> It's amazing, because as I listen to the vast music library
> on 107.9 The Link (online, of course) I can't help but think
> if that, combined with its floundering ratings, will make
> that station the prome candidate to get Jacked.
A few things about The Link... It's owned by Jefferson-Pilot, which to this point, to the best of my knowledge, has not put on a Variety Hits station anywhere. Also, that's the flagship station for Bob & Sheri. Now JP could pull a move like what Midwest TV did in
San Diego, keeping the established morning show intact and going Variety Hits the rest of the day (with the JACK-FM branding in the case of San Diego), so it's not entirely outside the realm of possibility. It comes down to JP believing that the format would outperform the talk format that's on the station currently (though
100000watts.com still lists it as Modern AC -- does The Link play music overnights or something?).
WLNK's signal is insanely strong (1694ft 100kw C, also according to 100kw;
click here to see the Radio-Locator map of the estimated coverage zone), so unless it's absolutely nailing the target demo, what I see 12+ does not corrolate with what I'd consider to be an optimal use of the signal. Maybe it "bills above the numbers", but with JACK-FM I could see that station becoming an immediate player in P25-54, especially with an established, strong morning show that will keep its W18-54 numbers high in morning drive. You figure most men already are conditioned not to tune in there anyway in morning drive, and Charlotte is the home market for John Boy & Billy, plus Bob & Tom are on there, so why try to go for that demo in morning drive? Hit that the rest of the day, or do what Jack in San Diego does a lean a little more pop with the music mix, a little less rock (like
Los Angeles). *Note: I haven't heard the San Diego Jack or the L.A. Jack, but what I write is based on what I've been told by multiple people about both.*
There are other options in the market... WNMX-FM is another potential candidate, depending on what GHB Broadcasting (enter your own joke about that name here) wants to do. Ditto for Pacific Broadcasting's 95.7 The Ride. And of course Infinity is in the market, and anywhere that company is, JACK-FM might soon pop up (Jack just opened up shop in
Las Vegas on Friday). Radio One has to be hoping that Infinity flips Urban AC V101.9 (Infinity's lowest-rated FM in Charlotte), opening the door for Q92.7 to become the market's lone Urban AC station. AC K104.7 might be another option for Infinity as well (and what's the deal with the one-letter designations for stations in Charlotte?)
We've talked about the possibilities of Pittsburgh on here before, but in reality I think Charlotte has more options for the Variety Hits format going in than Pittsburgh does. But, as always, time will tell.<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com &
VarietyHits.com</P>
