KNX onto … 97.1??

[radiojomo]

However, one of those stations is KQED, and the equivalent in LA is KPCC. KNX is already beating KPCC, so there was no real pressing reason to move KNX to FM.

Yes, but they're also totally different media products.

KPCC and KQED do air local news at the top of the hour. But they also mostly air nationally syndicated programming from NPR and other distributors + some local talk programs. Some would also argue NPR has a "liberal lean." (I personally think they're relatively neutral.)

KNX and KFRC air local news broadcasts, all day, in a fast-paced format.

I would say listening to KPCC and KQED is like having a magazine read to you, while listening to KNX and KFRC is like having a local TV news broadcast or newspaper read to you.

 

[TheBigA]

Yes, but they're also totally different media products.

But my point is they're neck & neck in San Fransisco, while KNX is a clear winner in LA.

KNBR didn't add a lot of share when they added the FM simulcast. I don't expect a big jump 6+ for KNX.

 

[AceBiscuits]

I feel like this was a move that was inevitable (I've seen it suggested for years on here) but it was more of a question of when... now we know!

Is KNOU still broadcasting in HD? I noticed that the new legal ID is "KNX, KNOU-FM, and KRTH-HD2" with no mention of KNOU-HD.

 

[radiojomo]

But my point is they're neck & neck in San Fransisco, while KNX is a clear winner in LA.

KNBR didn't add a lot of share when they added the FM simulcast. I don't expect a big jump 6+ for KNX.

I'm a die-hard Angels fan, but I'll deal with KLAA's signal because I have no other way to listen to an audio broadcast of a game (unless I were to pay for MLB's audio stream or SiriusXM). The content is sticky. But if they moved KLAA to FM, I likely would just shift my listening to the FM signal. So it would be a 1=1 shift.

But the content is not universal. Not everyone is into sports.

Audacy's thinking with this move was likely this: It could be that some millennials and younger listeners have never even sampled KNX because of its place on the AM dial and because of the drawbacks of AM audio (i.e. poor sound quality, goes out in tunnels, etc).

And in a time where music tastes are becoming more fragmented than ever, news is somewhat universal content that may appeal to 25-54. Probably more accessible to a wider audience than sports.

So not only would there be 1=1 shifts from current listeners, but there would also be new listeners coming in, sampling KNX for the first time.

This would work better than the failed FM news experiments in New York and Chicago because current listeners of the AM station will initially form the base of the FM station, while new FM listeners are introduced into the station and folded in.

If executed correctly, there is great growth potential for Audacy.

 

[radiojomo]

KTWV is between 15th and 20th in market billing. But it's a low cost operation as there is no direct competitor and thus, no need for expensive promotion and marketing.

Still, it has about the lowest power ratio of any Top 20 25-54 station in the market: 0.5. For those not familiar with the term, a 1 power ratio means that your 25-54 audience share is equal to the market revenue share. In the case of KTWV, it is under-performing by 50%.

KIIS has a power ratio of 2.2, meaning it gets over twice as big a slice of market revenue as its 25-54 ratings warrant.

By curiosity, do you happen to know the power ratio of KROQ?

 

[michael hagerty]

I feel like this was a move that was inevitable (I've seen it suggested for years on here) but it was more of a question of when... now we know!

Is KNOU still broadcasting in HD? I noticed that the new legal ID is "KNX, KNOU-FM, and KRTH-HD2" with no mention of KNOU-HD.

They may not be. In San Francisco, the ID is “KCBS-AM, KFRC-FM and HD-1.”

 

[dxsphere]

I feel like this was a move that was inevitable (I've seen it suggested for years on here) but it was more of a question of when... now we know!

Is KNOU still broadcasting in HD? I noticed that the new legal ID is "KNX, KNOU-FM, and KRTH-HD2" with no mention of KNOU-HD.

Yes (as of an hour ago), and it probably will continue to. Just because the Legal ID doesn't mention HD doesn't mean the HD signal isn't there. I know plenty of HD stations that don't mention HD in their legals (iHeart is notorious for not mentioning HD in their ID)

 

[TheBigA]

I noticed that the new legal ID is "KNX, KNOU-FM, and KRTH-HD2" with no mention of KNOU-HD.

Correct. KNX has been on KRTH-HD2. It still is.

KNUE HD-2 is Q radio, and HD-3 is Fire Lane dance channel.

They may not be. In San Francisco, the ID is “KCBS-AM, KFRC-FM and HD-1.”

KFRC-HD2 is classic hits.

 

[michael hagerty]

Yes (as of an hour ago), and it probably will continue to. Just because the Legal ID doesn't mention HD doesn't mean the HD signal isn't there. I know plenty of HD stations that don't mention HD in their legals (iHeart is notorious for not mentioning HD in their ID)

True, but this is Audacy, and I used the SF example to illustrate that they DO identify their HD-1s.

 

[radiojomo]

That's David's point. Talent at major L.A. stations are doing multiples of scale. Competitive pressures, rather than union minimums, set the going rate.

What's the annual salary for a full-time presenter with 15-20 years of experience? Maybe $120-150K in Los Angeles?

 

[michael hagerty]

Correct. KNX has been on KRTH-HD2. It still is.

KNUE HD-2 is Q radio, and HD-3 is Fire Lane dance channel.



KFRC-HD2 is classic hits.

Yes. The question was about KNOU HD-1. Audacy’s standard practice is to identify FMs broadcasting an HD-1 signal as “(calls)-FM and HD-1”.

 

[TheBigA]

Yes. The question was about KNOU HD-1. Audacy’s standard practice is to identify FMs broadcasting an HD-1 signal as “(calls)-FM and HD-1”.

Perhaps at some point they'll drop KNX from KRTH's HD2. Then they'll have a spot for the meaningless HD-1 ID.

Only catch is they have to find something to put on KRTH's HD2.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Years ago, Clear Channel tried simulcasting KOGO on FM in San Diego. No improvement. I think that experience and several others in smaller markets made them leery of putting talk on FMs

I do wonder if that "lesson" is applicable to what would happen with a KFI-FM. KOGO has a lot of syndicated programming and is a lot more ideological/partisan than KFI, on the whole. Also, they mostly just tacked 95.7 onto the existing station, and never totally leaned into it. 600 AM was not really deemphasized, like we are seeing with the new KNX, for example.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

What are KFI's demos? Pretty old I would imagine. It may be less partisan than KOGO but it's still basically conservative talk, a format that attracts old white men. That's who still listens to AM radio, and that's why the format thrives there where a 3.5 share is a win. The format isn't the best use of an FM slot though, and KOGO's experiment seemed to bear that out. On the other hand, all-news, traffic and weather seems like the sort of thing everyone can use.

 

[davideduardo]

What's the annual salary for a full-time presenter with 15-20 years of experience? Maybe $120-150K in Los Angeles?

It depends on the station and its ratings and how much management thinks the daypart ratings are due to the talent.

It could be from $60 k up to lower mid-6 figures for music dayparts.

 

[davideduardo]

What are KFI's demos? Pretty old I would imagine. It may be less partisan than KOGO but it's still basically conservative talk, a format that attracts old white men. That's who still listens to AM radio, and that's why the format thrives there where a 3.5 share is a win. The format isn't the best use of an FM slot though, and KOGO's experiment seemed to bear that out. On the other hand, all-news, traffic and weather seems like the sort of thing everyone can use.

KFI is around 18th to 21st in 25-54. It is slightly better that way than KNX, but KNX has the sales advantage that there are few "no buy" mandates against news, but they are common for talk.

 

[goriajk]

I’m honestly not surprised. As I listen to KNX mostly (except for music on 88.5 and music and NPR news on 89.3 and 89.9) and if KCBS 106.9/740 in the Bay Area can do it, why can’t we? I’d like to hear the 1070 mentioned like the way KCBS honors both 106.9 & 740. I might call the station. Joe

 

[goriajk]

Correct. KNX has been on KRTH-HD2. It still is.

KNUE HD-2 is Q radio, and HD-3 is Fire Lane dance channel.



KFRC-HD2 is classic hits.

Fire Lane sounds like the music I hear at Furry conventions. I’m listening to EDM more as I go to cons and the DJ’s impress me - and I’m a 54 year old grey bear

 

[michael hagerty]

What are KFI's demos? Pretty old I would imagine. It may be less partisan than KOGO but it's still basically conservative talk, a format that attracts old white men. That's who still listens to AM radio, and that's why the format thrives there where a 3.5 share is a win. The format isn't the best use of an FM slot though, and KOGO's experiment seemed to bear that out. On the other hand, all-news, traffic and weather seems like the sort of thing everyone can use.

Worth remembering that the KOGO experiment began ten years ago and lasted all of one year. A lot has changed in the nine years since. A chunk of salable demos have aged out.

I think it’s more critical for an all-news station to be on FM than it is for a conservative talk outlet, but eventually, the number of people in a salable demo still tuning to AM drops below a sustainable point.

 

[TomásEstefan]

All I can say is that: IT'S ABOUT TIME !!!!!!! Mazal Tov KNX, Mazel Tov !!!!