CHICAGO ARBITRON RATINGS: May 2011

[DToTheJ]

Well, that one-year timetable that the Fresh PD set is just about to expire any day now...

 

[carolinaradio]

The one year period is in July or August I believe. I think CBS will go with WBBM on 105.9

Agreed, especially if KQX goes news.

I tend to agree as well. The WBBM franchise is very valuable and CBS cannot afford to permit any listener erosion to take place. However, I'd add that the timing depends on what exactly Randy Michaels has in mind for 101.1. Yeah, they say news or news/talk, but the devil is in the details. An FM talker with some news (going against WLS and WGN) probably wouldn't threaten CBS very much and they'd have more time to decide what they're doing. A heavier news emphasis, however, would likely send CBS scrambling.

Either way, WBBM will eventually come to FM. It's too valuable and too expensive to leave solely on AM forever. It's just a matter of when.

A couple of years ago, CBS put KCBS in San Fransisco on FM. I forgot all about that. BBM on FM seems very possible, to me. It's going to have to go to FM eventually, why not now?

 

[radiolives]

IMO, CBS was stupid to even give the station that much time to "turn things around." It's been a flop, should have just been blown up.

I agree, but I feel CBS was thinking it would go up and be strong like Fresh 102.7 in New York.

As for WBBM moving to FM, all the CBS FM's in Chicago pretty much have the same signal. As I was thinking CBS might move around when taking WBBM from AM to FM. If and when that happens.

 

[carolinaradio]

Well they had the chance to do it at 104.3, but maybe they wanted to put classic hits there since older music has a history there and with the WJMK calls.

I forget about Fresh 94.7 in DC - they are 14th and right at a 3 share. Not sure if I'd call them a success, either. There's Fresh in St Louis, but they're more AC than H/AC.
Fresh 102.7 in NYC has definitely been the only upstart Fresh that has been truly successful.

 

[radioman148]

I believe CBS will definitely do it if KQX goes news. fresh will be the likely spot.

 

[macab4490]

I wonder if CBS will consider putting Modern Rock on 105.9 and dumping Fresh if Q101 goes all News Talk?

Eh, what do you call 93.1? Plus, they are both owned by CBS......

 

[radioaircheck]

WXRT plays a variety of Rock. I was not talking a AAA, I was talking Alternative/Active rock.

 

[DToTheJ]

...CBS will definitely do it if KQX goes news. fresh will be the likely spot.

Of course, that depends on whether or not they can justify replacing the revenue stream from the music station that CBS will more or less end up cutting off with an AM/FM all-new simulcast.

 

[radioman148]

...CBS will definitely do it if KQX goes news. fresh will be the likely spot.

Of course, that depends on whether or not they can justify replacing the revenue stream from the music station that CBS will more or less end up cutting off with an AM/FM all-new simulcast.

True, but with Fresh' ratings CBS will probably take the chance.

 

[radioguy39nj]

The one year period is in July or August I believe. I think CBS will go with WBBM on 105.9

Agreed, especially if KQX goes news.

I tend to agree as well. The WBBM franchise is very valuable and CBS cannot afford to permit any listener erosion to take place. However, I'd add that the timing depends on what exactly Randy Michaels has in mind for 101.1. Yeah, they say news or news/talk, but the devil is in the details. An FM talker with some news (going against WLS and WGN) probably wouldn't threaten CBS very much and they'd have more time to decide what they're doing. A heavier news emphasis, however, would likely send CBS scrambling.

Either way, WBBM will eventually come to FM. It's too valuable and too expensive to leave solely on AM forever. It's just a matter of when.

A couple of years ago, CBS put KCBS in San Fransisco on FM. I forgot all about that. BBM on FM seems very possible, to me. It's going to have to go to FM eventually, why not now?

When KCBS was AM only, they were a top 5 station. Shortly after adding FM, they became #1 in the Bay Area. WBBM Newsradio simulcasting on FM is definitely possible.