770 WABC Number 1 ?

[TheBigA]

They don't fit one mold, but they get steered/assigned into finite categories based upon who is paying for the information.

Sometimes it's not about who you're for, but who and what you're against. That seems to be the case with WABC.

There are still an amazing amount of potential listeners in Market #1 that will be around for another decade plus.

A lot of people, but a small percentage of the market. Then again, no station has a 50% share. In fact FCC rules say no pne group can own 50% of the market share.

 

[Tibbs4]

Sometimes it's not about who you're for, but who and what you're against. That seems to be the case with WABC.



A lot of people, but a small percentage of the market. Then again, no station has a 50% share. In fact FCC rules say no pne group can own 50% of the market share.

Agreed! Similar small percentage to the shares of say a New York supermarket store chain, or a con-venience store chain, but I bet his radio station is far less profitable. You know I have always said the wealth is in attracting the right small percentage of people. Especially when you can't compete to draw in the masses.

Off the cuff unanswerable question of the day, BigA - what if, hypothetically, EMF bought all the other AM talk signals tomorrow and flipped. What would John's numbers be then? (I have to say, I am still impressed by the number of people figuring out how to get to the AM dial to listen to WABC in 2025. I had never really given it much thought until the last few days.)

 

[TheBigA]

What would John's numbers be then?

My sense is that his listeners listen to him, not generic talk radio. They want what he's delivering, and it's very specific. That's why I agree with those who say his message may not have the sane success when run on stations in other markets. If the other talk stations go away, that wouldn't change what those listeners want from the radio. They aren't going to change their opinions or preferences, and Cats isn't trying to appeal to everyone.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Something occurred to me as I was reading the newest posts in this thread, and it has to do with a huge lack of understanding of the industry by people who still feel compelled to post.

That "demographic" on RD will always blame "the agencies" while the professionals correctly point out that the agencies are following the instructions of their clients ... the businesses who are being advertised.

These are, more or less, the same people who say "consultants ruined radio" while oblivious to the fact that consultants, for the most part, make recommendations which station managers and owners implement if they feel those are worthy.

And no matter how many times this is explained, they will say it again the next time they have a chance. It reminds me of the "repeating a physics experiment in the expectation of a different result" definition, usually misattributed to Albert Einstein, of insanity.

Asked and answered should be enough, but around here it isn't. Maybe there needs to be a rule or two about that.

 

[wadio]

Something occurred to me as I was reading the newest posts in this thread, and it has to do with a huge lack of understanding of the industry by people who still feel compelled to post.

That "demographic" on RD will always blame "the agencies" while the professionals correctly point out that the agencies are following the instructions of their clients ... the businesses who are being advertised.

These are, more or less, the same people who say "consultants ruined radio" while oblivious to the fact that consultants, for the most part, make recommendations which station managers and owners implement if they feel those are worthy.

And no matter how many times this is explained, they will say it again the next time they have a chance. It reminds me of the "repeating a physics experiment in the expectation of a different result" definition, usually misattributed to Albert Einstein, of insanity.

Asked and answered should be enough, but around here it isn't. Maybe there needs to be a rule or two about that.

Nah, just change the name of the forum from RadioDiscussions to RadioInsistence. Then the "experts" can cover their ears and never have to get upset about dissenting opinions or new ideas.

Fo-rum: "A place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged."

 

[radiofan2023]

Something occurred to me as I was reading the newest posts in this thread, and it has to do with a huge lack of understanding of the industry by people who still feel compelled to post.

That "demographic" on RD will always blame "the agencies" while the professionals correctly point out that the agencies are following the instructions of their clients ... the businesses who are being advertised.

These are, more or less, the same people who say "consultants ruined radio" while oblivious to the fact that consultants, for the most part, make recommendations which station managers and owners implement if they feel those are worthy.

And no matter how many times this is explained, they will say it again the next time they have a chance. It reminds me of the "repeating a physics experiment in the expectation of a different result" definition, usually misattributed to Albert Einstein, of insanity.

Asked and answered should be enough, but around here it isn't. Maybe there needs to be a rule or two about that.

That's what the ignore feature is for

 

[K.M. Richards]

Nah, just change the name of the forum from RadioDiscussions to RadioInsistence. Then the "experts" can cover their ears and never have to get upset about dissenting opinions or new ideas.

Fo-rum: "A place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged."

I agree, but you missed my point.

Dissenting opinions or new ideas based upon those two fundamental, non-alterable facts, because of misconceptions that are dismissed because those do not fit the narrative of the idea or view being expressed, render that idea a non-starter and the view irrelevant.

The person who thinks their participation in a forum allows them to redefine the realities is misusing same.

 

[wadio]

I agree, but you missed my point.

Dissenting opinions or new ideas based upon those two fundamental, non-alterable facts, because of misconceptions that are dismissed because those do not fit the narrative of the idea or view being expressed, render that idea a non-starter and the view irrelevant.

The person who thinks their participation in a forum allows them to redefine the realities is misusing same.

I won't contest that, but I have to admit I really don't understand it.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I won't contest that, but I have to admit I really don't understand it.

Simplified: Redefining the lack of advertising dollars for older demographics as being the fault of the agencies, when the blame is on the advertisers themselves dictating the parameters of a buy, does not make any statement based on that redefinition correct.

And saying "consultants are to blame for ruining radio" when it is the station management's decision whether or not to implement the advice of the consultant, similarly makes any statement based on that misconception rejectable on its face.

 

[Weiserguy]

Simplified: Redefining the lack of advertising dollars for older demographics as being the fault of the agencies, when the blame is on the advertisers themselves dictating the parameters of a buy, does not make any statement based on that redefinition correct.

And saying "consultants are to blame for ruining radio" when it is the station management's decision whether or not to implement the advice of the consultant, similarly makes any statement based on that misconception rejectable on its face.

Here's one of the problems, K.M. You're a pro, so you understand the definition of terms in a narrow, technically accurate way. @wadio, @Tall-guy and some other participants (probably including me) have a more generic understanding of the meaning of those terms, not nearly as nuanced. To them, consultant = management, or agency = advertiser.

I am an I.T. pro (or at least I used to be). My education was in electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science. I've got a First Phone that I did not go to a trade school to acquire. Among many other challenges, I managed part of the buildout of the broadband internet. I guarantee we could sit down over a beer and discuss your various computer experiences, and I could stop you dozens of times to correct your misunderstanding of how that technology works, or is designed. That doesn't make you stupid, it just means you've had no need to acquire that deep an understanding of a technology that you use as a tool. Those of us who have programmed those machines, developed or debugged software applications, if we want to do the job right, have needed to have that level of expertise.

Those folks you criticize likewise haven't needed the level of understanding that you (and the other pros) bring to the discussion.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Here's one of the problems, K.M. You're a pro, so you understand the definition of terms in a narrow, technically accurate way. @wadio, @Tall-guy and some other participants (probably including me) have a more generic understanding of the meaning of those terms, not nearly as nuanced. To them, consultant = management, or agency = advertiser.

You are absolutely correct.

But the clarification has been made dozens of times -- perhaps hundreds, given how long RD has been around -- and the same people who were corrected are making statements contrary to the facts which they have been exposed to over and over again.

Those folks you criticize likewise haven't needed the level of understanding that you (and the other pros) bring to the discussion.

Not until they started posting. Then, once told that the facts are opposite to their misperceptions, it is their responsibility to learn and not continue as if we are wrong and they are right on their definitions.

As I said earlier ... practically a textbook example of the definition of insanity which is falsely attributed to the late Albert Einstein but appears to only go as far back as a 1991 document from Narcotics Anonymous.

 

[wadio]

Simplified: Redefining the lack of advertising dollars for older demographics as being the fault of the agencies, when the blame is on the advertisers themselves dictating the parameters of a buy, does not make any statement based on that redefinition correct.

And saying "consultants are to blame for ruining radio" when it is the station management's decision whether or not to implement the advice of the consultant, similarly makes any statement based on that misconception rejectable on its face.

OK, got it.

It wasn't my intention to point fingers at any specific parties, just to discuss why or why not the current situation is perfect or perhaps could be improved.

For example, it's been my opinion for years that an impediment to audio streaming is the lack of a simple, comprehensive interface.

Now iHeart, to their credit, has implemented and are touting "presets." It's about time!

But I'll bet if I'd mentioned it here (maybe I did) Someone would have found a reason to defend the status quo.

 

[davideduardo]

For example, it's been my opinion for years that an impediment to audio streaming is the lack of a simple, comprehensive interface.

Now iHeart, to their credit, has implemented and are touting "presets." It's about time!

But I'll bet if I'd mentioned it here (maybe I did) Someone would have found a reason to defend the status quo.

I do not think so. One of the reasons whey there was no standard, simple interface is that each audio service provider wanted to develop their own system. That ended up being confusing. The iHeart system has its defects, such as ads even before you can sample the content, but is somewhat of an improvement. Its defect is that it always will have the "home team advantage".

 

[wadio]

I do not think so. One of the reasons whey there was no standard, simple interface is that each audio service provider wanted to develop their own system. That ended up being confusing. The iHeart system has its defects, such as ads even before you can sample the content, but is somewhat of an improvement. Its defect is that it always will have the "home team advantage".

I agree, it's a step in the right direction but not perfect.

I use a separate app for streaming that requires sniffing out and entering the station URLs, which takes some time and effort, but it works well. I don't notice many pre-roll ads so maybe they're added by the iHeart app?

For streaming to be really easy and pleasant to use would require three things, IMO:

• An independent interface with no sign-up and no ads
• No pre-roll ads
• Consistent audio levels

But that's a subject for another thread.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I use a separate app for streaming that requires sniffing out and entering the station URLs, which takes some time and effort, but it works well. I don't notice many pre-roll ads so maybe they're added by the iHeart app?

As you might expect, I have multiple streams to listen to (one per station that I have any programming responsibility for). I use the VLC player, which allows me to enter the direct URL for the stream and then create a desktop/start menu shortcut with that URL already embedded. Maybe that would work for you?

And yes, accessing streams directly by URL does bypass app-added ads.

 

[wadio]

Thanks, K.M.

On the phone I use Custom Radio Player.

At home VLC works great. I enable looping so if there's a glitch in the stream it will restart by itself.

I went a step further and installed FBT Task Scheduler to set up kind of a virtual radio station with the shows I listen to on various stations. One schedule for weekdays, one for Saturday, one for Sunday. It's like the old days of having a favorite station with no weekend infomercials.

It would be great if something like that was readily available and easy to use. I don't know the ramifications for the broadcast industry, but streaming seems to be improving. I hear a lot more useful and local ads lately.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Thanks, K.M.

On the phone I use Custom Radio Player.

At home VLC works great. I enable looping so if there's a glitch in the stream it will restart by itself.

Did you know there is now a VLC app for Android phones?

 

[wadio]

Did you know there is now a VLC app for Android phones?

CRP works well so far but I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[Karl]

Current weekend lineup for the #1 Station in the Galaxy

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

Much depends on how far Catsamis .... Catstadits ..... Mr. Cats -- wants to extend his his model trainset and village.
For example, he expressed interest -- last year, was it? -- in buying a NYC-area FM. Makes one wonder what kind of response, or share numbers, or influence a mostly WABC simulcast on, say, WAWZ 99.1 would actually garner, or on neighboring 98.7's sticker-shock dummy load.

Reminds me of years back, when fellow NYC Greek-American Telly Savalas dropped by our station on a Sunday morning to say hello to his brother Teddy, who did a Greek Hour then. My girlfriend and I bought him a few Tootsie Pops at the 7-11 and bribed him for an autograph and a chuckle.
He seemed more interested in her than me ('And who might this be?' he inquired, kissing her hand) but we got around to talking radio, and he mentioned maybe buying a station. I ventured that AM was dead; that he might think of picking up some FM. 'You wouldn't want to buy up a bunch of AM stations.' I never forgot his NYC-tinged answer. It was almost one word. 'Oh no WHY NOT??'
Oddly, at that time, I mentioned that there was an all-Greek AM station in quite Greco-centric Tarpon Springs for a while. 1470, a daytimer -- the old rocker WCWR. My girl and I spent a few days in the area, and every other shop on the sponge-fishing/souvenir docks had them playing. But I guess Kojak and Cats embraced larger visions.