iHeartMedia has dropped Alternative “Alt 103.9” WZDA Beavercreek/Dayton OH and has begun stunting with Christmas music as “Christmas 103.9“.
WZDA replaces former sister Classic Hits “Big 106.5” WRZX-FM as the Christmas music brand in the Dayton market. WRZX-FM was donated from iHeartMedia’s Aloha Stations Trust along with 94.5 WYDB and flipped to Gospel in August.
The Alternative format on 103.9 dated back to 1995 under multiple brands. The format launched as “103.9 The Edge” WXEG before becoming “103.9 The X” and finally “Alt 103.9” under the WZDA calls in August 2015. It also is the third iHeartMedia Alternative to drop the format this month following Birmingham and Raleigh.
The now-former Alternative format had a 2.0 share in the October 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings. The station featured the syndicated Rover’s Morning Glory in mornings and iHeartMedia’s national Alternative talent in other dayparts.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com