Paul Finebaum leaves WJOX

[whit979]

It's official: Paul Finebaum has left WJOX at the conclusion of his contract with Cumulus.

This report indicates that he'll join Cox's 97.3 the Zone following a three month hiatus pursuant to the non-compete clause in his Cumulus contract, though this report in the Trussville Tribune indicates that he hasn't made a decision yet.

 

[passtheword]

It's official: Paul Finebaum has left WJOX at the conclusion of his contract with Cumulus.

This report indicates that he'll join Cox's 97.3 the Zone following a three month hiatus pursuant to the non-compete clause in his Cumulus contract, though this report in the Trussville Tribune indicates that he hasn't made a decision yet.

If Finebaum does wind up at the Zone, will the format and calls be moved to 106.9, as some have suggested in the past (since WBPT's signal is better than 97.3's)? Wasn't one of Finebaum's beefs that the signal was too weak when he was on the original WJOX, at 100.5?

It'll be interesting to see how the Zone listeners will take to Finebaum's presence if/when he moves. Last time I saw the Zone Facebook page, many of the listeners weren't too happy that Cox was considering hiring Finebaum for 97.3...some even threatened to switch stations if Cox did so.

 

[Charles1]

Cox faces a tough decision on whether or not to move WZNN away from 97.3. Right now they have the #1, 2, 3 and 6 stations in the market on 98.7, 104.7, 95.7 and 106.9. And given that the Eagle is the only classic rock (oops, "classic hits") station in the market, would it kill WBPT to move it to 97.3? They pulled a similar ploy in '01 when they moved WODL to 97.3 to make room for the Point, and within two years Oldies 97.3 bit the dust. Could a possible "97-3 the Eagle" survive with a greatly reduced coverage area?

 

[tomservo]

I think what everyone needs to do is re-assess their expectations of the 97.3 signal. It's been maximized and has better coverage than it did in the Hot 97 days. I don't remember if the boost came after oldies or before oldies, though. But it's not and never will be a full market signal and will never support a top 5 station, just like none of translators will ever likely crack the top 10 due to their even more limited signals.

Finebaum may be a huge draw for sports fans, but what does Cox have beyond that that's worth listening to? That's my question. 100,000 watts of un-compelling programming still won't bring in the ratings. They may as well leave Finebaum and sports on 97.3 and get the maximum bang for their 6,000 watts and let The Eagle continue to reach the entire market to eek out what it can as the long classic hits station.

 

[Alabama Florida Radio]

Can the show still be heard outside the Birmingham market on his affiliate stations?

 

[tomservo]

Can the show still be heard outside the Birmingham market on his affiliate stations?

I checked in today on the south Alabama affiliate, WHEP in Foley, and they appeared to be playing alternate programming. I think it may have been the Roundtable show that was on before Finebaum. I never got a positive ID, though.

Cumulus pulled any reference to Finebaum from the WJOX website and also scrubbed clean his show's separate website. Going to it just redirects to the Cumulus corporate site, which makes me think that they must have controlled his syndication and have put Roundtable in its place.

 

[R.D.P.]

ALEX FM was carrying his program.

They're now doing music, for the time being.

They have plans of putting him back on, once they're able to.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Once he makes his return, the Gump may have a new home for him anyway.  It looks like WTXK AM 1210/107.5 FM may pick up the show.  That's the word I'm hearing on the Montgomery TV and Radio site.