An overview of Format Flips and rebranding on Labor Day Weekend 2019

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/180203/2019-labor-day-weekend-format-change-rundown/

The big one is KFOG AAA becoming KNBR-FM for Sports/talk simulcast from 680AM in the coming week.

Cumulus Media moved Classic Rock “Rock 100.5” WNNX College Park/Atlanta GA to Active Rock.

Townsquare Media debuted Active Rock in the Quad Cities as Sports “ESPN 93.5” KJOC Bettendorf IA became “I-Rock 93.5“. At the same time Classic Country 1170 KBOB Davenport became “ESPN 1170“.

American General Media flipped Spanish AC “Exitos 102.9” 840 KJFA Belen/102.9 K275AO Albuquerque and 102.9 KJFA-FM Pecos/Santa Fe NM to Spanish Rhythmic “Fuego 102.9“.

Flinn Broadcasting flipped Alternative “I96” W242CS Memphis TN to 1980s Hits “Z96.3“.

iHeartMedia Conservative Talk 640 WGST Atlanta relaunched as “640 Fox News Radio” with major lineup changes.

Mollman Media Rock “Kiss 105.3 Rocks” KDDQ Comanche OK relaunched as “105.3 The Eagle“.

Binnie Media Active Rock “Rock 106.3” WHXR Portland ME returned to its former “106.3 The Bone” identity.

Hubbard Broadcasting rebranded Sports “640 The Hurricane” WMEN West Palm Beach as “Fox Sports 640“.

Townsquare Media relaunched Classic Rock “Lonestar 98.7” KPRF Amarillo TX as “Thunder 98.7“.

University of Alabama launched Safety/Event Information “UA Info Radio” 92.5 W233BZ Tuscaloosa AL

El Dorado Broadcasters flipped Classic Hits “103.1 The Route” KVFG Victorville CA to Regional Mexican “La X“.

Note Some of the stations on the list are rebrandings.

 

[umfan]

The Memphis move highlights the lack of viability of Alternative in any market, even one like Memphis where the listening audience is very open to music diversity.

The 640AM move in Atlanta likely represents a savings on syndicated content and possibly some carriage cash from Fox News Radio. The staff will likely be downsized there with minimal ratings impact.

 

[macattack]

The Memphis move highlights the lack of viability of Alternative in any market, even one like Memphis where the listening audience is very open to music diversity.

It's not so much viability as it is saturation. A lot of alternative stations have cued up this decade, and the spin count on Mediabase was broken not long ago.

However, it came at the cost of alternative abandoning its rock roots and leaning heavily on music that lends itself better to CHR and adult contemporary formats. I think the format either will have to return to rock or abandon it outright instead of being a weird 50/50 mixture, or the format is in big trouble.

I believe the Memphis station was only a subchannel of another radio station, though, so the audience for that would always be limited. A proper station could very well have done better than the HD2 signal did.

 

[TheBigA]

I believe the Memphis station was only a subchannel of another radio station, though, so the audience for that would always be limited. A proper station could very well have done better than the HD2 signal did.

There's a bit of confusion as to what's going on with that translator. In doing a search, W242CS is actually licensed to Gainesville FL. And RadioInsight isn't really sure what is feeding it right now.

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/180178/96-3-memphis-is-startin-somethin/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTMN