Z-730

[hballard_HB]

I agree. This format change for WZGV is the best possible choice and will be a very smart business move. It should have been their first choice instead of attempting to do oldies. The competition between 730 and WFNZ could very well become the best game in town. I had been looking for an FM to go sports before now. I have heard many comments that Charlotte sports radio leaves much to be desired in comparison to the Raleigh-Durham market. As for oldies, I don't think it's a dead format, but no 100kw FM within the Charlotte market has adopted it since Clear Channel decreed that the demographic was too old to be profitable and 96.1 would be hip hop. That's why I'll keep donating to Mel Karmazin's favorite charity, Sirrius XM. It's not as good as XM Radio was, but it's still better than terrestrial FM, except for those times on the weekend when Gaston College's WSGE is playing that good old beach music on 91.7.

Well, maybe the mgmt. of WZGV know exactly what they're doing.

As they saw the ratings on Z730 weren't that great, they decided to flip & compete head-on with the only other AM station in Charlotte they could - SportsRadio610 - The Fan - WFNZ.

As a previous poster posted, you can't compete w/WBT.

As 730WZGV is twice as powerful as 610WFNZ (10kw as compared to 5kw) it's only a matter of time until we see their ratings improve.

'FNZ has been around for years, & it's about time they had some competition.

Who do you think does a better job: Fox or CBS Sports?

What kind of contracts & syndication will the new station have?

Will they be the exclusive Panthers & Bobcats station?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

It would be nice if Adult Standards 1150WAVO could receive a CP to boost their ERP.

Charlotte is the largest city between DC & Atlanta.

If we've got two AM stations competing with sports programming, we've got to at least have an FM outlet (even an LPFM, such as 90.3WRBK/Richburg SC) programming Adult Standards/Oldies!

Nice thought but it's not gonna happen. We tried in the '80's with WSOC-AM 930. It didn't work then, although by today's yardstick our numbers look pretty good. Cox was not happy so they pulled the plug.

I was eating at the Common Market over in Plaza Midwood. My daughter likes the place and they had XM's 40's on 4 blasting. Bing Crosby, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller filled the place. I knew most of the songs darn WSOC anyway! It made me feel like a fossil. ;D

 

[yugoidar]

As 730WZGV is twice as powerful as 610WFNZ (10kw as compared to 5kw) it's only a matter of time until we see their ratings improve.

AM/FM, improve?  Maybe, but not enough to make a difference.

Let’s say they’re really successful and pull away half of the WFNZ audience – half of 1.4 is 0.7.  Not nearly enough to be considered a ratings success.  Kind of tough to sell ratings like that and consequently, tough to keep a sales staff.

Couple that with the fact that most, if not all, of WWWW’s programming will be from the network rather than from local hosts and the problem is compounded.

The fact of the matter is that there just aren’t that many AM listeners today (See my post above).  Many of those in the younger demographics don’t even know that the AM band exists.

If you look at pretty much any market in the country, you’ll see just one AM station that is in the top tier in the ratings.  Usually, it’s the traditional, old line market leader (like WBT) – and their ratings are top heavy in the upper demographics.

 

[mp3RadioGuy]

As 730WZGV is twice as powerful as 610WFNZ (10kw as compared to 5kw) it's only a matter of time until we see their ratings improve.

The fact of the matter is that there just aren’t that many AM listeners today (See my post above). Many of those in the younger demographics don’t even know that the AM band exists.

Sad but true. Don’t know how many more years AM has left until it goes the way of CB Radio. In fact I find that many young folks today don’t mess with terrestrial radio at all.
There too busy talking on there cell phones, or texting, or playing there downloads.

 

[tothedj]

The last post is correct, how much longer will it be before radio as we know it will disappear?

 

[amfmradio1]

Yeah, & I wonder how "The Fan" 610/WFNZ & FoxSports730 think about WBT boasting that is "The Official Station of the Carolina Panthers".

 

[test123]

WBT is the Official Station of the Carolina Panthers.

I can't see the Panthers or the Bobcats moving to 730 with their poor night time signal.

Test123

 

[charlestondxman]

WBT carries all the Panthers games, so they are the official Panthers station. Oldies is a format that is popular in many areas, but obviously, not in Charlotte. Charleston has a great FM oldies station (95.9), and a beach music station (1340). Most other areas have them. But not Charlotte.

It amazed me that Charlotte only had one sports station since 1660 flipped until now. Charleston and Columbia both have three, with ample regional or local programming on each. 730 has all the App State games, and that team is getting very popular now around the Charlotte area.

Maybe now as a sports station, they can go after other teams. Perhaps South Carolina or Clemson football. The Charlotte Knights. Smaller college teams. Maybe some Checkers games. This will help them gain a small niche in the market which they had before, but not as big.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Z-730 was doomed from the start. The few TV commercials for the station (on cable if I recall) started before the station was even on the air. There was zero promotion after that, no give aways, no big money contests, nothing to tell people there was a new radio station in town.

In office listening is out due to the fact that most people in the office have their radios right next to a hash spewing computer that eats an AM signal.

Music was safe and predictable, too safe. About 90% of what they played could be heard in Stereo on FM by listening to either Lite or K. There wasn't much "OH WOW!" factor in the music.

Most of the time when I heard the station it was on satellite. Nothing exciting there.

Oh and add to that if you haven't already made it as an AM station you aren't going to make it.

It would be so much better if the dead stations were turned off and the ones that actually had some hope of getting ratings were allowed to increase power and/or broaden their directional pattern.

 

[DToTheJ]

Don’t know how many more years AM has left until it goes the way of CB Radio...

In about six years from now, when Rush Limbaugh's contract expires.

 

[DToTheJ]

It amazed me that Charlotte only had one sports station since 1660 flipped until now...

Not to split hairs, but 1660 was, more or less, a simulcast of 610 under the old "Franchise" banner. The only different was 1660 would air the Knights games.

Another missed opportunity for Greater Media to turn 107.9 into a sports station (still no ESPN-branded radio station in the market) but as someone pointed out in another thread, the best viable option for 107.9, if they were going to go the spoken-word (24/7) route would be to just simulcast WBT.

 

[carolinaradio]

Not to split hairs, but 1660 was, more or less, a simulcast of 610 under the old "Franchise" banner. The only different was 1660 would air the Knights games.

Another missed opportunity for Greater Media to turn 107.9 into a sports station (still no ESPN-branded radio station in the market) but as someone pointed out in another thread, the best viable option for 107.9, if they were going to go the spoken-word (24/7) route would be to just simulcast WBT.

No, remember, WBT is already on FM! (at 99.3) :

Seriously, I would not be surprised to see 107.9 become a simulcast of 1110 by the end of the year. AM's dying, it's just a matter of time so go ahead and do it.

 

[wncc]

No, remember, WBT is already on FM! (at 99.3) :

Seriously, I would not be surprised to see 107.9 become a simulcast of 1110 by the end of the year. AM's dying, it's just a matter of time so go ahead and do it.

Is everyone forgetting about Bob and Sheri? I don't see Bob and Sheri doing Charlotte's Morning News. And I don't see Al and Stacy being syndicated.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Not to split hairs, but 1660 was, more or less, a simulcast of 610 under the old "Franchise" banner. The only different was 1660 would air the Knights games.

Another missed opportunity for Greater Media to turn 107.9 into a sports station (still no ESPN-branded radio station in the market) but as someone pointed out in another thread, the best viable option for 107.9, if they were going to go the spoken-word (24/7) route would be to just simulcast WBT.

No, remember, WBT is already on FM! (at 99.3) :

Seriously, I would not be surprised to see 107.9 become a simulcast of 1110 by the end of the year. AM's dying, it's just a matter of time so go ahead and do it.

I have no inside information but I would bet serious money that it will not happen by the end of the year. Why trade 2 incomes for one?

 

[carolinaradio]

OK Mike, I suppose you are right there. I would advise (and assume) they wait and see how 107.9 does in the PPM, which favors more music and less talk. With WLNK being so talk based in the morning and afternoon (and at other times as well), it will be interesting to see because they aren't even doing well in the books now.

If 107.9 changes formats, I still place my money on a simulcast of 1110. AM's are going to FM...it's not really a matter of if, it's when.

 

[amos]

i agree, but i don't think i'll be on 107.9. if it were me i'd be trying to find an fm stick to buy.
a 92.7 / 99.3 / 1110 simulcast would work, but it'd be confusing to the audience.

a station like 105.3 or even 106.1 paired with 1110 would be best.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Lanny had no clue what he was doing. Hate to cast stones but he had offeres of help and refused to take it. There was zero business on the radio and think lots of it had to do with the Sales Manager who had Urban experience as a seller but no sales management experience and less than zero experience with oldies. There were lots of opportunities but nobody was home. Guess this gives Dave at the Ride another change to wake up and smell the roses.

The Ride needs to take the WAIZ letters from the Hickory station, call itself "Big Ways", and start playing familiar music which can actually be described as classic hits.

Let the off-the-wall music be HD-2 or online. Wonder if Sirius-Xm would be interested in what made The Ride truly unique?

 

[vchimpanzee]

It would be nice if Adult Standards 1150WAVO could receive a CP to boost their ERP.

Been there, done that, and even added WTIX in Concord at 1410--though one has to wonder if they can do better at night. I know WRVA in Richmond and WRNA in China Grove, not to mention the station I just mentioned, would prevent them from expanding northward. . It used to be a tiny Rock Hll station. One day, because I had a button set for the standards station in Burlington, also at 1150, I made this amazing discovery in Wadesboro. No, it was still Christian at the time, but what a signal! Unfortunately, I can no longer drive that car that distance. No problem, Rush is very entertaining.

I am wondering, though. Mark Washburn said WZGV is taking over Sports Yapp. So there will be lcoal programming. But is this a good thing for those of us who like WAVO? They either have to go back to music or find another way to attract advertisers.

I will say this: at least for me, WAVO has the "OH WOW" factor. Salisbury has a similar station, but it focuses on what has been done before. WAVO is different!

Charlotte is the largest city between DC & Atlanta.

If we've got two AM stations competing with sports programming, we've got to at least have an FM outlet (even an LPFM, such as 90.3WRBK/Richburg SC) programming Adult Standards/Oldies!

Does WRBK really play standards?

 

[vchimpanzee]

Well that’s another radio preset deleted. Fox Sports…give me a freaking break!
Hey Ken, Liz & GT; I enjoyed each of your shows and the oldies, even though it was a short run. Maybe one day the idiots running Charlotte radio will give us a local oldies station…but I won’t be holding my breath.

Oh, yeah, I have to change my preset from 730 to 850. Only I couldn't even get 850 last time I was close enough. I did the first time I tried when they first switched. I even turned off the AC and it got really hot.

 

[yugoidar]

Chimp asked, "Does WRBK really play standards"?

The answer is no, Chimp. WRBK is a terrific little non-com Oldies station. They sound great with a playlist from 1955 through 1984, at least I think that's what their promos say. No jocks, pretty good jingles and plenty of public service announcements and weather.

The only things I could criticize them for would be playing some tunes occasionally that are somewhat out of character for the oldies format(even though they were hits) and era/genre clumping-playing 2 or more songs consecutively from the same era or genre. They get a little out of balance from time to time.