I'm surprised no one has commented on the the new radio station which may come on the air as early as Monday in the Charlotte market. I'm getting my info from Mark Washburn's Sat. (1/30) piece in the Observer. WZGV is actually a reincarnation of Shelby's WOHS/730 which has been moved to Cramerton with it's nondirectional 10,000 watts TX in Belmont. It seems to me that might actually provide good coverage to Charlotte city and nearby areas. The big news is the "The Groove 730" will air classic hits of the late 60's, 70's and early 80's, a format which has been much discussed here. Ken Conrad, late of WOLS-FM, and LIZ LUKE, legendary personality of Magic 96.1 will DJ, among others. Sounds GOOD! I just checked around noon on Sunday, 1/31 and 730 doesn't appear to be on the air, so I wonder if they'll make their Monday start-up. Comments?
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Charlotte's Groove 730AM
- Thread starter fortmill
- Start date
"The Groove"...doesn't sound like a moniker for a traditional "oldies" station, but it sounds like "Jammin'" oldies.
Also, I cannot find Mark Washburn's story about this on the Observer's website.
Also, I cannot find Mark Washburn's story about this on the Observer's website.
Disregard my last post regarding finding the article:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/faith/story/1213372.html
I look forward to hearing this station, but I have this fear: Lanny Ford of HRN seemed to be the king of knee-jerk format changes with his AM 1350 in Black Mountain, but it appears he's going to stick with Southern Gospel there. Therefore, I hope he'll give this station more than 6 months or a year before he even considers tinkering with the format. My bets are that he WILL, but I hope I'm wrong -- if you're reading this Lanny, dare me to be wrong.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/faith/story/1213372.html
I look forward to hearing this station, but I have this fear: Lanny Ford of HRN seemed to be the king of knee-jerk format changes with his AM 1350 in Black Mountain, but it appears he's going to stick with Southern Gospel there. Therefore, I hope he'll give this station more than 6 months or a year before he even considers tinkering with the format. My bets are that he WILL, but I hope I'm wrong -- if you're reading this Lanny, dare me to be wrong.
Voice tracked middays.
Weather imported from Tampa.
Studios "to keep costs low."
$30 spot rates smaller than a city of 40,000 people.
190 watts at night on 730. Will the station use nights or just "bird" it? Or just sign-off?
Of the top 17 stations in the market -- all but 2 are FM. WBT at 50kw is 6th. The next AM is 17th.
A format not programmed in New York or San Antonio. Great. It better be good.
A format that better cook or it, too, will be off the air in 6 months.
"A station doesn't have to be #1 to do well." But should be in the top 5, not in the lower 10 of the market. This one starts at "0" with an older demo music format. And they promote it as "Old radio is back." Oh, my.
The winning recipe of success.
When will radio get it?
Weather imported from Tampa.
Studios "to keep costs low."
$30 spot rates smaller than a city of 40,000 people.
190 watts at night on 730. Will the station use nights or just "bird" it? Or just sign-off?
Of the top 17 stations in the market -- all but 2 are FM. WBT at 50kw is 6th. The next AM is 17th.
A format not programmed in New York or San Antonio. Great. It better be good.
A format that better cook or it, too, will be off the air in 6 months.
"A station doesn't have to be #1 to do well." But should be in the top 5, not in the lower 10 of the market. This one starts at "0" with an older demo music format. And they promote it as "Old radio is back." Oh, my.
The winning recipe of success.
When will radio get it?
Thanks to the snow my paper didn't get delivered.
I was promised by a manager it'll be here tomorrow. Of course, someone with a Middle Eastern accent said the same thing but it's more comforting to hear it from someone local.
I got my Sunday paper today.
I was promised by a manager it'll be here tomorrow. Of course, someone with a Middle Eastern accent said the same thing but it's more comforting to hear it from someone local.
I got my Sunday paper today.
I'm looking forward to being able to have fun on the air again...not have liners thrust in front of me, not have to time every single word that comes out of my mouth--God forbid we talk longer than 18 seconds! Is it an uphill climb? Sure! Will it topple the corporate giant? Not likely...but will it fit the niche market of "boomers", folks who want to hear something that sounds like what they grew up listening to?Of course! It doesn't all have to revolve around ratings, folks...anyone who has been in broadcasting as long as most of us on this board can agree to that...I'm pleased to be able to finally, after deregulation and corporate slayings, give something back to the community. Hooray! 
I got my missing paper this morning--with the On TV! Even though it's the one that has the article about The Groove in it, I haven't actually looked. I did look at the online version just to update Wikipedia.
Is it actually on yet? Because that's what I said.
Is it actually on yet? Because that's what I said.
lizluke said:I'm looking forward to being able to have fun on the air again...not have liners thrust in front of me, not have to time every single word that comes out of my mouth--God forbid we talk longer than 18 seconds! Is it an uphill climb? Sure! Will it topple the corporate giant? Not likely...but will it fit the niche market of "boomers", folks who want to hear something that sounds like what they grew up listening to?Of course! It doesn't all have to revolve around ratings, folks...anyone who has been in broadcasting as long as most of us on this board can agree to that...I'm pleased to be able to finally, after deregulation and corporate slayings, give something back to the community. Hooray!
Best of luck, you are correct. We'd like to hear real radio again!
I would say that if you can get WCGC (AM 1270, Belmont) then you will be able to get the new 730 WZGV. WZGV is transmitting from the WCGC site in Belmont; both stations are 10kw days and since WZGV is lower down the dial it should carry farther.
eacalhoun1 said:
Not always, it depends on a lot more than just dial position. The ground system and towers are cut for 1270. The good thing is it won't be directional.
If we can only get the station on a 250watt translator in Charlotte, it may have a chance. Lot's kick Heaven radio off 104.3. In all honesty, I think Gaston county could use a locally focused news talk station. Something like WRHU Rock Hill. WGNC is a joke. I know it's expensive, but it could be started cheaply.
Jim said:
I've often thought it's a shame that a city the size of Gastonia REALLY does not have its own radio station. WGNC is mostly coming from Lincolnton, right -- or -- is it now coming from WADA in Shelby -- actually I've stayed quite confused regarding WOHS/WADA/WCSL/WLON/WGNC after the introduction of "Piedmont Superstations" some 15 years ago, but that's a whole other thread. WDYT should've re-focused on Gaston County, but they're speaking a different language now.
My prediction, this station is off air in 6 months. It won't be successful. Format sucks, not enough wattage.
I could be wrong, but I believe WADA is Calvin's only station now...
I think there were some of us old timers who were suprised that WOHS went dark for so long.
Pat Nanney and I did a survey a couple of years ago when we were doing the Sunday night oldies show, it determined (for us anyway) that most AM music listeners were age 50 or over. Most of the younger crowd will go for FM, or some other form of music delivery. Not a scientific survey, just taking listener calls over a couple of nights. At that time, our oldies were late 50's up to 1979... and it seemed that even that was stretching it a bit...that some listeners really were more geared for the late 50's - 1972 range. I had to adjust my show a bit, learn some older stuff and use very little late 70's.
Liz, good luck to you and the staff from a former WXIK'er...
I think there were some of us old timers who were suprised that WOHS went dark for so long.
Pat Nanney and I did a survey a couple of years ago when we were doing the Sunday night oldies show, it determined (for us anyway) that most AM music listeners were age 50 or over. Most of the younger crowd will go for FM, or some other form of music delivery. Not a scientific survey, just taking listener calls over a couple of nights. At that time, our oldies were late 50's up to 1979... and it seemed that even that was stretching it a bit...that some listeners really were more geared for the late 50's - 1972 range. I had to adjust my show a bit, learn some older stuff and use very little late 70's.
Liz, good luck to you and the staff from a former WXIK'er...
Kent Dorsey said:
Pat Nanney...haven't heard that name in many years. He was at WBBO (AM-FM) in Forest City way back in the day. I also believe his son David was a WBTV meteorologist in the early to mid 90s.
Eric
Yesterday I was in Concord. I can pick up a standards station there, and a beautiful music station from Greenville in some areas, though I figured I'd be close enough to hear WZGV during the times when WAVO was doing their morning talk show and the other standards station was doing something I wasn't interested in. I didn't pick up a thing.eacalhoun1 said:
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