Pocket-Radio and JohnJax may be on to something as regards both Sunny 94.1 and Classic Rock 94.1 - While Renda needs to make a profit on that facility - they probably didn't want it to do too well in the ratings as a Soft AC versus 'EJZ. Although, it seems to me, if you owned more of the demo with two stations, it could help the overall bottom line - the key would be to somehow do that with a companion format while not eroding the main cash cow. The fact is, the current management doesn't like, or possibly more correctly, doesn't believe in a more traditional or an updated "Oldies" format - I suppose that's why they didn't pull the trigger on "Jacksonville's Greatest Hits" before Clear Channel claimed it. While many on this board are thinking "Classic Hits" will be more successful than "Soft AC" - Renda didn't really give the AC format a fair chance and extra marketing to succeed after they moved the Sunny 94.1 signal closer into a larger part of the Jax metro, they simply moved the tower, and apparently took their time deciding what to do next with the signal. Time will tell if there's a serious commitment to "Classic Rock" 94.1 - they'll have to add more elements to the programming and some decent marketing, so far, it's just an Ipod on steroids with some "attitude" liners. And even though I realize this is Rock, the audio processing, in my opinion, is too compressed. While Bob Dillehay is an excellent engineer, he's probably been directed to make it appear the station's "more powerful" by pumping up the processing and the percieved loudness. Oh well. In any event, Jacksonville has something "new", or is that "old"?! Enjoy!
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I've also wondered if the flip-flopping between being a "Jacksonville" station and being a hyperlocal "St. Augustine" station didn't hurt at some point. Not that the music suddenly changed to coincide with the changes in focus, but the liners referencing St. Aug landmarks did, and so did smaller things, like leading with St. Johns County news and traffic before Duval, and mentioning more events and happenings south of Jacksonville. Something I just remembered from the past.
Actually, speaking of music...who else thought Sunny 94.1 as originally launched--with more pop standards, Briggs as the smooth talking Kyle Stevens, etc--was the BEST Sunny ever sounded? (Talking Renda-era only, here.)
Actually, speaking of music...who else thought Sunny 94.1 as originally launched--with more pop standards, Briggs as the smooth talking Kyle Stevens, etc--was the BEST Sunny ever sounded? (Talking Renda-era only, here.)
Renda paid $7 million to acquire WSOS-FM several years ago with the intent of moving 94.1 to Jacksonville from the start. There are many challenges in making such a move with such a limited signal; However, there are not enough advertising dollars in Saint Augustine to leave WSOS-FM in Saint Augistine and justify a $7 million acquisition price. To leave it in Saint Augustine would result in a sizable capital loss. It also appears WSOS-FM has a limited 60dBu signal over half of Jacksonville proper, so this also creates challenges. However, with a niche format, unavailable from any other local station, WSOS-FM should be able to survive and make some positive impact. Again, with the proper format, marketing, positioning and community involvement. On the other hand, it is highly doubtful WSOS-FM will make any kind of an impact if it competes directly head-to-head against any of the bigger Jacksonville signals. Time will tell if Classic Rock is a winner for WSOS-FM. I wish them all the best and much success!
Mark makes many valid and accurate points, as usual. In all probability, Renda overpaid for WSOS, and with the signal being what it is, they'll have a difficult time making a substantial return on their investment, no matter what format they choose. Hopefully Classic Rock 94.1 will be properly focused enough on it's target demo to attract both enough listeners and advertisers to satisfy their expectations. But if history is any indicator, this better happen before local management loses interest.
And, in response to Tommy R, to give Briggs his due, yes, of course he had great pipes, and yes, when he first programmed Sunny 94.1 as a Dove clone, the AC musical presentation was more unique. After he resigned, when Renda installed A.J. Davis as the morning host, they also slightly re-imaged the station as "Continuous Easy Favorites" and the playlist became more generic. That wasn't A.J.'s doing, that's what management decided, either rightly or wrongly. Oh, I forgot, management's never wrong! lol But guess what folks, it doesn't really matter, that's all history now, that radio energy is still traveling at light speed to a place, far, far away! ;D
And, in response to Tommy R, to give Briggs his due, yes, of course he had great pipes, and yes, when he first programmed Sunny 94.1 as a Dove clone, the AC musical presentation was more unique. After he resigned, when Renda installed A.J. Davis as the morning host, they also slightly re-imaged the station as "Continuous Easy Favorites" and the playlist became more generic. That wasn't A.J.'s doing, that's what management decided, either rightly or wrongly. Oh, I forgot, management's never wrong! lol But guess what folks, it doesn't really matter, that's all history now, that radio energy is still traveling at light speed to a place, far, far away! ;D
jmtillery said:
Renda's 100.7 FM from Valdosta Georgia at best has a marginal Jax signal. It's had many formats starting with Arrow, Oldies, Muvin and Classic County plus a power increase.
Muvin a young niched format playing high energy music was the first best guess made by management, but it lacked community support, jocks who lived the lifestyle and marketing firepower!
Fumbles took the more music less talk approach that led to the station to becoming classic country.
Never mind the lack of ratings, Renda's oldies reached a male demographic 50+ a slice of life Madison avenue dislikes.
Muvin targets women 12-34/18-49 a demographic loved by ad agencies. Again revenues didn't follow for all the above reasons.
While some love classic country the demographics again supports adults/men 60+ it's oldies with a different label. Management is attempting to bring down WQIK by attacking their older demos.
Judging by ratings the master plan hasn't worked for all the above reasons.
WMUV is nowhere close to Valdosta. 100.7 is licensed to Brunswick with it's stick just west of Kingsland near the FL/GA border.
pocket-radio said:
WMUV was, and still is, licensed to Brunswick, Georgia and currently operates from the same tower, located North of Jacksonville near the Florida / Georgia state line, as WSOL-FM 101.5, a full class C also licensed to Brunswick. WMUV is a 62kw class C0 which barely provides a 60dBu service contour over Jacksonville, although WMUV's signal is better than WSOS-FM's over Jacksonville metro.
Renda Broadcasting Corporation of Nevada, Inc. acquired WMUV after it was already upgraded and moved to Jacksonville. Frank Osbourne - Osbourne Communications, Inc. - acquired the 100.7 full C facility in 1988 from Brunswick local James E. Kirk and moved it to Jacksonville as classic rock W101 with the call letters WIOI-FM in 1989. Since that time 100.7 has had numerous call letter changes and format adjustments. At one time 100.7 had the call letters WOKV-FM (6-03-1991 - 11-02-1992), so apparently it had a short-lived news-talk simulcast format with WOKV-AM for approximately 17-months.
nfladxer said:
I thought that may have been the case although I never listened to WOKV when it was on 100.7 FM.
Cox did get an amazing "steal of a deal" when it purchsed the dark 690 frequency (as WPDQ) for $400,000 back on the mid 90s. Quite an investment in capital improvements was invested in WOKV-AM. I believe the daytime tower in Orange Park was re-rigged while a new daytime transmitter was installed.
Cox also made a few improvements at the Baldwin night-tower site including increasing power to 25kw from its previous 10kw. I believe, if I am not mistaken, originally Cox applied for 50kw - DA-N; However, the FCC only approved 25kw-DA-N. I'm sure the 25kw-N has made a vast improvement over the previous night pattern.
Also the newer WOKV-FM 106.5 AM/FM simulcast has contributed greatly in attracting the overal 25-54 core demographic to the predominantly older skewing news-talk format. If Renda finds that classic rock is not performing as expected on WSOS-FM, Renda may want to consider a niche for its 94.1 frequency same as WOKV did with 106.5 FM.
WOKV has seen huge improvement with the addition of WOKV-FM. The only complaint I've heard from people is that they wished WOKV-FM were stronger, but as all know-- it's not that easy! It covers nearly the entire city of Jacksonville (a very large city land-wise) and that's what they want. The complaints mainly come from those in Nassau and St. Johns County who can't hear OKV after sunset.
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