Coming Soon to a Station Near you, It ...

[jmtillery]

... could be anything.

Keeping this in mind, I'd like to pose a question here that I had asked on another board recently. And here goes:

What big format change will take place next in the Ocala/Gainesville market and how soon? What would you like the Ocala/Gainesville radio dial to represent? Format? Call letters? Monikers? Here's how it looks at present:

WHIJ-FM 88.1 - Contemporary Christian - The Joy FM
WUFT-FM 89.1 - NPR - News/News-Talk
WKSG-FM 89.5 - Contemporary Christian - Daystar Radio
WYFB-FM 90.5 - Christian/Inspirational - Where You Find the Bible
WYFZ-FM 91.3 - Christian/Inspirational - Where You Find Zest
WJLF-FM 91.7 - Contemporary Christian - The Joy FM
WNDT-FM 92.5 - Classic Rock - Wind FM
WMFQ-FM 92.9 - Classic Hits - Big 92.9
WOGK-FM 93.7 - Country - K Country 93.7
WNDD-FM 95.5 - Classic Rock - Wind FM
WSKY-FM 97.3 - News-Talk - The Sky
WKTK-FM 98.5 - Adult Contemporary - 98.5 KTK
WBXY-FM 99.5 - News-Talk - Star 99.5
WHHZ-FM 100.5 - Alternative Rock - 100.5 The Buzz
WXJZ-FM 100.9 - Smooth Jazz - Smooth Jazz 100.9
WTMG-FM 101.3 - Hip Hop/Urban Contemporary - Magic 101.3
WTRS-FM 102.3 - Country - Thunder Country 102.3
WRUF-FM 103.7 - Active Rock - Rock 104
WYGC-FM 104.9 - Sports - The Game
WYKS-FM 105.3 - CHR - Kiss 105.3
WKZY-FM 106.9 - Hot Adult Contemporary - 106.9 KZY

WRZN-AM 720 - Adult Standards - Sunny 720
WRUF-AM 850 - News-Sports - AM 850
WMOP-AM 900 - Sports - ESPN 900/1230/100.1
WDVH-AM 980 - Classic Country - Country Legends
WGGG-AM 1230 - Sports - ESPN 900/1230/100.1
WOCA-AM 1370 - News-Talk - The Source
WAJD-AM 1390 - Unformatted
WTMN-AM 1430 - Gospel - Rejoice 1430

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

Move WTMG to 100.5 as Hot 100.5 "The Beat of Gainesville"

Simulcast WDVH on 101.7 and add 101.3.

Flip 980 back to Adult Standards.

Flip WBXY and WYGC to something a little more interesting, what I don't know. Ratings are terrible.

Flip WAJD to Progressive Talk.

Will anything happen outside of my dreaming? Probably not...

 

[cd637299]

I am surprised that SJ is still on up there (100.9).

cd

 

[jmtillery]

That Guy and CD, I'd like to thank both of you for your input.

Regarding WXJZ, Smooth Jazz does "okay" in Gainesville but that is about all I can say. Regarding WAJD becoming progressive talk, I have to agree as I have always thought 1390 would make a decent local talk station. The key would be to make it local and relevent.

Moving Magic to 100.5, on paper, may appear to be an improvement, however, if you notice, the 50kw signal on 100.5 isn't much better over Gainesville than 101.3 has over the same area. Still, it may actually make some improvement.

Considering Gainesville has a median age of 28, I'm not sure how much of an impact adult standards would make in Gainesville. I'm sure it may find its own niche and hold its own in the market, but by how much is questionable.

As for my thoughts, one idea I'd like to see become reality is for WRUF-AM to become a major news station with very limited talk, so I'm not talking necessarily news-talk but rather border line All News; possibly using the moniker News Radio 850, News 850, or News85. UF has the resources and the student body to pull it off without any major expenses incurred as a result of implementing such a move.

Comments? Thoughts? Constructive criticisms?

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

100.5 has a far better footprint on the market then 101.3 does (though WTMG is a hell of a Class-A), it's Pamal's best signal.

As for NewsRadio 850 (my personal choice) I'd like to see that happen, but I don't think it will ever happen. Only thing UF cares about is Rock104. They make the money.

Where is Mr. Magrill, he's the resident engineer in all of this.

 

[jmtillery]

I'm sure Mr. Magrill will chime in sooner or later and give us his input.

And, yes, 101.3 does, indeed, have an excellent signal for a class A FM. And right again, WTMG is Pamal's "prized jewel" in the Gainesville cluster. I would not be at all surprised to learn it single-handedly outbills the remaining stations in the Pamal cluster combined.

Here's a "what if" for you to ponder. What about WKZY? Do you believe it is being utilized at its "highest" and "best" use? If yes, nothing more need be said about 106.9. If no, what would you do differently with 106.9's 100kw signal?

 

[jmtillery]

Move WTMG to 100.5 as Hot 100.5 "The Beat of Gainesville"

Interestingly, when I was GM at the former WFEZ-FM 92.1, which later became WTMG 101.3, we called it Hot 92.1 with a heavy urban/dance/CHuRban lean. It would be ironic and just a bit nostalgic, yet pleasant, to return Hot to the Gainesville radio air-waves.

 

[Kmagrill]

100.5 has a far better footprint on the market then 101.3 does (though WTMG is a hell of a Class-A), it's Pamal's best signal.

As for NewsRadio 850 (my personal choice) I'd like to see that happen, but I don't think it will ever happen. Only thing UF cares about is Rock104. They make the money.

Where is Mr. Magrill, he's the resident engineer in all of this.

Well, it's really a programming decision, so my input isn't all that valuable. From a purely imperical standpoint, I happen to think WXJZ has a pretty fair signal in Ocala, though obviously not a great one. In other words, I think the format doesn't play as well in Marion county as it does in Alachua so, if WXJZ were to change formats, it could, potentially, do better. WHHZ has signal problems all over the market, so its position is possibly best as a spoiler. In that respect, I think they probably made a reasonable choice pitting it against WRUF.

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

Before I answer Mark, what would YOU (or anyone else) like to see on 106.9?

 

[jmtillery]

I will be happy to give my opinion, however, first I'd like to hear everyone elses thoughts before I give mine. That way everyone who would like to participate will have a chance to voice their opinions without having any influence from me. I started by giving my opinion of WRUF-AM.

 

[DJ Mo]

Doesn't one of the companies that own "106.5 The Buzz" in Sacramento, CA have stations in Gainesville?

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

Yep, that would be Entercom. They own WKTK and WSKY in Gainesville.

What's your point?

 

[cd637299]

post deleted

 

[amfmxm]

As for my thoughts, one idea I'd like to see become reality is for WRUF-AM to become a major news station with very limited talk, so I'm not talking necessarily news-talk but rather border line All News; possibly using the moniker News Radio 850, News 850, or News85. UF has the resources and the student body to pull it off without any major expenses incurred as a result of implementing such a move. 0

Dr. Mark, your idea makes pefect sense, but there are many internal dynamics working against it. First, AM 850 is way down the list of priorities, following TV channels 5.1, 10, 5.2, 5.3, WUFT-FM and their HD-2/3 channels, Rock 104, various online initiatives and nearly anything else you can think of. Secondly, there is a general concern that if AM 850 did a great job, it might hurt WUFT-FM--the top priority on the radio side. Thirdly, there is a general feeling (and probably correct) that the AM signal is so limited--Alachua only--that it can't truly be competitive and it is highly unlikely ever to generate any real revenue--but is still a good place for students to get on-air experience.Truth is, if anyone in the College had any real radio sense, they would combo-up 850 & 103.7 in an all-news format. As you say, they have all the resources at their disposal. And an all-news WRUF-FM/AM would be a perfect match with the College's mission. Oh, and it would also do very well in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market, too. But don't hold your breath...

 

[jmtillery]

Regarding WKZY, I believe the format is fine as is, with one posible exception for 70s, 80s and 90s based classic hits. The big challenge WKZY has now is its signal issues while attempting to compete head-to-head with KTK which has no covergae problems. Whatever is done with WKZY, it should fill a void no other station is filling, giving the listeners a reason to tune-in to 106.9 instead of 98.5. The only other thing I would do differently with 106.9 is implement a way to improve its signal over Gainesville if it can technically be done. Aside from the technical issues, a hot A/C, CHR or classic hits format would seem to do fine on that frequency.

 

[jmtillery]

As for my thoughts, one idea I'd like to see become reality is for WRUF-AM to become a major news station with very limited talk, so I'm not talking necessarily news-talk but rather border line All News; possibly using the moniker News Radio 850, News 850, or News85. UF has the resources and the student body to pull it off without any major expenses incurred as a result of implementing such a move. 0

Dr. Mark, your idea makes pefect sense, but there are many internal dynamics working against it. First, AM 850 is way down the list of priorities, following TV channels 5.1, 10, 5.2, 5.3, WUFT-FM and their HD-2/3 channels, Rock 104, various online initiatives and nearly anything else you can think of. Secondly, there is a general concern that if AM 850 did a great job, it might hurt WUFT-FM--the top priority on the radio side. Thirdly, there is a general feeling (and probably correct) that the AM signal is so limited--Alachua only--that it can't truly be competitive and it is highly unlikely ever to generate any real revenue--but is still a good place for students to get on-air experience.Truth is, if anyone in the College had any real radio sense, they would combo-up 850 & 103.7 in an all-news format. As you say, they have all the resources at their disposal. And an all-news WRUF-FM/AM would be a perfect match with the College's mission. Oh, and it would also do very well in the Gainesville-Ocala radio market, too. But don't hold your breath...

Thank you for your comment AMFMXM. I believe with HD radio, WRUF-AM could do exacty as you suggest, and that is simulcast on WRUF-FM HD2. That way nothing is taken away from the money maker Rock 104, while at the same time, WRUF-AM has FM exposure on a bigger HD2 channel, covering Ocala and Gainesville.

With regards to WUFT-FM, the news-talk programming there is much different, filling a different niche than All News on WRUF-AM and FM HD2 would provide. All News would target a different target demo than WUFT, so nothing should be lost from the NPR outlet as WUFT is listener supported while WRUF-AM/HD would be a complete commercial operation. It fills another void, too. The students will have much more exposure to gathering and reporting news on an All News operation which would be in keeping with the College of Journalism and Communications mission statement.

 

[amfmxm]

Oh, I completely agree that the public radio approach and the commercial radio approach are more complementary than competitive, but I guess I have some doubt that such subleties are fully understood within those Ivy walls. Been wrong before, though.

And although I fully see your logic regarding an AM-HD combo, you may have more faith in HD than I do, at this point. The public has, thus far, shown nearly complete disinterest in it. You may have better research than I've seen so far, but last time I looked, HD penetration was around 1 percent, after a decade of hype. So in a way it's "the illusion of radio"--sort of where FM was circa 1960. But with all the emerging/competing audio technologies now, I suppose I'm not convinced that it will survive the marketplace. FWIW, UF has invested a ton in HD already, so maybe they're game. Most commercial broadcasters have been gunshy about making that kind of investment in a technology that listeners don't seem to care about. Too much risk with no reward in sight. Sometimes non-profit money spends easier...

 

[Jazz_Kat]

I sure hope WXJZ, Smooth FM 100.9, stays with the smooth jazz format. They really do a nice job presenting and playing the format, and that's hard to come by in our format, radio wise.

 

[jmtillery]

I sure hope WXJZ, Smooth FM 100.9, stays with the smooth jazz format. They really do a nice job presenting and playing the format, and that's hard to come by in our format, radio wise.

I'm sure WXJZ will remain with smooth jazz for the time being. The chllenges with SJ more recently has been demo erosion to other music formats; namely NAC and A/C. This has happened in several markets such as Los Angeles where KTWV has moved to a hybrid SJ/A/C, with a heavy lean towards A/C. This seems to be working in L. A. for KTWV as its number have improved with adults 25 - 54.

In Orlando, Smooth Jazz 103.1 (WLOQ) has dropped "Jazz" from the moniker and has become simply "Smooth 103.1". Although its core is still smooth jazz, the main focus in format appears to lean more mainstream adult contemporary with somewhat of an A/C oldies flair. Again, same as in L. A., 103.1 is a hybrid of the two musical styles rolled into one. When the Orlando PPM results are released we'll see just how well WLOQ is performing with its new "tweaked" Smooth format.

 

[jmtillery]

AMFMXM - I understand and agree with what you have observed. I believe, however, that we will all find that HD radio listening will "take-off" once the auto manufacturers begin adding HD receivers to all makes and models as standard equipment. At present, that hasn't happened.

If you think back in history, UHF television was a virtual vast spectrum wasteland until Congress mandated that all TV manufacturers add UHF receiving capability to all television sets manufactured and sold in the US. When that rule was implemented, UHF television (channels 14 through 83) began to grow and flourish. The same thing happened with standard FM listening. Once all auto manufacturers began adding FM receivers as standard equipment in all cars in the 1980s, FM began to explode in popularity, although FM was showing signs of slow but progressive growth in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, standard FM was nothing more than a beautiful music "Juke-Box". In a comparison to today's HD radio, including HD radio as standard equipment in all autos is imperative to the mere survival of HD radio listening because the majority of listening takes place in most listeners second home - their cars.

As for me, I still do not own an HD receiver other than the one in my car although I do listen to limited HD offerings via the internet, namely WUFT-FM HD2 and WQXR and WQXR HD2 New York. I listen to these two HD channels because I very much enjoy classical music from these two HD mediums. I. E., the HD channels offer and fill a void the other stations are not filling. So, in my case, this gives me a reason to "tune-in" to HD radio.