Salisbury/Ocean City area stations after the book

[ka3kza]

Now that the Fall 10 book is out, lets start some speculation on what should happen.

WLBW and WDKZ both did well, but K-Love is coming to them. How about WZEB pick up Top40/M, and WKHI pick up oldies. WZEB hits the beaches for summer money, but also can be heard in Salisbury as well as the southern half of Sussex County. WKHI with it's tower in Pittsville covers Ocean Pines, as well as the Delaware areas like Pot-Nets, and that's where the Oldies listeners are as well as the Salisbury area which The WAVE lost when the dumped the simulcast.WICO-FM need at least local mornings, and possibly afternoons, following in the footsteps of WGMD which only carries Rush , and network stuff after 10pm.
Second option Delmarva simulcasts WNCL Cool 101.3 on 97.1 dumping Smooth Jazz which has tanked just about everywhere. Another possibility is Delmarva swaps 97.1 for 101.1, and simulcasts Cool on both. If 101.1 was moved lower on the tower, say 400 feet, it would have a better signal into Ocean City and Salisbury.

Now how about all the NPR stations: WESM, dump NPR for All Jazz and Blues. WRAU put their Bluegrass programming on from 6pm-6am weekdays and all weekend. WYPO, they have a crapping signal, and the audio is at about 50%, so do a deal with WSDL to run Maryland Morning, and Midday, then sell 106.9.

So, any other ideas?

 

[Jkf]

I've heard more people listening to WEES-LP than the smooth jazz on 97.1. Why this format has been parked here for so long is anyone's guess.

My suggestion would be to simulcast Eagle 97.7 on 97.1.

 

[Slinky]

I always forget about 97.1 in this market. Seems like that low-rated smooth jazz format has been on forever. Then again Delmarva Broadcasting stations never seem to change. Look at their other stations: Eagle, Cat Country, WSTW, and WDEL have all been doing the same thing forever too. The only one that's changed recently is 92.5.

97.7 on 97.1 isn't such a bad idea. They would be wise to tweak the music a little more CHR if they do that, to pick up the ex-Kiss listeners and differentiate themselves from B. The issue there is that 97.7 has always historically focused on Kent and Northern Sussex counties, and they seem to do well there. I don't know if Delmarva Broadcasting would want to risk broadening the station's focus and possibly losing some of the Dover-Milford audience.

 

[Slinky]

Second option Delmarva simulcasts WNCL Cool 101.3 on 97.1 dumping Smooth Jazz which has tanked just about everywhere.

Agree that 97.1 needs to do SOMETHING, and they should definitely attempt to fill one of the holes that's going to be created by K-Love taking over 92.1 and 105.5, especially if Great Scott doesn't make a move with their stations.

Now how about all the NPR stations: WESM, dump NPR for All Jazz and Blues. WRAU put their Bluegrass programming on from 6pm-6am weekdays and all weekend. WYPO, they have a crapping signal, and the audio is at about 50%, so do a deal with WSDL to run Maryland Morning, and Midday, then sell 106.9.

These stations are probably the biggest mess in Delmarva. I know not all of the stations cover all of the market, but from anywhere, you're getting at least two or three versions of Morning Edition or All Things Considered, possibly up to five if you're at the right spot!

I'm all for competition usually, and I'm not a huge anti-NPR guy, but there's something that bothers me about gigantic big city stations using government money (even a tiny fraction) of it to go invade the turf of smaller stations that are programming the exact same thing. Agreed that some sort of partnership with WSDL/WSCL or WESM would have been a much better idea for WYPR than to try and make it on that terrible 106.9 signal.

 

[ka3kza]

As expected the non-profit that is buying 92.1 and 105.5 has requested a wavier from the main studio rule, meaning no local people. The FCC allows this with non-profits, WRAU, WYPO and WSDL all have them. In WSDL's case it makes sense since they miss the 25 mile rule by only a few miles. I'm looking forward to the change over, so we can see what other players in the market will do.