If Actually Promoted Well, Would Savannah Support The Return of JACK FM?

[FilmCritic3K]

I know some on here bemoaned JACK FM when WGCO flipped to it in 2005, as they blew up a longtime staple in the local radio market (Oldies 98.3); others thought it just didn't carve out different enough real estate, what with WGZO, WRHQ, and to a lesser extent WIXV all featuring many of the same songs.

But (and a big one) if it did return to Savannah, was decently and effectively marketed and promoted (I'm not just talking a billboard here, a TV commercial there, as Triad did), could the format thrive and survive?

 

[upstate29651]

I'm not sure. When I read about the other jack-esque stations dumping the format nationwide, I wonder if it is (was) a format too far ahead of its time, or one doomed from the start. The format now seems so 2007 anyway.

I think bringing back oldies to 98.3 & restoring the brand is the only logical thing to do on 98.3.

G

 

[carolinaradio]

I honestly don't know. That is so 2005/2006. Variety Hits seems to be on its way out.

I know Jack is in a lot of cities, but if you look the ratings are usually low. Have no idea if it's promotion, music, what....but I don't see it returning to Savannah, especially since it's already been tried. I agree with G....oldies just belongs on 98.3. Jack was a big fat mistake, IMO, at least on that frequency. I would have done it on 103.1 or 107.9.....but then again, it was 'in' in 2005 to drop oldies for Jack, so.

I know some do, but not a whole lot of Jack stations do well, but they aren't flipped because they have extremely low overhead.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

I honestly don't know. That is so 2005/2006. Variety Hits seems to be on its way out.

I know Jack is in a lot of cities, but if you look the ratings are usually low. Have no idea if it's promotion, music, what....but I don't see it returning to Savannah, especially since it's already been tried. I agree with G....oldies just belongs on 98.3. Jack was a big fat mistake, IMO, at least on that frequency. I would have done it on 103.1 or 107.9.....but then again, it was 'in' in 2005 to drop oldies for Jack, so.

I know some do, but not a whole lot of Jack stations do well, but they aren't flipped because they have extremely low overhead.

My thoughts exactly re: it should have been 103.1 JACK FM or 107.9 JACK FM, not 98.3 JACK FM.

I still run in to alot of people who bemoan the fact that JACK FM's no longer around. Then again, they weren't filling out Arbitron diaries for the most part, so...

 

[carolinaradio]

Some "Jack" stations have evolved out of the 'whatever we want' idea and are now classic rock, AAA, rock, or just more focused formats with music similar to the VH idea but more structured.

I know I repeat myself on here....but again, it PROBABLY should have been: oldies on 98.3, standards on 107.9, and Jack on 103.1. Or maybe standards on 103.1 and Jack on the stronger 107.9 signal. 103.1 gets HHI well where many of the standards listeners probably are anyway. They messed themselves up big time with 98.3. That's the last stick I would have taken a risk with.

 

[Witchlover]

They messed themselves up big time with 98.3. That's the last stick I would have taken a risk with.

I have to agree with you there. 98.3 had an identity, a loyal core audience, personnel who were engaging and fun to listen to and a signal to die for. Also, people travelling through the coastal area seemed to talk the station up to their friends when they got home. Even though I am very much a country music fan, I always listened to 98.3 when I wanted something familiar on in the background while I was busy having fun. When I would think of the beach, for example, I wanted Oldies 98.3 along for the day. Changing this station was change for the sake of change, change because that's what the experts said to do. All in all, a bad move and a bad outcome for a good station. 2¢.