Apparently Opie & Anthony being suspended again was the last straw for CBS Radio, which has replaced their New York station's broadcast at WFNY with a message that they are flipping formats at 5PM today. WFNY's site has also been replaced by a giant ticking clock counting down to 5PM. What they are changing it to is a mystery at the moment, but don't be surprised if you see a return to rock music following the new Arbitron ratings showing WMMR as the station to beat in Philadelphia. (Arbitron started using new, more accurate PPM technology in Philadelphia earlier this year, and we're still the only city to get to use it yet).
What does this mean for 94.1FM in Philly? Well, Kidd Chris and Barsky better start packing their bags. WFNY was the flagship Free-FM station for CBS Radio, and that it's changing formats today is proof that the format created for Howard Stern cannot survive without Howard Stern actually present. In the wake of the Don Imus scandal, they're just as tired of dealing with asinine shock jocks to sell their ads as many other, smaller broadcasters.
I salute you, Free FM. You sucked pretty hard, but at least you were better at sucking than anyone else. You were committed to broadcasting shit. And while that is not exactly admirable, it is remarkable, to say the least.
update: apparently O&A are staying at WFNY, which is rumored to be throwing the switch to have K-Rock return from the HD-2 channel there. Everyone else there from the Program Director on down is getting the ax. Could 94.1 return to the rock format with O&A as the replacement for Stern in the mornings? Did Clearchannel see this move coming down the pike last week when they flipped 104.5?
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2 comments:
Hi, I saw you posted over on BeerLeaguer and decided to check out your blog. I like you angry humor. I infact run my blog on the same idea. Stop by my blog and check it out, if you like we could exchange links, just drop a message. Thanks.
I recently listened to satelite radio for the first time. It was a strange experience but similar to listening to automation. I just felt really anxious with no DJs, not knowing what was coming on next. There's alive about live radio. even if it is dying.
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