KZPS Flip - whats the latest?

[Mike]

Ummm could it be a new station for wake up with whoppi

[DavidEduardo]

I am still hearing next week and Country/Rock format. The rumor is so prevalent it REEKS of a smokescreen. What are you hearing?

One rumor is that it is going Spanish... they have been developing an AC / Gold format 7 to Midnight on 97.1, and it would move to 92.5 while 97.1 takes fulltime the now-older mix from the network all day.

[MikeShannon914]

Country had been the rumor for the last couple of weeks, at least that's when I first heard it.  I didn't want to spread such a rumor, since those usually never come true.  (Like the 5-yr old rumor about K-104 flipping to country.)

But oldies?  Like "Classic HITS 92.5" was?  Or a higher-energy thing, like KODZ?  Or perhaps a regurgitation of "Sunny"?  Even "Sunny" was making headway, before CC pulled it and put on La Preciosa.

I don't know if a CC-devised oldies format will give KLUV a run for their money, especially when listeners pick up on the hours that it'll be voicetracked, and when CC tries to remake their classic rock jocks into oldies jocks.

Me, I'd do a modified classic rock format, like XM 49 "Big Tracks."  Nothing older than 1976, heavy on the 80s and include some select 90s.  Sort of a "modern classic rock" for the older GenXers...those who grew up on Bo and Jim, LaBella and Rody, and even the original "Eagle 97," those who haven't heard The Cars, Genesis, Clash, the Cure, Def Leppard, Journey, REO, Bon Jovi, etc played on the radio in forever (at least something besides the 'safe' song that hit #1.)  Currently, The Bone and KZPS don't serve that demo; they seem to only want the casual listener who may happen upon an Eagles or Steppenwolf song they like.  TSL has got to be near zero at both stations.

Then The Bone could take the plethora of 1968-76 classic rock hits and sub-hits and have their own little non-competitive following there.

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

Well If the rumours are true and 92.5 is ghandi,there's another preset gone for many radios amd more satellite receivers installed.

[TexasGopher]

Another country station.......dear Lord no. When I do wander away from talk radio KZPS at night and weekends is where I usually end up. If it must go country please make it a classic station, an FM Cowboy 1190 if you will. The old KAFM maybe.

Could we bring back Arrow 97 please or maybe an updated KZEW like format. Mix in the old stuff with all the new stuff I don't know anything about and let that roll awhile.

I don;t want to go on the bird but I may have too.

[txchipk]

Country had been the rumor for the last couple of weeks, at least that's when I first heard it.  I didn't want to spread such a rumor, since those usually never come true.  (Like the 5-yr old rumor about K-104 flipping to country.)

If it's going to flip into another Clear Channel "<frequency> the Bull" country clones, that would be a flip for the worse.  If a country flip is coming, putting the current HD2 side channel on the main channel would be interesting...KZPS-HD2 "Lone Star 92.5 KZPS" is sort of an outlaw country/Americana/classic rock hybrid (which streams off the kzps.com website).  This is what KPLX should have moved to...

But oldies?  Like "Classic HITS 92.5" was?  Or a higher-energy thing, like KODZ?  Or perhaps a regurgitation of "Sunny"?  Even "Sunny" was making headway, before CC pulled it and put on La Preciosa.

Clear Channel has phased out a number of oldies stations over the years.  It only has about 5 or 6 oldies stations in large or medium sized markets now (WWSW Pittsburgh, KODJ Salt Lake City, WWBB Providence, WRIT Milwaukee, WMJI 105.7 Cleveland).  A lot of their oldies stations have shifted to classic hits (WBIG Washington), all 70s (KQLL Tulsa), or 70s-80s (WXLY Charleston).

[bucwhyl]

Hold on!....  First, All Access was reporting Oldies.  Now they just added on a teaser: "Or.... will it be something smoother?"   Hmmm......

[snoman]

Hold on!....  First, All Access was reporting Oldies.  Now they just added on a teaser: "Or.... will it be something smoother?"   Hmmm......

Didn't they just try that?!  It was called "Sunny 97.1".  It worked out really well for them, too.   

I doubt it will be FM Talk, because of KLLI and in a roundabout sort of way, ESPN 103.3.  Smooth Jazz is a possibility, because KOAI's numbers weren't terrible and they were better than KZPS's.  Oldies of any kind, I think would be an unwise decision.  Too much solid competition for those demos.  They'd be better off staying Classic Rock.  Country, uh no. 

I think given the signals of KRNB and KSOC, an Urban AC might be a wise choice.  They do very well with V103 in Chicago.  And, it does a good job of keeping fresh music and the old school blended well.  I think you could really put a big hurt on the two weaker stations.  I just don't see many other viable options. 

[bucwhyl]

I'm thinking smooth jazz now.  I think the only way they would do urban ac is if they could get Steve Harvey, and KRNB is not about to give him up.  I'm really thinking smooth jazz now.

[War Of Attrition]

Hold on!....  First, All Access was reporting Oldies.  Now they just added on a teaser: "Or.... will it be something smoother?"   Hmmm......

Even though it looks like I might end up eating some crow from my previous comment, I am still going to be thoroughly shocked if the wheel really does land on Smooth Jazz.  I just don't think it makes much long term sense.

When was the last time anyone launched a high-profile Smooth Jazz station in a major market?

I still think country "The Bull" has the best odds.  925thebull.com is registered to Clear Channel (since September 06) but directs to WEZL (103.5) in Charleston.