Savannah: WZAT - When Will It Flip?

[FilmCritic3K]

So...anyone see the latest Nielsen ratings for WZAT? Ouch.

What's the time frame on that format flip that many of us here on the boards have been surmising for a while? I think the smart move, as others have also stated, would be to flip it to Alternative. With heavy marketing and creative programming, I think it would give WFXH a real challenge.

 

[acheron1982]

Perfect flip would be an active/alternative hybrid. Still would give WFXH a run because of the signal. Pure alternative would also work since Cumulus alternative stations tend to lean harder than iheart ones.

I'm shocked they haven't flipped yet. I know 97.3 is higher up the pole than 102.1 but for some reason, I can pull 102.1 much further west and south. That signal is a monster. Why such a waste.

 

[Radio-X]

I know many of us on here have been hoping for a 102.1 flip to rock since their DOA top 40 days over 10 years ago...

Put it this way: I went to college down in those parts around 2006. Same discussion then. (Reminds me, I need to find my Z102 and I95 "20 years" vinyl banners I stole from the Civic Center in '06) I have since graduated, spent two years afterwards in the Lowcountry, and have since spent the last three years in Seattle. The talk about WZAT going rock has been going full steam all that time.

The opportunity for pretty much hogging up the rock market to themselves is in Cumulus' hands. Make WIXV 100% classic rock, switch 102.1 to a hard rock format...106.1 will have to do something PDQ to survive or give up and flip. Competition makes everybody better, and this would be a definite case of that.

Cumulus needs to do something with 102.1. My guess is it'll be rock of some flavor and it'll be sometime this summer.

That being said, don't be surprised if we are still discussing this very same topic in...say...2026. Nash Icon will be down to two stations...one of which will be WZAT

Media in Savannah has a tendency to rarely if ever change because the people in Savannah don't really want it to (read: The news on WTOC). When it does change, you're surprised at what sticks and what fails.

Radio-X

(Holding out hope for Z102-1...Savannah and the Lowcountry's underground alternative)

 

[acheron1982]

I remember the mid 90s when WZAT was Savannah's Best Rock. If I remember well, it was basically an alternative/active hybrid. I'm in Atlanta now and I absolutley love what Cumulus has done with 99X. It's incredibly alternative/indie leaning with lots of local acts. Personally, that is my taste but I don't think it would work in Savannah. Active Rock is not billing that well across the country. That is why most "modern rock" stations are alternative vs active at this time. Still, Savannah isn't a town for the indie/hipsters who jam out to the latest from Tame Impala or St. Lucia. With that being said, most Cumulus stations, except for 99X in Atlanta, that are alternative do in fact lean a bit hard. The cumulus alternative station in New Orleans or Chicago is going to play System of a Down for example. Iheart alt stations will not touch that except for maybe the Houston Tx one. Cumulus also leans newer than iheart radio alt stations so less 90s and more 2ks.

I think a straight alternative station in Savannah would work provided it has a harder edgier side. If they launched, Rock 106.1 would exist for all of a few months before it would die off. Rock 1061 signal doesn't even reach Statesboro and barely gets into Ft. Stewart/Hinesville, if at all. Those towns don't even have a modern rock option regardless if it's active or alternative.

WIXV has had the same playlist for the last 10 years. I mean, it's like they don't even add songs to the playlist. It's just been on repeat for over 10 years. Even Don Scott still repeats himself. You should see me mocking him when I'm listening online or if I'm in Savannah... "Join me, Don Scott, as I broadcast live from Harley Davidson of Savannah as we give tickets.... blah... blah... blah.... Only from the ROck of Savannah, I-95.." _Commercial Break_Weather_25 minutes of music_another cheesy plug followed by more commercials. The commercials are at 23 passed the top of the hour and 7 minutes till the top of the hour. This has been the clock for the past 13 years at least. Oh and don't get me started on the broad brushed playlist that hits only the top hits which have been in rotation consistently for the past 13 years. Tom Petty - "You Wreck Me" has been played daily for over a decade.

Off my rant on WIXV but yeah, would love to see Z102 come back as an alternative to the other crap. Such a waste of a signal for the current low performing format.