WORD to 98.9, Magic to 106.3

[mcy919]

Well, they pretty much had to. "Kiss" was WMKS and "The Buzz" was WVBZ. No one in this situation has call letters that say Magic.

Although WYRD would be better for a station calling itself WORD.

I remember it vividly... mainly how they shifted The Buzz's format to Alternative when it changed frequencies and gave no prior notice. Plus, you could be listening to it and then turn to 106.5 The End, and often times the same song would be playing. It was highly disappointing.

 

[genius]

Geez I leave town for a week and then coming back in today I heard the announcement on 98.9 about the move.

Such an oddball random move. Hopefully some
WORD’s listeners are unable to locate the station or think it went defunct because it is no longer on 106.3 😅

 

[101tm]

Hey when you think about it, News Talk WORD is already on 98.9 on the HD-2 channel which is good enough already and covers more areas than 106.3 can (need an HD Radio) so in theory perhaps magic 98.9 can swap in reverse and also maintain its presence on 98.9 via the same HD-2 channel, and maybe also 93.7 HD-4 as well, which would be cool and their current branding on there can still apply there perhaps?

Hopefully then 106.3 will add HD to their signal and turn off "mono" for a clearer stereo signal, A good HD signal from 106.3 should cover pretty much all of Greenville and Spartanburg, and reach Cowpens and Pacolet SC in the east, to Powdersville in the west, Landrum SC to the north, and Laurens SC to the South.

I agree, they should swap Magic on to the WSPA-HD2 channel where WORD currently is.

WFBC-HD4 (WORD simulcast) feeds W268DL 101.5 in Anderson. I would expect Magic to migrate to this signal as well to maintain their Anderson area coverage.
WSPA-HD-2 I believe was feeding W236CD 95.1 in to Seneca/Clemson/Pickens for WORD, but it appears it’s now repeating WLFJ-HD2. That didn’t last long!

And your last assertions are pretty correct. 106.3 is crystal clear in Laurens and Cowpens I know firsthand, and Powdersville is right at the edge. Of course if (when) the stereo carrier is turned on, the signal will start getting some static noise around the edge of the 60dbu that wouldn’t otherwise be there. I would hope they would add HD as well, I know they just did for WROQ a few years ago. In Laurens I am able to get WROO-HD on a solid lock and at times WSHP-HD but not nearly as well (Used to be slightly better before the translator at 104.1 for WLBG showed up)

98.9’s audio processing is flat and lower than most of the other stations in stereo and HD. I’ll be curious to hear the difference in sound on 106.3.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Here in Gaffney, 106.3 usually has a decently strong signal with very slight static blips at times while driving, similar to how 103.3 Earth FM is as well as 99.3 WBT as well. 99.3 WBT locks on HD here most of the time until we get west of here and then lose it after Cowpens going towards Spartanburg. I can hear 99.3 well again into most of Spartanburg with only slight static most of the time especially downtown and Eastward.

Also I think 103.3 would do better moving Eastward if possible perhaps to one of the towers in Spartanburg which contains either 97.1 or 105.7 or more preferred, 97.5 tower near Pacolet (800+ feet tall). That would definitely help.

Earth FM in 103.3 would definitely benefit from moving to a signal that could better compete when Magic moves on to 106.3 would be cool.

Maybe an increase in height for WRTH and moving about 10 miles east with a slight power increase would help, perhaps to a Class C3 (directional to the east towards WJMX) at maybe 9000 watts. Currently its only about 3000 watts. Earth FM can do better in Eastern Spartanburg and also Cherokee and Union County.

Hopefully maybe 95.5 will replace 95.9 soon for better Greenville Coverage, 103.3 starts to get some static once you get east if Cowpens and then into Uptown Gaffney, where there just a bit too much static at times on 103.3, and then Union County has a translator on 103.5 for WBCU-AM that interferes at times there.

Also, 103.3 has a translator in Charlotte that causes more interference leaving east of Gaffney and Blacksburg SC and Shelby / Grover NC. These areas used to hear Earth FM a bit better than it is now.

 

[freqdev]

this has april fools stunt written all over it. any publicity is good publicity i guess

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Really I thought it was the worst idea for them to pull Charlie FM off of 106.3 not very long after that became something special. Honestly I'm surprised WYRD has lasted this long as is.

But of all the Audacy Class C radio stations in Upstate SC, 98.9 would be my last choice, but I guess they don't see it that way.

Actually I think it would be even better to leave 98.9 alone, perhaps move News/Talk WORD to the FM translators on 97.1 / 97.7 / 101.5 in Anderson and swap them with The Block's translators (96.3 & 104.5) to Sports Programming (Fan Upstate) and
Let The Block move to 106.3 (maybe)
while still on 107.7 in Anderson.

However I think its obvious they care too much about their news radio WYRD operation enough to keep them on at least a full market signal, so this probably won't be their prioritiy any time soon.

 

[tylerSC]

Former WYFF-4 sports anchor and Congressman J.D. Hayworth filling in for Vince Coakley today on WBT and WORD. Wouldn't mind if they would give him a permanent slot.

 

[genius]

Former WYFF-4 sports anchor and Congressman J.D. Hayworth filling in for Vince Coakley today on WBT and WORD. Wouldn't mind if they would give him a permanent slot.

Interesting about Hayworth is he still anchoring a show on Newsmax?

 

[101tm]

Really I thought it was the worst idea for them to pull Charlie FM off of 106.3 not very long after that became something special. Honestly I'm surprised WYRD has lasted this long as is.

But of all the Audacy Class C radio stations in Upstate SC, 98.9 would be my last choice, but I guess they don't see it that way.

Actually I think it would be even better to leave 98.9 alone, perhaps move News/Talk WORD to the FM translators on 97.1 / 97.7 / 101.5 in Anderson and swap them with The Block's translators (96.3 & 104.5) to Sports Programming (Fan Upstate) and
Let The Block move to 106.3 (maybe)
while still on 107.7 in Anderson.

However I think its obvious they care too much about their news radio WYRD operation enough to keep them on at least a full market signal, so this probably won't be their prioritiy any time soon.

If a factor is for more political ad buys from GA and NC, then they had three options - 93.3, 93.7, and 98.9. Maybe just 93.7 and 98.9 because I don't believe GA is in 93.3's 60dbu. The 93's have morning shows that apparently do well and help the stations bill well so those wouldn't have been options.

I had wondered if it was an April Fools stunt, but this is happening on a Tuesday and April Fools is that Saturday. It's not like they're teasing anything, they've said upfront what they plan to do so coming on and going "April Fools!" would be weird for both audiences. Especially a news station like WYRD (even if a lot of their programming seems like it). tylerSC - I read on Facebook that Bill Frady was going to be Vince's replacement on WORD as well.

 

[historyvids]

Yes, he posted on his Facebook page that upstate listeners can continue to listen to him on WBT. I read a commenter on one of WORD’s post that said 3/15 would be his last day and someone was replacing him, but I forget the name now. I can check back and see if I can find it. Just a rumor about the replacement, but Vince is out.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid03mYSL5ounvNnRD5QACpYySPkzWejxho4joGTMngYMXi7UWqeeCgudnmf4p8XcSHRl&id=100057638666391

It’s a shame because Vince wasn’t as fanatical as Tara and Charlie (I know Vince is just semi local). He still used some logic - something Tara and Charlie don’t know. I’m sure another 45 boot licker will be hired.

I'd be curious to know if this was a WBT move or if WORD elected to make the switch themselves. I can see where with the higher powered signal WBT might have axed the show sharing because now WORD will dip deep into their territory and people might have chosen to listen to his show on WORD instead. WORD might also have dropped him to save $$, but that doesn't make much sense since they could command higher ad rates with the more powerful signal.

Personally I like the move a lot. Now the eastern upstate area has a News Talk station with a decent signal, and I can see where it lets them compete with The Answer better in Greenville. I know many mentioned the demographic factor not making sense but if you think about it most younger people consume the majority of their music from streaming now anyway, so this might actually make sense when you factor that into the equation.

 

[101tm]

I wonder if they will eventually move The Fan to 93.3. They could keep TRG - they would fit the format - and being on that signal would give them a good shot at snatching one of the big college teams from iHeart and combo sell with WYRD and WROQ.

That does make sense about Vince Coakley - with 98.9 reaching strongly in to NC, people could miss the show’s local spots in the Charlotte market if they’re listening to 98.9, and it could also affect WBT’s ratings. It also is received well in a lot of the southern areas where WBT-FM 99.3 has good coverage. I do wonder if Salem will make any effort to compete with the upgraded WORD…they normally stick to their own syndicated programming and don’t have a lot (some have none) of local programming. Then again, I can’t think of another market where they’re carrying their talk format on a full market FM (Salem talk stations are normally AM, maybe have a translator or are rimshots) and the station does have Sean Hannity’s radio show live in PM drive. Do they even try to compete or is clearing their programming a bigger deal?

 

[historyvids]

I wonder if they will eventually move The Fan to 93.3. They could keep TRG - they would fit the format - and being on that signal would give them a good shot at snatching one of the big college teams from iHeart and combo sell with WYRD and WROQ.

That does make sense about Vince Coakley - with 98.9 reaching strongly in to NC, people could miss the show’s local spots in the Charlotte market if they’re listening to 98.9, and it could also affect WBT’s ratings. It also is received well in a lot of the southern areas where WBT-FM 99.3 has good coverage. I do wonder if Salem will make any effort to compete with the upgraded WORD…they normally stick to their own syndicated programming and don’t have a lot (some have none) of local programming. Then again, I can’t think of another market where they’re carrying their talk format on a full market FM (Salem talk stations are normally AM, maybe have a translator or are rimshots) and the station does have Sean Hannity’s radio show live in PM drive. Do they even try to compete or is clearing their programming a bigger deal?

I think that would be a good move to ultimately find a new home for The Fan among their properties. I almost included in my post that all we need now is a real high powered Sports station that might pick up Westwood One and some of the national broadcasts available in syndication and reach a wider audience.

WBT-FM's signal is distant or fringe for large swaths of the Charlotte market territory where 98.9 will have a pretty strong signal (particularly in Cleveland and Gaston counties and on up into Morganton and Hickory. I can see where those listeners would likely have preferred to tune Vince in on 98.9 vs. 99.3 since it would be much more reliable. It wouldn't surprise me if WBT is the one who pulled the plug on that arrangement. With 106.3's signal the way it was there wasn't much overlap. Pretty much most of their market was "Fringe" for 106.3 at best.

 

[101tm]

I think that would be a good move to ultimately find a new home for The Fan among their properties. I almost included in my post that all we need now is a real high powered Sports station that might pick up Westwood One and some of the national broadcasts available in syndication and reach a wider audience.

WBT-FM's signal is distant or fringe for large swaths of the Charlotte market territory where 98.9 will have a pretty strong signal (particularly in Cleveland and Gaston counties and on up into Morganton and Hickory. I can see where those listeners would likely have preferred to tune Vince in on 98.9 vs. 99.3 since it would be much more reliable. It wouldn't surprise me if WBT is the one who pulled the plug on that arrangement. With 106.3's signal the way it was there wasn't much overlap. Pretty much most of their market was "Fringe" for 106.3 at best.

Not to even mention 1110 (anybody remember AM? 🤣) which has overlap as well, and I would think most would rather listen on FM so that’s another factor.

Sports in this market is strange. It’s never done that great but it’s never had a signal that covered the market. It’s not a pro sports market but there’s enough interest in college and nearby pro teams IMO. 97.1 and 97.7 are okay, but I doubt many teams, if any, would want their major games on 2 weak AM’s and 2 translators. 104.9 has a much better signal (although not as good as fellow C3 106.3) but it hasn’t gained any traction and doesn’t have quite as good of a lineup as The Fan. I do think The Rise Guys along with the rest of The Fan’s programming and a couple good teams could succeed and bill more. We have all of these sports stations but none of them cover the whole market well.

 

[101tm]

Chris Goode and Shorty on Magic both made mention today of the move to 106.3 on March 28 so apparently they’re really starting to push it on air. Makes sense.

 

[freqdev]

Chris Goode and Shorty on Magic both made mention today of the move to 106.3 on March 28 so apparently they’re really starting to push it on air. Makes sense.

any good stunt needs pre promotion

 

[vchimpanzee]

Has anyone mentioned Asheville?

WOXL Mix 96.5 was considered a Hot AC last time I checked. Now whether the station would change in response to Magic I don't know.

 

[gr8oldies]

Has anyone mentioned Asheville?

WOXL Mix 96.5 was considered a Hot AC last time I checked. Now whether the station would change in response to Magic I don't know.

WSPA-FM did not even show in the last 3 books in Asheville. Public Radio seems to do real well there. Radio Industry News, Radio Show Prep, Radio Promotions, Radio Station Data, Podcast News

 

[vchimpanzee]

Now that I think of it, the older songs would be on an HD channel with a translator, Rewind 100.3. Even with the Knoxville station at 100.3 so close, I have heard that one in Haywood County.

 

[gr8oldies]

Now that I think of it, the older songs would be on an HD channel with a translator, Rewind 100.3. Even with the Knoxville station at 100.3 so close, I have heard that one in Haywood County.

Yes I'm familiar with that. Before it signed on, Knoxville (Oak Ridge) still made it in to Asheville

 

[101tm]

any good stunt needs pre promotion

What leads you to believe this is a stunt? How do you feel it will play out?

Re: WSPA-FM in Asheville - like most upstate FM’s, it doesn’t make it over the mountains extremely well in many places although you can get it strongly in a lot of places if the signal isn’t blocked. However, it’s way better than WROQ, WJMZ, WSSL, WYRD-FM, or any of the other “flat” sticks, or even the Paris Mountain signals. Entercom had a translator up there for years before they were common like they are now that relayed WSPA-FM on 97.7, but it became pointless considering the market got so many local translators and the station didn’t target the market. Here’s a legal ID mentioning 97.7 from 2007.