> > Not entirely their fault, as these are not the best
> signals
> > in the market, especially 1260. The ever-sprawling DC
> metro
> > doesn't help either.
>
> In a market where the 50,000 watt *all-news* station needs
> to employ two FM relays (and a small AM) to reach the entire
> market, it's no surprise these dog signals are getting dog
> ratings.
>
> 1260, in particular, is - signal-wise - a non-factor in
> nearly all of Northern Virginia, home of the bulk of the
> region's growth.
>
> 630 and 980 are basically the only two full-market AMs in
> DC. And even THEY have some fringe area signal problems.
I understand the coverage issues; 630 is only 5kW, although at such a low frequency. However, these aren't exactly 500w stations. They cover a lot of people. I'm still of the opinion that content drives listenership, and that if you cover a decent area, people will try to listen. 570 has the lowest dial position and should benefit from that.
Just to use a local case study, CC's KFYI/Phx powers down to 1kW at night with a similar freq to WTNT. Can't hear them in areas like Cave Creek (NE), Sun City (NW), Tonopah (far W), etc. On libtalker KKXT, Mike Newcomb (7-9pm), veteran of all of 3 years, beats 8 of 10 talk/sports stations in 12+ with a pretty decent share for a 250w station out of not-long-ago-far-west Tolleson. And increasing 50% over lead-in.
The metro in AZ is growing very quickly as well. Most cities are. What happens when metros sprawl for another 20 years... perhaps radio will be completely dead by then. Until then, however, I think CC and others should quit whining and do better than the utterly lethargic ratings they have. Maybe if they had more stimulating talk than Jerry Doyle in afternoon drive (against 800-lb. gorilla Hannity in a very political city), signal suddenly wouldn't be such an issue. Only when ratings stink.