Rumour wise,Where does it stand for 99.7 now?

[kenwood]

A few months ago it was rumored that 99.7 was sold to greater media and a format change was coming.I heard this from folks on this board and people on the inside.What ever happened to this?
Also on 95 north near Branch Ave there is Pat's Billboard promoting Patriot's Football on 790 and 99.7. Is this a billboard WBCN put up or Citadel?
Anyone know?
I would love to see a "JACK" or a True Oldies or a lively type Standerds format show up on 99.7 even if it's off the bird.Hell, WMVY is tied with them.
How much more of hit can they take?<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by kenwood on 12/12/05 02:17 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[farid]

> A few months ago it was rumored that 99.7 was sold to
> greater media and a format change was coming.I heard this
> from folks on this board and people on the inside.What ever
> happened to this?

The rumor started with talk of a flip but not a sale.Then someone noticed www.coolfm brought you to the website for The Score,which it still does.I would have thought if that was some sort of web glitch or error it would have been corrected by now.

 

[Jacko]

Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

I'm guessing Citadel is waiting until the first of the year, if they are going to make any kind of a change. Perhaps they're waiting to see what WSNE 93.3 is going to do, if they're going to stick with the Coast format, or tweak some things. Perhaps 93.3 will get "Buddied," if you know what I mean. As for 99.7, Citadel has tried a classic hits approach twice with the station (remember the Hawk and Z100?), but never had great success. However, Citadel has had success with 100.1 The Pike in the Worcester area. This may be one option. Jack is always a possibility, and I also remember hearing a country rumor, although I think that WCTK has that format well taken care of. Another possibility is simulcasting Hot 106 on 99.7. A third possiblity is the re-introduction of classic rock on 99.7, perhaps acquiring the WWRX calls back from Fuller (107.7 WWRX/Pawcatuck, CT).

The dream scenario--

99.7 and 790AM gets sold to Entercom, and the 103.7 WEEI simulcast moves to the 99.7/790 combo. The local programming on the Score gets interspersed throughout the day on the new 790/99.7 WEEI, and local hosts host the weekend shows. By the good hearts at Entercom, they acquire the WWRX calls back from Fuller and bring back classic rock 103.7 WRX. And, realizing that their station really is not serving a Portuguese-speaking audience because there aren't any Portuguese-speaking people in the listening area, Davidson Media sells Citadel 102.7 back, and Citadel puts Hot 106 back on 102.7, with an improved signal.

This is a dream though.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[ScottBurns]

Re: Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

Good remarks, Jacko. The 99.7 signal has always been the bastard step-child of Citadel (at least since Citadel bought it back in the late 90s). Citadel Providence never gave the station a dime of a budget, perhaps because of the limitations of the signal. Because of the latter, as long as Citadel owns the station, I doubt we will see anything but a simulcast. I have wondered about them simulcasting Hot 106, but perhaps Citadel wants to protect Q105, whose coverage area partially overlaps with that of WSKO-FM, at least in western Washington County and eastern New London County.

In terms of Classic Hits, 80s, Retro Dance, and the variety of other programming that Citadel Providence tried on 99.7 and 100.3, nearly all of them failed for one reason: the lack of a budget. A station cannot run itself in this market. It needs promotion, jocks, and much, much more. Until Citadel realizes that, 99.7 will forever be a wasted signal.

 

[webcastboy]

Re: Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

> Good remarks, Jacko. The 99.7 signal has always been the
> bastard step-child of Citadel (at least since Citadel bought
> it back in the late 90s). Citadel Providence never gave the
> station a dime of a budget, perhaps because of the
> limitations of the signal.
(snip)

Well, putting aside for a moment their budget woes, I imagine WRNI could put 99.7 to excellent use in combination with their existing 1290/1230 signals.

Of course, I don't know if WRNI could secure the capital needed to buy even a bargain-basement 99.7...maybe if Public Radio Capital was feeling generous...

 

[Jacko]

Re: Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

> Well, putting aside for a moment their budget woes, I
> imagine WRNI could put 99.7 to excellent use in combination
> with their existing 1290/1230 signals.
>
> Of course, I don't know if WRNI could secure the capital
> needed to buy even a bargain-basement 99.7...maybe if Public
> Radio Capital was feeling generous...

I never thought of that. Rhode Island could use an FM NPR affiliate. Too bad there aren't any big-signal FM stations in the 88-92FM range. The only exception is 90.3 WRIU-FM/Kingston, and they're a 6-kw equivalent class A. I wish that 91.5 WCVY would just do away with its station, with the possibility of 91.3 WDOM from Providence College being able to expand somehow, either on 91.3 or 91.5, and can be a Providence NPR affiliate. But there's still too many same-frequency overlap nearby, especially in the Boston area.

Jacko
<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[wxctintern]

If I were in charge of Citadel Providence

I know I'll probably get laughed off the board for this one, but here's what I'd do if I was in charge of Citadel Providence.

First I would move Hot 106's programming to 92.3 FM, replacing PRO-FM. "Jamz 92.3". I would try to get the calls as WPJZ. Right now they belong to the Coast Guard Vessel EXPEX (620939). WPJZ = Providence JamZ. Or I could get WRHH. WRHH = Rhode island HipHop.

Then I would flip 99.7 to Oldies. It would play a mixture of oldies from 1959-1979, forcusing primarily on 1959-1974.

I would simulcast the new 99.7 on 106.3 FM. I would call the combined stations "99.7/106.3 Rhode Island's Oldies Channel". WRIA/WRIY. The calls wouldn't have any meaning. Just RI for Rhode Island.

I would then make 790 Classic Country. "Kix 790". WWKX.

 

[pqgeorge]

Re: Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

Enough with the NPR stuff. They have enough affiliates as it is. Leave both WCVY (Coventry High School) and WDOM (Providence College) alone. Rhode Island already has two full-powered AM NPR's and both WBUR and WGBH put fine signals into Providence. College and high school stations a rare breed these days. That is the only place to find NEW music first. PLEASE no more spots on the dial for "All Things Considered". And leave WRIU alone as well.


> I never thought of that. Rhode Island could use an FM NPR
> affiliate. Too bad there aren't any big-signal FM stations
> in the 88-92FM range. The only exception is 90.3
> WRIU-FM/Kingston, and they're a 6-kw equivalent class A. I
> wish that 91.5 WCVY would just do away with its station,
> with the possibility of 91.3 WDOM from Providence College
> being able to expand somehow, either on 91.3 or 91.5, and
> can be a Providence NPR affiliate. But there's still too
> many same-frequency overlap nearby, especially in the Boston
> area.
>
> Jacko
> <P ID="signature">______________
Peter Q. George (K1XRB)
Whitman, Massachusetts</P>

 

[Jacko]

Re: If I were in charge of Citadel Providence

Your scenario completely eliminates PRO-FM, and Rhode Island would not have a top 40 station. WPRO-FM has a long heritage, being one of the first FM top 40 stations in the country and being a stop in the path of legendary jocks such as Howard Hoffman and Rocky Allen. And even though the station has been run sort of 'cheaply' for lack of a better term, things are getting better, especially with a new night jock. Do more changes need to be made at PRO-FM? Yes and no. Most teens and twenty-somethings don't know that Giovanni has been at the station for over 25 years in some capacity, or even be able to tell you what the 'Nappit Night' or 'Work it, or jerk it' is. But the station resonates longevity and heritage, and despite the occasional shortfalls (like not playing Usher's "Yeah" at all), WPRO-FM is still a leader.

To go to the Hot 106 thing, they had it good when they were simulcasting on 102.7, and they would have it even better if they simulcast on 99.7. Simulcasting on 99.7, along with its own program director, would probably put the station at a consistent top 5 player.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[Jacko]

Re: Rumors, 99.7, and the dream scenario

But when does WCVY broadcast? Something like 2-10pm Monday to Friday during the school year, if memory serves me correctly. And they're playing a generally mainstream rock or alternative rock format. Nothing new there. It would be one thing if they got a computer on the station, keeping it on 24-hrs a day, but as far as I know, it's not.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[JustinT]

Re: If I were in charge of Citadel Providence

> Your scenario completely eliminates PRO-FM, and Rhode Island
> would not have a top 40 station. WPRO-FM has a long
> heritage, being one of the first FM top 40 stations in the
> country and being a stop in the path of legendary jocks such
> as Howard Hoffman and Rocky Allen. And even though the
> station has been run sort of 'cheaply' for lack of a better
> term, things are getting better, especially with a new night
> jock. Do more changes need to be made at PRO-FM? Yes and
> no. Most teens and twenty-somethings don't know that
> Giovanni has been at the station for over 25 years in some
> capacity, or even be able to tell you what the 'Nappit
> Night' or 'Work it, or jerk it' is. But the station
> resonates longevity and heritage, and despite the occasional
> shortfalls (like not playing Usher's "Yeah" at all), WPRO-FM
> is still a leader.

Marc B/Jay Clark's idea to can WPRO-FM is ridiculous. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but even Joe Gallant wouldn't suggest something like that. Isn't 92.3 somewhat of Citadel's flagship CHR?

> To go to the Hot 106 thing, they had it good when they were
> simulcasting on 102.7, and they would have it even better if
> they simulcast on 99.7. Simulcasting on 99.7, along with
> its own program director, would probably put the station at
> a consistent top 5 player.

...but the idea to put Hot 106 on 99.7 is a very good idea. It would really give WWKX full market coverage, and make the station a stronger competitor against WJMN.

Additionally, I think that the idea to try classic country is not a bad one. 98.1 WCTK has usually scored fairly well with its upbeat, younger presentation, and I'd expect that a classic country station, especially with a good signal like 790, could take some of the older listeners away from WCTK.

Otherwise, what about True Oldies? The ratings aren't incredible, by any means, in Worcester, but WCRN managed to beat rimshot-Oldies 98.9, which was a no-show. What Citadel may like most about this format would be that it is incredibly inexpensive to run.