> Nice showing for WSIG, especially since they were off the
> air for a time and according to the Radio Locator map aren't
> even supposed to reach Winchester proper. I'm out of the
> area - are they still mostly satellite-fed Real Country? And
> is WFTR still classic country too? They also made a big
> jump in the ratings.
>
While it does seem odd that WSIG does well Winchester considering that the station is very tough to pick up in Winchester, the reason behind that is due to the fact that Shenandoah County where Mount Jackson ( WSIG's city of license though the station itself has pretty much moved to Harrisonburg awhile, it shares the same building as WBOP ) is part of the Winchester market. Shenandoah County may not exactly be a large county as far as geography goes but it sure is a long one. Too bad Arbitron cant split that county into two since the northern part where Strasburg is located has always been geared towards Winchester while the central/southern part ( Mount Jackson, New Market and Woodstock ) has been geared towards Harrisonburg. Rare do people in the south travel to Winchester to shop, likewise with people to the north going to Harrisonburg or Staunton.
Another thing about WSIG, for them to do so well in Winchester is ironic considering back when that station was mostly live ( and that wasn't all that long ago ), they actually wouldn't take request from listeners in Frederick County since they strictly served only Shenandoah County and the northern part of Rockingham County. If someone say called up WSIG and say they are from Stephens City ( Winchester market, Frederick County ) would call them up, they would receive the phone number for Q102. That is how much WSIG cared about the listeners in the Winchester/Frederick County area.
From what I understand when Q102 bought WFQX 99.3 back in 1994, they had Shenandoah County be included in the Winchester market since back then WFQX was located in Strasburg in Shenandoah County though the city of license is actually in Front Royal. Today that station is located just outside of Winchester in the Clear Channel complex along side Q102 and 98.3 KISS-FM.
WFTR is still classic country but only on AM 1450. That signal is pretty much limted to Front Royal/ Warren County. They too are a tough catch in Winchester.
Winchester is actually a boring market. Q102 and WINC-FM have always been the number one and two station in town while the other stations in Winchester I dont think have ever been within reach of Q102 or WINC-FM in the ratings. Believe it or not Winchester/Frederick County is the home to some 10 different radio station, but to most people it still is pretty much a two station town meaning Q102 and WINC-FM though that may be changing as the ratings for KISS-FM have been creeping up towards WINC-FM within a year or two. Of course it needs to be said that both KISS and WFQX have gotten an increase in power within the last year which I am sure played a role in them having an increase in ratings.
