Hey, kids, guess what?
Pittsburgh:
CBS just made the official announcement, confirming the worst-kept secret in Pittsburgh radio: 93.7 is going all-sports as of Feb. 15.
Much of the music from the current "B-94" WBZW-FM will move to co-owned "Star 100.7" WZPT-FM (100.7, licensed to New Kensington) when KDKA-FM "The Fan" debuts just before the 2010 Winter Olympics.
(And PBRTV doffs its propeller-beanie and bows to the Post-Gazette's Bob Smizik, who had this thing nailed to the wall.)
. . .
"The Fan" will share resources with flagship AM news-talker KDKA (1020), including KDKA sports director Jeff Hathhorn, who will take over the same duties for the new FM outlet and provide field reporting with Kalena Bell, late of Oregon State, and Jim Colony, long a familiar voice to listeners of WTAE/WEAE.
The announcement was made by Michael Young, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Pittsburgh, who said the station was being built for "Pittsburgh's sports fans, who are simply the best in the country."
Terry Foxx, former program director of ESPN Radio at the network's headquarters in Bristol, Conn., is coming to Pittsburgh to program KDKA-FM, Young said, along with Mark Mason, who helped create the country's first all-sports radio station, New York's WFAN (660), in 1987.
. . .
A complete on-air line-up will be announced before the station's official launch, but Young said the personalities would be "an array of opinionated, compelling and very talented local talk-show personalities."
"The on-air presentation will be unique to our market, and our presence will be felt on game days and at major sporting happenings all over town," Foxx said in a prepared statement.
. . .
Many of B-94's core artists are moving to Star effectively immediately, CBS, including Lady Gaga, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and the Black Eyed Peas, CBS said.
B-94 morning-show co-host Bubba will join the WZPT morning team along with current hosts J.R. Randall and Shelley Duffy, while B-94's Melanie Taylor will join Scott Alexander on WZPT middays.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a super pop music station," said Keith Clark, vice-president of programming for CBS Radio Pittsburgh, a prepared statement. "If you like B-94 and you like Star but flip back and forth, you will love this blended station."
Readers’ Forum
I am very excited about the new sports channel; I hope CBS gives it longer time to build an audience than it did for the Man Channel or KROCK, both decent stations IMO. They have a great opportunity to fill a niche of having young fresh talent in sports talk on the FM dial. As far as the jumbling of B94 and star 100.7 music and dj’s- this looks like it is going to be bad. Too many DJ’s (who has dual DJ’s in an afternoon slot?!)and too wide of a range of music (top 40/pop with AC). Also, guess I can say goodbye to flashback Friday’s.
Dave WL - January 19, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Wow, I nailed the callsigns right. lol
But seriously, this is a good fit. I think people need to get over losing music options on the airwaves. That’s what iPod’s and Sirius XM is for, which terrestrial radio is losing market share to anyways.
Joe Gerard (URL) - January 19, 2010 at 2:28 pm
It will be interesting who pops up on the station. Rumor has it Kalena Bell will play a big role in on the Station.
Pittsburgh Sports (URL) - January 19, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Thats good to see a sports station in the city. I thought it would be a good fit on a powerful signal on 93.7 then 100.7. But bad move on 100.7. Theres no way they can beat Kiss. I cant picture CBS Radio PITTSBURGH changing or owning an Urban Format. So sad noone will stand up to the plate. only people i think should step up are ex-steelers like jerome bettis or bank investors like the folks that own the new bank Ingetra or something like that. but in my opinion 100.7 will never have good ratings
FM - January 19, 2010 at 4:56 pm
OMG OMG I can’t wait!! Hopefully the new station will have a strong AM drive talking about the games from the previous day. I also think they should bring in some new voices. It seem the same old folks have been recycling around here for the last thirty years..
Bruce - January 19, 2010 at 5:57 pm
FM – “bank investors like the folks that own the new bank Ingetra”
This has nothing to do with broadcasting but I figured I would respond back: FM, you do realize that National City bought Integra Bank in 1995, right? Depending on which NatCity branches PNC had to sell off, those old accounts with Integra are now either with PNC or First Niagara.
Anyways, I posted this story on my Facebook profile. I’ve gotten a lot of people not happy about the second demise of B94. Dave WL, I thought the K-Rock and The Zone formats were good as well, and this one will work excellent in a sports town where the existing sports talk stations have weak signals while 93.7 is very strong. I can even get it in certain parts of Youngstown. Aside from Steeler games on WDVE I abandoned terrestrial radio years ago. I’m definitely going to give The Fan a try.
Joe Gerard (URL) - January 19, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Maybe this will force ESPN to find an FM presence. Mike and Mike are good, and Paulsen, Logan and Crowe are great… but nobody gets to hear them outside of the city (especially in winter).
CBS would have a hard time matching The Drive’s blend of sports news, discussion and humor, I’d think. The Drive is tolerable to families or riders who really aren’t big sports fans… because of the interaction of the hosts.
C’mon ESPN... you’ve got the winning talent, now find a way to compete!
Woody - January 19, 2010 at 10:25 pm
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to screw up yet another station in the cluster,” said Keith Clark, general mangler of programming for CBS Radio Pittsburgh, in an ill-prepared statement. “If you like B-94 and you like Star but flip back and forth, we’re going to make all of you unhappy.”
U. Betcha - January 21, 2010 at 12:19 am
Keith Clark couldn’t lead ants to a picnic and they have recycled SO many people there at B 100.7. Yet another screw up for CBS locally. Hopefully they get this right and don’t hurt the Y.
free labor - January 21, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Am I the only one who has never felt the urge to switch between B94 and Star 100.7? I was a B94 listener before they switched it off the first time, and listened to the new B94 as well. I am from the northern fringe of the market, but could still pick up the station especially at night. I’ll miss B94, especially when I am traveling near Pittsburgh and can pick up a better signal.
Up here, I can compare this move to Forever Broadcasting’s attempt to make the former KISS 99.3/104.5 a hybrid Hot AC/CHR station. It didn’t work…at least for me. Sure, I like to listen to both formats, but I don’t want to have the urge to turn the channel if I am in a CHR mood and they play something from the mid 80’s or vice versa. Trying to appeal to both audiences will not work for CBS radio. You will end up with a clone of BOB-FM...trust me! :)
Ken - January 21, 2010 at 1:42 pm
No matter what you think of Keith Clark, the 93.7 format change is a corporate dictate. He can’t be blamed for that.
Seeing Eye - January 21, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I usally flip around a variety of stations when I liten to the radio (100.7 being one of my pre-sets). I have listened to 100.7 since their “merge” with B94 and I do not like it, seems they are playing more of the B94 music than the 100.7 music. I still listen to top 40 stations (93.7 and 96.1) on occasion, but preferred 100.7 as AC/80’s,90’s and today. Guess 100.7 goess off my pre-sets. Also looks like I will need to go to 94.5 to get my 80’s fix (the music I grew up with). How sad is it when your music (70’s and 80’s for me) becomes “oldies”?
Dave WL - January 22, 2010 at 09:34 am
Who’d have thought that after so many years of B-94, that 93.7 would become such a “diseased frequency.” I wish CBS Radio well, but I have my reservations.
deerejohn - January 22, 2010 at 10:51 am
Terrestrial Radio is in the can in Pittsburgh. If you are missing WAMO and B-94, then pick up a Sirius or XM radio.
If that doesn’t work, download Slacker radio to your iPhone or Blackberry.
Both are excellent alternatives to the mess that Clear Channel and CBS have created here.
Power Pig Hello I'm Burning - January 25, 2010 at 12:13 am
Terrestrial radio has been in the “can” in Pittsburgh for a long time. It’s a shame for those of us who are old enough to remember all the great personalities and the heyday of radio stations like 13-Q, WPEZ, etc. (I know those days are gone forever, but good memories)
My S.O. bought me an iPod substitute for Christmas and I’ve never looked back. I don’t need radio for music, and there is zero entertainment between the music on radio any more.
Seeing Eye - January 26, 2010 at 06:17 am
KDKA-FM will “return” soon, one frequency higher than where it was previously, 92.9, or Q92.9 as it’s called today, so it’s cool to bring back a piece of the past for sports radio.
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