iHM's "Black Information Network"

[MarkW]

Over / under on when iHM will pull the plug?

In my home market, where iHM has two well programmed African American-focused FMs that perform very well in the ratings available to cross-promote BIN on the AM dial, the BIN station has only managed to score a 0.1 share for at least the past four consecutive PPM surveys.

Market after market, the BIN programming registers either hash marks, a 0.1, or 0.2 or maybe 0.3 share.

In Hampton Roads, where it is available on a powerful analog FM signal, it can only muster a 0.3 share. That's in a market where nearly a third of the total population is African American! Interestingly, iHM's hip-hop brand (92.1 The Beat) is found on an inferior signal at an inferior dial position. Seems to me it would make sense to move The Beat's programming to WNOH or to roll out Urban AC on the 105.3 MHz stick.

I say the plug will be pulled by January 31, 2023. I'm not sure how this programming - which was launched mostly on functionally obsolete AM stations as a publicity stunt to give iHM some positive P.R. - is commercially viable. When I listen to the local BIN outpost here in Metro Detroit, which is found on a 50 kW daytime signal (10 kW & highly directional at night), I hear almost zero paid advertising.

I suspect at some point, most of these stations will flip to programming geared to degenerate sports gamblers, will flip to right-wing talk, or in certain cases will simply be sold or donated.

 

[boombox4]

Here in Seattle-Tacoma, where the estimated number of African Americans is around 350K, the BIN station seems to have a cume of around 11K. So maybe it's hitting one out of 30 African American listeners or households.

Not awesome, but considering that the station (KHHO 850) was a conservative talker (in a liberal region with at least three other conservative talk stations) before being switched to BIN, it probably gets the job done. And who knows how many may listen to the app in this region?

I've also heard BIN programming on at least one non-BIN station (KZFS Spokane, an AM R&B, Hip-hop and 'jams' station).

And as BigA has pointed out more than once, BIN doesn't apparently need advertising. It is sponsored by several large corporations, and it's running more on the public radio funding model than a commercial radio model.

 

[b-turner]

Here's my understanding of BIN: it signed on in the black. In other words, it was making money on day one. You have major companies that put up the cash to make this happen. It is not about selling commercials. This is more about a concerted effort among several big companies to make a meaningful contribution to the black community. Ratings really are not an issue and selling advertising is not really an issue. In some ways it is sort of like public radio, funded by contributions from companies that have a nice feather in their cap for support of the black community. It is programming that does not pander to the lowest common denominator and simply offers the black community a format option not found on the dial in most major cities. I suspect BIN will be around for years to come.

 

[101tm]

Another issue with the BIN is that many times the news is out of date. It is definitely pre recorded and misses a lot of currently breaking events.

The situation with WNOH baffles me. I know Hampton Roads has a ton of signals (they have a lot of operators as well), but I can’t believe iHeart thinks this is the best option for this signal.

 

[jlehmann]

In Hampton Roads, where it is available on a powerful analog FM signal, it can only muster a 0.3 share. That's in a market where nearly a third of the total population is African American! Interestingly, iHM's hip-hop brand (92.1 The Beat) is found on an inferior signal at an inferior dial position. Seems to me it would make sense to move The Beat's programming to WNOH or to roll out Urban AC on the 105.3 MHz stick.

iHeart's primary hip hop signal is the full market covering 102.9 WOWI. I'm not sure what the purpose of the secondary 92.1 The Beat. Seems like they have 2 more signals than they know what to do with there. Maybe they'll eventually sell one or both to EMF...

 

[Cordelia Chase]

iHeart's primary hip hop signal is the full market covering 102.9 WOWI. I'm not sure what the purpose of the secondary 92.1 The Beat. Seems like they have 2 more signals than they know what to do with there. Maybe they'll eventually sell one or both to EMF...

It looks like EMF already has one station, an HD and three translators in Hampton Roads. Shouldn't this be enough? (I don't know what areas these signals cover so perhaps you're right and EMF wouldn't mind picking up another frequency.)

 

[The New Chico]

Here in Seattle-Tacoma, where the estimated number of African Americans is around 350K, the BIN station seems to have a cume of around 11K. So maybe it's hitting one out of 30 African American listeners or households.

Not awesome, but considering that the station (KHHO 850) was a conservative talker (in a liberal region with at least three other conservative talk stations) before being switched to BIN, it probably gets the job done. And who knows how many may listen to the app in this region?

I've also heard BIN programming on at least one non-BIN station (KZFS Spokane, an AM R&B, Hip-hop and 'jams' station).

And as BigA has pointed out more than once, BIN doesn't apparently need advertising. It is sponsored by several large corporations, and it's running more on the public radio funding model than a commercial radio model.

Actually, you might be underselling their penetration here by more than a bit. According to 2020 Census numbers there apparently are about 276,000 Black folks in all of WA. How many are inside the 850 listening area? 150 to 180K? If your 11K cume figure is accurate, and I have no reason to think it is not, that is some pretty impressive reach to that market. Of course, there might be a few folks of other ethnicities who find an interest here.

 

[boombox4]

Actually, you might be underselling their penetration here by more than a bit. According to 2020 Census numbers there apparently are about 276,000 Black folks in all of WA. How many are inside the 850 listening area? 150 to 180K? If your 11K cume figure is accurate, and I have no reason to think it is not, that is some pretty impressive reach to that market. Of course, there might be a few folks of other ethnicities who find an interest here.

You're right -- it was the number for Latinos that (over 380K) that was stuck in my head. In the Seattle metro, there are approximately 289K African Americans, according to Neilson, which is where I got the figures. The difference may be in how individuals identify themselves.

And according to the latest 6+ ratings, BIN in Seattle-Tacoma cumed 14K last ratings period.

Agreed on your conclusion, though. A lot of blacks in Tacoma and at Ft. Lewis / McChord. A lot more in South King County. Not that many in Seattle proper, or the Eastside, where the 850 signal is weaker.

So you're correct, they seem to be doing okay. 150K or so near the 850 signal would be around 10% of African Americans in the region.

And other ethnicities may indeed tune it in from time to time. There may be multiracial families where someone tunes it in. I'm white, and I tune it in from time to time to see what they've got on. I can't be the only one.

 

[101tm]

iHeart's primary hip hop signal is the full market covering 102.9 WOWI. I'm not sure what the purpose of the secondary 92.1 The Beat. Seems like they have 2 more signals than they know what to do with there. Maybe they'll eventually sell one or both to EMF...

Hampton Roads has been a mess of a market for iHeart. Other than WOWI, they’ve changed back and forth with 92.1 The Beat (classic hip hop now I think?), MOViN 107.7 to finally Hot AC, 105.3 was briefly classic hits, then top 40, then alternative prior to BIN and just struggled.

Hampton Roads is very over radio’ed. They also have a lot of different operators, Max Media, Sinclair Telecable, Saga, Audacy, and iHeart all have their hands in the pot so I guess not everything is going to be successful.

 

[Mikey Radio]

BIN programming airs on 22 AM signals, a few FMs and then just as many HD2 slots and translators. As others alluded to in previous posts, their "founding partners" include big corporations with deep pockets like Bank of America, Geico, CVS, Sony, McDonald's, 23andMe, Verizon and Lowe's. It's on stations in 21 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.

In my market it's on a Class B AM that used to carry somewhat radically conservative Catholic talk programming and before that it was a "financial and business" station which, outside of Bloomberg News and a very amateurish morning program that was live, carried mostly brokered programming which was repeated often.

I'll flip to that station every few days just to have a listen, but that type of "all news, all the time" format already has limited appeal and since they've focused it toward 1 segment of the population, it limits it even further. As others have also stated in other discussion threads as BIN has signed on in various cities, the programming definitely needs work. There is a LOT of repetition. 2 minute editorials run fairly often and sometimes for weeks on end. Bits that are meant to highlight black folks and their accomplishments throughout history are also dead tired when they finally replace them, having been aired so often for so long that even occasional listeners can probably quote them almost verbatim. Their "news" is often outdated. Sometimes the information is days old, and when stories move along quickly, especially during things like Congressional hearings or high profile court cases, sometimes the details they give are quite old and in some cases no longer true or even relevant due to later developments, yet they still continue airing the older stories. I really wish them luck, but if they're serious about making this a respected "network" that people really turn to and trust for the latest information and news, they have work to do for sure.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's my understanding of BIN: it signed on in the black. In other words, it was making money on day one. You have major companies that put up the cash to make this happen. It is not about selling commercials. This is more about a concerted effort among several big companies to make a meaningful contribution to the black community. Ratings really are not an issue and selling advertising is not really an issue. In some ways it is sort of like public radio, funded by contributions from companies that have a nice feather in their cap for support of the black community. It is programming that does not pander to the lowest common denominator and simply offers the black community a format option not found on the dial in most major cities. I suspect BIN will be around for years to come.

I agree with your analyses in all aspects. This can, in some ways, be considered a social movement to offer content to African Americans with an ethnic focus that was not available. Many companies like supporting this kind of effort because it is so positive.

It is, though, dependent on companies continuing to see un-quantifiable benefit in sponsoring projects like these. If the intensity of the BLM inspired initiatives for Black progress and equality become less of a PR gain for companies, their support for a network with a very small audience may evaporate.

 

[davideduardo]

BIN programming airs on 22 AM signals, a few FMs and then just as many HD2 slots and translators. As others alluded to in previous posts, their "founding partners" include big corporations with deep pockets like Bank of America, Geico, CVS, Sony, McDonald's, 23andMe, Verizon and Lowe's. It's on stations in 21 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.

What station in Puerto Rico is BIN on? I looked at their website and the station directory and there is no station in PR:

How To Listen To BIN | BIN: Black Information Network

Listen to BIN: Black Information Network on these stations, online and through the iHeartRadio app.

www.binnews.com

Of course, I can't see why there would be an affiliate in Puerto Rico. The African American population is statistically zero and the language of the Island is Spanish.

Note: There is a percentage of people in Puerto Rico who are, by mainland US criteria, Black. The estimates of "how many?" vary widely as there are many people who may have some African heritage, but the population there is a spectrum, and not easily divided into groups. And Blacks in Puerto Rico are "Afro-Antillean" and not "African Ameircan".

 

[Mikey Radio]

What station in Puerto Rico is BIN on? I looked at their website and the station directory and there is no station in PR:

Of course, I can't see why there would be an affiliate in Puerto Rico. The African American population is statistically zero and the language of the Island is Spanish.

Note: There is a percentage of people in Puerto Rico who are, by mainland US criteria, Black. The estimates of "how many?" vary widely as there are many people who may have some African heritage, but the population there is a spectrum, and not easily divided into groups. And Blacks in Puerto Rico are "Afro-Antillean" and not "African Ameircan".

WPRM-HD2 / 99.1-2

 

[davideduardo]

You're right -- it was the number for Latinos that (over 380K) that was stuck in my head. In the Seattle metro, there are approximately 289K African Americans, according to Neilson, which is where I got the figures. The difference may be in how individuals identify themselves.

Nielsen updates its population data annually and does not use the Census figures directly... they use an independent market statistics company that combines the Census Bureau data with their own projections using data as diverse as state and county births and deaths, utility accounts and such to mine data.

And according to the latest 6+ ratings, BIN in Seattle-Tacoma cumed 14K last ratings period.

And using a multi-book average, the figure is 10,800.

So you're correct, they seem to be doing okay. 150K or so near the 850 signal would be around 10% of African Americans in the region.

Overall, the market is 6.5% Black and you are correct that the 850 signal may reach a greater concentration. When we look at BIN we should not dismiss the stations as "bad signals" as they may do very well covering areas that are predominantly Black.

And other ethnicities may indeed tune it in from time to time. There may be multiracial families where someone tunes it in. I'm white, and I tune it in from time to time to see what they've got on. I can't be the only one.

But keep in mind that the "share" data we see is based predominantly on the amount of time people listen. Occasional listeners don't help build AQH listening levels.

I constantly see people thinking that WSKQ in NYC gets its huge numbers because so many non-Hispanics hear it for 10 minutes when they are in a bodega buying bread and milk... it just is not that way.

 

[davideduardo]

WPRM-HD2 / 99.1-2

Ah, that is due to the iHeart alliance with Uno Radio Group. I can't figure out why they would do that, but perhaps it is part of an overall partnership.

WPRM is the originating station for the Salsoul network that covers the whole Island.

 

[Cordelia Chase]

105.3 was briefly classic hits, then top 40, then alternative prior to BIN and just struggled.

Clear Channel/iHeart has struggled with their Hampton Roads stations except for 103 JAMZ. They swapped Smooth Jazz and Urban AC back and forth on 105.3 and 107.7 a couple of times in the 00s. Their Urban AC format pitted The Tom Joyner Morning Show against the Steve Harvey Show on rival 95-7 Smooth R&B. (If you're an old-timer like I am, you'll remember that 105.3 used to be Pat Robertson's WXRI!)

 

[boombox4]

Looking at my own last post, I sort of mangled my statement when referring to the 150K estimated African Americans within decent reach of KHHO 850's signal. When I used the 10% figure there, I meant that BIN's 14K cume would possibly be 10% of the 150K African Americans in the 850 signal area. Or something similar to that.

Not bad, for an AMer catering to 6.5% of the population in the region.

 

[DXingRadio]

If BIN went away I'm not sure what iHeart DC would do with their WUST 1120 purchase? Essentially a AM daytimer, maybe just simulcast their WONK-FM format? News/talk, sports and Spanish language programming are WELL covered in the area. In Baltimore they just leased a station for BIN (WQLL 1370), so they can let that go easily.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I was flipping through my presets twice today, once at around 9:45 a.m. this morning and again at around 5:30 this afternoon. Both times BIN was doing local news, speaking about a major show that took place this past Saturday. Today is Monday and they were still speaking of it as an "upcoming" show and giving previews and interviewing people who'd be taking part, though the show already happened 2 days ago. That news item was at least 3 days out of date and If I heard it those 2 times, I'm sure it aired numerous times throughout the day today...Yet no one caught it and pulled it. Typical of BIN unfortunately.

 

[boombox4]

^^^^^^ They may be understaffed. No idea how BIN is staffed, whether it's all centralized somewhere back East, or whether the local BIN stations are handed off to a local IHeart cluster.