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KPNW back to Country?

Hubbard may have tarnished their reputation with some of their format changes on 98.9, but I don’t see it as something that can’t be undone. They (Hubbard) clearly want to invest in building the station back up. Returning some of their best on-air talent is a clear example of that. 100.7 may be the incumbent, but there’s no reason why someone else can’t syphon off some of the audience if the conditions are right.

In another example, we’re at a point where 106.1 is very competitive with 92.5. 106.1 had some bumps along the way (with a questionable format and frequency flip), but once they got the right people involved, things began to change.
 
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Kelly A said:
Duh.

Contract? Are you talking about talent contracts?

Still don't understand what you mean by a contract. If sales meet expectations, then expect a longer tenure. If oldies country slogs along at under a 2 in Demo, then expect a change down the road.
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I think he's talking about the right to air the specific format from the program source, if any or just the name, "Hank".
 
Kelly A said:
Doesn't look like there are any current active trademark registrations of the name:
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It's not just the name. Open the link:


HANK is as much as an attitude as it is a format. Originally launched in March 2005 as the format that plays “Anything Country” to much success in Indianapolis, IN on WLHK, the HANK brand has transcended and evolved into other areas of country as well. At its core HANK is a very strong and creative top of mind approach to country radio that cuts through the clutter. Our experience has shown us that not only can HANK work as a format that delivers that unique mix of country hits 70’s 80’s & 90’s, but the HANK brand can be also be customized to move as far into the 00’s and 10’s as the strategy requires.
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TheBigA said:
It's not just the name. Open the link:

Click to expand...

According to the USPTO there are only two registered U.S. Trademarks for Hank-FM, and one that included frequency expired:

"Wordmark 99.9 HANK FM
Status
Dead Abandoned
Goods & services
(ABANDONED) IC 038: Broadcasting services, namely, transmission of...
outbound
Class
038
Serial
86806444
Owners
Bradford Lewis (INDIVIDUAL; USA)"

"wordmark HANK FM
Status
Live Registered
Goods & services
IC 038: Radio Broadcasting Service.
Class
038
Serial
78588272
Owners
Kroeger Media Inc. (CORPORATION; CANADA)"

Looks like there are other radio groups who have applied for 'XX.X Frequency Hank-FM' that don't appear to be involved with Kroeger out of Canada's trademarked version.
 
Kelly A said:
According to the USPTO there are only two registered U.S. Trademarks for Hank-FM, and one that included frequency expired:
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Let me say this again: It's not just the name. They are using a turnkey format with a music consultant. MORE THAN A NAME.

As I've said at other points in this thread, Lotus is using this company to program three stations, each one differently.
 
TheBigA said:
Let me say this again: It's not just the name. They are using a turnkey format with a music consultant. MORE THAN A NAME.
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Geez, settle down Tiger. Looks like someone has had a long week.
I get what you're saying, but there appears to be nothing keeping a station contractually from calling themselves XX.X Hank without Kroeger being involved. And I stand by what I told Bob: Assuming advertisers like their in-demo results, Lotus can keep the format for as little, or as long as they choose (or pay for). That includes any performance benchmarks that I'm sure are included in their deal with Kroeger.
 
Kelly A said:
I get what you're saying, but there appears to be nothing keeping a station contractually from calling themselves XX.X Hank without Kroeger being involved.
Click to expand...

Correct, but then they'd have to do all the work. They'd rather just buy a turnkey format.
 
DMK said:
Is betting on how long a Seattle radio station format will last, legal in Washington? Asking for a friend.
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If you're serious, the answer is no, at least through legal betting services. Same as betting on elections, awards shows, outcomes of trials, or anything else that isn't sports or games of chance. Of course, you could always set up a betting pool with other radio geeks.
 
CTListener said:
If you're serious, the answer is no, at least through legal betting services. Same as betting on elections, awards shows, outcomes of trials, or anything else that isn't sports or games of chance. Of course, you could always set up a betting pool with other radio geeks.
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In pure overall numbers, that would be a pretty small pool.
 
Kelly A said:
Geez, settle down Tiger. Looks like someone has had a long week.
I get what you're saying, but there appears to be nothing keeping a station contractually from calling themselves XX.X Hank without Kroeger being involved. And I stand by what I told Bob: Assuming advertisers like their in-demo results, Lotus can keep the format for as little, or as long as they choose (or pay for). That includes any performance benchmarks that I'm sure are included in their deal with Kroeger.
Click to expand...
Sure, if advertisers like their in-demo results, they're going to be around a while. Essentially what you're saying is 24/7 formats such as Hank are paid for on an annual basis. Sure Lotus could locally program Hank, but they don't do country outside of Hank, so I don't see that as a likely outcome. The five year prediction was just a guess based on discussions of sports contracts on this board, which are usually five years. I would completely understand if that's a completely different animal when it comes to contract negotiations though.
 
I was kidding about betting, but there are a fair number of people on this board that have essential created odds for how long a format will last.
 
DMK said:
I was kidding about betting, but there are a fair number of people on this board that have essential created odds for how long a format will last.
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Well, being that 98.9 has had maybe 5 formats in the past 8 years (Click, Rock, Bull, KPNW, Bull again), they could start a station and nickname it "Flip 98.9".

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. If they do OK with The Bull, hopefully that will stick around a while.
 
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