Which station will be first to flip format, WSJT or WMTX?

[tamparumors]

One of these two stations has to flip format soon right? Do they win in any demographic? WSJT has really suffered since they flipped with Wild. Mix can't seem to figure out a morning show.

 

[DToTheJ]

You'd have to figure 98.7 is going to drop smooth jazz at some point, after CBS uses its eventual ratings slide on a much weaker signal than 94.1 as a scapegoat. Could be a sports simulcast with 1010, or maybe a standalone FM sports station. They'll need some sports play-by-play contracts first...

As for 100.7... Can you say "Rush Radio"? Nah... the WFLA branding is too strong to mess with...

 

[Parttimer]

You'd have to figure 98.7 is going to drop smooth jazz at some point, after CBS uses its eventual ratings slide on a much weaker signal than 94.1 as a scapegoat. Could be a sports simulcast with 1010, or maybe a standalone FM sports station. They'll need some sports play-by-play contracts first...

They flipped B94 in Pittsburgh to sports without any play-by-play commitments. They did sign the University of Pittsburgh since then.

It would be something better than 1010, for sure.

As for 100.7... Can you say "Rush Radio"? Nah... the WFLA branding is too strong to mess with...

Not so much the branding but the revenue on 970 is too strong, and if you move it to FM you kill the AM, with nothing out there to replace it. Again using Pittsburgh as an example, CC put a News/Talk on FM, mainly because they only own 1 AM in the market and the signal's not good enough to be competitive.

And don't read too much into the fact that they went music-intensive in the morning. For formats like like this in the world of PPM, the new reality is that AM drive is being viewed as the 3rd most important daypart, with Middays #1 and PM drive #2. Plus doing the same thing down the hall at 98 Rock was a huge success.

You can't really gain any insight looking at Mix's 12+ numbers. As long as they're competitive in women 25-54 that's all that matters.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

For what it's worth, my daughter was a big FLZ and WILD fan ten years ago. She is now a Mix and Magic fan. She is 34, just bought a house, and has two children. I still have both on my presets although Q105 is my first choice, WDUV second, and WPOI third. I just wish Mix would drop Tesh. If they are gonna VT evenings with "Kelly Nash", why not just VT another regular jock late night, rather than Mr. know-it-all? I'd also wish Delilah went away for a local personality. WSJT can be unlistenable in Temple Terrace and Brandon because of conjunctive stations. One I suppose is WMMO which I'd really prefer if it came in better.

Although I am over 55, I still listen to Mix and I think Nancy is funny since I too am a goofy old woman :-*

Personally, I would never listen to a sports FM except for the NLCS and the World Series , but only in my car and probably only if the Pirates were trouncing the Yankees or the Bosox or Cubs were playing.

On another note, I wonder if radio programmers read this stuff . Like I posted that I want more R&B oldies on WDUV and last night Tony Bennett and Anne Murray were back to back. :'(

My next car is getting Sirius cause when I rent a car in Pittsburgh, I love the all Bluegrass, Classic County, and R&B oldies. Don't guess these are viable formats for Tampa FM. I noticed that Tulsa has classic county on FM. Imagine hearing Jones and Haggard everytime I drove to Target! Way cool for me!

,

 

[billalm]

Exactly what Partimer said.... as long as Mix bills well the ratings don't matter. That's Clear Channels one outlet for 25-54 women. Sure, they also probably listen to 93.3, 95.7, and 103.5, but those stations share a much bigger audience with other demographics. For Mix, it's about about the 30 something female. Those who think 98 Rock is too hard, and 93.3 is too young. ...And if they didn't exist, the ratings (and billing) for Magic 94.9 and 101.5 The Point would probably be larger. So in a way, CC keeps Cox in check when it comes to that female demo.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Exactly what Partimer said.... as long as Mix bills well the ratings don't matter. That's Clear Channels one outlet for 25-54 women. Sure, they also probably listen to 93.3, 95.7, and 103.5, but those stations share a much bigger audience with other demographics. For Mix, it's about about the 30 something female. Those who think 98 Rock is too hard, and 93.3 is too young. ...And if they didn't exist, the ratings (and billing) for Magic 94.9 and 101.5 The Point would probably be larger. So in a way, CC keeps Cox in check when it comes to that female demo.

CC keeps Cox in check for the female demo? Oh wow----so that's the problem. I thought it was in the water supply.

 

[NewsStud]

Not so much the branding but the revenue on 970 is too strong, and if you move it to FM you kill the AM, with nothing out there to replace it. Again using Pittsburgh as an example, CC put a News/Talk on FM, mainly because they only own 1 AM in the market and the signal's not good enough to be competitive.

There would be no harm in this market if WFLA were simulcast on both AM and FM.

AM 970's signal has issues heading north. A "full-figured" FM station spanning Hernando to Sarasota Counties would bring in more listeners and younger listeners. Keeping the same programming on AM would ensure the older P1's don't vanish when the station flips bands and they can't figure out how to flip with it.

I vote to ditch AC, and move Rock to 100.7. Create "WFLA Newsradio - AM 970/FM97.9"

Of course, this will never happen. In a company run by music radio PD's and GSM's, the news/talk format serves no purpose other than to generate some extra revenues to be used to support the activities of the music stations.

 

[musicman3355]

What is Mix 100.7's format exactly? I always thought they were hot AC because of the "Mix" moniker, but they have John Tesh on, which I know he's on soft AC stations.

If anything, 98.7 would be the one who gets killed off first. But what will it flip to? With a weak signal, I'm not sure how any format can survive on that signal.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

What is Mix 100.7's format exactly? I always thought they were hot AC because of the "Mix" moniker, but they have John Tesh on, which I know he's on soft AC stations.

Tesh plays HOT AC--Actually John plays anything---I 'd rather 98 Flips to news/talk and Mix stays as it is.

If anything, 98.7 would be the one who gets killed off first. But what will it flip to? With a weak signal, I'm not sure how any format can survive on that signal.

All Jimmy Buffett

 

[Obtuse1]

Personally I was hoping for "All Hawaiian".

 

[jmtillery]

Personally I was hoping for "All Hawaiian".

I was thinking an All Wayne Newton format interspersed with All Korean Chants weekends would fit the bill.

 

[jmtillery]

Not so much the branding but the revenue on 970 is too strong, and if you move it to FM you kill the AM, with nothing out there to replace it. Again using Pittsburgh as an example, CC put a News/Talk on FM, mainly because they only own 1 AM in the market and the signal's not good enough to be competitive.

There would be no harm in this market if WFLA were simulcast on both AM and FM.

AM 970's signal has issues heading north. A "full-figured" FM station spanning Hernando to Sarasota Counties would bring in more listeners and younger listeners. Keeping the same programming on AM would ensure the older P1's don't vanish when the station flips bands and they can't figure out how to flip with it.

I vote to ditch AC, and move Rock to 100.7. Create "WFLA Newsradio - AM 970/FM97.9"

Of course, this will never happen. In a company run by music radio PD's and GSM's, the news/talk format serves no purpose other than to generate some extra revenues to be used to support the activities of the music stations.

You hit the nail on the head. This would actually expand the News Radio demo to include a much younger 25-54 target as well as expand coverage significantly with a clear "static free" signal.

 

[Obtuse1]

Not so much the branding but the revenue on 970 is too strong, and if you move it to FM you kill the AM, with nothing out there to replace it. Again using Pittsburgh as an example, CC put a News/Talk on FM, mainly because they only own 1 AM in the market and the signal's not good enough to be competitive.

There would be no harm in this market if WFLA were simulcast on both AM and FM.

AM 970's signal has issues heading north. A "full-figured" FM station spanning Hernando to Sarasota Counties would bring in more listeners and younger listeners. Keeping the same programming on AM would ensure the older P1's don't vanish when the station flips bands and they can't figure out how to flip with it.

I vote to ditch AC, and move Rock to 100.7. Create "WFLA Newsradio - AM 970/FM97.9"

Of course, this will never happen. In a company run by music radio PD's and GSM's, the news/talk format serves no purpose other than to generate some extra revenues to be used to support the activities of the music stations.

You hit the nail on the head. This would actually expand the News Radio demo to include a much younger 25-54 target as well as expand coverage significantly with a clear "static free" signal.

For a 25-54 demo, they'd also have to adjust the syndie programming (which won't happen), as the current talk lineup really skews much older. I agree a move to FM wouldn't hurt 'em. But they might stand to make more $$$ with a separate format on the FM. Not sure the already successful station (with a decent signal) would stand to gain much more in sales by adding an FM.




My money is on 98.7 flipping first

If I were CBS, I'd try traditional, male skewing (60's-80's) Classic Rock on 98.7.

That (combined with Q105) would take some fight out of Cox's Eagle (especially if the playlist has more than 300 songs).

 

[Parttimer]

For a 25-54 demo, they'd also have to adjust the syndie programming (which won't happen), as the current talk lineup really skews much older. I agree a move to FM wouldn't hurt 'em. But they might stand to make more $$$ with a separate format on the FM. Not sure the already successful station (with a decent signal) would stand to gain much more in sales by adding an FM.

I think the problem with all of this is the money. FLA is a strong biller, Mix is OK because it's serviceable for its target demo (which is younger and more female than FLA's). I don't think a simulcast improves FLA's billing enough to make up for blowing up Mix and not having another format to sell. And if you just move 970 to FM you kill the AM. Plus you've given up the 25-54 female numbers you were selling with Mix, and they probably go to a Cox station.

My money is on 98.7 flipping first

If I were CBS, I'd try traditional, male skewing (60's-80's) Classic Rock on 98.7.

That (combined with Q105) would take some fight out of Cox's Eagle (especially if the playlist has more than 300 songs).

98.7s limited signal, and the poor performance of Smooth Jazz in PPM make it a candidate for change, but Classic Rock's a dead format. A straight-up Pop CHR "Amp" type format would be the #1 candidate, or sports talk if they want male numbers.

 

[billalm]

Going straight on CHR would be a possibility... however, it would be a tricky balancing act with Wild 94 in the same cluster. Not sure if that works with how historically strong WFLZ is. Remember, this same group tried to corner the country market with 2 signals years ago with one skewing younger than the other. Besides, with the smaller coverage area of 98.7, you really need a format on there that people are gonna go after. That's why Wild worked there when it launched over 10 years ago. You give people something different, something that makes them WANT to tune into the "smaller" signal. Same reason why 97X has worked for Cox and probably has never been moved to a bigger FM. It works. So for 98.7, I've always thought they should move to urban AC. And what I mean by that is, go ahead and pull the plug on the jazz and go that way completely. Corner that demo with Wild on the younger side and 98.7 on the older... plus you've still got 92.5 to combo that with as well.

I guess it all comes down to how they're selling the group and what's working with PPM. Just because there's a format hole in the market doesn't mean it's the best choice anymore.

 

[Jazz_Kat]

WSJT and KTWV have been for awhile consider (by smooth jazz fans) non smooth jazz stations. WSJT have dropped their programming they got from the Smooth Jazz Network. As well, WSJT and KTWV have dropped "Smooth Jazz" from their names. Both stations play instrumental covers of songs every now and then that have been beaten to death already in the format. In addition to increasing vocal music and songs from other formats.

While I hate to see WSJT go, I miss the station in it's heyday, I think it should flip as well. It might around Labor Day. Maybe with a kinda "Rewind" station with a 70s and 80s format, like they just did to WJZA. I'm not from the area, so I don't know if that will fit or not.

If you want to, you can check out the thread on the Smooth Jazz forum, http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=163535.0

 

[DToTheJ]

I doubt CBS would put a new "rewind" format on 98.7 to compete with their own Q105 - unless it's a younger-skewing station, maybe, but still, could be playing with fire...

Believe me when I say that 98.7 ditching smooth jazz in favor of another format is truly the worst-kept secret in radio. Not sure if it will happen in a few weeks from now... but it will happen...

 

[MsMusicRadio]

This may sound nuts, but classical will be big hole in the market when it is moved to 89.1. It looks like MIX topped Magic in the PPM. Why should they flip? I still can't believe how well the Eagle is doing.

 

[John Waywoods]

1. 98.7 will most likely change. I would recommend a AAA "World Class Rock" format for males 25-54. It would pull from 107.3, 97.9, 101.5, 102.5, and 88.5 and would hold onto the current 98.7 advertisers.

2. An alternate format is sports talk. However, that format would be expensive.

3. I don't believe Urban AC will work here because Tampa did not have a strong Urban FM in the 80s. Therefore, not much of a legacy audience.

 

[DToTheJ]

Perhaps if WSJT followed in the footsteps of its sister station in L.A., 94.7 The Wave - which recently finished in a tie for 6th place - there could very well be a future for smooth jazz in Tampa after all. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

And speaking of... Classical, MMR? That's definitely thinking outside the box.