• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

97.3 The Game hit with layoffs, possible format change coming

Interesting about the possible format flip. I figured IHeart was in it for the long haul, damn the ratings, as they created a statewide network and hoped to create something like KFAN in the Twin Cities.

As for the format, obviously Alt. Rock would be most obvious, after the demise of WLUM. AC is a possibility as well, but that could overlap heavily with WRIT.
 
Fighting Irish said:
Interesting about the possible format flip. I figured IHeart was in it for the long haul, damn the ratings, as they created a statewide network and hoped to create something like KFAN in the Twin Cities.

As for the format, obviously Alt. Rock would be most obvious, after the demise of WLUM. AC is a possibility as well, but that could overlap heavily with WRIT.
Click to expand...
How about WISN-FM?
 
Lance has confirmed morning hosts Steve Czaben and Brian Butch were let go.

It wouldn't surprise me to see WRNW flip. It's an awful lot to be one of three sports stations in a market that size, and especially when the two pro teams actually in the market—the Brewers and Bucks—are on WTMJ instead.
 
ksradiogeek said:
I doubt it - I see them doing AC, if at all.
Click to expand...
I forgot that B-93 left too. But they have a Classic Hits station, and there is significant overlap with AC there.

On the other hand, it's a more mainstream format than Alternative.

On the other other hand, who would be available to do mornings in an AC station? They don't tend to syndicate for those except in certain places where they have Murphy, Sam, and Jodi.
 
Only real move here is WISN gets an FM simulcast, with the Admirals moving to the AM side or 920, and the Badgers on Saturdays and the Packers just having Sunday to themselves and the station dealing with whatever complaints they get about talk show pre-emptions on other nights. Relaunching a current-day Light-esque format simply doesn't work with their sports commitments, the market doesn't need yet another watered-down voicetracked music presentation like KISS has already (along with WRIT outside the drives), and this is one way to wean listeners off of 1130 once and for all.
 
One key factor is the Green Bay Packers. A new format would have to have some compatibility with PBP. And yes, the games would have to be on FM. Granted, the games could go to WRIT or WMIL, but I don't think IHeart would want to disrupt them (they had issues with UW sports on WRIT before starting up The Game).

And again, WISN is not going to get an FM simulcast. First, they do well enough on AM, they don't really need an FM signal. Second, it's an aging format that isn't widely attractive to sponsors. Third, the speculation is a music format, not talk. And then there's the issue of whether they can get permission from Hearst (owner of WISN-TV and the WISN call letters) to allow the use of the call letters on an FM station, if IHM desires that. So, WISN-FM is not gonna happen.

So, I'll stick with my original guess of Alt. Rock. And it will probably be a voicetracked mess with very little local presence, like their other Milwaukee music stations. Local presence is what really helped WLUM for years.

If any station was going to do alt, I figured it would be WRXS (106.9). Saga would most likely do a better job.
 
Adult Contemporary would be the obvious choice if Sports were abandoned, but I must admit, I'd be surprised if Sports were tossed to the curb.

97.3 is the flagship station of the Packers. A flip in the middle of the NFL season would be astonishing.

Alternative would be the runner-up choice. Most iHM alternative stations I've heard are "meh."

The company does program its Adult Contemporary stations well.
 
MarkW said:
Adult Contemporary would be the obvious choice if Sports were abandoned, but I must admit, I'd be surprised if Sports were tossed to the curb.

97.3 is the flagship station of the Packers. A flip in the middle of the NFL season would be astonishing.

Alternative would be the runner-up choice. Most iHM alternative stations I've heard are "meh."

The company does program its Adult Contemporary stations well.
Click to expand...
iHeart does have NFL games on some Alternative stations, and they're a better fit for that than AC would be.
 
nathannah said:
Only real move here is WISN gets an FM simulcast, with the Admirals moving to the AM side or 920, and the Badgers on Saturdays and the Packers just having Sunday to themselves and the station dealing with whatever complaints they get about talk show pre-emptions on other nights. Relaunching a current-day Light-esque format simply doesn't work with their sports commitments, the market doesn't need yet another watered-down voicetracked music presentation like KISS has already (along with WRIT outside the drives), and this is one way to wean listeners off of 1130 once and for all.
Click to expand...
At the same time, there's a good chance that listeners don't migrate to the FM and stay at 1130 regardless. iHeart would be losing a revenue source with no guarantee of success. At least a format-in-a-can music format reduces expenses drastically and keep an extra revenue stream alive.
 
Identnut said:
iHeart does have NFL games on some Alternative stations, and they're a better fit for that than AC would be.
Click to expand...
One scenario I could see happening is the Pack moving to either 95.7 or 106.1 if 97.3 were to flip to AC.

If 97.3 goes Alternative, then the Packers would likely stay put.

Personally, I think flipping to Alternative would be a terrible move.
 
Bring back the Brew!

Its crazy to me how they never even changed the call letters from Radio Now.

It's anyone's guess for the format. Could be AC, classic rock, classic alternative. The only thing certain is it will be 100% voice tracked and 0% local.
 
pattywells said:
Bring back the Brew!

Its crazy to me how they never even changed the call letters from Radio Now.

It's anyone's guess for the format. Could be AC, classic rock, classic alternative. The only thing certain is it will be 100% voice tracked and 0% local.
Click to expand...
That’s the story of radio these days. MRA was 100% local before they shut down but who else is? Saga is with KLH and the HOG and Jammin 98.3. And of course 88 nine and WMSE is as well.
 


Back
Top Bottom