The following is a list of events affecting radio broadcasting in 2017. Events listed include radio program debuts, finales, cancellations, and station launches, closures and format changes, as well as information about controversies.
Notable events
January Date Event1After a nearly two-year run with Active Rock, WBGF Belle Glade, Florida/West Palm Beach flipped to Oldies, a move that also ends its affiliation with Bubba the Love Sponge's syndicated morning program in the market."West Palm Beach's Bar Gives Way To True Oldies" from Radio Insight (January 1, 2017)2KJWL Fresno makes the flip to Top 40/CHR, filling the void that has been left open for nearly 10 years as well as new competition for Rhythmic rivals KBOS-FM and KSEQ. KJWL's Adult Album Alternative format adjusts to Soft AC and moves over to sister station KJZN, effectively dropping their Classic Hip-Hop format after nearly two years."Now FM Launches As Jewel FM Moves" from Radio Insight (January 2, 2017)After a six-month run with Dance/Rhythmic Top 40, only to see its sale to new owners fall through due to financial problems, WZDJ Fernandina Beach, Florida/Jacksonville flips to Country under the original ownership for the time being."105.3 Jacksonville Sale Collapses; Flips To Country" from Radio Insight (January 2, 2017)3Entercom splits up the Active Rock simulcast of Boston's WAAF Westborough, Massachusetts and WKAF Brockton, Massachusetts, with the latter flipping to Urban AC as "The New 97.7", returning the format to the market for the first time since 2006, when Entercom bought then-WILD-FM from Radio One and flipped it to the WAAF simulcast."Format Change Imminent At 97.7 WKAF Boston" from Radio Insight (January 3, 2017)5After a 13-year run with both a Rhythmic and Mainstream Top 40/CHR direction (under the "Wired" and "AMP" brandings), CBS Radio's WZMP Philadelphia flipped to AC as "Today's 96.5", with the station now positioned as a flanker for Classic Hits sister WOGL and compete against Hot AC WISX and the top-rated AC WBEB."WZMP Philadelphia Flips To AC "Today's 96.5"" from Radio Insight (January 5, 2017)Radio One's Cincinnati outlets WOSL and WDBZ/W268DM make format changes. WOSL shifts from Urban Oldies to Urban AC as "100.3 R&B", while the former format replaces WDBZ's Gospel presentation, branded as "Soul 101.5 & 1230.""Radio One/Cincinnati 'Refreshes' WOSL, WIZF And WDBZ" from All Access Music Group (January 5, 2017)After stunting with Christmas music, and afterwards with a Donald Trump-themed presentation, WBRN-FM Tampa flipped to AC as "B98.7." The station will take on the Cox Media Group siblings of Mainstream AC WWRM and Soft AC WDUV."Beasley Launches AC B98.7 Tampa" from Radio Insight (January 5, 2017)Just six days after KKHH Houston flipped to Adult Hits, Radio One dropped KROI's pioneering Classic Hip-Hop presentation to pick up the Top 40/CHR format KKHH dropped, billing itself as "92.1 Radio NOW.""Boom! Radio Now Debuts In Houston" from Radio Insight (January 5, 2017)18Redding, California picked up its second Rhythmic Top 40, as KQMS-FM dropped its simulcast of its News/Talk sister and became "Wild 99.3", using the new calls KWLZ.Wild Stunt in Redding RadioInsight – January 15, 201719KFTE Abbeville, Louisiana shifts from Active rock "Planet Radio" to Classic rock with the branding "Classic Rock 105.1.""KFTE Adds Walton & Johnson And Flips To Classic Rock" from Radio Insight (January 20, 2017)25The Top 40 battle in Salt Lake City increased to four, as KENZ dropped Classic Hip-Hop and launches as "Power 94.9". The flip brings the format back to the 94.9 frequency for the first time in 13 years, as it was the former home of one of the two Mainstream Top 40/CHRs it will take on, KZHT.Cumulus Launches CHR Power 94.9 Salt Lake City Radioinsight – January 25, 201730CKBD-FM Lethbridge, Alberta flips from Modern rock to Modern AC while retaining their "Bridge" branding.
February Date Event1Citing a lack of available progressive talk programs for syndication, WNYY Ithaca, New York drops the longtime progressive talk radio format it has held for 12 years and return to its previous oldies format.Reynolds, Nick (January 15, 2016). A Progressive Talk Station Goes Off Air. No, It's Not A Conspiracy. Ithaca.com. Retrieved January 15, 2017.In Milwaukee, Michael Crute, the host of the syndicated Devil's Advocate Radio, purchases ESPN Deportes affiliate WRRD and converts it to the first progressive talk radio station in the market."Madison Host To Purchase Milwaukee AM; Flip To Liberal Talk" from Radio Insight (January 27, 2017) After a 24-year run in both mornings and up until January 27 in afternoons, Bobby Rich is released by AC KMXZ-FM Tucson after he made comments during his program that station management saw as offensive but didn't specify, for which Rich apologized on his Facebook page."Bobby Rich Let Go From 94.9 Mix-FM Tucson Over Unknown Comment" from Radio Insight (February 1, 2017)Buck Sexton replaces Meghan McCain as host of Premiere Networks' evening program, America Now. The move presumably ends his existing program on TheBlaze Radio Network."Buck Sexton replaces Meghan McCain as host of Premiere's America Now" from All Access Music Group (February 1, 2017)CJXL-FM Moncton, New Brunswick rebrands from XL96 to New Country 96.9 but continues with the country music format. CKCH-FM in Sydney, Nova Scotia and CIGV-FM in Penticton, British Columbia also picked up the "New Country" branding. 2CBS Corporation unveiled plans to merge its CBS Radio division with Philadelphia-based Entercom, giving that company 244 stations and national reach across major markets, including CBS Sports Radio and News Radio, in a tax-free deal to CBS shareholders through a complex process known as a reverse Morris trust, which begins with an offer to existing CBS Corp. shareholders to exchange their stock for shares in Entercom. The enlarged company will take the Entercom name. The deal however will also see CBS and Entercom spinning off stations in Los Angeles (one FM), San Francisco (four FMs, including San Jose), Boston (three FMs), Seattle (two FMs), Sacramento (four FMs), and San Diego (two FMs)"CBS Sets Radio Division Merger With Entercom" from Variety (February 2, 2017) 13KTSR Lake Charles, Louisiana drops Top 40/CHR for Classic Rock.KTSR Lake Charles Flips To Classic Rock from Radio Insight (February 13, 2017) 17CFJL-FM Winnipeg drops AC for 1990s' Hits as "Hot 100.5""Winnipeg Gets Hot For 90's Hits" from Radio Insight (February 17, 2017) 21Due to having flipped sister station WXZX from Alternative to Sports and moving Fox Sports Radio programming to the aforementioned outlet, WYTS/W287CP Columbus, Ohio flips to Urban AC as "Vibe 105.3.""Urban AC Vibe 105.3 Debuts in Columbus" from Radio Insight (February 21, 2017)24Top 40/CHR CHBN-FM Edmonton retired "The Bounce" moniker after 13 years, as it rebrands to parent owner Rogers Media's "Kiss" moniker."91.7 The Bounce Edmonton Kisses its Name Goodbye" from Radio Insight (February 26, 2017)
March Date Event 1WRSJ in San Juan, Puerto Rico switched from a Tiva TV simulcast to a News radio format, to become "IBC News Network", broadcasting international news around the clock, with an alliance between International Broadcasting Corporation, France 24 & VOA News.Wifredo G. Blanco Pi, the owner of radio stations WAPA in San Juan, WISO in Ponce, WVOZ in Morovis and WGYA in Guayama acquires WMIA in Arecibo for $250,000. The regular programming continued until transaction closes and was completed on April 14, 2017. Beginning on May 1, WMIA will become a repeater of the "WAPA Radio" News Network, covering across the island.2Riverside–San Bernardino picks up a R&B/Hip-Hop outlet, as KDEY-FM breaks away from its simulcast of Classic Hip-Hop sibling KDAY to become "Wild 93.5." The "Wild" brand was last used at KRQB from 2004 to 2007."KDEY Breaks KDAY Simulcast For Urban "Wild 93.5" " Radioinsight (March 2, 2017)6Springfield, Illinois becomes the latest market to pick up a Hot AC outlet, as WXAJ drops Top 40/CHR to become "99.7 THE MIX". The switch puts it in direct competition with WNNS."WXAJ Springfield Gets Mixed" Radinsight (March 6, 2017)7KURK Reno ends its run with Mainstream Rock, as it flips to AC as "Fun 101" and changes calls to KRFN. The move puts them in competition with rival KRNO for listeners."K-Rock Gives Way To AC Fun 101 In Reno" from Radio Insight (March 8, 2017)17Eau Claire, Wisconsin becomes the latest market to pick up a Rhythmic Top 40 format, as WEAQ drops Oldies to become "95.9 Jamz" (utilizing the FM translator W240DC Chippewa Falls) to counter iHeartMedia's Top 40/CHR rival WBIZ-FM while serving as a flanker for Adult Top 40 sibling WIAL and Country sister WAXX."95.9 Jamz Debuts In Eau Claire" from Radio Insight (March 19, 2017) 24After three years as Nash Icon station, WZAT Savannah flipped to Adult Top 40 as "102.1 The Sound." The flip brings the format back to WZAT, having utilized it from 2008 to 2010 when it was "Z102" after transitioning from Top 40/CHR."102.1 The Sound Launches In Savannah" from Radio Insight (March 24, 2017)FM translator K242CC/Austin, Texas moves frequencies from 96.3 MHz to 95.9 MHz, becoming "95.9 RnB" while keeping its urban adult contemporary format. The call letters also changed to K240EL. The reason for the frequency switch was to eliminate interference with KGID/Giddings, Texas, also on 96.3 MHz."96.3 RnB Austin To Move To 95.9" from Radio Insight (March 17, 2017)30Citing tough competition to attract American advertisers, Bell Media announced that it would close the US-based sales office of Alternative CIMX-FM Windsor, Ontario, Canada, which is based in Bingham Farms, Michigan; the station covers the Detroit market. It also canceled CIMX-FM's morning show "Cal & Co.", and laid off around a dozen people as part of a restructuring of its Windsor cluster. Despite the changes, CIMX-FM and its sister stations will retain their respective formats.
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