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Any format flips on the horizon for LA?
- Thread starter 30james
- Start date
Every major group's stations are solid as a cluster. The fringes are filled by Meruelo. Spanish language formats are well covered by the the four major groups. With the economy staggering, it's not a moment for a format change.
How does KABC stay afloat? I used to think 790 would be sold/flipped, long before KFWB
As wild as this might sound, I’m surprised 1260 never tried classic country on their signal to combo with go country for sales purposes. If you can convince celebrity DJs to KKGO (not sure if they still do that), I’m sure it’ll draw some sort of audience for the AM. Worth a shot, imo
Cumulus wanted to clear their Westwood One shows. But I wonder how much KABC is billing.
There wouldn't be much of an upside for sales---it would be upper demos on a non-city-grade AM.
The FM is only Country because competitors bailed out of the format and Saul saw a rare chance to be the only station in L.A. doing Country. Apart from that, Saul will always try to keep Standards, Classical and Oldies alive---pretty much in that order. I don't think he's even considering billing---but I'm sure he thinks it would be nice if 1260 could pay its own power bill. As of a few years ago in the oldies format, it couldn't.
I still remember when it was an all talk station a few years back
Yes and John Ziegler was on 1260 when it's talk
13 years ago. Ziegler lasted two months, the format lasted three months.
There is always a chance. It's not like anyone predicted KNX moving to FM exactly when it did (only that a move was likely, eventually). The same general sentiment is true for KFI today.
Although iHeart is in MUCH better shape than Audacy.
iHeart would have to replace one of their successful FMs, and they won't do that.
The problem for KFI is that, unlike Audacy, it doesn't have a severely underperforming FM in the cluster. KYSR is the weakest, but unless KROQ just creams them under Kevin, it's probably gonna stay. Everything else is a top ten station.
Keep in mind that at times, KYSR has been #1 18-34. They would not come close to that with a simul of KFI.
In fact, iHeart has the top billers in the market, KIIS, KBIG, KFI and KOST and then the 10th, 11th and 12th highest billers with KYSR, KLAC and KRRL. So they have 7 of the top 12 and 37% of all market revenue.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
KROQ maybe??
Not right after they brought back the station's most successful PD by hiring him away from Spotify where he was a VP. Kevin Weatherly has immediately changed the library balance and much of the imaging. And KROQ is still a top biller in the market.
Iheart and Audacy both have strong clusters and the probably get all of the money in the LA market
If KRRL is the lowest biller, any chance they'd become the KFI simulcast?
There is no pressing need for a KFI simulcast. If it can be the #3 biller on AM, there's nothing to be gained by blowing up the city's #1 urban station that rates #1 18-34 and #2 18-49. The only reason Audacy did a simulcast with KNX was because it had failed with every format it tried on that signal. iHeart is not in that situation.
Pittman has a strong commitment to AM radio. His company is filled with heritage AMs, almost all of which operate without simulcasts. So I don't see any internal push for a KFI simulcast.
All placing KFI on FM would do is move the same demos KFI currently has (which are not trending the right way) to FM. I can’t see iHeart blowing up any opportunity to do well 18-34 or 25-54 on an FM signal to put an older 25-54/55+ format that is getting older and older and losing relevance or appeal with the market’s listeners on there instead.
KFI may bill well now but the long term picture is as more of their listeners age out of the 25-54 demo, they are not being replaced. They may get a few ears from people that never listen to AM, but I highly doubt it would be worth it. Unlike companies like Audacy and Hubbard, as stated above iHeart has not been very willing to put their talkers on FM. They generally do a translator simulcast if possible which in LA is a no go.
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