PHRadio Insights – 97.9 Home Radio’s format change similar to WCBS-FM in New York?

This post might offend some of the listeners of these two radio stations. Reader's discretion is encouraged.

Home Radio’s unexpected return to easy listening format this Friday (June 30, 2017) is somewhat similar to that of WCBS-FM 101.1 in New York City in the United States. Though the format changes by these two stations are somewhat similar, the formats are somewhat different. But what are the differences of these two FM radio stations (one from the Philippines and another from the US) that deal with the similar format change?

Home Radio 97.9, one of the radio stations of Aliw Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines has recently scrapped its CHR playlist in favor of the long-running easy listening music format.

WCBS-FM, one of the flagship stations of the CBS Radio Network in the United States continues to program with its oldies and classic hits format and is the number one FM station in New York City.

Neenjitsu blog enumerates the differences of these two FM stations with their ostentatiously similar format change:

a. HOME RADIO 97.9 (PHILIPPINES)

Easy Listening station from 2000 to 2014 then Hot AC from March to October 2014 then CHR format from October 2014 to June 2017. The format flip from easy listening to masa (mass-based contemporary hit radio) is somewhat disastrous for the station back then in 2014, when the station included the contemporary hits of today. It became as an upscale CHR Local station in 2015 but eventually scrapped due to serious competition from other CHR stations.

b. WCBS-FM 101.1 (NEW YORK CITY, USA)

Oldies format from July 7, 1972 to June 3, 2005 then flipped to Jack FM from June 3, 2005 to July 12, 2007 (the flip to Jack FM format gained significant amount of criticism from NYC listeners and also then NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg). The current WCBS-FM Oldies format returned on July 12, 2007 and continues up to this day (which was well received by NYC listeners and even Mayor Bloomberg welcomed WCBS-FM's oldies music back with open arms, so he proclaimed July 12, 2007 as WCBS-FM returns to New York City Day).

New York City Michael R. Bloomberg criticized WCBS-FM's format change to Jack FM in 2005 but he welcomed oldies music with open arms in 2007 when WCBS-FM reverted to its current oldies format.

There you have it. Let’s see if you have any ideas regarding the comparison between the two FM stations posted here. No negative comments whatsoever. Hope you enjoyed reading this insight. Until the next blog post, cheers!

Credits:

Home Radio 97.9 old logo courtesy of YouTube

WCBS-FM logo courtesy of CBS New York website
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg courtesy of Wikipedia

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