W291CI 106.1 Jacksonville

[Kmagrill]

I've witnessed a lot of creative and even funny stunts over the years. This one was in your face and rather mean-spirited.

It seems to be rather a pointless stunt. It wasn't a major station that changed formats, so there's no buzz to be gained. Very few average listeners have likely even noticed it yet. Except for testing, why not just leave it off until ready (or let it run with a preview of the real format), then have a well publicized kickoff event? It sounds like they really missed a great opportunity due to incomplete planning.

 

[radioboy]

JohnJax,

I'm not in Jax, but I certainly agree with your thoughts.

There is so little radio offers to the "not core" demo that I found this stunt to be in extremely poor taste. Last time we were traveling through Jax the only station we listened to was the classic country one.

I occasionally listen to WDUV online and mostly like it, although I like to have some country mixed in too. But after reading this thread, I am disappointed in Cox. I was under the impression that maybe it was a little bit classier than some other owners. Guess not.

 

[nfladxer]

It's not so much about about the listener, and especially not about aging Baby Boomers.

I've witnessed a lot of creative and even funny stunts over the years. This one was in your face and rather mean-spirited. Consider this. If the plan was to bring The Dove to market, would Cox first launch an urban format as some kind of tease? Certainly, we know the answer. Those, not only in the urban areas, but throughout the city who perhaps saw the new station as something they really liked would be pissed-off and rightfully so. Cox would probably have a lot of "splainin' to do being insensitive to a part of the community.

For even the upper-end 25-54 and beyond, this stunt is just another example of how we are really regarded, perhaps even laughed at for our enthusiasm when The Dove arrived.

Nfladxer, I have a lot of respect for you and I can understand why you take the politically correct approach to things. I don't. When you listen to all your options, take notice how many markets offer a Soft AC or a Classic Hits station or both. Also, take note in how exciting and personality-driven a real classic hits station can be. Why there and not here? They will tell you it's the market. I believe a lot of it starts with how listeners are treated and even core values. This latest chapter is just one more example of how certain listeners have been screwed with by all 3 major owners.

There are bright and creative people in Jacksonville radio. To tease people with any new format and then to abruptly take it away is just not the high road. Jacksonville deserves much better...this did not have to be done this way.

JohnJax, How right you are! This WAS a slap in the face to many listeners, myself included. However, in most cases, the decisions being made in local radio are all about dollars, not so much about listeners, especially with regard to the less sought after demos, like 55 plus. And, if you think there's little respect for mature adult listeners, try being a 55 plus career broadcaster in Jacksonville! You'll see how little over 35 years experience means very quickly. There's a large segment of the overall potential audience being very much ignored. Too bad, because there are opportunities, and revenue, being missed! ???

 

[benale]

Really stupid move. Why "stunt" with a format that people will embrace and then change it to something completely different?If they were going to stunt, why not do obscure formats and change them every few hours? 96.9 in Boston did something similar with day long formats when they switched from talk to music.

"The Dove" was on the air for several days. What idiot executive decided on that particular format to tease listeners? I would imagine that the few people who discovered the new station were delighted their music was back..and then to have it taken away for yet another variation of CHR and Urban.

There are many dumb stunts in radio. This is right up there.

It would be nice to actually have a "dove" type station in Jacksonville..something between AC and WJAX and WKTZ..and it would be nice to have these kind of stations in almost every market.

 

[cd637299]

I live about 350 miles south, but all I can say is, to kinda quote someone in another board of which I am a member----

This is like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown.

Mean with a capital Me.

cd

 

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

Cox simply wants 96.9 The Eagle and WOKV back at the top of the ratings. With Clear Channel's 2 Urban stations,93.3The Beat and V101.5 at the top, another Urban station in the mix may bring them down some.

 

[gamefreak]

What was this, a "in your face to people who enjoy great music". Cox flips 96.9 to Classic Rock, then Jacksonville gets Magic 107.3 only to lose the format in a year and a half. Even after putting up billboards, starting business promotions and other forms of advertising. Jack FM isn't unique at all, its just the same music other stations play. Especially since Crap Channel made it heavy on the Rock. Then Cox puts up a decently programmed Oldies-Based Soft AC, just to use it as a stunt until they launch a format that is already on 93.3.

Having to DX a station out of Orlando just for oldies radio is bull****. Maybe one of these days some owners decide to exit the Jacksonville or a least sell some stations. Then you might get an owner who actually gives a damn about listeners. Why can't Cox or Clear Channel use CBS as an example and invest more in the Greatest Hits/ Oldies format. Maybe they'll see they can be profitable with older and younger listeners. Do all young people want to listen to CHR or Hot AC radio all day, not me. WRBQ, WDUV and WOCL are on my presets. I buy stuff that is advertised on the radio, I know older people who buys stuff advertised on the radio. All you have to do is find products your core demo will buy. Old people just don't spend money like a "sailor on payday". Advertise items that have a good ROI and you'll see results.

 

[carolinaradio]

Jack FM's numbers are quite impressive. Since we don't see the Renda stations' ratings, it's difficult to see the full picture, but I wonder where all of that audience is coming from (WFYV?). Eagle is holding up.

Even if Jack would adjust to play more pop music, or Eagle would soften up a little (like sister 106-9 The Eagle in Houston, who plays more America, Little River Band, Steely Dan, ELO, Three Dog Night, etc. type stuff, they also have a lot of personalities, not as edgy as 96-9), it'd do a half-decent job at filling Jacksonville's void for 70s/80s pop music.

 

[carolinaradio]

BTW (I hate to reply right after I was the last poster), but I wonder what the possibility is that Power goes to a stronger signal if it does well at 106.1?

WFYV has been logging some dreadful numbers lately...

 

[nfladxer]

".....If.... Eagle would soften up a little (like sister 106-9 The Eagle in Houston, who plays more America, Little River Band, Steely Dan, ELO, Three Dog Night, etc. type stuff, they also have a lot of personalities, not as edgy as 96-9), it'd do a half-decent job at filling Jacksonville's void for 70s/80s pop music.

Carolinaradio, I agree with you 100% on this! Cox Jacksonville already has two Rock brands (namely X-1029 and Rock 104.5) in place on Class C sticks, so why they've gone more Rock heavy with Eagle just doesn't seem to make total sense to me. I was getting my hair cut just a few days ago, and started talking about radio to my hairdresser, a 40 year old Mom of two, who told me, "There used to be a station, The Eagle, I used to listen to, but I don't think it's on anymore"! Wow! It seems like 96-9 The Eagle may be missing an opportunity to embrace a much wider demographic, including more females, by really becoming what they claim to be, "Classic HITS", and not what they more in practice are, "Classic ROCK"! Just my humble opinion, for what it's worth, "Buffalo Springfield"!

 

[carolinaradio]

Carolinaradio, I agree with you 100% on this! Cox Jacksonville already has two Rock brands (namely X-1029 and Rock 104.5) in place on Class C sticks, so why they've gone more Rock heavy with Eagle just doesn't seem to make total sense to me. I was getting my hair cut just a few days ago, and started talking about radio to my hairdresser, a 40 year old Mom of two, who told me, "There used to be a station, The Eagle, I used to listen to, but I don't think it's on anymore"! Wow! It seems like 96-9 The Eagle may be missing an opportunity to embrace a much wider demographic, including more females, by really becoming what they claim to be, "Classic HITS", and not what they more in practice are, "Classic ROCK"! Just my humble opinion, for what it's worth, "Buffalo Springfield"!

Jacksonville is a horribly crowded rock market. 107.3 has been giving 96.9 a run for their money with their primarily 80s hair bands/glam rock based format (sure do "play everything", don't they ?), so maybe they think going harder will help fend 107.3 off. Not to mention Classic Rock 94.1 is playing the same stuff as well. Funny thing is, all are doing well (who knows about 94.1, though, since they don't subscribe). Eagle could definitely retain its overall focus but broaden it, like you say. WMMO in Orlando also plays older rock-based stuff that is softer, with the occasional Cyndi Lauper-type track in there.

If Eagle could play some more of the softer/more mainstream bands from the 70s and early 80s (like Eagle in Houston or WMMO in Orlando), it'd be a nice step in the direction of playing a wider array of classic hits.

 

[younglee981]

BTW (I hate to reply right after I was the last poster), but I wonder what the possibility is that Power goes to a stronger signal if it does well at 106.1?

WFYV has been logging some dreadful numbers lately...

i wondered the same thing

 

[olmjax]

Remember, Power 106.1 is Cox Radio's first urban station in the Jacksonville market. We will see if the station is competitive with 93.3 The Beat, despite the fact The Beat is a powerful Class C1 but Power is on a Class D translator relaying WJGL 96.9 HD2. If it is successful and Rock 104.5 continues to struggle in the ratings, Power 106.1 will probably move to the Class C 104.5 FM, which would make them competitive signal-wise to Clear Channel's 93.3 The Beat. Another way in which 106.1 FM can take away some of the The Beat's audience is by adding a new hip-hop based morning show, The Rickey Smiley Show, which will steal away some listeners who are tired of listening to the Steve Harvey Morning Show, a show that should be on an Urban AC station like 93.3 The Beat sister station V101.5 rather than a Hip Hop station like The Beat or Power 106.1.

 

[Parttimer]

Today, on December 29,2012, W291CI is on the air rebroadcast WJGL (96.9 FM) HD2 channel and the format is "106.1 The Dove", which is an Oldies-based Soft Adult Contemporary format based on Cox Radio's sister station in Tampa (WDUV "105.5 FM The Dove"). I want to know does anybody think that this format will be viable in Jacksonville and do you think this station will get decent ratings.

BTW, this station has a pretty nice signal throughout metro Jacksonville particularly within the 60 dBU contour service grade area. Furthermore, the audio quality and processing is excellent for a translator.

The Dove format is #1 in the 6+ ratings in Tampa Bay. Most of the audience is older, so they usually just barely crack the top 10 in the 25-54 demos, but do OK in 35-54 women. It can make money, especially if done with little to no overhead.

But Cox is really good at Urban.... look at South Florida and Orlando. And Power 95.3 in O-Town started out on a fairly limited signal. If all they're after is to pull enough away from CC's Urban formats to knock them out of #1 this could probably do it. Also, if they are getting national money for South Florida and Orlando, maybe thy can get Jax included in those buys as well.

 

[carolinaradio]

BTW (I hate to reply right after I was the last poster), but I wonder what the possibility is that Power goes to a stronger signal if it does well at 106.1?

WFYV has been logging some dreadful numbers lately...

i wondered the same thing

I was under the impression that WFYV was receiving a makeover of sorts last year, but the numbers are still just terrible. 102.9 is doing much better.

If Urban eventually went to 104.5, perhaps then there would be room for a "Dove" format at 106.1.

 

[John FL]

Translators can play a part in strategy. It can be a spoiler or it can fill a programming hole. A lot will depend on the company, but I suspect the very small operator would be more interested in offering something different.

I’ve enjoyed reading the suggestions to make radio more inclusive and even more interesting. As far as Eagle goes, they are NOT a classic hits station and never were no matter what they say. There are so many genres of music and classic artists they never feature. If all of a sudden, they changed their ways and their playlist starting looking like what as an example WCBS-FM does, then I would tune in. But that’s not going to happen.

Ironically, I found The Dove to have a lot more real classic hits to it than Eagle. Motown and the artists who made lots of hit music for decades were very well represented and it was wonderful hearing them play in Jacksonville, albeit a very short time.

The kind of classic hits station I always envisioned for Jacksonville would have about 1/3 Dove elements, about 1/3 of the core artists Magic featured and 1/3 songs that would come from a special library. The special library would come into play for a Saturday night feature and also for daily music features similar to what CBS Radio does for those wow effects - titles heard once and not heard again for months. Beatles Wednesdays have proven successful as well once an hour hearing those lesser heard album cuts. They do a lot of this and it is a very successful feature. It helps set the station apart from everything else and I believe Jax would embrace that concept as well, especially given there is overlap in music and way too much rock to a ridiculous degree.

I was very pleased Parttimer talked of the kind of demos, a Soft AC/Soft Oldies format such as The Dove I know would earn. It should be obvious when neglected Soft AC WSOS-FM was a St. Augustine based station, it did not pose a threat to WEJZ. Female 35-49 is a key demo for WEJZ. When the signal moved to Jax, Soft AC was simply doomed in favor of a format we really didn’t need but it posed no threat to their cluster. L&T are back and honestly significant listener demand for their return was just not there. It should be clear, Jax radio is in the state that it is in because it’s all about what the company wants and not want listeners would like to have. I'm thinking, they should be listening a lot more.

I hope translators can make a difference but I have no idea what is available that can help fill a programming hole. It’s a shame The Dove didn’t land somewhere but despite what your personal taste might be, this listener believes it offered something different and more importantly, there exists an underserved female listener in the money demo who would embrace a Soft AC or hybrid oldies or even both.

There’s a rock radio war going on right now. To me, this kind of thing is so yesterday and it is totally unnecessary. I think I can speak for a number of listeners out here. All we ever wanted was just a fair deal and that all formats should be given every opportunity to succeed. There’s a lot to how radio operates that I am at odds. There’s room for a Dove here but it’s rather sad that it only came to Jax as a joke. It’s not funny at all.

 

[benale]

Well said. It was so refreshing to see a soft AC station come to Jacksonville, and it was only a stunt. Who the hell was responsible for "stunting" with a format that older listeners would love, if they found it, and then to have it taken away for a format that is the opposite end of the musical spectrum? That is NOT the way to stunt.

Reading about the Dove coming to Jacksonville, I was looking forward to listening on my trip through Jacksonville. I put on 106.1 for three seconds. That was enough.

As far as music listening for older listeners, there are fewer and fewer choices. Even todays mainstream AC stations are too hard edged. However, that is the way of the demographic world on conventional radio.

I'm glad there are alternatives,,Satellite and Internet radio.

 

[nfladxer]

Although it most likely will never happen because the Jacksonville Metro isn't large enough, it would be awesome if CBS Radio were to come here and acquire either the Cox radio cluster, or the Renda cluster. Now THAT would be interesting! 8)

 

[younglee981]

Rumor has it that that station is just being tested on the translator...it may move to one of Cox Jacksonville's more powerful signals. They are just seeing how the the people like it in the Jacksonville area. turns out there are hip hop fans in St Johns and SE Georgia but they can not hear the station. The have been on their FB page begging for more power so they could listen to it in their towns.

 

[JAWilson]

Rumor has it that that station is just being tested on the translator...it may move to one of Cox Jacksonville's more powerful signals. They are just seeing how the the people like it in the Jacksonville area. turns out there are hip hop fans in St Johns and SE Georgia but they can not hear the station. The have been on their FB page begging for more power so they could listen to it in their towns.

Can I point you all to a domain that has been registered through the same company that does all of Cox's domain request? I am sure you are saying yes.

Power1045.com

It was registered just over a month ago so I get the feeling if they keep getting new fans and listeners we will say goodbye to WFYV (Rock 104.5 | RIP Rock 105) once and for all this year.

Yes I had to throw in Rock 105 in because I still call it that after all these years.

Now let the guessing game begin!