Area 108 vs V108

[JDizZyKDVL]

What were the ratings like when this station was V108 compared to the low ratings they're experiencing now? Also, does anyone think this station will last? What about Star? I haven't heard anyone talking about them lately. They're doing especially poorly now. Will the Party push them out of the market? If so, what do you replace it with? KKLZ making a last attempt with a new PD? I'm inexperienced, but have a lot of curiousity about what may happen here. Any ideas? Also, what about the coyote? they seem to be a great station... maybe not enough marketing? It seems clear channel will do everything in their power to have all their stations in the top 10.. They know what they're doing too..

 

[Jay F]

They had slightly better ratings when they were V108, but with that signal it will be tough no matter what format they are.

 

[nic]

oh how miss the days when it was "V108 Las Vegas' hip hop and r&b". it was the first time i had my own show and dammmmm i miss it. if they actually tried to fix the signal back then the format change to old and new school r&b wouldn't have been needed, and so on.

when v108 was hip hop it could have easily beat up 98.5 and 97.5 in the ratings if the signal could have matched our street presence and lineup. we really had a good thing going there if it wasn't for the signal and of course coorperate couldn't figure that out and sold their trash to another "man".

area 108 will suffer and suffer, change formats, blah blah blah. not many will listen to a bad signal, but my wife did at first because she loved the music they played, my wife didn't care about the signal. really though how many people want to listen to a bad signal now matter how good the station sounds? with mp3, satelite, and hd radio who wants to listen to a station that sounds like its broadcasting from rabit ears? not many, my wife was an exception...notice i said was, because she doesn't "feel" it like she used to and she said it has nothing to do with the signal.

v108 has something to be proud about, it was a stepping stone for: Juice who has been at Power106 in La for awhile now, Mike olson at KLSX in LA for a few years now, Bionce Foxx came from Chicago and went back with a better shift, Jamal Parker sales manager locally and clear channel, our great boss Vic Clemons who I believe was or is at XM in D.C., AND if it wasn't for Jes Wes i wouldn't have never met my wife. So, for the short time that was v108 hip hop it was a beautiful time and i'll definitely never forget all those people who influenced my life.

 

[nic]

v108 has something to be proud about, it was a stepping stone for: Juice who has been at Power106 in LA for awhile now, Mike Olson at KLSX in LA for a few years now, Bionce Foxx came from Chicago and went back with a better shift, Jamal Parker sales manager locally here at clear channel, our great boss Vic Clemons who I believe was or is at XM in D.C., AND if it wasn't for Jes Wes i wouldn't have met my wife. So, for the short time that was v108 hip hop it was a beautiful time and i'll definitely never forget all those people who influenced my life.

 

[Jay F]

Your post brings back memories of 2001 (a whole different era now when it comes to LV radio) with V108 signing on and 97.5 soon after. The music on the two stations were similar, They both played a lot of adult R&B, I remember them both pounding songs like Jill Scott "The Way" (I love that song, but knew it wouldn't work in this part of the country) Overall, V108 was probably the better sounding station with solid jocks like Jes Wes.

On the other hand, KVEG was considered to be terrible their first year or two they were on the air. I remember endless postings on this board making fun of 97.5 and how they sounded like a "high school station". Everyone laughed at the young sounding girl who did their sweepers. Yet despite all the criticism I had a feeling they were the odds on favorite to win the war. Like they say "It's the signal stupid". 97.5 had a booming signal while V had a toaster oven signal.

Eventually KVEG started sounding more professional and started playing a rhythmic mix that fits Las Vegas. Their ratings kept getting higher and higher, easily beating signal challenged V108 and eventually passing KLUC (I remember as recently as 2003 some people on this board considered the thought of 97.5 ever beating KLUC as a joke/total impossibility). In the trend that comes out Monday HOT 97.5 could end up being #1 12+ for the first time ever, if so it's quite an accomplishment considering the stations very humble beginnings.

I could totally see what V was thinking in 2003 when they shifted to Urban AC. It's amazing to think just how oversaturated the market was with hip hop in 03 when WILD came on. You had KVEG, V108 and WILD. KLUC was more hip hop than at any time in their history (at a time when they should have been playing some pop crossovers to seperate themselves from the pack.) WILD was attacking KLUC for being the "boy band station" so in respose "the new KLUC" was very careful not to play anything pop. WILD and KLUC kept (brutally at times) attacking each other the entire time WILD existed. Meanwhile HOT 97.5 stayed out of the fight. It seemed that neither KLUC or WILD considered HOT much of a player or threat in early 03. Being off of the radar must have helped KVEG as they quietly passed up their two competitors who hated each other with such a passion. In that crazy and oversaturated hip hop enviornmnet KVGS was correct to give themselves a niche with Urban AC.

As for AREA, some people thought that because they play such good "real" altenative music they would be able to overcome their signal deficiancy. The reality is that it's too large of an obstacle, If only they were on a good signal, then they would be competitive.

Interestingly 104.7 has an even worse signal than 107.9, yet KJUL does havenumbers (although they are mostly 55+). Either there is such a demand for Adult Standards that it can draw a large audience on even the worst signal OR older people are more likely to put up with static to hear their favorite music. Younger listeners, with all of the technological options available today, have little tolerence for radio stations with bad signals.

 

[billalm]

Great analysis Jay.... you nailed it about 2003. Hot 97.5 stayed out of the fight and grew into a great sounding station. Nice to see the little guy getting some "numbers" in today's age of big radio clusters. As far as Area 108, I really thought the format would be doing better by now despite the signal. With the demise of Xtreme and Star still spinning Rick Springfield, more people "should" be checking out Area. However, you're right that now with iPods, satellite, and internet streaming, people are less tolerant of a sub-par signal. I know about 15 years ago I was one of those guys that would buy the bigger antenna or put up with a little static just to hear the music I loved. People today, not so much. What Beasely should do is take 102.7 classic alternative. That way they serve an audience that can't hear Area, it moves that signal formaticly away from Party, Jack, and Mix, and would provide a good sales combo with KKLZ.

Could 104.7 be benefiting from some kind of diary/call letter mistakes or inaccuracies? Because they're offically "KJUL", it's possible that the 55+ crowd is still writing that down even though they may be listening to someone else. I've heard 104.7 in Las Vegas and I can't imagine that coming in well or even at all on small radios in homes.

 

[nic]

On the other hand, KVEG was considered to be terrible their first year or two they were on the air. I remember endless postings on this board making fun of 97.5 and how they sounded like a "high school station". Everyone laughed at the young sounding girl who did their sweepers. Yet despite all the criticism I had a feeling they were the odds on favorite to win the war. Like they say "It's the signal stupid". 97.5 had a booming signal while V had a toaster oven signal.

yea we laughed at their product while they laughed at our signal.

In that crazy and oversaturated hip hop enviornmnet KVGS was correct to give themselves a niche with Urban AC.

but that's my point:

V108 wouldn't have changed formats if the signal was as good as 97 and 98's. if that was the case i dont think CC would have made 101.9 hip hop because V108 would have been more of a presence. with all 3 stations battling with good signals i dont see the CC suits back east making that move.

and even when we changed formats we kept hearing that the signal was going to be boosted, haha. Marathon/Desert SKy Media never cared enough or had the common sense to fix the dammmmmmmmmm signal. let that be a lesson.

 

[jballrolin]

Wow! This is like a reunion. What a walk down memory lane. What's up folks!

Look it's very simple and you've all addressed it... Without a decent signal a format like that of Area 108 has abolutely no chance of succeeding. It doesn't matter how good the music is, how talented the jocks are, how many great promotional offerings the station makes, it's all wasted effort and money without a decent signal, PERIOD!!! Now, for a format like KJUL it can work. First of all the listeners were so desperate when they lost the station originally that they fear if they don't support it, it will go away again. Second, most of the people listening to the station can remember listening to radio when all the signals were pretty poor and certainly didn't have the sound quality that we experience nowadays.

With all of the options that younger listeners have these day for enjoying their favorite music and entertainment, the last thing they will put up with is an unclear signal. i mean they'll just tune into another station or turn on their Ipod. Think about it... Can you imagine watching television and suffering through a static ridden program. Geez, I get perturbed when i can't watch football in High Def on Sunday, how about you?

It's a shame! I think they have a great product over there at Area108 and believe me, i can certainly sympathize with them and their daily struggles trying to market and sell a handicap station (been there). They certainly made a splash coming out of the gate especially with KXTE still reeling from the loss of Stern. Unfortunately without the signal upgrade their sister station KOAS was blessed with, they are ABSOLUTELY DOOMED. It was a good "if bet" on the part of Riviera picking up the stations and if i understand correctly, Marathon will receive one heck of a check from the current owners if the signal is ever upgraded. Until then we can only wait and see...

 

[radioresearcher]

While I understand that KVGS has some signal issues - it did score over a 2 share at one point.

Alternative is in a tough place right now and the rock shares continue to decline. I agree that the Alternative format might do better on a different signal - but I believe the format was a poor choice for 107.9.

It did seem to work fairly well as an Urban signal - and one has to wonder if some sort of Urban format wouldn't be able to generate a 2.0-2.5 share?

 

[lfuss]

The only way to be successful with a weak signal is to have a unique format - something listeners can't hear anywhere else. I once had a 3kw FM that was 25 miles away from the target city, yet I beat the local stations, including the big 100kw station in the market. In Las Vegas, KJUL is a good example of that.

LF