Boston August ratings are in

[wcozBoston]

Technically, what can CC do to improve the 101.7 signal to get more market share and better ratings out of it? The own adjacent 101.5 in Providence, can that signal be altered with deeper nulls towards Boston, reduced power or even moving 101.5's transmitter south a further distance away from 101.7? Would this give WHBA more of an ability to run more power from the One Financial Place transmitter site? They would have to consider WCIB on 101.9 in Falmouth.

 

[brightonboris]

they are showing up and showing up lower than FNX. Pretty steady decline since the flip.

Precisely what is expected to happen after so abrupt a change...exactly the same thing that would have happened if WFNX had never existed in the first place. They're burning off the audience WFNX had, and it will take months if not years for new listeners to find WHBA and build the numbers back up.

Not going to happen. Numbers will not go back up. You cannot have a mainstream format on such a limited signal. With a signal like that you need to niche program.

At this rate, they'd probably be better off running comedy format on 101.7 and turning to 1200 to brokered-time.

 

[brightonboris]

they are showing up and showing up lower than FNX. Pretty steady decline since the flip.

Precisely what is expected to happen after so abrupt a change...exactly the same thing that would have happened if WFNX had never existed in the first place. They're burning off the audience WFNX had, and it will take months if not years for new listeners to find WHBA and build the numbers back up.

Clear Channel could care less about the numbers for 101.7. It was bought to prevent another market competitor from snagging it. Whatever they're running to fill WHBA's 24-hour programming day or if it's making or losing money is strictly inconsequential at this point.

 

[CTListener]

they are showing up and showing up lower than FNX. Pretty steady decline since the flip.

Precisely what is expected to happen after so abrupt a change...exactly the same thing that would have happened if WFNX had never existed in the first place. They're burning off the audience WFNX had, and it will take months if not years for new listeners to find WHBA and build the numbers back up.

Not going to happen. Numbers will not go back up. You cannot have a mainstream format on such a limited signal. With a signal like that you need to niche program.

At this rate, they'd probably be better off running comedy format on 101.7 and turning to 1200 to brokered-time.

Does CC operate brokered-time stations? I thought they originated programming on all their properties.

 

[whdh1920]

i think they should do a am/fm simulcast of either comedy or fox sports when the sports hub switches to cbs radio!! sports flash!!

 

[JustinT]

Technically, what can CC do to improve the 101.7 signal to get more market share and better ratings out of it? The own adjacent 101.5 in Providence, can that signal be altered with deeper nulls towards Boston, reduced power or even moving 101.5's transmitter south a further distance away from 101.7? Would this give WHBA more of an ability to run more power from the One Financial Place transmitter site? They would have to consider WCIB on 101.9 in Falmouth.

If I'm recalling the earlier discussions, a few main points: WHBA cannot be shut off and 101.5 moved to Boston because an allocation cannot be deleted. 101.5 can't move closer because of RF concerns with 90.9. And even if 101.5 powered down, you would still have the lingering issues with WCIB 101.9 (I assume that WPOR 101.9 would also be a concern at some point, though that station's tower is a little bit north of Portland).

If CC wanted to use 101.5 to benefit 101.7, the only real option is a simulcast...

 

[Fenway1912]

The 'official' WHBA Facebook page has generated 474 likes in six weeks.

https://www.facebook.com/1017theharbor/

Matty's Comedy is doing worse with 231 likes

https://www.facebook.com/mattyscomedy1200

 

[4CX1000A]

Despite its small loyal following and its heritage, WFNX had unfortunately been a steady money loser for quite a while. CC wasn't going to continue that. I'm sure it made more sense to CC to eliminate staffing, payroll, and other operating expenses involved with running 101.7 as a live station and run it as a practically no-cost computer in a closet and no ratings than to continue to lose money for WFNX's 1 share.

Why not classical? The pre-2007 WCRB format is still on the air in several markets, such as Cape Cod and Burlington, VT, and is very inexpensive to run.

 

[raccoonradio]

Ayuh, 'tis about to go off in Portland. Now, which way to Millinocket? You can't get they-ah
from he-yah.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/radio-station-to-stop-airing-classical-music_2012-09-07.html

>>Classical music fans can also turn to the radio stations of Maine Public Broadcasting Network -- which are all over the state. But those stations carry only about three hours of classical programming a day, between 9 a.m. and noon.

 

[whdh1920]

turn whba into fox sports and do a am simulcast on wxks am!!

 

[4CX1000A]

Ayuh, 'tis about to go off in Portland. Now, which way to Millinocket? You can't get they-ah
from he-yah.

Huh. I thought it was the Kennebunk station that was being spun off.

 

[JustinT]

Huh. I thought it was the Kennebunk station that was being spun off.

WBACH used to be on 106.3 Scarborough (Portland area) and 99.3 Kennebunk (southern York County). A few years ago, 99.3 was switched to simulcasting WTHT 99.9, and the WBACH simulcast moved from 106.3 to 104.7 Kennebunk(port). 104.7 is a little better in Portland than 99.3, but 104.7 instead of 99.3/106.3 was a big downgrade for Portland area listeners, especially in the areas north of Portland but still south of the 106.9 signal.

It's the 104.7 signal that's being sold, so York County and what areas of Portland could receive 104.7 are losing their WBACH outlet.

 

[Mainedude2007]

It's the 104.7 signal that's being sold, so York County and what areas of Portland could receive 104.7 are losing their WBACH outlet.

WBACH is getting blown up any way. 107.7 up on Mt. Desert Island (I forget the calls, but they used to be WMDI) is rumored to be spun off to Blueberry, which owns the fmr. Clear Channel Maine group.

No word on what will happen to the 106.9 WBACH signal in Rockland or 99.1/101.5 in NH that's been running WBACH.

 

[4CX1000A]

WBACH is getting blown up any way. 107.7 up on Mt. Desert Island (I forget the calls, but they used to be WMDI) is rumored to be spun off to Blueberry, which owns the fmr. Clear Channel Maine group.

Doesn't Louis Vitali run Blueberry? He was the one who sold the W-Bach network to Nassau, unless I misremember.

 

[Jimmy128]

WBOS definitely got help from WHBA.

WFNQ Nashua keeps beating WGBH.