Simply having a Radio Christmas time
Youngstown: It's that time of year once again. That time when radio stations across the country look for additional revenue and a way to get listeners in the holiday spirit. Listeners in both the Mahoning Valley and Shenango Valley will find some holiday spirit on the local airwaves. In fact, WBBG "Big 106.1" has already been spinning holiday favorites for over a week now with probably WNIO 1390 not too far behind. Those in the Shenango Valley will also have an all Christmas station on Monday November 24th when WLLF "96.7 The River" also makes the holiday flip. Yes, that's a few days before that often forgotten holiday called Thanksgiving.Readers’ Forum
As of this afternoon, Classy 100 (WXKC) in Erie now plays Christmas music, switching from its adult contemporary playlist.
Doug - November 21, 2008 at 4:18 pm
It appears that Youngstown’s Mix 98.9 has also switched over to all Chrismas. The station ID said that they are now “All Christmas All The Time” and that you can hear their regular lineup on the station’s website.
BOTR - November 26, 2008 at 3:29 pm
While visiting the Beacon Broadcasting website (www.beaconbroadcasting.net), I found a link to WRTK 1540 AM (www.freq1540.com). WRTK previously did not have a website. Anyways, the station is licensed to Niles, OH and can only broadcast during the daytime.
However, something is different. The station is now being branded as “Freq 1540,” the same brand used for sister station WEXC “Freq 107”.
The programming is also different; 1540 is now playing holiday music. The website says, “Freq1540 AM will be playing Christmas music from November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) through January 4, 2009!”.
But there’s more to the story. Later, it adds, “Then January 5 the all-new Freq1540 will be released!”, and the new slogan reads, “Reaching The Kingdom”.
It sounds like the station may be changing its format. Formerly, the station aired a gospel format.
Any thoughts on this latest development?
Doug - November 29, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I like how the web page says listen online 24/7. Where’s the link to listen live? I’m guessing this is going to be a religious format of some form? It will be interesting no since they dropped the ABC format because Salem sold WHKZ 1440 in Warren to Rev. Mann of Pittsburgh. The deal never closed and according to Ohio Media Watch a while back, rumor had it he wants to talk about another purchase. The reason this gets interesting is Rev. Mann owns a station in Pittsburgh i think New Kensington, The station uses the same ABC satellite format that was on WRTK. Oddly enough WRTK was the ONLY Beacon station to show up in the 12+ numbers last book, the numbers where low but it still showed up. Maybe WRTK will be a simulcast with WEXC? WGRP and WLOA simulcast now….just my two cents….
Karl - November 30, 2008 at 3:34 pm