Over time that particular lean towards whatever style music that was went away (I would call it a strong alt pop lean) and they slowly moved back to sounding like a lot of other alternative stations around the country and that sound disappeared.
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Audacy Bankruptcy Goes To FCC
- Thread starter TheBigA
- Start date
Very well said, though depending on where the line is for major operator -- there’s what, 9 companies 100+ stations? And there’s 11 or 12 operating clusters in the top 25?
Alpha Media, if considered major, would be my least favorite. Bonneville, my favorite.
Why Alpha your least?
“Major operator” in the context of my post was really just the big 3 by station count - Audacy, Cumulus, and iHeart. Of course, there are other operators with significant presence in larger markets such as Beasley, Cox, Bonneville, Hubbard, and Radio One. Then there’s Alpha, Townsquare, and whatnot who are primarily positioned in smaller to midsized markets.
I would agree that Alpha is probably my least favorite operator overall in terms of programming. Bonneville is a class act, as is Hubbard.
Alpha operates in some major markets and neglects HD entirely, here in SF, their signals have objectively better “on paper” signal then some competitors such as KSJO yet both KBAY and KEZR have far worse penetration and signal into the city, I can lock HD4 on 92 into Half Moon Bay where as KEZR dies nearly entirely and literally gets overridden by KUDL 3.5 hours away. This happens for years (I’ve complained so much)
I’ll never forget how we have had people who’ve worked with Alpha on these forums that called them cheap, one of which maintained KEZR and mentioned their equipment room was a nightmare - with things throwing errors left and right, which was mentioned and basically said “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”
I know they have financial issues, but man, it’s sad.
Ah that’s fair and true enough except for one bit that surprised me — Townsquare has a significant amount more than Audacy — 349 vs 235.
However, Unfortunately the most recent data I can find is 2021 for revenue, where things have since changed a bit of course, but despite that they’re not even in the top 5. There’s clearly a big three, maybe four. I feel like some of these little guys will merge over the years, like Beasley/Hubbard or Alpha/Townsquare.
Not familiar with Alpha, why are they not liked?
But the people in local Spanish language radio in Miami really don't think much of the Martí effort. At the current noise levels, 1180 really can't be heard except in southern Dade County around Homestead, and it was never a concern to local broadcasters as the content is far less interesting that what has always been on the local stations.
But anything wrong with them programming wise?Alpha operates in some major markets and neglects HD entirely, here in SF, their signals have objectively better “on paper” signal then some competitors such as KSJO yet both KBAY and KEZR have far worse penetration and signal into the city, I can lock HD4 on 92 into Half Moon Bay where as KEZR does nearly entirely and literally gets overridden by KUDL 3.5 hours away. This happens for years (I’ve complained so much)
I’ll never forget how we have had people who’ve worked with Alpha on these forums that called them cheap, one of which maintained KEZR and mentioned their equipment room was a nightmare - with things throwing errors left and right, which was mentioned and basically said “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”
I know they have financial issues, but man, it’s sad.
Ah that’s fair, funny enough, Townsquare has a significant amount more than Audacy too — 349 vs 235. Unfortunately the most recent data I can find is 2021, where things have since changed a bit of course, but despite that they’re not even in the top 5.
I wish I could tell you, it’s subjective I’d argue too.
But, judging by their PPM in markets they have competitive signals, there is something going on that leads credence against their programming being good. Unfortunately we know that PPM means very little, they don’t show up in any top 10 markets with a strong enough signal to reasonable be in the demographic breakdowns.
I like KEZR San Jose, but that station has a programming lead. I wouldn’t use a single station to judge the entire company programming
What do you mean by saying "PPM means very little"? it's the gold standard for nearly all ad agency buys and a support for most local direct buys in the PPM markets.
Sorry, I get confused by the term PPM — the 6+ ratings that Nielsen shares for free. It basically means nothing for the success of a station.
Oh don't get me wrong, Marti is mailed-in crap. The only time you hear about their accomplishments is when USAGM has its annual update meeting to the Board. That's when you'll hear how much Marti and OCB have Castro on the run and how much the Havanna citizens love Radio Marti.
Not really. It is typical VOA material, but focused on one country. They seem to have a staff that is bigger than all the Miami Spanish language stations combined, but the content is just not done in an entertaining style.
Of course, residents of Havana can't hear Martí at all. There are reportedly over 20 repeaters of one of the Cuban national networks on 1180, making reception difficult except in areas not near one of those transmitters.
101.9 kink fm has always sounded good out of Portland, and they are an AAA owned by Alpha.
Radio Marti is of course also available on three shortwave frequencies, all of which are jammed. No idea of how effective the jamming is inside of Cuba, but here in Houston RM is well on top and easy to listen to.
SW radios are not sold in Cuba. Remember, there is no free "consumer" market there and everything coming into Cuba has to be approved by the Communist Party.
Cuba has always had an active Amateur Radio community. Most, if not all ham gear manufactured today includes a general coverage receiver, and has since the 1980s. I have no idea if Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, et al are allowed to export to Cuba, but it wouldn't shock me if at least some of their gear gets there.
David, during your work in Miami did you ever have any dealings with Huber Matos and the Cuba Independiente y Democratica organization that ran the La Voz del CID shortwave broadcasts directed at the country? I could easily receive the station here in Texas, and surprisingly never heard any jamming of the signal. Regarded as a clandestine operation, the transmitter site was later traced to Guatemala, IIRC.
Hams require special permits and they have to be well liked by the government. But consumer level SW radios are not available.
I know who that was, but never had contact. This is the sort of group that would dress up in combat gear and do "practice" for an invasion out in the Everglades. Unfortunately, none became lunch for the alligators.
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