Are The Format Changes Just Beginning??

[Joseph_Gallant]

I'm beginning to wonder if the major programming changes we've seen in Boston radio of late are only beginning.

I could actually see several more changes in 2013, which may include:

(1) CBS "blowing up" either WZLX-100.7 or WBMX-104.1 to simulcast WBZ-1030 on the FM dial (or, if indeed Greater Media "blows up" WTKK-96.9, the FM station in question to go 24/7 talk, simulcast on WBZ-AM between 8 P.M. and 5 A.M., giving 'BZ's local evening/overnight shows a local FM presence).

(2) Entercom perhaps deciding to restrict WAAF to the WKAF-97.7 signal, and flip 107.3 to a simulcast of WEEI-93.7, which would give the "WEEI Sports Radio Network" a strong FM signal in Metrowest and Central Massachusetts. Under this scenario, WVEI-1440 in Worcester would become 24/7 ESPN Radio, and with WEEI no longer on such a poor (especially at night) signal in Central Massachusetts, Entercom won't need WCRN-830 as a Rde Sox affiliate (which may well lead 'CRN to become a New York Yankees radio affiliate---I believe stations 35 or more miles away from a Major League Baseball team's home city can join any team's radio network so if WCRN loses the Sox, they can carry The Evil Empire).

(3) Despite Greater Media probably making a big profit with low-cost (no DJ's) WBOS-92.9, I wonder if they might grab the vacant (as of January 2nd) Fox Sports Radio affiliation for 92.9. Likewise, there would be no local (and expensive) content, and in the future, Greater Media could probably make a little money by selling some airtime to an independent producer who holds rights to local collegiate sports teams.

(4) Could WPLM-99.1 be sold?? I think noncommercial WGBH might be the leading contender to buy WPLM-FM were it to be put up for sale, for the purpose of using it to simulcast WCRB-99.5, restoring a strong signal for classical music in Boston's southern suburbs and Southeastern Massachusetts, and parts of the Cape (in fact, i can also see 'GBH acquiring WFCC-107.5 in Chatham, already a classical station, to extend the 'CRB reach on the outer Cape). If WGBH doesn't grab 'PLM, I could also see WXRV-92.5 in Haverhill buying the station to likewise extend their reach south of Boston.

(5) On the other hand, could CBS decide that instead of flipping 'ZLX or 'BMX to a simulcast of WBZ, that it instead is flipped to Adult Contemporary under the "Fresh 100.7" or "Fresh 104-1" branding?? It would be the first direct challenge WMJX-106.7 has had in the format for years, but this past Summer, they surprised everyone by flipping WODS-103.3 to op-40, giving WXKS-107.9 the first real competition it has had for years.

This is just my own speculation. I just have a feeling that we're going to see several more major format changes in Boston and eastern Massachusetts over the next few weeks or months.

 

[faderraider]

Why does everyone think PLM would be sold? A nice family run operation on its second generation.
Someone advised me along time ago. you can only sell once, but you can turn a buck every day.

 

[reelyreal]

I always get a kick out of people thinking WZLX could be flipped. That ain't happening in the next few years, not as long as it continues to make its home atop the Male 25-54 ratings.

 

[raccoonradio]

ZLX does well..BMX? Maybe but 1030 signal big tho yes the move is toward spoken word on FM...but here GM might take a spoken word fomat off FM....Clr Channel's Premiere does Fox Sports. Maybe put that on their 1200?

 

[dhoule]

I agree. I don't see ZLX being flipped. I could see WBZ moving to FM but not for a few more years. By then, I think CBS will see that Amp didn't work. WBZ could then go to 103.3.

 

[CTListener]

I agree. I don't see ZLX being flipped. I could see WBZ moving to FM but not for a few more years. By then, I think CBS will see that Amp didn't work. WBZ could then go to 103.3.

WZLX will flip as soon as its 55+ numbers get too big. That's where WBZ will go. I have a feeling Amp is going to do just fine, and its listeners will be increasingly desirable to advertisers in comparison to the aging 'ZLX audience.

 

[promixcuous]

Or, WZLX will bring in more 90s music, putting pressure on WBOS.

 

[reelyreal]

It's not about the 55+ numbers getting to big, it's about the rest of the numbers getting too small. A station could have a 50-share 55+ and the ad dollars would still be there if they were 1 or 2 in a key demo (25-54, 18-34, etc.)

Keep in mind that for a 'BZ simulcast on FM to make sense, the loss of revenue on the AM would have to be so great and the potential for adding revenue to the format large enough to justify completely removing a revenue source from the cluster. That's what happens when you simulcast: you essentially give up a station in your cluster. Has the 'BZ revenue dropped off that dramatically, and could it be added to enough to not only replace the revenue from a station like BMX, but actually INCREASE over the revenue that the 2 stations are making separately?

At this point, I doubt it.

 

[WNTIRadio]

There's nothing to say that CBS can't add an FM later on, as they did in NYC. I don't know who would be unloading what in the future, but you never know.

 

[raccoonradio]

>>That's what happens when you simulcast: you essentially give up a station in your cluster.

Like what happened to WEEI (AM) with the initial WEEI simulcast on FM. Eventually the FM went
solo and the AM turned to ESPN. Most listeners had migrated to 93.7.

As for a split of the WAAF simulcast it prob wouldn't happen--Entercom needs both frequencies
to reach a wide area for 'AAF.

>> a strong FM signal in Metrowest and Central Massachusetts. Maybe 93.7 and the stations in western MA and Westerly RI can do well, but I know what you mean--some areas may have
problems getting 93.7--yet it may be stronger than most people realize.

 

[dyeingeye]

Picking up Fox Sports does not make sense. It would be the fourth sports talk in the market and it sucks.

 

[pqgeorge]

Why does everyone think PLM would be sold? A nice family run operation on its second generation.
Someone advised me along time ago. you can only sell once, but you can turn a buck every day.

I totally agree with you. WPLM-FM/99.1 is a nice operation and is doing just fine, just as it is. It's nice to see at least one local full-service FM station doing something unique and not being nothing more than simulcast of another station. WGBH/WCRB has enough repeaters as it is. Same with WBUR and so on. So just leave WPLM-FM alone. Sure, it may not be exactly my type of music, but I know many other people enjoy it. I hope 'PLM stays as it is, for many years into the future.

 

[raccoonradio]

The only reason Fox Sports would go anywhere would be for Clear Channel to clear ads and shows
for FSR which is syndie by their Premiere. It would be the 5th station technically:
WEEI AM --ESPN (distinct and separate)
WEEI FM--local talk, some ESPN, Sox, C's
WUFC--local talk, NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports
WBZ FM--local talk, Pats, Revs, and a team that used to play "hockey", called the Bruins

So if CC decided to kick off Matty's Comedy 1200 to do Fox Sports, we got 5. They would clear
the various shows like JT The Brick who said on twitter when the news came about Amendolara's
new CBS Sports show that "we have a plan in Boston". My guess is EEI-FM gets JT's show...
Heck, WXKS 1200 could pick up just one or two Fox Sports shows, like JT which does have a following here. It could be comedy by day then sports overnight. As it is 1200 does carry some
football games. In fact on Sun they had the same exact broadcast of the Ravens-Redskins game
("this rivalry between cities 35 miles apart"). You could hear the announcer on 1200 then put
on 98.5 and hear the same thing about 25 serc later. Anyway 1200 could do that if CC wanted
to clear Fox Sports.

CC would also like to clear their syndie talk (other than Rush and Coast to Coast who are on RKO)
perhaps, but where? They gave up on 1200 (they could have kept going and just sacked
Jeff and Jay to save $$, still let RKO have Rush, but could have kept hosts like Hannity and
Beck on--Levin btw is from Cumulus and RKO got him when Savage's TRN show ended...)
But if you really wanted to hear Hannity, etc., outside of sat. radio, you can pick him up
on 610 in NH, 970 in Portland, and 920 in Prov etc.

 

[maradiogeek]

I totally agree with you. WPLM-FM/99.1 is a nice operation and is doing just fine, just as it is. It's nice to see at least one local full-service FM station doing something unique and not being nothing more than simulcast of another station.

The Boston Metro is lucky to have at least three local full-service FM stations: WPLM, WATD and WXRV. This isn't the case in other major markets around the country.

Are there any others?

 

[ned]

I totally agree with you. WPLM-FM/99.1 is a nice operation and is doing just fine, just as it is. It's nice to see at least one local full-service FM station doing something unique and not being nothing more than simulcast of another station.

The Boston Metro is lucky to have at least three local full-service FM stations: WPLM, WATD and WXRV. This isn't the case in other major markets around the country.

Are there any others?

Don't forget WBOQ..good station

 

[Fenway1912]

I just wish WPLM had kept the Ken Coleman tapes from the 1986 World Series and Suzyn Waldman's beautiful song about Fenway Park. ( Yes THAT Suzyn Waldman )

Under MLB rules only the flagship could carry the Red Sox local broadcast and WHDH was forced to use network radio and Ken and Joe were only heard on WPLM. The tapes don't exist.

The Red Sox-WPLM divorce was a bitter one but the station never should have been the flagship in the first place.

 

[blackgold]

Here's a prediction that I'd like to make for 2013:

WGBH swallows up Cool 102 and switches it over to Classical New England on 101.9 in Cape Cod. Also, 'GBH tosses Brian Donavan and sends him packing. That way, Brian takes over WUMB and puts the folk and roots format, with college students programming various other dayparts. And of course, Bob Bittner blows up WAAF and WKAF to program his "beautiful music" radio 24/7. If that happens, you'll see the donations go through the roof.

 

[maradiogeek]

Here's a prediction that I'd like to make for 2013:
'GBH tosses Brian Donavan and sends him packing.

This will never happen! He's been a sacred cow over there for years.

 

[reelyreal]

WCIB is an absolutely killer signal, why would Qantum sell it without the rest of the cluster? The station makes money, the cluster makes money, the company makes money. Try again.

 

[inorm99]

WBZ is still a lot of static in places where WTKK comes in clearly. WBZ needs an FM signal soon

I agree. I don't see ZLX being flipped. I could see WBZ moving to FM but not for a few more years. By then, I think CBS will see that Amp didn't work. WBZ could then go to 103.3.

WZLX will flip as soon as its 55+ numbers get too big. That's where WBZ will go. I have a feeling Amp is going to do just fine, and its listeners will be increasingly desirable to advertisers in comparison to the aging 'ZLX audience.