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The NHL's Carolina Hurricanes moving to WCMC-FM

T

tothedj

For the second time in the last few months, Capitol Broadcasting has picked up
another sport, this time, NHL Hockey, as the Carolina Hurricanes will begin to
broadcast on WCMC-FM in Raleigh beginning this fall.
In addition to the N.C. State Football and Basketball Coaches Call-In shows
being added, i wonder if a format change is in the works since country is not
performing well, i think the smart thing they could do is go to "News, Talk,
and Sports", which means picking up talk shows currently not heard in the
triangle sprinkled in with some local flavor, plus "Sporting News Radio" that
would air evenings until game time, and after the game plus weekends...
Any thoughts?
 
Maybe just "talk". Could happen...

Any bets on whether it happens before the fall book starts?
 
tothedj said:
For the second time in the last few months, Capitol Broadcasting has picked up
another sport, this time, NHL Hockey, as the Carolina Hurricanes will begin to
broadcast on WCMC-FM in Raleigh beginning this fall.
In addition to the N.C. State Football and Basketball Coaches Call-In shows
being added, i wonder if a format change is in the works since country is not
performing well, i think the smart thing they could do is go to "News, Talk,
and Sports", which means picking up talk shows currently not heard in the
triangle sprinkled in with some local flavor, plus "Sporting News Radio" that
would air evenings until game time, and after the game plus weekends...
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
If this is true, more bad news for "real country".
 
A format change is definately in the works for WCMC. All these changes don't just start happening all of the sudden. First the wolfpack, now the canes, I see them flipping to talk or sports. I think we could see it before the fall ratings.
 
I think a move to a sports talk format would be a wise decision. The triangle and eastern NC has too many friggin country stations now as it is, and you can barely here 99.9 east of Raleigh . I saw up the wattage, drop the country format and go all FM talk/sports. They can carry ESPN radio and fill the weekends with ACC talk. It could work. 8)
 
Q96 WEQR Fan said:
I think a move to a sports talk format would be a wise decision. The triangle and eastern NC has too many friggin country stations now as it is, and you can barely here 99.9 east of Raleigh . I saw up the wattage, drop the country format and go all FM talk/sports. They can carry ESPN radio and fill the weekends with ACC talk. It could work. 8)
Click to expand...
That's crazy. They already have two all-sports stations. How many do they need?

I say standards, which is what they were doing before moving from Virginia. The Triangle needs that desperately.
 
You may think it's crazy, but it's kind of hard ::) to listen to 850 or 620 without turning the volume up to 10 if you live outside of Wake County.

And as for standards, do we really need to hear Frank Sinatra on a regular basis? A standard format on FM sounds even crazier than FM sports talk. But alas, that's what makes America great, everyone has opinions and we don't have to agree. ;D
 
Q96 WEQR Fan said:
You may think it's crazy, but it's kind of hard ::) to listen to 850 or 620 without turning the volume up to 10 if you live outside of Wake County.

And as for standards, do we really need to hear Frank Sinatra on a regular basis? A standard format on FM sounds even crazier than FM sports talk. But alas, that's what makes America great, everyone has opinions and we don't have to agree. ;D
Click to expand...
You don't live where I do. We have had FM standards for years. Well, did have. People say the one station has crossed over to soft AC. The other went country legends and is the one mentioned previously on this thread.

And, yes, we do need to hear Frank Sinatra on a regular basis. Just this morning I was listening to a station (AM, not real strong) that plays Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and of course Sinatra constantly. This morning "Love and Marriage" was the Sinatra song. The DJ did make a point of mentioning it was the "Married with Children" theme song. This DJ used to be on 850 where you are, by the way.
 
Its too bad that 99.9 never really had a chance. The launch was botched. The signal was and is inferior. The programming was always bland like the sister station. Its a safe bet that whatever comes next to that frequency will be as dull and uncreative as what is there now. I feel bad for the air staff.
 
We can discuss standards vs. sports talk radio all day, but for now 99.9 is a bland, cookie cutter country format and I never listen to it.

And as for where I live, it is east of the triangle, hence the need for turning "850 the buzz" up to 10 on the volume button to pick them up. As for 620 they are barely audible. As for standards, if that is what you like to listen to, go for it. I wouldn't listen to it, I don't prefer that type of music. I don't think 105.1 WANG at Havelock is tearing up the ratings with their standards format as of now. :( I'd throw a news/talk/sports format on 99.9. I disagree with you and you disagree with me. I'd heading to the beach for a week. Later. :D
 
I still think 99.9 should go country legends like WIST in the Triad, and let QDR and Rooster duke it out with each other. In addition, both these stations also carry sports broadcasts (NASCAR on QDR, UNC football and men's hoops on The Rooster), so I don't see where having the 'Canes on 99.9 should adversely affect them.
 
What is the DJ who used to be on 850?

For FM Sports Talk to succeed in the Triangle market, they would have to destroy The Buzz! Not saying it couldn't be done, but Wake County is a must for any Triangle station's success. All of the listeners in the fringes of the market would make little difference if they can't draw in Wake. I think the college sports would help, but don't see the Hurricane's as a real big draw.

As for standards, there might be a decent sized audience for it, but is the advertising support there? Doubt it.
 
;D

It must be my day. WCMC is going to a sports format in September.

If I'd had a million dollar bet going down when I suggested this earlier :D

I think it's a curious move, but it may work. Heck, at least the triangle will be short 1 country station. ;)
 
CAPITOL BROADCASTING takes the next step with Country WCMC (99.5 GENUINE COUNTRY)/RALEIGH, planning a flip to Sports this FALL after earlier announcing that the station will be the new flagship for CAROLINA HURRICANES hockey.

The TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that no date has been announced for the flip, which places WCMC in competition with MCCLATCHEY BROADCASTING's established Sports WRBZ-A (850 THE BUZZ) and WDNC-A (620 THE BULL).


Now, who all predicted this one?
 
From my post July 9th....


When a radio station begins to die the djs sound tired. There is no energy and commercials fall off. The music gets repeitive and dull and all promotion stops. Even the jingles get shrill. Everyone inside knows the end is coming and it soon is obvious to the listeners. 100.7 in 2005. 106.1 and 93.9 in 2006.

A Raleigh station is dying again.


...although I never would have predicted sports. STUPID.
 
"SportsRadioDoc" must be 99.9's new consultant otherwise he might mention that splitting a 2.0 share isn't such a great strategy. Although he says he's "not in the market" on another thread, he should know that The Buzz and Bull are well positioned and adored by the advertisers or so I hear. He probably does not know that the sports sales people at CBC are "C" students at best. And he can't possibly know that decades of coporate meddling and bad management have made Capitol as bad a radio company as they are a good TV outfit. I do agree the signal won't matter in this case but the programming sure will. So let's see, be one of three sports stations in market number 43 or protect your heritage AC station by grabbing the number two AC position. Hmmm, that's a tough call. Stay tuned to this space. In 20 months or so, they will announce another format change for WCMC. Maybe then they'll get it right.
 
Of course they can make a fortune with this format and that sales staff. But why worry about making a fortune when you can armchair what format should be on there online..lol. Alumni love there colleges and will spend money.. or you can play songs nobody really cares about some more with lame talent.
 
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