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2 years since the demise of The Big D 102.9 DRC-FM

MarcB

MarcB

It's been just over 2 years since Connoisseur Media took over ownership of WDRC-FM (and the network of AM talk stations). First they tweaked the Classic Hits format to Classic Hits of the 70s, 80s, and more. Then in January 2015 they blew the whole thing up and relaunched as Classic Rock 102.9 The Whale.

So that brings us to the present. Today we have Red Wolf Broadcasting's KOOL 96.1/990 in Hartford and KOOL 1270 in Springfield trying to fill the void. Obviously KOOL 96.1/990 is better than not having the music on the radio at all, but the station is very annoying. The 3 Voice-Tracked DJs - Scott Wheeler, Lisa Sinclair (of KFWB fame), and Michael Maze (who Voice Tracks on at least 2 other Red Wolf Stations) are awful. My Mom and I both agree that Ms. Sinclair has an annoying voice. Then there's the "When the Music Stops, The Money Drops" contest they were running with their sister stations (Soft Rock 106.5, Radio 104.1, BOMBA-FM, etc) is totally stupid and equally annoying commercial for the contest with the guy saying "Unbelievable". Voice-Tracked Local news from Shawn and Teresa at WBMW on KOOL 96.1/990. TOP of the hour news from an unknown source on 96.1/990, and a short 1 minutes news update from CBS on 1270. Then there's the stupid guy with the robotic voice saying "The Greatest Hits of All Time" before the VO guy does the legal ID.

They play some oddball stuff too. Stuff I never remember hearing on The Big D such as "Hot Child in the City" by Nick Gilder, a 4 min 11 second version of "American Pie" called "American Pie Part 1", and "Never been to Spain" by Three Dog Night.

The weekend specialty shows "Nothing but Old 45" with Larry Kratka and "That Thing" with Rich Appel are pretty decent.
 
It is odd that Hartford only has Oldies/Classic Hits on AM and translators, considering WDRC-FM had gotten good ratings in the past. But Connoisseur wanted to use the same morning show from WPLR in Hartford, so it flipped the entire station. An odd choice considering the market already has Classic Rock WAQY which covers Hartford just fine. And WPLR also covers the southern part of the market, too. Plus a good chunk of WHCN's playlist is Classic Rock.

In the latest ratings, WDRC-FM is #8, the lowest rated of Hartford's full-power FM stations. The Classic Hits format was usually around 4 or 5. Maybe the Classic Rock captures a larger number of 25-54 listeners, even if its overall numbers are lower.
 
Gregg. said:
It is odd that Hartford only has Oldies/Classic Hits on AM and translators, considering WDRC-FM had gotten good ratings in the past. But Connoisseur wanted to use the same morning show from WPLR in Hartford, so it flipped the entire station. An odd choice considering the market already has Classic Rock WAQY which covers Hartford just fine. And WPLR also covers the southern part of the market, too. Plus a good chunk of WHCN's playlist is Classic Rock.

In the latest ratings, WDRC-FM is #8, the lowest rated of Hartford's full-power FM stations. The Classic Hits format was usually around 4 or 5. Maybe the Classic Rock captures a larger number of 25-54 listeners, even if its overall numbers are lower.
Click to expand...

Probably the case. It attracts male listeners especially effectively, easily the strongest music format among males in the money demo. Pop-leaning classic hits appeals more to female listeners who already are the primary targets of AC and country.The WAQY argument is spurious. Although its signal is strong in most parts of the Hartford market, it's a Springfield station and is never more than a marginal player in the Hartford ratings. Same goes for WPLR New Haven. The average listener prefers in-market radio, regardless of how good a signal an outlying station may have.
 
Sorry about not being here guys.I only tuned in to the Whale a couple of times since the change.Now I get my oldies from WQUN,WICC,some on WHCN and Shop Rite PA system here in Wallingford.I'm not into the harder rock tunes anymore which drove me away also includes the newer 1990's tunes too.I had a feeling their ratings went down since the switch..
 
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