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"Big" Classic Rock moves to 107.7, what's next for 98.5?

D

DXingRadio

WKHI has dropped country "K107.7" to simulcast WGBG's "Big" Classic Rock, eventually the format will move entirely to the bigger 107.7 signal. Any idea what's next for 98.5? Such a over-radioed market, only format holes I'm seeing are alt rock (last seen when 101.1 was The Ryde) or possibly soft adult contemporary (like south Jersey's "Easy" WEZW). Maybe a run with sports talk on FM?
 
CTListener said:
If the only "format holes" left are two that advertisers consider practically worthless, maybe a simulcast is the long-term solution.
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Maybe, but on-air "Big" is still promoting their new better signal. No mention of 98.5 at all. Also a 107.7/98.5 would be a really coverage redundant simulcast, a geezer format would at least do something.
 
DXingRadio said:
98.5 has picked up the WUSX calls running a loop as "US98". New format debuts Friday.
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Country again? Conservative talk? Both would certainly fit with the "US" branding. Of course, if they plan to pronounce it "us" rather than "yew ess," then some sort of female-skewing "lite" (but not elderly soft) AC might be the plan.
 
The area already has 2 conservative talkers on FM (WGMD & WXDE), a third would really be scraping bottom. Country would be odd also since they could've just flipped Big and K. I thought maybe classic country but two area signals have that covered (Wow & WAAI). Your lighter AC format idea seems most plausible, putting the station up against Q105 and WBOC (good luck!).
 
I wonder what's the reasoning behind this swap. They already have a big rock signal (93.5), I know it's not classic rock but still. I hope they made a market study and it's not a whim. They tried this back in 2015 and it didn't work.
 
I just scratch my head and wonder just who it is out there that's asking for another country station? From my home I can hear:WUSX, WAAI, WCEM, WWFG, WDSD, WINX, WOWZ (or at least its 87.7 translator), WPOC if the stars align...maybe more. While I was tuning across the dial I think my question might have been answered while listening to WINX. I heard that same commercial, played on probably all of these stations, for O'Reilly Auto Parts. I hear them constantly, day in an day out. Their nearest store? 3-4 hours away. So, I guess there are some ad dollars to be had, just provided the format is right. Personally, I think it would be great to have someone playing southern gospel or a 50's leaning oldies mix (like WTDK was doing during the day prior to WBOC automating them). No national ad dollars for that, I guess?
 
DelmarvaDX said:
Personally, I think it would be great to have someone playing southern gospel or a 50's leaning oldies mix (like WTDK was doing during the day prior to WBOC automating them). No national ad dollars for that, I guess?
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Wouldn't think so. Local money would be hard to come by for a '50s-leaning oldies station as well, since the average listener would likely be 70 or over, and Maryland is a bit far afield for a Southern gospel station to find much advertiser support of any kind, even from churches paying to put their preachers on the station on Sundays.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if WINX decided to go another direction, maybe "Rocky" classic rock since it's a Forever station. At the moment it's mainly satellite programming, just flip the satellite channel and redo imaging. Can't imagine the Cambridge/Easton "market" can support 3 country stations (with WCEM-FM and WAAI).
 
I collect old radios and WCEM-AM is perfect for listening to them; seems like odd logic that would give the AM half of an old AM/FM pair an FM translator. I'd miss it, regardless. Interesting that there's a decent amount of music on AM in the extended area right now. Not sure who else besides me is listening :)
 
Guess this is worth the thread bump, Adams sold WUSX to Mark Guiliani. Now it's a simulcast of news/talk WGMD, boosting coverage to the west.
 
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