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What's up with Bill Handel?

Can we say KFI is the most successful AM station in the U.S.? OK, WINS and WCBS likely make a little more money being in NYC, even though their latest ratings are #13 and #15. But whenever BIA does those lists of the top income stations in the U.S., KFI is often the third highest rated AM-exclusive station. (A few stations on the BIA list that had been exclusively on the AM band now have FM simulcasts, such as WFAN NYC and WBBM Chicago.)

But among the largest markets, KFI gets the best ratings of any AM-only radio station, currently #3 in the LA ratings. And I assume Handel is responsible for a good chunk of those high numbers. So iHeart will be very patient while he undergoes and recuperates from these various medical issues.
 
The 26-year-old ad buyer at the agency has no clue what personality is on the air at any given time. She may barely have known who Rush Limbaugh was. She's buying numbers, numbers, numbers. If Clay and Buck are failing, the data will be in pretty quickly, but all the buyer will know is the numbers in that daypart now.
 
Gregg. said:
Can we say KFI is the most successful AM station in the U.S.? OK, WINS and WCBS likely make a little more money being in NYC, even though their latest ratings are #13 and #15. But whenever BIA does those lists of the top income stations in the U.S., KFI is often the third highest rated AM-exclusive station. (A few stations on the BIA list that had been exclusively on the AM band now have FM simulcasts, such as WFAN NYC and WBBM Chicago.)
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Like all talk stations, they can sell at lower rates but run considerably more units than a leading music station.
Gregg. said:
But among the largest markets, KFI gets the best ratings of any AM-only radio station, currently #3 in the LA ratings. And I assume Handel is responsible for a good chunk of those high numbers. So iHeart will be very patient while he undergoes and recuperates from these various medical issues.
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In the June book, they were 19th (tie) in 25-54. They have been gradually declining over several years, having been top 10 about 8 or 9 years ago.

KFI definitely has an expiration date on its label.
 
gr8oldies said:
The 26-year-old ad buyer at the agency has no clue what personality is on the air at any given time. She may barely have known who Rush Limbaugh was. She's buying numbers, numbers, numbers. If Clay and Buck are failing, the data will be in pretty quickly, but all the buyer will know is the numbers in that daypart now.
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Yep. Heather or Ashley or Madison in the buying department at an agency in NY or Chicago or Atlanta does not know Handel from Haleluja. They have a budget, a CPP goal, and a desired reach goal. They assemble the buy based on quotes and things like duplication between stations. They don't have a great deal of time, as they may be buying 100 markets deep on some accounts.

And a lot of buys now are done by a computer that processes ratings, rates delivered by station reps and comes up with optimum buys. No people involved at all.
 
DrAkbar said:
Dunno..last time I saw him, Phil was working on his fifth Ted at Ted's of Beverly Hills. Maybe Bobbie Doolie is available?
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Has anyone here listened to Rollye James's late evening show on WGN in Chicago? It ought to be syndicated as it's vastly less political and quite entertaining. And it is originated from Beautiful Downtown Globe, Arizona!
 
mr_arbitron said:
It's the low end of Arbi research.
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I've never heard Arbitron called "Arbi" before, although with a "y" instead of an "i" they make a rather tasty fast-food sandwich.

And "Arbitron" ceased to exist almost a decade ago.
mr_arbitron said:
I am stunned you really think that ad buyers dont care who's on the radio (well, maybe at 3am)
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Local direct may care, but national and regional agency buyers look at data, not names.
 
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DavidEduardo said:
Has anyone here listened to Rollye James's late evening show on WGN in Chicago? It ought to be syndicated as it's vastly less political and quite entertaining. And it is originated from Beautiful Downtown Globe, Arizona!
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She and her husband also own KQSS-FM and KJAA-AM in Globe. The FM is country and the AM is "..none of the hits, none of the time". At least they're being honest. Now about beautiful downtown Globe.....
 
DavidEduardo said:
Has anyone here listened to Rollye James's late evening show on WGN in Chicago? It ought to be syndicated as it's vastly less political and quite entertaining. And it is originated from Beautiful Downtown Globe, Arizona!
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My two favorite night time hosts mentioned in the same post. Phil Hendrie and Rolleye James. I haven't heard either in years. I'll have to check out WGN online. I hope she's not an anti-vaxer.
 
DavidEduardo said:
Has anyone here listened to Rollye James's late evening show on WGN in Chicago? It ought to be syndicated as it's vastly less political and quite entertaining. And it is originated from Beautiful Downtown Globe, Arizona!
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I listened Rollye off and on years ago. John Landecker and Rollye are a one-two non-political punch.
 
mofocat said:
Knowing her knowledge of the oldies I can imagine. I couldn't get the KJAA audio link to play :(
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Yep... in fact, she did Vox Jox for Billboard for a while.
 
DavidEduardo said:
Like all talk stations, they can sell at lower rates but run considerably more units than a leading music station.

In the June book, they were 19th (tie) in 25-54. They have been gradually declining over several years, having been top 10 about 8 or 9 years ago.

KFI definitely has an expiration date on its label.
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Like all talk stations EXCEPT KFI, where the spot rates are higher than most of the other stations in the cluster.
 
KFI sounds really dogearred these days and needs a really freshening up.....

KSL in Salt Lake City has a way more dominant imaging than KFI these days. KFI sounds ragged.
 
KSL has been coasting a bit, though. Its sounders are the same ones they'd been playing when I moved out of Utah back in 2018.

KFI is more fresh with clever stuff for the VO guy to say. Sassier. KSL is more newsy with its sounders, e.g. "Major February winter storm — live coverage starts..... NOW." Promos are pretty straightforward and plain.

Sidenote: I once interviewed for a job with KSL's PD. Didn't get it. But when I made a KFI comparison, he gleefully started talking about how "KFI has the best newswriting in the country," etc. Clearly a fan. A lot of the news staff over the years have been KFI alum (Michael Castner, Brian Martin, etc.) KSL would probably be sassier like KFI, except Salt Lake City is a pretty uptight market.
 
ChannelFlipper said:
Everyone knows they can never be Rush, but they are not nearly as insightful as Rush, they are not as researched as Rush, they are not as funny and entertaining as Rush
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I don't see that as a diss on C&B, but rather a compliment to Limbaugh. Heaven knows there was a lot of air space between his views and mine, especially in the later years. But damn, if Limbaugh wasn't amazing at his job.

We all knew whomever set out to fill his shoes would fall criminally short. Because the shoes are plain too big for anyone to fill.
 
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