Power 96.1: Is the end near?

[atlantaboy]

Also, changing frequencies this early in wouldn't be good for the new station as it continues to gain momentum. People are still just finding out about it. Many of these people are just turning their radio on for the first time since September of last year.. or earlier.

OK but how long did the listeners get used to Q100 moving from 100.5 to 99.7?

7 or 8 years - Q100 signed on around 2000-2001? (Not sure exactly), but it didn't move to 99.7 until 2008

I agree that moving 105.7 might not be such a great idea at this point - IMO people will tune in, hear CHR or Mexican radio, assume that they flipped formats (most listeners have no clue what Radio's ratings are like), and go back to their IPods - that is, unless CC wants to spend a LOT of money advertising the change on TV

Someone posted that the 105.7 signal covers the Alternative demo in Atlanta, and I've gotta strongly disagree with that - most 20-something Alternative listeners live inside the Perimeter, in an extremely densely populated area (i. e. Midtown and Buckhead), where Radio's signal barely comes in - so IMO if CC could pull off a frequency switch, and advertise it, Radio's audience would skyrocket

 

[electroboy73]

What would it take for 105.7 to simply boost it's signal up to 50,000 or even 70,000 watts? Since no one has brought it up, I assume it must not be an easy process. Just curious as to how possible this is and if it would it actually reach into more of the areas needed.

 

[chrocket87]

I think it has been brought up in earlier threads and due to short-spacing, they can't boost the signal on 105.7.

 

[jabba17]

I think it has been brought up in earlier threads and due to short-spacing, they can't boost the signal on 105.7.

You have sister 105.3 to the southwest and 106.1 to the northeast.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

I think it has been brought up in earlier threads and due to short-spacing, they can't boost the signal on 105.7.

You have sister 105.3 to the southwest and 106.1 to the northeast.

I had Sister 105.3 as a teacher in Catholic school.

 

[secondchoice]

What would it take for 105.7 to simply boost it's signal up to 50,000 or even 70,000 watts? Since no one has brought it up, I assume it must not be an easy process. Just curious as to how possible this is and if it would it actually reach into more of the areas needed.

I am not a RF engineer, but not counting translators and FM class “D”s CC would have to take into account the new Milner FM’s 60db on 105.9 which they do not own:

https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...req=105.9&contour=60&city=MILNER&state=GA.kml

And Cumulus / Volt’s 105.5:

https://maps.google.com/?q=http://t...freq=105.5&contour=60&city=MACON&state=GA.kml


CC owns 105.7 WEKL Augusta GA, WRXR 105.5 Rossville, which they could downgrade if needed.

Plus is a chance of IF interference with 94.9? I remember on of the issues with moving 106.7 to an in town tower was possible IF issue with 96.1.

IMHO sooner or later CC and Cumulus will work a deal that downgrades some stations in the close smaller markets like Chattanooga, Macon, and Augusta to upgrade some of the signals in Atlanta.

 

[electroboy73]

(quote)
CC owns 105.7 WEKL Augusta GA, WRXR 105.5 Rossville, which they could downgrade if needed. 

IMHO sooner or later CC and Cumulus will work a deal that downgrades some stations in the close smaller markets like Chattanooga, Macon, and Augusta to upgrade some of the signals in Atlanta.  ""
[/quote]

CC's 104.3 WBBQ/Augusta was recently downgraded  from that long time blowtorch of 100,000 watts down to 78,000. So, it's happening. Although, this case was probably due to another 104.3 on the SC side. Or even 104.7 in Columbia.

 

[newsyjunkie]

Would it kill anyone at CC to bring back 96Rock? Please, just try it, if it does not work, go back to the pop-techno junk.

Or simulcast WGST and really build a station again.

Also, Whoever killed DaveFM after killing Z93 should kill that sports junk and get back to radio.

Damn, I miss 80's radio Atlanta style. All we are saying is give Rock and Roll a fighting chance in this town.

 

[jabba17]

CC's 104.3 WBBQ/Augusta was recently downgraded from that long time blowtorch of 100,000 watts down to 78,000. So, it's happening. Although, this case was probably due to another 104.3 on the SC side. Or even 104.7 in Columbia.

Back in the 80s growing up in Dunwoody, I could get WBBQ regularly. Keep in mind this was back when 104.1 was still in LaGrange. Our cable company used 104.5 for the MTV stereo simulcast, which made things a little more difficult at times. 104.7 was still in Athens, as well.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

(quote)
CC owns 105.7 WEKL Augusta GA, WRXR 105.5 Rossville, which they could downgrade if needed.

IMHO sooner or later CC and Cumulus will work a deal that downgrades some stations in the close smaller markets like Chattanooga, Macon, and Augusta to upgrade some of the signals in Atlanta. ""

CC's 104.3 WBBQ/Augusta was recently downgraded from that long time blowtorch of 100,000 watts down to 78,000. So, it's happening. Although, this case was probably due to another 104.3 on the SC side. Or even 104.7 in Columbia.
[/quote]


Do you know the reason for WBBQ's downgrade? Did they move to a higher tower? Did they do it so CC could upgrade another station?

 

[NightFlyer]

Would it kill anyone at CC to bring back 96Rock? Please, just try it, if it does not work, go back to the pop-techno junk.

There are two very important factors involved here.
One, What made 96 Rock the gold standard it was were the people behind the station. AFAIK, none of those same people work in the building anymore. The people behind 96 Rock (back when it was a force to be reckoned with) are either retired or have moved on to different stations, companies or careers. So 96 Rock would be nothing more than a ghost of its former self. River has Kaedy Kiely, one of the only on air personalities from "the good days" that has not yet retired.

Two, the landscape. The radio dial here in Atlanta is a very different place than it was even 5 years ago. You have River which is a force to be reckoned with. River has a large majority of 96 Rock's former listener base. New rock is covered by Rock 100.5 and Radio 105.7. Not only would the station be a badge on something run by a totally different group of people, but selling commercials on what would amount to a "me too" station in a market that already has rock covered. Even the WKLS calls belong to a different station now; Rock 105.9 in eastern Alabama has the WKLS calls.

As for Z-93, see my comment about River above. And Dave? Well, CBS handed that audience over to Clear Channel who is doing a great job with Radio 105.7.

Just accept the fact that times have changed. The landscape has changed. The only way you'd make it as it was before would be to press the proverbial rewind button and go back in time. Sorry, we don't have a Flux Capacitor. I'm as sad to hear plastic pop on the 96.1 frequency as any other rock fan is, but the fact is, it's not coming back.

I miss 96 Rock as much as any former listener. I have a 96 Rock plate on the front of my truck (Nope, not a redneck, arcade game collector) but the fact is, its days are over. Just remember it for what it did for rock music in this and surrounding towns and enjoy what options we have.

 

[atlantaboy]

How was 96 Rock different from Project or 100.5? (I tried looking it up, but couldn't find anything) - was it an AOR from the 80s?

 

[uncamark]

How was 96 Rock different from Project or 100.5? (I tried looking it up, but couldn't find anything) - was it an AOR from the 80s?

Mainstream AOR in its 70s and 80s heyday--in fact, I believe that it was one of the first of Lee Abrams' "Superstars" format stations. Like most other AORs, the music got harder by the end of the 70s after Disco Demolition and the flushing out of R&B and singer-songwriters.

 

[atlantaboy]

^Seems like IMO 96 Rock was probably the equivalent of Radio 105.7 today, offering current-based music listeners a rock-based alternative to CHR/Pop, using the most popular form of current rock during that time period

In effect, I think it has been reincarnated...

 

[RadioDoogie]

I remember 96 Rock playing both hard alternative and classic rock mixed together in the 90s and then in the early 2000s it went to Atlanta's Classic Rock Station playing only classic rock.

 

[MarkW]

96Rock during the last several years of its existence was a pathetic station, for the most part.

Lots of similarities to the present-day Rock 100.5:
--Regular Guys in the morning
--Braves baseball
--Overplayed, cruddy classic rock (granted, 100.5 has scaled back in that in 2013. They still play too much of that stuff, though.)
--Mediocre ratings
--Same imaging voice (B.C.)

 

[RadioFreak69]

I've noticed Power 96.1 is now using "Atlanta's Most Hit Music" instead of "Atlanta's Hit Music Station." They've also added a new voiceover guy with new sweepers.

 

[Rick Rose 2.0]

the WBBQ downgrade was done to help an Asheville area station on 104.3 to upgrade

 

[Radio_Alex_1990]

Also, changing frequencies this early in wouldn't be good for the new station as it continues to gain momentum. People are still just finding out about it. Many of these people are just turning their radio on for the first time since September of last year.. or earlier.

OK but how long did the listeners get used to Q100 moving from 100.5 to 99.7?

7 or 8 years - Q100 signed on around 2000-2001? (Not sure exactly), but it didn't move to 99.7 until 2008

I agree that moving 105.7 might not be such a great idea at this point - IMO people will tune in, hear CHR or Mexican radio, assume that they flipped formats (most listeners have no clue what Radio's ratings are like), and go back to their IPods - that is, unless CC wants to spend a LOT of money advertising the change on TV

Someone posted that the 105.7 signal covers the Alternative demo in Atlanta, and I've gotta strongly disagree with that - most 20-something Alternative listeners live inside the Perimeter, in an extremely densely populated area (i. e. Midtown and Buckhead), where Radio's signal barely comes in - so IMO if CC could pull off a frequency switch, and advertise it, Radio's audience would skyrocket

Advertising, folks! You can advertise on Radio 105.7 that they are switching frequencies. People will listen and tune in.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

the WBBQ downgrade was done to help an Asheville area station on 104.3 to upgrade

Thanks, Rick. Are they on a different tower?