The River returns to Knoxville

[Cassy5000]

Finally a radio station that does not sound like all the others.  106.1 The River plays all my favorite music and some music that I've never heard, but want to know about.  They support local artists, which is unheard of these days.  I got the station in my car almost all the way to the Athens area to the south.  They didn't come in downtown very well when I first started listening, but now they are very clear.  I say "way to go" for whoever owns it.  It has to be tough to start a new station amidst all the big clusters.  I like the new morning guy too.  That was a good move to bring him in.  The first guy, Brian something, was aweful.  Speaking for myself, I will listen often, and all my friends are fans too.

[Mid West Clubber]

I like the station too, but the signal is similar to a pirate,,,, 105.9 bleeds in through the downtown area, i cant get it on 75 when i start decending down the mountain..

I like the music,,, but the signal is horrible,, I wish it was on 100.3,,,,,, or any other high power Knox area stations....

[tennvol]

Finally a radio station that does not sound like all the others.  106.1 The River plays all my favorite music and some music that I've never heard, but want to know about.  They support local artists, which is unheard of these days.  I got the station in my car almost all the way to the Athens area to the south.  They didn't come in downtown very well when I first started listening, but now they are very clear.  I say "way to go" for whoever owns it.  It has to be tough to start a new station amidst all the big clusters.  I like the new morning guy too.  That was a good move to bring him in.  The first guy, Brian something, was aweful.  Speaking for myself, I will listen often, and all my friends are fans too.

Anybody else think this sounds like an ad?

[Mid West Clubber]

HEHE   maybe its pirkle in disguise....... just kidding, Pirkle is really a nice guy if you show him respect..........   Just a fan promoting his fav station,,,, maybe an ex star, b-97.5, or WOKI jock....... lol  Im totally kidding........

[boogiecheck]

Finally a radio station that does not sound like all the others.  106.1 The River plays all my favorite music and some music that I've never heard, but want to know about.  They support local artists, which is unheard of these days.  I got the station in my car almost all the way to the Athens area to the south.  They didn't come in downtown very well when I first started listening, but now they are very clear.  I say "way to go" for whoever owns it.  It has to be tough to start a new station amidst all the big clusters.  I like the new morning guy too.  That was a good move to bring him in.  The first guy, Brian something, was aweful.  Speaking for myself, I will listen often, and all my friends are fans too.

Anybody else think this sounds like an ad?

I thought it was.

[BRH]

I like the station too, but the signal is similar to a pirate,,,, 105.9 bleeds in through the downtown area, i cant get it on 75 when i start decending down the mountain..

I like the music,,, but the signal is horrible,, I wish it was on 100.3,,,,,, or any other high power Knox area stations....

   The signal is actually very good on the west end of Knoxville, and south of town going down I-75 towards Chattanoooga.   I'm not on the east or north end of town that much so I'm not sure how much it breaks up there, but as far as west Knoxville goes, the River's signal is just as good as most other class A's in the area (95.7, 93.1, 94.3, 99.1, 104.5, etc.)  I'm guessing this is where they are concentrating their efforts anyway.   And that's not a bad thing since west Knoxville/Farragut is by far the most lucrative part of town with the lion's share of shopping, restaurants, and the most affluent suburbs.     The River is licensed to Oliver Springs, and has a great signal in Oak Ridge, West Knoxville, Farragut, and Lenoir City/Loudon County.   And these are definitely the affluent areas that many advertisers are looking to reach, and the areas where new growth is happening.    So not being strong in the east or north part of town may not be a deal killer for the signal. Also, I noticed that their studios and offices are in the heart of west Knoxville off of Cedar Bluff Rd.  (If the FCC would get rid of the 105.9 translator that WDVX is using downtown it would help 106.1's signal a lot too.   Not sure why 105.9 is still on or needed, since WDVX also has another downtown translator at 102.9.   But I hate low power/translator, class D stations anyway.  I wish the FCC would do away with all of 'em, but that's another thread). 

    Anyway, as far as The River's programming;  I actually enjoy the station.  I had been saying that Knoxville needed a Hot AC for years, and I'm glad that hole is now filled.   Granted, I would prefer local programming over the automated stuff, but at least they use Waitt Radio Networks satellite system that allows the jock breaks to be customized as well as the music library to be customized and based locally. (www.wrnonline.com).  Also, they have a local morning show.    Who knows if they will make it or not, but I'm glad to have a choice for Hot AC in Knoxville again for now.   Also,  they seem to have picked up quite a few small mom and pop type business advertisers in the past month or so. (I've heard ads for businesses in Oak Ridge, West Knoxville, Clinton, and Lenoir City).    Not sure if they are making much money on these yet, or simply selling them very cheap to try and prove their worth to the advertisers.    But anyway, I hope they make a go of it.  I'm enjoying having a Hot AC/Adult CHR in the market as another choice. 

  (Oh, they also have a website up now too at www.river106.com/riverrats. )

[intouch6000]

As far as class A stations go, 106.1 has about a good of a signal that I've heard.  They have obviously taken care of their problem with 105.9 bleeding into their signal downtown because now the signal if virtually clear now and WDVX is gone from that frequency.  You can still get WDVX on 102.9 downtown.  The River has a good signal and is a well programmed station.  I think it is here to stay.  Hats off to the owners.  It's tough to build a radio station in this economy amidst all the big corporate competition.

[Mid West Clubber]

Well thats good to know, I like having the choice of Star, river, and Electric for POP/rock,,, I still miss WOKI but its just time to move on.. I slightly miss the old Hot Ac/chr hybrid of mix 95.7, but The river fills that hole.....  Even if Woki was still top 40 I probably wouldnt like it anyway, it would just be like Star, and Journal or citadel would own it.

I was in Downtown last weak or so, and 105.9 was still on, im glad its gone now.. Yeah, at least 196.1 has a clean signal, and it does make it almost up to thunder mountain fireworks on i-75,,, so its near the signal of 93.1.  Sure, you cant get it in corban ky, or asheville nc, but it covers knox county well...

[boogiecheck]

I don't really think their signal is all that good. It cracks like lightning on Campbell Station Road. Vanishes on Kingston Pike just past Walker Springs and doesn't even come in on Western Ave. past the 640 center.

 Let's be realistic, it's an Anderson County signal and with that they're lucky to get anywhere near the 37909 zip code. If they take a page from WOKI's early years and focus on Oak Ridge and surrounding areas they'll be raking in the money. If they pretend it's a "Knoxville" station they'll be down for the count before the leaves change colors again.

[Mid West Clubber]

I dont go to west knox often, I just travel down I-75 and hit 640 toward virginia to see my Girlfriend near marion va.....  I go past the sharp ridge tower farm and out toward seiverville and I can pick up Electric 94.9 from London Kentucky all the way to my girls house in va, so Electric 94.9 is quite a flame thrower,, it gets stomped out by star country in roanake about 40 north of bristol.   I think waez electric is in Greenville tn...