WGBZ 1490 Anniston is now...

[passtheword]

WFZX, as of 3/29. Any ideas of why the change in calls?

 

[R.D.P.]

This might have something to do with it.

http://tunein.com/radio/The-Fox-1490-s27118/

R.D.P. <><

 

[whit979]

Hilarious -- this station group has had more formats than Liz Taylor had husbands! Honestly, though, I thought it would be huge while it was a hip-hop station since both the 99.1 and 104.3 translators cover Anniston, a majority-black city which is not served by a minority-formatted FM station.

Classic hits now? Yep. That's the answer. Since there are no classic hits stations that put a signal into east Alabama. :

 

[Poledo]

Hilarious -- this station group has had more formats than Liz Taylor had husbands! Honestly, though, I thought it would be huge while it was a hip-hop station since both the 99.1 and 104.3 translators cover Anniston, a majority-black city which is not served by a minority-formatted FM station.

Well, haven't we always been told that Hip Hop is tough to sell? It must be well known to Anniston station owners that the add money isn't there from the urban community. The big urban stations in the Alabama markets may be ranked #1 in # of listeners but they are far from the highest billers. The only reason for a group to put Hip Hop up on a translator would be to pull some numbers from the competition so a sister station could get higher in the ratings...

Or they could play Hip Hop to serve the public interest. WHAT?!?!

 

[oldiesstation]

local street merchants think hip hop just has crack listeners. An urban without agency buys just has a hard time selling it on the street. you can have great numbers,but if you can't put money in the register,those numbers don't mean anything..

 

[jal41]

The station is owned by Jacobs Broadcasting (along with WTDR Thunder 92.7). The WGBZ format was done under an LMA with Henry Granger.

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/fu...based-FM-hip-hop-has-a-home-at-WGBZ-The-Beat? (Article when the station flipped from AC WSYA "Sunny" to WGBZ. Oddly...the Anniston Star did not run an article when they flipped to "The Fox").

I assume Granger defaulted on the LMA...and Jacobs took the station back. Guess they didn't want to return to "Sunny".

On a side note...I kinda wish 99.1 would go away. I live a couple of blocks away from the transmitter on Coleman Road. I have a hard time picking up 97.9 WVOK on my radios in my apartment at times unless the antenna or power cord on my radio is adjusted just right...99.1 bleeds through. Is there any way I can complain to the FCC about it...I thought translators were not allowed to cause interference like full power stations.

 

[whit979]

On a side note...I kinda wish 99.1 would go away. I live a couple of blocks away from the transmitter on Coleman Road. I have a hard time picking up 97.9 WVOK on my radios in my apartment at times unless the antenna or power cord on my radio is adjusted just right...99.1 bleeds through. Is there any way I can complain to the FCC about it...I thought translators were not allowed to cause interference like full power stations.

What a small world -- I've lived by Golden Springs Baptist Church for years and yes, the 99.1 transmitter wipes out half the stations near it on the dial. Some of it is probably a terrain issue but it doesn't have as big of an effect as the transmitter itself. I don't know how to lodge a complaint but I wanted to confirm the signal issue you've been hearing.

Over the lifespan of those translators, they've served as a simulcast of Thunder 92.7, sports radio "The Ticket" featuring ESPN Radio programming, AC "Sunny 104.3" with Bob & Sheri in the morning, hip-hop "The Beat" and now classic hits "The Fox" with John Boy & Billy in the morning. Oddly enough, none of these formats have lasted more than roughly a year.