Clear Channel CHR strategy

[danwxman]

So, in a lot of markets CC owns the mainstream CHR and we all know the format is huge right now, with many stations having their highest ratings in a decade. But I've noticed what seems to be an interesting trend. It seems that in markets where CC owns a CHR, they have another station which they seem to be flanking it with...yes, flanking their own CHR with a semi-CHR.

The biggest example is KTU in NY but we have to throw that out since KTU is a heritage station there. More recent examples are Detroit, Philly and Raleigh. Detroit, CC morphs their Rhythmic AC into a Rhythmic leaning CHR. In Philly, they morph their Rhythmic AC into a very Rhythmic, pop-friendly Hot AC. It's almost like they are creating mini-CHRs to protect their main assets (WKQI in Detroit and WIOQ in Philly). In Raleigh you have a similar situation to Detroit with WKSL. So, what do you think about this "strategy".. or is it even one at all? It just seems to be to be quite coincidental to have in these major markets, in the same cluster, two very CHRish stations.

 

[the golden boy]

They're probably doing it to squeeze out the main competition or make it harder for another station to come in the market with the same format(s).

 

[danwxman]

They're probably doing it to squeeze out the main competition or make it harder for another station to come in the market with the same format(s).

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. They are protecting their home turf. But don't they run the risk of cannibalizing each other? Unless CC just uses them to sell ads on both stations and make more money..

 

[XCountry285]

im fortunate enough to be able to hear the greatest CC CHR/CHR in the world at my own home right on my radio dial: Z100. World Famous it really truly is. I do miss the old Elvis Duran though before it became all over the place. Now that im away at school sometimes i can pick it up on Q102 but WAVT-FM bleeds in there a lot. If only B104 would put Elvis on there.
Some good CC CHRs:
1. Z100
2. Kiss 106.1 Seattle
3. XL 106.7
4. Wild 95.5
5. KJ 103
6. Kiss 108
7. B 104
8. Q 102
9. FM 97
10. Hot 99.5
11. Z104.3
12. Y100
13. 106.1 Kiss FM Dallas

 

[CHR_FAN_TX]

The same thing seems to be happening in Dallas..HOT AC station KDMX 102.9 has added more pop to their playlist that they never used to play before..Taio Cruz, Usher, Rihanna, and Nelly are all being played on KDMX, which is sister station to KHKS.

 

[sfradio]

San Francisco used to have this situation for a while, CC used to be the only company that had both a rhythmic CHR and urban before CBS's Movin 99.7 came on to the scene

 

[AM FM listener]

In LA, KIIS is flanked by a Hot AC, KBIG, which is becoming more Rhythmic but still protecting the Adult side of KIIS. CC owns the CHR-Hot AC-AC continuum here with KIIS-KBIG-KOST. On the CHR-to-Rhythmic continuum though, KIIS has CBS' KAMP and Emmis' KPWR to contend with.

 

[only1moore]

Interestingly, this is nothing new. This strategy has worked well in Boston (WXKS & WJMN), Seattle (KUBE & KBKS), Tucson (KRQQ & KOHT), Portland (KKRZ & KXJM), and Austin (KHFI & KPEZ).

 

[danwxman]

Interestingly, this is nothing new. This strategy has worked well in Boston (WXKS & WJMN), Seattle (KUBE & KBKS), Tucson (KRQQ & KOHT), Portland (KKRZ & KXJM), and Austin (KHFI & KPEZ).

But, I'd argue that only recently has KUBE and especially WJMN started to lean so CHR.