April Ratings

[Lightingnut]

April ratings are out (linked on NW Broadcasters) and I noticed that the Sinclair stations all register an N/A. Does this indicate that 1) Sinclair is no longer subscribing? 2) The three stations in question (KOMO, KVI, KPLZ) are about to be sold? Also noticed that the once mighty KUBE is now near the bottom of the pack where non-com's and most AM's dwell.

Thoughts?

 

[fordranger797]

I literally made a post about your exact comments in the KUBE thread great timing!

As I stated in the other thread, KUBE's performance is laughable. The "bottom of the pack" is perfectly acceptable for AM talk stations and specialty formats, but not a full market commercial CHR station.

KYNW is simply an abomination. I don't know what is keeping CC from completely flipping that station or selling it off. If the Sinclair lot was not congregating around the bottom (glitch?) KYNW would be at the bottom next to a radio station from Bellingham.

 

[crainbebo]

KUBE needs to tweak it. Either go all hip hop and rap, or go old school. Not in between. KUBE is KBKS with a few rap songs. Disgusting ratings.
KYNW needs to get in touch with the Z-Twins and flip to Smooth Jazz 102.9...if not go to Rhythmic Oldies (like KISQ in SF). Heck, I wonder if KJR Sports may come back?

-crainbebo

 

[fordranger797]

KUBE needs to tweak it. Either go all hip hop and rap, or go old school. Not in between. KUBE is KBKS with a few rap songs. Disgusting ratings.
KYNW needs to get in touch with the Z-Twins and flip to Smooth Jazz 102.9...if not go to Rhythmic Oldies (like KISQ in SF). Heck, I wonder if KJR Sports may come back?

-crainbebo

I think the best scenario is CC selling off that frequency to another company. I think its pretty clear that CC has a mess on their hands here in the Seattle area. I just want to know how long they are going to continue to be hopeful for some sort of genesis with KYNW.

 

[AQH]

I think the best scenario is CC selling off that frequency to another company. I think its pretty clear that CC has a mess on their hands here in the Seattle area. I just want to know how long they are going to continue to be hopeful for some sort of genesis with KYNW.

How do you know 102.9 is not making money for Clear Channel?

 

[fordranger797]

How do you know 102.9 is not making money for Clear Channel?

I'm sure that its making money. However, that 102.9 signal is worth a lot more than what they are most likely yielding from the "Now" format. It would only make sense to try something else or sell it off. From what I have observed (unscientifically), CC doesn't pull the plug like other companies do (like Entercom did with "The Mountain" :'( )

 

[AQH]

I'm sure that its making money.

Then why would they sell it?!

However, that 102.9 signal is worth a lot more than what they are most likely yielding from the "Now" format. It would only make sense to try something else or sell it off. From what I have observed (unscientifically), CC doesn't pull the plug like other companies do (like Entercom did with "The Mountain" :'( )

Comparing what 102.9 could make versus what 103.7 could make is like comparing the revenue of the Seattle Mariners versus the Boston Red Sox.

The format on 102.9 might not be to your liking, but that's not reason to change it. Radio stations changing format, even for Clear Channel, is not just a matter of getting a new logo and downloading a bunch of new audio. There is much more thought and reasoning put into the process.

 

[fordranger797]

Then why would they sell it?!




Comparing what 102.9 could make versus what 103.7 could make is like comparing the revenue of the Seattle Mariners versus the Boston Red Sox.

The format on 102.9 might not be to your liking, but that's not reason to change it. Radio stations changing format, even for Clear Channel, is not just a matter of getting a new logo and downloading a bunch of new audio. There is much more thought and reasoning put into the process.

I know I have preached this before, but "The Mountain" was unique. That same statement goes for many other radio stations which are now long gone in the Seattle area in favour of common music formats like Country, CHR, or AC. Therefore, I believe there is plenty of reason to change 102.9 because we all are very well saturated with the few radio formats that are available. Is there any legitimate reason not to attempt a more risky format over something that is not working?

 

[AQH]

I know I have preached this before, but "The Mountain" was unique.

That depends who you talk to. A lot of people on this board felt it wasn't unique at the end, calling it "KZOK lite" or some other disparaging remark.

The Mountain in its heyday was indeed unique, so is barbershop quartet music. While that's an extreme, neither of those pay the bills at a radio station in Seattle.

That same statement goes for many other radio stations which are now long gone in the Seattle area in favour of common music formats like Country, CHR, or AC. Therefore, I believe there is plenty of reason to change 102.9 because we all are very well saturated with the few radio formats that are available. Is there any legitimate reason not to attempt a more risky format over something that is not working?

That's a false premise. Even you said upthread that you think 102.9 is making money.

Clear Channel is not in the business to spin the format wheel and see what may or may not work in a few years. They want to make money now. That's not just a Clear Channel thing, any owner with that signal is not going to figuratively throw a pasta noodle on the wall every several months and wait until one sticks.

Just because Star, Warm and 102.9 have overlapping signals doesn't mean a Hot AC can't be done on 102.9. There is a sales angle that you are not bringing up about 102.9 and it's likely a big reason why CC is doing that format on that frequency.

 

[fordranger797]

That depends who you talk to. A lot of people on this board felt it wasn't unique at the end, calling it "KZOK lite" or some other disparaging remark.

The Mountain in its heyday was indeed unique, so is barbershop quartet music. While that's an extreme, neither of those pay the bills at a radio station in Seattle.




That's a false premise. Even you said upthread that you think 102.9 is making money.

Clear Channel is not in the business to spin the format wheel and see what may or may not work in a few years. They want to make money now. That's not just a Clear Channel thing, any owner with that signal is not going to figuratively throw a pasta noodle on the wall every several months and wait until one sticks.

Just because Star, Warm and 102.9 have overlapping signals doesn't mean a Hot AC can't be done on 102.9. There is a sales angle that you are not bringing up about 102.9 and it's likely a big reason why CC is doing that format on that frequency.

I stopped listening to "The Mountain" the same day they flipped to classic rock. Sure, I turned in once and a while, but my radio never left 103.7 before the awful flip.

I'm not claiming that 102.9 is not making money. However, do you really think its living up to its full potential? Don't you think that the frequency is worth more than what we are seeing in it? I like that Clear Channel gives a format time to materialize. However, KYNW was a never a hit. It always seemed like the kind of format that CC would use just to keep the frequency active. They could do better i'm sure.

 

[bobdavcav]

Here's an idea, KKBW has a larger audience on that little C3 stick. Why not move that format to 102.9 and do something else with 104.9? It seems as if KYNW is really trying to center on Tacoma, an area where the 104.9 signal is pretty strong. I do also think that KYNW makes a pretty good format driving between Seattle and Portland as an alternative to KXXO.

 

[fordranger797]

Here's an idea, KKBW has a larger audience on that little C3 stick. Why not move that format to 102.9 and do something else with 104.9? It seems as if KYNW is really trying to center on Tacoma, an area where the 104.9 signal is pretty strong. I do also think that KYNW makes a pretty good format driving between Seattle and Portland as an alternative to KXXO.

It would make logical sense for me if the current 104.9 format tried to challenge KISW (assuming it doesn't lead to like THREE other stations popping up with the same format; two would be more than enough).

 

[crainbebo]

People will listen to KPLZ even in Tacoma. They know Star 101.5 more than "Now". KYNW is a placeholder literally. I think more people knew what "Q Country 102.9" was! Someone needs to buy out this frequency and flip it to something better - Rhythmic Oldies? Gold AC?

-crainbebo

 

[Lightingnut]

Here's an idea...move KKBW to 102.9, and then make 104.9 KHHO-FM and simulcast with KHHO 850. When I used to live south of Tacoma, listening to KHHO at night (Rainiers Baseball) was at times quite difficult if any other co-channel station (KOA etc.) stepped on their signal.

 

[fordranger797]

Here's an idea...move KKBW to 102.9, and then make 104.9 KHHO-FM and simulcast with KHHO 850. When I used to live south of Tacoma, listening to KHHO at night (Rainiers Baseball) was at times quite difficult if any other co-channel station (KOA etc.) stepped on their signal.

Why not just put KHHO 850 on 104.9 and sell off the old KTAC frequency to another company? I think that would work very well.

 

[Lightingnut]

Why not just put KHHO 850 on 104.9 and sell off the old KTAC frequency to another company? I think that would work very well.

Yes, but who would buy it? Salem? They already dumped their Tacoma based AM (KKMO).

 

[fordranger797]

Yes, but who would buy it? Salem? They already dumped their Tacoma based AM (KKMO).

That's a good question. Not to start something else, but it seems like 850 would be a better home for the current format on KLSY, but maybe a music format like that could not survive on the AM dial.

I for one would love to buy it and turn it into some sort 50's and 60's oldies station. I'll just win the lotto first.

 

[Lightingnut]

That's a good question. Not to start something else, but it seems like 850 would be a better home for the current format on KLSY, but maybe a music format like that could not survive on the AM dial.

I for one would love to buy it and turn it into some sort 50's and 60's oldies station. I'll just win the lotto first.

If I had deep pockets, I'd buy both 850 KHHO, and 104.9 KKBW and run 80's hard rock and Get Tom Reed to surrender the KTAC calls and create KTAC AM & FM. OK, enough dreaming.