First Cumulus/Citadel Domino To Fall In Washington? (Rock 105.9 Wash DC to talk?)

radioinsight.com ^ | 9/18/11 | Lance Venta

[raccoonradio]

The first change from the combined Cumulus and Citadel looks to be taking place Monday in Washington, DC. Both morning co-host Mike O’Meara and afternoon host Cerphe Colwell, at Classic Rock “105.9 The Edge” WVRX have posted on Facebook that they and the rest of the staff have been let go and that the station will be flipping on Monday.

Most speculation revolves around the station flipping to a simulcast of sister News/Talk 630 WMAL. While that makes the most sense, nothing has been confirmed so far.

[Hawthorn]

>> This simulcast uniquely positions WMAL/WVRX to compete head-to-head with WTOP <<

I'll never understand why WTOP dropped 1500 AM and 820 AM. I was driving south on I-95 thru Baltimore last week and wanted to check Wash DC traffic conditions. But WTOP’s three FM channels were very spotty, while their old channel — 1500 AM — was loud and clear with the super-boring “federal news radio” format.

Anyway, the availability of WMAL programming on 105.9 will certainly be welcome news for lotsa folks in the DC suburbs, since WMAL’s nighttime signal is really poor in at least a few heavily populated areas that are only 15 or 20 miles from downtown DC.

[raccoonradio]

Probably due to ad content, newscasts, etc.They just do segments. I was on vacation in Pitt. (for a cartoon convention) when I saw online that Whitey was captured so I caught up on Howie via the podcasts.

It’s legal stuff...just like I work for a college station on the North Shore and we’re told we could podcast an interview (or interview with a musician’s own music, with permission) but not a whole show. Music copyright issues, and also we
make some non-profit money from donorships and supposedly we’re just supposed to air those once, via terrestrial
signal and online, but not repeated times...

[raccoonradio]

Yes, don’t know why they dropped WTOP from 1500 and 820 other than to take on an FM signal, even if it doesn’t cover as well. Not sure why they have the fed news radio format.

I’m up in Boston but do notice occasional goings on elsewhere (I did briefly pass thru DC a couple months back; saw
Newseum) and I see that 1260 AM is conservative talk
from Salem Communications. Used to be liberal talk! Similarly the AM 1200 in Boston area flopped when they were Air
America some yrs back.

[raccoonradio]

Now playing on 105.9 stream
Stones—Only Rock n Roll
Reagan speech excerpt
Promo for new format
The Who —The Song is Over

Also Changes, Another One Bites the Dust