100.3's Future: Talk, or the biggest smokescreen in Knoxville radio history?

[BillBattle]

Knoxville – This is the last month before the effects of the WNOX breakup hit the ratings. Citadel plans to start simulcasting talk WNOX (100.3) on its own 98.7 frequency next week, and then to permanently move Rush, Hannity and the rest of its talk lineup to 98.7 after it ends its five-year LMA with John Pirkle's 100.3. That's coming at the end of July. So how is WNOX doing? It's in third place, at a steady 8.0-8.1-8.1 since the Winter book. The Big Two are always there, at least 12+. Citadel's #1-ranked country WIVK is flat (17.0-17.0). South Central’s AC "Mix" WJXB goes 10.1-10.1, keeping the double digits it earned in Phase I. Further down, Journal CHR "Star 102.1" WWST has quit dropping. Since last Summer, Star has fallen 8.1-7.8-7.7-6.0 and now has another 6.0.

 

[Big Bopper]

[Quote from: jetfli on Yesterday at 10:36:29 PM
Quote from: RMarino on Yesterday at 06:56:19 PM
Question: Since Citadel still controls what goes over the air on 100.3 until August 1, what is to stop them from ending the simulcast one week early and putting Polka on 100.3 to purge the audience of everyone except a few Bobby Vinton fans?

Now if I were still in station management, and these were my stations, I'd simulcast 100.3 and 98.7 for a week. Then I'd relegate news/talk to only 98.7. For the rest of the month, I'd program True Oldies on 100.3 — make a big deal about how we're bringing it back after being off the air for a week because "we listen to you", etc. etc. Also really hit the local nostalgia angle, "You heard these songs on 100.3 when they were new," to tug on the heart strings / memories. Then when True Oldies is no longer on the air Aug. 1, let Pirkle and company totally have to deal with the aftermath.

A couple of cute scenarions no doubt. "If I were in station management..." you say. Perhaps the reason you are not is that you do not understand business and contracts, my friend. You must take the players in this little soap opera for fool, and, hey!...maybe they are. But, with what we have learned about the Pirkles lately, my bet is that their contract with Citadel prevents such childish behavior. This theory should also answer jetfli's question about "..what's to stop them....)
Answer: the laws of business, the contract and the intelligence of at least one of the parties.

 

[jetfli]

[Quote from: jetfli on Yesterday at 10:36:29 PM
Now if I were still in station management, and these were my stations, I'd simulcast 100.3 and 98.7 for a week. Then I'd relegate news/talk to only 98.7. For the rest of the month, I'd program True Oldies on 100.3 — make a big deal about how we're bringing it back after being off the air for a week because "we listen to you", etc. etc. Also really hit the local nostalgia angle, "You heard these songs on 100.3 when they were new," to tug on the heart strings / memories. Then when True Oldies is no longer on the air Aug. 1, let Pirkle and company totally have to deal with the aftermath.

A couple of cute scenarions no doubt. "If I were in station management..." you say. Perhaps the reason you are not is that you do not understand business and contracts, my friend. You must take the players in this little soap opera for fool, and, hey!...maybe they are. But, with what we have learned about the Pirkles lately, my bet is that their contract with Citadel prevents such childish behavior. This theory should also answer jetfli's question about "..what's to stop them....)
Answer: the laws of business, the contract and the intelligence of at least one of the parties.

Oh, I understand business and contracts very well. In fact, it's much of my business today. And since my comment was more in fun than about a recommended business strategy, I really won't defend it, except to say LMAs are normally awarded to a company, rather than to a particular format. It's done, but not usually. And if there is such a clause in this contract, or more likely a clause stating that the format can't be changed without the owner's permission, then Pirkle is certainly shrewdly taking advantage of that fact by introducing his own talk format. But from Citadel's point of view, since they hold the remainder of the LMA, own 98.7, the local programming that's currently on 100.3, and the True Oldies satellite format, they could certainly pull off what I've described.

Oh, and I didn't say "what's to stop them..." That was RMarino.

 

[MN Maniac]

Hey gang...FYI, this radio happening in lil' 'ol Knoxville is attracting a lot of attention in the rest of the world, too.

I posted a quick blurb about the frequency flip, ownership status, format, etc., on my website yesterday morning. I've received several pageviews and Google hits on that article. So yeah, the world is paying attention to this one! ;D

 

[boogiecheck]

[Quote from: jetfli on Yesterday at 10:36:29 PM
Now if I were still in station management, and these were my stations, I'd simulcast 100.3 and 98.7 for a week. Then I'd relegate news/talk to only 98.7. For the rest of the month, I'd program True Oldies on 100.3 — make a big deal about how we're bringing it back after being off the air for a week because "we listen to you", etc. etc. Also really hit the local nostalgia angle, "You heard these songs on 100.3 when they were new," to tug on the heart strings / memories. Then when True Oldies is no longer on the air Aug. 1, let Pirkle and company totally have to deal with the aftermath.

A couple of cute scenarions no doubt. "If I were in station management..." you say. Perhaps the reason you are not is that you do not understand business and contracts, my friend. You must take the players in this little soap opera for fool, and, hey!...maybe they are. But, with what we have learned about the Pirkles lately, my bet is that their contract with Citadel prevents such childish behavior. This theory should also answer jetfli's question about "..what's to stop them....)
Answer: the laws of business, the contract and the intelligence of at least one of the parties.

Oh, I understand business and contracts very well. In fact, it's much of my business today. And since my comment was more in fun than about a recommended business strategy, I really won't defend it, except to say LMAs are normally awarded to a company, rather than to a particular format. It's done, but not usually. And if there is such a clause in this contract, or more likely a clause stating that the format can't be changed without the owner's permission, then Pirkle is certainly shrewdly taking advantage of that fact by introducing his own talk format. But from Citadel's point of view, since they hold the remainder of the LMA, own 98.7, the local programming that's currently on 100.3, and the True Oldies satellite format, they could certainly pull off what I've described.

Oh, and I didn't say "what's to stop them..." That was RMarino.

In their previous LMA agreement there is specific language which addresses this subject. I'm fairly certain there would be similar language in the current agreement and that language would prevent Citadel from doing anything but what they're doing today for the entire term of the agreement.

 

[BillBattle]

The licensee is always responsible for programming...that is a FCC rule. You can not LMA that away.

 

[secondchoice]

It's for real. Why would they do anything but talk? The listeners are already trained to punch that button on the radio.

Is there a bunch of big dollar local accounts that will deal only with talk radio? If so ignore the rest of this post.

Which Station in Knoxville has the biggest piece of the pie? WIVK. The News part of News / Talk can be expensive so which could be “cheaper” to run a Music or News talk. Music! If 100.3 is going to “pony up” some cash a have a good New Talk more power to them. (I forgot they have the power.) Does anybody know what a 30 or 60 goes for on WIVK? Is it that much less than a 30 or 60 on the News Talk 100.3? I guess the owners of 100.3 and Ed feel some loyalty (or pity) to Citadel. If it were me I would try to “derail” the 107.7 cash train. Even if you only get 30% of WIVK’s audience you could make some serious cash. Don’t get mad get even!

As for Rush leaving Citadel, EIB / CC needs WLS and WABC’s signal in their respective markets more than they need Knoxville. Sometimes a national deal will override a local deal.

Sorry bad sentence sturcture. When I said Citadel I was meaning Citadel's Knoxville or 98.7

 

[gr8oldies]

So did they can Shelley from the afternoon show?

 

[BillBattle]

Left turn Leverne?

 

[Fiveahead]

Left turn Leverne?

I didn't hear Shelley or Leverne all afternoon. Not that I'm missing them. Shelley is horrible on-air and Leverne never gets the traffic correct.

 

[MurvleJumpUp]

Left Turn has such a good name and Shelly is well OK, her name isn t as cool.

 

[Kent]

The licensee is always responsible for programming...that is a FCC rule. You can not LMA that away.

This is correct. FCC rules, and LMA's by definition, at the very least loosely allow the station licensee to dictate the format of the station. Of course, most of the time, the licensee just lets the lessor do pretty much anything.

 

[boogiecheck]

Left Turn is out and Shelly is supposedly on vacation.

I noticed while poking around that there is a new FaceBook page for WNOX. "WNOX News Talk 100.3".

Also noticed a lot of angry listeners making comments on both Phil and Folk's FB pages.

I love this business!

 

[MN Maniac]

Having been in this postion myself (working in radio, ownership change, corporate makes programming changes, my listeners are angry), I have to say that I really feel sorry for these guys. Especially folks like Dave and Phil who have done radio in this market over multiple decades.

The listeners don't understand that local management has NO control over this, yet the Knoxville people are the ones who take all the heat.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Having been in this postion myself (working in radio, ownership change, corporate makes programming changes, my listeners are angry), I have to say that I really feel sorry for these guys. Especially folks like Dave and Phil who have done radio in this market over multiple decades.

The listeners don't understand that local management has NO control over this, yet the Knoxville people are the ones who take all the heat.

Amen

 

[BillBattle]

"The listeners don't understand that local management has NO control over this, yet the Knoxville people are the ones who take all the heat."

Who is in charge of Knoxville Citadel...Hammond?

 

[boogiecheck]

Having been in this postion myself (working in radio, ownership change, corporate makes programming changes, my listeners are angry), I have to say that I really feel sorry for these guys. Especially folks like Dave and Phil who have done radio in this market over multiple decades.

The listeners don't understand that local management has NO control over this, yet the Knoxville people are the ones who take all the heat.

I don't know that I agree that local management had/has no control over this.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

Having been in this postion myself (working in radio, ownership change, corporate makes programming changes, my listeners are angry), I have to say that I really feel sorry for these guys. Especially folks like Dave and Phil who have done radio in this market over multiple decades.

The listeners don't understand that local management has NO control over this, yet the Knoxville people are the ones who take all the heat.

I don't know that I agree that local management had/has no control over this.

The appropriate word may be 'little' control. Maybe Hammond can blink 'SOS' in morse code next time he's saying what he's been told to say for the TV news. Or he could speak his mind and open himself to a fine career in the food service or custodial industries. Lots of people in that building can really deliver the 'you want fries with that' line with sincere authority. Their non-competes don't apply to working the mic at Burger King do they?

 

[gr8oldies]

There is not one person in Knoxville who made the decision to take Citadel to bankruptcy and cancel the lease for 100.3. This was played out on a stage far away from Knoxville. Yes, Hammons could go on TV and blast his employer. Would you?

 

[gr8oldies]

Boortz's listeners and Boortz himself were confused by what was happening here according to Boortz's Twitter feed. Boortz would say "we moved"..but not really. He'll be in the same old spot in a couple of weeks.