BAY AREA RADIO FORMATS - WHO's PUSHING THE ENVELOPE?

[stewie]

Gotta ask: when was the last time a Bay Area radio commercial station "pushed the envelope" in any significant way?

I'm thinking the 80s...maybe.  98.9 "The City" (KKCY). But perhaps I'm forgetting something.

David Kaye is right - KALW does a lot of excellent local programming.  But they're non-comm, so I wouldn't count them any more than KPFA, KPOO, etc.

And the AM simulcast of KPIG doesn't count either.  That was just filling an otherwise unused frequency.

Easily 20-30 years has passed since someone pushed the envelope format wise.

[sfradio]

Gotta ask: when was the last time a Bay Area radio commercial station "pushed the envelope" in any significant way?

I'm thinking the 80s...maybe.  98.9 "The City" (KKCY). But perhaps I'm forgetting something.

David Kaye is right - KALW does a lot of excellent local programming.  But they're non-comm, so I wouldn't count them any more than KPFA, KPOO, etc.

And the AM simulcast of KPIG doesn't count either.  That was just filling an otherwise unused frequency.

What about 93.3 the wave? they sort of pushed the envelope, R&B, reggae, world music and rock.

[1069_KIFR]

PushED the envelope is past tense.

PushING the envelope is present tense.

[DavidKaye]

David Kaye is right - KALW does a lot of excellent local programming.  But they're non-comm, so I wouldn't count them any more than KPFA, KPOO, etc.

Why not consider them?  While their source of funding is different, not only are they legitimate radio stations, but KQED is eating everyone else's lunch!

[SFStatic]

I'll weigh in on that...because none of the non-coms are bought by ad agencies. Of course KQED has great ratings (and according to the ARB rep I talked to yesterday, they're the only pubcaster in the country that's even in the top 10), but they don't count for agency or direct ad business...and that's how the whole rest of the business keeps score.

[chrocket87]

I'll weigh in on that...because none of the non-coms are bought by ad agencies. Of course KQED has great ratings (and according to the ARB rep I talked to yesterday, they're the only pubcaster in the country that's even in the top 10), but they don't count for agency or direct ad business...and that's how the whole rest of the business keeps score.

What about WAMU? Or KUOW? Aren't they also in the top 10 in their markets? Or are you talking about top 10 in something other than 6+ which is what I took it as. 

[Lkeller]

Gotta ask: when was the last time a Bay Area radio commercial station "pushed the envelope" in any significant way?

I'm thinking the 80s...maybe.  98.9 "The City" (KKCY). But perhaps I'm forgetting something.

David Kaye is right - KALW does a lot of excellent local programming.  But they're non-comm, so I wouldn't count them any more than KPFA, KPOO, etc.

And the AM simulcast of KPIG doesn't count either.  That was just filling an otherwise unused frequency.

What about 93.3 the wave? they sort of pushed the envelope, R&B, reggae, world music and rock.

My memory is that they pushed the envelope for about a minute and a half, then became just another 70s Old School (Classic Soul) station, with perhaps an occasional reggae or world music song thrown in to justify the format.

[hammerpants]

KREV?  Essentially commercial free for a couple of years... That's pretty much blowing the doors off of conformity. 

[1069_KIFR]

I'll weigh in on that...because none of the non-coms are bought by ad agencies. Of course KQED has great ratings (and according to the ARB rep I talked to yesterday, they're the only pubcaster in the country that's even in the top 10), but they don't count for agency or direct ad business...and that's how the whole rest of the business keeps score.

What about WAMU? Or KUOW? Aren't they also in the top 10 in their markets? Or are you talking about top 10 in something other than 6+ which is what I took it as. 

Bay Area Radio Formats

[DavidKaye]

I'll weigh in on that...because none of the non-coms are bought by ad agencies. Of course KQED has great ratings (and according to the ARB rep I talked to yesterday, they're the only pubcaster in the country that's even in the top 10), but they don't count for agency or direct ad business...and that's how the whole rest of the business keeps score.

Uh, no.  You don't notice that the same sponsors who advertise on the Total Traffic traffic reports on the commercial stations also do underwriting announcements on the pubcasters such as KQED? 

And you don't notice that for-profit companies such as European Sleep Works in Berkeley, a commercial enterprise (not a foundation), carries as high a spot load (underwriting load) on KQED Radio as they do with ads on KGO or KKSF?  KQED is not even afraid to call the underwriting messages "sponsorship".

From the KQED Radio website:

"KQED News
KQED News Sponsorship opportunity: Weekly sponsorship package of :08 radio integrated messages supporting the local news effort of KQED News which includes 16 daily radio newscasts as well as a vibrant online presence at KQEDnews.org.

"The California Report
Annual Sponsorship Opportunity: The California Report is a State-wide annual radio sponsorship opportunity airing in drive time, produced by KQED and carried by 64 California public radio stations."

KQED Radio and other pubcasters are competing for ad dollars against the commercial stations.  Make no mistake about it.