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Weirdest smokescreen format?

K

knapfordsouthern1

Sometimes, when a station changes format, they'll do a quick-and-easy "smokescreen" to throw off the competition and the industry papers. But what's the weirdest one a station pulled when flipping? For example, a station uses a Top 40 format to hide the fact they're flipping to rock to compete with another rock station in the market.
 
I have, on more than one occasion, used a "tick-tock" clock effect, running continuously with a shout dropped on with various station positioners every 90 seconds to two minutes. It will be "Q102" the first time, then "Z102" the next, "X102" after that, "K102", etc. Good luck figuring out what I'm going to do after that runs for a week or more non-stop.

I also have done several days of non-stop novelty songs, and once had a loop of Weird Al parodies repeating over and over.

When WXXY in Chicago did the original Eighties Channel, they had 24 hours of television theme songs before launching.

I always wanted to do a format flip after a nationwide EANS test. Interrupt the old format for the test, during which I guarantee the audience will be tuning all over the place trying to find something other than that ... then when the test is over they would be unable to find their old station because the new format launched after the test. 😈
 
In the early 70s in New York City, a lower powered (5KW) AM station from close-in New Jersey was attempting to compete against WABC, WNBC, WOR-FM, WCBS-FM and a few other NYC and suburban signals. They had taken the calls WWDJ a few years earlier. On April 1st 1974, they did a cold flip to a religion format without any prior announcement. Given it was April Fools Day, most listeners assumed it was a stunt. Only on April 2nd, when they didn't go back to the Top 40 format and the preaching continued, did the owner formally announce the format change.
 
I loved one stunt somewhere in the Norhwest that played the hooks of hit songs trimmed to 30 seconds and saying they play more hit songs per hour than anybody else. The PD even extending the ruse said that attention spans had dropped to the point just playing the 'memorable' part of the hits matched the research showing 30 second attention spans. With the slew of articles about lower attention spans making the rounds, it made one question if it was a stunt or real format. I understand it continued a few weeks (maybe). It impressed me. It was a stunt.
 
K.M. Richards said:
I always wanted to do a format flip after a nationwide EANS test. Interrupt the old format for the test, during which I guarantee the audience will be tuning all over the place trying to find something other than that ... then when the test is over they would be unable to find their old station because the new format launched after the test. 😈
Click to expand...
Better yet, if the outgoing format is oldies or classic hits, play "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted" as the very last song of the "old" format before the test goes out (a la WOWO when the 1971 false alarm happened).
 
b-turner said:
I loved one stunt somewhere in the Norhwest that played the hooks of hit songs trimmed to 30 seconds and saying they play more hit songs per hour than anybody else. The PD even extending the ruse said that attention spans had dropped to the point just playing the 'memorable' part of the hits matched the research showing 30 second attention spans. With the slew of articles about lower attention spans making the rounds, it made one question if it was a stunt or real format. I understand it continued a few weeks (maybe). It impressed me. It was a stunt.
Click to expand...
Quick 96 in Seattle, I believe, is likely what you're referring to.
 
I always thought a great smokescreen idea would be to include sound effects of the noise, or flutter you would hear if a station's frequency was at the edge of their coverage area clashing with another station's format from another city.

Then after a while, the person's radio would "lose" the first station and format and "lock in" on the other station.and their format!

Feel free to use this idea!
 


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