All News 106.7 The Grand Tour

[HippieGuy]

I never could understand the validity of 24/7 'radio' news. Yes, it works for TV/cable, but I believe the visual is more important than the audio. People like to 'see' the news, not 'hear' it.

If I was sitting in I-285 traffic, news would not be on to enhance my 'traffic mood'. Nobody wants to listen to a home-invasion or stabbing on the south-side while waiting for the traffic snarl to roll. So if you are not in traffic, where else is the radio on? The office? Who listens to news while at work..at home it is back to the 'visual'...

Just my 2 cents.

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[AlsoRan]

The station, in less than six months, already bailed on the concept in favor of Ga Tech sports

106.7 was carrying Tech sports back in the AGH days and maybe even in the TOC days. Tech sports on 106.7 predates All News.

But the decision to CONTINUE carrying Ga Tech sports, despite the format switch, was REMADE, which signals, along with the informercials, that revenue trumps format integrity where Cumulus is concerned.

 

[jabba17]

The station, in less than six months, already bailed on the concept in favor of Ga Tech sports

106.7 was carrying Tech sports back in the AGH days and maybe even in the TOC days. Tech sports on 106.7 predates All News.

But the decision to CONTINUE carrying Ga Tech sports, despite the format switch, was REMADE, which signals, along with the informercials, that revenue trumps format integrity where Cumulus is concerned.

Or it could be 1) not wanting to terminate a contract with the GTAA and possibly have to shell out money 2) realizing that plenty of "all news" stations carry local team PBPs 3) realizing that stations with adult-oriented formats (AC, oldies/classic hits, talk, news, sportstalk, etc.) often have a listener dropoff after PM drive and on the weekends, which works well for college PBP and coaches' shows filling in dead time.

 

[AlsoRan]

The station, in less than six months, already bailed on the concept in favor of Ga Tech sports

106.7 was carrying Tech sports back in the AGH days and maybe even in the TOC days. Tech sports on 106.7 predates All News.

But the decision to CONTINUE carrying Ga Tech sports, despite the format switch, was REMADE, which signals, along with the informercials, that revenue trumps format integrity where Cumulus is concerned.

Or it could be 1) not wanting to terminate a contract with the GTAA and possibly have to shell out money 2) realizing that plenty of "all news" stations carry local team PBPs 3) realizing that stations with adult-oriented formats (AC, oldies/classic hits, talk, news, sportstalk, etc.) often have a listener dropoff after PM drive and on the weekends, which works well for college PBP and coaches' shows filling in dead time.

Which underscores the original question: is ALL news really viable?

 

[BarryATL]

WCBS has been carrying the Yankees for years. The only difference is WCBS Newsradio 88 keeps broadcasting news via an HD channel and the web. AN106.7 stops. Even though the staff is still in the office, they just stop broadcasting. The stream goes blank without even a message about what is going on. The first time I ran across that, I called the station because I thought the stream was down.

The infomercials are done by other news stations too.

Now, do I agree with those decisions? No. But, there is precedent.

I was driving to church this past Sunday and because of the Falcons game and the Atlanta Boat Show along with a running marathon, it was like rush hour. I needed traffic. AN106.7 was broadcasting an infomercial. I had to tune in to Star 94 on Sunday morning to get traffic.

 

[jabba17]

WCNN carried Tech sports during their all-news days, too.

 

[AlsoRan]

WCNN carried Tech sports during their all-news days, too.

And all news WCNN is where exactly today? Good points, Barry, and the reasons I am not optimistic about 106.7's future. One of the biggest startup failures was a practically non-existent internet component. Once again, the Cumulus strategy to get it on the air cheap. Certainly there is "precedent" in other markets for non news content, but those stations also have roots in the cities that pre-date the major changes over the past couple of decades toward web and social media. Atlanta has no such tradition, except a history of failure.

 

[carolinaradio]

I was very disappointed by 106.7's website when I went to it after the launch. That is such an important element, and it was non-existent, you're right.

 

[TheBigA]

Once again, the Cumulus strategy to get it on the air cheap.

If that was the strategy, then they failed. Back when stations simply ran CNN Headline News as a radio format was a way to do all news cheap. Hiring experienced local staff isn't cheap.

I was very disappointed by 106.7's website when I went to it after the launch. That is such an important element, and it was non-existent, you're right.

I think Cumulus company-wide is very weak when it comes to the web. Their own corporate site hasn't even been updated since the merger with Citadel. Not a good sign.

 

[carolinaradio]

Cumulus did recently roll out a new web template that is sleeker and easier to use (it also replaced the old Citadel websites, who I believe were done by MediaSpan). The corporate websites have been updated, as well.

I am a little confused as to why they keep their own streaming service up in addition to iHeartRadio.

 

[rbrown]

During the pre-launch of AN106.7 there was talk that Cumulus was going to create a news hub to take care of local news for some of their O&O's.

Cumulus already uses Total Traffic/Shadow Traffic for two of its o&o stations (WLS and KABC). I would suspect that other Cumulus stations will be served by a national outlet in the near future.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

During the pre-launch of AN106.7 there was talk that Cumulus was going to create a news hub to take care of local news for some of their O&O's.

Cumulus already uses Total Traffic/Shadow Traffic for two of its o&o stations (WLS and KABC). I would suspect that other Cumulus stations will be served by a national outlet in the near future.

Cumulus has a deal with Radiate Media. Most of their stations get their traffic information from Radiate even though the talent doesn't mention it.

 

[BarryATL]

Here is an article that explains the relationship:

http://radiatemedia.com/view/news_v...R-FOR-RIGHT-NOW-TRAFFIC?instance=radiate_news

 

[Radio1360]

With 680 The Fan and All-News 106.7 being related, why don't the two stations swap their call letters? Let 680 The Fan switch to WYAY-AM (the "yay" in WYAY refers to how a cheerleader or a sports fan reacts to a team) and All-News 106.7 switch to WCNN, because much of the crew were former CNN Headline News and CNN Radio employees (most notably Chuck Roberts). The one drawback with that is that All News 106.7 is an ABC Radio affiliate.

 

[Rick Rose 2.0]

I was thinking about 106.7 changing to WCNN earlier but considering that CNN is not really much of a news organization i am not sure i want that now. I am still suprised the WYAY calls have lasted almost 30 years. CC changed Power 96-1's calls pretty quick but cumulus doesnt seem to care about calls in this town.

 

[TheBigA]

I was thinking about 106.7 changing to WCNN earlier but considering that CNN is not really much of a news organization i am not sure i want that now.

Compared to what? CNN sucks at creating prime time shows. But they do a very good job covering national and international news.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

I was thinking about 106.7 changing to WCNN earlier but considering that CNN is not really much of a news organization i am not sure i want that now. I am still suprised the WYAY calls have lasted almost 30 years. CC changed Power 96-1's calls pretty quick but cumulus doesnt seem to care about calls in this town.

I'm not sure what you mean that CNN is not really much of a news organization. The fact that it's an excellent news organization that tries not to take sides right or left, in order to protect its brand, has been its problem in terms of getting ratings. More people would rather watch hosts expressing more of an opinion.

 

[BarryATL]

Has anyone noticed the slight changes in the imaging?

BEFORE: All News One Oh Six Point Seven time 12:32.
NOW: All News time 12:32.

They have shortened what the shouting announcer says on some of the intros... weather in particular.

It seems they are trying to be a little less repetitive on the wording.

 

[Rick Rose 2.0]

CNN is a shell of what Ted Turner created. The idea of finding newscasts on CNN or Headline News does not happen much. Remember the 24 hour cycle of 30 minute newscasts on Headline News. Remember when CNN offered news hours throughout the day and now its personality driven shows all day. I find all news a straight ahead news organization that offers a good cycle of news throughout the day (except during tech sports and those infomercials weekend mornings). The CNN of the 80s went away and while they maybe still okay during major breaking news but to call CNN, MSNBC or Fox News a strong news organization is stretching it.

 

[TheBigA]

CNN is a shell of what Ted Turner created.

BS. Thirty years ago, we called it Chicken Noodle News. It's come a long way since Techwood Drive.

The reality is the TV audience doesn't want what news departments offered 30 years ago. Doesn't matter who does the work. The public wants gossip and dirt, not serious news. Don't blame the news organizations for the beer taste of the public.