98.3 in Fayetteville

[dday]

Cumulus set to turn 98.3 in Fayetteville to Sports. I cant tell you how brilliant this is. There are a whole 3-4 12+ shares of sports in this market and now there will be 4 sports stations. Whatever happened to hitting them where they aint. They will now surge from their 2 share on 98.3 to the lofty heights of a 2.3. Money will be coming out of their ears. People will be promoted. How many GM's have been through those doors now in 10 years? I lost count. Its no wonder people love their I-pods and XM and Sirius and Internet Radio when all we do in this medium is duplicate the same stuff.

 

[Kent]

I agree. Taking 98.3 sports is a very good move. Given the spirit of Razorback fans, 98.3 will do very well. If Little Rock is any indication, it should get good numbers and bill even better as sports is one of only two formats with a power ratio even close to 2:1.

Quite frankly, I never understood how that station stayed country so long. Even going back to when it signed on, it just wasn't very good. I do hope, however, that the jocks land on their feet.

 

[ARRadio1]

What jocks?

 

[Bat Fastard]

<<<"Quite frankly, I never understood how that station stayed country so long. Even going back to when it signed on, it just wasn't very good.">>>

It wasn't allowed to be any better. A series of unbelievably stupid corporate decisions and ZERO worthwhile support from the corporate level kept it from any form of improvement. Anyone who ever came into this cesspool was handcuffed to start with....especially the supervisors. Those below supervisor simply didn't matter and part-timers didn't make as much as someone who worked the french fry bin at Mickey D's. (seriously)

Remember, these are the same rocket scientists who KNEW they could beat KIX-104 with a series of on-air promos that told the listeners to "make the switch".

I'll let that sink in for a minute.

If you told them what bovine excrement the idea was, then you had a bad attitude.

I'm at peace with myself about that. A bad attitude beats a bad smell every time.

 

[Kent]

It wasn't allowed to be any better. A series of unbelievably stupid corporate decisions and ZERO worthwhile support from the corporate level kept it from any form of improvement. Anyone who ever came into this cesspool was handcuffed to start with....especially the supervisors. Those below supervisor simply didn't matter and part-timers didn't make as much as someone who worked the french fry bin at Mickey D's. (seriously)

You're probably right about it not being allowed to do much better. If I remember correctly, it wasn't given much of a budget under Demaree, and I can't imagine it getting much better under Cumulus. I remember the old KOLZ had very little invested into it, regardless of whether it was oldies, AC or CHR.

Remember, these are the same rocket scientists who KNEW they could beat KIX-104 with a series of on-air promos that told the listeners to "make the switch".

Was that part of the bumper that said, "Garth, George and Shania have found a new address..."? I remember that one right after it signed on, when it was calling itself KFAY-FM but still had "KOLZ Bentonville" buried in the :50 stopset.

If you told them what bovine excrement the idea was, then you had a bad attitude.
I'm at peace with myself about that. A bad attitude beats a bad smell every time.

I've worked at a few places like that, both inside and outside of radio, where you're expected to fall off a cliff just like lemmings if you're told to. I realize an employer has the right to tell its employees what to do, and the employees are obligated to follow, but those situations are the ones I do everything I can to get out of.

 

[ARRadio1]

I think there's more to this story, or there is no story. If a change is indeed happening, something else in that group is sure to follow. I'm having a hard time buying sports, given that all the major sports networks are already on other stations in the market. Remember too, the 2 share from Arbitron should mean nothing, given they don't subscribe and Cumulus has denounced Arbs in small markets.

 

[wxman76]

Having sports on a decent FM signal is overdue in NWA. Having KUOA simulcast its new sports format on 105.3 is a step in the right direction, but lets be honest its a low power that most sports fans in NWA either a)can't pick up regularly, or b)doesn't even know it exists.

It never made sense to me that Little Rock had a successful sports station on a 100kw FM stick, Fort Smith had 2 FM sports signals and for years the market with the University of Arkansas had no FM sports and only one AM (KREB) that some radios in Fayetteville can't pickup clearly during the morning and evening drive close to sunrise and sunset. Did anyone else notice in the Spring book that KREB was the highest rated AM station in the market when KURM and KFAY have better signals? I think that says something for the demand in the market.

If true...all of the sudden, the sports market is crowded and somebody will have to go. I would imagine Cumulus would shift "The Sports Animals" from KFAY to 98.3.

 

[Kent]

I think there's more to this story, or there is no story.

I know the person who posted this topic. Unless someone has hacked his account, he's a credible source. He was in that building when 98.3 flipped from CHR to country. I suppose it's possible he's getting smoke signals, but there's likely to be something going on there.

If a change is indeed happening, something else in that group is sure to follow.

Quite possibly.

I'm having a hard time buying sports, given that all the major sports networks are already on other stations in the market.

It would be no problem for Cumulus to snag one of the networks from one of the AM's running sports. After all, the one that doesn't have an FM translator is a pure daytimer since it lost its FM simulcast a few years ago.

Remember too, the 2 share from Arbitron should mean nothing, given they don't subscribe and Cumulus has denounced Arbs in small markets.

Not really. The advertisers still see it, and it gets harder, not easier, to sell without the numbers when your station has a reputation of being crap for 13 years.

 

[dday]

Ok, first, the essence of my post was sarcasm. Turning a 100,000 watt signal sports would have been a great idea several years ago. Now there is 1190, 1290, 1390, and 105.3. Add it up, there are only 3.5-4 shares of sports in this market. Why try to grab a slice of that pie? There are alot more lucrative and viable format choices available in this market for commercial radio. Did you know that if KLRC were eligible to be included in the Arbitron they would be SECOND in the market 12+? How about Classic Hits? If you love the Eagles, Elton John, Grateful Dead etc...you have no where to go. That would be perfect for 92.1.

 

[Kent]

Ok, first, the essence of my post was sarcasm. Turning a 100,000 watt signal sports would have been a great idea several years ago. Now there is 1190, 1290, 1390, and 105.3. Add it up, there are only 3.5-4 shares of sports in this market. Why try to grab a slice of that pie?

You may have been trying to be sarcastic, but it's still a very good move for KQSM to go sports. Simply put, if they could keep the same ratings they have now (which should be very easy), they could practically double their billing without an increase in costs.

There are alot more lucrative and viable format choices available in this market for commercial radio. Did you know that if KLRC were eligible to be included in the Arbitron they would be SECOND in the market 12+?

According to the Spring '08 book, KLRC was fourth, just .2 behind The Eagle. Although I'm not a big fan of sports radio, especially on FM, I don't see how contemporary Christian would be more lucrative than running all sports. After all, you'd have to count on bleeding off roughly 70% of the audience at KLRC to equal the billing of a sports station at the present KQSM ratings.

 

[wxman76]

Ok, first, the essence of my post was sarcasm. Turning a 100,000 watt signal sports would have been a great idea several years ago. Now there is 1190, 1290, 1390, and 105.3. Add it up, there are only 3.5-4 shares of sports in this market. Why try to grab a slice of that pie? There are alot more lucrative and viable format choices available in this market for commercial radio. Did you know that if KLRC were eligible to be included in the Arbitron they would be SECOND in the market 12+? How about Classic Hits? If you love the Eagles, Elton John, Grateful Dead etc...you have no where to go. That would be perfect for 92.1.

I agree with you that there is a classic/adult hits/"Jack" hole in the market. I think KKEG with a sound more like Star 103.3 in Tulsa would be a great move. Or even for Y94.9 to shift in more adult hits/"Jack" direction, similar to Alice 95.5 in Springfield did would be a slight improvement.

I haven't heard AM 1390 yet. What programming do they have? Any local shows, or is it all national? Is AM 1390 still owned by Butler? Maybe you can tell me what Butler's motivation was for AM 1390 to go sports when they already have KREB at the same wattage and transmitter location.

The programming of 1290/105.3 seems weak to me. Sporting News doesn't exactly have the branding of ESPN. Even though they have local shows, it is mostly a bunch of no names that NWA is not familiar with, unlike Bo Mattingly, Rick Schaffer, Wally Hall, etc. on other stations.

 

[radioaircheck]

Butler does have 1390 still , but pays no attention to it. 1190 and 1390 are step children. "The X" is the only station that matters to them. The only reason they have 2 sports networks, was to mess up the new 1290/105.3. At least you have sports at night on 105.3. 1390 was running urban at night instead of sports. My guess, is the urban format was paid for. I could hear it at night. I think they are final running leagal at night now. As far as 98.3, they need to do the Jack format.

 

[dday]

I think you may be looking at combined numbers for KLRC, not just Spring 08. Regardless their shares still equal more than what is available for sports, and you only have to contend with one station for the ad dollars, and KLRC is still thought of as a Siloam station, a plus for sales if you made the switch here in Fayetteville. As for 92.1 all they need to do is look to The Point in Little Rock also for a model of what they should be. The angle for Butlers a.m. stations is 1190 local and 1390 national sports, a flanking move.

 

[Kent]

I think you may be looking at combined numbers for KLRC, not just Spring 08.

I'm looking at the RRC's numbers, and they say the survey dates are April 3 to June 25. I suppose it's possible they could have used the combined numbers in error, but they show it as Spring '08.

Regardless their shares still equal more than what is available for sports, and you only have to contend with one station for the ad dollars, and KLRC is still thought of as a Siloam station, a plus for sales if you made the switch here in Fayetteville.

Yes and no. You're likely correct that a contemporary Christian station would get higher ratings than a sports station. However, it's not likely that it would outbill a sports station. Even a sports station with half the audience should bill better than a contemporary Christian station. Sports and all news have the highest power ratios in the industry, and sports is an easier sell than any music format. Most markets have sports stations that aren't even in the top-10 in the ratings that are top-5 in billing. In other words, sports doesn't have to do well to, umm, do well!

As for 92.1 all they need to do is look to The Point in Little Rock also for a model of what they should be. The angle for Butlers a.m. stations is 1190 local and 1390 national sports, a flanking move.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with much of what you're saying. Both contemporary Christian and classic hits would be good formats to do in Northwest Arkansas, and both would likely make more money than the present "Sam 98." In fact, I've thought for quite some time that classic hits would be a good move for Y-94.9, and I don't think it would necessarily be a bad choice for KKEG either. I disagree, however, with your notion that all sports is a bad move for 98.3, especially from a business standpoint. I'll be one of the first to tell you I often think we have too much business and not enough radio, but it is what it is. Taking 98.3 all sports would be a good way to cut costs and significantly increase billing. That's a good business decision!

 

[Willie Jones]

I know people that work in the building and I have to say that sports is not what they're going for...Smooth Jazz with a 70-80 R&B edge is what's missing in this market...and I hear that's what the new GM Ken is looking to do. Look for Al B. Sure's "Secret Garden" to be followed by Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub and Keith Sweat's "Sweat Hotel"

When the GM came into the market from Lexington it is believed that he made the comment that "there isn't enough music for professionals and couples and that needs to change"
y949 and Power 105.7, by design, alienate the tone that we believe the new GM had in mind. Close sources to the Ops Manager in the cluster say that he too feels the same way about romance after dark. whether this happens or not is yet to be seen. we do know there are changes taking place right now as far as automation goes which is poising the station for such a change. So go ahead and believe what you will about the 100,000 watt change to sports. At the end of the day, it is a proven fact that the three Barry's (White, Manilow, and Gibb) equal strong ratings and endless amounts of revenue. This is a business about results...not some wii game played by JJ o'Ryan on his down time.

wishing a pieceful journey...

 

[radioaircheck]

As far as sports shows in NWA goes, 1190 as the worst! Those 2 are awful. It was better wheni t was BO and Mike Erwin. Now you have 2 guys that are unlistenable. I either listen to ESPN on XM or the new sports station 1290/105.3. I say 98.3 needs to be classic hits or something similar. There are too many country stations. I hope Cumulus wises up, but, I doubt it.

 

[Texaz]

Cumulus set to turn 98.3 in Fayetteville to Sports. I cant tell you how brilliant this is. There are a whole 3-4 12+ shares of sports in this market and now there will be 4 sports stations. Whatever happened to hitting them where they aint. They will now surge from their 2 share on 98.3 to the lofty heights of a 2.3. Money will be coming out of their ears. People will be promoted. How many GM's have been through those doors now in 10 years? I lost count. Its no wonder people love their I-pods and XM and Sirius and Internet Radio when all we do in this medium is duplicate the same stuff.

If you know someone enough that they would share this information with you, why would you go post it on a public forum. Aren't format flips supposed to be not talked about until the empoyees are told ???

 

[lowpower]

I know people that work in the building and I have to say that sports is not what they're going for...Smooth Jazz with a 70-80 R&B edge is what's missing in this market...and I hear that's what the new GM Ken is looking to do. Look for Al B. Sure's "Secret Garden" to be followed by Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub and Keith Sweat's "Sweat Hotel"

When the GM came into the market from Lexington it is believed that he made the comment that "there isn't enough music for professionals and couples and that needs to change"
y949 and Power 105.7, by design, alienate the tone that we believe the new GM had in mind. Close sources to the Ops Manager in the cluster say that he too feels the same way about romance after dark. whether this happens or not is yet to be seen. we do know there are changes taking place right now as far as automation goes which is poising the station for such a change. So go ahead and believe what you will about the 100,000 watt change to sports. At the end of the day, it is a proven fact that the three Barry's (White, Manilow, and Gibb) equal strong ratings and endless amounts of revenue. This is a business about results...not some wii game played by JJ o'Ryan on his down time.

wishing a pieceful journey...

this is someone who obviously works in the building and the person he/she knows "is themself" and is trying to convince us of a change that seems about as far fetched as kkix flipping formats.

 

[dday]

Alright, looked it up. MultiRanker Report Demographic for JUST Spring 08' has Kix #1 Persons 10.9 and KLRC #2 7.6. KLRC also is #2 Women 12+ and Women 25+. Kent mentioned that a sports station with half the audience should bill more than a Contemp. Christian Station, I dont believe thats possible, sports is a very narrow format, advertisers love to reach the female, especially the older 25+ crowd who control the purse strings. Throw out the power ratios man, look around, churches everywhere, its part of the culture, I know sports is also but like I said earlier, I would rather OWN that demo and format than share the pie with 4 others. Plus there probably are only a handful of GOOD sales people in this market. Why make it tougher than it is in this economic climate.

 

[ARRadio1]

Close sources to the Ops Manager in the cluster say that he too feels the same way about romance after dark.

Uh...what? ;D