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Christmas coming REALLY early?

C

CaliRadioFan

Still October, and Warm 106.9 is already running on-air teasers that 'It's almost time for Holiday Music' Perhaps a flip as early as next week?
 
CaliRadioFan said:
Still October, and Warm 106.9 is already running on-air teasers that 'It's almost time for Holiday Music' Perhaps a flip as early as next week?
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Yup, it's getting earlier and earlier every year. I saw a thread where WXMS in Vermont switched as early as October 1st. My local K246CI should be switching in the next few weeks, along with some of the other Hot AC stations around the country.
 
Kelly A said:
My local Lowe's had their Xmas decorations and displays up in early October.
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Ooh, my local Home Depot beat your Lowe's to the punch, then! :) I walked into HD the last week of August. All the Halloween stuff was on full display (with all the noises and sound effects to go with it) and they already had 2 Christmas displays up as well. It was still shorts and t-shirt weather with pit drippin' temperatures, but they were already selling stuff for the fall and winter holidays.
 
Hallmark Channel went to Christmas movies this week (or maybe at the end of last). Enough already. 30-something females are rejoicing, but not the rest of us. At least Yakima radio doesn't pull any November 1st Xmas flips. 100.9 Cherry FM goes Christmas at midnight the day after Thanksgiving. This year, it's on November 26th.

A few years ago I went into Hobby Lobby in Yakima and noted Christmas trees, decorations, and lights in late *August*. I also bet that the day after Halloween, the M&Ms Santa ad and the Hershey's Kisses twinkling 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' will air on TV every 30 minutes.

The main question is...will everyone flip to split the Andy, Mariah, and Burl Ives 4 ways? 'Santa FM' 101.5? 105.3? 94.1? Even rimshots in the South and North sound on 96.1 and 104.1? Last year, KRWM barely won in the PPM because of that 4-way split, and nowhere near a 10 share. When it was just 106.9 and 105.3, KRWM got 12 to 15 shares in the holiday book.

And with those L.A.-bound cargo ships sitting out in the Pacific idling away, will every boy and girl get their toys this Christmas anyways?

Stay tuned...
 
They flipped last year on November 4, so yes, next week is about right. Here's last year's announcement:

https://news.****************/articles/n39699/

The December book runs from November 11 to December 8, so they will get credit for a full month.
 
I think the xmas programming cachet has worn down a bit. I remember it starting in earnest about 20y ago and I used to listen briefly right through the season. I don't anymore. It will still get ratings but at what cost to the station's format? Maybe nothing.
I'll always have a place for Elvis "Ill be home" any time of year.

Hallmark does a nice job with their niche content. My mother loved it. It's nice to see elderly enjoy something. But for a anyone else they couldn't watch.
 
103.9 WWIZ in the Youngstown, Ohio, market also flipped a few weeks ago. The rest of the year, it plays Classic Hits.
 
Kelly A said:
For several years, KEZ in Phoenix used to be the first out of the Christmas-tunes gate.
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Not only were the first to start, they were the first to do the Christmas and nothing but Christmas format under GM Jerry Ryan.

Kelly... what time do you get up and get on the computer? :unsure:

Ever since I did maintenance after midnight and rotated through my stations each week, I quit being a morning person. I'm still on my last cup of coffee!
 
QED said:
I think the xmas programming cachet has worn down a bit. I remember it starting in earnest about 20y ago and I used to listen briefly right through the season. I don't anymore. It will still get ratings but at what cost to the station's format?
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It is stronger than ever in the PPM markets, because those are measured during the peak period of the second week of December up to the 25th.

However, for the last 12 years the seasonal format has not performed as astoundingly in diary markets. That is because, to accommodate and synchronize with the PPM, the two-week break in diary measurement in the Christmas and New Year week was extended to four weeks, meaning that the biggest Christmas music weeks are not measured at all in diary markets, making the impact only felt in the two weeks from Thanksgiving to part of the second week of December.
 
DavidEduardo said:
Kelly... what time do you get up and get on the computer? :unsure:

Ever since I did maintenance after midnight and rotated through my stations each week, I quit being a morning person. I'm still on my last cup of coffee!
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I'm working on the East Coast lately, so typically get up at 5AM ET. My morning regimen is: Take the dog for his morning walk, go downstairs for 30min in the gym, check E-mails and what's going on here, shower, and head out the door for my 1.5 hour commute
 
Kelso WA already beat WARM to the punch - their 101.5 K268BN 'The Wave' has flipped from Classic Hits to 'The Sleigh' Xmas music, per RadioInsight. A new format will begin after Christmas.
Also, Spokane has a 104.5 with Christmas music, KZIU, which will be flipping to a Christian format after the holidays.
 
Rock 100.7 said:
The first one to flip usually wins.
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Unless there is a traditional "Christmas station" that has done the job well for years. Several attempts in Phoenix have been made, and none could even put a dent in the feature's originator there.
 
Last year's saturation cost KRWM a little bit in the Holiday book. They still won, but nowhere near the numbers they were getting before. The 12 shares were replaced by (IIRC?) 8s and 9s for KRWM, and sizable scores for 94.1 and 101.5...I think 105.3 was last.
 
crainbebo said:
Last year's saturation cost KRWM a little bit in the Holiday book. They still won, but nowhere near the numbers they were getting before. The 12 shares were replaced by (IIRC?) 8s and 9s for KRWM, and sizable scores for 94.1 and 101.5...I think 105.3 was last.
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You're talking about 6+ ratings?
 
In the Tri-Cities, KALE 960 is playing mostly Christmas music. First heard it two nights ago. Was surprised at how early it was to hear it on the radio. They have a translator, so perhaps they're trying to get an edge on other stations there.
 
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