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Format change coming to WTJS 93.1 in Alamo/Jackson?

anotherguyTN

anotherguyTN

In flipping across the dial I noticed that WTJS 93.1 had apparently dropped their news/talk format. The last couple of weeks they had been carrying Salem's Today's Christian Music, which is currently doing all Christmas music. But the last few day they were carrying oldies and classic rock. I figure they're going to change formats on Jan. 1, but to what? They've done CCM on and off as The Dove, but dropped it in 2015. After that they went to oldies with Hippie Radio on 105.3 until 2018 when they switched to Fox Sports.

I don't know if they'll go back to AC CCM or oldies, but it seems like there's already plenty of those already. At least there will be one less News/talk FM station, especially with all the pro-Trump and anti-vax garbage going on now.
 
They still may be carrying some local talk. Today they were plying Christmas music again. I think they had been having transmitter problems and I may have been picking up another station at the time I heard oldies.
 
anotherguyTN said:
They still may be carrying some local talk. Today they were plying Christmas music again. I think they had been having transmitter problems and I may have been picking up another station at the time I heard oldies.
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Obviously, I can only listen to them online. They even had video on their website of the three of them talking while I was watching and listening.
 
Yesterday I heard a local preacher, but it was Christmas music the rest of the time when I checked. I checked the website last night and what was on Tune In sounded like a recording of their morning show from the past. So they may still be running past recorded programs online, or if it's live it's online only.

Grace had also bought WNWS News Talk 101.5 in Jackson earlier this year, so it may have been something from them. It's still odd that they would still be online but not OTA.
 
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I found out the oldies/classic rock was probably coming from KZLE in Batesville, AR at a time that WTJS's transmitter may have been off. Also, I believe they're still operating under an STA at lower power because of their regular tower being struck by lightning.
 
I have just about reached the conclusion that nearly every radio market in America has at least one or two stations too many. And those surplus stations struggle to find a format that is not already represented, and can still deliver them an audience. It may be why more stations simulcast now.
 
firepoint525 said:
I have just about reached the conclusion that nearly every radio market in America has at least one or two stations too many. And those surplus stations struggle to find a format that is not already represented, and can still deliver them an audience. It may be why more stations simulcast now.
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I tend to think that the problem in West Tennessee isn't the quantity of stations, it's the quality of ownership. Forever has no incentive to try anything new, and they seem to buy clusters of stations and then be unable to figure out what to do with them except to use them as repeaters. Thomas wouldn't innovate if you set off a nuclear device under them. And Grace? They bought WNWS, and now have 2 talkers and a sports station, a ton of staff and overhead, and the most non-existent digital media presence. What's their endgame? Is there really an audience for all of the talk that's out there? As far as WTJS, they're still operating under that STA. That has to hurt at this time of year, for sure. What's their bottom line going to look like in January or February? There are format holes, but none of these operators will ever fill them.
 
anotherguyTN said:
There is definitely overkill in FM news/talk stations in the Jackson area. I'm not a fan of FM N/T anyway, but even if I were, I'd still think it was too many. At least hopefully there will be one less soon.
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We recently bought a new stereo receiver, to replace one that was nearly 30 years old! I don't see any evidence that this new one has any AM capability at all. (It is all digital.) That may explain why all those news/talk stations are migrating over to FM now.
exdjted said:
I tend to think that the problem in West Tennessee isn't the quantity of stations, it's the quality of ownership. Forever has no incentive to try anything new, and they seem to buy clusters of stations and then be unable to figure out what to do with them except to use them as repeaters. Thomas wouldn't innovate if you set off a nuclear device under them. And Grace? They bought WNWS, and now have 2 talkers and a sports station, a ton of staff and overhead, and the most non-existent digital media presence. What's their endgame? Is there really an audience for all of the talk that's out there? As far as WTJS, they're still operating under that STA. That has to hurt at this time of year, for sure. What's their bottom line going to look like in January or February? There are format holes, but none of these operators will ever fill them.
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The other issue is that nearly ALL broadcasters are going after the SAME slice of the pie. It apparently never occurs to them that there are underserved markets out there.
 
Yesterday there was a lot of dead air and ads when I checked. But at times there was music it was still from Salem, which had switched back to AC CCM. Since it still sounds like they're on and off I don't know if this will be a permanent change or not.

If they do stay with AC CCM permanently it's just adding to more than enough of it already, with K-LOVE and their translators, WTKB 93.7 in Atwood, and the WAY-FM translator in Jackson.
 
Thanks for the info Dan. It's ironic that for years they were Southern Gospel and wouldn't give CCM a chance even on a part time basis because they were afraid they would offend their listeners under their original owners. When Grace took over they eventually did CCM with the Dove on different frequencies, but 93.1 stayed SG until the change to News/Talk.
 
anotherguyTN said:
Thanks for the info Dan. It's ironic that for years they were Southern Gospel and wouldn't give CCM a chance even on a part time basis because they were afraid they would offend their listeners under their original owners. When Grace took over they eventually did CCM with the Dove on different frequencies, but 93.1 stayed SG until the change to News/Talk.
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I'm thinking that when they gospel, they were part of the "good news network," The Dresden station was part of that at the time, and their call letters were WGNN. They must have been the flagship station for that, although they didn't stay with it for long.
 
According to Wikipedia they have apparently changed back to News Talk and are going by News Talk West Tennessee. I thought they were still doing music unless they're using is as filler like they've done before.

ANY music format, even if it's something I don't like personally would be better than News Talk on 4 FM frequencies in the Jackson area! (n)
 
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