The Zone in Birmingham has called it quits:
http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/83962/97-3-birmingham-reaches-its-end-zone/
http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/83962/97-3-birmingham-reaches-its-end-zone/
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Bye Bye Zone
- Thread starter passtheword
- Start date
Shocked that they're throwing in the towel so blatantly...I guess I was wrong about Finebaum's ESPN signing not being the station's death sentence. Echoing what Charles1 said, The Zone was a poor WJOX clone from the jump. It wasn't a true alternative choice for sports radio, it was the 'me-too' station staffed mostly with Not-Finebaum retreads who once worked at WJOX.
IMO, this reeks of a talent/salary dump for a cheaper format. I don't buy Dubose's remark at all about the market supporting more than one station (technically speaking, there were four such stations amongst two competing owners.) IIRC, the main reason Citadel/Cumulus split the schedules WJOX amongst FM 100.5/94.5 and AM 690 (using both ESPN and Fox Sports Radio) was to prevent a rumored competitor from starting.
I know speculation is for WJOX to be the new landing spot for syndicated Finebaum, but that's going to be an interesting reunion given Cumulus' involvement in the national CBS Sports Radio effort.
IMO, this reeks of a talent/salary dump for a cheaper format. I don't buy Dubose's remark at all about the market supporting more than one station (technically speaking, there were four such stations amongst two competing owners.) IIRC, the main reason Citadel/Cumulus split the schedules WJOX amongst FM 100.5/94.5 and AM 690 (using both ESPN and Fox Sports Radio) was to prevent a rumored competitor from starting.
I know speculation is for WJOX to be the new landing spot for syndicated Finebaum, but that's going to be an interesting reunion given Cumulus' involvement in the national CBS Sports Radio effort.
Nate Wesley said:
The market still has two sports stations, actually. Summit Media still has WENN and their FM translator at 107.3. Makes me wonder whether WENN will continue with the sports programming now that they have pulled the plug on the Zone. I figured Cox's reasoning behind the sports format on 1320/107.3 was to draw more listeners away from 'Jox. Never really understood why Cox wanted a 2nd sports station, though, given how poorly the Zone was performing.
Wonder if they may go a hybrid classic rock/active rock format to fill the void left from WZRR's demise... Or, an oldies format since there is only one rimshot oldies station, WHPH...
-Travis
-Travis
WYDE would be a heck of a surprise, though not the best spot for the south-of-downtown suburbs (AM 1260?)Hotseat said:
Good point though: Since Finebaum isn't local anymore, perhaps there's nothing to lose to clear him on AM. And if (for example) Cumulus has to pay the electricity to broadcast the new show's network commercials anyway, I'm wondering if they don't give renewed reason to listen to 1070 or 690 (leaving WAPI & WJOX FMs with local hosts to sell more local spots.)
I always thought the 1320/107.3 pairing was predominantly for clearance of ESPN Radio's national shows (Mike & Mike, Colin Cowherd, SVP & Russillo, etc.).passtheword said:
Charles1 said:
The Birmingham News article regarding the format change only mentions that the sports programming will end on Friday; it doesn't notate when the new format will debut. It's anybody's guess as to when that will take place. It could be sometime on Friday, but then again the new format might debut on Saturday, the 1st of the month, or even around the 4th of July holiday. If the new format doesn't appear in short order, it's possible 97.3 could be stunting for a while.
That's an interesting idea about a WAGG-FM being placed on 97.3. That might be the station's solution to the "format merry-go-round" they've experienced for the past 20 years. WAY Media holds a CP for a an FM translator licensed to Tarrant at 98.1 (W251BG), and the station listed being rebroadcast is WAGG. May be a completely different station that will be rebroadcast by the time the 98.1 translator hits the air, though...
Speaking of WAGG, I just found this application on the FCC website for W257CM in Talladega (99.1) to relicense it to Fultondale at 250 watts...station to be rebroadcast is WAGG.
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=153894
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=153894
Wonder how this will affect the Ticket in Montgomery (AM 1210 / FM 107.5) - which simulcasted the morning and afternoon shows from the Zone.
They're probably thrilled to death. I'm sure even Mike and Mike in the Morning and Colin Cowherd would get better ratings than non-local local hosts.
Who knows - maybe the pair from Fusion 100 might make a move to the Ticket to actually give them some local flavor.
They're probably thrilled to death. I'm sure even Mike and Mike in the Morning and Colin Cowherd would get better ratings than non-local local hosts.
Who knows - maybe the pair from Fusion 100 might make a move to the Ticket to actually give them some local flavor.
passtheword said:
At this point, I would actually bet against WAGG getting the full-power FM bump. Cox could have placed its reliable audience on 97.3 for years, and didn't--flanking WZZK and challenging WJOX instead. Now, the best results of moving WAGG to the FM side can be done with a translator.
Hot AC at 97.3 to go after the younger at-work crowd.
The "other radio board" is reporting that WZNN is now stunting with Hawaiian music as "Hula 97.3".
Whatever format that will end up on 97.3 will be batting with their strikes against it. It's probably the weakest FM signal in Birmingham (6.4 Kw), and I doubt it can be further upgraded to give it more power. There are enough format holes in the market, though. Hot AC, soft AC, and alternative are possibilities. My 15 year old daughter suggested a format similar to Sirius/XM's Pulse channel. Who knows? She may have a good idea, although Live 100.5 wasn't very successful when it tried that format a few years back.
RollTide said:
I think classic country would work well in this market, especially with the deaths of classic superstars recently and impending deaths as they all age.
that is an interesting idea to be sure.
duncanalausa said:
I have been wondering if classic country would be a good fit for 97.3, as a "squeeze play" tactic against The Bull. A classic country format would appeal to an older age demographic, while WZZK could cater to to younger listeners...pulling listeners away from WDXB at both ends of the age spectrum. About 20 years ago, Jamz and Kiss were paired together doing urban and urban AC, respectively, which decimated WENN's audience from both ends and forced WENN out of the market. It was a well-thought out plan that worked as intended...that same type of strategy might also work with a combined 97.3/104.7 country combo...97.3 doing classic country and 'ZZK doing modern country.
Although a hot AC hole exists in Birmingham and as much as I would like to see that filled, I just don't see it happening. Hot AC has been tried by 94.5 at least twice in the past (as "Mix 94.5" in the mid 90s as well as several years ago when the station was the "New 94.5") and the station never got anywhere. Hot AC just doesn't seem to fare well in Birmingham. If 97.3 did go the hot AC route and position themselves formatically between WMJJ and the two CHR stations, The Q and the Vibe, it would put 97.3 at a huge disadvantage trying to compete against those three stations due to WZNN's limited signal. The former "Spot" (WRRS) aired hot AC, too, and their signal issue definitely hampered their ability to compete with the local AC and CHR stations at the time.
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