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A little help? WACL

W

Wil

I live and work in South Jersey, pretty much the Philadelphia radio market. The web filter at my job blocks most internet streaming, and I am unable to listen to local rock stations on the computer at work. One of my favorite out of area rock stations is 98 Rock in Baltimore. I did a google search to find their web address, and instead I found 98 Rock WACL out of Harrisonburg, VA. I was able to open their web stream for some reason. I have been listening to them at work for the last few weeks, and I like their mix of classic and newer stuff, although it is a bit repetitive sometimes.

My questions: What market is this station in? How long have they been around? How do they do ratings wise?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out!

Wil
 
WACL is in the Harrisonburg, VA radio market. Not sure what their ratings are but I assume they are ok since they have been 98 Rock for quite a while now. its a Clear Channel station.

Not sure when they signed on but I remember them in the early 90s as being "Peak" something WPKE with an AC format. Then around 1992 VerStandig bought WPKZ ( I heard this was America's first LMA ) and the format was changed to country. I am not sure what the calls were for 98.5 when they were country but I am pretty sure they were calling themselves as "Power Country"/

Mid Atlantic ( WKCY ) bought them around 1996 (?) and the calls were switched to WACL and the format was switched to oldies as "Cool 98.5". For an oldies station they didn't sound bad and WACL didn't even use to word "oldies", at least I don't recall they did. I remember that disco show they did on Saturday nights.

I am not exactly sure when they switched from oldies to rock but i remember them being "98 Rock" in 2002.
 
WACL flipped on 5/2/2001 at midnight. It was rumored to happen 5/1...I remember because at 6am the morning show came on after the news and gave their name and COOL 98.5 and played an oldie - and then said something like, "you were expecting someone else?" I believe it came out later that the engineering department had trouble getting John Boy and Billy set up and had to go a day later.

WACL usually runs a 8 or 9 share 12+ - has been as high as the 11-12 range. Has also run both other rock competitors out of the format, including WBOP, which was the original rock station in the market.

Due to the topography of the market - WACL's signal is perhaps the best for the metro ratings area of any, including the more powerful WQPO and its sister WKCY FM. The WACL stick sits on Massanutten peak, right in the middle of the valley and aims south. So, while it gives up some room to the north, it plasters the southern market and Augusta County.

They do some voicetracking, JBB and Brutus at night - which is a cool show. McNamara in the PM is local...came from Richmond and Y101...just voted top local DJ by the local paper...station was top station too.
 
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