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Any updates on the 'CRB/'KLB flip?

J

JustinT

In the Globe about a month ago, it was mentioned that the sale would be going through on November 4th. But seeing that we're in the week of the supposed flip, neither station is mentioning the forthcoming change. And there hasn't been any word coming down through All Access or any other trades about the Boston link of the swap.

Are GM/Nassau/CRB now waiting until November 15, when GM launches the format on the new Philadelphia 97.5, for the Boston changes to take place? Either way, wouldn't it seem to be the right time for WKLB to start plugging the upgraded signal? I can see WCRB not touting the move as much, but at least WKLB could start dropping some hints.
 
My guess is Nov 15 as well but who knows. I would think that they would start promoting it a few days in advance of the change but not much beyond that. Long enough so regular listeners would know "I should
tune to 102.5 for country" as of such and such a date, but doing it way far in advance might defeat the
purpose...do it a few days before the switcheroo so listeners won't get confused about exactly when.
Though hints of "coming soon--a stronger signal for WKLB!" might start even before then. Same for 'CRB
I would think.
 
There isn't always that much notice when stations change formats. I remember being totally shocked about 2 years ago when Star 93.7 flipped to Mike FM. I tuned into 93.7 one morning, and it was still Star, and then later that afternoon, it was Mike FM. And I don't think 97.7 had much notice of flipping either, did they. I remember they had that computerized countdown for about a day. I wonder if either 99.5 or 102.5 will have something like that.
 
True, there may not be much advance notice--if at all. Possibly a day or so, maybe a stunt. It sounds a bit simplistic, but they could just have an announcement every half hour or so between songs (talking about WKLB now): "Remember this number. 102.5..." And when listeners tune in and hear classical it'll dawn on them and
they'll move 3 MHz up the dial.
Repetition...plus there could be newspaper articles before or after the change (most likely AFTER) and their
website would announce it.

When the progtalk and sports flip happened in Burlington VT I think there was slight advance notice, plus on their websites it said "looking for progressive talk? click here. Looking for sports? Click here" and it led you to the
"new" website w/ new freq etc. Of course in that case you had the same owner of both stations...

In the case of WCRB, a station that's had that format for decades, I would expect a bit more of a period where they would announce the flip...so listeners won't freak when they hear "I Love This Bar" instead of
"Adagio For Strings". Meanwhile isn't WKLB (nee WCLB) the wandering stranger? Debuted at 105.7 then
merged with 96.9 WBCS and then moved up to 99.5. Now the freq changes again.
 
ssetta said:
There isn't always that much notice when stations change formats. I remember being totally shocked about 2 years ago when Star 93.7 flipped to Mike FM. I tuned into 93.7 one morning, and it was still Star, and then later that afternoon, it was Mike FM.
Click to expand...

The widespread story there was that Entercom made a quick flip of 93.7 to "Mike" when they caught word that CBS was (probably) about to flip 98.5 WBMX to "Jack". They did it all of a sudden to beat the competition to the format change.

ssetta said:
And I don't think 97.7 had much notice of flipping either, did they.
Click to expand...

That appeared to be another hasty situation. I don't know if this was the way it really went down, but Entercom seemed to suddenly come out of the blue with their $30m offer to Radio One for the station, so it was a quick format change. Besides, where could WILD-FM 97.7 have told listeners to tune in for (adult) R&B? Nowhere? A few certain shows on college stations?

The upcoming WCRB/WKLB flip has been known about for many months now, so you would expect some advance publicity, but it doesn't seem to be happening yet.
 
raccoonradio said:
My guess is Nov 15 as well but who knows. I would think that they would start promoting it a few days in advance of the change but not much beyond that. Long enough so regular listeners would know "I should
tune to 102.5 for country" as of such and such a date, but doing it way far in advance might defeat the
purpose...do it a few days before the switcheroo so listeners won't get confused about exactly when.
Though hints of "coming soon--a stronger signal for WKLB!" might start even before then. Same for 'CRB
I would think.
Click to expand...

One more time...it is NOT a stronger signal...both stations are class B 50,000 watt stations. The definition of stronger is based upon where you happen to be standing at the time. One could also say a "weaker signal" for those 'KLB listeners in Southern NH and the NH seacoast.

As far as when goes, WCRB finally received its license renewal last Wednesday and staff grant from the FCC came on Thursday...I'd say smooth sailing for an 11/15 change of hands, though the timing for the frequency flip is still unknown.
 
When WCRB and WBOS shared the same facility, WBOS was authorised with 8,800 watts; WCRB being short-spaced to an as yet unbuilt CP on 102.3 in Truro on the Cape, was limited to 8,100 watts. So WCRB is not technically a FULL 50,000-watt equivalent: 45K maybe?
 
Eli Polonsky said:
Besides, where could WILD-FM 97.7 have told listeners to tune in for (adult) R&B? Nowhere? A few certain shows on college stations?
Click to expand...

Supposedly the last DJ on WILD-FM actually referred listeners to Jam'n 94.5...
 
>>it is NOT a stronger signal.

Well I meant stronger for people in the immediate Boston area..it's moving closer so to speak (from
Andover to Needham/Newton area
 
The Entercom/Radio One flip seemed hasty only on the surface. Things were months in the making. We had ideas through various sources,in the end it was WILD AM that got rejected from the deal and we were were walking out w/ personal effects by 5pm.
 
According to the FCC's Daily Digest, this Monday the WCRB 102.5 license formally changed hands to Greater Media. And on Tuesday, WJJF and WCRI in Rhode Island formally changed hands to Judson.

The other stations in the Charles River Broadcasting cluster were transferred over to their owners a few weeks (maybe a few months?) ago.

I haven't seen anything on WKLB 99.5 switching to Nassau...or did that happen already? If it has, I'd expect a switch any day now.
 
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