Was reminded on twitter that on 7/14/09, CBS announced WBCN would be leaving the 104.1
frequency (winding up in one or two forms on HD) about a month later. I was in Jackson MS
in mid Aug (the 11th? 12th?) when WBCN breathed its last with Bradley Jay signing them off
on terrestrial radio for good. Oh, it was all part of some sports station CBS wanted to put on;
yeah, they'd move Mix to 104.1 and "The Sports Hub WBZ-FM" would start up on 98.5. We saw
how well that turned out.
Over on Guest St (and in the corporate HQ in Bala Cynwyd, PA), they could have said, "Yeah we
make a bit of money with Mike 93.7 but this move could threaten us. They're gonna have B's
and Pats and talk hosts and will be on a powerful FM signal--the hosts may do well, and this isn't
like 890 or 1510...why don't we make a pre-emptive move and simulcast WEEI on FM?"
There could have been a press release saying that on Aug 1 (a week and a half before Sports Hub debut),
WEEI would simulcast on 93.7 FM. It was not to be. Yeah, maybe they figured the Sports Hub wouldn't be
a serious challenge. By 2011 it was obvious they needed to do something. On the day after the 10th
anniversary of 9/11 was marked, at about 6 am, Free Bird faded away and Dennis and Callahan took over
on 93.7 as well as 850 (which a yr or so after that went all ESPN). Sports Hub still leading but folks
WEEI had to do it, and while computer-in-a-closet "Mike" may have done well for them, they needed to
protect their WEEI brand.
http://www.weei.com/extras/press-release/weei-expands-937fm
SEPT 8, 2011:
>>Monday, September 12, A New Era Begins. WEEI Broadcasts on 93.7FM with a 100% simulcast on 850AM
Boston, MA – This morning on the Dennis and Callahan show, WEEI announced it would expand to 93.7FM and begin simulcasting on Monday, September 12...Moving to 93.7FM significantly increases WEEI’s reach. WEEI’s FM signal will cover many areas where 850AM is spotty, especially at night. The station will now be heard without interruption in Southern New Hampshire, Merrimack Valley, and most importantly in MetroWest and into Worcester (Middlesex, Hillsborough, Worcester counties).
frequency (winding up in one or two forms on HD) about a month later. I was in Jackson MS
in mid Aug (the 11th? 12th?) when WBCN breathed its last with Bradley Jay signing them off
on terrestrial radio for good. Oh, it was all part of some sports station CBS wanted to put on;
yeah, they'd move Mix to 104.1 and "The Sports Hub WBZ-FM" would start up on 98.5. We saw
how well that turned out.
Over on Guest St (and in the corporate HQ in Bala Cynwyd, PA), they could have said, "Yeah we
make a bit of money with Mike 93.7 but this move could threaten us. They're gonna have B's
and Pats and talk hosts and will be on a powerful FM signal--the hosts may do well, and this isn't
like 890 or 1510...why don't we make a pre-emptive move and simulcast WEEI on FM?"
There could have been a press release saying that on Aug 1 (a week and a half before Sports Hub debut),
WEEI would simulcast on 93.7 FM. It was not to be. Yeah, maybe they figured the Sports Hub wouldn't be
a serious challenge. By 2011 it was obvious they needed to do something. On the day after the 10th
anniversary of 9/11 was marked, at about 6 am, Free Bird faded away and Dennis and Callahan took over
on 93.7 as well as 850 (which a yr or so after that went all ESPN). Sports Hub still leading but folks
WEEI had to do it, and while computer-in-a-closet "Mike" may have done well for them, they needed to
protect their WEEI brand.
http://www.weei.com/extras/press-release/weei-expands-937fm
SEPT 8, 2011:
>>Monday, September 12, A New Era Begins. WEEI Broadcasts on 93.7FM with a 100% simulcast on 850AM
Boston, MA – This morning on the Dennis and Callahan show, WEEI announced it would expand to 93.7FM and begin simulcasting on Monday, September 12...Moving to 93.7FM significantly increases WEEI’s reach. WEEI’s FM signal will cover many areas where 850AM is spotty, especially at night. The station will now be heard without interruption in Southern New Hampshire, Merrimack Valley, and most importantly in MetroWest and into Worcester (Middlesex, Hillsborough, Worcester counties).