• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WTKI AM 1450/ WDPT 1490 is back on the air!

W

WBGR FM 93.1

WTKI-Huntsville and WDPT-Decatur is back on the air after their 9 month period of silence. They were on the air for about 2 days in September (I assume to keep the license) playing Classic Christian Contemporary.
Their new format is 70's/80's Top 40 style format.

I wish the new owners the best of luck with this station and hope they will be able to break even, or maybe have a couple extra dollars to buy a Coke with at the end of the month.

The nighttime signal? 1450 nicely covers Huntsville and decently covers Madison. 1490 nicely covers Decatur and decently covers Hartselle. I believe their great nighttime signal will help them out a good bit.

-Travis
 
I heard them this weekend, too. I think the music is just a stunt since they're saying stay tuned for the buzz it will have you talking.
 
ALRocker said:
I heard them this weekend, too. I think the music is just a stunt since they're saying stay tuned for the buzz it will have you talking.
Click to expand...

Well, it does have us talking. Today and tonight, they had Brian Jefferies (aka r-i's "Brian Voice Guy") doing their voicetracks, calling the station "80's Hit Radio -1450 WTKI/1490 WDPT." Also, wasnt he on WTAK back in the day when they were on AM 1000? I wish I could've heard the "real" TAK.

If this is a stunt, maybe they will flip to Classic Rock. Huntsville and Decatur needs something else besides 106.1 WTAK. Maybe they will flip to Classic Rock and be called "The Buzz."

Travis
 
If they do anything other than talk, spanish, or black gospel they're dead before they ever get started. This 80's thing won't work on AM.
 
These stations were owned by The Christian Voice of Central Ohio. Did they sell them or are they doing an LMA to someone else?
 
I really think eighties could work on AM just like classic rock did on the old TAK. TAK pulled a 10.0 share 12+ one year WITH going off the air at night. That is because NO ONE was doing it. No one is doing all eighties in town and the ones that have only play the same researched burned out songs over and over and over. Ya' gotta keep it fresh! LOL I've spent hours and hours dubbing in music from my personal stash. Today, sat radio might be some cause for concern. Not everyone has a sat radio. I can't really say what the plan is. The element of surprise is a part of the plan. I can say that I really enjoy working for the new owner and that DJ ing the eighties LIVE is a lot of fun!!!
 
I hope the 80's does work if that's what it's going to be , I kind of like it. Get the signal on a FM translator so maybe I can listen at night, here in beautiful Cullman. Also, it would be nice to hear the Electric Medicine Show on Sunday afternoon, too. Wishful thinking! Good luck.
 
One format I strongly believe is missing in the Huntsville / Decatur area is Adult Standards. Lot of people moved in due to BRAC, etc... Don't know if it has been tried but it is has been on in some surrounding markets (1200 Nashville, 1290 Florence) for some time. They could use Dial Global or Music of your Life.

ALRocker said:
If they do anything other than talk, spanish, or black gospel they're dead before they ever get started. This 80's thing won't work on AM.
Click to expand...

Am I missing something or is this not a standards market???
 
Classic country?
 
I've had people that are in radio say that standards/oldies is very tough to sell.
 
WTKI is getting an FM translator! According to the fcc database the new 92.9 translator that Way-FM aquired some time back (but never put on the air) will be simulcasting WTKI 1450am. The translator will also be moved from its original granted site in the Harvest area to Monte Sano to cover Huntsville better. The translator is not yet on the air but I'm assuming it won't be long before it is. It's still listed as owned by Way-Fm Media Group too so I wonder what sort of deal the new WTKI/WDPT owners have with them to use it. Way-Fm surely doesn't need it.
 
Nate Wesley said:
Classic country?
Click to expand...

Classic Country was tried (from what I've heard) on 1450 in the Late 90's. If anything, I'm hoping the "Classic Country" will be implemented on WZZN 97.7 FM. With all the sports, WWTM 1400 in Decatur could make a dumping ground for Standards. With WUMP 730/103.9, (WJOX 94.5, WTYK 93.9 although with a weak to fair signal) Decatur has plenty of sports.

Travis
 
... And I was enjoying the "80's Hit Radio". Why go from doing something that "no one else is doing," to doing something that plenty of stations are doing? What good is locally owned radio if one is just going to play 24/7 sports talk? If doing nothing but satellite, at least go with a music format, there's only a at least a dozen formats between Dial Global and Citadel. :)

-Travis
 
TALLRED said:
... And I was enjoying the "80's Hit Radio". Why go from doing something that "no one else is doing," to doing something that plenty of stations are doing? What good is locally owned radio if one is just going to play 24/7 sports talk? If doing nothing but satellite, at least go with a music format, there's only a at least a dozen formats between Dial Global and Citadel. :)

-Travis
Click to expand...

It's called "playing it safe". I figured the 80's format was just a temporary one, until a permanent, "run of the mill, everybody's doing it" kind of format showed up on the stations. You won't find many people listening to AM radio these days, particularly those wanting to listen to any type of music format. Music, for the most part, is fini on AM radio. I wish it weren't so, but unfortunately, that's the reality of it.
 
As of 7PM this evening they were playing Conservative Talk....... They've also been airing a new liner that says "Stay tuned for the buzz in December on WTKI-WEKI." This may be a sign that they will launch their new format this month.

Travis
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom