CBS's great plan!

[radiogeek07]

Here it is,
B94 comes back, but as a station similar to Q102 in Cincinnati.
As for star, they go country.
Why would they do that? Simple. So they could give Pittsburghers another city-grade signal for country thus destroying anything the toads have going for them. In about a year, 100.7 changes making Y 108 the only country player in town.
Whatcha think?

 

[Interested Observer]

Here it is,
B94 comes back, but as a station similar to Q102 in Cincinnati.
As for star, they go country.
Why would they do that? Simple. So they could give Pittsburghers another city-grade signal for country thus destroying anything the toads have going for them. In about a year, 100.7 changes making Y 108 the only country player in town.
Whatcha think?

I thought that they should bring a hot country format since they first blew up KRock. The thing is, they wouldn't even need to change again after the frogs go belly up because CBS would own both of them.

 

[Pratte4Life]

For the 10,000th time- I would like to have another rocker that has a playlist similar to Rock 105 in Jacksonville or WQUT in the Tri-Cities, TN markets (which means that they actually play rock songs that rock and don't believe the genre of rock music died when Led Zepplein broke up).

I know that as recently as 2005 Rock 105 was the top revenue-earning station in Jacksonville. I don't know the radio revenues of Jacksonville in 2006, and to be honest am not sure I care. My point has been made.

I think it would work. I don't know if it'll happen, but I think it would work.

Until tomorrow, when I write the same post in yet another way,

I am,

Pratte4Life

 

[feeball]

For the 10,000th time- I would like to have another rocker that has a playlist similar to Rock 105 in Jacksonville or WQUT in the Tri-Cities, TN markets (which means that they actually play rock songs that rock and don't believe the genre of rock music died when Led Zepplein broke up).

I know that as recently as 2005 Rock 105 was the top revenue-earning station in Jacksonville. I don't know the radio revenues of Jacksonville in 2006, and to be honest am not sure I care. My point has been made.

I think it would work. I don't know if it'll happen, but I think it would work.

Until tomorrow, when I write the same post in yet another way,

I am,

Pratte4Life

I am probably one of the few that will agree with you that Pittsburgh needs another rock station. K Rock had potential and could turn themselves around until certain unforeseen actions slowly crippled them. If they do bring in another rock station, loosen up on all of the Led and Floyd. Focus on 80's and 90's along with the currents. Good example, Rock 106.9 out of Canton, Ohio.

The country idea could work, but are the Frogs really that big of a threat to Y108?

If they don't go rock or country, then maybe Urban AC. Closest the market had to this format was The Beat.

 

[FCR]

I can't see CBS keeping WZPT as Hot AC with B94 coming back. A rock format would make the most sense.

On a side note, the WBZZ calls are now licensed to a station in Malta, NY, part of the Albany market.

 

[Boss Radio]

They shouldn't want the BZZ calls back anyway. They were part of the failure as B94 died. It's not like you're resurrecting any heritage. In the station's best days, WBZZ was only heard in the legal ID.

 

[SteelRocker]

I can't see CBS keeping WZPT as Hot AC with B94 coming back. A rock format would make the most sense.

On a side note, the WBZZ calls are now licensed to a station in Malta, NY, part of the Albany market.

As I said in the other message thread, we do need another choice besides The X. I really missed K-Rock when it folded. I'm hopeful that Star 100.7 flips to an Active Rock format...something like K-Rock was or DC-101 is now.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Something I don't understand about the idea of switching to country-

Doesn't CBS already have WDSY?

If so, and with that station firmly entrenched as No. 1 in country in Pittsburgh, why would CBS want to take away from that audience with another country station?

I like the idea of a rocker in the format I have mentioned. I think that would put enough heat on WDVE to perhaps knock them off the top spot and give it back to KDKA.

But the hints seem to be reviving B-94. Even on the pitts-urgh site it hints at things of Pittsburgh's past that are no longer there- like they could bring something back.

In a way, though, isn't that almost another resignation of Pittsburgh radio- on the same variable of recycling moldy talent?

Here- it's a moldy format. "I'm sorry- we never should have gone away from B-94! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! On our first day back we'll have our morning DJ make jokes concerning a female employee being a slut and REALLY live up to our heritage!"

HOW'S THAT FOR A PUBLICITY STUNT!?!!?!?!?!!?!

I will say that I think the sports stations in town are doing cartwheels. The Zone cut into that fragmented audience for their only listeners.

Then again- if WBGG still doesn't show up in the book now, what becomes of Bendel and Benz?

 

[Interested Observer]

Something I don't understand about the idea of switching to country-

Doesn't CBS already have WDSY?

If so, and with that station firmly entrenched as No. 1 in country in Pittsburgh, why would CBS want to take away from that audience with another country station?

The idea Pratte, would be to take away from the frogs. If a few DSY listeners swing that way too, no matter; they are still listening to a CBS station.

As far as firmly entrenched, I agree that the frogs won't overtake DSY, but if you looked at the 12+ numbers, the combined frogs and DSY are at a dead heat.

 

[pghfmradiosucks]

In response to Pratte's question about what would become of Bendel and Benz. I had the opportunity to listen to Bendel minus Benz the other day and I was impressed with Bendel. He brings a no nonsense attitude to the airwaves and is actually quite knowledgeable. In my opinion, Benz is the weak link and should be relieved of his duties on that station. He has too many jobs anyway. Give Bendel a solo show and they may actually show up in the books. I could never listen to that station on a regular basis because of their firing of Stan Savran. That told me that they were not serious about being a player in the local sports scene. If Bendel had a solo sports show on another station I would listen.

 

[Pratte4Life]

But FM!

Benz brings NAME RECOGNITION!

He's the guy that got shuttled to weekends on ESPN 1250 and does fill in work on Channel 4.

We can't get rid of him!

Who would we replace him with? Bill DiFabio?

 

[Boss Radio]

In response to Pratte's question about what would become of Bendel and Benz. I had the opportunity to listen to Bendel minus Benz the other day and I was impressed with Bendel. He brings a no nonsense attitude to the airwaves and is actually quite knowledgeable. In my opinion, Benz is the weak link and should be relieved of his duties on that station. He has too many jobs anyway. Give Bendel a solo show and they may actually show up in the books. I could never listen to that station on a regular basis because of their firing of Stan Savran. That told me that they were not serious about being a player in the local sports scene. If Bendel had a solo sports show on another station I would listen.

Bendel is knowledgable about football, especially Pitt. He knows nothing about hockey or baseball, and makes little effort to find anything out.

 

[kenhawk1160]

The idea Pratte, would be to take away from the frogs. If a few DSY listeners swing that way too, no matter; they are still listening to a CBS station.

As far as firmly entrenched, I agree that the frogs won't overtake DSY, but if you looked at the 12+ numbers, the combined frogs and DSY are at a dead heat.

Froggy's big disadvantage is that you have to dance all over the dial to find out where you can get the station. However, they make up for it by having the cutesy names for the jocks and make them as memorable as the music. It's a good package overall.

If a Pittsburgh stick goes on the market, you can bet Forever will snatch it up if they can raise the cash, and I'm quite sure they can do it.

Can Pittsburgh support another Country station? Absolutely. WEEP pulled in pretty impressive numbers (for an AM daytimer) with a SATELLITE classic country format that cost Entercom NOTHING to operate. Rebel 104.7's image was killed by management telling the jocks "there are no rules", and when we started pushing the envelope, they stopped backing us up after a few complaints. Then after I left they were airing liners saying "Your Family Friendly Hit Country Station", literally taking the teeth out of what we were supposed to be.

 

[Interested Observer]

The idea Pratte, would be to take away from the frogs. If a few DSY listeners swing that way too, no matter; they are still listening to a CBS station.

As far as firmly entrenched, I agree that the frogs won't overtake DSY, but if you looked at the 12+ numbers, the combined frogs and DSY are at a dead heat.

Froggy's big disadvantage is that you have to dance all over the dial to find out where you can get the station. However, they make up for it by having the cutesy names for the jocks and make them as memorable as the music. It's a good package overall.

If a Pittsburgh stick goes on the market, you can bet Forever will snatch it up if they can raise the cash, and I'm quite sure they can do it.

Actually, it's technically Keymarket, even though that's just another part of Forever.

Anyway, I think that in this incarnation of Froggy, the frog names are not a positive thing. If anything, I believe that it's a mark in the minus column. I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to say that they hate the names like David Hopperfield, James Pond, Tommy Hilfrogger, etc. They find them annoying and insulting. Where they get on the plus side is music. They are first with the new music and they heavily hit the local music scene.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I'm listening, but tell me how this would work.

I have championed a classic country format in Pittsburgh. I think country veterans have become cherished popular icons with a crossover appeal. Look at how popular Johnny Cash was with all ages prior to his death (and really, now as well).

Giving Classic Country to a frequency like 93.7? Out of the box thinking for sure- but intriguing.

Or, you could try to pattern yourself after the major country stations in Tennessee by hiring a program director with Nashville ties who can break the up and coming and cutting edge artists to Pittsburgh. The Frogs and WDSY don't really do that- they pepper their playlist with some traditional hits through what is on the charts now.

Which I don't have a problem with. But I'm just saying you'd need to do something different to give the listeners a real choice.

 

[FCR]

I'm listening, but tell me how this would work.

I have championed a classic country format in Pittsburgh. I think country veterans have become cherished popular icons with a crossover appeal. Look at how popular Johnny Cash was with all ages prior to his death (and really, now as well).

Giving Classic Country to a frequency like 93.7? Out of the box thinking for sure- but intriguing.

Or, you could try to pattern yourself after the major country stations in Tennessee by hiring a program director with Nashville ties who can break the up and coming and cutting edge artists to Pittsburgh. The Frogs and WDSY don't really do that- they pepper their playlist with some traditional hits through what is on the charts now.

Which I don't have a problem with. But I'm just saying you'd need to do something different to give the listeners a real choice.

Creative thinking, but it's pretty obvious the B is coming back. I don't expect a smokescreen from these wizards. And, I bet Ryan Mill still has a job, so no hiring a PD from Nashville.

 

[Interested Observer]

I'm listening, but tell me how this would work.

I have championed a classic country format in Pittsburgh. I think country veterans have become cherished popular icons with a crossover appeal. Look at how popular Johnny Cash was with all ages prior to his death (and really, now as well).

Giving Classic Country to a frequency like 93.7? Out of the box thinking for sure- but intriguing.

Or, you could try to pattern yourself after the major country stations in Tennessee by hiring a program director with Nashville ties who can break the up and coming and cutting edge artists to Pittsburgh. The Frogs and WDSY don't really do that- they pepper their playlist with some traditional hits through what is on the charts now.

Which I don't have a problem with. But I'm just saying you'd need to do something different to give the listeners a real choice.

Actually, classic country isn't a bad idea. Maybe if they have to flip Star...

 

[Pratte4Life]

Gotta go with being against the Frog names. I too find them very degrading.

The worst was when I had to hear Jimmy Roach referred to as "Jumping" Jimmy Roach.

This is a truly great broadcaster and they are humiliating him like that.

He deserves better. I have never even met Jimmy Roach, and I have to say I'm outraged for him.

 

[pghfmradiosucks]

Response to Pratte:
I have the perfect replacement for Tim Benz. The producer of the Junker and Crow show is named Chris Mack. He seems to think people tune in to hear his cut ins, sound effects and his opinions. He interrupts Guy and Eddie with songs and movie clips only he thinks are funny. (Think Fred Norris of the Howard Stern without the talent or the timing). This works in a couple of ways. First, both Chris and Tim got their start on ESPN 1250. Second, this would allow Guy and Eddie to talk sports without the interruptions. I listened to Junker and Crow on Monday morning and Chris was not producing. A gentleman by the name of John Bridge was. This was one of the best Junker and Crow shows I had ever heard because John knew he was not more important than the show.
Response to Boss:
My only other exposure to Joe Bendel was when he would participate on Stan Savran's Sportbeat show. Stan would only have him on to discuss Steelers and Pitt so I'll have to agree with you. His sports knowledge must be limited. Plus, look at the radio station that hired him. You do not have to have a knowledge of all sports to work at Fox 970. Stan Savran did and they fired him.

 

[Interested Observer]

The idea Pratte, would be to take away from the frogs. If a few DSY listeners swing that way too, no matter; they are still listening to a CBS station.

As far as firmly entrenched, I agree that the frogs won't overtake DSY, but if you looked at the 12+ numbers, the combined frogs and DSY are at a dead heat.

Froggy's big disadvantage is that you have to dance all over the dial to find out where you can get the station. However, they make up for it by having the cutesy names for the jocks and make them as memorable as the music. It's a good package overall.

If a Pittsburgh stick goes on the market, you can bet Forever will snatch it up if they can raise the cash, and I'm quite sure they can do it.

Actually, it's technically Keymarket, even though that's just another part of Forever.

Anyway, I think that in this incarnation of Froggy, the frog names are not a positive thing. If anything, I believe that it's a mark in the minus column. I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to say that they hate the names like David Hopperfield, James Pond, Tommy Hilfrogger, etc. They find them annoying and insulting. Where they get on the plus side is music. They are first with the new music and they heavily hit the local music scene.

Also regarding the frog names; the idea is not to make the jock memorable, but to brand the station. The idea is to always make you think about the frog brand and to make the jock faceless, thereby making them dispensable for the next "Davey Croakett" or "Farrah Frogette". The voice would change but the frog brand would remain the same.