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WFNX going commercial free on memorial day *DELETED* *DELETED* *DELETED*

Re: WFNX going commercial free on memorial day

> what's the buzz
>
> got an email from their sales manager in nashua and she said
> WFNX was going commercial free for six weeks starting
> memorial day
>
> she said that snapple has given them a bunch of money
>
> truth or fiction?
>
that's just downright whacky...on a sidenote, their new signal is excellent
 
Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

> got an email from their sales manager in nashua and she said
> WFNX was going commercial free for six weeks starting
> memorial day
>
> she said that snapple has given them a bunch of money
>
> truth or fiction?
>

Can't answer your question directly but there are many possibilities to cause a station to go commercial free for 6 weeks.

It could be that they didn't sell any commercials.
They may be sending all their cart machines out for refurbishing.
Or maybe they are promoting their new (improved) signal.
A stunt to introduce something new (format, personality, show or their signal).
Could their traffic manager (who schedules commercials) be ready to go on a 6 week maternity leave? That's just a sample of potential reasons.

If Snapple is giving money then I think they would get something in return. It's not a charitable contribution that is tax deductible, is it? So, if Snapple is funding it, it's a promotion of some sort and it will benefit both Snapple and The Phoenix (WFNX parent).

That makes sense.<P ID="signature">______________
Mark Coney</P>
 
FNX Signal

I agree on the signal issue. I recently took a drive down to see some friends in Billerica and it comes in good as gold there and listened on my way back up to Maine here where it was fighting well against WPOR up as far as Wells Maine.

> > what's the buzz
> >
> > got an email from their sales manager in nashua and she
> said
> > WFNX was going commercial free for six weeks starting
> > memorial day
> >
> > she said that snapple has given them a bunch of money
> >
> > truth or fiction?
> >
> that's just downright whacky...on a sidenote, their new
> signal is excellent
>
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

Does anyone in this business still use cart machines? I haven't heard the telltale cart hiss on the radio in years.
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

> > got an email from their sales manager in nashua and she
> said
> > WFNX was going commercial free for six weeks starting
> > memorial day
> >
> > she said that snapple has given them a bunch of money


Pretty smart move.

Calls immediate attention to their new, improved signal, which might take those who never could get them clearly many weeks or months to discover this fact.
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

> Does anyone in this business still use cart machines? I
> haven't heard the telltale cart hiss on the radio in years.

I think I recall seeing active analog cart machines at WMFO at Tufts University in Medford when I dropped by a friends show last year. I don't know if they'd really be considered "in this business" though, because they're an all-volunteer non-comm...
 
Re: FNX Signal

Many stations go "commercial free" for several weeks when launching a new format.

For instance, when WMJX-106.7 adopted it's current format in early 1982, shortly after Greater Media acquired the station, the station did not broadcast commercials for about three months. In fact, I think "Magic 106.7" was completely automated for the early part of that timeframe, but I think the announcers began on-air before the first commercial aired.

Although I would advise him to change formats (there's a huge hole for Spanish-language programming in Boston, and there will later this year be a huge hole for a 24-hour classical-music station, both of which would probably make him a lot more money than what he's doing now), WFNX owner Steve Mindich will probably never consider such a change. What you hear is what you'll continue to get.
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

> > Does anyone in this business still use cart machines? I
> > haven't heard the telltale cart hiss on the radio in
> years.
>
> I think I recall seeing active analog cart machines at WMFO
> at Tufts University in Medford when I dropped by a friends
> show last year. I don't know if they'd really be considered
> "in this business" though, because they're an all-volunteer
> non-comm...
>

If you did then they dragged them out of the tech closet (where equipment goes to die) because when I was there in 2001 the cart machines were sitting there but nobody used them. Everything was played off CD.

I know WBCN was using carts as recently as 1997, and I think as recently as 2002. But any trace of carts was eliminated when they moved studios in the past year.

I think our good friend Bob Bittner still has the cart machines physically in WJIB's studio but he's using a computer for everything now.

Jeez...you're right, I can't think of ANYone that still uses carts. I mean, that's hardly surprising how cheap, easy and better a computer can be. But I guess an era truly has passed.

And anyone who's listened to WFNX for more than 5 minutes over the past several weeks knows full well they've moved their stick and "increased the power" (actually the ERP is almost exactly the same, but the height went up quite a bit). They've been running promos like crazy.
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

And FNX has had an excellent relationship with Snapple for more than ten years. Its a good partnership that both will benefit from tremendously if this is indeed true.


> > > got an email from their sales manager in nashua and she
> > said
> > > WFNX was going commercial free for six weeks starting
> > > memorial day
> > >
> > > she said that snapple has given them a bunch of money
>
>
> Pretty smart move.
>
> Calls immediate attention to their new, improved signal,
> which might take those who never could get them clearly many
> weeks or months to discover this fact.
>
 
How great is it they waited for O&A to come to BCN to do it?!Nice work FNX.
 
Re: Why WFNX may be spot free for 6 weeks.

webcastboy said:
Jeez...you're right, I can't think of ANYone that still uses carts. I mean, that's hardly surprising how cheap, easy and better a computer can be. But I guess an era truly has passed.
We still have one working cart machine in our air studio (small-market commercial AC). A couple of our more seasoned airstaff members use it on a daily basis. They know how to run the computer just fine, but I guess some habits die hard. What's that saying about old dogs and new tricks? The really scary thing is that the cart machine is actually more reliable than our clunky old DOS-based automation system. ;)
 
This Crap is Getting Old

Can somebody please explain to me why, when I log in to this site, I'm greeted with the blaring headline "The WFNX (Boston) going All Snapple...?"Who... cares... who... reported... it... first?Frankly, does it matter that some weak station in Boston managed to score a six-week buyout on their inventory from a drink company that is struggling? Does anybody particularly care? Will it help them in the ratings (my $$ says no)?For that matter, why does the Admin of this site feel the need to splash it onto the front page headline? The sniping back and forth between this site and [the other site] is beginning to get old. Both sites have their advantages, both certainly have their disadvantages. I read both sites regularly, as I'm sure quite a few individuals do. LET IT GO and get down to the business at hand, providing a place for -- on occasion -- intelligent conversation about radio.
 
Re: This Crap is Getting Old

CHRprogrammer said:
Can somebody please explain to me why, when I log in to this site, I'm greeted with the blaring headline "The WFNX (Boston) going All Snapple...?"Who... cares... who... reported... it... first?Frankly, does it matter that some weak station in Boston managed to score a six-week buyout on their inventory from a drink company that is struggling? Does anybody particularly care? Will it help them in the ratings (my $$ says no)?For that matter, why does the Admin of this site feel the need to splash it onto the front page headline? The sniping back and forth between this site and [the other site] is beginning to get old. Both sites have their advantages, both certainly have their disadvantages. I read both sites regularly, as I'm sure quite a few individuals do. LET IT GO and get down to the business at hand, providing a place for -- on occasion -- intelligent conversation about radio.
I assure you, this has nothing to do with the other site. It is industry news that was reported here first [READ: before any industry trades, including Radio and Records, Inside Radio etc.]. I'm not sorry to say that it honestly is...INDUSTRY NEWS. This is not something that is relegated to "us" or "them". This has to do with the Industry, and as a user of this website, you would have read about it here first, over a month ago. We appreciate your concern over the intention. Hopefully that clarifies any confusion over our "motivation" for us to tell you that "You Read It Here, on Radio-Info.com, First".
 
Re: This Crap is Getting Old

CHRprogrammer said:
Can somebody please explain to me why, when I log in to this site, I'm greeted with the blaring headline "The WFNX (Boston) going All Snapple...?"Who... cares... who... reported... it... first?Frankly, does it matter that some weak station in Boston managed to score a six-week buyout on their inventory from a drink company that is struggling? Does anybody particularly care? Will it help them in the ratings (my $$ says no)?For that matter, why does the Admin of this site feel the need to splash it onto the front page headline? The sniping back and forth between this site and [the other site] is beginning to get old. Both sites have their advantages, both certainly have their disadvantages. I read both sites regularly, as I'm sure quite a few individuals do. LET IT GO and get down to the business at hand, providing a place for -- on occasion -- intelligent conversation about radio.
What other site? Are you allowed to name it?
 
Re: This Crap is Getting Old

AZJoe said:
What other site? Are you allowed to name it?
There are many other sites that reported this just the other day, including RadioandRecords.com, AllAccess.com, InsideRadio.com....yes, you can mention them.
 
Just as long as it's not the other board that Lance and Sam started... Censorship sucks.
 
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