103.9 Flipping To "Columbus Newsradio"

[xmusicmatt]

10:50pm, The WTDA homepage  now shows nothing but the press release about the new format.  It says "Joomla" at the top (whatever that is), and has a space for log-in credentials at the bottom.

http://www.classichits1039.com/

I'm guessing that by the time most people see this it will redirect to a new Newsradio site.

Ironically the old website still called WTDA "The NEW" Classic Hits 103.9.

Joomla is a "CMS (Content Management System) for websites".. (kinda like Drupal, WordPress, etc..) -- I actually use Joomla for my xmusiconline.com website (allows a slick website in a SQL backend).  Appears they blew out the "old" Classic Hits website and what your getting is a joomla page without a template/site loaded (the login box would be for the website admin to manage content).

Speaking of .. Listening to the web stream and at 4am they ID'ed as dry vocal legal ID "103.9 FM WMNI Westerville / Columbus"

Webstream is still up: http://in.icy3.abacast.com/nabco-wtdafmaac-48

[xmusicmatt]

News Radio debut at 6am (This is off the 103.9 Webstream)

http://soundcloud.com/xmusicmatt/1039-wmni-fm-launch-newsradio

(this is the first 9 minutes) .. including some dead air (which was not "web only" but also heard on the FM broadcast) -- I was listening in the car as this was recording remotely at home.

[Cheddar299]

Too bad about 103.9 I liked their list better than Q-FM96.  Was great for working around the house.

[billf82]

Sounds like the FM is carrying the sports programming 920 had been carrying (Clippers baseball, Notre Dame, etc).  I'm assuming the FM will continue with the rights to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[cbussteeler]

As I type this message, the Clippers are on 920 AM, while news programming continues on 103.9 FM.

[DToTheJ]

Yesterday, I was reading WMNI's new Facebook page (just 10 likers after its first half-day on the air - not good?) and someone posted that 103.9 was still running "Classic Hits 103.9" liners after 8 AM...

[billf82]

As I type this message, the Clippers are on 920 AM, while news programming continues on 103.9 FM.

Ok, I was listening online.  I was guessing they'd simulcast 24/7 instead of breaking away for sports on AM and news on FM.

[billf82]

Yesterday, I was reading WMNI's new Facebook page (just 10 likers after its first half-day on the air - not good?) and someone posted that 103.9 was still running "Classic Hits 103.9" liners after 8 AM...

That was me.

[gabigley1]

The Columbus Dispatch published this in it's Letters To The Editors yesterday.. I believe the editors allow letters to be posted in full here.

This letter appears to be over three months late..

What is the 'Greatest Generation' anyway?

Most cites as big as Columbus don't have a standards based radio format anymore... I believe this is a correct guess on my part.

Here is that letter:

"Radio station tuned out music, audience"
Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) - Friday, September 28, 2012

Why, in a city as big as Columbus, can't we have a radio station that plays music for the Greatest Generation? The only station we had -- WMNI (920 AM) -- went to news 24/7.

People can listen to just so much news and sports. Please give us good music.

L.E. SAYLOR
Reynoldsburg

[iHeartSiriusXM]

I'm 38 and I enjoy Standards. I know my dad is annoyed that he doesn't have at least one station in Columbus to listen to anymore. All I can say is thank God I have Sirius.