Deja Vu at 960 Bham

[passtheword]

Flipped through the AM dial this morning and noticed 960 was airing talk, rebroadcasting WERC-FM once again. The station ID did mention WVVB-AM along with the WERC-FM calls. Wondering if the move temporary or is the Vulcan simulcast no more?

 

[Rusty Muck]

Flipped through the AM dial this morning and noticed 960 was airing talk, rebroadcasting WERC-FM once again. The station ID did mention WVVB-AM along with the WERC-FM calls. Wondering if the move temporary or is the Vulcan simulcast no more?

Sounds like it. Kinda wondering when 960 goes back to the WERC-AM calls.

Of course, 105.5 is totally driving the 'ERC train right now, so it really means that CC is treating 960 as an afterthought at this point.

 

[cd637299]

I don't live there, but I recall hearing 960 one January night in north Florida when all I heard was "Winter Wonderland" & "Let It Snow" back-to-back in various versions. Had no idea who it was, until I learned about the WERC flip....then I think someone at 105.5 e-mailed me to pretty-much confirm it was WERC stunting, mentioning the severe cold going on as well.

I have/had no idea why anyone thought a rock format (relaying another FM) would work on AM. Although 960 may be the weak sister to 105.5, if a sister format *has* to be on AM (unless they wanna turn 960 off), between rock & talk, what makes more sense?

cd

 

[Rusty Muck]

I don't live there, but I recall hearing 960 one January night in north Florida when all I heard was "Winter Wonderland" & "Let It Snow" back-to-back in various versions. Had no idea who it was, until I learned about the WERC flip....then I think someone at 105.5 e-mailed me to pretty-much confirm it was WERC stunting, mentioning the severe cold going on as well.

I have/had no idea why anyone thought a rock format (relaying another FM) would work on AM. Although 960 may be the weak sister to 105.5, if a sister format *has* to be on AM (unless they wanna turn 960 off), between rock & talk, what makes more sense?

cd

IIRC, 960 was set up to be the originator for The Vulcan format, and would take the WVVB calls, but would be branded per the FM translator. It was never even billed as "960 The Vulcan" - it was always, and still is, "103.1 The Vulcan."

I would have just kept the AM/FM simulcast on in perpetuity, especially with regard to severe weather conditions like in April.

 

[rtc]

Article in today's Birmingham News:

http://blog.al.com/living-news/2011/07/hallelujah_fm_is_back_in_birmi.html

 

[Rusty Muck]

Apparently 960's calls changed back to WERC on July 14... at least that's what the FCC is telling us.

I'm not sure if WERC-FM's TOH ID has been changed yet- when I streamed it last on Friday night, I still heard "WVVB Brimingham."

 

[rambo2]

Vulcan 103.1 can now be recognized by Arbitron without 960 AM. Previously Arbitron would only recognize a translator if it were used with an AM. The Vulcan does not need 960 AM anymore.

 

[tomservo]

Vulcan 103.1 can now be recognized by Arbitron without 960 AM. Previously Arbitron would only recognize a translator if it were used with an AM. The Vulcan does not need 960 AM anymore.

Wouldn't it just be associated with the HD2 originating station? They show up in the ratings in other markets when the HD2 is relayed via translator or online listening.

 

[cd637299]

Vulcan 103.1 can now be recognized by Arbitron without 960 AM. Previously Arbitron would only recognize a translator if it were used with an AM. The Vulcan does not need 960 AM anymore.

This is curious....so do you think that it was WERC's plan all along to revert to talk? (That stunting in January was bizarre, to say the least.)

If they planned this all along....well, is it cost-effective to keep changing call letters like that? I have no idea.

cd