1560 KGOW

[Turbodawg]

Is the reason 1560 plays all those in-station ads about themselves is the lack of paid advertising to run there. ??? :-\

 

[Holstead]

I would also assume that the chatter between producer and host(s) would be due to a lack of calls to the station.

 

[adguy]

Actually it sounds like over the last month or so they have different advertisers, but the large number of self promotions is of course the wide open state of their ad inventory. Until they encode their signal for PPMs they will go nowhere. No matter how well their GM Richard Topper knows the Houston Ad Agency community they won't jump on board with no proof of audience. I'm sure KGOW's failure to encode their signal is sign to the ad community that they are arrogant about themselves and their supposed large and loyal audience confiscated from the other sports stations in town. As a buyer myself, I stay as far away from that kind of situation as possible. I wouldn't touch them with the proverbial 100 foot pole until they proved they really have an audience in any daypart.

I do think the station is pretty good from 7A-12Noon. They have some real challenges from noon through 7P.

 

[RADIOGM]

Yeah - they have a huge problem most of the day, especially when Ken Hoffman and others come on. No money coming in to support them competing with other Houston radio stations.

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming. It is the only way that the station can maybe make it. Unless you think that LSU football this fall will do it for them!

RGM

 

[adguy]

That would be the logical next step in their evolutionary process. They need to dump Hoffman and the two afternoon 2-6P hosts. If they can't produce revenue other than their current friends and relatives within the next 6 months I can certainly see the situation where Gow will start dumping the station. I hope they make it just to show that local ownership is still a viable option for the survival of local terrestrial radio.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming.

Syndicated programming from where? Anyone want to conbribute their two cents about shows out there that aren't currently cleared in this market?

 

[Turbodawg]

They need to dump Hoffman and the two afternoon 2-6P hosts.

I like Hoffman and I enjoyed him when he worked with Pat Gray. I can not listen to his show. That idiot they have on with is so horrible my ears bleed.

 

[OldChicago]

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming.

Syndicated programming from where? Anyone want to conbribute their two cents about shows out there that aren't currently cleared in this market?

Perhaps the can strike an affiliation agreement with Air America.

OLD CHICAGO

 

[adguy]

They need to dump Hoffman and the two afternoon 2-6P hosts.

I like Hoffman and I enjoyed him when he worked with Pat Gray. I can not listen to his show. That idiot they have on with is so horrible my ears bleed.

I agree. Hoffman's problem is that idiot he has seemingly voluteered to team with. I enjoy Hoffman's Chronicle column and enjoyed him on air with Pat Gray also, but he has created an abortion of entertainment on his own with this station. Hoffman needs to be someone's permanent guest, not a host.

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming.

Syndicated programming from where? Anyone want to conbribute their two cents about shows out there that aren't currently cleared in this market?

Perhaps the can strike an affiliation agreement with Air America.

OLD CHICAGO

AIR AMERICA! Didn't they go under? And I'm sure that wise programming move would put KGOW way ahead of Rush, Hannity and Jim Rome during the early and late afternoon. LOL

KGOW needs a host the likes of Charlie Pallilo or Rich Lord. Those guys are the gold standards in Houston sports talk. Unfortunately for KGOW, their lame afternoon programming competes with that. If they don't tackle that problem soon you'll see paid programming. Gow will certainly see more revenue from brokered time than he will ever hope to see from that lame lineup he has on now.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Gow will certainly see more revenue from brokered time than he will ever hope to see from that lame lineup he has on now.

Which is probably what they will be doing next year at this time. Still plenty of programmers who would love the air time.

Just make sure the check clears first.

 

[streetbeat]

I guess I don't understand the KGOW bashing here. I'm a listener with no connection to the station or any of its hosts. I think for a start-up, they're doing well. John and Lance are pretty much like they were at 610, minus the "sports flashes" and some of the restrictions they had over there. Richard Justice is about as connected as any host around and has gotten better on the air. Sean and John are both very knowledgeable and are also getting better with the technical aspects of doing a daily radio show. Okay, I'll concede Hoffman is probably the weak link here, but even his show (with his somewhat annoying co-host) isn't that bad. Assuming Hoffman and Rahil (?) are both single, I don't think their show is the best forum to find new dates, but I digress......

I just don't get the doom and gloom posts I see here. I've heard a lot of sports/guy talk radio over the years and 1560 really isn't that bad for a new station. People have to understand that it takes time to build an advertiser base and fine-tune the shows. You don't turn into WFAN overnight. As I recall, the Ticket in Dallas wasn't an instant hit either.

Just my two cents. I enjoy The Game, and with a few tweaks, I think it could grow into a really listenable sports station.

P.S. I know getting up early sucks, but why the heck does their morning show start at 7 am? Do they realize how many cars are on the freeways at 6 am? Seems like a missed opportunity to win new listeners, all because I assume the hosts don't feel like getting up earlier.

 

[thegame]

Considering there is absolutely nobody more inside than me I can assure you that you are absolutely full of crap. But hey - any pub is good pub right?

Yeah - they have a huge problem most of the day, especially when Ken Hoffman and others come on. No money coming in to support them competing with other Houston radio stations.

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming. It is the only way that the station can maybe make it. Unless you think that LSU football this fall will do it for them!

RGM

 

[stevenNOLA]

Thanks for carrying LSU football. It's nice not to have to flip between WWL-870 & KWKH-1130.

 

[adguy]

Considering there is absolutely nobody more inside than me I can assure you that you are absolutely full of crap. But hey - any pub is good pub right?

Yeah - they have a huge problem most of the day, especially when Ken Hoffman and others come on. No money coming in to support them competing with other Houston radio stations.

I heard from some insiders that KGOW is about to fire a good chunk of the talent staff and mostly go syndicated programming. It is the only way that the station can maybe make it. Unless you think that LSU football this fall will do it for them!

RGM

Hey, you sound like Granato. If you are, keep pluggin' away. As I have posted, the station is very good up to noon. After that it's tough. Hoffman and his sidekick are pretty lame, but if Hoffman ditches the sidekick he might be better. Sean & John absolutely cannot compete with Lord, Pallilo and Hannity. That's a difficult situation, but I trust you guys will make the right moves down the line. And when are you going to get Trailer Wheel & Frame as an advertiser? Granato, if you're the insider, those spots you ran on KILT

 

[adguy]

Sorry for the abrupt ending. I think I hit the wrong button typing. Anyway, I was pointing out that Granato's spots for Trailer, Wheel & Frame were the funniest things I have heard on Houston radio in years. Good luck, I hope it works out.

----Adguy

 

[SPOTS FOR DOTS]

To grow and substain audience cume, radio stations have to offer programming that is relevant and compelling. Other than the morning show, there is no game. The clock is ticking.

 

[VladTheImpaler]

I'm listening to The Game more and more. I've grown weary of caller-driven sports radio. The same mouth-breathers with the same opinions call in to the same shows day after day.

KGOW is more like a bunch of guys sitting around in somebody's garage drinking beer. Sports talk predominates, but also discussed are movies, music, politics, etc. Nothing is out of bounds.

 

[Dragrage]

There is our old buddy "Spot for pennies" again. What radio station are you benefiting. I know they are loving your positive bright outlook. Which sports talk station are you referring to with all of this compelling thought provoking content. For the most part, they all have pretty much the same content. The time is ticking? Wow, i am just hanging on waiting for the next gem!

 

[adguy]

To grow and substain audience cume, radio stations have to offer programming that is relevant and compelling. Other than the morning show, there is no game. The clock is ticking.

Actually, Richard Justice is excellent. If you're a hard core sports fan he has great relevent and educated takes on most sports topics and always gets compelling guests. After that however SFD I believe you are correct. It's an empty shell of some of the most ghastly radio on air in this market. As I professed earlier in the thread, Hoffman needs to ditch his sidekick and get off wrestling, fishing and other non-interesting topics. He might have a chance, but on the talk side he is up against Rush and Jim Rome. That's too tough and unsurmountable competition. The afternoon guys are lame at best and as I blogged earlier in the thread, cannot hold a candle to Pallilo on 790 or Lord on 610. Again, waaaaaaaaay too much and much better competition on TWO stations in a market where two at best can fill up all the needs of the sports junkie and the advertisers in this market. I'm starting to believe that KGOW has to flip or dramatically change at some point before Gow tires of losing money. I still think it will be after a year on the air (August or Sept).

 

[bigstory12]

Adguy - I think Richard Justice has his moments but overall is a little weak. I've tuned in when he had his daughter on-air calling from UT to talk about "pop culture." If you consider this a "compelling guest" you may want to raise your standards just a bit. Why do you think he went from 2 hours solo to only 1? I'm sure he found out doing 2 hours of radio by yourself was harder than expected. That's why John & Lance do the 10a hour with him. Outside of J & L I think the station is just not that good. Taking a chance on talent that has never hosted their own shows was risky and it sounds like it. I've listened in a prime AM drive hour and only heard 4 or 5 commercials and those were all endorsements brought over from the other station. Those relationships will only last so long. I wish them well.