Anybody want to discuss 96Rock? According to jbaxter they’re loosing money despite good local am/pm drive shows and Braves baseball. Unbelievable…Was 96Rock just the wrong choice for the Braves, or did Clear Channel simply pay too much for them?
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96Rock, The Braves, and TRG
- Thread starter DashRiprock
- Start date
Could it be time to flip 96Rock to 96Talk? It might be a good spot for GST to simulcast on FM.
Is the classic rock format dying in other markets?
Is the classic rock format dying in other markets?
R
radiocat
Guest
how could 96 rock be a bad choice for the braves? big f.m . stick, millions every year for the broadcast rights and i doubt they are LOSING money.. maybe not hitting big projections but the station is in the black. currently top 10 25-54 and 18-34 that's with a huge river debut. 5 rock stations in atlanta... none of them are performing like they would like too.
I have read elsewhere that the 96Rock/Braves deal is the most expensive in baseball. If that is the case no wonder why it is hard to make a buck on the deal. Plus they do not have a lot of ancillary programming around the Braves to increase the Braves related income. I think GST was supposed to fill that void and I think for awhile they did have a Sunday morning sports show with Madman and Pete Davis?
radiocat said:
Agreed. I'd have to think the Braves are thrilled to have the games broadcast on 96rock. I heard Pete Van Weren say the other day that the Braves Radio Network is the largest of any sports team in the country. If it is true that 96 is losing money, I don't think that affects the Braves in the least. With Turner South losing the Braves announcers, and now with TBS dropping most of their Braves games after next year, the radio broadcast may be more poular than ever.
Regarding a format change, I really don't think "96 Talk" would work. 96rock is a known brand here in Atlanta, and I think anything other than a music format would be a disaster. Real Radio FM talk was tried a few years back and failed. That was run by the very same people who would run a 96 FM Talk format, so why would the results be any different?
J
jbaxter
Guest
If you like losing 7 million year on the deal and having lower ratings than when you acquired broadcast rights then it's a match made in heaven.
96 rock has been here for decades and the idea of a rock format is pretty stable, they just limit it too much. IMO, they are catering to loser male rednecks today and that limits their audience to loser male rednecks. I notice that every morning, 15 minutes after TRG ends they play a Skynard song, like clockwork. They do have the DUI and divorce lawyer advertising cornered though.
K
Knowsnews2
Guest
Clear Channel overpaid for the Braves package in a HUGE way. The are paying for the rights, by far, than any other station in any other market.
Add to that the down year the Braves are having, plus the spread of satellite radio (allowing anyone to hear the Braves, thus making affiliate fees worth less), and you get the idea.
When they acquired the rights, they took on a contract that will drag them down for years.
Add to that the down year the Braves are having, plus the spread of satellite radio (allowing anyone to hear the Braves, thus making affiliate fees worth less), and you get the idea.
When they acquired the rights, they took on a contract that will drag them down for years.
I listen to 96Rock for TRG and Braves. Classic rock is OK, but I would welcome a flip to talk. IMO, Real Radio failed because it just wasn’t that good, and it was not a GST simulcast, it was a competitor.
If 96 is making money, don’t change a thing. Anybody know for sure?
If 96 is making money, don’t change a thing. Anybody know for sure?
DashRiprock said:
Classic Rock is alive in Atlanta. It is on a station called "97.1 The River"
Just like the WSB/WGST wars, Cox is clearly winning this one. Both 96 Rock and the River have similar playlists (Only the River is softer leaning). Plus, the River is music 24/7. 96 only plays music part-time now, thanks to the Braves and The Regular Guys.
The River has won this war, as has been proven by the ratings. Like WGST, 96 Rock should turn off the lights because the party is over.
K
karlrove
Guest
[/quote]
The River has won this war, as has been proven by the ratings. Like WGST, 96 Rock should turn off the lights because the party is over.
[/quote]
Oh yeah, well how were YOUR ratings? What kind of a month did YOU have?
Oh sorry, just figured I'd save radiocat the trouble.
The River has won this war, as has been proven by the ratings. Like WGST, 96 Rock should turn off the lights because the party is over.
[/quote]
Oh yeah, well how were YOUR ratings? What kind of a month did YOU have?
Oh sorry, just figured I'd save radiocat the trouble.
9
96atl
Guest
I think it's too soon to declare The River the winner. I feel 96Rock will win in the end, not even including The Braves and The Regular Guys, they have a better product. They have a bigger playlist and are more personality-driven. I do wish they would go back to being a overall rock station- stay "Classic" for the most part- but go even deeper and harder and more into the 80's/90's.
To declare The River the "winner" in the classic rock war at this juncture shows an astonishing level of ignorance about radio and ratings. They've had one, MAYBE two, full books at the most, and it's very common for new stations to post big curiosity-tune-in numbers out of the box (Dave FM, anybody?) The River will continue to drop and become a non-factor. Classic rock is a dead format.96atl said:
A
atlradiofan3
Guest
The river needs to remain on top for the next 15 years or so before I'm ready to declare them the 'winner'. As a native of Atlanta 96Rock has been 96Rock as long as I can remember. I'm not sure if there is any other FM station that has such an enduring legacy. I do think 96Rock is going through a tough time. The braves were a mistake. The RG lite are over. The playlist needs refreshing but I for one would like to see a return to a more southern rock playlist. I, for one, like Skynyrd.
I expect 96 Rock to win out over the River in the long run. 96 Rock is just better in all areas--programming, Atlanta signal, imaging, etc. I think the River's early ratings were just a function of trial, tons of TV advertising, no commercials at the start, and maybe a break from hearing jocks for a little while, until listeners decided they'd rather hear them again.
R
radiocat
Guest
The River has won this war, as has been proven by the ratings. Like WGST, 96 Rock should turn off the lights because the party is over.
[/quote]
Oh yeah, well how were YOUR ratings? What kind of a month did YOU have?
Oh sorry, just figured I'd save radiocat the trouble.
thanks for the help.
[/quote]
R
radiocat
Guest
jbaxter said:
why don't you and karl let us all know, what you would do with 96 rock? since the 2 of you seem to know it all and surley have great track records in radio programming.. we would love to get your insight.
J
jbaxter
Guest
radiocat said:
They made a good start today by getting rid of that imbecile Marc Chase whose programming skills were "surley" as bad as his spelling.
B
backdoor
Guest
If I had My way they would flip to talk and put on Scott Ferrell(not sure how You spell his last name)on after TRGs.I know that wont happen,but i can dream.
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