Is this a possibility?

[Mike2141]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but could CBS move the Q104 format and personalities to 92.3 and put The Fan on 104.1? They could call 92.3 92Q or Jammin 92. If I was CBS I wouldn't mess with 98.5 or 102.1.

 

[AntDog152]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but could CBS move the Q104 format and personalities to 92.3 and put The Fan on 104.1? They could call 92.3 92Q or Jammin 92. If I was CBS I wouldn't mess with 98.5 or 102.1.

I would be very surprised if 104.1 or 102.1 is swapped for sports. WNCX IMO is being considered to flip because of the aging audience while WQAL and WDOK is CBS' top radio stations in Cleveland. More than likely, 92.3 will flip to sports and if CBS gains PBP rights for Indians/Cavs/Browns, they would consider using 98.5 as a 2nd flagship.

 

[TomT]

92.3 has been a short-spaced, limited facility since it came on as WCUY-FM. It's too close to 92.5 in Alliance. On the other hand, the other three CBS stations are full-facilities with much more coverage towards the south over Akron.

Which one would you flip to sports?

 

[Tim]

Why in heaven's name would the 2nd largest radio chain in the world invest big dollars for a potentially killer format on a frequency that covers about 50% of the metro market?

Folks...maybe I'm giving CBS corporate too much credit, but: if you can't hear the station, you can't get the ratings, and you can't get the big ad dollars.

If they only care about cutting costs...get rid of all local air personalities and voice track WNCX's current classic rock format on 98.5, keep the mediocre-performing ($$$$) 92.3 alternative format....and continue to let Clear Channel own men in the Cleveland metro area.

Radio is a business....not a hobby.

Hello??????

P.S.: WDOK & WQAL *own* women in the Cleveland metro area. In any economic conditions, much less a poor regional economy, why would you take the top 2 revenue-producing female stations and change ANYTHING, much less the frequency? Do any of you folks know anything about business??????

 

[TomT]

You can get away with a lesser facility with a talk format--look at CC's 104.7 in Pittsburgh.
Although Tim has a valid argument--if you want to make a splash 98.5 would be a logical choice to flip.

A weighing of priorities.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

To that end, TomT, CBS had WNCX/98.5's AM driver Maxwell do a special one-off show on 92.3 a week ago in afternoon drive.

I speculated that CBS was hearing how 92.3 did in mono, so they put a talk show there for a day. A source later that day told me my speculation was right on the dot, which surprised me.

Sure, they can get away with a lesser signal, but I'm not sure even flipping 92.3 to mono for the sports format is enough. We'll see. 92.3 is worse in Cleveland than 104.7 is in Pgh, as far as I remember.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but could CBS move the Q104 format and personalities to 92.3 and put The Fan on 104.1? They could call 92.3 92Q or Jammin 92. If I was CBS I wouldn't mess with 98.5 or 102.1.

I would be very surprised if 104.1 or 102.1 is swapped for sports. WNCX IMO is being considered to flip because of the aging audience while WQAL and WDOK is CBS' top radio stations in Cleveland. More than likely, 92.3 will flip to sports and if CBS gains PBP rights for Indians/Cavs/Browns, they would consider using 98.5 as a 2nd flagship.

Unless this is being planned otherwise, 92.3 will be home to "The Fan."

I'm guessing that CBS apparently still feels that the classic rock format is still good for another year or two in the market on such a big signal like 98.5, rather than exiling it immediately. Plus (and this is my guess) this sports format will be targeted to the same audience that sought out the alternative format on 92.3. Not to mention that the classic rock format is virtually impossible to update, and will age even more and more over the next five years, it still is good enough for a year or two on the full-market 98.5, then it can be scooted it off to 92.3.

Plus Maxwell's presence is the elephant in the room. I doubt CBS wants to renew him in October. That he wasn't considered for The Fan speaks volumes.

Should they steal PBP rights from CC, "92.3 The Fan" and WNCX will absolutely swap. At the very least, within a year, we will see "Sports Radio 98.5 The Fan" and "92.3 WNCX."

It may all be rendered moot after all if 98.5 flips to sports.

 

[Rusty Muck]

To that end, TomT, CBS had WNCX/98.5's AM driver Maxwell do a special one-off show on 92.3 a week ago in afternoon drive.

I speculated that CBS was hearing how 92.3 did in mono, so they put a talk show there for a day. A source later that day told me my speculation was right on the dot, which surprised me.

Sure, they can get away with a lesser signal, but I'm not sure even flipping 92.3 to mono for the sports format is enough. We'll see. 92.3 is worse in Cleveland than 104.7 is in Pgh, as far as I remember.

It may also have been just for testing only to see how 92.3's reception would be. Not to confirm either way that said signal is/was being targeted for "The Fan."

But it also gave CBS a nice excuse to test. If 92.3 was tested in mono during normal music programming, the alarm bells would sound.

 

[Tim]

92.3 covers about half the Cleveland 5-county metro. 98.5 covers most of the 18-county Cleveland DMA.

Sports out bills classic rock and nearly every format per rating point.

Those are facts...not opinions.

They won't "test" the format on 92.3 for an eventual move to 98.5. Such as test would be a failure because the coverage won't drive high enough ratings/advertising dollars.

The folks at WKNR would breath at least a semi-sigh of relief if CBS puts sports on 92.3....they'd at least then have a fighting chance. Think CBS wants to wound or kill off WKNR? What would you want if it were your decision and you had the resources CBS has? Yeah...I thought so!

So, could CBS put sportstalk on 92.3? Sure....but, I can't imagine why.

Everybody I know with experience in broadcasting has said..."98.5 is the logical move".

CBS is filled with many of the industry's best radio minds. These folks aren't idiots.