WBCN/WBMX/WBZ-FM Question

[bhshea]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone knew why CBS decided to go with the WBZ-FM calls for the Sports Hub 98.5, why not just use WBCN? For the clean break? They don't seem interested in using the WBZ-FM calls publicly, and they do seem interested in keeping the WBCN calls enough to stash them in South Carolina. The clean break argument doesn't really seem to hold water, since they have two 'BCN labeled HD channels, one of which is on 98.5. If they don't have some future plans for the calls, I'm not sure I understand the why they needed to do this call letter tango.

Thanks,
Brendan

 

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone knew why CBS decided to go with the WBZ-FM calls for the Sports Hub 98.5, why not just use WBCN? For the clean break? They don't seem interested in using the WBZ-FM calls publicly, and they do seem interested in keeping the WBCN calls enough to stash them in South Carolina. The clean break argument doesn't really seem to hold water, since they have two 'BCN labeled HD channels, one of which is on 98.5. If they don't have some future plans for the calls, I'm not sure I understand the why they needed to do this call letter tango.

Thanks,
Brendan

They are hoping to cash in on the WBZ brand name, especially where the Bruins are headed there from BZ-AM

BCN had too much of a history with anyone over 14 and anyone under 70, The ROCK of Boston WBCN is hard to get out of peoples heads

As for the HD stuff, they are hoping that people will listen to the formats on HD and if it means putting the WBCN logo on a carrot and putting it on the end of a stick and hoping people come so be it. HD is a total dismal failure IMHO, and if that is the only way they can get people to listen they have zero to lose.

As for musical call signs and parking them on a station nobody ever heard of, you can only move call signs 2 at a time max. They had WBZ FM tied up because they own the AM, so that was a easy one to pull off. They moved BMX south to get BZ-FM, then moved them again to park BCN so no competitor could grab them. Plus they didn't want to lose the WBMX/Mix brand, which IIRC did fairly well in the ratings, but they wanted the better signal 98.5 for the sports station, Check out Radio-Locator dot com to see the patterns.

imagine this... let's pretend 92.5 a rim shotter, or WPLM for instance decides to grab the now available WBCN calls,(assuming CBS didn't park them) and figures out the old playlist, and hires say Adam Chapman off the beach with a couple of other now unemployed BCN staffers and it's instant brand recognition and people might even listen.

Note this tactic didn't work well when Greater Media grabbed the WROR calls and stuck them on 105.7

 

[cjf68]

This is what I would have done;

Re-Branaded WODS as WBZ-FM (to align like the N.Y.setup) besides they are trying to

distance themselves from the "oldies" image.

Name the Sports Hub WSHB or WBSH.

Move WBMX to 100.7 and killed off WZLX

Kept WBCN...........But make them into more a Classic/Alt rock format

There are probably a good amount of reasons why these changes could not happen.

Maybe those in the know could explain.

 

[Signpost]

HD is a total dismal failure IMHO, and if that is the only way they can get people to listen they have zero to lose.

HD radios have recently come way down in price. I just bought my first one and like it. It's been a failure so far 'cause no one wanted to drop $400 on a tabletop HD radio. Now that they're more like $40 - HD radio could finally gain some traction. Last night i heard a COMMERCIAL on WBCN's freeform HD channel.

Note this tactic didn't work well when Greater Media grabbed the WROR calls and stuck them on 105.7

WROR is doing quite well - beating WODS, and the main reason WODS has dropped "oldies".

There are probably a good amount of reasons why these changes could not happen. Maybe those in the know could explain.

I'm not in the know, just speculating like anyone else, but the 6+ numbers have WZLX showing 2 1/2 times what BCN had. WODS also outperformed both WBCN and WBMX by a wide margin. CBS simply juggled their two lowest performing properties in the market. It would make no sense to jeopordize the properties doing well.

 

[Don Juan]

HD is a total dismal failure IMHO, and if that is the only way they can get people to listen they have zero to lose.

HD radios have recently come way down in price. I just bought my first one and like it. It's been a failure so far 'cause no one wanted to drop $400 on a tabletop HD radio. Now that they're more like $40 - HD radio could finally gain some traction. Last night i heard a COMMERCIAL on WBCN's freeform HD channel.

Wow! How dare you enjoy HD radio! ;-)

The "HD Haters" get their knickers in a knot when they hear someone enjoys their HD radio....!

 

[Deleted User]

I'd love an HD radio, and I priced out the kits for the last 2 cars I bought and there was no way I was dropping that much money on 1970's era FM converter technology. When HD starts broadcasting in 5.1 and car radios are set up to decode and play it in 5.1 I'll be at Best Buy for 5 units for the cars and 1 for the house.

The only way HD is going to catch on with the general public, will be for the FCC to make it mandatory to include the
HD technology in every radio that gets type accepted.

You are correct WROR in it's current incarnation is doing well. but lets not forget how and why those calls got to be on 105.7. Greater Media figured they could grab the available calls, some talent such as Joe Martelle who was THE big name of the station when he was on 98.5, Ken Shelton, and a few others, and try to instantly re-create WROR and hope that people would flock to it. It didn't work.

 

[Jacko]

Remember, when WBCN (the progressive rock version) started in 1968, they thought that FM was going to be a failure. Then look at what happened...

Now they're putting sports and talk stations on FM!

Jacko

 

[beantownradio25]

finally 104.1's calls were changed to WBMX today!

 

[sportsradioweei1037]

no it was wbmx all along if you heard the last few mins of wbcn they gave the last id ever of wbcn then said the wbmx right after

 

[raccoonradio]

A month from today more play by play sports will arrive on 98.5: a quick look at the Bruins' schedule on the B's
site says pre-season action starts Sept 15 (about 8 games, not sure if all will be on WBZ-FM) with the
reg. season to follow on Oct 1. About 2-3 games per week, it looks like, and I'm pretty sure there will be no
B's-Pats conflicts (in the unlikely event perhaps they would send the B's to 103.3...)

 

[test123]

they do seem interested in keeping the WBCN calls enough to stash them in South Carolina.

FYI...Charlotte is in North Carolina.

Test123