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WITF Format Change

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While the post below about 106.7 going all-news seems silly, WITF's announced change to go "rarely classical" is somewhat of a shocker. However, it's a matter of survival (donations and underwriting), while Cumulus has some commercial leeway.

106.7 can morph country any of several ways before they'd pull the plug. Given that country has a fairly widespread following around here, they'll do some experimenting if they'd don't see ratings traction. Naturally, they're hoping to reach the 80s superstation status of Z-107 (but would settle for something less).

WITF doesn't have the same latitude, and given dim pickings for radio news (namely "from the LB Smith Ford Lincoln Mercury studios" and "Newsradio 910"), I wish them well in ratings growth. Even getting 5 minutes of commercial-free top-of-the-hour NPR news is better than the 3-minutes and cut to local Fox news). Let's hope they grab the success of WAMU in DC (the comment about the "success" of CBS' WNEW there is a joke - they are mired in 40th place).
 
"Where It's Top Flight." I was told this by Mike Greenwald, who was with WITF from Day One, so I assume it's true.

I always thought it was silly too, but I also had to wonder whether someone made that up to match call letters they were randomly assigned.
 
ding ding ding...John is right. I wonder if the founding directors of witf were playing golf and someone lost their top flite...So they decided on the monicker :)
 
With the success of the NPR talk stations (now emphasized by being in the new ratings system) the old 'everything cultural' NPR affiliates are disappearing - they lose a few listeners in the process but gain in the long run, as mentioned with WAMU turning up at the top of the DC ratings and WHYY Philadelphia often topping the sports and commercial talk stations (but not KYW yet). As someone noted, the WRTI-relayed stations make up for the daytime classical listening in the area. When WAMU removed their long-running bluegrass programming there was an outcry but they put it on a 24/7 web station & their HD2; it did well enough that now it's on 3 translators in that area. Unless the WITF web-only classical station inserts some local programming, news, weather, features from the former FM shows, I'm not sure why anyone would listen there rather than the already running hundreds of good classical stations on the web (I like Classic FM from London & the 2 different "Bach FM's) from Maine & Williamsburg).
 
I took a look at WITF's new schedule once the format changes. They're dumping Echoes on Saturday nights. Such a pity, as that was the only show I listened to them for. I guess I'll have to sign up for the subscription on the Echoes website to listen from now on. Thanks WITF for forcing me to lose another $14 a month when my budget is already tight as hell.
 
WITF's all-news format is going to kill. It's always been a powerhouse in AMD & PMD, so this is just icing on the cake--it solidifies their market position.

Don't be shocked if they dominate Harrisburg and consistently challenge for the top spot in both York and Lancaster. Public radio newsers are kicking ass in capital cities (DC's #1 WAMU) and upscale business/education centers (San Francisco's #1 KQED) all over the country. WAMU is smoking America's top-billing station, WTOP (longtime Bonneville, now Hubbard), and KQED has knocked-off CBS O&O KCBS.

The all-news WITF is a perfect match for Harrisburg, and has the brand recognition and built-in cross-promotional power of WITF-TV in all three markets (i.e. the H-Y-L-L TV market).

Just don't act surprised. It's a natural.
 
Wait, did I miss something? WITF going mainly news like WHYY in Philly? I see no mention of it on their website and the program schedule looks the same to me. ???
 
Nevermind, I found information about it after doing some Google searches. Wow. Guess I have to find a new station at the bottom of the dial that plays classical overnight. I fall asleep to WITF every night. ::)
 
IMO the station is more useful as all-talk/news entity. I know some people do like classical, but they'll just have to do what I did - get your favorite music from other sources. Terrestrial radio and great music no longer seem to go hand in hand.
 
How far out does WRTJ/89.3FM go? I'm guessing there's at least some chance of getting the overnight classical on that HD2 at least somewhat into the eastern Lancaster County area...
 
Jefferson Lee Eng said:
How far out does WRTJ/89.3FM go? I'm guessing there's at least some chance of getting the overnight classical on that HD2 at least somewhat into the eastern Lancaster County area...
Click to expand...

In some places near Chester Co it's possible to receive WRTJ, but generally you'll have a better shot at receiving WRTI programming from 90.7 WRTL, north of Ephrata.

I find it interesting that WITF isn't moving their classical programming to their HD2, as many other NPR stations have done, and is instead creating and promoting a new webstream. In fact, there's hardly any mention of HD Radio on their website at all.
 
geostudent said:
Jefferson Lee Eng said:
How far out does WRTJ/89.3FM go? I'm guessing there's at least some chance of getting the overnight classical on that HD2 at least somewhat into the eastern Lancaster County area...
Click to expand...

In some places near Chester Co it's possible to receive WRTJ, but generally you'll have a better shot at receiving WRTI programming from 90.7 WRTL, north of Ephrata.

I find it interesting that WITF isn't moving their classical programming to their HD2, as many other NPR stations have done, and is instead creating and promoting a new webstream. In fact, there's hardly any mention of HD Radio on their website at all.
Click to expand...

But WRTL does not have the HD2 for 24 hours a day of classical like WRTI does.
 
PCRadio said:
I took a look at WITF's new schedule once the format changes. They're dumping Echoes on Saturday nights. Such a pity, as that was the only show I listened to them for. I guess I'll have to sign up for the subscription on the Echoes website to listen from now on. Thanks WITF for forcing me to lose another $14 a month when my budget is already tight as hell.
Click to expand...

I'll miss the Saturday all-night Echoes on WITF too. Even when I moved out of RF range I listened through the internet. O wells, nothing lasts forever (especially in radio).
 
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