Mix 97.1 becomes The Fan 97.1

[MarcusRadio]

Press Release from WBNS AM/FM:
Today we are announcing an exciting new step forward in sports marketing in the Columbus market. Scarborough Sports Marketing, a joint venture between Arbitron and the Nielsen company, recently declared Columbus, Ohio the "Number one sports town in the United States" and WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan continues to be one of America's highest rated sports stations.
 
Because of the love and connection to sports by the people
living in Central Ohio, WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan will now be heard
on WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan beginning today at 4:00 PM.

At a time when the traditional media is experiencing significant audience erosion and fragmentation by today's active and mobile consumer, the demand and affinity for quality sports programming by sports fans continues to grow. Nowhere can you find the loyalty, passion, and lifestyle connectivity for brands by consumers, than those brands who participate in sports marketing. 97.1 The Fan is built on premium sports programming from ESPN, play by play for Ohio State football and basketball, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Cleveland Indians. Our local programming features nationally known celebrities Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Spielman, as well as local favorites Bruce Hooley, Scott Torgerson, and Mike Ricordati. Now, all of the Central Ohio region will receive this nation's best sports programming with a clear and clean signal 24 hours a day at 97.1 on the FM dial.

[dawg4life]

Being that I'm a sports fan (hence the name) and the fact that I can't stand Mix 97.1.... I'm cool with this. This does open up an opportunity for another station to pick up the Hot AC format and do it right.... LMAO, I just said do it right.... Not in Columbus.

[V.Riley]

*sigh*

It's really a shame.  Back in the 80s, I didn't have a decent radio with enough presets in my car for all the stations that I loved to listen to.  Now I have more presets than I have stations that I want to listen to.  Yet another station I love bites the dust.  I think that leaves me now with about 3 presets that still have value to me, all but 1 of them I can get on the Internet, so....

It looks like I'm officially looking for an in car WIFI Radio to replace my now almost completely worthless AM/FM radio that is currently in the car.

Just what the Columbus Radio dial doesn't need in my opinion is MORE talk radio, especially since it is a duplication of an already existing station.  Of course, your opinion may vary.

 

[Snat]

Too bad about Mix 97.1, but after re-arranging the deck chairs for the last few years (pretty much since Lisa Kick left the morning show) I have to think that management was sick of constant change.  I won't miss the on-air talent other than Dantzer, and the format hadn't been anything unique since they first switched from Oldies.  Going to a simulcast just takes the little variety they offered out of the market.

I wonder what this means for CD101 as the FM Home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  1460 has the games on AM, so will 97.1 carry alternate programming on game nights to keep 101 as the FM Flagship (more like a rowboat, but whatever)?  Or will this finally give CD101 an out clause?

After the sunny story in the Dispatch over the weekend about how CBJ TV ratings are the highest they've been in a long time and now that we have a team with a decent chance at losing to San Jose in the first round, would CD101 want to separate itself from hockey broadcasts?  Seems like their core audience wouldn't care much for sports - especially one as difficult to follow on the radio as hockey can be - but 101's share seems to be getting smaller and smaller so you'd think they'd want to hold on to as many unduplicated listeners as possible.

[DToTheJ]

Here's the listen live link to 97.1 - just wait out the three ten-second "pre-roll" spots and then the stream starts:
http://streamdata.dispatchbroadcast.com/wbnsfmClean.asx

[willcail]

What will happen with WBNS FM HD2? Will it be turned off or the Hot AC format will moved to WBNS HD2? 

[Snat]

And for what it's worth, the story on the Radio-Info front page refers to the "minor league hockey Columbus Blue Jackets" as an asset of The Fan.  They aren't a great team, but surely they haven't been relegated out of the NHL, have they?  Or maybe it's more a statement on the NHL than the team.

[xmusicmatt]

This is a really stupid move by the Wolfes...

This leaves us only with WNCI for current hit music.

Does anyone really want to listen to ESPN radio in FM stereo?

[xmusicmatt]

What will happen with WBNS FM HD2? Will it be turned off or the Hot AC format will moved to WBNS HD2? 

I would think they would put the HOT AC over there.... but then again? their blowing up a some what successful HOT AC format for ESPN on FM? 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

The A/C landscape in Columbus is bound to shift. 

I doubt CC would take WLZT hotter and get in WNCI's face.  Does this give WSNY some headroom to evolve to a somewhat hotter A/C?  Who else might be talking about changes to their format(s)?