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Question concerning WBOP 106.3
- Thread starter Scanman55
- Start date
R
Radio-X
Guest
> Does anyone know the story behind WBOP's format change to
> Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the studio
> was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
>
The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure if the studio moved.
> Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the studio
> was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
>
The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure if the studio moved.
L
leach
Guest
> > Does anyone know the story behind WBOP's format change to
> > Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the
> studio
> > was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
> >
> The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure if
> the studio moved.
>
Studio is still there in Mt. Crawford ( actually within walking distance from the Harrisonburg city limits ). A friend of mine has a daughter who works at the Burger King just down the street from WBOP. The station's offices/studios are in a building that it shares with a 7-11 type of store. Quite small, very easy to overlook.
Really all WBOP was pick up the oldies format that was recently dropped by two other stations in the area ( WSVO and WBHB ). I myself miss the old WBOP but from what I heard they were getting hurt in the ratings by Harrisonburg's 98 Rock.
> > Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the
> studio
> > was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
> >
> The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure if
> the studio moved.
>
Studio is still there in Mt. Crawford ( actually within walking distance from the Harrisonburg city limits ). A friend of mine has a daughter who works at the Burger King just down the street from WBOP. The station's offices/studios are in a building that it shares with a 7-11 type of store. Quite small, very easy to overlook.
Really all WBOP was pick up the oldies format that was recently dropped by two other stations in the area ( WSVO and WBHB ). I myself miss the old WBOP but from what I heard they were getting hurt in the ratings by Harrisonburg's 98 Rock.
R
radioaholee123
Guest
> > > Does anyone know the story behind WBOP's format change
> to
> > > Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the
> > studio
> > > was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
> > >
> > The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure
> if
> > the studio moved.
> >
>
> Studio is still there in Mt. Crawford ( actually within
> walking distance from the Harrisonburg city limits ). A
> friend of mine has a daughter who works at the Burger King
> just down the street from WBOP. The station's
> offices/studios are in a building that it shares with a 7-11
> type of store. Quite small, very easy to overlook.
>
> Really all WBOP was pick up the oldies format that was
> recently dropped by two other stations in the area ( WSVO
> and WBHB ). I myself miss the old WBOP but from what I
> heard they were getting hurt in the ratings by
> Harrisonburg's 98 Rock.
>
New Owners - station at same place. Co-located with WSIG FM and I assume they are getting ready to move 95.5 in there too since they are buying that from the Caves...Any ideas on what they are going to do with the poor signal of 95.5 out of Buffalo Gap? The talk format on there now is weak.
> to
> > > Magic 106? Was the station sold or moved ? I know the
> > studio
> > > was in Mt. Crawford , VA .
> > >
> > The station was sold about six months ago...I am not sure
> if
> > the studio moved.
> >
>
> Studio is still there in Mt. Crawford ( actually within
> walking distance from the Harrisonburg city limits ). A
> friend of mine has a daughter who works at the Burger King
> just down the street from WBOP. The station's
> offices/studios are in a building that it shares with a 7-11
> type of store. Quite small, very easy to overlook.
>
> Really all WBOP was pick up the oldies format that was
> recently dropped by two other stations in the area ( WSVO
> and WBHB ). I myself miss the old WBOP but from what I
> heard they were getting hurt in the ratings by
> Harrisonburg's 98 Rock.
>
New Owners - station at same place. Co-located with WSIG FM and I assume they are getting ready to move 95.5 in there too since they are buying that from the Caves...Any ideas on what they are going to do with the poor signal of 95.5 out of Buffalo Gap? The talk format on there now is weak.
I think the move to Oldies was a good one because WBOP was getting kicked around as a rock station. Don 't forget WBOP was the original oldies station in the market a few years back. That's why the "BOP" calls. Haven't heard much about the plans for WZXI when it is bought but do know it will be moving into the same building as WBOP-WSIG. What would you do with it formatically? I might look at either alternative or spanish. Does anyone know if the tower can be moved for a better signal?
>
>
L
leach
Guest
> I think the move to Oldies was a good one because WBOP was
> getting kicked around as a rock station. Don 't forget WBOP
> was the original oldies station in the market a few years
> back. That's why the "BOP" calls. Haven't heard much about
> the plans for WZXI when it is bought but do know it will be
> moving into the same building as WBOP-WSIG. What would you
> do with it formatically? I might look at either alternative
> or spanish. Does anyone know if the tower can be moved for
> a better signal?
> >
>
While it is true that WBOP was indeed oldies many years ago, the first oldies station to serve the Harrisonburg market came a few years before WBOP. Back in the late 80's there was WSVG-AM 790. In fact the call letters stood for "Shenandoah Valley Gold" and I remember some of their liners said "Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg's home for good time Rock & Roll". However WSVG back then was a daytimer and with the exception of the buy/sell program that simulcasted on sister WSIG-FM, the station was automated. They were using the ABC/Satellie Music Network's "good time rock & roll" feed.
Interesting when WSVG made the format change to Religious music in 1992, WBOP from what I heard took the very same satellite feed and started using it for a time before they got out of the oldies game I think by 1993 or 1994.
As far as the first oldies station on FM in the area, yes that would be WBOP.
For 95.5, not sure if they could move the tower though since Front Royal's oldies station is on 95.3 but since you do have those nearby mountains and with the distance between Front Royal and Harrisonburg, I guess it could be done.
Alternative would work in Harrisonburg considering that JMU is there. Spanish, that is a toss-up. The Winchester Spanish station from what I understand did quite well when it was on the air for a few months last year on 93.7 FM. They had a good signal the went as far south as Middletown, VA and as far north as Martinsburg, WV. However one thing they did NOT have was a license and when this station started affecting the signals of WINC-FM, Oldies 95.3 and WLTF Lite 97.5, the FCC came in and shut them down.
> getting kicked around as a rock station. Don 't forget WBOP
> was the original oldies station in the market a few years
> back. That's why the "BOP" calls. Haven't heard much about
> the plans for WZXI when it is bought but do know it will be
> moving into the same building as WBOP-WSIG. What would you
> do with it formatically? I might look at either alternative
> or spanish. Does anyone know if the tower can be moved for
> a better signal?
> >
>
While it is true that WBOP was indeed oldies many years ago, the first oldies station to serve the Harrisonburg market came a few years before WBOP. Back in the late 80's there was WSVG-AM 790. In fact the call letters stood for "Shenandoah Valley Gold" and I remember some of their liners said "Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg's home for good time Rock & Roll". However WSVG back then was a daytimer and with the exception of the buy/sell program that simulcasted on sister WSIG-FM, the station was automated. They were using the ABC/Satellie Music Network's "good time rock & roll" feed.
Interesting when WSVG made the format change to Religious music in 1992, WBOP from what I heard took the very same satellite feed and started using it for a time before they got out of the oldies game I think by 1993 or 1994.
As far as the first oldies station on FM in the area, yes that would be WBOP.
For 95.5, not sure if they could move the tower though since Front Royal's oldies station is on 95.3 but since you do have those nearby mountains and with the distance between Front Royal and Harrisonburg, I guess it could be done.
Alternative would work in Harrisonburg considering that JMU is there. Spanish, that is a toss-up. The Winchester Spanish station from what I understand did quite well when it was on the air for a few months last year on 93.7 FM. They had a good signal the went as far south as Middletown, VA and as far north as Martinsburg, WV. However one thing they did NOT have was a license and when this station started affecting the signals of WINC-FM, Oldies 95.3 and WLTF Lite 97.5, the FCC came in and shut them down.
R
radioaholee123
Guest
In fact the call letters stood for
> "Shenandoah Valley Gold" and I remember some of their liners
> said "Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg's home for good time
> Rock & Roll".
WSVG is still a daytimer (its back on at last check doing the nostalgia thing under Alan Arehart) Only 1 kw - and even though they are on 790 - they never really had anything going in Hburg - even though they promoted as Hburg.
>
> Interesting when WSVG made the format change to Religious
> music in 1992, WBOP from what I heard took the very same
> satellite feed and started using it for a time before they
> got out of the oldies game I think by 1993 or 1994.
WBOP flipped first to MIX 106.3 for a time in '91 and then to ROCK under original PD Rich Randall and crew in Feb of 1992 (think it might have been 2/8/02 although the specific date may be off - it was 2/92). WBOP, if I remember correctly, (in the days before hard drive automation was prevalent) used ABC satellite formats for their overnight filler during all those years and used the classic rock format for several years after flipping to rock until they purchased hard drive based automation and gave up the Carts and CD's...I do NOT ever remember hearing the bird on during the day even on the weekends tho...funny, often the sat feed would have been better.
>
> As far as the first oldies station on FM in the area, yes
> that would be WBOP.
Sort of...Old timers will remember WQPO being "solid gold" in the late 1970's. They went to WQPO in 1972-73 (before that they were WSVA-FM) and up until 1982 WQPO was automated with the old Drake-Chenault Solid Gold and Rock-40 Formats (one then the other over the years). The station went by "stereo 101 - WQPO" and the jingles sung "Q-P-O F M". It wasn't until 1982-83 that they flipped to (then) and AC format and called it Q-101 (and 50 KW) under original PD Brian Cherratte. It didn't flip to CHR until '89.
Also Bobby Dean who owned WHBG and 105.1 FM (originally WRDJ-FM then WAMM-FM) through the mid 80's up to 1996 when it was sold to VerStandig - ran gold on 1360 (AM) WHBG sometime in the 80's (I don't remember the year) after flipping the FM to JOnes satellite format "CD Country"...it was Solid Gold 1360, WHBG. Don't know if that was before WSVG or not...probably after since WRDJ didn't go on air until 1989.
Working late - just some ramblings....
>
>
> "Shenandoah Valley Gold" and I remember some of their liners
> said "Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg's home for good time
> Rock & Roll".
WSVG is still a daytimer (its back on at last check doing the nostalgia thing under Alan Arehart) Only 1 kw - and even though they are on 790 - they never really had anything going in Hburg - even though they promoted as Hburg.
>
> Interesting when WSVG made the format change to Religious
> music in 1992, WBOP from what I heard took the very same
> satellite feed and started using it for a time before they
> got out of the oldies game I think by 1993 or 1994.
WBOP flipped first to MIX 106.3 for a time in '91 and then to ROCK under original PD Rich Randall and crew in Feb of 1992 (think it might have been 2/8/02 although the specific date may be off - it was 2/92). WBOP, if I remember correctly, (in the days before hard drive automation was prevalent) used ABC satellite formats for their overnight filler during all those years and used the classic rock format for several years after flipping to rock until they purchased hard drive based automation and gave up the Carts and CD's...I do NOT ever remember hearing the bird on during the day even on the weekends tho...funny, often the sat feed would have been better.
>
> As far as the first oldies station on FM in the area, yes
> that would be WBOP.
Sort of...Old timers will remember WQPO being "solid gold" in the late 1970's. They went to WQPO in 1972-73 (before that they were WSVA-FM) and up until 1982 WQPO was automated with the old Drake-Chenault Solid Gold and Rock-40 Formats (one then the other over the years). The station went by "stereo 101 - WQPO" and the jingles sung "Q-P-O F M". It wasn't until 1982-83 that they flipped to (then) and AC format and called it Q-101 (and 50 KW) under original PD Brian Cherratte. It didn't flip to CHR until '89.
Also Bobby Dean who owned WHBG and 105.1 FM (originally WRDJ-FM then WAMM-FM) through the mid 80's up to 1996 when it was sold to VerStandig - ran gold on 1360 (AM) WHBG sometime in the 80's (I don't remember the year) after flipping the FM to JOnes satellite format "CD Country"...it was Solid Gold 1360, WHBG. Don't know if that was before WSVG or not...probably after since WRDJ didn't go on air until 1989.
Working late - just some ramblings....
>
>
L
leach
Guest
>
> WSVG is still a daytimer (its back on at last check doing
> the nostalgia thing under Alan Arehart) Only 1 kw - and even
> though they are on 790 - they never really had anything
> going in Hburg - even though they promoted as Hburg.
Actually WSVG is on the air around the clock though their night time signal is very poor, you are lucky to get it in nearby Woodstock. At least they were on the air around the clock when they and WAMM were doing that "retro radio" format. However the two stations ran into some money woes recently and were actually off the air for a time ( WAMM 1230 is still dark ) so maybe WSVG went back to being just a daytimer now.
> WBOP flipped first to MIX 106.3 for a time in '91 and then
> to ROCK under original PD Rich Randall and crew in Feb of
> 1992 (think it might have been 2/8/02 although the specific
> date may be off - it was 2/92). WBOP, if I remember
> correctly, (in the days before hard drive automation was
> prevalent) used ABC satellite formats for their overnight
> filler during all those years and used the classic rock
> format for several years after flipping to rock until they
> purchased hard drive based automation and gave up the Carts
> and CD's...I do NOT ever remember hearing the bird on during
> the day even on the weekends tho...funny, often the sat feed
> would have been better.
>
Interesting about WBOP and the use of their satellite feeds. Back in the early 90s for a brief time I worked at Winchester's Q102. At the time we had a part-timer named Joe ( I forgot his last name ) who also worked for WAPP as well ( then oldies and located in Strasburg, now in Winchester as "real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5 ). WAPP and WBOP were at the time sister stations and even back then there was a rumor that they were interested in buying WSIG which of course WBOP did end up doing but I am getting ahead of myself here.
I remember Joe telling me that WBOP was going to go total satellite with the exception of one shift, more/less just like their then sister station WAPP. I guess that never happened.
Then again, looking back this guy was an odd character. He actually begged us to go SMN and went on saying stuff like "I'm a board op...not a jock". We were like..if you don't want to be on the air, why work in radio in the first place?
He later went to WSIG where he and his brother did the morning show together. from what I remember he was taken off the air when he ( now this gets weird )
starts laughing in the middle of a newscast during a story about a young man who was killed in a car accident. Of course there is this story that has been floating around for a number of years about how he and his brother weren't brothers at all but rather gay lovers and how during one his WSIG newscasts, his brother stepped outside to smoke a cigarette leaving his brother ( or lover if the rumors were correct ) to do the news. When he came back to the studio, right in the middle of the newscast Joe says something like "..so where did you go" His brother says "..oh I went outside to suck on a Camel". "..oh yeah...I know what you would rather suck !!" Now all of that could very well be an urban legend but then again as odd as Joe was at Q102, I would not be surprised.
His brother was named Scott Goens (?) and according to the Winchester radio site I remember reading in their mailbag that he has since passed away.
WAPP when they were oldies, they were live in the mornings and afternoon, though the afternoon went pretty much back to satellite within a short time.
Interesting WAPP was also live from Midnight until 2am on late Friday night/early Saturday morning when someone did a disco show. Why they picked that time to be live I don't know. Another odd thing about WAPP, even though they were satellite 95% of the time, they still had people there running the board pretty much around the clock. WSIG did this too around the same time ( early-mid 90s ). Never could understand the logic in that. Paying somebody to be there just to run 2 commercials or whatever an hour and spend the rest of time watching TV, smoking cigarettes, sleeping, whatever. Might as well let them go live.
> WSVG is still a daytimer (its back on at last check doing
> the nostalgia thing under Alan Arehart) Only 1 kw - and even
> though they are on 790 - they never really had anything
> going in Hburg - even though they promoted as Hburg.
Actually WSVG is on the air around the clock though their night time signal is very poor, you are lucky to get it in nearby Woodstock. At least they were on the air around the clock when they and WAMM were doing that "retro radio" format. However the two stations ran into some money woes recently and were actually off the air for a time ( WAMM 1230 is still dark ) so maybe WSVG went back to being just a daytimer now.
> WBOP flipped first to MIX 106.3 for a time in '91 and then
> to ROCK under original PD Rich Randall and crew in Feb of
> 1992 (think it might have been 2/8/02 although the specific
> date may be off - it was 2/92). WBOP, if I remember
> correctly, (in the days before hard drive automation was
> prevalent) used ABC satellite formats for their overnight
> filler during all those years and used the classic rock
> format for several years after flipping to rock until they
> purchased hard drive based automation and gave up the Carts
> and CD's...I do NOT ever remember hearing the bird on during
> the day even on the weekends tho...funny, often the sat feed
> would have been better.
>
Interesting about WBOP and the use of their satellite feeds. Back in the early 90s for a brief time I worked at Winchester's Q102. At the time we had a part-timer named Joe ( I forgot his last name ) who also worked for WAPP as well ( then oldies and located in Strasburg, now in Winchester as "real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5 ). WAPP and WBOP were at the time sister stations and even back then there was a rumor that they were interested in buying WSIG which of course WBOP did end up doing but I am getting ahead of myself here.
I remember Joe telling me that WBOP was going to go total satellite with the exception of one shift, more/less just like their then sister station WAPP. I guess that never happened.
Then again, looking back this guy was an odd character. He actually begged us to go SMN and went on saying stuff like "I'm a board op...not a jock". We were like..if you don't want to be on the air, why work in radio in the first place?
He later went to WSIG where he and his brother did the morning show together. from what I remember he was taken off the air when he ( now this gets weird )
starts laughing in the middle of a newscast during a story about a young man who was killed in a car accident. Of course there is this story that has been floating around for a number of years about how he and his brother weren't brothers at all but rather gay lovers and how during one his WSIG newscasts, his brother stepped outside to smoke a cigarette leaving his brother ( or lover if the rumors were correct ) to do the news. When he came back to the studio, right in the middle of the newscast Joe says something like "..so where did you go" His brother says "..oh I went outside to suck on a Camel". "..oh yeah...I know what you would rather suck !!" Now all of that could very well be an urban legend but then again as odd as Joe was at Q102, I would not be surprised.
His brother was named Scott Goens (?) and according to the Winchester radio site I remember reading in their mailbag that he has since passed away.
WAPP when they were oldies, they were live in the mornings and afternoon, though the afternoon went pretty much back to satellite within a short time.
Interesting WAPP was also live from Midnight until 2am on late Friday night/early Saturday morning when someone did a disco show. Why they picked that time to be live I don't know. Another odd thing about WAPP, even though they were satellite 95% of the time, they still had people there running the board pretty much around the clock. WSIG did this too around the same time ( early-mid 90s ). Never could understand the logic in that. Paying somebody to be there just to run 2 commercials or whatever an hour and spend the rest of time watching TV, smoking cigarettes, sleeping, whatever. Might as well let them go live.
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