“Merry Christmas”
November 17, 2014
One could almost predict that today would be the day that both WWSW (94.5) and WSHH (99.7) made their annual switch to all-Christmas. The flip has proven a ratings success for both stations over the years as it does with stations across the country. The all-Christmas run will go through midnight Christmas Day. If past years are any indication, come December 26 (the second day of Christmas, by the way) WWSW will likely abandon all-things Christmas and focus on its regular format while WSHH might continue to scatter the seasonal tunes within the format.
Meanwhile, Sirius-XM’s most popular holiday channels returned last week. Holly (Channel 17) and Holiday Traditions (Sirius Channel 147/XM Channel 73) returned on Veterans’ Day. Holiday Pops (classical) returns for a very limited engagement on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year on Channel 76. Country Christmas comes to Channel 58 on December 2 while Holiday Soul doesn’t start on Channel 49 until December 19. Radio Hanukkah hits Channel 68 for 8 days beginning December 16. Navidad, a Latin formatted Christmas station, appears online only on Channel 785. Then on December 31 comes a two-day run for New Year’s Nation – a channel of the ultimate party music from across the ages suitable for the occasion. And for those who enjoy an even more traditional return of the season, Escape, the beautiful music channel on Channel 69, traditionally starts sprinkling the Christmas tunes after Thanksgiving and gradually increases the frequency of such melodies as Christmas gets closer.
Conspicuous by its absence will be WJAS, which also included Christmas songs in recent years. BTW, I haven’t seen anyone marvel over the RW format the new owner has implemented.