105.3 speculation

[OldGringo]

Gringo-

Thanks for the education. The website is a must for anyone working in radio.
I'm now confused. What would be gained by ClearChannel flipping a second signal to regional Mex?
I would love to have some revenue numbers from Viva. How do the Mexican formats rank in terms of revenue?

I don´t know anyone who has Millar Kaplan for Atlanta, and I only have the 2005 numbers. However, on its earnings call (before the sale) Clear announced some difficulties with its Spanish division, and I suspect the revenues in Atlanta are weak, even with the decent ratings. Atlanta is not a top 15 Hispanic market, so there is not much Spanish revenue to be had... it is too small a market. They are probably combo selling with the English statons, and getting some direct money, too. If they can hold out, in the long run they will do well... but so far, Spanish has not been kind to Clear overall.

The other stations are bottom feeders. WLKQ probably does $1.7, and when the top billers are doing $20 million to $40 million, that is not much.

 

[OldGringo]

What would you do at 105.3? If you did try a hispanic format, what would you do and would you make changes at Viva also?

I've seen this music live at Fiesta in Winston-Salem when I was there. They block-off several downtown streets each year for what has to be their biggest street party and pay a small fortune to bring-in all kinds of bands, DJs and performers. All money raised goes to a college fund for hispanic high school graduates. The food and the music are must see attractions. They have something for all ages and it's a good way to learn more.
[/quote]

I would make Viva a hot AC, like WAMR in Miami or KLVE in LA. And then do a second Spanish station with true regional Mexican. The AC would also serve the non-Mexican population, mostly from the Caribbean, which would accept this station by default.

 

[OgOgglby]

"with a stripper lady known affectionately as "River Deep."

Let me guess, Mr. Taylor, she must have called you "Mountain Wide"?

 

[taylorengineer]

No....she called me "train done jumped the track!"
Wonder what that meant????

 

[BIGSTICK]

They started stunting at Midnight..........

 

[clichemoth]

Do they have the transmitter power turned down? I can barely hear 105.3's "We've moved to Project 96-1" promo, yet 96.1 is coming in clear as a bell. It's usually the other way around here in east Alabama.

Nothing in this is a clue as to whether it'll be talk or regional Mexican, though.

 

[BIGSTICK]

It actually sounds clearer in Midtown where I am. Maybe they are sending the signal more North now????

 

[OldGringo]

Do they have the transmitter power turned down? I can barely hear 105.3's "We've moved to Project 96-1" promo, yet 96.1 is coming in clear as a bell. It's usually the other way around here in east Alabama.

Nothing in this is a clue as to whether it'll be talk or regional Mexican, though.

Considering the horrible tanking Viva has taken in the last couple of months, they ought to go pure regional on Viva, and forget anything else.

 

[clichemoth]

Do they have the transmitter power turned down? I can barely hear 105.3's "We've moved to Project 96-1" promo, yet 96.1 is coming in clear as a bell. It's usually the other way around here in east Alabama.

Nothing in this is a clue as to whether it'll be talk or regional Mexican, though.

Considering the horrible tanking Viva has taken in the last couple of months, they ought to go pure regional on Viva, and forget anything else.

I think you were spot-on with your earlier idea of shifting Viva away from regional and towards more of a pop/dance sound. The Hispanic demos in Atlanta are very young and not entirely Mexican. I don't think the cume and billing are there for another pure regional on FM alongside the AMs that aren't going away and are operated by owners with much more familiarity with the format.

 

[amos]

I have a different idea on what CC might do with 105.3. News/Talk. I can't help but wonder if the strange happenings at WGST are a precursor to the launch of a new News/Talk outlet.

I'm not talking about a WGST simulcast, but a wholly new station. They could move the WGST calls to the FM and put something else on the AM. Face it, no matter how good or bad WGST might have been, with no signal outside the permeter at night they certainly didn't have any listener carry-over. (kinda like WQXI-FM and jazz flavours. remember?)

Look at what WTOP did in DC. Of course they do simulcast on 820AM in Frederick, MD but that coverage is nothing compared with 1500AM. But even with their signal (1500) they had trouble in parts of the area, wich brought on the warrenton 107.7 simulcast. At 103.5 they have a good signal market-wide, and a nice forth place rating (12+).

Could CC be looking at a "new and improved" WGST on FM? The dismissed staffers are still under contract, right? If they wanted any/all of them on a new station, that would be pretty simple. The big downsize at WGST could be nothing more than a stunt.

Or will it be Regional Mexican? Punk Country?

Your thoughts?

-amos

 

[RTibbs]

Could CC be looking at a "new and improved" WGST on FM? The dismissed staffers are still under contract, right? If they wanted any/all of them on a new station, that would be pretty simple. The big downsize at WGST could be nothing more than a stunt.

Or will it be Regional Mexican? Punk Country?

Your thoughts?

-amos

Or your active imagination. I don't think you treat talent you want to keep by stunting with their jiob loss, do you really think that?

 

[BDBopper]

Starting about Midnight 105.3 started running a liner telling people to tune in a 9 AM Tuesday morning for "something completely different" andthe line is read is several languages I am guessing Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German (as well as English). I would not have noticed this because I have never been able to pick up 105.3 before last night. The liner is running over and over again between Project 9-6-1 announcements.

 

[amos]

Could CC be looking at a "new and improved" WGST on FM? The dismissed staffers are still under contract, right? If they wanted any/all of them on a new station, that would be pretty simple. The big downsize at WGST could be nothing more than a stunt.

Or will it be Regional Mexican? Punk Country?

Your thoughts?

-amos

Or your active imagination. I don't think you treat talent you want to keep by stunting with their jiob loss, do you really think that?

well, i didn't think any talent that would be on the new incarnation would have actually been fired from the AM. yes, i know i said that about them being under contract, but what i would really think is that they would be in on the stunt.

maybe it doesn't make sense, i dunno. but i'd think cc atlanta wouldn't give up completely on news-talk without at least trying it on FM. and i dont mean a simulcast of wgst.

yeah maybe it's just my imagination. lol i'm probably wrong, anyway...

 

[atlantachristmas]

Please no Spanish Format!! Bring Back 105.3 WMAX The 80s Station!
Im Hispanic but I hate all Hispanic Music 100% So please Not Another Station Playing Crappy Music!

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

By the sounds of the stunt, it could be a mixed language station? Who knows, I only wish WGST talent would pop back up here, and do things alot different.
But Im with Atlanta Christmas, no more Spanish Language stations.. We need some change..

 

[RickRose]

I have come to the conclusion it wont be a spanish language format because there is not enough money for clear channel to make with 2 fm signals with spanish language formats. I could see cc giving a talk format with Rush 12-3 and Coast to Coast overnights another shot on FM but with a whole new approach different from WGST was a week ago. I am not even thinking a Jack format would even happen at 105.3fm. I think the clues rule out Lite FM changing frequencies but I am still willing to bet Lite makes good money and will keep a prime stick. I guess a movin format may be the thing and i do not think it would hurt lite much. I say nothing would suprise me now.

 

[clichemoth]

By the sounds of the stunt, it could be a mixed language station? Who knows, I only wish WGST talent would pop back up here, and do things alot different.
But Im with Atlanta Christmas, no more Spanish Language stations.. We need some change..

Brokered ethnic 105.3 would make money for CC and it's easier than paying that pesky "talent". Maybe it'll be Atlanta's Mexican/Korean/Vietnamese/Ghanaian/Bosnian hit music station!

 

[alex32347]

how about


Mega 105.3 Latino and Pround

this could hurt 95.5 the beat and Hot 107.9

reggaetón is today´s pop. Such a station would kill Viva.

There is already Mega in Atlanta. The problem is that they are in am MEGA 1190AM playing tropical hispanic format.

 

[RickRose]

Research is telling me that CC has launched a "Party" rhythmic AC format in Denver and Vegas and with different monikers in a few other markets.

 

[RadioGaGa75]

As we know, Atlanta does not have a JACK, BOB, SAM, etc. Now there is WZGC (DAVE FM), but that station plays AAA and is jocked. While adults hits is crap in my opinion, I disagree with RR and think Adult Hits could possibly happen in this market. These stations deliver pure 25-54's and low-overhead which these agency revenue driven, "bottom line" radio corporations love. Just a thought.