Contract on 95.7 JACK FM about to expire. . . .

[BRH]

I don't know what they are doing, but they need to get it corrected quickly. They are bleeding over into both Electric 94.9 in and above Knoxville and into 96.5 The Mountain south of Knoxville in the Lenoir City, Loudon and Farragut areas. It's almost as if someone is intentionally trying to jam the neighboring CHR stations.

Anyway, I know HD is supposed to cause some interference, but this amount of bleedover can't be legal. And I seriously think we should report it to the FCC if it isn't corrected ASAP.

 

[SuperQ]

95.7 is not broadcasting HD.

 

[RMarino]

The RF situation appears to have been corrected today. Even down by the general area of the 95.7 transmitter site I was hearing no bleedover on 94.9 or 96.5. Kudos to South Central's engineering department for clearing this up.

 

[Tibbs4]

SCC ain't giving up on Jack. It's not as good off the bird, but still it's painless effort. To try anything "live and local" sadly
just costs to much, with little or no improvement in the numbers or revenues. The signal problems with all the hills makes
it not worth the intense focus. Better to focus on the other stations success and steady sailing.

 

[BRice16]

I had heard that people in the building were told that there was going to be a change on two different days, but that it, obviously, never happened.

 

[ARDONAVINDA]

I would have to agree with Tibbs & RMarino "It's Cheaper To Keep her" extremely low overhead, no promotional budget to really worry about, no jocks to have to pay, it runs itself. The money they save SC can be put to something else, however with the economy down I'm sure sales isn't burning for them as it isn't for many radio stations right now. They may just need a worry free format like that to get through these hard times.

Now the programming side of me would say...Take it back to a Classic Top 40 format. 60's & 70's & 1 or 2 late 50's an hr. for flavor which is what True Oldies is doing, except I would put at least a Morning and Afternoon local talent in to generate a more local identity. Do some local appearances that are cost efficient. When the economy gets better some fun promotions like "The Name Game" True Oldies isn't doing that. It's all Scott Shannon. CBS FM even returned to an Oldies station and they are doing fine. The key is they are local again, the jocks are having fun presenting the vintage Top 40 songs and yes taking phone calls. It's that simple, if you can't come up with something new then you revert back to something old that worked, just spice it up more than the last time, Knoxville loves it's glory radio days so why not re create them. 95.7 & 106.7 wasn't doing bad in the ratings back in October of 2005. It was something like a high 3 share with several local air personalities during the week not to mention weekends. It was just that this Jack format was something new and fresh and Nashville was having success so why not try Knoxville's listeners, and they did but the numbers aren't there. Plus maybe all along SC was just trying to save money anyway, after all it is a satellite feed, no need for a PD.

 

[AlbumOldies]

I've also wondered why 98.7 doesn't have local DJ's at least for morning and/or afternoon drive time, even if it's just for a couple of hours. I've thought from time to time that "Mayor Joe" might do a gig in the mornings. If Phil Williams wasn't doing his talk show he'd be a great candidate for that, too.

 

[scottwmro]

JACK is very inexpensive to run, but still they have a little income. I'm not so sure anything will happen on that signal...unless something happens with WNFZ, and that is moved over some time soon.
If they went AAA, I'd like to see Shane run it again. I do miss the old River (when it was good).
We'll see.

You are right! In Nashville, Jack has done very well due to WCJK on 96.3 is an old allocation to Murfresboro, TN, and the station took advantage of power increases in the late 70's/early 80's until they got the transmitter site move to where the DTV towers are here in the market, 1 mile from Downtown Nashville. Oldies 96.3 in Nashville (the former format before Jack) was taking a beating in the ratings, so in May of 2005, Jack took it's place. It took time for the market (the everday radio listener) to accept the fact that the station was automated and uses it's website for contest and local info. But, as time has moved on, it's worked here and is very stongly listened to, along with staffed, fulltime AC, 92.9 WJXA. Both station here in Nashville owned by South Central.

The problem with the Jack Format in Knoxville is that the signal has to be repeated on another station for listeners to hear the format. As us in the business know, the everday listener of radio is ignorant about radio, how it works, etc. But, I can tell you that they don't like changing channels just because they are on the highway and they have to change channels just to listen to the same station when thier favorite song is on. That is my guess to why Jack may not be doing well in the Knoxville Market. It needs to be on a major 50-100 KW FM station, that covers the area good. That's the only way the format will work. This may be why the former Oldies format that was on these stations didn't work out either? Stop and think about it.

That just my 2 cents worth!

 

[GTC]

Jack's signal did great with Oldies on it, it neared a 5 share station 12+ didn't it? It just couldn't be sold by sales....and how should it be when it's the 4th priority of SC and can't be sold by merely waiting by the fax machine like 2 of their 4 stations can be?

I still think Jack is too wide musically. Their musical buffet kills TSL and the signal limitations hurt cume.

The signal has the potential with a focused format....Jack never mentions the second frequency they're on except on Legal Id's, otherwise it's always 95.7. I think it's just a bit too novelty, and people recognize it's not live or local. 93.1 had some of it's greatest numbers when they were merely 80s vs. 80s 90s and Now.

 

[scottwmro]

Jack's signal did great with Oldies on it, it neared a 5 share station 12+ didn't it? It just couldn't be sold by sales....and how should it be when it's the 4th priority of SC and can't be sold by merely waiting by the fax machine like 2 of their 4 stations can be?

I still think Jack is too wide musically. Their musical buffet kills TSL and the signal limitations hurt cume.

The signal has the potential with a focused format....Jack never mentions the second frequency they're on except on Legal Id's, otherwise it's always 95.7. I think it's just a bit too novelty, and people recognize it's not live or local. 93.1 had some of it's greatest numbers when they were merely 80s vs. 80s 90s and Now.

GTC,

You could be right, as I don't know the market that well, but what little time I got to hear 95.7, the music playlist was the same as Nashville's Oldies 96.3. The demo's, as far as I can tell, are different.
I thought Hot AC was tried in Knoxville and didn't work? Tell me who it was doing the 80's, 90's and Now format. Was it satellite from Dial Global? That's what my station was on before we went to ABC's Hot AC format. I wasn't as thrilled with Dial Global's "Hot AC" format, due to it was all over the place, music wise. ABC is more stable, and holds the 18-49 female listener.
Back to the subject of the Jack Format, it's hard to tell what SC will do. It just depends on that book and sales. If it is failing, I don't believe in coming to the board here and telling everyone what format I think they should have, due to we all have different music taste, and we all (radio people) want to do it "our way". I hope you understanding what I'm saying.
South Central is not going to come to this board for advice. They bring in a consultant and have the consulant look at the market and numbers, then a decision is made upon the advice of the consultant, who will be talking to the owner in Evansville, ID.

 

[GTC]

93.1 did 80s 90s and Now before they did all 80s. They bounced all around and only seemed to get some growing consistency with all 80s, it was all local.

 

[Raingus]

<<<< They bring in a consultant and have the consulant look at the market and numbers, then a decision is made upon the advice of the consultant, who will be talking to the owner in Evansville, ID. >>>>

Consultants and Book Numbers............everything that is wrong with radio.

 

[Raingus]

From scottwmro:

<<<< I don't believe in coming to the board here and telling everyone what format I think they should have, due to we all have different music taste, and we all (radio people) want to do it "our way". >>>>

Not trying to pick a fight scottwmro, however what's wrong with voicing one's opinion?

 

[scottwmro]

From scottwmro:

<<<< I don't believe in coming to the board here and telling everyone what format I think they should have, due to we all have different music taste, and we all (radio people) want to do it "our way". >>>>

Not trying to pick a fight scottwmro, however what's wrong with voicing one's opinion?

Because the CEO's, Stockholers, GM's, OM's sit and laugh at you making a fool of yourself using this board to try to tell them what to do with thier station(s). Your nothing but just a pee-on listener to them, just like me. They trust the consultants with all the research on each market, demos, audio/music testing etc. I learn this from the old days at Westwood One.

I rather not tell them what they should do because it make me appear like a fool. They don't read these boards, believe me they don't. You can sit here on the internet and make comments all day long about Clear Channel, Cumulus, South Central, Saga, Salem, etc. Are they taking thier time to sit and read these boards, no.

What's happen is the internet has allow us to make opinions, then they start false rumors, and Corporate doesn't like that. Believe me, I've worked for corporate and they like to keep things, hush....hush, until the day they make thier move. Cumulus is big on that.

 

[Raingus]

From scottwmro:

<<<< I don't believe in coming to the board here and telling everyone what format I think they should have, due to we all have different music taste, and we all (radio people) want to do it "our way". >>>>

Not trying to pick a fight scottwmro, however what's wrong with voicing one's opinion?

Because the CEO's, Stockholers, GM's, OM's sit and laugh at you making a fool of yourself using this board to try to tell them what to do with thier station(s). Your nothing but just a pee-on listener to them, just like me.

I rather not tell them what they should do because it make me appear like a fool.

What's happen is the internet has allow us to make opinions, then they start false rumors, and Corporate doesn't like that.

Why do you care what they think?

So what if they don't like it? I don't answer to the arrogant Corporates, nor do I care what some arrogant corporate blue suit/red tie wearing fool likes me discussing. All of us have just as much right to our freedom of speech just as anyone else does. I hate corporations and corporate radio. I am proud to voice that, and I'm glad to see that internet and satellite radio is taking away their listeners. I hope every corporate radio owner including stock holders, CEO's, and any other big wig suffers financially because of it. Down with Corporate Radio.

 

[Tibbs4]

Raingus ---

Have you ever worked in radio?

As for what Scott is trying to say, I think you're sort of missing his point. He is basically agreeing
that the broken "system" spends all it's time covering it's tandem @$$ and that all the talk anywhere
that possibly would bring logic to radio in 2008 isn't allowed in their intersanctums. "We the people"
don't matter.

You feelings are nothing original about radio corps and the pin heads that rule. All we can hope for
is that these house of cards will crumble and the FCC will allow single ownerships in lieu of buying these
stations out of bankruptcy to "save the airwaves." Imagine any President/HofR and Senate when they
get control of the public airwaves. It's possible in this day and age. If that happnes, we'd almost wish
Crumulus had their stations back...cancel that. It's all a disaster.

 

[Raingus]

Raingus ---

Have you ever worked in radio?

If you mean corporate radio, the answer is no. Corporate radio is why I have not been involved in the industry in almost 20 years now.

Point taken about the government having control of all these stations being a bad thing.

 

[BRice16]

Back on topic, Jack has new TOH IDs as of today, so I suppose we can take that to mean they aren't changing soon.

It's been shortened by a bit so it no longer runs over the music sweep.

 

[scottwmro]

Raingus ---

Have you ever worked in radio?

If you mean corporate radio, the answer is no. Corporate radio is why I have not been involved in the industry in almost 20 years now.

Point taken about the government having control of all these stations being a bad thing.

Raingus,

Back in 1992, I saw all this coming, I was working as just a jock on Nashville's (then) Urban FM, WQQK, 92Q. At the time, 92Q and it's AM sister station, WVOL-AM were co-owned by a local owner, Sam Howard. Sam was also had his hands in other businesses outside radio as well. Through conversations with Sam, and other GM's who worked for him, consolidation was on it way.
Consolidation was a way to keep stations on the air, especially in medium and small market, and not allow them to go dark. As I read articles and listening to discussions, the handwriting was on the wall.
To stay in the business, I went and bought me a small AM daytimer. It really doesn't make that much money, and I'm not concerned with that, as long as it pays it's bills. The most important part to me was "self satisfaction" that I got my own little radio station. So what if it's just 1000 watts, on the high end of the dial, with a signal like a little 250 watt station, the whole point is I got a little station of my own, I could do what I want, play what I want and have fun.
I had some stupid "non radio educated nut" try to tell me back in 1997 my station was worth 1 million to Clear Channel, as they were on thier big shopping spree. I laughed my butt off and I'm still laughing because today, as Clear Channel is falling apart & I'm sure my station is not worth much, with it's 1000 watts, that get's out like a 250 watt AM station, due to ground conductivity, who cares.
I got what I wanted, and no I'm not rich with a big house and fancy car. I don't wear suits, just blue jeans and t-shirts. Last suit I had to wear was to my dad's funeral in 2007.

 

[RMarino]

Back on topic, Jack has new TOH IDs as of today, so I suppose we can take that to mean they aren't changing soon.

It's been shortened by a bit so it no longer runs over the music sweep.

It only took them 3 years to fix that legal ID. Amazing.

I guess it's good that Jack stays around. Now that Point and Earl are gone, Jack actually does fill what would otherwise be a large formatic hole in Knoxville.