Christmas has come and gone, now what?

[observer2]

So when do we expect to start seeing changes with the Cumulus stations, and the ones that were spun-off? Or should we expect any?

 

[Seltzer]

The "spun offs" have not been "spun off" yet. They're in a trust. And two Class A stations licensed to opposite sides of the market are going to be a tough sell to any owner. This may take awhile.

As for everybody else, hard to say. Only 1067 is in doubt at this point. Something is definitely up there with the promos for the WINKS currently running.

Do you restore country to that frequency after all the failed formats that followed? Aren't you potentially hurting I 105 if you do so?

 

[real_radioguy]

Good questions. Only time will tell. I can hear one of the stations launching a 10,000 songs in a row format...seems to be popular with Cumulus right now.

 

[bossjock 56]

Did WARM 103 becoming WINK 103 hurt WINK 104? Then why not do the same with WIOV's country format. WIOV is number 1 in Lancaster....but can't crack more than a two share in York or Harrisburg. Why not extend the product the same way that they did with WINK. The problem is the branding. Do they continue with the "BIG I" concept....or go with a Cumulus brand such as "THE WOLF"? One thing we can all agree on.....SOMETHING has to happen with 106.7!

 

[real_radioguy]

We'll never know if there was a ratings crash for the WINKS or a build up, because of Cumulus' no ratings thing. I would say that both were hurt over divided ratings with WSOX just hanging on.

 

[SteelRocker]

Did WARM 103 becoming WINK 103 hurt WINK 104? Then why not do the same with WIOV's country format. WIOV is number 1 in Lancaster....but can't crack more than a two share in York or Harrisburg. Why not extend the product the same way that they did with WINK. The problem is the branding. Do they continue with the "BIG I" concept....or go with a Cumulus brand such as "THE WOLF"? One thing we can all agree on.....SOMETHING has to happen with 106.7!

WIOV has been country ever since I moved to the area in 1972. When I left Lancaster in 1996, Z-107 still existed at 106.7. Did "Z" hurt WIOV for all those years before they became CAT? I didn't follow ratings back then so I don't really know. If it didn't the first time, or if it did, wouldn't the possibility exist that whatever happened before will happen again? I agree 106.7 will be changing soon to something, but hope it's an FM News Talk format, I've been saying that format would fly since I returned to the area in 2009.

 

[bossjock 56]

A couple of things to consider. The only talk programs that will work are the programs WSBA and WHP now carry. Since 106.7 is part of Cumulus/Harrisburg, WHP would scream bloody murder. If they put WSOX's format on 106.7 and did a simulcast of WSBA on 96.1, they MIGHT get away with it.....since both of those stations are part of Cumulus/York-Lancaster. WHP would probably still try to block it...and possibly win. As far as the two WINKS hurting each other....I doub't it. As long as I've lived in this market....Harrisburg listeners seem to stick with Harrisburg stations....and York and Lancaster listeners seem to choose stations from these cities rather than Harrisburg. WHP does have a decent listenership in Lancaster County for the talk programming. WSBA has lost it's "punch" in that area, but that has alot to do with the erosion of AM signals. WSBA-FM on 96.1 would be a great idea....if they can pull it off without WHP blocking it.

 

[bossjock 56]

Would country on 106.7 hurt WIOV? I don't think it would if they use the WINK model. WIOV would market toward Lancaster and Reading...and 106.7 would target Harrisburg and York, going after BOB and WGTY. THE BIG I-105....and THE BIG I-106-7. Use Murph and Casey on both stations.

 

[Seltzer]

Would country on 106.7 hurt WIOV? I don't think it would if they use the WINK model. WIOV would market toward Lancaster and Reading...and 106.7 would target Harrisburg and York, going after BOB and WGTY. THE BIG I-105....and THE BIG I-106-7. Use Murph and Casey on both stations.

There's a better option available to do what you suggest....think about it......

 

[Dan Shoe]

move the X to 1067, make 105.7 country and pair it with 105.1 as the Bigger I-105. done and done. Don't overthink this Cumulus.

Of course this is Cumulus, so I expect we'll get a polka-classic rock-talk hybrid on 106.7 by February.

 

[bossjock 56]

I've always said that the 105.1/105.7 pairing would make the most sense. The Cumulus people have got to be laughing right now at the speculation on this board. I feel that a plan is in motion that could surprise us all. Let's face it....the WINK thing caught us by surprise. My guess is that only a select few at Cumulus know what is going to happen. These people are in managemant and are tight lipped....or at least trying to plant false rumors. Keep in mind that it was Citadel...not Cumulus...that put the failed formats on 106.7. If WIOV's country product is going to be expanded...Cumulus will need to figure out if they want to go after BOB, WGTY, or both. The 105.7 signal is actually in York, while 106.7 is more of a Harrisburg signal...even though it gets into the York metro quite well. If they want Harrisburg, they must decide which of these stations give them the best coverage. From what I've seen in other markets, Cumulus is not afraid to shake up heritage stations.....Jan Jeffries and Mike McVay thrive on that kind of thing.

 

[John1]

Until Bob came along, WRKZ was the top country station in Harrisburg & WIOV in Lancaster, but the Z-107 signal was also strong in Lancaster. Considering the failed formats since, why not restore the country format as "Z-Country 106.7" playing the hits of the Z-107 era (late '70's) thru today, skewing a little older than WIOV (even though it's the heritage country station since 1968 or so). I think they'd be a good combo in the eastern side & would be competitive against Bob in Hbg. The branding was strong among country listeners in the area so Z-Country would be recognizable, Z-Bear & all, & bring back Fuzzy Sommers for mornings.

 

[SteelRocker]

A couple of things to consider. The only talk programs that will work are the programs WSBA and WHP now carry. Since 106.7 is part of Cumulus/Harrisburg, WHP would scream bloody murder. If they put WSOX's format on 106.7 and did a simulcast of WSBA on 96.1, they MIGHT get away with it.....since both of those stations are part of Cumulus/York-Lancaster. WHP would probably still try to block it...and possibly win. As far as the two WINKS hurting each other....I doub't it. As long as I've lived in this market....Harrisburg listeners seem to stick with Harrisburg stations....and York and Lancaster listeners seem to choose stations from these cities rather than Harrisburg. WHP does have a decent listenership in Lancaster County for the talk programming. WSBA has lost it's "punch" in that area, but that has alot to do with the erosion of AM signals. WSBA-FM on 96.1 would be a great idea....if they can pull it off without WHP blocking it.

Bossjock, I respect your comments and normally spot on. Are you serious that WSBA and WHP carry all the top talkers and no others worthy on FM? There's so many good ones out there, Laura Ingraham, Neal Boortz and Mark Levine come to mind immediately. There really are some good ones out there, you just may not have heard of them. There's room for local talent too, even a sports program in drive time would be good for the area. When I leave work at 6pm I used to like listening to local sports talk on 1600 through the static, but even that's gone. I think with the right talent that FM talk could thrive in this area. It may not be Rush and Hannity, but certainly a lot of good ones out there and really would do well in the ratings if done correctly.

 

[bossjock 56]

Steel Rocker, you are right about Ingraham, Boortz, and Levin. These hosts would work well, if you can't get the top tier of Rush, Hannity, and to some degree...Beck. To my knowledge they are all absent from Central PA airwaves, unless some of them run on WLBR, which I can't normally hear. Here's an idea....run the current WSBA line up on FM....and maybe work these other hosts into the AM line up to give some seperation and give listeners a choice. As far as local hosts are concerned, it would be nice to have a local show or two, but Cumulus isn't about to spend that kind of money.

 

[Seltzer]

I've always said that the 105.1/105.7 pairing would make the most sense. The Cumulus people have got to be laughing right now at the speculation on this board. I feel that a plan is in motion that could surprise us all. Let's face it....the WINK thing caught us by surprise. My guess is that only a select few at Cumulus know what is going to happen. These people are in managemant and are tight lipped....or at least trying to plant false rumors. Keep in mind that it was Citadel...not Cumulus...that put the failed formats on 106.7. If WIOV's country product is going to be expanded...Cumulus will need to figure out if they want to go after BOB, WGTY, or both. The 105.7 signal is actually in York, while 106.7 is more of a Harrisburg signal...even though it gets into the York metro quite well. If they want Harrisburg, they must decide which of these stations give them the best coverage. From what I've seen in other markets, Cumulus is not afraid to shake up heritage stations.....Jan Jeffries and Mike McVay thrive on that kind of thing.

No actually they thrive on firing talented people and that's about it. Jan Jeffries is legendary and Mike..once a respected broadcaster....has really put his reputation on the line signing on with these bozos. Here's hoping no more bodies are part of the Cumulus chopping block moving forward in Central PA.