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FM News 101.9 is about to become toast

I don't blame you - I wouldn't be surprised if FM News 101.9 in New York went the same direction! :D
 
If all news goes away, could CBS have "wasted" a FM signal to put WBBM on FM? WBBM AM was doing fine billing and rating wise before the FM was added. I know the FM that was used for WBBM was not dong that well in the ratings but it was a viable FM signal.
 
secondchoice said:
If all news goes away, could CBS have "wasted" a FM signal to put WBBM on FM? WBBM AM was doing fine billing and rating wise before the FM was added. I know the FM that was used for WBBM was not dong that well in the ratings but it was a viable FM signal.
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WBBM would have had to eventually put the news on an FM stick. I think their hand was forced and they flipped the switch about two years early.

The big question will be how long before the NYC signals will finally give up the AM ghost and move to FM. Two years, three years? It will happen eventually.
 
AM still viable in NYC and Chicago. Factors that help AM in NYC and Chicago:

The FM's are class "B" (similar to 100.5 in Atlanta) and have do not have the signal strength in the distant suburbs.

Opposite of Atlanta, the soil conductivity is much better helping all the local AM station's coverage in both markets.

Both markets have multiple AM stations that cover the entire market 24 hours a day (Atlanta only has 750).

There is real competitiveness programming wise on AM in both markets.

I know FM has a better sound with less static but, the Ancient Modulation stations are not going away as fast as a lot of people think in markets #1 & 3. Disney / ESPN did not get the big rating jump with the FM verses WFAN AM. Merlin with FM signals has not made a dent against WINS / WCBS or WBBM.
 
secondchoice said:
I know FM has a better sound with less static but, the Ancient Modulation stations are not going away as fast as a lot of people think in markets #1 & 3. Disney / ESPN did not get the big rating jump with the FM verses WFAN AM. Merlin with FM signals has not made a dent against WINS / WCBS or WBBM.
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WEPN-FM got a short term bump with Knicks and Rangers playoff games. They might get a bump when the Jets' season starts. CBS' contracts with both NY baseball teams are up at the end of the current season and WEPN-FM is expected to make a run at the Yankees. Sooner or later, CBS will have to move WFAN to FM.

Merlin hasn't made a dent against established CBS news stations in NY and Chicago because they aren't offering anything of substance. WINS, WCBS and WBBM have been all-news for more than four decades. Whether it's AM or FM, it's all in the programming. :)
 
Just announced: Randy Michaels pulls the plug on all-news format after year of humiliating failure. Who didn't see that coming?
 
Breaking news: Nearly a year after launching to much fanfare as New York and Chicago’s first all-news FMs, Merlin Media has dropped the format amid meager ratings. It has flipped New York’s “FM News 101.9” WEMP to “New Rock 101.9” at 10:05 this morning. The change returns rock to the former home of Emmis rock WRXP. In Chicago “FM News 101.1” WIQI flipped to hot AC as “i101.”
 
Looks like the entire staff in two cities gone. Merlin Media morphs FM News 101 into adult hits i101. Says Randy Michaels: "It was a difficult decision to make, but after a year of minimal audience engagement, coupled with the format’s inherent expense, I felt it was time to make a change.”
 
Love this from Robert Feder.

Once again, Randy Michaels has exposed himself as the arrogant, inept charlatan we’ve always known him to be.
 
1250WTAE said:
Love this from Robert Feder.

Once again, Randy Michaels has exposed himself as the arrogant, inept charlatan we’ve always known him to be.
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Hmmm.... Seems like only a couple of weeks ago, Michaels was calling Feder....who had the correct take all along...a "warped, frustrated, grumpy old man". Or something similarly "Potter-esque".
 
radioaircheck said:
why not bring back Q101 and the WKQX call letters?
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Yes! Bring back Q101! I like Q87.7, but would love to see the format back on the stronger signaled 101.1!

And I can say I'm not surprised to see that lousy news format go away, it was painful to listen the few times I actually tried.
 
I have a feeling nobody should get very attached to i101. When the FCC's 87.7 FM sunset comes down in a few years, won't Merlin (if they're still owning either station by then - or any stations, for that matter) simply move the format down to 101.1?

And I guess they'd need to call it something else since they sold off the rights to the "Q101" name, huh?
 
Putting WBBM on 105.9 was a smart move in that it penetrates the downtown high-rise buildings better. It also covers the majority of their intended audience. That frequency is solid all the way to South Bend. It also allows us to escape the horrible sound quality of the AM caused by their refusal to abandon IBOC.

On the other hand, putting the same program on both signals is a huge waste of spectrum. They should re-purpose the AM signal for something different.

They should also end the practice of saying "and now on 105.9 FM". It's been a year. It's not new anymore.
 
DToTheJ said:
I have a feeling nobody should get very attached to i101. When the FCC's 87.7 FM sunset comes down in a few years, won't Merlin (if they're still owning either station by then - or any stations, for that matter) simply move the format down to 101.1?

And I guess they'd need to call it something else since they sold off the rights to the "Q101" name, huh?
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I'm happy you mentioned that. When the sunset on LPTV stations running in analog comes down, Q87.7 goes bye bye.

Are there any other examples (in major markets) of "Frankin FM's" running commercial content? I know several religious broadcasters using the loop hole to their advantage (ie: K-LOVE in San Jose/San Francisco). Any others?
 
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