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B96 at 1.4

Posted by Z-92 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Z-92' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 27, 2023, 8:48 pm

Lowest ratings for B since 1970. Time to totally flip it. I wouldn't even pretend to care what format it would be. Just put it out of its misery!

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 27, 2023, 9:12 pm, in reply to "B96 at 1.4"

But, but, but Z92! It was the WLIT Christmas stunt that caused this! They promise, it will be back up to a 1.6 by February! (sarcasm) SMH.

Z

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by JJSPC1372 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=JJSPC1372' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 28, 2023, 5:53 am, in reply to "Re: B96 at 1.4"

WSCR-FM 96.3 ~ WBBM-FM 105.9

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by John from Wisconsin <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=John+from+Wisconsin' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 28, 2023, 8:50 am, in reply to "Re: B96 at 1.4"

or...
WBBM-FM 96.3 WSCR-FM 105.9

Sadly, a race to the bottom.

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by Bilbo <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Bilbo' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 28, 2023, 9:14 am, in reply to "Re: B96 at 1.4"

I roll my eyes every time I see this suggestion.

Why on earth would Audacy move Newsradio from 105.9 to 96.3? That would make zero sense other than to people who nerd out about radio station call signs and radio history.

It's much easier to move the calls around than risk losing listeners if they have to change their presets. At this point, anything that might shrink your station's audience is a total non-starter.

I still think WSCR is going to end up on 96.3. It's just a matter of time. Sounds like B96 still bills relatively well despite the poor ratings, but with enough books like this, you have to think eventually the billing will catch up with the ratings.

Re: B96 at 1.4

Right. They've promoted Newsradio 105.9 for so long they would never move that format to 96.3 just because the calls are currently WBBM-FM.

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by Z-92 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Z-92' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 28, 2023, 10:43 am, in reply to "Re: B96 at 1.4"

Right Z. Every station could say that but some jumped up! Not B96. Audacy makes no sense. Turning on B or Jams is like the same station most of the time. Jams ratings double B96 at 2.8. SMH too! Not many classic era format holes in Chicago to fill. Non of the current music formats ratings are good. The Score? If Chicago sports teams were good, maybe. Everything sucks! Satellite or stream. Commercial free and you can get what you really want. Radio creativity is dead.

Re: B96 at 1.4

Seems to me the Score went from 820 to 1160, then to 670. I could be right.

Will the demographic go to FM, or just go to podcasts, etc.

Re: B96 at 1.4

John this is one time I disagree with you. Is it possible? Sure. Is it probable? No. Audacy is in such distress right now, there are other pressing issues.

You are correct The Score went from an AM daytimer (remember no night coverage), then on to a station with only 5k night power and nearly unlistenable in most of the market, then to AM 670 where they had a reliable signal 24/7.

It is a matter of time before WSCR-AM is on FM. It will devour one of their FM music stations. It is happening in nearly every market where the almost always full power AM stations are transitioning to FM. If it would happen today, it would be on 96.3 and 105.9 would remain there. Call signs are a thing of the past. Hell, most stations do not even ID correctly anymore or the FCC has dropped the rigor. (Tune in to "95-1 The Streetz" They are on 4 translators and an HD2. Don't bet your house all stations are ID'ed correctly)!

Z

Re: B96 at 1.4

No offense taken. Certainly, we all look through things thru different prisms, different life experiences, etc.

I guess where I'm thinking is, 780 goes off/sold. Move news to 96.3/WBBM(FM) and 670 (sold off) goes 105.9. To me, it might not make sense to say "WBBM- Chicago" and do sports and have "WCFS Highland Park" saying WBBM all the time.

Seriously, when AM is running NFL-Notre Dame games, many times, there was NO LID. Just 5 secs of silence. Too, when FM (only) is running news, they do the LID for both (AM-FM)---Hello!

In FIVE, TEN years we will all know better.

Too, I wonder what/if anything is being said in the Ivory Towers!

Too, I know I'm not always right.
IE: When I was growing up,
102.9 WRIT-FM Milwaukee was there.
Now, 95.7 Milwaukee is WRIT.

In Wausau, pre 1969, 95.5 was WSAU-FM. Now,
99.9 Rudolph (WI) is WSAU-FM.

We might remember Hot 97 in NYC being Hot 103. (103.5) These things DO happen. People adjusted.

KFRC calls have been at 610AM, 99.7, 106.1 and are now are parked at 106.9, tho with all news. Calls do jump around.

I guess there are more than 1-2-3 sides to a story.
There could be a sale, collapse, etc. We don't know.

A few times, I've had egg on my face, but a few times, I've been right.

Re: B96 at 1.4

John,

No worries. I enjoy reading your posts.

People today are not people from 1988 when WQHT was 103.5 and then 97.1 - this generation and I mean people up to the 54+ demo now have 0 clue about call signs. Every station is a slogan. Nearly every stream is a slogan. That is why 105.9 only announces WCFS once an hour. It is a legal requirement from the FCC, no longer needed for ratings thanks to PPM meters.

What does WBMX-Fm mean in heritage? Nothing to what 102.7 FM was. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I sat down and broke bread with a good friend of mine that posts on here once in a while, Stereo6969. He nailed something that dovetails with the status of AM radio. WGN-AM keeps drilling home "WGN sounds so much more better on the App". It is the writing on the wall. Get an FM signal or move to IP. Even FM days are numbered. Just like Shortwave radio, CB's, even Ham radio.

Life will go on John, regardless of what can or would occur. But, the days of sticking your brand on the dial and being proud of call signs are long gone.

Z

Re: B96 at 1.4

I guess my thought was, and this is, FWIW....
NOBODY on FM (or AM, to a point) uses calls. There's Mix, B, Kiss, US99-5, Drive, K-Love, She, rhe Rock, V102.7, ESPN, Score, Answer, Hope, Inspiration 1390. There's been Magic, Joy, Oldies, Loop, etc.

Why NOT just do "WCFS Elmwood Park" and "News Radio 105-9" the rest of the hour?

If you listen to their LID, there's the music bed and the "W" in "WBBM Chicago..." seems buried or muted, if anything. (This runs at :57)

Always nice. Just my 14 cents worth...

Re: B96 at 1.4

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on December 30, 2023, 7:28 am, in reply to "Re: B96 at 1.4"

WBBM is a brand than it is call letters.

KCBS is a brand in San Francisco. It has been simulcasting on what is now KFRC-FM (106.9) for 15 years. They never changed the call letters of the FM. KCBS-FM is Jack FM in Los Angeles. It's something they could do, as in KCBS is not related to Jack FM, but it just doesn't matter.

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