Salem Splits/Flips

[lash]

Salem Broadcasting has split its Middle-Western, Tenn., Southern gospel simulcast on 104.9 and 105.1 to a new 24/7 Sunday morning praise and worship format, known as Life 105.1 (WVRY) on the latter frequency. The format remains the same on 104.9.

 

[jetfli]

Salem Broadcasting has split its Middle-Western, Tenn., Southern gospel simulcast on 104.9 and 105.1 to a new 24/7 Sunday morning praise and worship format, known as Life 105.1 (WVRY) on the latter frequency. The format remains the same on 104.9.

Sounds like an easy-listening version of The Fish. I've always wondered, though, why Salem doesn't use one of its frequencies in the area for its talk programming.

Alas, I remember listening to oldies on WVRY, which once ran the same ABC oldies format that WKOM does.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I just saw in the transactions at the Radio & Records website that Salem is selling WVRY to Grace Broadcasting, who owns WWGM 93.1 in Jackson (Southern Gospel) and the Dove network of AC CCM stations in Jackson, Selmer, and Dickson.

I wonder what will happen to 105.1 now. They could possibly stay the same Praise & Worship format, but I can't see how it would be an improvement to go either with CCM (Considering that the nighttime programming on the Dove stations in Jackson and Dickson are from the same feed as Salem's Fish stations in Nashville) or Southern Gospel where it would have to compete with 104.9. (Unless there are plans to possibly buy it as well?)

If Grace is wanting to move into larger cities, I wish they'd buy a station in Memphis and do a local CCM format there. I really like K-LOVE's music better, but there is a real need for something local again there.

 

[jetfli]

WVRY is not a large city station. If you're thinking "Nashville", don't, as it is only picked up well on the western extremities of Nashville. And it really doesn't compete with WBOZ, as that's only picked up well in the eastern extremities of Nashville.

Thinking of Grace's properties, my guess is that they wanted a 50,000 watt signal for some of their own programming, either for their Dove or SuperTalk programming.

Was WVRY publically up for sale? If so, I'm surprised there weren't other/higher bidders for the property.

 

[Tibbs4]

$900,000... for that? Things must be pretty incredible in the non-profit world.

 

[Signal_Faded]

[/quote]

I've always wondered, though, why Salem doesn't use one of its frequencies in the area for its talk programming.

[/quote]

It does seem that there is room for another legit talker in town. WLAC and WWTN both do well but there is a ton of good syndicated talent not represented in the market because both stations have good local programming.

Whether Salems talk line up would be considered 'legit' is another story. Hewitt, Prager and Medved are not exactly hosts that get anyone real excited.

 

[J-Rod]

$900,000... for that? Things must be pretty incredible in the non-profit world.

So you know Tibbs... Grace isn't a non-profit. They are one of the few Christian stations that are for profit. They don't take donations, they actually sell ads and pay for themselves...

I should know, I'm the morning show host and sales guy at the Selmer TN branch.

 

[anotherguyTN]

J-Rod,
Any idea what the plans are for 105.1? Thanks!

 

[selmeradio]

Hello.....

Grace should be taking control of 105.1 in June..... Traffic and studio control is being set up as we speak.... The station would have been taken over quicker, however Grace is moving their main office to Jackson TN along with 3 FM stations...

To answer the question of Format.... It will be Southern Gospel..... WFGZ is Contemporary and covers most of the same (now totally broadcasting Salem) Area.

WFGZ should be moving studio's back to Middle TN in the coming months....

105.1 will maintain studios Dickson....

Have a good one

 

[Tenn Radio Boy]

I'm trying to understand why anyone in broadcasting, other than the christian broadcasters, of which they are few, really cares about what Salem does with their properties.

They are not factors in any markets they serve, siphoning off the religious money and some cause dollars, plus lots of donations. Are they a non-profit, a 501-3C or they a for-profit venture?

Hats off to them for their ideals, but when CC in Nashville pulls in probably 25m, what does Salem do, maybe 10 percent of that for all their effort.

Bennett or Limbaugh. Tough choice I know.

 

[lash]

Actually Grace flipped the format to Salem's Solid Gospel, as of last night. Sounds good, for what it is.

 

[anotherguyTN]

So they're back on the same satellite feed as 104.9? I know they're doing the same format, but I don't understand why Grace would want to carry the same feed on 105.1 as Salem is using on 104.9. I also don't understand why Grace would want to carry Salem's CCM feed on 94.5 that is the same as the Fish stations in Nashville. I think they were better off when they were simulcasting with 93.7 in Jackson. It just seems like there is too much overlap between 105.1 and 94.5 and Salem's stations for them to carry the same thing.

 

[selmeradio]

To answer the question..... Grace now has 13 properties AM & FM combined, and has part ownership in another AM.....

In the stations 13 stations Grace owns, there are maybe 20 employees full and part time combined... ( this includes sales staff and programing)

The second reason for 105.1 going back to Solid Gospel is, it worked for that station in the previous years, so why fix something if it's not broke..... One of Grace's owners is a big fan of Solid Gospel....

Also, there is very lttle overlap of 104.9, and 105.1, so 104.9 having the same programing is not really a factor...


As for 94.5 using Salems CCM format full time, again it is a man-power issue.... I do possibly see a "Live, Local " morning show coming in the future, but a studio has to be established first..... If memory serves, when Grace first bought 94.5 , it had just a Local morning show, and then rode Salem for the remainder of the day, then went to full Salem before the combination of the Dove Network....

To answer the reason for separation of 93.7, they are wanting to really focus on the Jackson Milan area with all programing for that station, 93.7 ( not to say they were not already doing that )......