THE BIG GUESS..

[Rob]

OK, WTKE (unless I'm not looking..) hasn't applied for CP to change call letters

1)Country (as if our area needs more)
2)Classic Rock (more then likely)
3)Swap MIX 103.1 to 98.1 (are they same company??)
4)NPR.. just kidding..

What type of format did the old station have? (before sports)

-Rob

 

[jmtillery]

I think the 98.1 frequency has had virtually every known format under the sun. Why nothing apparaently has worked in the past is unknown to me. WTKE appears to have a decent signal, so something should work successfully on that station.

 

[Poledo]

While 98.1 may have been a country or AC station when they were in Covington county, I only remember 4 formats since they moved into Florida.
Of course 98.1 was best known as Top-40, 98-Surf. As a new Top 40 FM powerhouse, 98 Surf was briefly a top station in Fort Walton and all over NW Florida and south central Alabama. Top-40 98 Surf became irrelevant after a few years when new stations launched closer to the Emerald Coast crowding the dial. 98 Surf faded from Top 40 to oldies to classic rock before it flipped to Sports. I probably missed a flip back to CHR or Top-40 sometime.

I don't think any of us have very high expectations for 98.1 in 2010. 98.1 just hasn't mattered since the 1980's when they were the big Top-40 station. How much more can be beat out of it?

 

[jmtillery]

The 98.1 calls have changed to WRKN along with a new moniker "K - Rock", while the WTKE-FM calls have moved to 100.3 Niceville. It appears 98.1 is heading back to a rock format.

 

[Poledo]

http://www.krocksthebeach.com/

K-Rock looks pretty much dead to me. If they were to return, wouldn't you expect something on that website to give you a hint?

The call letters of 98.1 and 100.3 flipped about a week after the Ticket moved to 100.3. Radio-Locator just swapped the station information, so I wouldn't put to much stock in their current information, we've seen the same thing on Radio-Locator in the past when heritage call letters were parked on small AM station somewhere. I also wouldn't pay much attention to the information that was posted on Wikipedia. The Wiki poster couldn't even spell Qantum, so I doubt he has any real knowledge of what's going on.

While I'd love to see another Classic Rock station around here, I just don't see it happening. Unless Qantum wants to target Pensacola with 98.1 (as every other owner has in the past 20 years!), there won't be any type of rock or oldies on 98.1. It's actually starting to look like Sports might have been the best format for 98.1 after all... We had the SEC championship, and are about to go through the Sugar Bowl and BCS Championship game with no FM or AM sports station in Pensacola.

 

[jmtillery]

Your guess is as good as mine regarding the new format. All I know is that the call letters were traded between 98.1 and 100.3 per the FCC database query. They may program gypsy dance music interspersed with barking dogs 24/7 for all I know which should be an interesting programming combination. Only time will tell for sure what the New 98.1 will end up bringing to the Panhandle.

 

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

Would someone mind telling me who owns "K-Rock"?

Because the "advertise with us" logo has the Princeton, NJ based Nassau Broadcasting logo in the background.

Perhaps they thought it was included in the Envisionwise website platform, as this is what Nassau uses for all their stations.

Oops...

 

[redneckriviera]

While 98.1 may have been a country or AC station when they were in Covington county, I only remember 4 formats since they moved into Florida.
Of course 98.1 was best known as Top-40, 98-Surf. As a new Top 40 FM powerhouse, 98 Surf was briefly a top station in Fort Walton and all over NW Florida and south central Alabama. Top-40 98 Surf became irrelevant after a few years when new stations launched closer to the Emerald Coast crowding the dial. 98 Surf faded from Top 40 to oldies to classic rock before it flipped to Sports. I probably missed a flip back to CHR or Top-40 sometime.

I don't think any of us have very high expectations for 98.1 in 2010. 98.1 just hasn't mattered since the 1980's when they were the big Top-40 station. How much more can be beat out of it?

But here's the catch. As the only C-1 (no pure C's) in the heart of FWB, 98.1 has The Best Signal in the market. And signals matter. If operated intelligently, this particular stick has the capability to run the table.

Yeah, that's a big "if." Don't bet the house on it happening, either.

And, yeah, the physical (signal) advantage that 98.1 has is not so dramatic--relative to the other big players--that they can just slap anything on the thing and rise to the top. We've got years of evidence to the contrary.

But that IS what makes this interesting enough to watch. Somebody smart could storm the market with that bad boy...

 

[Rob]

That would be me. I'm not good at remembering spellings of names. I'll fix it soon. (on the wiki article) unless you geeks want to

 

[Poledo]

On paper 98.1 now has the best signal in Fort Walton, but it really isn't any better than 93.3, 96.5, and 99.5. Also note that Country 105.5 has just about the worst signal in the market but it is the top station.
Recently Qantum gave us Wave (version 1) and Fly, but about a year later they put 'em on both on cruise control. That just doesn't give me much hope. It's just hard to imagine Qantum doing anything with 98.1.

Here's something interesting:

AS THE COMMISSION WAS INFORMED BY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 19, 2009, WRKN(FM) HAS BEEN FORCED TO OPERATE AT REDUCED POWER WITH A TPO OF APPROXIMATELY 1KW. THE PROBLEM WILL BE REMEDIED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMITTER. THAT REPLACEMENT TRANSMITTER WAS PROMPTLY ORDERED BUT IT IS NOW ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL NOT BE DELIVERED AND INSTALLED FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS

I can't believe 98.1 has been at 1kw since November 19. That's one hell of a kilowatt! Also, if they aren't going to be at full power on December 26th, I wouldn't expect a new format until they get back up to 100kw.

 

[redneckriviera]

On paper 98.1 now has the best signal in Fort Walton, but it really isn't any better than 93.3, 96.5, and 99.5. Also note that Country 105.5 has just about the worst signal in the market but it is the top station.
Recently Qantum gave us Wave (version 1) and Fly, but about a year later they put 'em on both on cruise control. That just doesn't give me much hope. It's just hard to imagine Qantum doing anything with 98.1.

Here's something interesting:

AS THE COMMISSION WAS INFORMED BY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 19, 2009, WRKN(FM) HAS BEEN FORCED TO OPERATE AT REDUCED POWER WITH A TPO OF APPROXIMATELY 1KW. THE PROBLEM WILL BE REMEDIED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMITTER. THAT REPLACEMENT TRANSMITTER WAS PROMPTLY ORDERED BUT IT IS NOW ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL NOT BE DELIVERED AND INSTALLED FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS

I can't believe 98.1 has been at 1kw since November 19. That's one hell of a kilowatt! Also, if they aren't going to be at full power on December 26th, I wouldn't expect a new format until they get back up to 100kw.

Well, the transmitter problem (old one blew up?) 'splains their dead-in-the-water posture.

But, yeah, programming (and promotion, and people, and a host of other smaller stuff) matters, too.

BTW, let me correct myself: 96.5/WZNS is also a C-1 with a nearly identical "on paper" signal--just a shorter stick by about 44 feet, HAAT.

The difference between a 100-kw signal and a 25-kw signal like WYZB's--and the 180 foot difference in antenna height--generally doesn't show up on car radios, but rather at-home or (most typically) at-work, where the stronger signal is more likely to be audible and the weaker signal may not be audible. And believe it or not, work is where most radio listening happens.

If you can't hear it, you can't listen to it, and if you can't listen to it, you can't rack-up no TSL. It's them folks working in the steel building up in Crestview who notice the difference--not the drunks cruising the beach bars...

So, to take it a step further, 105.5 may be the current Top Dog in FWB, but they're also the most at risk.

And, yeah, if I hit the Powerball and 98.1 suddenly landed in my lap, I'd probably take the SOB to Country and blast YZB out of the water. Besides--as the old saying goes--it's where the money is.

 

[Rob]

Well, as I said, this area has too many country stations, even though 102.7 can't be heard well past fort walton beach.

The classic rock 100.3 was doing well, if there WRKN, looks like after this is fixed up, is going back to a rock format.
Their signal seems stronger out here, I was able to pick up 97 rock out of tampa for a bit. now it's gone. 98.1 is squishing it.

Mobile's 94.9 has a hell of a signal too. Let's not forget Crestview's 104.7 despite there not in stereo and off from 12a 5a.

So, to recap, we have the following:

92.5 WBAP (Panama)
94.9 KSJ
95.5 WTVY (Still can be heard down here at times)
96.9 (Forgot calls) There a big dog, and I can hear them daily
98.7 cat country
102.7 Pensacola/Ft Walton
103.5 out of Panama
104.7 WAAZ
105.5 The #1 station as you mentioned
106.3... JUST KIDDING

Despte the two 95.5 and 96.9 are not in this area, we still have waaaaaay to many country stations so hopefully the manager of Q is reading this and I'll add 98.1 to the car's radio presets playing a classic rock format.

 

[redneckriviera]

Rob, that's because you're thinking about this like a listener and I'm thinking about it like the money-grubbing radio sales-management type that I are.

And, in truth, I'd have to take a much closer look at the FWB market than I have (not having done so) before determining any format choice for 98.1.

More to the point, if I do win the Powerball, I'll leave y'all to sort out the radio biz and head for Juana's Pagodas and order a six-pack or three of them rum drinks and watch the Navarre Bikini Team all day...

 

[Poledo]

Yep, that whole "market" thing is what messes everything up for 98.1. Qantum is a Fort Walton/Destin company and the only smart business decision for programming the market's best signal is Country, AC, or CHR.

In the past, 98.1 targeted Pensacola... providing us with an otherwise unavailable format. If 98.1 were to continue to target Pensacola they'd have a whole bunch of formats to choose from... making a good live/local AAA station, something like a Florida version of 92 Zew, a possibility still a dream.

Country 105.5 is #1 in FWB. With 11 FM signals in the market, in my opinion only 106.3 and 100.3 have worse signals. You just can't pick up 105.5 on a commute west of Fort Walton, which is worse than not having as strong a signal on boom boxes and clock radios. If Qantum (or the new owner) goes country and can put as much effort into 98.1 as Cat Country 98.7 in Pensacola is getting, taking over FWB radio might be easy... or it might cost Pensacola 99 Rock if Cumulus has to move Country up to the stronger station to compete.

On the other hand, Rock, Classic Rock, AAA, Oldies, and possibly even talk or sports would get a significant number of listeners outside of the market survey area.

I was listening to Christmas music on the 1kw 98.1 today and it's simply amazing how good that signal is 30 miles out. Also, they already have advertisers! "Your Christmas Station is being brought to you by East River Smokehouse."

The Big Guess... yeah... the easy part is that at 1kw, 98.1 will ether be stunting or simulcasting another station on December 26th.

 

[Rob]

I've never heard that where is this place in P'Cola?
Can you guys tell me if there @ 100KW again or still running on a temp 1KW CP

It's too bad this area isn't Atlanta or Orlando. Last night, I was listening to WSM out of nashville. Kinda makes me wish I was there.
I know I'm a listener. You're all the radio geeks.

Country is something I could care less about. Bleh.

 

[Tibbs4]

This is going to be a painful post because i have to agree with rob....

But, first, RNR - my friend, gotta gently point out that back in the 80"s when the real WPFM was cranking, 98 Surf was around, and very popular in Destin and I assume P-cola. I remember bits and pieces of 98 at that era, but nothing compared to 108. In the mid-90's, after Top 40 imploded (financially and programming-wise) at 98.1 it flipped to
a mighty fun Classic rocker that didn't play all the usual stupid billion plays the crapsultants still bore radio outta
businesss with. And as WXCR - 98one ClassicRock - and despite the horrible equipment and signal isssues with a
TSL 40 miles norf the tin can still cranked some brilliant numbers in the important demos in Destin/FWB books only bested at the time by 99 Rock, whose signal was much better at 50kw. Billings were good, too. I am to fried to
remember the consultants name out of Indiana or Ohio etc, but it was a GREAT station musically. I have heard only
one other station similar since in western KY years ago on or about the same frequency (98 something). When we
sold that monstrosity to Affable they ruined it as 98 Surf being the alleged old-time radio experts with all egos and know/no brains. Then we all know what happened after that to the cursed signal. So, while it WAS originally known as
a Top 40 station it was still not always as successful as it was as classic rock. What will happen will be of course better that WTKE, but doubtful very interesting or ground breakingly original.

rob ~you're RIGHT Nashville is an absolute GREAT city in most every way. And while country music is from here, its a large city with so much more to offer that you hardly think about it that much except to watch tourists who dress with funny hats and boots. Come on up. Mapquests got directions. No beaches either, but the most beautiful women and a ton of pretty strobey's all over the skyline thingy and all around i can see like 2000 strobey's flashing or blinking from my front porch or windows and its cool and almost magical. No tropo or Castro either though...

 

[Rob]

Thanks, I'm glad you approve. I try to learn about the radio field and you've all taught me some things. We'll see probably Friday night what happens. (despite I've heard COAST flip to normal shows around noon XMAS day PROBABLY due to PD's getting SICK of hearing the same old crap for almost 2 months... when i was up north, WYYY didn't flip from XMAS to AC till midnight the next day. and it was manually done. I knew a jock there who brought in his own albums (remember VINYL???.. SIGH) and he spun and spun them they had a big TEAC (SP?) reel to reel deck too. (I THINK) but this was before WYYY was owned by CC i think it was an indy around 1989.

kinda like that scene in "private parts" when the man was breaking records... JUST KIDDING

Merry chirstmas all, I'll be in destin and be back for the big flip...

-Rob

 

[redneckriviera]

Per Tibbs "But, first, RNR - my friend, gotta gently point out that back in the 80"s when the real WPFM was cranking, 98 Surf was around, and very popular in Destin and I assume P-cola. I remember bits and pieces of 98 at that era, but nothing compared to 108. In the mid-90's, after Top 40 imploded (financially and programming-wise) at 98.1 it flipped to
a mighty fun Classic rocker that didn't play all the usual stupid billion plays the crapsultants still bore radio outta
businesss with. And as WXCR - 98one ClassicRock - and despite the horrible equipment and signal isssues with a
TSL 40 miles norf the tin can still cranked some brilliant numbers in the important demos in Destin/FWB books only bested at the time by 99 Rock, whose signal was much better at 50kw. Billings were good, too. I am to fried to
remember the consultants name out of Indiana or Ohio etc, but it was a GREAT station musically. I have heard only
one other station similar since in western KY years ago on or about the same frequency (98 something). When we
sold that monstrosity to Affable they ruined it as 98 Surf being the alleged old-time radio experts with all egos and know/no brains. Then we all know what happened after that to the cursed signal. So, while it WAS originally known as
a Top 40 station it was still not always as successful as it was as classic rock. What will happen will be of course better that WTKE, but doubtful very interesting or ground breakingly original."

Hey there, Nashville Cat!

Oh, I know 98.1 had successful runs in both CHR & rock. Was someone else casting aspersions? I don't think it was me.

All I've suggested is that with what is now technically the best FM signal in the Fort Walton Beach market (effectively identical to 104.7's ERP & HAAT, but with a stronger signal in the most populated areas), 98.1 is the Big Dog, and has the opportunity to go into whatever programming arena it wants--and do well... on the assumption (a HUGE assumption) that it is run well.

Rule Number One: all else being equal, the biggest stick (best signal) wins. Our pal cceng may agree: it all starts with the signal...

 

[Tibbs4]

I see where youre coming from, RNR! Yeah, I wish I had had the $$$$ to get that signal upgraded and fixed (Hurricane Opal, anybody???) Today's version of power (if perfected) is stellar. You could pick the old Andalusia
COL signal up about 20 miles south of Montgomery and ride it all the way to Highway 98 in FWB, but you could
not pick it up in many buildings or while scanning near the ocean. Thats why I was shocked at the first books
ratings. It only got better. I cant remember the actual numbers from them days. Heck, I can remember THE GREAT 108's better. Anyway, when I tried to get the 96.5 signal from the old Dr. McKowsky (spelling wrong) as he was
on CP stretch mode for a quarter of a century, I dreamed of having the two powerhouses on the area. Could you
imagine having 98.1, 96.5 and 107.9 (and some other PC stations) and controlling them down there? Wow.
Yep, RNR ---We would be dead! No one can keep up with CCENG! Hehehe

Has Jimmy Whitaker upgraded AAZ to the full 100kw? I guess he had to use it or loose it.

Merry Christmas !!! I don't have a palm tree w/ lights (or strobeys on it) Nashvillle is full of great Christmas lights
and strobeys btw. Hope you're not snowed in RNR!

 

[Tibbs4]

oh, and RNR ~~~ hell, Navarre has a Bikini Team? ROB why why would you be playing on this website if
that exists in youre backyard??? Talk about lightin your strobey!

Lottery or not, that's enough to make me remember why its PCBs called the worlds most beautiful beaches.
I am really missing spring. Sign me up while my vision is still working...