1560 & 790 Might Have a Chance

[adguy]

Was flipping the AM dial for sports between 6 & 7AM this morning and rediscovered the competitive landscape for content. To set it up, last night both the Rockets and Astros played. It was of course the Astros 2nd game and the team has only scored 1 run. It was a critical Rockets game where a loss or win will move the team dramatically in the playoff seedings. Both teams lost which should have made the morning talk topics a no brainer. Here were the topics between 6&7 and between 8&9AM:

KBME 790: Rockets & Astros
KILT 610: Can the Texans get a Monday night game scheduled next season, 5 month from now
KGOW 1560: Best of Yesterday's shows between 6&7/Rockets & Astros beginning at 7AM

610 KILT continues to be mostly Texans talk in the morning year round. In this listener's humble opinion it opens the door to more sampling on other stations. I didn't mention ESPN on the FM dial because I only switch between AM and Sirius Satellite in the car and office.

Hey KILT, keep talking Texans/NFL talk during the climax of the NBA season and opening week in ML Baseball. You'll create an environment where another sports station can and will survive.

 

[thegame]

790 doesn't have a Chance.

 

[adguy]

Well Gamer,

At the moment you have to handicap 790 the favorite. You guys need to get John & Lance in that 6-7A hour again. I went to 790 where they were talking about the hot topics. Your station was having a "Wrap up Show". You guys are not the Howard Stern Show where his wrap up show is funny and credible. John & Lance are hands down the top morning sports team in this market. You guys still need a lot of tweaking from noon through afternoon drive. Rush, Rome, Hannity and Pallilo on 790 have got to be running over you like a 12 ton steamroller from noon on. Hell, even 950 is pulling AM numbers. Right now, 790 would have the best chance of survival as the market's other sports station if two can even make it. 1560's programming woes and Cumulus' lost FM signal give the edge to 790 today.

Taking off the rose colored glasses Gamer I think you can see my point. Don't get me wrong here. I'm in your corner. I hope you make it big, but please look at reality and make your adjustments. Good Luck!

 

[thegame]

I was talking about Chance McClain. He works at 1560.

As far as handicapping goes I would make 1560 the favorite in any match-up that does not involve stagnant, irrelevant blowhards doing the exact same show that has been done by fill-in-the-blank host since the late 1980s. All of the stations have 1560 beat in that regard. Unfortunately for the traditionalists out there it seems they have no desire or compunction of creating what is known. A local group of guys buying a stick in the woods did not give them a podium for people to listen to and learn from. It didn't give them an altar for the unconnected to stop by once a week. Instead it gave them a medium to create an inclusive culture of Houstonians centered on but not limited to sports. And it is working far better than they, or rather, we anticipated.

 

[Mediafrog+]

And it is working far better than they, or rather, we anticipated.

Then why doesn't KGOW encode for PPM's? I have nothing against The Game succeeding, but the advertisers and agencies want to see some hard numbers.

Any movement on a real nighttime signal?

 

[bigstory12]

Then why doesn't KGOW encode for PPM's? I have nothing against The Game succeeding, but the advertisers and agencies want to see some hard numbers.

COST vs. REVENUE

 

[HarryNalgas]

Instead it gave them a medium to create an inclusive culture of Houstonians centered on but not limited to sports. And it is working far better than they, or rather, we anticipated.

Unfortunately I think you've got "rose colored" bi-focals on "thegame". Adguy is right.

I'm all for believing in your product, but it sounds like 1560 is the station with the "blowhards". For me as a listener, when I tune in to listen to sports radio, I expect to hear talk about sports. The few times I have tried to give 1560 a chance have been a HUGE dissapointment. It really does sound like a bunch of guys talking about whatever they feel like talking about, no prep, no chemistry, and hard to listen to. When I listen to "The Monsters" on 790 or Palilo, I hear a lot more prep and knowledge about sports.

Let me clarify, I'm not trying to make a personal attack on "thegame" or on 1560. I would like to see independent radio like yours succeed. This is just my opinion as a LISTENER.

 

[adguy]

Great assessment HarryOrdinary!

Show prep is the key to success for any radio talk show. It's obvious in this market who preps and who doesn't. Those that don't hit you with endless lists of top 10 this or top 10 that. With the exception of John & Lance and Richard Justice that's all you get on 1560. If anything this 1560 experiment has proven is that you cannot take anybody with NO radio hosting experience and slot them in midday or afternoon drive in a top 10 market. Their "anybodies" experience include expert guests on other shows, wrestling crazed Chronicle columnists and great callers that win inocuous national radio talk show "smack offs". NONE have any radio hosting experience.

Another proven fact, although sad, is that those "corporate pieces of dung" that 1560 refers to are experienced radio operators that keep their hosts focused, on-target and prepared. When their hosts fail in any of these areas management comes down on them. Another fact: you don't take a fun-loving sales manager with little or no programming and technical experience and make him the host ass kissing GM. Your hosts, no matter how good they are, need management guidance. Without it you might end up with senseless and boring lists or an out of control personality that is boring, non-entertaining, but thinks they are because their goal is to deficate in every building in the Galleria area. NOT FUNNY/NOT ENTERTAINING.

You don't have to be a corporate piece of dung, but you need have authoritative leadership to be successful. It's not too late for the game. MAKE ADJUSTMENTS!

 

[thegame]

Unfortunately I think you've got "rose colored" bi-focals on "thegame". Adguy is right.

I'm all for believing in your product, but it sounds like 1560 is the station with the "blowhards". For me as a listener, when I tune in to listen to sports radio, I expect to hear talk about sports. The few times I have tried to give 1560 a chance have been a HUGE dissapointment. It really does sound like a bunch of guys talking about whatever they feel like talking about, no prep, no chemistry, and hard to listen to. When I listen to "The Monsters" on 790 or Palilo, I hear a lot more prep and knowledge about sports.

Wrong on prep. Wrong on chemistry. Could be right on hard to listen to, every listener has to decide. It's certainly different. Good different.

 

[HarryNalgas]

Unfortunately in this great business that is radio, you get ONE chance to make a first impression.

Regardless of what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at 1560 in regards to prep, chemistry and management. The first impression I got (and apparently other would be listeners on this board got) was that of small market, amateurish radio.

When you're going against major market pros and corporations (whether you like them or not) that demand some sort of formatics out of their hosts, you're gonna have trouble competing when you're trying to do something "different".

For example, when I feel like listening to sports, I'll check 790 first, then 97.5. If those two have nothing, I may or may not check 610. When 1560 first signed on, it was a viable 4th option. Then after numerous tune ins and not hearing knowledgable hosts, talking about sports, I don't even bother anymore.

 

[stan]

I prefer 1560 to 790 and definitely to 610. It is a matter of personal preference, but I find 610 and 97.5 unlistenable for any period of time.

 

[SPOTS FOR DOTS]

GAMER,
Man up and encode, let the reality of the marketplace unfold. Then we wouldn't be having this silly discussion.

 

[adguy]

Unfortunately in this great business that is radio, you get ONE chance to make a first impression.

Regardless of what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at 1560 in regards to prep, chemistry and management. The first impression I got (and apparently other would be listeners on this board got) was that of small market, amateurish radio.

When you're going against major market pros and corporations (whether you like them or not) that demand some sort of formatics out of their hosts, you're gonna have trouble competing when you're trying to do something "different".

For example, when I feel like listening to sports, I'll check 790 first, then 97.5. If those two have nothing, I may or may not check 610. When 1560 first signed on, it was a viable 4th option. Then after numerous tune ins and not hearing knowledgable hosts, talking about sports, I don't even bother anymore.

Gamer, no matter how hard you try to spin it, people's impressions of 1560 are what they are and right now they are not very good. As HarryOrd refers, just because it's something different doesn't mean it's worth listening to. Again, it's content, presentation and prepararation. I heard a promo for the afternoon show today. The big topic, according to the promo, "Top places where you had a hangover". I can't stress enough that no matter what you put on the air it has to be compelling by entertainment or informational value to gather listeners. I'm no expert, but I would seriously doubt hangover spots will reign in the listeners.

As for my sports preferences, in the morning it's 790 first from 6-7A. After that it's 1560. If either of those two after 7 have nothing, I'll check out 610. After 11A I'm on 740 or 610 only. After 3P, 790 is my first choice, followed by 610. 1560 and 97.5 don't even get a test drive anymore. Actually, as I have previously posted I don't tune into FM period.

 

[Sly Fox]

I can't imagine that the content that is on middays & afternoons on the Game is what Gow had in mind when he ponied up. It is a shame that John & Lance's show is withering away in relative anonymity. Is Hoffman still on the air? I haven't tried after the mornings on 1560 in months. And the afternoon guys need to graduate out of middle school.

I would assume all of the Clear Channel sale issues are buying the 790 guys some more time to find an audience. I admit the Monsters are finding their legs although the Mens Room just isn't working for me. Obviously that is just my personal taste. I generally don't even listen to 610 anymore except for the occasional drop by Rome or Rockets games. Their morning show is flat out boring and the afternoons have developed into the same lame arguments everyday. I'm actually sampling more of the ESPN programming on 97.5 and growing a taste for national product. But they have to do something with their afternoon show. Until Calvin comes on I can't handle the Bottom Line's cast of characters rambling about whatever happens to be on their mind at the second. But I hate to admit this but Calvin is really growing on me. He's out there but he's entertaining.

 

[thegame]

I can't imagine that the content that is on middays & afternoons on the Game is what Gow had in mind when he ponied up. It is a shame that John & Lance's show is withering away in relative anonymity. Is Hoffman still on the air? I haven't tried after the mornings on 1560 in months. And the afternoon guys need to graduate out of middle school.

If by middle school you are referring to Brown and Notre Dame then they have graduated.

 

[airwave999]

How embarassing for Brown & Notre Dame.

 

[HarryNalgas]

If by middle school you are referring to Brown and Notre Dame then they have graduated.

Yet once again... proof that reality DOES NOT MATTER!!

Perception is the only truth in radio!

They could've went to Harvard and Yale and if they sound like they're in George Washington Jr High then to a listener THAT is reality.

 

[schmave]

Unfortunately in this great business that is radio, you get ONE chance to make a first impression.

Regardless of what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at 1560 in regards to prep, chemistry and management. The first impression I got (and apparently other would be listeners on this board got) was that of small market, amateurish radio.

When you're going against major market pros and corporations (whether you like them or not) that demand some sort of formatics out of their hosts, you're gonna have trouble competing when you're trying to do something "different".

For example, when I feel like listening to sports, I'll check 790 first, then 97.5. If those two have nothing, I may or may not check 610. When 1560 first signed on, it was a viable 4th option. Then after numerous tune ins and not hearing knowledgable hosts, talking about sports, I don't even bother anymore.

Gamer, no matter how hard you try to spin it, people's impressions of 1560 are what they are and right now they are not very good. As HarryOrd refers, just because it's something different doesn't mean it's worth listening to. Again, it's content, presentation and prepararation. I heard a promo for the afternoon show today. The big topic, according to the promo, "Top places where you had a hangover". I can't stress enough that no matter what you put on the air it has to be compelling by entertainment or informational value to gather listeners. I'm no expert, but I would seriously doubt hangover spots will reign in the listeners.

As for my sports preferences, in the morning it's 790 first from 6-7A. After that it's 1560. If either of those two after 7 have nothing, I'll check out 610. After 11A I'm on 740 or 610 only. After 3P, 790 is my first choice, followed by 610. 1560 and 97.5 don't even get a test drive anymore. Actually, as I have previously posted I don't tune into FM period.

If I don't get up from my desk and change the radio to Rome, it's all 790 all day for me after Cowherd in the morning over on 97.5. I listen to a decent portion of Charlie Pallilo every single day ... there's not another host in this town that compares. I never listen to another sports talk show when Pallilo is on.
610 is almost completely unlistenable outside 11-2 ... I like Rich Lord but not one other host on the station. All Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler do is try to outscream each other or whoever is in the studio with them.
Whoever thought up Vandermeer and Ware for the morning show is beyond hope.
I listen to 97.5 for the national stuff and can't get 1560 in my office. And since when did they cease the 1480 simulcast after dark? That station puts a very nice lobe toward my League City/Friendswood-area home at night.

 

[adguy]

Schave, if ask 100 people who listen to all the sports stations as you and I do I really believe you would get 90 of them to express the same sentiments you just blogged on this board. My group of friends all think the same way you do. Had it not been for crap just about everywhere else 610 might be in another format by now. If you took Pallilo, Lord, John & Lance and mixed in quality of Rome or Cowherd and put them all on one station in this market, you have a powerhouse. Problem being, they are all on different stations surrounded by crap with the somewhat exception of 790. As this thread started out, they have the best talent over all with Palillo strongly leading the way.

To accomplish that goal of getting the best talent to one station you need lots of $$$'s and strong management and that is nothing but a pipe dream in this market.

Note to Gow: you should read this board and take heed. Improve your station or get to that paid programming.
[/quote]

 

[thegame]

note to adguy - Thank you for your support and suggestions however the programming we have in place now is more fun and more profitable than any of your suggestions.