They don't have signal problems on HD, though, right?
The problem, then, is not enough people consider the station good enough to go out and buy an HD receiver or two.
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Format change coming in Greenville
- Thread starter carolinaradio
- Start date
The problem, then, is not enough people consider the station good enough to go out and buy an HD receiver or two.
They don't have signal problems on HD, though, right?
The problem, then, is not enough people consider the station good enough to go out and buy an HD receiver or two.
Honestly, though, they never advertised the fact that they were on an HD signal. Other than the reciting of their call letters with the "WJMZ-HD2", they never mentioned a single thing about HD radio. Come to think of it, even when they were getting complaints on their Facebook page, even the staff never brought up the fact that if you go get yourself an HD radio, you'd hear us nice and clear.
So, no I don't think it has anything to do with whether people considered the station "good enough" to get an HD receiver. Despite radio's efforts in the HD spectrum, I think the vast majority of people still didn't know squat about it. B93.7 used to advertise all the time about having comedy on its HD channel. I never hear those ads anymore and have no idea what is or isn't available on HD radio in the GSP market.
Entercom and Clear Channel have HD channels but they don't own any translators. I always wondered, myself, if Cox/Summit were trying to sell those two translators separately from the other stations. Judging by the sponsors, it sounded like it. I wouldn't be surprised if Chuck eventually went away also (could we see Summit try to kill it off for mainstream Urban, old school, or something?).
I also wonder why Cox signed X on the air if they knew they were going to be selling that group of stations off. Maybe they didn't definitely know at the time, or it was to add value to the other stations for sale. I don't think they'd just put it on the air for no reason. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't go Urban Gospel initially.
I do think 98.5 is the end of the Alternative format in the area unless another translator pops up somewhere.
I also wonder why Cox signed X on the air if they knew they were going to be selling that group of stations off. Maybe they didn't definitely know at the time, or it was to add value to the other stations for sale. I don't think they'd just put it on the air for no reason. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't go Urban Gospel initially.
I do think 98.5 is the end of the Alternative format in the area unless another translator pops up somewhere.
Starting to question whether this is a smokescreen. Heard a revized liner on X this morning saying "more music in the morning". They've had one like this before but the new one sounds less "aggressive" as the old one. Sounded like something you'd hear on a CHR or Hot AC (but not really Urban Gospel or another urban format).
Could just be a coincidence. Just seemed strange to change a liner before a station's imminent death.
Could just be a coincidence. Just seemed strange to change a liner before a station's imminent death.
Well, apparently that wasn't a changed promo, so I'll retract my last post. But there's some rumors that are even more interesting about what's going on. I'm hearing that Steve Harvey may be getting signed to a station in Summit's Greenville cluster. If that happens, I'd say it's either a) a desperate attempt to revive Hot 98.1 before it sinks or b) a possibile sign that the translator is not going to be Urban Gospel but instead Urban Talk. Either way, I'm not convinced it would be a good move. Contracting hosts for Urban Talk would be expensive and I don't see how it could be profitable on the existing 98.5 signal. That signal is, in a word, pretty pathetic for a cheap endevor without personalities (as X was) let alone a full-blown talk station.
I guess it could be another "Urban" station that leans older or younger. Who knows. Doesn't make any sense regardless.
I guess it could be another "Urban" station that leans older or younger. Who knows. Doesn't make any sense regardless.
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Steve Harvey would take away from Tom Joyner's 25-54 demo on JAMZ so I would count Harvey out, plus that's Clear Channel's "in house" Urban morning show. On the other hand, if 98.5 does go Urban Gospel, Yolanda Adams would be the morning show host. However, I don't see 98.1 keeping mornings local. I wouldn't be surprised if Rickey Smiley was added to HOT 98.1 and the music shifted more Urban. ?????
This thread was started over 3 weeks ago and this station still hasn't changed anything. Any ideas what's going on?
and every market nationwide would lose two cc employees posted months ago. this board is ahead of reality.This thread was started over 3 weeks ago and this station still hasn't changed anything. Any ideas what's going on?
Well, rumor now is that Summit had been considering sports on 98.5, but new NFL and college contracts with WORD killed the plan. Now, a flip will likely entail a variation on the urban format -
either younger or older. Summit plans another Urban "wall" like they have in Birmingham. But this is a different market that has lower percentages for Urban listeners so not sure how it will fly. Doesn't matter much since 98.5 is such a crappy signal.
Flip may happen as soon as next weekend but I'm not sure if Summit had all their ducks in a row.
X, meanwhile, has been left alone. No new adds - save for a Blue October track requested by listeners. No new promos. Left to wither away.
either younger or older. Summit plans another Urban "wall" like they have in Birmingham. But this is a different market that has lower percentages for Urban listeners so not sure how it will fly. Doesn't matter much since 98.5 is such a crappy signal.
Flip may happen as soon as next weekend but I'm not sure if Summit had all their ducks in a row.
X, meanwhile, has been left alone. No new adds - save for a Blue October track requested by listeners. No new promos. Left to wither away.
Remember, the 94.1, 97.7, and 98.5 translators are not owned by Summit. They are leased from Tower Above Media (Ted McCall). This is why they weren't included in the sale. Tower Above owns most of the AM and HD fed translators around here except for WBCU's. Contracts run out and terms can change, so they could end up relaying anyone (such as the 94.9 change from WFIS 1600 to WCSZ 1070).
Remember, the 94.1, 97.7, and 98.5 translators are not owned by Summit. They are leased from Tower Above Media (Ted McCall). This is why they weren't included in the sale. Tower Above owns most of the AM and HD fed translators around here except for WBCU's. Contracts run out and terms can change, so they could end up relaying anyone (such as the 94.9 change from WFIS 1600 to WCSZ 1070).
True, but to my knowledge Summit intends to keep leasing them. Not sure when the current contract ends or if it was renegotiated as part if the Cox sale. Will have to look into that.
Haven't posted here in a while, but thought I'd pass on that latest on what I'm hearing on this. It sounds like the format flip has been put on hold. And there's new rumors that Summit may just sell (or end the lease) of the translators. Not sure if it would be both - 97.7 (Chuck FM) and X98.5 - or just one.
Whatever the case, obviously the "flip" hasn't happened and may not happen anytime soon. For anyone enjoying X98.5, they've been continuing to add new music, so I'd say just enjoy it while it's still here. The translator's future is anyone's guess at this point.
Whatever the case, obviously the "flip" hasn't happened and may not happen anytime soon. For anyone enjoying X98.5, they've been continuing to add new music, so I'd say just enjoy it while it's still here. The translator's future is anyone's guess at this point.
Holidays are approaching. Maybe they're waiting.
Haven't posted here in a while, but thought I'd pass on that latest on what I'm hearing on this. It sounds like the format flip has been put on hold. And there's new rumors that Summit may just sell (or end the lease) of the translators. Not sure if it would be both - 97.7 (Chuck FM) and X98.5 - or just one.
Whatever the case, obviously the "flip" hasn't happened and may not happen anytime soon. For anyone enjoying X98.5, they've been continuing to add new music, so I'd say just enjoy it while it's still here. The translator's future is anyone's guess at this point.
To add to this, there's even rumors now of Summit possibly selling off the entire Greenville cluster. I'm not sure why they would do so, but I think the company is having financial troubles.
It's not a good time to start up a business like that, especially given the larger companies such a new and small group is up against. It sounds like they've been struggling all along.
I wouldn't sell off the translator signals. If I'm going to sell the entire cluster off, they're worth hanging on to for the added value and let the next operator deal with them.
I wouldn't sell off the translator signals. If I'm going to sell the entire cluster off, they're worth hanging on to for the added value and let the next operator deal with them.
It's not a good time to start up a business like that, especially given the larger companies such a new and small group is up against. It sounds like they've been struggling all along.
I wouldn't sell off the translator signals. If I'm going to sell the entire cluster off, they're worth hanging on to for the added value and let the next operator deal with them.
I think it probably will be an all or nothing kind of deal (the entire cluster including the translators). But the longer it takes to find a buyer, the more likely it is that they'll go ahead and flip at least X98.5. And if they REALLY have a hard time selling, they may just abandon the translators to save costs.
Still, I get the feeling that right now they want to get rid of the entire cluster.
In the meantime, at least they're keeping X relevant by continuing to put in new adds every week. Can't say what if anything has changed at Chuck lately since I don't listen to it much.
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You make a good point. They should really hold on to those translators, though.
Chuck still sounds like it did in 2011. You're not missing anything. We play "everything" (the same 375 songs, 25 "wow" tracks), and annoying liners in between. X needs to stay updated or it'd sound pretty bad after a while, especially considering that it may or may not be going away soon. If these people have a station that's doing badly enough to warrant a flip, and they're not able to get their act together enough to do anything about it, maybe they do need to get out of the business.
Chuck still sounds like it did in 2011. You're not missing anything. We play "everything" (the same 375 songs, 25 "wow" tracks), and annoying liners in between. X needs to stay updated or it'd sound pretty bad after a while, especially considering that it may or may not be going away soon. If these people have a station that's doing badly enough to warrant a flip, and they're not able to get their act together enough to do anything about it, maybe they do need to get out of the business.
Dead air on X98.5 today. Beginning of a format change? Or technical problems?
If it's the flip, that's pretty unprofessional way to go about it. Should either stunt or flip. Dead air is not an option.
False alarm. Back up, but they were dead air for quite a while this morning.
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