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WHY IS WMAL NOT ON 105.9 YET?

A

amisdead

Guest
The Edge is not setting anything on fire. WMAL is a strong, heritage brand. WMAL is on AM and has a terrible night signal. DC is an FM market with only half the AM listening of most other large markets.

What's the hold up?
 
Stupidity on Citadel's part. Somehow they think the "everything that rocks" format that works in smaller markets, will work in DC. Obviously, it hasn't.

If I were Citadel I would make 105.9 WMAL-FM. However, I would keep most of the syndicated hosts on the AM side. I would do an AM and PM evening news/traffic/weather block focusing on LOCAL stories. Headlines at :00 and :30, with in-depth local stories and interviews in between. Middays would have to be a general, locally originated talk show. Perhaps the current morning show on 105.9 could be retooled to a talk format only?

The WMAL newscasts are contracted out, correct? Interesting to note sometimes you get more local information in that less than five minute newscast on WMAL than you get out of an entire half hour on WTOP. Trim the ads, the stupid banter between the anchors and everyone, the endless traffic tags, the 30 second long top of the hour ID, and every fluff story mandated by a musical introduction - and you have very little news on WTOP.

WTOP's ratings and billing are there because nobody has had the guns to topple them. Their product is awful compared to WCBS, WINS, etc. They win by default, because it is the only local news on the radio.
 
shadough said:
Hate to see it happen, The edge is a good station.
Click to expand...
I have to concur to a degree. IMNSHO I believe 105.9 would be better off going perhaps into a harder direction and/or playing the stuff that 100.3 wouldn't touch with a 20-foot pole! ever since WYRX (97.7) from southern Maryland went away a few years ago, I miss them and felt they offered something unique. Maybe 'The Edge' could move in that direction a little more.

Moving WMAL to 105.9 could be advantageous, but not for those who live north and east of DC. The signal just doesn't propagate that well up this way. The ratings might be a little more respectable, but they'll be unlikely to 'catch' WTOP.

Now, if WMAL was to modify its programming as it should, I feel it should rely on more local content than syndicated programming. What I'm envisioning would be something more like what either WBAL or WBZ offer. News programs during both morning and evening rush-hour (maybe similar to the News Magazine show offered by WBAL); with maybe a late-morning talk show and if they want to keep Rush for the early PM, fine. Offer extensive traffic coverage, especially during the day.
 
Just an FYI: 97.7 The Rocket is back on the air. Perhaps not as harder sounding as they once were, but back non-the-less.
 
shadough said:
Just an FYI: 97.7 The Rocket is back on the air. Perhaps not as harder sounding as they once were, but back non-the-less.
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Thanks for the info. I have been listening to them on-line for about an hour or so today and the playlist is nothing spectacular, but OK. http://977therocket.com/. They're using the WMDM calls.

FTR I can't get 97.7 where I live; but I remember taking a trip down to Calvert County a few years ago and tuning them in and thinking that they were pretty damned good! I guess just like everything else, it comes down how to maximize the almighty buck!
 
shadough said:
Just an FYI: 97.7 The Rocket is back on the air. Perhaps not as harder sounding as they once were, but back non-the-less.
Click to expand...

And the new Rocket isn't being programmed locally. They're using the Dial Global Genuine Classic Rock service.
 
S said:
shadough said:
Just an FYI: 97.7 The Rocket is back on the air. Perhaps not as harder sounding as they once were, but back non-the-less.
Click to expand...

And the new Rocket isn't being programmed locally. They're using the Dial Global Genuine Classic Rock service.
Click to expand...
I didn't realize that. Can't say I'm surprised.
 
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