WIN 98 under new management
On Oct. 1 BroadSouth Communications, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement with Westburg Broadcasting Alabama, LLC to take over management and programming of the Demopolis/Linden radio cluster including stations WINL-FM, WZNJ-FM and WXAL-AM. BroadSouth owns and has operated WDXX-FM and WHBB-AM licensed to Selma since1992. According to Broad South President Mike Reynolds, “This is an exciting opportunity to expand our community service commitment into west Alabama. Even more exciting is our plan to create one of the country’s largest coverage areas by merging the 100,000 watt signal of WINL with the 50,000 watt signal of WDXX to create one giant footprint.”
Reynolds further explained that the combined signals will cover a potential population base that exceeds one million people in Alabama and east Mississippi. While there are no immediate programming changes planned for WZNJ, TheRiver or WXAL 1400, Reynolds stated that WINL and WDXX will combine to become Dixie Country, which is a similar brand to WINL’s WIN 98 brand and to the Dixie 100 country brand that aired on WDXX from 1989 to 2012.
Westburg Broadcasting Manager John Weller stated that “We’re extremely happy to have Mike and his great staff involved with the Demopolis stations. Their track record and commitment to local, live programming and community service is extraordinary in today’s world of radio. They truly believe in people assets to engage listeners and serve the public.”
Long time Television and Radio Broadcaster Ken Hawkins, who has served Westburg to supervise the Demopolis stations since 2011 said, “This marriage is ideal, especially for the great employees who have served us well in Demopolis. The innovative plan designed by BroadSouth for WDXX and WINL will keep the staff intact and improve community service to all of west Alabama while also serving the Selma, Prattville and Montgomery areas to the east.”
Legendary morning show host George Henry will anchor the new Dixie Country Rise n’ Shine Show beginning on Oct. 7.
According to Henry, “we’ll reach out to every community from Meridian to Montgomery, Thomasville to Selma, Clanton to Camden and all in between. We’ll do our best to keep all the communities in our coverage area involved, informed and entertained. We’ll play today’s hot country plus many of the great country hits from the late 80s and 90s and we’ll always have great contests and give away huge prizes.”
Dixie Country 98.5/100.1 is slated to launch at midnight on Monday, Oct. 7. The Rise n’ Shine Show with Jess and the G-Man premieres at 6 a.m.