The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » K-LOVE 102.5 Toronto coming soon...

haydenmatthews14 · May 22, 2023 12:25 pm

Any update on 102.5 so far lately?

Radiowiz · May 22, 2023 2:33 pm

haydenmatthews14 wrote:
Any update on 102.5 so far lately?

The only available information right now is that a competing source is determined to get a "Star like" format up and running ASAP, hinting of a stronger signal...or at least, I think that is their point.

If Star DOES move to 107.7, it will be too weak of a signal to compete with what might be coming down the dial.
(sorry, I did not pay the $5 fee to read more about registered domains here: https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/252376/domain-insight-5-19-are-the-buffalo-dominoes-set-to-start-falling/ )

RadioActive · May 22, 2023 3:20 pm

I didn't pay the five bucks either, but when you look at what Townsquare Media owns in Buffalo, it's possible to guess who might be shooting for a "Star."

They own WYRK-FM, the country formatted station that is always at the top of the ratings, so that's not going to change.

Then there's WBLK, the longtime Black oriented success, so it's safe, too.

That leaves two possible candidates: WMSX, the Breeze 96.1 or the always moribund WBUF-FM at 92.9, now on its latest format, "Real Rock." My bet is on the latter, if it happens at all or someone else doesn't beat them to it.

Marsden · May 22, 2023 4:00 pm

I don't know if this fits where this thread is going. However here's a short story.

The 102 station was gaining an important position within the Toronto market. The Allen Brothers approached the CRTC about getting a station. The CRTC granted it at 102.1.

The Allen Brothers then called it CFNY. Get it - CFNY! Yes - that NY.

I remember in the basement of the Little Yellow House there we scores of boxes all containing the stickers that at the time were used to promote New York State. I don't recall if any of them were ever used.

They looked like this....

google jpg

ckg927 · May 22, 2023 4:26 pm

RadioActive wrote:
I didn't pay the five bucks either, but when you look at what Townsquare Media owns in Buffalo, it's possible to guess who might be shooting for a "Star."

They own WYRK-FM, the country formatted station that is always at the top of the ratings, so that's not going to change.

Then there's WBLK, the longtime Black oriented success, so it's safe, too.

That leaves two possible candidates: WMSX, the Breeze 96.1 or the always moribund WBUF-FM at 92.9, now on its latest format, "Real Rock." My bet is on the latter, if it happens at all or someone else doesn't beat them to it.

That was my thinking, too. Those are the ONLY possibilities.

IF it's WMSX switching, all they'd be doing is freshening up the playlist.

IF it's WBUF switching, they'd be trading in on blowtorch of a signal for another(they're at 76 kW)AND it would act as a flank for WMSX.

As Lance noted, this might only be the FIRST domino that falls on the Buffalo radio dial.

RadioActive · May 22, 2023 5:16 pm

Marsden wrote:
I don't know if this fits where this thread is going. However here's a short story.

The 102 station was gaining an important position within the Toronto market. The Allen Brothers approached the CRTC about getting a station. The CRTC granted it at 102.1.

The Allen Brothers then called it CFNY. Get it - CFNY! Yes - that NY.

I remember in the basement of the Little Yellow House there we scores of boxes all containing the stickers that at the time were used to promote New York State. I don't recall if any of them were ever used.

They looked like this....

google jpg

I always thought it was North York. After all, if I recall correctly Q107 is officially licenced to North York, although you'd never know it listening to the station.

Mr. Marsden, you've accomplished a lot in radio. but getting through working for the Allen Bros. may be amongst the toughest things you've ever done! The stories I hear about them were legendary. But rarely in a good way.

Radiowiz · May 23, 2023 1:20 am

ckg927 wrote:
IF it's WMSX switching, all they'd be doing is freshening up the playlist.
IF it's WBUF switching, they'd be trading in on blowtorch of a signal for another(they're at 76 kW)AND it would act as a flank for WMSX.

In the early 90's WBUF was Mix 92.9. I have no idea why that did not work out for them, but the short lived B 93 wasn't any better.
IF they choose to flip WBUF away from rock into a Star 102 type format, that could easily mean that Breeze will go softer.

RadioAaron · May 23, 2023 6:00 pm

I do pay the $5 for that site, and the correct answer is in this thread.

ckg927 · May 29, 2023 3:25 pm

Small note: Within the last few days, Star 102.5 has been running liners(voiced by PM host Sue O'Neil)making reference to the fact that Star will be dimming soon and asking listeners to migrate over to Kiss 98.5 as Kiss is already playing some of the music that Start plays. Said liners are running at least once an hour.

Radiowiz · May 29, 2023 3:56 pm

ckg927 wrote:
Small note: Within the last few days, Star 102.5 has been running liners(voiced by PM host Sue O'Neil)making reference to the fact that Star will be dimming soon and asking listeners to migrate over to Kiss 98.5 as Kiss is already playing some of the music that Start plays. Said liners are running at least once an hour.

Interesting. So Country music is more profitable than Star music? Even though there is already a Country music station down the dial to compete with?

mace · May 30, 2023 9:18 am

Radiowiz wrote:
ckg927 wrote:
IF it's WMSX switching, all they'd be doing is freshening up the playlist.
IF it's WBUF switching, they'd be trading in on blowtorch of a signal for another(they're at 76 kW)AND it would act as a flank for WMSX.
In the early 90's WBUF was Mix 92.9. I have no idea why that did not work out for them, but the short lived B 93 wasn't any better.
IF they choose to flip WBUF away from rock into a Star 102 type format, that could easily mean that Breeze will go softer.

Ahh. WBUF. the station that has had almost as many call letter changes [7??] as format changes. Their most successful format was an A/C/Oldies mix from 1981 to the early to mid 90's.

ckg927 · May 30, 2023 4:06 pm

mace wrote:
Radiowiz wrote:
ckg927 wrote:
IF it's WMSX switching, all they'd be doing is freshening up the playlist.
IF it's WBUF switching, they'd be trading in on blowtorch of a signal for another(they're at 76 kW)AND it would act as a flank for WMSX.
In the early 90's WBUF was Mix 92.9. I have no idea why that did not work out for them, but the short lived B 93 wasn't any better.
IF they choose to flip WBUF away from rock into a Star 102 type format, that could easily mean that Breeze will go softer.
Ahh. WBUF. the station that has had almost as many call letter changes [7??] as format changes. Their most successful format was an A/C/Oldies mix from 1981 to the early to mid 90's.

Correct.

Here's the call letter changes(all of this per WBUF's Wikipedia page):

-WBUF from 1947 to 1980
-1980: It switched to WFXZ(Foxy 93), format unknown
-1982-91: They become FM 93(with the WBUF calls)with an AC/oldies format(AND a fully staffed newsroom)
-April '91-early '92: Mix 92.9/B93(format unknown, likely AC)
-1995: WSJZ(Smooth Jazz 92.9)
-1997: WLCE(Alice @ 92.9), modern AC
-1999: Back to WBUF and switching to rhythmic oldies as B 92.9. Their format has changed 4 times since then(rock, FM talk, Jack FM, and rock again), but the calls haven't changed.

Last edited by ckg927 (May 30, 2023 4:07 pm)

haydenmatthews14 · May 30, 2023 11:03 pm

According to these posts on Radio Discussions. Rumors are still going around that 96.1 or 92.9 might flip formats. But the question is: Will Kiss 98.5 play Christmas music this year from November to December just like what 102.5 did? Or will it stick to an Adult Top 40 format? Also there were discussions that Rob Lucas the morning show host on 102.5 might end his long career in radio. But some speculate that he might move to middays at Kiss 98.5 or join 96.1 The Breeze? We will have to find out.

https://www.radiodiscussions.com/threads/the-latest-on-102-5.763908/page-3

Last edited by haydenmatthews14 (May 30, 2023 11:04 pm)

Radiowiz · May 31, 2023 12:22 am

ckg927 wrote:
-April '91-early '92: Mix 92.9/B93(format unknown, likely AC)

Mix 92.9 played a mix of 60's to 90's music. It was fun hearing Brian Adams one minute and Herman's hermits the next. B93 dropped the 60's and made 70's scarce (if at all)

ckg927 · June 7, 2023 5:01 pm

Per Lance Venta's Radio Insight, we now know a bit more about what Audacy has in store for WTSS/102.5 .

http://radioinsight.com/headlines/252820/audacy-sets-sign-off-time-for-fm-100-memphis-call-change-set-for-buffalo/

Last edited by ckg927 (June 7, 2023 5:01 pm)

ckg927 · June 7, 2023 10:02 pm

The end is here.

Rob Lucas gets the honor of bringing Star 102.5 to an end and that will happen on Friday(6/9) from 6-10am. So go ahead and get the aircheck machines rolling. After that, it will switch to a simulcast of WKSE(Kiss 98.5)until it switches to K-Love. Sue O'Neil segues over to Kiss(airshift TBD), while Lucas is likely exiting broadcasting.

Last edited by ckg927 (Yesterday 4:04 pm)