Predictions for Hudson Valley and Albany Radio for 2009

[disney fanatic]

Lats year, I started their prediction on what was going to happen in 2008, and now as 2009 comes in by next week. I will start a new thread on what your predictions for Hudson Valley and Albany radio for 2009. Here is my prediction:

1. Is "The Wolf" on 94.3 and 97.3 ever going to #1 for the first time since the B94 days and it should sound better than WRWD except Yankees baseball and Jet football would do a lot, lot better than that AM, because it's in FM clarity?
2. Is WRGB going off the air on 87.7 starting February 17th, 2009 due to transition to from analog to digital?
3. Are there any cut backs from CC, Cumulus, Pamal or any other company can be laid off or let go?
4. Is the "Music Blimp" will stay on Saturday nights?
5. Is WKKF's "Kiss-FM" at 102.3 will consider a format flip?

Are they're any predictions for 2009? Please post. I don't want to get into an argument like I dd last year.

 

[Reporter]

My Predictions:

WGY - Don Weeks will retire, Al Roney will take over mornings and Jamie Roberts will do 9-12.
WROW - Will be more local. Getting rid of most of the syndicated programs.

Fly 92 - Someone FT will be gone. Most of the Part timers will be let go and weekends will be mostly VT'd, and make it 90s weekends.
1023 Kiss FM - DJ Thomas will get her wish and move to NYC. Then it will flip to Country to compete with WGNA.
WGNA - Major shakeup in the FT staff.
Buzz 1057 - Chuck and Kelly will be let go.
B95 - Will let go Delilah, They will make weekends strictly 70s and 80s.

 

[Johnny_45]

With all due respect, diz, you predicted nothing - you asked a lot of silly questions.

WOLF will NEVER be #1!

WRGB will not cease to be on 87.7 - WRGB has opted to return to channel 6 on February 17, 2009 and they have built a special vertially polarized transmitter to broadcast on 87.7

CC, Cumulus, Pamal ALL HAVE CUTS in the works.

The "Music Blimp" will remain as is.

KISS might flip, but don't hold your breath. DJ Thomas to Hot 97 ?!?!

WRPI will spend more time OFF the air than on.

Radio Disney will go on FM in early Summer. (they've in talks with the cluster****ers about leasing 102.3, 105.7 OR 96.3)

WGY - Don Weeks will retire, Al Roney will take over mornings and Jamie Roberts will do 9-12.
WROW - Will be LESS local. Here come the infomercials!
Buzz 1057 - Chuck and Kelly will be let go. (And possibly lease the channel to DISNEY)
B95 - Will remain unchanged, perhaps go all-automated after 12 noon on weekends.

 

[disney fanatic]

That's a good idea! maybe WKXP ad WZAD will flip from "The Wolf" to a simulcast of "Radio Disney" soon. I hope this would be the first FM station in the Hudson Valley to put "Radio Disney" on 94.3 and 97.3, they should play Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and many others to be on a "Radio Disney" station on FM. WEOK and WALL should still remains on AM until the station will simulcast on an FM dial someday. They will still broadcasting the Yankees and the Jets on this "Radio Disney" station soon.

 

[free103point9]

Our Ch. 6 TV station is one of, I think, six Ch. 6's in the country that is retaining its analog signal after the digital conversion. They challenged every full-power NCE application in the area last year during application window. They lost their challenges, and several NCE's have been approved (Roxbury and Greene County) so far.

 

[radioactiv911]

Fly92.3 More Voice tracking, maybe mixing in more 90's dance and urban cuts and getting rid of the crossovers.
One can hope if they are smart!
B95.5 Will remain mainly unchanged, but with more feature weekends, why mess with the #3 station on the market if its working.
I predict they will move up a notch in the next book.
Jamz 96.3 This station will be sold, traded or LMA'd in 2009.
Wtry 98.3- More classic hits format like Kool 105 in Denver. 60's, 70's and and 80's. BUZZ 105.7 would be a better choice.
Wrve 99.5 Will probably remain unchanged, although I whish it would. Ratings are strong #4 but don't know why for a 90% VT'd station.
Plus a 50K station, won't be sold, just like WPYX and WGY
WKBE 100.3 Small market station Glens Falls market, will be traded sold or LMA'd.
WKLI 100.9 Still in the top 5, most likely will remain the same unless someone with big $$$ comes along.
WQAR 101.3 Most likely will remain the same, Would like to see them buy 103.1 from CC and simulcast like the old SHO used to
do. 101.3/103.1.
WKKF 102.3 More than likely a format change, hard to say with CC after building a new $8,000,000.00 complex. Could be sold, but unlikely.
WHRL 103.1 Still in the top 10, hard prediction. My guess is that CC will keep only the most powerful stations in the market, might be sold
or traded if things get bad.
WQBK 103.9 #9 in the market, but I think if they were to keep Q103 on 103.9, and flip 103.5, they would get the same ratings. 103.5
is pumping out 50,000 watts to farmers, cows and desolation.
WTMM 104.5 Will remain the same
WBZZ 105.7 Will hopefully, if the are smart, be the first to go to classic hits. KOOL 105, get rid of the BUZZ moniker, change call letters
and go to classic hits, 60's. 70's and 80's, and stop trying to compete with a heritage B95, they will never do it.
WPYX 106.5 First they will fix their flat, bassless, Tinny over-compressed audio. Next they will include more alternative, and rest most of their current playlist and add more variety.

 

[radioactiv911]

This is what I wanted to post, the timeout is way too short, and their is no delete option!

Fly92.3 More Voice tracking, maybe mixing in more 90's dance and urban cuts and getting rid of the crossovers.
One can hope if they are smart!
B95.5 Will remain mainly unchanged, but with more feature weekends, why mess with the #3 station on the market if its working.
I predict they will move up a notch in the next book.
Jamz 96.3 This station will be sold, traded or LMA'd in 2009.
Wtry 98.3- More classic hits format like Kool 105 in Denver. 60's, 70's and and 80's. WBZZ 105.7 would be a better choice.
Wrve 99.5 Will probably remain unchanged, although I wish it would. Ratings are strong #4 but don't know why for a 90% VT'd station.
Plus a 50K station, won't be sold, just like WPYX and WGY
WKBE 100.3 Small market station Glens Falls market, will be traded sold or LMA'd.
WKLI 100.9 Still in the top 5, most likely will remain the same unless someone with big $$$ comes along, or a 50K signal to trade.
WQAR 101.3 Most likely will remain the same, Would like to see them buy 103.1 from CC and simulcast like the old SHO used to
do. Star 101.3 and 103.1.
WKKF 102.3 Hard prediction, more than likely a format change, hard to say with CC after building a new $8,000,000.00 complex. Could be sold or traded.
WHRL 103.1 Still in the top 10, hard prediction, hard to say with CC after building a new $8,000,000.00 complex, might be sold or traded. My guess is
that CC will keep only the most powerful stations in the market, might be sold or traded if things get bad.
WQBK 103.9 #9 in the market, but I think if they will keep Q103 on 103.9, and flip 103.5. They will get the same ratings. 103.5
is pumping out 50,000 watts to farmers, cows and desolation. WGNA 107.7, or one of their Utica stations will take that signal over and
simulcast on 103.5 in 2009 I predict.
WTMM 104.5 Another hard call, might keep it for now, but be "on the block" at anytime to the right offer.
WBZZ 105.7 Will hopefully, if the are smart, be the first to go to classic hits. KOOL 105, get rid of the BUZZ moniker, change call letters
and go to classic hits, 60's. 70's and 80's, and stop trying to compete with heritage B95, they will never do it.
WPYX 106.5 First they will fix their flat, bassless, Tinny over-compressed audio. Next they will include more alternative, and rest most of their current
playlist and add more variety.
WGNA 107.7 No Change, but I think either this station or one of their Utica clusters will take over 103.5 in Cobleskill.

 

[MT3]

Albany Radio Landscape for 2009

FM:
87.7 - WRGB continues their FM audio simulcast.
88.3 - FCC comes down on them for a blatant lack of ANY educational programing and for running commercials that violate every NCE rule. Siena suffers massive embarrassment when it is revealed publicly that the station is a vehicle for profit.
89.1 - Alan Chartock finally gets his hands on the financially troubled classical outlet thus adding another unnecessary signal to his empire and ending the broadcast of classical music for Albany.
91.5 - Continues to spew liberal, brain dead, elitist rubbish.
92.3 - More voicetracking, less being a leader in breaking new music, no other changes of note.
93.7 - The 2nd coming of The Bone. Just kidding.
94.5 - The return of The Bone. Just kidding again.
95.5 - falls victim to more Pamal cutbacks. Ric Mitchell goes solo in the morning leaving Laura seeking other employment. Weekends become automated and the music is tweaked yet again driving more listeners to 105.7
96.3 - Continues to struggle but Pamal will remain committed to the station at least for this year. Don’t expect any major changes to come to 96.3 until 2010
96.7 - Crawford finally sells to someone other than his son. Paul Vandenburgh buys this stick and either simulcasts 1300 or puts a music format on it.
97.7 - goes to Chartock when 89.1 is sold and becomes spanish language NPR programing.
98.3 - flips to classic country
99.5 - Continues to lean more Modern AC but with a focus on classic alternative thus protecting 103.1 and 106.5 while stealing more and more listeners from 95.5
100.3 - Station remains same format but pulls it off the bird instead of any local content
101.3 - becomes an FM simulcast of 1160
102.3 - CC finally gives up on the format and flips this to AAA to further protect their rock interests and continue to eat adult listeners from 95.5 and 105.7 as well as trying to erode some from the next tick up the dial:
102.7 - they keep doing what they’ve done forever.
103.1 - another strong CC property that will struggle against the ever growing Q
103.5 - gets sold to either Chartock to expand his empire or to a religious broadcaster at a firesale price
103.9 - continues to beat the snot out of 103.1 even w/out their simulcast. They will reclaim their Edge monikor when it becomes available.
104.5 - After the massive success of their local afternoon show, this station will add another local daypart for middays and will climb into the top 5 12+
104.9 - Pamal will realize that this experiment has failed and will retire the rock format from the building. Expect to see this station sold or turned into a simulcast of 590
105.7 - The Buzz will continue to grow and Chuck and Kelly go nowhere but up!
106.5 - Adds some more mid-90s grunge but stays relativity the same. Wolf takes a pay cut but remains on the air.
107.1 - Remains thinking they can affect 107.7 - which they could if they had a better signal in Albany proper. This station is what a country station is supposed to sound like. Pamal has actually done something right with this station.
107.7 - not a damn thing. Nothing. Not one thing.

AM:
590 - keeps growing with the fine local products in place in morning and afternoon drive. Adds an FM simulcast on 104.9 or even a translator
810 - nothing changes
900 - finally shows up in the 12+ numbers
980 - After toying with the idea of liberal talk, a format flip to a younger geared talk format with programing like Loveline, Bubba The Love Sponge, Mancow, O&A, and other similar programing.
1160 - remains the same level of quality programing they do best and they add 101.3 as an FM simulcast
1240 - continues to go off the air every time it rains and their tx site at Rotterdam Square Mall floods. One of the best oldies station in the nation that is restrained by a weak signal.
1300 - Paul continues to grow his brand and franchise, adding another station or two into his stable and continues to do local radio the right way.
1400 - Chartock puts the HD2 programing from the FM on this stick, thus providing a 2nd stream of NPR talk for the Capital
1460 - nothing changes
1540 - goes to Paul V when he purchases the FM counterpart - 96.7 and he takes this stick music

 

[Johnny_45]

THIS JUST IN!

Pamal seriously considering expanding WROW to FM on 96.3 ---- rumor has it Big Ray has already been offered mid-days between Donovan-VanZandt and Sherman Baldwin as Baldiwn tries to get an all-local lineup ---- final decision on this is in the hands of upper management ---- Calls have been made to at least one imaging shop for demos ---- so they must be really seriously considering this ----

 

[disney fanatic]

Or I got an idea, why not put Ryan Seacrest from "American Idol" to many CC stations including Kiss-FM at 96.1. Z-100 also carries Ryan Seacrest every midday and they should carry the show to a dozen of CC stations throughout the country. Ryan Seacrest is the host of his own morning show on KIIS at 102.7 in Los Angeles and he is also the host of "American Idol" and I hope it will be syndicated in the HV area at 96.1 right after "Playhouse". They should play hip-hop and R&B and then goes to Ryan Seacrest, he is not fan of rap, he is a top 40 guy and AI host. I hope Ryan will come to the HV around 2009.

 

[bill5461]

Or I got an idea, why not put Ryan Seacrest from "American Idol" to many CC stations including Kiss-FM at 96.1. Z-100 also carries Ryan Seacrest every midday and they should carry the show to a dozen of CC stations throughout the country. Ryan Seacrest is the host of his own morning show on KIIS at 102.7 in Los Angeles and he is also the host of "American Idol" and I hope it will be syndicated in the HV area at 96.1 right after "Playhouse". They should play hip-hop and R&B and then goes to Ryan Seacrest, he is not fan of rap, he is a top 40 guy and AI host. I hope Ryan will come to the HV around 2009.

You gotta actually start listening to radio stations, he's been on Star 93.3 since the summer

 

[disney fanatic]

WRGB will not cease to be on 87.7 - WRGB has opted to return to channel 6 on February 17, 2009 and they have built a special vertially polarized transmitter to broadcast on 87.7

That's not going to happen, it will go off the air in a couple of weeks until the deadline is Feburary 17th of this year, you'll only got 6 weeks left until WRGB will no longer be carrying TV audio on 87.7 FM. Now take a look out in Philadelphia, WPVI is still carrying TV audio on 87.7 FM and every market in some states has channel 6 audio on there. I hope the station will go off the air on 87.7 and WRGB will still be broadcasting in DTV as WRGB-DT.

 

[BoomerBuzz]

"104.5 - After the massive success of their local afternoon show, this station will add another local daypart for middays and will climb into the top 5 12+"

WTMM's 25-54 afternoon drive numbers have been trending downward since Winter 2008 so the local show hardly qualifies as a "massive success". Regent's sales department was the driving force behind having a local
sports show while programming maintained that the ESPN brand was a stronger attraction to local advertisers
with the added financial advantage of not having to pay a WTMM-specific on-air talent a salary. So, if the local
show isn't generating more revenue than it costs to have a station-specific PD/afternoon drive talent then it was
probably a mistake. Jeff Levack could be Sean & Richie's producer AND program coordinator for "The Team".

 

[free103point9]

Disney Fanatic, you are wrong. I said earlier in this thread that Albany's Ch. 6 is one of the few Ch. 6's in the country that are keeping their analog signal after the switch. They objected to every single NCE full-power application in the region on these grounds. (The FCC dismissed their objections in the case of stations in Roxbury and Greene County that have won construction permits.).

 

[studio5b]

EAST OF THE HUDSON,
BUT STILL IN A VALLEY.....

1. WTBR WILL TAKE PYX/QBK/QBJ
OFF BERKSHIRE RADIO PRESETS.

2. VOX RADIO WILL TRY TO BUY WBRK, INC.
BUT FAIL DUE TO MARKET SHARE.

3. THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE WILL BE EXPOSED AS
ITSELF BEING A NORTHEAST NYT WANNA-B!

4. WTBR WILL ATTAIN/SECURE TOP COUNTY STATION
STATUS FOR 2009 IN ANY PUBLIC SURVEY TAKEN.

5. JOHN KROL WILL RUN FOR MAYOR & MAKE WTBR
AS PITTSFIELD'S OFFICIAL RADIO STATION!!!

 

[590buddy]

Disney- why don't you stop by Cheap channel's studio on Tucker drive in the afternoon and see if you can get Seacrest's autograph???

Seacrest=Another waste of human skin...


warm590/ 590 buddy ;D