Clear Channel To Flip KJZI To Talk---But Not Until January

[Joseph_Gallant]

Radio And Records.com is reporting that Clear Channel's smooth jazz station in the Twin Cities, KJZI, will be flipped to talk on or around January 1st and will be known as KTLK.

Premiere Networks (A Clear Channel Property)-owned Rush Limbaugh will move from KSTP-1500 at the time of the flip; ABC's Sean Hannity show will also join the station at some point in 2006.

Expect Premiere Networks' other talk shows now on KSTP (Phil Hendrie, George Noory, and Matt Drudge on Sunday nights) to also move to KTLK as soon after the format flip date as legally possible to do so. Other Premiere Networks shows not now heard in the Twin Cities will likely be on KTLK starting on the new format's launch date. With Limbaugh and Hannity already leaving KSTP and Hendrie, Noory and Drudge to follow, KSTP will lose much of it's program schedule and most of it's syndicated programming.

And maybe that was the reason behind the change, despite the Radio and Records.com article claiming low ratings are the reason for the change. That is true, but the reason the station is going to talk is that Clear Channel has at this point of time an opportunity to take several of it's syndicated (through Premiere) talk shows away from another local station (KSTP) to a CC-owned station, which could badly wound KSTP.

Although the Radio and Records.com story said KTLK would have both "local and national personalities", I would think the station might be local only in mornings, given the live feed of Hannity is in afternoon drive. KSTP now runs Hannity on a delay from 6 to 8 P.M. Central time. KTLK will probably run him live.

Don't be surprised if the smooth jazz format of the current KJZI ends in November, and the stations goes all-Christmas through Christmas Day, with some kind of stunt from December 26th through 31st.

 

[Jeffrey]

Seems like smooth jazz and urban never really took off in this market.
KJZI will be missed though by those that liked it. Not a bad station.
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they do well just after the format switch to smooth jazz from WLOL?

 

[FightingIrish]

> Seems like smooth jazz and urban never really took off in
> this market.
> KJZI will be missed though by those that liked it. Not a bad
> station.
> Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they do well just after
> the format switch to smooth jazz from WLOL?
>

The only urban station in the market is B96, and they are bogged down by a rimshot signal and weak programming. And KDWB hits the urban stuff pretty hard, like most CHR's do. Otherwise, it could probably do well here. Ratings aren't all that bad, considering what they have to work with.

The only frequencies to do smooth jazz here are 100.3 and 104.1 - both cursed signals that have itchy trigger fingers. Both have been known to flip formats quickly. 104.1 just picked up Jack a few months ago.

And 100.3 did improve after picking up smooth jazz, if I recall. But WLOL's classic hits format never took off. The ratings were terrible. They did many things wrong, and nobody's ever been successful taking on KQ.

I wonder if 107.1 will pick it up and do away with the fem-talk format. After a few years, the best that they have been able to muster is a one share. Smooth jazz isn't setting the world on fire, but it is doing a lot better (and running a lot cheaper) than whatever is going on at WFMP. Maybe they should do the new 'chill' format. The Twin Cities is progressive enough to adopt something like this. It would be an interesting twist on the wallpaper sax music that smooth jazz seems to be nowadays.<P ID="signature">______________
The Liberal Talk Radio Update</P>

 

[neutral_observer]

> I wonder if 107.1 will pick it up and do away with the
> fem-talk format.

Merging it into the then-to-be-needing-programming KSTP seems the easy and logical choice, does it not?

After all, after Ginny's recent comments about reevaluating Rush, et al on KSTP but maintaining faith in "fem-talk," is that not what should be inevitable?



> ...the new 'chill' format. ...
> It would be an interesting twist on the wallpaper sax music
> that smooth jazz seems to be nowadays.

I thought I was the only one who noticed that. Once the sax took over and strings and keys became rarities, I lost a fair amount of interest. The format has become very good at matching the desires of those who consume it, but it seems to have completely ignored matching the desires of the likely *greater* number who *would* consume it.

 

[JonEllis]

Yes, maybe some sort of a format that combined Smooth Jazz with Adult Standards or Easy Listening favorites, particularily with the demise of KLBB. Of course what I'm describing sounds like Red at 104.1 in St. Louis, which isn't doing all that well.

 

[Jeffrey]

> Yes, maybe some sort of a format that combined Smooth Jazz
> with Adult Standards or Easy Listening favorites,
> particularily with the demise of KLBB. Of course what I'm
> describing sounds like Red at 104.1 in St. Louis, which
> isn't doing all that well.
>

not sure that would work. Smooth jazz seems to be doing well in many major cities. I think it's often viewed as today's elevator music which in a way it is. This new CHILL format gave it a real new twist in NY. with WQCD but since they failed to do it properly that failed too.
10 years from now the format won't exist at all.

 

[neutral_observer]

> > Yes, maybe some sort of a format that combined Smooth Jazz
>
> > with Adult Standards or Easy Listening favorites,
> > particularily with the demise of KLBB. Of course what I'm
>
> > describing sounds like Red at 104.1 in St. Louis, which
> > isn't doing all that well.
> >
>
> not sure that would work. Smooth jazz seems to be doing well
> in many major cities. I think it's often viewed as today's
> elevator music which in a way it is. This new CHILL format
> gave it a real new twist in NY. with WQCD but since they
> failed to do it properly that failed too.
> 10 years from now the format won't exist at all.


I was thinking more in the New Age-y direction...more Craig Chaquico, David Benoit, and Kevin Toney-ish. Stop just saying it and really help me relax or work or think or whatever...stop forcing so many vocals on me (words into my head). I would label what I'm wanting "contemporary instrumental."

 

[My_Humps]

> Don't be surprised if the smooth jazz format of the current
> KJZI ends in November, and the stations goes all-Christmas
> through Christmas Day, with some kind of stunt from December
> 26th through 31st.

Looks like they're beatin' Infinity to the punch! Infinity is launching "Free FM" EVERYWHERE!