WORD to 98.9, Magic to 106.3

[w00t]

It's not a stunt. All that would do is piss off WYRD's listeners.

"hurr durr the libs tried to cancel muh tawk station"

 

[101tm]

It's not a stunt. All that would do is piss off WYRD's listeners.

"hurr durr the libs tried to cancel muh tawk station"

Agreed. Stunts don’t get a corporate PR release, and it would be catastrophic and confuse/piss off the listeners. Also, it wouldn’t be coordinated between both stations. These hosts on Magic and WORD who a lot of the listeners respect and trust (agree with them or not on WYRD, like them or not on Magic, or both) are all going to turn around and say “Hahaha we got you” and have it be a concert or something?

It’s funny how each station is handling this, WYRD is running trump like ads about “a big, beautiful signal on a tall hill, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It will be tremendous” and saying it’s a stronger signal which is all true. Magic is sort of like "hey, we're moving to 106.3 at 9am on Tuesday the 28th with the same music and same great local hosts", see you there"

 

[gr8oldies]

Agreed. Stunts don’t get a corporate PR release, and it would be catastrophic and confuse/piss off the listeners. Also, it wouldn’t be coordinated between both stations. These hosts on Magic and WORD who a lot of the listeners respect and trust (agree with them or not on WYRD, like them or not on Magic, or both) are all going to turn around and say “Hahaha we got you” and have it be a concert or something?

It’s funny how each station is handling this, WYRD is running trump like ads about “a big, beautiful signal on a tall hill, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It will be tremendous” and saying it’s a stronger signal which is all true. Magic is sort of like "hey, we're moving to 106.3 at 9am on Tuesday the 28th with the same music and same great local hosts", see you there"

"And someone walked up to us with tears in his eyes saying "Sir, sir, that new signal will be great"

 

[101tm]

"And someone walked up to us with tears in his eyes saying "Sir, sir, that new signal will be great"

“And there’s this station in North Carolina, what are they, like 5000 watts on AM? Weak! We have the latest and best, in high fidelity.”

It’s funny though - when 106.3 became a WORD simulcast I figured it would be a signal that would never be a music station again. I’m assuming they’ll adjust the audio processing on 106.3, i hope they set it up better than 98.9 who has a very flat and low level sound processing.

 

[vchimpanzee]

“And there’s this station in North Carolina, what are they, like 5000 watts on AM? Weak! We have the latest and best, in high fidelity.”

5000 watts on 570 is HUUUUGE.

 

[vchimpanzee]

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.

I believe that translator is needed again.

In Waynesville I remember hearing WSPA-FM in a nice restaurant (okay, more like a truck stop, but before chains it was the nice place) after WLOS stopped playing beautiful music.

 

[freqdev]

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.

if it's not a stunt it's a terrible programming decision imo that probably came from the sales department 989 will languish on the lesser signal i believe i am wondering how big the conservative talker advertising pie could be maybe they think they can cash in on the 2024 election versus selling christmas music half the year.

 

[vchimpanzee]

There is one good reason for doing it. At night 99.3 doesn't cover all of the western part of the Charlotte area, and 98.9 does. So if there are fans of conservative talk west of Charlotte, they don't have a lot of choices.

 

[w00t]

5000 watts on 570 is HUUUUGE.

Yeah, in South Dakota.

 

[gr8oldies]

if it's not a stunt it's a terrible programming decision imo that probably came from the sales department 989 will languish on the lesser signal i believe i am wondering how big the conservative talker advertising pie could be maybe they think they can cash in on the 2024 election versus selling christmas music half the year.

It's certainly not a stunt; that would be ridiculous. Why would you advertise that on-air and on social media just to say "psyche!"
The answer is in the press release where they talk about the number of Congressional districts the 98.9 signal will reach. It's about those NC and SC political Benjamins.

 

[101tm]

It's certainly not a stunt; that would be ridiculous. Why would you advertise that on-air and on social media just to say "psyche!"
The answer is in the press release where they talk about the number of Congressional districts the 98.9 signal will reach. It's about those NC and SC political Benjamins.

And NE GA as well. I’m curious to see if they keep 98.9 in stereo or really let it fly and turn the stereo off which would only increase the signal some.

As long as the regular Magic listeners can still get it on 106.3 if they’re using an office radio, or 106.3 commuting across the market they’ll be fine. The signal is a C3 but unlike 103.9 and 104.9 it’s centrally located in the market’s core and that is still going to throw a solid signal on most of the market’s population sans Anderson county. I agree it’s an unfortunate massive downgrade, but of all the non-C2 and below signals in the market, it’s probably the best. Heck, we’ve seen Earth FM on that class A in the past beat WTPT and WSPA-FM on C’s.

 

[freqdev]

As long as the regular Magic listeners can still get it on 106.3 if they’re using an office radio, or 106.3 commuting across the market they’ll be fine. The signal is a C3 but unlike 103.9 and 104.9 it’s centrally located in the market’s core and that is still going to throw a solid signal on most of the market’s population sans Anderson county. I agree it’s an unfortunate massive downgrade, but of all the non-C2 and below signals in the market, it’s probably the best. Heck, we’ve seen Earth FM on that class A in the past beat WTPT and WSPA-FM on C’s.

diary measurement in gsp is laughable it will take a year or more to see the effect of this change 989 was always a player maybe not now

 

[tylerSC]

There is one good reason for doing it. At night 99.3 doesn't cover all of the western part of the Charlotte area, and 98.9 does. So if there are fans of conservative talk west of Charlotte, they don't have a lot of choices.

99.3 was added by WBT to cover Gaston and Cleveland counties, because 11.10-AM blocks their signal west of Charlotte after sunset to protect a station in Omaha, Nebraska. 99.3 can also be heard in Gaffney and Spartanburg, and begins to drop off in Greenville County due to interference from WCON down in Georgia. But overall 98.9 will provide a stronger talk signal in areas between Charlotte and Greenville, including Shelby, Hickory, and Morganton.

I wonder if Radio One would ever consider a stronger FM signal for WBT that would reach a wider coverage area? Originally 107.9 signed on as WBT-FM. Does today's Mix 107.9-WLNK remain a strong performer? Flagship hosts Bob and Sheri have departed, and other than Matt and Ramona, they are just another mid ranked, Hot AC, format, unless I am missing something here. And I have heard WBT remains a top performer in ad revenue, unless I am mistaken. So I wonder if they would consider adding WBT to 107.9? The problem is 99.3 doesn't cover enough of the primary Charlotte market, so a complete flip with 107.9 would not be feasible without some other alternative.

 

[101tm]

99.3 was added by WBT to cover Gaston and Cleveland counties, because 11.10-AM blocks their signal west of Charlotte after sunset to protect a station in Omaha, Nebraska. 99.3 can also be heard in Gaffney and Spartanburg, and begins to drop off in Greenville County due to interference from WCON down in Georgia. But overall 98.9 will provide a stronger talk signal in areas between Charlotte and Greenville, including Shelby, Hickory, and Morganton.

I wonder if Radio One would ever consider a stronger FM signal for WBT that would reach a wider coverage area? Originally 107.9 signed on as WBT-FM. Does today's Mix 107.9-WLNK remain a strong performer? Flagship hosts Bob and Sheri have departed, and other than Matt and Ramona, they are just another mid ranked, Hot AC, format, unless I am missing something here. And I have heard WBT remains a top performer in ad revenue, unless I am mistaken. So I wonder if they would consider adding WBT to 107.9? The problem is 99.3 doesn't cover enough of the primary Charlotte market, so a complete flip with 107.9 would not be feasible without some other alternative.

I had suggested before moving the WBT-FM calls to 107.9 and simulcasting 1110 as AM continues to get older and older and signal interference issues with AM increase. I used to get them much better at night than I do now and a daytime signal struggles. I used to get a good signal from 99.3 in Laurens County but since WCON upgraded it's almost a constant battle between the two and the bad 1110 signal is better.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I wonder if Radio One would ever consider a stronger FM signal for WBT that would reach a wider coverage area? Originally 107.9 signed on as WBT-FM. Does today's Mix 107.9-WLNK remain a strong performer? Flagship hosts Bob and Sheri have departed, and other than Matt and Ramona, they are just another mid ranked, Hot AC, format, unless I am missing something here. And I have heard WBT remains a top performer in ad revenue, unless I am mistaken. So I wonder if they would consider adding WBT to 107.9? The problem is 99.3 doesn't cover enough of the primary Charlotte market, so a complete flip with 107.9 would not be feasible without some other alternative.

Unless WKQC starts actually playing AC I don't think this is a good idea, because it would leave fans of the music without a station. Not even 98.9 FM.

WHQC, on the other hand, should fill the gap.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I'm actually surprised the station is still 106.3 WORD (as WYRD) owned by Audacy when their competition in town is Salem which actually owns "WORD-FM" calls on a station in Pittsburgh and WGTK in Greenville.

They should really swap calls and brandings,

Or 94.5 in Greenville can do well by moving "the Answer" to 103.3/95.9 but I think they won't because most of Salem's stations have a talk / non music format.

98.9 as Magic really is Audacy Greenville's biggest asset and I can't imagine any downgrade being a benefit in any way....thankfully 106.3 still gets a decent signal in Gaffney as well, even a bit better than 103.3 WRTH and about the same as 99.3 WBT

 

[101tm]

I'm actually surprised the station is still 106.3 WORD (as WYRD) owned by Audacy when their competition in town is Salem which actually owns "WORD-FM" calls on a station in Pittsburgh and WGTK in Greenville.

They should really swap calls and brandings,

Or 94.5 in Greenville can do well by moving "the Answer" to 103.3/95.9 but I think they won't because most of Salem's stations have a talk / non music format.

98.9 as Magic really is Audacy Greenville's biggest asset and I can't imagine any downgrade being a benefit in any way....thankfully 106.3 still gets a decent signal in Gaffney as well, even a bit better than 103.3 WRTH and about the same as 99.3 WBT

I agree…but I guess they can call themselves that if they want to. Maybe it’s got a good reputation with its audience? The only tie Audacy even has to WORD is 950 AM with a different format having those calls. There are several stations in Florida that call themselves “NewsRadio WFLA” with various calls like WFLF.

If the bumper music on 106.3 is any indicator of the sound processing it’s going to have as a music station, I hope to god somebody makes some adjustments within the next 2 weeks. It’s a dull/flat (even for mono) sound.

 

[101tm]

I was switching between 104.9 and 106.3 in Laurens comparing the C3 signals and I was surprised to notice 104.9 puts out a clearer signal with virtual no static many times in HD. 106.3 has a more than acceptable signal but you can hear blips of static occasionally. And 106.3’s tower is much closer. I guess the height helps 104.9 get out further with low wattage while 106.3 has to have the power - which should help with in office listening, etc as Magic in Greenville and Spartanburg as the higher wattage helps building penetration.

 

[SCPirate]

Keep in mind, Greenville-Spartanburg in the 2000s was a massive AC market. Not only was there Magic, but My 102.5 commanded a (generally larger) audience as well. Combined both could get around a 15 share at times. There are still successful AC’s in much of the southeast, just not Columbia or GSP. WSPA-FM is musically better than a lot of AC’s, so I don’t think that’s their problem. The personalities aren’t awful, but they’re very restrained with what they can say it seems. Mornings are syndicated, but many AC’s have syndicated AM drive now. Hopefully this move will give the station an opportunity to clean up old imaging, etc and have a more refreshed sound.

93.3 is one of those stations that doesn’t do great but is successful enough because of the morning show and all of their local endorsements. 93.7 is probably in the same boat. 101.1 doesn’t make it much in to WNC so it’s like 106.3. Messing with that signal would be stupid with little to no gain.

IMO WSPA-FM was sacrificed because they had the least to lose. Syndicated morning show, not a station a ton of people are extremely passionate about, can still bill well on a weaker signal. Office radios and commuters can still get it in the 2 main counties. It still hits the most important cities in the market. Fringe areas and Anderson county is where they’ll take a hit.

Yes, 106.3 today is mostly unlistenable in Anderson County, especially in a moving car.

 

[101tm]

Yes, 106.3 today is mostly unlistenable in Anderson County, especially in a moving car.

I haven’t checked the signal so I don’t know if it’ll be helpful, but Magic confirmed on Facebook that the 95.1 (Pickens/Clemson/Seneca) and 101.5 (Anderson) translators will switch over and become Magic along with 106.3. I’m assuming Magic will go to 98.9-HD2 since it feeds at least one of those. I didn’t know Audacy still had the 95.1 translator.