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610 & 1560 THE GAME in Cross-Promotion War?

A

adguy

I listened to Jim Rome on 610 on Friday. That was the day of Rome's annual "Smack-Off" where the show's best callers call in with a take that will hopefully get them the "King of Smack" title for the best call. Probably more than half of the calls referred to Sean (of Sean and John of 1590 fame or semi-fame). Sean was unable to participate because of his job at a competing station to 610. Sean is regarded as the "Tiger Woods" of Rome's callers. It was interesting to listen to 1560 after Rome signed off, which I did for a while. Sean (don't know his last name) spent most of the time gloating how the Rome show promoted him and his show "down the dial".

Not once did I hear any Smack-Off caller mention the station Sean works for, but Sean and his partner John Harris must have mentioned 610 in about every sentence during the time I was listening to their show. Their show was actually quite entertaining that day. They had some of Rome's Smack-Off callers call in. If you are a Rome fan, like me, you would have found it quite entertaining, but if you were not a Rome fan or a listener of 610 you might have been prompted to tune into Rome by how many times Sean & John mentioned KILT 610 by name. If I were Ken Hoffman (whose show is up against Rome) I would have a big problem walking into work today. I would want an explanation of why they would be STRONGLY promoting one of the 2 programs that rule the AM dial each day M-F. Doesn't this go counter-intuitive to promoting your own station. When I worked in media sales I would have been fired for allowing ANYTHING that promoted another station competing directly with mine on air as an advertiser, which was an occasional happening. I know The Game will say that's why they are different than the corp owners, but here is yet another example of why the major corps are generally smart because they know if you heavily promote another station you will most certainly drive at least a few of YOUR listeners over to the competition. If I owned 1560, I would not want to sacrafice even one precious set of ears to the competitor with a much strong show than mine 11A-2P.
 
Being a listener, I thought it was lots of fun. At no point did I think about flipping the cast over to 610. It was a great show that Sean & John did. Smack-off wasnt that great this year IMO.
 
Adguy -

First, thanks for listening to our show on Friday and for mentioning that you found it entertaining. I know that for you, with respect to our show, that's not always (not ever?) the case, so I'll graciously accept the compliment. Thank you.

As for your contention that our tactics on Friday were somehow detrimental to our station and/or Ken Hoffman's show, I respectfully disagree. Our goals in doing the Smack Off post game show were to (1) encourage listeners of 610/Rome who wouldn't normally listen to our show to try and sample it (both in Houston and over the internet), (2) highlight how ludicrous the decision was for 610 to encourage Rome to not allow me in the Smack Off, and (3) give those listeners of Rome more insight into the Smack Off and the participants in four hours than 610 has given them in eleven years. Based on the numerous supportive/ecstatic emails we received and our record streaming numbers for that day (yes, I know we at 1560 don't have actual PPM numbers for that day, but indulge me for a minute), I am confident we accomplished those things.

I think the hand wringing over the Smack Off callers not mentioning 1560 by name on Friday, but John and I mentioning 610 "in about every sentence" (your words) is somewhat pointless. (I say "on Friday" because a caller on Rome actually DID mention 1560 The Game BY NAME today on his show in recapping the Smack Off). 610 is the known brand in Houston for sports talk (doesn't mean they're the best, just the best known), so if John Harris and I were to mention them cryptically (i.e. "those guys down the dial") or not at all, I think it insults people's intelligence a little bit. I can understand 610 management's stance on forbidding their personalities to mention us because not all of their listeners know about us yet (not even close), but for us to mention 610 by name? Seriously, who cares? A typical 1560 listener already knows about 610, and if they're going to switch over there, it's not John and I mentioning 610 as part of making a point that drives them to it. Moreover, it's SPORTS talk so our listeners are naturally drawn to competitive endeavors. I think people enjoy the competition between the stations (and I would include 790 and 97.5, but obviously the competition with 610 is more acute because of the many former 610 employees at 1560). Why not highlight that? Especially if we feel our product is superior (which I know you don't, at least in our timeslot, but many people do)?

The bottom line is that we as a station, top to bottom, feel Friday was a huge success for 1560. Were we right? Who the hell knows? But it was a fun show to do, it was unique, it was a chance to make the best out of 610 having Rome ban me from the Smack Off, and it was "actually quite entertaining" (again, your words). Listeners loved it. So we'll take it.

And for the record, Ken Hoffman did not want an explanation when he got back from vacation today. He did want his copy of the Wrestling Observer back that I had borrowed from him, but he was fine with the Smack Off post game show.

Thanks a lot for listening and take care,

Sean Pendergast
1560 The Game
 
What I admire about The Game, is that these cats are building from the ground up and taking their time and doing it different by breaking out of the mold. In a way, it reminds me when 610 KILT DJs moved over to 104 KRBE in the mid to late 1970s and began dismantling KILTs dominance. The comment "actually quite entertaining" is what we are all about. We are in the entertainment business. Opinions here are both objective and subjective. For 100 watts at night, The Game comes into the westside at Alief-Clodine and Kirkwood loud and clear. The Game is going to keep doing what they are doing, live or die. Personally, I hope they succeed.
 
Sean,

As you probably know by my posts, I am a big fan of 1560 and I root for you guys every day. I'm actually encouraged by the seemingly growing number of advertisers that are appearing on the station. I really believe your show will grow into something more people will listen to over time. That Smack-Off recap show was excellent and for the first time with your show found myself not wanting to go out into the part of my office where my guys listen to their IPODS (and they forbid me for putting on my "lame-o" talk shows). I think 610 is in serious trouble because of the their lack of serious talent. I love the buzz and as I have said in many a posts here that you guys should encode your signal and find out how many are listening. I have full faith that you would find more listeners than you think. Show that to the beers' and erectile dysfuctions' ad agencies and you all could be swimming in a pile-o-cash.

On your show Sean, perhaps you should focus more on callers (your sweet spot) and mix that in with prepared sports takes. That sounds a lot like Rome, but as Paula Abdul says on American Idol...make it your own. Again that show Friday was world class, better than the smack off itself IMHO. Take a hint from that and cut back on the endless top 10 lists and sophmoric crap and who knows...you might be walking into Gow's office next year writing your own ticket. If your show becomes as good as it was on Friday everyday, you guys will have an explosion of riches on your hands.

Respectfully
Adguy
 
[EDIT]
BTW, Sean, I loved all of the Ric Flair soundbites on Friday.


[EDIT-reference to deleted material]
 
Sean,

Please come to my office when you read this. You know very well that we at 1560 The Game have a strict 'incognito' policy when posting on public forums. Specifically, if you will refer to the interoffice memo dated January 17, 2008 it was pointed out that radio-info.com was a site to be viewed and not to be used to communicate. In looking at your post count I see that this was a single infraction so the punishment will be light. I will probably punish you by making you hit a couple breaks on time. That'll learn you. Remember, we do not want people to know who we are when we post. As the crossdresser Ping pointed out in Mulan we want to 'Keep 'em Guessing' and not provide any insight as to who we are and what capacity we work in. By masquerading we remain nimble and can take potshots at other people on the board or better yet mask our opinions in anonymity. We can float out trial balloons and then just disappear for a month or two giving ample time to be forgotten.

Come see me when you can.

Chance McClain
Program Director
1560 The Game
[email protected]
713-479-5346
1560.tv
 
adguy said:
That's classic! Keep up the viral marketing, no matter how big or small the forum.
Click to expand...

From a sheer numbers perspective you would be correct in the observation that radio-info is a small forum. But I like to think of this little meeting place as a fantastic sounding board. I know a lot of the people in here. I respect a lot of people in here. I particularly respect Chuck Tiller for his openness and beard. He is a great example of old school radio embracing change.

It is challenging to read some of the things in here and not take offense. But I completely understand where everyone is coming from so most of the time I don't. I do get a little pissed when I read the statements that 'they won't make it 6 months.' That was rubbish. I am angered even more by the clowns that think they have inside info as to what is going on at KGOW and then post their speculation as though it is corraborated fact.

I would venture to say that we have better client retention than any station in this market not sloganed with God Listens. And we are constantly adding new clients.

I love life.

Chance
 
Well Chance, if money were actually involved I would have won the pot when many on this forum took the under on March as the death month for 1560. Having been in media (management much of the time) and now a business owner I know that years are involved when it comes to developing a business. I know Gow is a prudent businessman (I don't know him personally) and he will spend years developing your station. I only wish there were real money involved and I would have been the house with the over/under for 1560's survival. I would have set it at 18 months and cleaned up because everyone is taking under. From what I hear now, advertising wise, it seems that you guys are starting to click. You have only been on the air for 8 months now. You'll tweak your programming over time. Remember, Fox picked up the NFL in 1993-94 just a couple of years after the media pundits declared them deceased as a "4th network". Rockets-Astros-Texans....I predict that sometime in the next 5 years you will be the flag for one of those franchises. Watch as all the "experts" come in and call me crazy or whack, but I really believe that will happen. You might move signals or get waivers to get the night stick you need. Something will happen that will take you to the next level over the next few years. You heard it here first.
 
Thanks. I agree on all counts. Especially the expanding the signal/signals.
 
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