Posted on Fri, Feb. 11, 2005
Zeta 94.9 dumps rock music format
BY CHRISTINA HOAG
choag@herald.com
Fans of WZTA FM 94.9 got a rude awakening this morning -- their progressive rock station is broadcasting Air America's news and sports talk.
Radio industry sources said that the station, owned by Clear Channel Communications, is preparing to switch to a Spanish-language format. Zeta's on-air personnel have been laid off. The station's website also went blank, displaying only a message ``this site is experiencing technical difficulties.''
Clear Channel executives in Miramar, San Antonio and New York, did not return The Herald's phone calls Friday morning.
Clear Channel, the nation's largest radio broadcaster, announced last September that it would aggressively seek entree into the hot Spanish-language radio market by converting about two dozen stations across the country to español.
Ten days ago, it flipped Orlando station WEBG-FM 100.3 to a Spanish pop format to be called Rumba 100.3.
Clear Channel owns seven stations in the South Florida market. Zeta's ratings had been lagging for some time.