680 Observations

[ChannelChanger]

While driving into work way too early Sunday morning, on came the 1:20 a.m. spot break on 680 the Fan. And there was John Kincade urging me to listen to he and Buck live from Radio Row at the SuperBowl two days ago. Nice attention to detail there. Wonder how many times that had played since Friday, given the parade of promos every spot break on that station.

I also thought it was a nice touch lasts week when Chris Rude wanted to get some listeners on the air and Perry whined about it because he didn't want to ruin the flow of his precious "Man Laws" bit that just couldn't be interrupted by someone who actually listens to the station. I'd like to think it was sarcasm, but it came off as humongous egoism.

Lest you think I'm a 680 basher, I enjoy Colin Cowherd and Buck and Kincade. Perry must be paid by the word though. Maybe it's best they just feed him his own voice in a continuous loop in his headphones. Then he can swoon over himself while the people who actually pay his salary get on the air when someone actually calls!

 

[nigeltufnel]

he shouldnt so covet a bit that has already been done.

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

I really enjoy the station. Although I will admit the guys on 680 are not near as much fun to listen to, as say are the folks on 790. 790 has got it going on. The
personality's are fun, and they make you laugh as they laugh at themselves.

 

[BDBopper]

I heard the Buck & Kincaide bit about five times over the weekend. And then of course several bits for the ALS/ Lymphoma radio-thon they are doing on Friday that shouldn't have run yet too because iit mentioned the phone number.

 

[evnlee]

I heard the Buck & Kincaide bit about five times over the weekend. And then of course several bits for the ALS/ Lymphoma radio-thon they are doing on Friday that shouldn't have run yet too because iit mentioned the phone number.

me too.

this is because David Dickie has cut back even 'producer' costs, so the guy that used to watch the Scott System is gone, or replaced with the cheaper player. Now it's up to the 10$ hour board ops to 'catch'.

But, to be fair, 790 also drops the ball on stuff like this, but I expect more out of 790 due to thier personalities being more 'entertaining' and they bill more ( IMBW ).

 

[Dixie Jock]

680 is one of the most poorly operated stations I've ever heard. It's got a decent signal, but not used properly. I'm sure the Dickies are getting their ideas and great programming wisdom from the posters on this board.

 

[Freebird Fantasia]

680 The Fan has so much potential but the surface is barely being scratched.

They are outworked at every turn by 790. Remember 680 dumped sports talk and didn't bring it back until 790 busted their rear ends and proved it could work in Atlanta.

680 has the stronger signal but that's about it. It shows the cheap route is never the way to go.

"Freebird Fantasia's information comes from a variety of sources including the World Free Press, reader tips and a vast network of inside sources within Atlanta radio."

"A bit of Fantasia, if you will."
-Gordon Solie

 

[BarryATL]

When 680 dumped sports talk it was because the LMA that Cox had expired. Cox owned all the programming... including Larry Munson... well, maybe Cox did not own Larry, but Larry stopped when the LMA expired and if I remember correctly, started a night show for awhile on WSB... I could be wrong.. Larry gets fuzzy for me.

 

[atlsportsnut]

Freebird,
I think that a lot fo what you say is right on the money, but you are way off on some too.
Super Bowl week coverage on 680 killed 790. Which station was on the cheap? As I froze my behind off back here I was shocked to hear no other 790 shows coming from the Super Bowl. They usually fall all over themselves bragging about their guests each SB year. This year B&K smoked them and had all the big names. The Stews were sucking fumes on their comparable guests.
680 always has seemed to go the cheap route, but now from what I am hearing in radio circles is that 790 is hemmoraging cash flow because of their awful situation in St. Louis. They are losing money and have been a failure there and have to take 790 profits to keep St. Louis afloat. I do not know that to be a fact, but more than one well connected radio person has shared that same story with me.
Plus, afternoon drive in sports radio is like morning drive in FM. It is clear that 790 has lost that battle to 680. The Stews came with a lot of hype, but have not managed to unseat B&K as the top sports talk dogs (no pun intended) in the market.
Also if 680 is going on the cheap I don't know how they can afford B&K. Kincade has his national show and growing ESPN exposure and Buck and him have been on top for years now. That can't be a cheap show to put together.
I think both stations need soem new blood. I think 790 needs to shake some things up. When Steak and the boys are just barely edging out 680 in the target demo 25-54, they should be ashamed.

 

[tociii]

I listen regularly to both stations with the exception of either morning show. Sometimes it can be a toss-up. I like Cowherd, but Diminos interviews are more compelling. In my opinion the worst show on either station is chernoff/smith, but only because chuck smith is one of the worst personalities on the radio. Its amazing how the quality of that show goes up when chuck oliver fills in. As for afternoon, the stews have come a long way since the beginning. I find myself laughing a whole lot more, but will listen to buck and kincade during the football season. I guess this is why the ratings seem to be so equal. Each station has its strong and weak shows.

 

[evnlee]

I listen regularly to both stations with the exception of either morning show. Sometimes it can be a toss-up. I like Cowherd, but Diminos interviews are more compelling. In my opinion the worst show on either station is chernoff/smith, but only because chuck smith is one of the worst personalities on the radio. Its amazing how the quality of that show goes up when chuck oliver fills in. As for afternoon, the stews have come a long way since the beginning. I find myself laughing a whole lot more, but will listen to buck and kincade during the football season. I guess this is why the ratings seem to be so equal. Each station has its strong and weak shows.

I think you nailed it. Here's a question: what daypart would be better for the Stews then pm drive? If you ran 790 and could put the Stews anywhere on the schedule, where do you think they do best?

 

[atlsportsnut]

That was an intruiging question! I went back to review the numbers and see that the Stews won their time slot in the target demo 25-54 Males every time but once against 680 when they were in mid-days. They won 2 of the first 3 vs. B&K in the same demo and have now lost 5 of the past 7. It would seem to me that the Stews would obliterate Dan Patrick in the 12-3 slot. Colin Cowherd might give them trouble in the noon slot, but not enough to beat them out. I would shift Monsters to afternoon drive and see what they could do to B&K and dominate with the Stews in mid-day 12-3. It is interesting to note that the Stews have been #2 in the market to B&K every time they finish first in 5 of the last 7. That means that the two most listened to shows are both in afternoon drive.

 

[evnlee]

That was an intruiging question! I went back to review the numbers and see that the Stews won their time slot in the target demo 25-54 Males every time but once against 680 when they were in mid-days. They won 2 of the first 3 vs. B&K in the same demo and have now lost 5 of the past 7. It would seem to me that the Stews would obliterate Dan Patrick in the 12-3 slot. Colin Cowherd might give them trouble in the noon slot, but not enough to beat them out. I would shift Monsters to afternoon drive and see what they could do to B&K and dominate with the Stews in mid-day 12-3. It is interesting to note that the Stews have been #2 in the market to B&K every time they finish first in 5 of the last 7. That means that the two most listened to shows are both in afternoon drive.

wasn't some of those books when the Stews were on VS Bill O Reilly when he was simulcast ( kind of ) on 680? Does it make a difference in thier target demo if they go up against Patrick? Could they have done better then BOR, but not good enough to unseat Dan Patricl? Just a thought...

 

[zoneguy]

The Stews were against O"Reilly and that was a heavy contributor to their early success. The 'non hip hop' sports audience had no sports talk alternative. It was the Stews or nothing. So the Stews were able to attract a new audience and take advantage of some sports listeners who had no other place to go.

The interesting thing is although they are not winning in afternoon, the audience is bigger. So they have more listeners by nature of the time slot. That helps 790. The problem is by being the type of show that some of the old 790 afternoon listeners will not accept, they have driven a number of listeners over to 680 where Buck and Kincaid are having real success after years of floundering. So they owe it all to the Stews..

 

[Freebird Fantasia]

I do agree that Chuck Smith is a horrible radio talk show hosts. Not sure what Steak and the boys were thinking on this one.

Bring back Chuck Oliver to middays on 790.


"Freebird Fantasia's information comes from a variety of sources including the World Free Press, reader tips and a vast network of inside sources within Atlanta radio."

"A bit of Fantasia, if you will."
-Gordon Solie

 

[rickydradio]

If 680 just invested in their product a bit more, they could be the number 2 AM station in Atlanta way ahead of 640, 790 and 920, but still behind #1 WSB!!!

Two things that would help is having the automation work correctly and have more than two promos in rotation for the 680 and 1230.

 

[atlsportsnut]

Zoneguy,
Your note made me have to go to the dreaded archives (also known as the clutter that inhabits the closet that everyone wants me to clean out!)
You said B&K owe their success to the Stews and I think that is off base. They out cumed and out rated Mayhem in the PM starting with the winetr of 2001 book after one book on the air and continued that until that Fall. They beat the Bottom Line in *** every book they competed and won the ratings battle by a 2-1 margin. Strangely enough, the toughest competition appears to have been the big show when domino and oliver were togther. They split those books. When oliver left afternoon drive B&K have won roughly 75% of the ratings books. They also have had the highest *** of any sports show since 2001, every year.
We split our ad dollars and crunch these numbers to make our spending decisions. B&K are clearly the top show in the amrket and can say that since 2001. I want a show that flounders like that in every time slot!

 

[zoneguy]

680 has always had a cume advantage. Their signal hits more people, particularly before and after sunset. But the audience rankers the agencies use, the ratings and shares had B&K usually a few tenths behind the Zone offerings in the afternoon.

The 18-34 rankers were never close and the Zone usually came out in top 25-54 as well. 680 in that period was rarely in the top ten for men in share. Since the Stews came in to afternoons, both stations have had dramatic share increases and have moved into the top ten. The windfall has much benefited B&K, numbers wise, they were not this strong three years ago.

 

[atlsportsnut]

That information does not agree with the direct data from that company we are not allowed to quote on here.
25-54 Male numbers, the only show that managed to win more books against B&K from 790 since 680 began in 2000 was The Big Show when Oliver was on it. All the other books have *** and ratings falling in favor of B&K.
Funny I talked about the closet where we keep the old hard copies, because today I was informed that I need to free up at least half that space for someone elses use!