Note: "Radio 1" is the primary service of several broadcasters. See that page for more.
Radio One is a U.S. company which owns and operates 69 radio stations in 22 American cities, and programs a channel on XM Satellite Radio. The company's target listeners are African-Americans in urban areas. Radio One also owns a 40% interest in TV One, a cable TV network begun in early 2004 in partnership with Comcast. As with other large radio broadcasting companies, Radio One has a strategy of acquiring stations in a given market and making sudden format changes they believe will be profitable. In 1996, Radio One acquired Philadelphia station WDRE, changed the Modern Rock format to Urban Rhythm, and released the on-air staff. Several of the displaced staff members, along with the Program Director, found work with the city's other Modern Rock station, WPLY (Y-100). Subsequently, Radio One also acquired WPLY. In 2005, that station was also given the Urban Rhythm makeover, again displacing many of the same individuals.
Protest
At this time, websites such as Y-100 Rocks! are protesting the Y-100 format change. Tons of Philadelphians are doing their part by signing an online petition to change the format back to Alternative and hire all the former DJ's back. The radio station formerly known as 103.9 The Beat has changed to the 100.3 frequency because 100.3's tower is much larger (and therefore has a larger span) over the Greater Philadelphia area then 103.9.
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