I'm thinking the flip of 96.9 is going to promote a few more format changes across the dial...Thoughts?
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
More to come...
- Thread starter DeejayDaveyC
- Start date
BRING BACK WCOZ!!!!!!!! LMOAO...
A mix of WROR, WBOS and what the Bone was playing (albeit a 6hr loop) would be a Rock station that I think could work...
HOT or JAMN, one of those two will either die or have to lean Urban. 1) HOT will die 2) JAMN will lean Urban 3) HOT will lean Urban AC.
AMP is legitimately the best station out at what it does and will not die, and i don't think it has to lean urban, solid ratings and a better playlist than kiss it just needs more time.
Notice iI use the word "lean" because even though it might be a good move no station will really be urban. Although JAM'N has recently gone more Mainstream Urban in the past week, DOUBLING its spins of "Pop That"- French Montana, Rick Ross, Li'l Wayne, Drake, "Young n Getting It"- Meek Mill and Kirko Bangz and "Ball"- T.I. although that was probably to scare Hot 969 form going Urban
AMP is legitimately the best station out at what it does and will not die, and i don't think it has to lean urban, solid ratings and a better playlist than kiss it just needs more time.
Notice iI use the word "lean" because even though it might be a good move no station will really be urban. Although JAM'N has recently gone more Mainstream Urban in the past week, DOUBLING its spins of "Pop That"- French Montana, Rick Ross, Li'l Wayne, Drake, "Young n Getting It"- Meek Mill and Kirko Bangz and "Ball"- T.I. although that was probably to scare Hot 969 form going Urban
I don't think Greater Media is done with format changes.
I wouldn't be surprised if they flip WBOS-92.9 to 24/7 Fox Sports Radio, given that it no longer has a Boston-area affiliate.
It would also cost less than a music format because:
(1) Greater Media would no longer be paying music licensing fees, and,
(2) Greater Media could sell airtime to independent sports packagers for college sports.
I'm thinking specifically of IMG College, who holds radio rights to Boston College sporting events. At present, they have an arrangement with WEEI-93.7/850 for football and men's basketball (and a similar deal with WBZ-98.5 for some men's hockey games), but many football and basketball games get bumped to one of Entercom's other local stations. Additionally, some BC hockey games aren't on comemrcial radio because of confolicts with Bruins' games.
Were Greater Media to flip WBOS to sports, they probably could convince IMG College to buy airtime on 92.9 and move BC sports there. With no conflicts, all of BC's football, men's basketball, and men's hockey games would be heard on one station. Greater Media also would get a nice little revenue stream.
I can also see three other format changes in the months to come:
* WBMX-104.1 becoming a full or partial simulcast of WBZ-1030 (as a partial simulcast, 104.1 would be 24/7 talk, simulcasting with WBZ between 8 P.M. and 5 A.M.)
* WGBH-89.7 dropping the rest of their jazz programming (now restricted to the evening and overnight hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in favor of more public radio news/information programming.
* WXKS-1200 could move away from it's all-comedy format. If Fox Sports doesn't get picked-up by WBOS, I could see WXKS-AM becoming 24/7 Fox Sports; otherwise, I could see a satellite-fed oldies format at 1200.
I wouldn't be surprised if they flip WBOS-92.9 to 24/7 Fox Sports Radio, given that it no longer has a Boston-area affiliate.
It would also cost less than a music format because:
(1) Greater Media would no longer be paying music licensing fees, and,
(2) Greater Media could sell airtime to independent sports packagers for college sports.
I'm thinking specifically of IMG College, who holds radio rights to Boston College sporting events. At present, they have an arrangement with WEEI-93.7/850 for football and men's basketball (and a similar deal with WBZ-98.5 for some men's hockey games), but many football and basketball games get bumped to one of Entercom's other local stations. Additionally, some BC hockey games aren't on comemrcial radio because of confolicts with Bruins' games.
Were Greater Media to flip WBOS to sports, they probably could convince IMG College to buy airtime on 92.9 and move BC sports there. With no conflicts, all of BC's football, men's basketball, and men's hockey games would be heard on one station. Greater Media also would get a nice little revenue stream.
I can also see three other format changes in the months to come:
* WBMX-104.1 becoming a full or partial simulcast of WBZ-1030 (as a partial simulcast, 104.1 would be 24/7 talk, simulcasting with WBZ between 8 P.M. and 5 A.M.)
* WGBH-89.7 dropping the rest of their jazz programming (now restricted to the evening and overnight hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in favor of more public radio news/information programming.
* WXKS-1200 could move away from it's all-comedy format. If Fox Sports doesn't get picked-up by WBOS, I could see WXKS-AM becoming 24/7 Fox Sports; otherwise, I could see a satellite-fed oldies format at 1200.
Sports have to be local to be successful. I don't think there's more room for sports especially a National station. Besides WBOS is making money as a jockless jukebox.
If CBS moved WBZ to 104.1 what do you do with one of the most powerful AM's in the country? Although I think WBMX will flip to something.
I agree with you on WXKS AM flipping to something else. How about NECN?
If CBS moved WBZ to 104.1 what do you do with one of the most powerful AM's in the country? Although I think WBMX will flip to something.
I agree with you on WXKS AM flipping to something else. How about NECN?
It would be sports station #5 in Boston; probably not likely unless CC really wanted to have it
cleared, in which case they'd put it on 1200 instead of comedy. But CC put comedy on a bunch
of their stations and it seems committed to it, at least for stations like 1200.
It does have to be local in some ways. 1510 is doing local too. And yes no more room for sports. And agreed about WBOS being a computer that spits out money...yeah maybe they could do a Harbor like station there, but I doubt it.
(I wonder if some local content occasionally shows up on 850 despite the ESPN situation:
some college sports, brokered local sports niche talk shows....Wolfe hinted at stuff like
golf shows. Wow.)
Back to 1200, I don't know if they'd do talk again but what with 96.9 gone they may (but
farfetched) do something like this (and again, I'm not so sure they would)
WXKS NEWS TALK 1200:
NECN simulcast, Beck, NECN or a syndie show (they wouldn't pay for a local host or would
they?), Hannity, etc.
but most likely stays comedy for now
cleared, in which case they'd put it on 1200 instead of comedy. But CC put comedy on a bunch
of their stations and it seems committed to it, at least for stations like 1200.
It does have to be local in some ways. 1510 is doing local too. And yes no more room for sports. And agreed about WBOS being a computer that spits out money...yeah maybe they could do a Harbor like station there, but I doubt it.
(I wonder if some local content occasionally shows up on 850 despite the ESPN situation:
some college sports, brokered local sports niche talk shows....Wolfe hinted at stuff like
golf shows. Wow.)
Back to 1200, I don't know if they'd do talk again but what with 96.9 gone they may (but
farfetched) do something like this (and again, I'm not so sure they would)
WXKS NEWS TALK 1200:
NECN simulcast, Beck, NECN or a syndie show (they wouldn't pay for a local host or would
they?), Hannity, etc.
but most likely stays comedy for now
F
fmradio1
Guest
Oh jeez...now the stupid is starting to come out. Format flips and tweaks are fun, but let's be realistic.
First off, I don't see any more major changes in the foreseeable future. GM has their properties set. WBOS is doing well with it's 90's based alternative format. It's not going anywhere. Same goes with Magic and WKLB. The most I could see is WROR transitioning into the 80's more, but that's about it. But until Loren & Wally retire, I don't see much changing there.
Like GM, CBS is now fairly set. Amp has built quality cume quickly. The Sports Hub is beating WEEI. WBZ is holding it's own, and I can't see them sacrificing AMP to put 1030 on FM. The big question is how Mix reacts to 96.9. Do they add more rhythmic titles, or do they go the other way, returning to their modern AC roots and carving out their niche that way.
Entercom is a mess, but they seem to be committed to WEEI and WAAF on their FM sticks. WRKO will obviously get a slight bump from 96.9 ditching talk, but a move to FM doesn't seem likely. They'll probably stay with the format on 680 until Howie finally retires and then re-assess from there. I could see them running it bare bones until they find a buyer for the signal.
That leaves Clear Channel. Kiss re-upped Matty awhile back, and Kiss is essentially running the CC template mainstream Top 40 format. Considering they top the ratings, nothing will change there. WJMN has some soul searching to do. Do they stay the course, skew younger, or possibly go urban? Possibly. No rash decisions will be made though. They have the heritage, so they'll gauge the new competition for at least a few months before deciding on anything. Who knows with 101.7....it's an experiment, so it could work for awhile, or flame out completely. We'll have to see. And I don't think much change will come to the AM's. I can't see issue oriented talk returning to 1200. The demos still suck, even if there is one less competitor.
First off, I don't see any more major changes in the foreseeable future. GM has their properties set. WBOS is doing well with it's 90's based alternative format. It's not going anywhere. Same goes with Magic and WKLB. The most I could see is WROR transitioning into the 80's more, but that's about it. But until Loren & Wally retire, I don't see much changing there.
Like GM, CBS is now fairly set. Amp has built quality cume quickly. The Sports Hub is beating WEEI. WBZ is holding it's own, and I can't see them sacrificing AMP to put 1030 on FM. The big question is how Mix reacts to 96.9. Do they add more rhythmic titles, or do they go the other way, returning to their modern AC roots and carving out their niche that way.
Entercom is a mess, but they seem to be committed to WEEI and WAAF on their FM sticks. WRKO will obviously get a slight bump from 96.9 ditching talk, but a move to FM doesn't seem likely. They'll probably stay with the format on 680 until Howie finally retires and then re-assess from there. I could see them running it bare bones until they find a buyer for the signal.
That leaves Clear Channel. Kiss re-upped Matty awhile back, and Kiss is essentially running the CC template mainstream Top 40 format. Considering they top the ratings, nothing will change there. WJMN has some soul searching to do. Do they stay the course, skew younger, or possibly go urban? Possibly. No rash decisions will be made though. They have the heritage, so they'll gauge the new competition for at least a few months before deciding on anything. Who knows with 101.7....it's an experiment, so it could work for awhile, or flame out completely. We'll have to see. And I don't think much change will come to the AM's. I can't see issue oriented talk returning to 1200. The demos still suck, even if there is one less competitor.
Joseph_Gallant said:
Right, local college play-by-play driving the revenue engine in the weakest college sports market in the nation. Boston is strictly a pro sports town, has been for many years.
Of all the formats that they fiddled with in the past week, including the one that they apparently settled on with "Pebbles", the only one I'd consider tuning into is "The Bone". Bye-bye 96.9.
The big question that only time will answer is whether the market can support all of these variations of Top 40 radio on 94.5, 96.9, 103.3, 104.1 and 107.9 respectively. GM and CBS by virtue of owning several FMs may be more inclined to hold out and see where the ratings take them, where CC, by virtue of being being restricted to two full market signals and a smaller restricted FM signal will have to make some decisions as to what their next move is going to be, but probably will not happen for a while. One thing is for sure, Kiss 108 is going anywhere anytime soon.
wcozBoston said:
I totally agree. I just don't see how any market can support 5 variations of Top 40. Basically Boston has reached a tipping point. Too hip for "old music" too bland for a pure rock or (especially) pure urban. Honestly it'd make the most sense for 94.5 to go full Mainstream Urban and for 104.1, to go all the way Rock. Leave the pop to KISS and AMP, they're good at it. Especially Amp. Hot will only survive if others clear the way, they chose a format that has been a proven failure (Star 93.7...).
Do you ever read the trades, or stream stations from other markets?
WBZ is no more powerful than WBBM, and KCBS.
Both simulcast, on full powered FM 's.
Why are defending the mediocrity of the Boston radio market?
q
uote author=Jimmy128 link=topic=226668.msg2037917#msg2037917 date=1357679964]
Sports have to be local to be successful. I don't think there's more room for sports especially a National station. Besides WBOS is making money as a jockless jukebox.
If CBS moved WBZ
I agree with you on WXKS AM flipping to something else. How about NECN?
[/quote]
WBZ is no more powerful than WBBM, and KCBS.
Both simulcast, on full powered FM 's.
Why are defending the mediocrity of the Boston radio market?
q
uote author=Jimmy128 link=topic=226668.msg2037917#msg2037917 date=1357679964]Sports have to be local to be successful. I don't think there's more room for sports especially a National station. Besides WBOS is making money as a jockless jukebox.
If CBS moved WBZ
I agree with you on WXKS AM flipping to something else. How about NECN?
[/quote]
- Status