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Saga debuts "Hits Now 94.1/103.5" in Manchester & Concord

P

promotherobot

Last night I flipped on 103.1, the Saga translator out of Concord. A few days ago they were running WZID right after the FCC granted them their license to cover at 250 watts. But last night I'm hearing a mix of very rhythmic/urban music. I flip over to the 94.1 xltr out of Manchester and it was the same thing. Then I heard the ID for the all new "Hits Now" at 94.1 and 103.1.

We've all speculated on what Saga was up to with their newly upgraded translators. The loophole in the rules that allows stations to repeat their second and third HD audio channels on translators gave Saga the chance to launch what amounts to a new radio station via the back door. We sort of sniffed that out a while ago but we didn't know what the format would be.

So assuming this is not a stunt, the new Hits Now seems to be a rhythmic-leaning CHR. The format is satellite delivered from Dial Global (http://www.dial-global.com/dg_247_hitsnow.asp) So what's Saga-Manchester's strategy here? Will a generic satellite CHR put a dent in more local WJYY and WFTN? Will Hits Now become a "buy-two-get-one-free" add-on for the Sales department? Rhythmic CHR certainly adds a younger audience to the Saga cluster's footprint to go along male-driven WMLL and female-leaning WZID (and really old WFEA.)

Thoughts? Comments?

PTR
 
Hopefully under the new administration the FCC will move to close this loophole. IMHO, this is no more a legitimate use of a translator than are all the religious ones that rebroadcast stations from far away.
 
Doubtful. The morning show bills major bucks (and Mike Morin is most of the reason) they just got a new midday jock and the PD does PM drive. Nights have been Delilah forever. They made some weekend tweaks to save a few dollars but I have it on excellent authority no weekday changes are in the cards.
Even though I no longer work for Saga, the Manchester cluster's management is excellent. Bad management is not one of their problems.

crusingelmstreet said:
Heard some rumblings around town that the bad economy and bad management has affected even Saga. Expect Bob and Sherry and John tesh to appear on WZID soon as live shifts even weekdays dry up.
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The "Hits Now" format from Dial-Global, is EXACTLY that... HITS... I listened for a while and did not hear a single stiff... it is a full-blown CHR.

A little rhythmic leaning? Not really, that's what CHR is now... listen to most major market CHR's and you will hear the same type of stuff.

No doubt that it isn't a Movin' format, I don't think Movin' would do well in NH. Though, I do like it... Star 93.7 in Boston was a "Movin" format, a nice Rhythmic AC... but that didn't last.

Should be VERY interesting to see what it does to JYY in Concord and both JYY and KISS-108 in Manchester.

I wonder when they will launch the website and start streaming, like Saga's new CHR in Ithaca (carrying the same Hits Now format) www.hits1033.com
 
Does anyone think Saga will try to get a translator in Portland?Now that WCLZ is in HD,they could get a translator for 98.9,Their other HD stations are licensed to Portland and probobly couldn't justify a translator.
 
Andy Taylor said:
Does anyone think Saga will try to get a translator in Portland?Now that WCLZ is in HD,they could get a translator for 98.9,Their other HD stations are licensed to Portland and probobly couldn't justify a translator.
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It would be nice if they could get some of the translators away from God's Country and 88.5 WSEW. 92.5, 102.3, 103.3, 107.9... 93.1 WMGX and 100.9 WYNZ are in HD also, currently without HD2s. I don't think it matters how close the translators are to the main station. 94.1 in Manchester isn't filling any gaps for 95.7 or 96.5, nor is 103.1 for 95.7.
 
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