What would you put on 107.9?

[DaveBayArea]

This could be a fun one, since I think most of the people who post on this page live in the area and actively listen to Sacramento radio. What's missing? What format is weak that might lose out to some serious competition? Seems like we have most of the bases covered already. Remember - this is an almost-full 50KW class B. Not really suitable for a niche format unless you have some way of generating revenue besides standard advertising.

Dave B.

 

[Big D]

If revenue was not a big deal, I’d launch a Triple-A. If I want to minimize overhead, it would be Sports (preferably CBS Sports Radio network since they have live talk 24/7). I would try to get both Giants and 49ers affiliation also. That way your staffing is sales and board ops.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

This could be a fun one, since I think most of the people who post on this page live in the area and actively listen to Sacramento radio. What's missing? What format is weak that might lose out to some serious competition? Seems like we have most of the bases covered already. Remember - this is an almost-full 50KW class B. Not really suitable for a niche format unless you have some way of generating revenue besides standard advertising.

Dave B.

I’m in no way a fan of country, but I can see Bonneville launching one to protect KNCI

 

[beej65]

Bonneville could do either = a second Country station (though I would vote for Classic Country or Americana/AAA myself), or pair it with KHTK. A long shot would be a very soft AC, Breeze like (forgive me if there's one in Sac already... I"m not a local listener)

 

[CTListener]

Bonneville could do either = a second Country station (though I would vote for Classic Country or Americana/AAA myself), or pair it with KHTK. A long shot would be a very soft AC, Breeze like (forgive me if there's one in Sac already... I"m not a local listener)

Not local here, either, but Americana/AAA on a 50kw signal would drown you in debt in a matter of months, no advertising base beyond the clubs and bars and maybe a few mom-and-pop stores, none of which would be willing to pay you nearly what you'd require to stay afloat. Picking the weakest of the stations in the music formats every market has (CHR, hit country, the two main flavors of AC, urban, classic rock) and trying to compete might be the only real option. Sports in a market that's only major league in one sport and has no power conference college in town doesn't sound like a winner on a big signal, even if the station does snag the 49ers or Giants play-by-play.

 

[Groove1670]

I just want to know how high the bidding war will go? Care to take any guesses?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

A classic country station with a good signal, flanking a market leader such as KNCI wouldn't be a bad idea. Skew it a bit older then KNCI.. and you kinda cement no one will try to take on KNCI again... that little translator on 107.1 doesn't count.

There's been a real resurgence in desire and interest for classic country in the last 5 ish years, ive seen it as a country radio dj. And what one station defines as real country may be too old or too new for another station.. it all depends on your market and what youre trying to achieve.. id wage something like 80s 90s early 2000s in sacramento would work..... use a live local morning show, maybe a part time afternoon show host who also does prod and VT the rest

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

A classic country station with a good signal, flanking a market leader such as KNCI wouldn't be a bad idea. Skew it a bit older then KNCI.. and you kinda cement no one will try to take on KNCI again... that little translator on 107.1 doesn't count.

There's been a real resurgence in desire and interest for classic country in the last 5 ish years, ive seen it as a country radio dj. And what one station defines as real country may be too old or too new for another station.. it all depends on your market and what youre trying to achieve.. id wage something like 80s 90s early 2000s in sacramento would work..... use a live local morning show, maybe a part time afternoon show host who also does prod and VT the rest

There's probably room for a Classic Hits station on a full signal. KCCL is signal challenged and the Classic Rock stations, particularly very SOFT KSEG is benefiting from the lack of one.

 

[davideduardo]

I just want to know how high the bidding war will go? Care to take any guesses?

It could go as high as the value of a nearly full signal FM that is not profitable (and not sold on a billing multiple).

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

There's probably room for a Classic Hits station on a full signal. KCCL is signal challenged and the Classic Rock stations, particularly very SOFT KSEG is benefiting from the lack of one.

thing is.. theres mroe money in coutnry radio.. and there's something worth protecting, aka KNCI.. if you have another decent signal to sacrifice and can make money on that second signal.. protecting the big'un that is KNCI is worth something

 

[TheBigA]

There's been a real resurgence in desire and interest for classic country in the last 5 ish years,

There is, but it's mainly for 90s country. The good thing about that is it still stays in the sellable demo.

Sacramento has been able to support more than one country station. Just a year ago, they had three. That may have been too much. But back in the 90s, there were two. I think the other may have been KRAK.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

Sorry for the late reply...

If it were my money I needed to make a profit on, itd be classic country with an emphasis on the big 90’s hits. I’d also look at an urban AC format — probably a little more approachable than KDEE-LP

If it were my mad money to not care about profit margins, probably classic alternative with an emphasis on new wave a la 103.1 the Wave in Salt Lake (about the most over-radioed market in the US)

In terms of what actually goes on there, it depends on the buyer obviously. Bonneville will probably go sports talk, iHM may want to put a Top 40/Hot AC back on there, perhaps even urban AC to pair with KHYL as the likely flanker format. EMF — foregone conclusion. Results would probably be the one to appreciate a classic country format to pair with KCCL. The weird ones are the people who selected “all”. My assumption is those stations will be sold ASAP to recoup a profit.

 

[davideduardo]

Sorry for the late reply...

If it were my money I needed to make a profit on, itd be classic country with an emphasis on the big 90’s hits. I’d also look at an urban AC format — probably a little more approachable than KDEE-LP

Urban AC, with perhaps one exception in the US, is about 95% Black. Sacramento is not a market with a high enough Black population to sustain such a format.

Classic country, to be effective, would have to be focused on about 1997 to 1998, with some songs going back to the late 80's and others as recent as 2010.

 

[TheBigA]

Classic country, to be effective, would have to be focused on about 1997 to 1998, with some songs going back to the late 80's and others as recent as 2010.

I agree with that, but I think it needs a new name, because there are people for whom classic country means Merle Haggard. So on the pop side, you have oldies (60s & 70s) and you have classic hits (80s-90s) Country needs those same two groupings. If they can find a commercial name for 90s country, it will be effective. But it's not classic country. Some of those 90s artists are still active and current.

 

[CTListener]

I agree with that, but I think it needs a new name, because there are people for whom classic country means Merle Haggard. So on the pop side, you have oldies (60s & 70s) and you have classic hits (80s-90s) Country needs those same two groupings. If they can find a commercial name for 90s country, it will be effective. But it's not classic country. Some of those 90s artists are still active and current.

FWIW, SiriusXM calls its '80s/'90s country channel Prime Country. It seems to be centered around 1993-94, with the outer limits being 1981 and 2000 -- there's another channel called Y2Kountry that is exclusively '00s. I would assume that's a registered service mark of SiriusXM, although there's no "SM" on the channel's logo or in any of SXM's text describing the channel on its website. Maybe they'll just wait until someone else tries to use it and the sic their lawyers on 'em.

 

[TheBigA]

FWIW, SiriusXM calls its '80s/'90s country channel Prime Country. It seems to be centered around 1993-94, with the outer limits being 1981 and 2000 -- there's another channel called Y2Kountry that is exclusively '00s.

Just an FYi, according to Mediabase, the biggest country stations (including KNCI) only play a handful of songs from the 90s, and only 25% of their "Power Gold" comes from the 00s. The rest comes from 2010-2017. So we are at a point where there are enough hits in the 00s to rate its own format. Two of the core artists of the 00s not getting much airplay now would be Brad Paisley and Toby Keith.

 

[davideduardo]

So we are at a point where there are enough hits in the 00s to rate its own format. Two of the core artists of the 00s not getting much airplay now would be Brad Paisley and Toby Keith.

I'll listen to that!

(In substitution for my cancelled annual Stagecoach 3-day weekend!)

 

[Kent]

Sacramento has been able to support more than one country station. Just a year ago, they had three. That may have been too much. But back in the 90s, there were two. I think the other may have been KRAK.

KRAK was first at 105.1. KNCI replaced KZAP at 98.5 in early '92 after KROY became KSEG and stole most of its audience.

EZ and Nationwide did a swap a few years later after duopoly became legal, and EZ swapped calls of 98.5 and 105.1 and focused the new KRAK 98.5 on older country. It almost seems like EZ bought WCOL AM/FM in Columbus from Great Trails and immediately swapped them for KNCI, but I'm not 100% certain about that.