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Shore Alternative Says Goodbye

H

hubcity

The shorealternative.com website switched to a farewell message at 5PM today.

A rather eloquent one, I might add...and they even have the time remaining between now and Friday at 5PM for an on-air sendoff. (Contrast with the sudden shift and the bitter jettison Bob McAllen gave G-Rock's fans.)

I'm of mixed emotions here. On the one hand, they were The Competition in this market - and on the other, they were programming a different station entirely (90's-centric Alt versus my 80's-centric Modern Rock) and I always felt having more than one choice for alternative on the HD service was a good thing overall. That leaves 90.5 for AAA, WRXP for...whatever it is they're doing, 102.7 HD2 for untried new music, and my iconoclastic selection at 90.5 HD2.

I wish them well.

-Sean
Altrok 90.5 HD2 at http://altrokradio.com
 
What's the new HD2 format going to be? If HD2 is usually the place for old HD1 formats, would HD3 be the place for old HD2 formats?

Millennium should have simulcasted it on 104.9 HD2 and if they got HD on NJ 101.5, put it on its HD2. But that would have been too much work for a handful of new listeners. They could just shut off the IBUZ machine and let 94.1 WYSP be heard.
 
WJLK's original HD2 was a simulcast of 105.7 The Hawk .. maybe it'll switch back to that ..
 
What a disappointment. As if it wasn't enough not to have a single alternative rock station on the FM dial, now we're losing Shore Alternative. At least the station is getting a proper sendoff and giving its listeners a respectful farewell, which is far more than can be said of the appalling actions of Press Communications and the pathetic way they ended WHTG after nearly 25 years of the same format. So that's one less option for this kind of music. One way or another they're going to coax me into becoming a Sirius XM subscriber.
 
SoulCrusher said:
What a disappointment. As if it wasn't enough not to have a single alternative rock station on the FM dial, now we're losing Shore Alternative. At least the station is getting a proper sendoff and giving its listeners a respectful farewell, which is far more than can be said of the appalling actions of Press Communications and the pathetic way they ended WHTG after nearly 25 years of the same format. So that's one less option for this kind of music. One way or another they're going to coax me into becoming a Sirius XM subscriber.
Click to expand...

They say stay tuned for the "next chapter." Could they be gearing to flip a under performing station to Alternative? Should be interesting to watch....
 
Turnpike Tuner said:
SoulCrusher said:
What a disappointment. As if it wasn't enough not to have a single alternative rock station on the FM dial, now we're losing Shore Alternative. At least the station is getting a proper sendoff and giving its listeners a respectful farewell, which is far more than can be said of the appalling actions of Press Communications and the pathetic way they ended WHTG after nearly 25 years of the same format. So that's one less option for this kind of music. One way or another they're going to coax me into becoming a Sirius XM subscriber.
Click to expand...

They say stay tuned for the "next chapter." Could they be gearing to flip a under performing station to Alternative? Should be interesting to watch....
Click to expand...

That's always a possibility, but I would venture to guess that isn't happening unless Millennium has a deal pending to purchase another station. The ratings have been solid for just about all of their FM signals, and they have stuck with The Hawk (which posted its best ratings in a while) through thick and thin. Then again, as proven by the surprising flip of WJRZ in late '09, ratings aren't everything.
 
SoulCrusher said:
What a disappointment. As if it wasn't enough not to have a single alternative rock station on the FM dial, now we're losing Shore Alternative. At least the station is getting a proper sendoff and giving its listeners a respectful farewell, which is far more than can be said of the appalling actions of Press Communications and the pathetic way they ended WHTG after nearly 25 years of the same format. So that's one less option for this kind of music. One way or another they're going to coax me into becoming a Sirius XM subscriber.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know, 90.5 HD2's not really receivable in your area of the market...yet...

Actually, there is one thing that has confused me over the past few months regarding WJLK's HD2 signal. I have a hard time getting it at all with my Insignia pocket radio (1.0 firmware) and that's even when I'm within visual range of their antenna (just north of Exit 100 on the GSP.) I get a portion of a second, then it buffers, and then I get another portion of a second...lather, rinse, repeat. HD1 is unaffected, and sounds just fine - in fact, I notice I can get WJLK-HD1 in Middletown now where I couldn't before, and where I can't get WBJB either.

I haven't tried with my other Insignia (newer firmware) because 90.5 HD2 comes in just fine (in fact, it does so when I'm in visual range of WJLK's antenna.) Wonder if that's a factor, though?
 
SoulCrusher said:
That's always a possibility, but I would venture to guess that isn't happening unless Millennium has a deal pending to purchase another station. The ratings have been solid for just about all of their FM signals, and they have stuck with The Hawk (which posted its best ratings in a while) through thick and thin. Then again, as proven by the surprising flip of WJRZ in late '09, ratings aren't everything.
Click to expand...

Given all the people at the Seaview Square Mall that had a hand in S*ALT, it wouldn't be shocking to see it happen. Then again, I've always wondered why Millennium didn't migrate WOBM-FM to 105.7 (13kw vs 1.4 kw), and put the classic rock station on the weaker signal.
 
Well, we can still argue about who listens to HD radio anyway, let alone now with the demise of the Zune HD, but damn, I thought they had most of it's displaced G-Rock listeners to keep them steady.
 
Just last year in Albany, NY we lost both of our alternative rock stations (WZMR 104.9 went to country and WHRL 103.1 went talk), and we haven't had a replacement yet (not even on HD2). From here (Schenectady, NY), I can kinda pull in WEQX 102.7 but get interference from WKKF (Kiss FM 102.3), and I also get WKLL (94.9 Utica) weakly but Sound of Life bleeds in. WKBE 100.3 is fine but is really a Modern AC/AAA (like Click in Seattle)... could a Mod AC/AAA work in central NJ? Something to consider...
 
danikayser84 said:
Just last year in Albany, NY we lost both of our alternative rock stations (WZMR 104.9 went to country and WHRL 103.1 went talk), and we haven't had a replacement yet (not even on HD2). From here (Schenectady, NY), I can kinda pull in WEQX 102.7 but get interference from WKKF (Kiss FM 102.3), and I also get WKLL (94.9 Utica) weakly but Sound of Life bleeds in. WKBE 100.3 is fine but is really a Modern AC/AAA (like Click in Seattle)... could a Mod AC/AAA work in central NJ? Something to consider...
Click to expand...

Actually, truth be told, AAA's working rather well at 90.5 FM/HD1.
 
Just listened to the signoff ... summed up everything nicely about the station's run and its supporters. However, I heard absolutely no hints of anything new on the horizon as far as an FM station is concerned. The shows that air on Sundays will continue, but that's it. I don't think there's going to be a "next chapter". In all likelihood, Shore Alternative is just the latest victim of Millennium budget cuts. And unless there's a deal in the works to buy an underperforming competitor, it's highly unlikely we're ever going to see alternative rock back on FM. We won't get it from Greater Media, and we definitely won't get it from Press. I'll never understand how this market can support countless Top 40 and Soft Rock stations, but even one alternative rock format is too much.
 
In case anyone is wondering, WJLK has reverted back to just the main HD feed .. no HD2 ..
 
Well, before it was Shore Alternative, WJLK simulcasted 105.7 The Hawk on its HD2, and actually sounded halfway decent, so I was hoping they would go back to that ..
 
Nick said:
I'm hoping they shut off the IBUZ so we can reclaim 94.1 and 94.5
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that you quit bitching about IBOC on FM. :)

Some of us actually LIKE and USE HD Radio.

It's no longer 1975..get used to it.
 
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