A new alternative has came into the Motor City, as iHeartMedia launched ALT 106.7. Success remains to be seen for the newly launched alternative, but iHeartMedia seems to make a move against Entercom with this one. A bit of a choice, even as 89X is languishing in the ratings for a long time (to the point that Bell Media closed their Detroit office, but 89X isn't doing as hot in Windsor, either).
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The D Goes ALT
- Thread starter Radio Radio Listener
- Start date
This "ALT" war between Entercom and iHeartMedia is getting very interesting.
More baffling than interesting. Is there a feeling that the current crop of alternative rock acts has serious potential to cross over to CHR and lure listeners to these new alt stations, or could the advertisers and ad agencies be softening in their stereotypes of the alt listener? As dominated by rhythmic as CHR and even hot AC are now, I'm just not feeling it as far as a resurgence of rock in those formats goes.
Are there any other markets with 2 alt rockers these days?
The tiny one I am visiting as I type this: Hanover/Lebanon/White River Junction, NH/VT. WWOD 93.9 Woodstock, VT (The River) and W299AM 107.7 Lebanon, NH, relaying Burlington's WRJT (The Point). Both technically AAA, but leaning toward the rockier end. WFRD 99.3 Hanover is an active rocker with a good deal of harder alt on the playlist. I have a feeling the presence of Dartmouth College, probably the least diverse of the Ivy League schools, is a factor here. Alt hits that demo squarely between the eyes. In fact, the operator of WWOD recently moved the alt format to 93.9 from 106.7, giving alt a much better signal and putting the classic hits format previously on 93.9 on a signal that is challenged, to put it mildly.
And yet there's no AC...
Absolutely.
Los Angeles- (Entercom's KROQ vs. iHeart's KYSR)
Kansas City- (Entercom's KRBZ vs. Cumulus' KCJK)
Seattle- (Sort of) (Entercom's KNDD vs. iHeart's KFOO)
San Diego- (Entercom's KBZT vs Local Media's XTRA)
St. Louis- (Emmis' KPNT vs. iHeart's KLLT)
Salt Lake City- (Broadway's KXRK vs. Cumulus' KHTB)
Norfolk- (iHeart's WNOH vs. Sinclair's WROX)
Buffalo (Sort of) (Entercom's WLKK vs. Cumulus' WEDG)
Honolulu- (iHeart's KUCD vs. Ohana's KPOI)
WJJR Rutland puts in a passable signal into West Lebanon. I suppose that's the AC most folks up here listen to.
I wonder if Entercom could consider flipping 98.7 Amp Radio to Variety Hits with iHeartMedia claiming the "ALT" branding in Detroit. Even if 98.7 flipped to Alternative, it wouldn't have benefited iHeartMedia in any way.
And once that happens, maybe 93.9 will flip to "93.9 Virgin Radio, Detroit/Windsor's New Hit Music"?
As mentioned elsewhere, Bell doesn't really target the American side anymore, and they don't care to. They're hyperfocused on the Canadian side. Just because their signals hit Michigan and Ohio, that doesn't mean anything to their sales department and management anymore.
If they do any changes, it will be Windsor first, Detroit second.
The changes could also happen vice versa: Detroit first, Windsor second.
For example, if Entercom flips 98.7 Amp Radio, Bell could launch Virgin Radio targeting the Windsor market.
No, caroline0204.
Again, Bell doesn't care what goes on across the river anymore. If they feel that Mix 96 is encroaching too much on the River, then they *might* flip it. But they must be doing something right with X, so nothing will change.
I understand. It's just that I think Entercom will eventually flip 98.7 Amp Radio to a new format.
That makes no sense. They closed their US office.
Remember, Canadian stations are subject to CanCon, so a direct competitor in a format with fairly limited qualifying content wood doom the format to failure in Detroit. While the rules are relaxed for certain formats, it is still a significant restriction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_content has a somewhat fair description of CanCon.
http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2017/11/detroit_radio_station_1067_fm.html
Here's a local article on the flip. Bell Media would be wise to consider flipping either 89X or 93.9 to AC to compete with WNIC. While they don't have a US sales office, they do air US based ads and have people call US businesses and send people over to solicit. Not demo friendly, but it can be sold. 89X will go even lower with this new competitor.
Here's a local article on the flip. Bell Media would be wise to consider flipping either 89X or 93.9 to AC to compete with WNIC. While they don't have a US sales office, they do air US based ads and have people call US businesses and send people over to solicit. Not demo friendly, but it can be sold. 89X will go even lower with this new competitor.
Windsor is subject to significantly lower CanCon restrictions because Windsor residents often listen to Detroit stations and many stations in the area target Detroit to some extent (well, only 2, but still how many stations does Wundsor have anyways? 4?)
Yes, accurate. 93.9 the River and (to a lesser extent) 89X both still care for Detroit. Just because they don't have an advertising bureau in town doesn't mean they don't serve Detroit still -- the businesses just go through the Windsor office.
Technically 13, if you also count the CBC signals (not CBF's nested repeater), UCB's signal that's about to sign on, and the multicultural owned by a group from Toronto.
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