WLTE

[mn0733]

Just read on twitter WLTE becomes Buzn radio next Monday (26th) top 40 country.

[only1moore]

Yes, All Access has confirmed this on their website today (December 19, 2011). The AC format will move over to KZJK's HD2 subchannel.

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/100258/cbs-turns-the-lite-off-flips-to-buz-n-country-in-m

[wirelessfugu]

Country 12/26

CBS Radio's soft AC "102.9 Lite FM" WLTE goes away after Christmas, replaced by country "BUZ'N@102.9." The website for the new country format (here) already works. "Lite" tied for the #15 spot in the November PPM rankings, though no doubt its current all-Christmas format will improve that position, and give the new format more potential sampling. The WLTE airstaff has already been told they'll be leaving, and on December 26, CBS will re-target to country, as "BUZ'N'."  Clear Channel's country "K102" KEEY is ranked #1 in the Twin Cities market, going 9.5 to 8.3 in the last two monthly Arbitron books. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Board of Radio-Info.com is talking about the new country station, here.

[Wright County Guy]

This makes sense, but it's still a shock that a 25+ year format and calls (presumably) are history in one week.

It makes sense since...

1.  Out of market signals that are country show up in Twin Cities ratings.
2.  Taking a swipe at K102 could take them down to 2nd or 3rd, moving WCCO back to #1.
3.  WLTE has been a holy mess for about 5 years. 

[only1moore]

It also takes KHTC out of the running, but they could still go Sports if that happens.

[Earlyriser]

It is a shame. A little TLC could have saved it. But CBS has the dough to go up against CC. It is also a little revenge for the GM, as he was nuked by CC at their Minneapolis COUNTRY station!

[John Baylor]

and Kevin Metheny is named PD.

[butlin]

Country 12/26

CBS Radio's soft AC "102.9 Lite FM" WLTE goes away after Christmas, replaced by country "BUZ'N@102.9." The website for the new country format (here) already works. "Lite" tied for the #15 spot in the November PPM rankings, though no doubt its current all-Christmas format will improve that position, and give the new format more potential sampling. The WLTE airstaff has already been told they'll be leaving, and on December 26, CBS will re-target to country, as "BUZ'N'."  Clear Channel's country "K102" KEEY is ranked #1 in the Twin Cities market, going 9.5 to 8.3 in the last two monthly Arbitron books. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Board of Radio-Info.com is talking about the new country station, here.

This is too bad!  I actually streamed Lite-fm quite a bit here in Seattle because I like the mix of music and the overall presentation of the station (better than our main AC station here), and I liked the hosts too.  I'm just curious though, how is is that in a major market like the Twin-Cities that a station like WLTE comes in so sub par in the ratings like it did, where in most other markets, stations like that are usually in the top 5??

Again, I'm a radio guy in Seattle, so I'm not the most familiar with the listening habits of the Twin Cities...so if anyone can shed some light on this that would be great!  In the meantime, I wish all of the on-air staff from Lite-fm well and hope they land on their feet real soon!

[FightingIrish]

This makes sense, but it's still a shock that a 25+ year format and calls (presumably) are history in one week.

It makes sense since...

1.  Out of market signals that are country show up in Twin Cities ratings.
2.  Taking a swipe at K102 could take them down to 2nd or 3rd, moving WCCO back to #1.
3.  WLTE has been a holy mess for about 5 years. 

In order for WCCO to be #1, they'd also have to find a way to knock out KS95 and KDWB. With Lite gone, I'm sure KS95 benefits strongly. I think they'll be at the top within a couple months. KQRS is a non-factor now, they're slowly dying.

There are two other country stations nearby. One in the far northwest suburbs (KLCI, which serves the area between Minneapolis and St. Cloud). They've been rimshotting the Twin Cities for about two decades now with country and have never really made a huge dent (even with Chuck Knapp and the Timberwolves). K102 has never been afraid of them.

The other one is in St. Cloud proper. The market does include some of the St. Cloud listening area, so quite a few stations there do show up at the bottom of the TC ratings.

[FightingIrish]

And I wonder if the recent format change speculation at KHTC scared CBS into making a move. Country was one of the formats most commonly bandied about, but it sounds like they're staying CHR with a call sign change to KTWN (I am skeptical though).