Can someone help me with a ? about WDUV

[denio]

My company is about to take over a few stations in my market and I'm thinking about changing one to a format like WDUV.

I think the station sounds great! I know the format may work well in Tampa due to an older demo in the market, but what are your thoughts about it working in other markets? Its a great music mix. I think in light of all the formats on the radio dial today...the Dove type format truly stands out. Thoughts? Also, does anyone know the name of the voice guy for WDUV and how I could get in touch with him.

Thank you everyone...love to hear your thoughts on the format.

 

[Parttimer]

It has high 12+ numbers but is a non-factor 25-54. Thus, despite being the "#1" station in the market it may be as low as 20th in billing.

It's probably profitable based on low overhead, but certainly Cox bills more at Magic, Eagle and The Bone by several miles.

 

[Ferreri]

It has high 12+ numbers but is a non-factor 25-54. Thus, despite being the "#1" station in the market it may be as low as 20th in billing.

It's probably profitable based on low overhead, but certainly Cox bills more at Magic, Eagle and The Bone by several miles.

The infamous "25-54" A creation of ad agency folks. Once a person becomes 55 they no longer buy things and have no money according to ad buyers. It doesn't matter that more human beings in our market listen to WDUV than any other station. Yet, these same ad people will drop 10 grand on one ad in the Trib or Times because of circulation numbers, not demographics!

 

[MsMusicRadio]

I love the music on WDUV. I am over 54 and spend piles of money on cars and clothes. Actually, I think it would be even better with live jocks all day. Especially the style of DJ who played this music when it was new. You can't have everything

 

[Wazzie]

Especially the style of DJ who played this music when it was new. You can't have everything

Trust me Ms., there are plenty of us older radio folks who would love to work on a station like the Dove but "the suits" think everything is just fine, running it as a jukebox. (sans morning man Dick Ring).

To answer the original poster, would this format work elsewhere, please describe "work". You'll probably get high cumes from people that turn it on and leave it on (eg: the dentist office) but selling those numbers will be a challenge. Whoever decided that people over 55+ don't count should be banned to a small Alaskan island. Especially now that the baby boomers are the majority of that crowd.

Quite honestly, I've been enjoying the hum of my car engine more than anything that is on the air in Tampa Bay. You should try it sometime!

 

[MsMusicRadio]

On that note, in 2008, CC eliminated veteran DJ's from WLTW and KOST who I believe pioneered these stations when DOVE music was new. On the issue of expendable income, I have a place in Tampa and Pittsburgh, hence my interest in both boards. Pittsburgh has an older population, but there is nothing like WDUV except for an AM outlet that is being dismanted by Tony Renda. If COX had any innovation past WHPT, they should put live people on WDUV 24/7. I know (maybe) that they run WAPE in Jacksonville live 24/7, so they actually know how it's still done.

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

On that note, in 2008, CC eliminated veteran DJ's from WLTW and KOST who I believe pioneered these stations when DOVE music was new. On the issue of expendable income, I have a place in Tampa and Pittsburgh, hence my interest in both boards. Pittsburgh has an older population, but there is nothing like WDUV except for an AM outlet that is being dismanted by Tony Renda. If COX had any innovation past WHPT, they should put live people on WDUV 24/7. I know (maybe) that they run WAPE in Jacksonville live 24/7, so they actually know how it's still done.

As long as we all continue to support jukebox radio, corporate radio will continue to run their stations like jukeboxes 24/7. We the listeners complain all the time about radio without personality shouldn't complain since we continue to support these lifeless stations. No listeners= No ratings= No revenue. Without the three, big corporate radio will get the message.

 

[Parttimer]

OK, so we get everyone to stop listening. Then what?

 

[WNCRadioFan]

[/quote]As long as we all continue to support jukebox radio, corporate radio will continue to run their stations like jukeboxes 24/7. We the listeners complain all the time about radio without personality shouldn't complain since we continue to support these lifeless stations. No listeners= No ratings= No revenue. Without the three, big corporate radio will get the message.
[/quote]

I do understand where you are coming from with that,and do agree to some extent, but...if no one is listening...how will we know when they go live 24/7 ?

 

[Gregg]

I'm amazed at the number of responders who want live DJs on The Dove. Are you sure? The Dove, going back to its days as an Easy Listening/Beautiful music station, NEVER had DJs outside morning drive, except for one brief period when there was a live afternoon host.

I think DJs would change the nature of the station. The only thing may be that, to identify the songs and artists, perhaps songs should be recorded in pairs for the automation system, with a voice saying afterwards "The Carpenters. Close to You. And before that The Beatles. Yesterday."

As for the ratings, The Dove does poorly 25-54. But Cox already has an AC station in the market, WWRM, that's usually #1 in women 25-54, and several Classic Rock stations that capture men 25-54. The Dove is usually #1 in the 35-64 demographic, even though most advertisers don't pay much attention to that figure. And of course, having the #1 ratings, book after book, often in the double digits, can be sold to mom and pop advertisers, even though that doesn't impress ad agencies.

That figure that The Dove is 20th in billing seems not what I've heard. I heard it was #7 in billing some years ago. On the other hand, what format would you put on a station licensed to New Port Richey that people even in Sarasota and Lakeland will strain to listen to? It costs only Dick Ring's salary (he even does his own news headlines in the morning) and it doesn't compete with any of Cox's other stations in the market. I suppose the sales staff has to actually go out and SELL the station, rather than just relying on ratings and demographics to do the work. But it would be very sad to say that, even in a market like Tampa with a large number of older listeners, sorry folks. On an FM dial jammed with hip hop, top 40 and rock, there's NOTHING for anyone over 50 to listen to.



Gregg
[email protected]

 

[Ferreri]

I'm amazed at the number of responders who want live DJs on The Dove. Are you sure? The Dove, going back to its days as an Easy Listening/Beautiful music station, NEVER had DJs outside morning drive, except for one brief period when there was a live afternoon host.

I think DJs would change the nature of the station. The only thing may be that, to identify the songs and artists, perhaps songs should be recorded in pairs for the automation system, with a voice saying afterwards "The Carpenters. Close to You. And before that The Beatles. Yesterday."

As for the ratings, The Dove does poorly 25-54. But Cox already has an AC station in the market, WWRM, that's usually #1 in women 25-54, and several Classic Rock stations that capture men 25-54. The Dove is usually #1 in the 35-64 demographic, even though most advertisers don't pay much attention to that figure. And of course, having the #1 ratings, book after book, often in the double digits, can be sold to mom and pop advertisers, even though that doesn't impress ad agencies.

That figure that The Dove is 20th in billing seems not what I've heard. I heard it was #7 in billing some years ago. On the other hand, what format would you put on a station licensed to New Port Richey that people even in Sarasota and Lakeland will strain to listen to? It costs only Dick Ring's salary (he even does his own news headlines in the morning) and it doesn't compete with any of Cox's other stations in the market. I suppose the sales staff has to actually go out and SELL the station, rather than just relying on ratings and demographics to do the work. But it would be very sad to say that, even in a market like Tampa with a large number of older listeners, sorry folks. On an FM dial jammed with hip hop, top 40 and rock, there's NOTHING for anyone over 50 to listen to.



Gregg
[email protected]

Well put. You nailed it.

 

[Nostalgia]

I'm amazed at the number of responders who want live DJs on The Dove. Are you sure? The Dove, going back to its days as an Easy Listening/Beautiful music station, NEVER had DJs outside morning drive, except for one brief period when there was a live afternoon host.

I think DJs would change the nature of the station. The only thing may be that, to identify the songs and artists, perhaps songs should be recorded in pairs for the automation system, with a voice saying afterwards "The Carpenters. Close to You. And before that The Beatles. Yesterday."

As for the ratings, The Dove does poorly 25-54. But Cox already has an AC station in the market, WWRM, that's usually #1 in women 25-54, and several Classic Rock stations that capture men 25-54. The Dove is usually #1 in the 35-64 demographic, even though most advertisers don't pay much attention to that figure. And of course, having the #1 ratings, book after book, often in the double digits, can be sold to mom and pop advertisers, even though that doesn't impress ad agencies.

That figure that The Dove is 20th in billing seems not what I've heard. I heard it was #7 in billing some years ago. On the other hand, what format would you put on a station licensed to New Port Richey that people even in Sarasota and Lakeland will strain to listen to? It costs only Dick Ring's salary (he even does his own news headlines in the morning) and it doesn't compete with any of Cox's other stations in the market. I suppose the sales staff has to actually go out and SELL the station, rather than just relying on ratings and demographics to do the work. But it would be very sad to say that, even in a market like Tampa with a large number of older listeners, sorry folks. On an FM dial jammed with hip hop, top 40 and rock, there's NOTHING for anyone over 50 to listen to.



Gregg
[email protected]

To summarize: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[Marv-L.A.]

The bloodbaths at KOST and WLTW came a year apart; KOST morning co-host Kim Admidon and midday host Mike Sakallareides were both fired just before Christmas in 2007 despite having been on the air for 23+ and 25+ years respectively.

Market legend Charlie Tuna, who used to work at the beyond-legendary 93/KHJ starting in 1967 when I started high school, was another victim of the CC firing spree; he left Hot AC KBIG last year, and now works weekends & fill-ins at Oldies-turned Classic Hits KRTH, under ex-KOST PD Jhani Kaye.

Tuna and Mason Dixon both worked at KHJ in the early seventies before Tuna left KHJ to do mornings at KCBQ/San Diego in early 1972.

The radio industry's mentality about adults 55+ never ceases to amaze me; those advertisers who choose WDUV for their spots aren't that stupid in emulating radio's asinine practice blowing off the nation's wealthiest listeners, thank goodness.