Posted on 12/10/2012 8:45:16 AM PST by raccoonradio
Domain registrations are pointing to yet another major format change in Boston.
969BostonsBeat.com, 969TheBeat.com, BostonsBeat969.com, Power969.com, Variety969.com, and TheStreets969.com were all anonymously registered last week. The domains were all registered using the same registrar normally used by Greater Media, owner of 96.9 WTKK Boston.
WTKK rebranded as “NewsTalk 96.9” in September following changes at two of its direct competitors in the market. Since that time WTKK’s growth has been stagnant, while Entercom Talk 680 WRKO and CBS News 1030 WBZ have both shown growth in election season and the demise of Clear Channel’s “Talk 1200” WXKS.
Reading the tea leaves behind the domains, it appears some form of Rhythmic format targeted against Clear Channel’s “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN is forthcoming. Such a move would bring Greater Media into the younger demo battle being waged between Clear Channel via WJMN and CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM and CBS’ “AmpRadio 103.3” WODS.
We'll see. This may be speculation but who knows. WTKK 96.9 currently has Eagan & Braude, Doug Meehan, Michael Smerconish, Michael Graham, Wall Street Wrap, John Batchelor, and Overnight America. Weekend shows include a radio version of Phantom Gourmet etc
It will go the way of Rush Radio 1200. The only thing we have left is WRKO.
Yes...I guess RKO 680 would continue as would WBZ 1030 which has talk at night (Dan Rea, revolving overnight hosts, Jordan Rich). There is no “progressive talk” station but NPR comes pretty close (including local hosts Candy Crossley and Emily “Thanks Dad” Rooney on Tote Bag Radio WGBH).
There are talk stations from surrounding areas that come in...
WHJJ 920 Prov, WTAG 580/94.9 Worc, WGIR 610 Manchester...I even get WZAN 970 across the water from Portland ME including Dennis Miller
96.9 WTKK has sucked since Jay Severin left.
Howie Carr list ping. Take note that nothing is official. These are domain name registrations. However the ratings and billing for WTKK 96.9—where Howie would love to flee to in late 2014—are apparently not cutting it for Greater Media.
Thus there is a CHANCE they may switch to rhythmic, maybe
after the new year.
WTKK started in 1999 with the likes of Imus, Jay Severin,
and yuk—Mike Barnicle. IF, if, IF this is true than Howie may be stuck with an AM flagship station.
As the gossip columnists would say, “Do stay tuned....”
Nothing would make me happier than to see Jim Braude and Margoeie Eagan have to find other work. Even the conservative on the station, Michael Graham is an unsufferable douche.
BYE!
Agreed. When I mentioned on Facebook that Eagan and Braude were gaining an extra hour daily, my liberal sister said “Jim and Margery? I LOVE them!”
I like Michael Graham but I would love to see the rest of the socialist programming fail. Even the Phantom Gourmet show has become socialist. Good riddance.
Technically “Magpie” Eagan and M Graham do write for the Herald and Braude is on NECN so they’d still have some work.
Can’t stand Jim the Red Broude.
Graham’s ok. He’s an entertainer.
I enjoy Howie.
Jay Severin is missed. 96.9 was too PC for him. They suspended him a couple times then finally fired him.
Jay Severin is on The Blaze Radio, 2-5 PM.
There are reports on this from Fox 25 (whose reporter
manages to screw up pron. of Jim Braude’s name, and says the competition is “WKRO”) and the Herald. And yes Howie Carr (ping) fans this makes it very tough for Howie to jump
to FM in 2 years...
Some tweets, by RadioInsight and Bostonradio:
>Just waiting to see how post-election month(Nov 8 - Dec 5) numbers shake out b4 applying the big hammer to 96.9?
>> The fact there was very little pre-election boost is that hammer. Wheel was already in motion domains were just 1st public step
>>>At least Severin kept them above water for a while. Once he got shed, their core demo jumped ship
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