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A New format @ WZZK? It could happen.

Y

yankeefan

Guest
I know it doesn't seem possible, but it looks like WZZK is getting ready for a format change. Their entire airstaff aside from Johnson & Johnson have been taken off the website and told that thier contracts will not be renewed at year's end.

Birmingham has a lot of open opportunities - FM Sports, Mainstream Rock, Triple A, Christian Rock, hell even another CHR could move in and make a dent. Considering all of the money that was sunk into WNCB, Cox might be ready to do the unthinkable and switch formats on WZZK.
 
> I know it doesn't seem possible, but it looks like WZZK is
> getting ready for a format change. Their entire airstaff
> aside from Johnson & Johnson have been taken off the website
> and told that thier contracts will not be renewed at year's
> end.
>
> Birmingham has a lot of open opportunities - FM Sports,
> Mainstream Rock, Triple A, Christian Rock, hell even another
> CHR could move in and make a dent. Considering all of the
> money that was sunk into WNCB, Cox might be ready to do the
> unthinkable and switch formats on WZZK.
>

Whoa. Never thought I'd see that one. In fact, I've stated on several occasions that this was impossible.

But they're keeping Johnson and Johnson? That does not compute. I think it's more likely that they're staying country and cleaning house if that's the case. J&J certainly wouldn't work within a sports or rock format. CCM or an adult-leaning CHR/Hot AC, OTOH, they would fit in, so that could be a clue.

Unless they're sticking around and will be on 97.3 or possibly the Eagle in 2006, in which case all bets are off and the new format could be anything. But it will probably be one of the ones you mentioned.
 
> > I know it doesn't seem possible, but it looks like WZZK is
>
> > getting ready for a format change. Their entire airstaff
> > aside from Johnson & Johnson have been taken off the
> website
> > and told that thier contracts will not be renewed at
> year's
> > end.
> >
> > Birmingham has a lot of open opportunities - FM Sports,
> > Mainstream Rock, Triple A, Christian Rock, hell even
> another
> > CHR could move in and make a dent. Considering all of the
>
> > money that was sunk into WNCB, Cox might be ready to do
> the
> > unthinkable and switch formats on WZZK.
> >
>
> Whoa. Never thought I'd see that one. In fact, I've stated
> on several occasions that this was impossible.
>
> But they're keeping Johnson and Johnson? That does not
> compute. I think it's more likely that they're staying
> country and cleaning house if that's the case. J&J
> certainly wouldn't work within a sports or rock format. CCM
> or an adult-leaning CHR/Hot AC, OTOH, they would fit in, so
> that could be a clue.
>
> Unless they're sticking around and will be on 97.3 or
> possibly the Eagle in 2006, in which case all bets are off
> and the new format could be anything. But it will probably
> be one of the ones you mentioned.
>
I don't see WZZK changing its format. They have been Country for many years now. Unless they aren't doing very well, I don't see Cox dropping Country from this powerful FM station.

RDP <><
 
> Whoa. Never thought I'd see that one. In fact, I've stated
> on several occasions that this was impossible.
>
> But they're keeping Johnson and Johnson? That does not
> compute. I think it's more likely that they're staying
> country and cleaning house if that's the case. J&J
> certainly wouldn't work within a sports or rock format. CCM
> or an adult-leaning CHR/Hot AC, OTOH, they would fit in, so
> that could be a clue.
>
> Unless they're sticking around and will be on 97.3 or
> possibly the Eagle in 2006, in which case all bets are off
> and the new format could be anything. But it will probably
> be one of the ones you mentioned.

Actually, they're not keeping Johnson & Johnson around. I used to work @ Cox in Birmingham and still have plenty of friends on the inside. According to someone in the know, J&J are gone at year's end.
 
> > > I know it doesn't seem possible, but it looks like WZZK
> is
> >
> > > getting ready for a format change. Their entire
> airstaff
> > > aside from Johnson & Johnson have been taken off the
> > website
> > > and told that thier contracts will not be renewed at
> > year's
> > > end.
> > >
> > > Birmingham has a lot of open opportunities - FM Sports,
> > > Mainstream Rock, Triple A, Christian Rock, hell even
> > another
> > > CHR could move in and make a dent. Considering all of
> the
> >
> > > money that was sunk into WNCB, Cox might be ready to do
> > the
> > > unthinkable and switch formats on WZZK.
> > >
> >
> > Whoa. Never thought I'd see that one. In fact, I've
> stated
> > on several occasions that this was impossible.
> >
> > But they're keeping Johnson and Johnson? That does not
> > compute. I think it's more likely that they're staying
> > country and cleaning house if that's the case. J&J
> > certainly wouldn't work within a sports or rock format.
> CCM
> > or an adult-leaning CHR/Hot AC, OTOH, they would fit in,
> so
> > that could be a clue.
> >
> > Unless they're sticking around and will be on 97.3 or
> > possibly the Eagle in 2006, in which case all bets are off
>
> > and the new format could be anything. But it will
> probably
> > be one of the ones you mentioned.
> >
> I don't see WZZK changing its format. They have been Country
> for many years now. Unless they aren't doing very well, I
> don't see Cox dropping Country from this powerful FM
> station.
>
> RDP <
>


I can't see them changing, either. 'ZZK, although ratings-wise isn't doing as well as "The Bull", it would have to be in serious ratings trouble in order for Cox to abandon the country format. If they did change now, undoubtedly most of the 'ZZK listeners would defect to the "Bull" and "The Bull" would be an even bigger ratings monster than it is now. Some of the 'ZZK listeners might go to "New Country" or Cox's other outlet, WZZK-AM, but not enough to matter. "New Country" is aimed at a younger audience than 'ZZK-FM and AM, so it would make sense that if Cox "pulled the plug" on 'ZZK's country format, most of 'ZZK's listeners would move to the "Bull" since it's closer format-wise to what they've been hearing. I don't think Cox is just going to hand over the reins and let "The Bull" have practically the entire country music audience to themselves. It might happen, though, who knows? Stranger things have happened. Whoever thought Birmingham would have 3 country FM stations?

If anything, Cox should get rid of "New Country". It's a ratings disaster, and it would make more sense to get rid of it than 'ZZK-FM.





************************************************************

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>
> If anything, Cox should get rid of "New Country". It's a
> ratings disaster, and it would make more sense to get rid of
> it than 'ZZK-FM.
>

97.3 is just there to help out WZZK by pulling from the Bull, I know that it is not helping WZZK since they are not the top country station. While the ratings are weak for 97.3 it is real cheap to run and must be making more money than other formats would on that signal. The ratings often do not tell the whole story, it boils down to money.

Cox may do some stupid things but they are not going to kill off the heritage country music station in Birmingham. The Bull may be doing better ratingswise now but things can and often do change.
 
> >
> > If anything, Cox should get rid of "New Country". It's a
> > ratings disaster, and it would make more sense to get rid
> of
> > it than 'ZZK-FM.
> >
>
> 97.3 is just there to help out WZZK by pulling from the
> Bull, I know that it is not helping WZZK since they are not
> the top country station. While the ratings are weak for
> 97.3 it is real cheap to run and must be making more money
> than other formats would on that signal. The ratings often
> do not tell the whole story, it boils down to money.
>
> Cox may do some stupid things but they are not going to kill
> off the heritage country music station in Birmingham. The
> Bull may be doing better ratingswise now but things can and
> often do change.
>

It's possible (and I think most likely) that this is going to happen:

Cox blames the airstaff for WZZK's ratings slide(which isn't really justified, but isn't completely out in left field either), cans them all, and moves everyone from 97.3 over to WZZK(is anyone currently doing a shift on both stations? If so, do any insiders know if they're sticking around?). They find a new morning show, use 97.3's younger format, and flip without really flipping.

97.3 would then become something else, namely whatever format could squeeze the most blood out of Clear Channel. My off-the-wall prediction: Black gospel. Unlike CC, they have a lot of experience selling it. This would complete their absolute dominance of the urban sector. CHR is also a definite possibility.
 
> > >
> > > If anything, Cox should get rid of "New Country". It's a
>
> > > ratings disaster, and it would make more sense to get
> rid
> > of
> > > it than 'ZZK-FM.
> > >
> >
> > 97.3 is just there to help out WZZK by pulling from the
> > Bull, I know that it is not helping WZZK since they are
> not
> > the top country station. While the ratings are weak for
> > 97.3 it is real cheap to run and must be making more money
>
> > than other formats would on that signal. The ratings often
>
> > do not tell the whole story, it boils down to money.
> >
> > Cox may do some stupid things but they are not going to
> kill
> > off the heritage country music station in Birmingham. The
> > Bull may be doing better ratingswise now but things can
> and
> > often do change.
> >
>
> It's possible (and I think most likely) that this is going
> to happen:
>
> Cox blames the airstaff for WZZK's ratings slide(which isn't
> really justified, but isn't completely out in left field
> either), cans them all, and moves everyone from 97.3 over to
> WZZK(is anyone currently doing a shift on both stations? If
> so, do any insiders know if they're sticking around?). They
> find a new morning show, use 97.3's younger format, and flip
> without really flipping.
>
> 97.3 would then become something else, namely whatever
> format could squeeze the most blood out of Clear Channel.
> My off-the-wall prediction: Black gospel. Unlike CC, they
> have a lot of experience selling it. This would complete
> their absolute dominance of the urban sector. CHR is also a
> definite possibility.
>
I could see 97.3 switching over to Black Gospel and adopting these calls, WAGG. I also predict that 610 AM may switch over to Oldies and use the old WODL calls, that was once used at 97.3.

I have this feeling that something big is about to happen in B-Ham, sometime next year. However, I don't see WZZK having any part of that.


RDP <><
 
> > > >
> > > > If anything, Cox should get rid of "New Country". It's
> a
> >
> > > > ratings disaster, and it would make more sense to get
> > rid
> > > of
> > > > it than 'ZZK-FM.
> > > >
> > >
> > > 97.3 is just there to help out WZZK by pulling from the
> > > Bull, I know that it is not helping WZZK since they are
> > not
> > > the top country station. While the ratings are weak for
>
> > > 97.3 it is real cheap to run and must be making more
> money
> >
> > > than other formats would on that signal. The ratings
> often
> >
> > > do not tell the whole story, it boils down to money.
> > >
> > > Cox may do some stupid things but they are not going to
> > kill
> > > off the heritage country music station in Birmingham.
> The
> > > Bull may be doing better ratingswise now but things can
> > and
> > > often do change.
> > >
> >
> > It's possible (and I think most likely) that this is going
>
> > to happen:
> >
> > Cox blames the airstaff for WZZK's ratings slide(which
> isn't
> > really justified, but isn't completely out in left field
> > either), cans them all, and moves everyone from 97.3 over
> to
> > WZZK(is anyone currently doing a shift on both stations?
> If
> > so, do any insiders know if they're sticking around?).
> They
> > find a new morning show, use 97.3's younger format, and
> flip
> > without really flipping.
> >
> > 97.3 would then become something else, namely whatever
> > format could squeeze the most blood out of Clear Channel.
>
> > My off-the-wall prediction: Black gospel. Unlike CC,
> they
> > have a lot of experience selling it. This would complete
> > their absolute dominance of the urban sector. CHR is also
> a
> > definite possibility.
> >
> I could see 97.3 switching over to Black Gospel and adopting
> these calls, WAGG. I also predict that 610 AM may switch
> over to Oldies and use the old WODL calls, that was once
> used at 97.3.

610 could always go back to their classic WSGN calls as well if they went oldies. Non-com FMs can share calls with AM/TV outlets (see WOI-Des Moines/Ames or WKNG-Heflin/Tallapoosa, GA).

WODL is currently assigned to an unbuilt LPTV in Panama City, BTW.
>
> I have this feeling that something big is about to happen in
> B-Ham, sometime next year. However, I don't see WZZK having
> any part of that.

They're still a part of it. The changes they make will just be more subtle. They'll probably have a new ad campaign for the new younger direction and replace the TV spots they've been running, for, well, forever.

>
>
> RDP <
>
 
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