CBS Radio Sports To LA?

[recto101]

A star-studded panel looked at the big picture of spoken-word radio, with CBS Radio News vice president Harvey Nagler stating, “We are not in the radio business – we are in the content business.” Content, however, must be memorable and compelling. Provided that personalities “do not break their promises to listeners,” it is the opinion of Sound Mind CEO Kraig Kitchin that they will “continue to sell their books.” Demos are not what Phil Boyce seeks. “I chase ears,” commented Salem‘s vice president/director, spoken word formats, who added, “People on the left want to kill talk radio.” One of the key buzzwords, according to Fox Sports Radio vice president/programming Don Martin, is “bundle.” The operations manager of Los Angeles’ KLAC commented that, from a branding standpoint, it is much wiser to use handles such as “Fox Sports Radio – LA,” or “ESPN Radio 710,” rather than, “The Zone,” or “The Ticket.”

http://www.radio-info.com/

 

[ChannelFlipper]

A star-studded panel looked at the big picture of spoken-word radio, with CBS Radio News vice president Harvey Nagler stating, “We are not in the radio business – we are in the content business.” Content, however, must be memorable and compelling. Provided that personalities “do not break their promises to listeners,” it is the opinion of Sound Mind CEO Kraig Kitchin that they will “continue to sell their books.” Demos are not what Phil Boyce seeks. “I chase ears,” commented Salem‘s vice president/director, spoken word formats, who added, “People on the left want to kill talk radio.” One of the key buzzwords, according to Fox Sports Radio vice president/programming Don Martin, is “bundle.” The operations manager of Los Angeles’ KLAC commented that, from a branding standpoint, it is much wiser to use handles such as “Fox Sports Radio – LA,” or “ESPN Radio 710,” rather than, “The Zone,” or “The Ticket.”

http://www.radio-info.com/

So I gather he thinks those handles are better than "The Wave" too...although he would be in the dubious position of programming against a "CBS Sports 94.7".

Or Not - I can hear it now (sports talk promo guy voice) "The new sports leader is 94.7 CBS Sports Radio LA... Get Your Clippers On Here!"

 

[calguy]

The operations manager of Los Angeles’ KLAC commented that, from a branding standpoint, it is much wiser to use handles such as “Fox Sports Radio – LA,” or “ESPN Radio 710,” rather than, “The Zone,” or “The Ticket.”[/b]

http://www.radio-info.com/

So I gather he thinks those handles are better than "The Wave" too...although he would be in the dubious position of programming against a "CBS Sports 94.7".

Or Not - I can hear it now (sports talk promo guy voice) "The new sports leader is 94.7 CBS Sports Radio LA... Get Your Clippers On Here!"

I'm sure those working at The Wave love reading this.

 

[davideduardo]

So I gather he thinks those handles are better than "The Wave" too...

The Wave is a name for a music station.

ESPN and Fox are multimedia brands, not names. They have built-in image and "greatness". A name that does not have a brand behind it stands alone, while the brand gives instant credibility.

A new ecologically balanced laundry detergent called "Mountain Spring" is not going to be as powerful in cutting through the marketing clutter as the same exact concept called "Eco-Tide" or something like that. Tide is a brand, a franchise, a force. The other name has to create its own cred and reputation in a crowded market.

 

[radiojomo]

"Get Your Clippers On Here!"

HA!-Who cares about the Clippers in LA? ;D

 

[recto101]

"Get Your Clippers On Here!"

HA!-Who cares about the Clippers in LA? ;D

People will care about the Clippers more if they go to the NBA Finals. Or If Clippers and Lakers compete in the NBA Semifinals (Western Finals) thats when they care about the clippers more ;D.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

So I gather he thinks those handles are better than "The Wave" too...

The Wave is a name for a music station.

ESPN and Fox are multimedia brands, not names. They have built-in image and "greatness". A name that does not have a brand behind it stands alone, while the brand gives instant credibility.

A new ecologically balanced laundry detergent called "Mountain Spring" is not going to be as powerful in cutting through the marketing clutter as the same exact concept called "Eco-Tide" or something like that. Tide is a brand, a franchise, a force. The other name has to create its own cred and reputation in a crowded market.

David,

I am surprised that you didn't recognize a cheap throwaway line for what it is.

I think we all understand that the Wave is a music station. The point of the post (If I must point it out) is that our CC friend who talks so big about the industry and the branding of it, might soon get walloped himself by an FM sports talker that he will have a much more difficult time competing against. Since CC can find no room for KFI on the FM band, it's obvious that the doors for KLAC's Fox Sports Radio on the FM band are equally closed. And you know how well AMs generally fare against FM competitors of similar format. On the other hand he has the Dodgers, UCLA and NFL Football, while a contemplated CBS sports talker on FM would only have the Clippers. Thus the real question is whether an FM sports talker with a weak sports team property would actually be competition with an AM signal that actually broadcasts games of much more popular sports properties.

 

[BMedina]

CBS Sports Radio on 94.7 or 93.1 would most likely have Dial Global's coverage of NFL Football (formerly Westwood One) in addition to the Clippers which would move from KFWB to the new CBS Sports Radio FM station in L.A. Also Jim Rome's Orange County based syndicated show (highest rated show on KLAC) is moving to CBS Sports Radio. No doubt KLAC and Fox Sports Radio are the biggest losers in this.

 

[Thomps2525]

BMedina speculates on 93.1 or 94.7 becoming an affiliate of the new CBS Sports Radio Network, which goes full-time in January. I agree that either one of those CBS FM stations is a likely candidate. (I know we got sick of election ads last week, so forgive me for using the word "candidate."). KRTH, also a CBS FM station, is certainly not going to drop its "classic hits" format. CBS recently paid $75 million to Merlin Media for WRXP so they will have an FM outlet in New York for the sports network. Whichever station in Los Angeles joins the network, it will have to do without the Angels and Ducks (heard on KLAA), the Kings (heard on KTLK), the Clippers (heard on KFWB), and the Dodgers and Lakers (heard on KLAC). Does that mean we'll have 24 hours a day of unemployed guys calling up and saying what they would have done differently if they had been managing the (fill-in-the-name) team? There are millions of people who want to hear sports, not just people talking about sports.

In response to CBS, Dial Global and NBC quickly launched NBC Sports Radio, already heard on around 200 stations nationwide. KLAA is likely to join NBC when their current contract with ESPN expires.

 

[FightingIrish]

Maybe I've been in a cave or something, but I thought they had already announced KFWB as the CBS Sports affiliate for L.A.

 

[radioguy39nj]

CBS recently paid $75 million to Merlin Media for WRXP so they will have an FM outlet in New York for the sports network.

WFAN is presently being simulcast on 660 AM and 101.9 FM, the former WRXP. Most observers, myself included, feel that 660 AM with its 50 kW non-D blaster signal will become the flagship of CBS Sports Radio. Live and local WFAN would migrate to 101.9 FM exclusively.

 

[lifeguardofradio]

If you think anyone in NY is going to listen to a national show instead of what's on locally, you have lost your mind. National radio doesn't work in NY other than Mike and Mike, who are as interesting as milk toast even when Greenberg talks about the Jets.

 

[davideduardo]

BMedina speculates on 93.1 or 94.7 becoming an affiliate of the new CBS Sports Radio Network, which goes full-time in January. I agree that either one of those CBS FM stations is a likely candidate. (I know we got sick of election ads last week, so forgive me for using the word "candidate."). KRTH, also a CBS FM station, is certainly not going to drop its "classic hits" format.

KCBS-FM is the 6th rated 25-54 station in LA. Why they would consider changing that facility is a mystery.

KRTH is at 13th in "the" sales demo and fading, while KTWV is at 19th and not gaining ground.

In revenue, KCBS-FM is the leader, with KRTH behind it and WTWV well behind.

 

[david]

Maybe I've been in a cave or something, but I thought they had already announced KFWB as the CBS Sports affiliate for L.A.

Irish...The KFWB trust stipulates that the station cannot change formats as long as it remains in said trust. The speculation has been that CBS might sell KFWB to Cumulus, which is in partnership with CBS for the new sports network, and that sale would release the station from the trust and allow it to take on the 24/7 programming of the new sports network. IMO, I enjoy elements of the current format (such as Money 101 with Bob McCormick, Business Rockstars with Ken Rutkowski, and some of the overnight programming with Jim Bohannon and Dirk Van) and would be sad to see them disappear.

 

[Thomps2525]

Good ol' KFWB: a 50% audience share with a top-40 format in the late 1950s, a formidable news format in the late 1960s, and a mix of news, talk and infomercials that draws a 0.4% share and puts the station in 40th place in 2012. I'm sure that somebody at CBS had that potential sale to Cumulus in mind because three months ago CBS registered several domain names: 980Sports.com, 980TheFan.com, AllSports980.com, AM980TheFan.com, LASports980.com, Sports980LA.com and TheFan980.com.

Quick, somebody check and see if anyone has registered Sports947.com or 947TheFan.com!

 

[radioguy39nj]

If you think anyone in NY is going to listen to a national show instead of what's on locally, you have lost your mind. National radio doesn't work in NY other than Mike and Mike, who are as interesting as milk toast even when Greenberg talks about the Jets.

You got that right! As I mentioned, WFAN AM/FM is 100% 24/7 live and local while ESPN 98.7 FM is only about 60% live and local. Mike and Mike do very well against WFAN's Boomer & Carton.

Outside of sports, issues-oriented news/talk radio in NY is almost all-syndicated. WABC is 100% bird fed, except for Mark Simone's Saturday show. WOR, recently purchased by CC, will likely be the same. CC didn't purchase WOR to turn it into a NYC edition of KFI.

 

[HHH]

The money seems to be on KTWV switching to CBS Sports.

KRTH still has life in it, and AMP is part of a nationwide CBS "let's go after Clear Channel's CHRs" strategy.

 

[davideduardo]

The money seems to be on KTWV switching to CBS Sports.

KRTH still has life in it, and AMP is part of a nationwide CBS "let's go after Clear Channel's CHRs" strategy.

Amp is more than just a "bite Clear Channel" move. It's consistently around 4th in 18-34 and 5th in 18-49 in LA; whether KIIS is first makes no difference since Amp's rank makes it just as salable as the leader in the demo.

Neither KRTH nor KTWV are in the top 10 in any sales demo. While The Wave is considerably lower than KRTH, it's not doing as well in 25-54 as some of the other CBS classic hits stations are.

Let's not forget that the CBS sports initiative is a joint venture with Cumulus; KABC would make a nice partner there. Even KLOS might fit the bill.

 

[Jay Walker]

Let's not forget that the CBS sports initiative is a joint venture with Cumulus; KABC would make a nice partner there. Even KLOS might fit the bill.

David that's an interesting scenario including KABC or KLOS to the short list of candidates for a switch to CBS Sports.

KLOS of course would give CBS Sports much needed FM clearance in market #2 and would be a definite credibility boast for the format as well as helping to build a strategic wall around the sports franchise in SOCAL.

Clearance on KABC while not as desirable as FM clearance, would help improve Cumulus' bottom line in LA by cutting the overhead of running an under performing live talker by virtue of clearing the bulk of network programming supplemented with local sports talk as needed to localize the format to fill the needs of the LA listener.

Supplemental local live shows on either AM or FM could help differentiate the station from the ESPN outlet and it's North Eastern centric programming.

Either one would definitely give the format a decent facility to clear the the format in LA rather than the usual cast of under performing coverage limited AM's and deep rim-shot FMs...

 

[kombayn]

I still think that KFWB will be sold to Cumulus Media which will clear the CBS Sports Radio feed, I'm wondering if they'll have any local talent signed up as AM570 FOX Sports LA is just getting it handed to them by ESPN LA 710.