No longer “Hot” in Denver…

[SomeRadioGuy]

A third country station, maybe? KYGO is No. 1 overall 6+, but its share is only in the 6's, so a newcomer wouldn't be challenging a ratings Goliath.

I think something like Local Radio Networks Superstar country format (90s 2000s, with a few 80s) would be good and keep expenses low. And it plays to the largely rural area that they serve, you know?

 

[victorres43]

That would surprise me a bit, only because it would cannibalize the numbers of Jammin 101.5 to an extent.

Of course, 101.5 plays little in the way of hip hop material, so music wise, there would be little overlap. Hip-hop throwbacks would also appeal to a broader demographic range (read: more Caucasians) than 101.5, too.

A bit peculiar, considering that Urban ACs are beginning to have a lot of hip-hop throwbacks. Maybe Denver's small black population skews much older, hence the need for Jammin'?

 

[Kent]

I think something like Local Radio Networks Superstar country format (90s 2000s, with a few 80s) would be good and keep expenses low. And it plays to the largely rural area that they serve, you know?

The problem, of course, is that you can make a lot more by being a bottom feeder in the Denver market than a top-rated station in the rural areas around it.

I remember the old KSIR-FM on 107.1 when I spent part of a summer in Colorado in ‘01. It didn’t have the facility it has today and could only be heard in Denver on a good car radio unless you listened to its stream. It had a beautiful music/standards format. It moved to its current location for the reason I mentioned above.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

The problem, of course, is that you can make a lot more by being a bottom feeder in the Denver market than a top-rated station in the rural areas around it.

I remember the old KSIR-FM on 107.1 when I spent part of a summer in Colorado in ‘01. It didn’t have the facility it has today and could only be heard in Denver on a good car radio unless you listened to its stream. It had a beautiful music/standards format. It moved to its current location for the reason I mentioned above.

I totally agreed and after nearly 20 years in broadcast, i understand.. but i think theres a happy medium, and if you did an upbeat real country station.. you can go after BOTH

 

[MarkW]

Flo 107.1 is back, but this time recent music is part of the mix (it's not playing throwbacks exclusively).

I cannot help but wonder why Flo didn't simply make such an adjustment in the first place. The move to CHR was foolish for a host of reasons.

 

[Saladressing]

Good point. Seems like a smart move to mix in new stuff with the throwbacks. Goes a long way to eliminate the fatigue that usually occurs with classic hip-hop/r&b formats. In looking at all the markets that once had the format but no longer do, it doesn't seem like the format is sustainable in many areas of the country without trying something like this.

 

[wastedtalent23]

Good point. Seems like a smart move to mix in new stuff with the throwbacks. Goes a long way to eliminate the fatigue that usually occurs with classic hip-hop/r&b formats. In looking at all the markets that once had the format but no longer do, it doesn't seem like the format is sustainable in many areas of the country without trying something like this.

This station doesn't sound like anything exciting to me. Positioner is "Back 'n tha day and today". I've listened for two hours and I've heard about 75% currents and recurrents and 25% "classics". Sounds like they're going after KQKS. They tried that already and failed.

 

[ksradiogeek]

I cannot help but wonder why Flo didn't simply make such an adjustment in the first place. The move to CHR was foolish for a host of reasons.

From what I’ve heard from certain circles, it relates to management in place at the time that prompted the flip back to Hot. Some of those folks are now gone.

 

[ksradiogeek]

This station doesn't sound like anything exciting to me. Positioner is "Back 'n tha day and today". I've listened for two hours and I've heard about 75% currents and recurrents and 25% "classics". Sounds like they're going after KQKS. They tried that already and failed.

As a rhythmic CHR fanatic (which I have been since I was a kid), I’ll take this presentation. I prefer a wide library, and while Flo has had a great mix from what I’ve been hearing so far (similar to their transition to a current rhythmic circa 2017), there are several stiffs I’ve caught (“Love More” by Chris Brown being one of them).

 

[MarkW]

Could the current music formula be best described as "CHUrban" w/ a significant library component?

 

[Syfy]

Such a waste.. Denver has enough of that

There’s only 4 news talk stations in the market including fm.

 

[ksradiogeek]

Could the current music formula be best described as "CHUrban" w/ a significant library component?

I think so. A modern version of CHUrban, but since that term fell out of favor in the 90s, I’d best describe Flo 2.0 as a gold-based rhythmic CHR.

 

[wastedtalent23]

As a rhythmic CHR fanatic (which I have been since I was a kid), I’ll take this presentation. I prefer a wide library, and while Flo has had a great mix from what I’ve been hearing so far (similar to their transition to a current rhythmic circa 2017), there are several stiffs I’ve caught (“Love More” by Chris Brown being one of them).

Last time I checked, this was a top-20 market. You can't get away with playing ANY stiffs. Their direct competitor is once again KS 107.5, which is right next to them on the dial pumping out the hits. KQKS is no way near the ratings powerhouse they once were 10-20 years ago but they're still the big dogs. If Flo wants to attack from a different angle by playing some golds that haven't been heard in the market, that's fine, but they still don't have a fighting chance.

I see great difficulty selling this format in this situation. An inferior signal, low budget operation, cheezy moniker/brand, unfocused programming/imaging, etc. This format is hard enough to sell even if you're winning. I personally like a lot(not all) of the music, but I'm not the target demo. Even if I owned the station, I would do something that would have a half a chance at generating revenue. I think a gold based Country or a Classic Hits/Adult Hits similar to KOAI, the "Wow Factor" in Phoenix would have been better choices.

This is not going to last long. They have a 0.6, and may wobble around a 1 share, but it won't be enough to make any money.

 

[Gregg.]

Denver is such a rock city. Two Classic Rock stations, a highly rated Alternative, a highly rated commercial AAA and a non-commercial AAA. I think it would make sense as WastedTalent says, go with Adult Hits.

80% of Jack-FM's playlist is Classic Rock and Alternative Rock of the MTV video years, perfect for a city like Denver. The other 20% is a few oh-wow hits you wouldn't expect. Jack-FM keeps performing year after year in Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Minneapolis and Baltimore. It's #1 in Nashville, of all places.

And it's not that I don't like DJs. But Jack runs without DJs, just the sarcastic quips of Jack. I think they're funny and, as much as I wish it weren't true, keeps the station from spending money on a big morning show and other DJs.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Denver is such a rock city. Two Classic Rock stations, a highly rated Alternative, a highly rated commercial AAA and a non-commercial AAA. I think it would make sense as WastedTalent says, go with Adult Hits.

80% of Jack-FM's playlist is Classic Rock and Alternative Rock of the MTV video years, perfect for a city like Denver. The other 20% is a few oh-wow hits you wouldn't expect. Jack-FM keeps performing year after year in Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Minneapolis and Baltimore. It's #1 in Nashville, of all places.

And it's not that I don't like DJs. But Jack runs without DJs, just the sarcastic quips of Jack. I think they're funny and, as much as I wish it weren't true, keeps the station from spending money on a big morning show and other DJs.

Boulder had a Jack FM... i wonder how well it did back before it was sold and became The colorado Sound?

 

[MarkW]

105.5 for a good chunk of its existence earned surprisingly respectable numbers in the Denver - Boulder market given its tower location (just west of Fort Collins). I remember multiple ratings books where it earned between a 1.5 and 2.0 share in the beauty pageant numbers.

 

[ZantennaG1]

105.5 for a good chunk of its existence earned surprisingly respectable numbers in the Denver - Boulder market given its tower location (just west of Fort Collins). I remember multiple ratings books where it earned between a 1.5 and 2.0 share in the beauty pageant numbers.

The range KJAC gets with 80kw is astounding. I can pick it up here in Cheyenne, and I can follow it all the way through Denver. No wonder it did well! Also, it might be nice to see something like Jack or ESPN back, since KRAE switched away from ESPN and Denver's ESPN is weak here.

 

[JeeperOne]

Smooth Jazz aged out over a decade ago. It's not coming back, although formats like the current one on The Wave in LA are sort of the heritage of that format. But they require a significant Black and Hispanic population to work well.

KFCO HAS that, having run a Top 40/CHR format of some kind since 2008 (Source Wikipedia)

 

[JeeperOne]

"Spanish" is a language, not a format. There are a variety of viable Spanish language formats, not all of which are being used in Denver.

Umm…Then exactly HOW are 92.1 & 96.5 broadcating some kind of Latin (Which Spanish is a part of) format & are doing QUITE WELL in Denver as a result??

 

[JeeperOne]

KFCO is currently rated #30. It is a rimshot, with its tower about 40 miles east of Denver. But it does broadcast at almost 100,000 watts from that transmitter. And it has a 20,000 watt booster on 107.1 in Aurora, a suburb of Denver.

It's hard to compete in the Top 40 arena with iHeart's KPTT 95.7 and Audacy's Rhythmic KQKS 107.5. This frequency was once home to Denver's version of Jack FM. Jack does so well in LA, Dallas, Seattle, etc. Maybe another try?

Umm…You're ACTUALLY thinking of 105.5 (Now a non-commercial station with Colorado Public Radio)
& NOT 107.1 (Which has always been a commercial outlet even though it may only have been receivable in Aurora & East Denver)