CC Readies Launch Of FM Talk In Twin Cities

[bierkenstock]

From Radio and Records:
<blockquote>Clear Channel is moving forward on its previously announced plans to debut a new FM Talker, KTLK, in January 2006 on the 100.3 MHz signal that's currently home to Smooth Jazz KJZI/Minneapolis. New additions to the KTLK-FM lineup, which already includes Premiere Radio Networks host Rush Limbaugh and ABC Radio Networks talk host Sean Hannity, are local hosts Andrew Colton and Pat Kessler. Colton, a former ABC Radio and TV correspondent, will handle the morning show. Kessler, widely regarded as the Twin Cities' best political reporter and currently at WCCO-TV, will host KTLK's midday shift. Other personnel announcements are pending for KTLK-FM.</blockquote>

And the rush (pun intended) to FM continues. In addition to Infinity's FreeFM talk format, look for Clear Channel FM talk to launch on an under-performing FM station in a Clear Channel cluster near you.

 

[FightingIrish]

> From Radio and Records:
> Clear Channel is moving forward on its previously announced
> plans to debut a new FM Talker, KTLK, in January 2006 on the
> 100.3 MHz signal that's currently home to Smooth Jazz
> KJZI/Minneapolis. New additions to the KTLK-FM lineup, which
> already includes Premiere Radio Networks host Rush Limbaugh
> and ABC Radio Networks talk host Sean Hannity, are local
> hosts Andrew Colton and Pat Kessler. Colton, a former ABC
> Radio and TV correspondent, will handle the morning show.
> Kessler, widely regarded as the Twin Cities' best political
> reporter and currently at WCCO-TV, will host KTLK's midday
> shift. Other personnel announcements are pending for
> KTLK-FM.
>
> And the rush (pun intended) to FM continues. In addition to
> Infinity's FreeFM talk format, look for Clear Channel FM
> talk to launch on an under-performing FM station in a Clear
> Channel cluster near you.
>

Clear Channel is doing this in markets where they don't own a high-powered AM station, where their AM stations are doing other formats they don't want to mess with, where terrain is an issue for AM stations, or they have an underperforming FM.

In Minneapolis, CC owns two AM stations. One is KFAN (1130), which has a fairly decent signal but is a highly lucrative sports monster. KFXN (690) is a low-powered AM (is it still a daytimer?), and is basically a dumping ground for KFAN.

100.3 in Minneapolis has been a ratings dog for years. They also had the opportunity to pick up Limbaugh from KSTP-AM, which is not renewing his show. And CC also wants to compete with KSTP and WCCO - the two big talk stations in the market. The only way to do this is via a 100KW FM station.

And KFAN is the flagship for both the Vikings and the Timberwolves. They have simulcast Vikings games on FM in years past (on K102, on a prior format on 100.3, and more recently on KOOL 108). Look for Vikings games to wind up back on 100.3.

CC did something similar in Pittsburgh, where they put a talk station on FM. Their AM station would not do, since it's coverage is less than desireable, and only an FM would compete against a powerhouse like KDKA.

This is not a trend for CC. They are not going to convert all of their AM talkers to FM. Rather, it is an option for markets where they aren't able to do it with an AM station.


<P ID="signature">______________
The Liberal Talk Radio Update</P>

 

[ajhenderson]

> From Radio and Records:
> Clear Channel is moving forward on its previously announced
> plans to debut a new FM Talker, KTLK, in January 2006 on the
> 100.3 MHz signal that's currently home to Smooth Jazz
> KJZI/Minneapolis. New additions to the KTLK-FM lineup, which
> already includes Premiere Radio Networks host Rush Limbaugh
> and ABC Radio Networks talk host Sean Hannity, are local
> hosts Andrew Colton and Pat Kessler. Colton, a former ABC
> Radio and TV correspondent, will handle the morning show.
> Kessler, widely regarded as the Twin Cities' best political
> reporter and currently at WCCO-TV, will host KTLK's midday
> shift. Other personnel announcements are pending for
> KTLK-FM.

Has this Kessler ever done radio before? I've had enough of these TV people who think a pretty face is all you need to do radio. This shows the continuing devaluation of in-house national talker Glenn Beck, who could have taken middays and saved a salary. Typically, I'd applaud more local talk, but there's enough already with WCCO being local 24/7 and KSTP doing a lot of local, and probably more post-Rush.