in the towel. Given up. They've taken the 100% satellite feed and walked away. How many locals lost their jobs in this? Not that there are many locals left working in radio. Admittedly I'm not much of a listener. Is the Shark gone? What about Thick Rick? These guys have been with NABCO forever.

It would seem they have surrendered and thrown in the towel at this point. The reason for this is because
they have gone to a 100% satellite feed in the competitive Columbus radio market. Question, what other FM stations have gone 100% satellite feed in the past here? This is the first time this has happened in recent memory.

 

[xiradiodotcom]

It would seem they have surrendered and thrown in the towel at this point. The reason for this is because
they have gone to a 100% satellite feed in the competitive Columbus radio market. Question, what other FM stations have gone 100% satellite feed in the past here? This is the first time this has happened in recent memory.

Isn't 103.5 satellite now? I don't listen often enough to tell, but I remember a discussion about it a while back.

 

[heresjohnny]

Isn't 103.5 satellite now? I don't listen often enough to tell, but I remember a discussion about it a while back.

They're only on the bird part time, not 100%. I'm pretty certain some of their on air personalities are local. And I'm absolutely sure the Sunday night guy is local. You've heard of him. Fritz the night owl.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Isn't 103.5 satellite now? I don't listen often enough to tell, but I remember a discussion about it a while back.

They're only on the bird part time, not 100%. I'm pretty certain some of their on air personalities are local. And I'm absolutely sure the Sunday night guy is local. You've heard of him. Fritz the night owl.

Fritz is local.. He makes it very apperent he is .. at least the times i've listened.

in terms of satellite.. at one point 106.3 was on Satellite (I beleive they used the old Musical Soulfood Rejoice format..) I also think 107.9 ran satellite at one point when they did oldies.

 

[gabigley1]

Saw the new WTDA 103.9 Classic Rock van today in downtown Columbus. The van had CLASSIC ROCK in large bold letters on it. Not sure what they
where doing in downtown Columbus.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Saw the new WTDA 103.9 Classic Rock van today in downtown Columbus. The van had CLASSIC ROCK in large bold letters on it. Not sure what they
where doing in downtown Columbus.

Don't they know their own handle? Maybe back when they painted the van they thought they were going to be using Dial Global's Classic Rock format instead of their classic-rock-oriented Classic Hits format? Or did the van look like it could have been 18 years old, i.e., maybe they took the old Magic 99.7 van and just painted over the calls? Or they got a used van from a former Classic Rock station somewhere so they could minimize the repainting? That's it, I've run out of theories. Even when they were the Eagle I don't think they ever used the handle Classic Rock, despite the fact that was the format much of the time (possible I'm forgetting...).

I'd wager it's either the first or second guess.

 

[Bill Harmonic]

Isn't 103.5 satellite now? I don't listen often enough to tell, but I remember a discussion about it a while back.

They're only on the bird part time, not 100%. I'm pretty certain some of their on air personalities are local. And I'm absolutely sure the Sunday night guy is local. You've heard of him. Fritz the night owl.

TrappMan on mid days is local as is Mike J. Roebuck evenings. Fritz is local, live and kicking Sunday evenings and my show on Sunday mornings is produced out of my studio in Westerville.

 

[Whodey07]

So is it too early to guess what the next format will be and how soon?

I think this is it. They've finally surrendered. Thrown in the towel. Given up. They've taken the 100% satellite feed and walked away. How many locals lost their jobs in this? Not that there are many locals left working in radio. Admittedly I'm not much of a listener. Is the Shark gone? What about Thick Rick? These guys have been with NABCO forever. different.

I still hear Shark doing sports in the afternoon on 99.7. And I hear Thick Rick on the weekends in the morning on 99.7. Kind of odd after hearing him doing sports with Shark, but he sounds really good on there. I don't know if Shark is on any other time. I cannot listen to Bob and Tom, but I do listen to 99.7 outside of that. I wish it was still the Blitz though. I like the newer rock, but I could do without the Def Leppard, ZZ Top, etc.

 

[gabigley1]

They are at least running ads on the local Columbus Cable TV system. Haven't seen them on the local TV stations yet.