COULD 96.9 SEE A NEW FORMAT FOR 2009

[beantownradio25]

Things haven't been getting brighter for the sinking ship over at WTKK 96.9.

A gut feeling tells me that the Talk format is history by April 2010.

The website has been under construction since February, they are doing last attempts at tweakage that most likely won't help the ratings.

Could Boston's Talk Evolution become Boston's Hit Music Channel?

A new CHR on 96.9 for Greater Media to beat CBS before they launch an AMP in Boston?

 

[Don Juan]

Things haven't been getting brighter for the sinking ship over at WTKK 96.9.
A gut feeling tells me that the Talk format is history by April 2010.
The website has been under construction since February, they are doing last attempts at tweakage that most likely won't help the ratings.
Could Boston's Talk Evolution become Boston's Hit Music Channel?
A new CHR on 96.9 for Greater Media to beat CBS before they launch an AMP in Boston?

They have some long term contracts in place, so I think there's going to be a lot more tweaking before they give up the ghost. ;-)

If they flipped to CHR, they would have to payout Severin for the next few years (1 Mil+?), and Jim and Margery for the next 5 years (400k+?)

 

[fmradio1]

I can't see them switching. They're waiting out WRKO. It's just a matter of time, and Greater Media is willing and able to mark time until 680 withers away. WRKO has about as much cume as WTKK, but their listeners are older and listen longer. More importantly for GM, they're dying off every year. Successful talk stations are moving to FM all around the country. WTKK is already there. Entercom has nowhere to move WRKO.

While GM has said they won't go after Howie, don't believe them. They'll be in the mix when Howie walks away in a couple more years. WRKO has no morning show to speak of right now. Rush is getting older. There's not a lot new and exciting happening at the sneaker building. If Howie crosses the street, WRKO will be speaking Spanish soon after. The best thing WTKK can do is to stay as local as possible, work on attracting younger talk demos (moving J&M to mornings is a step in that direction) and keep the pressure on Entercom.

Besides, GM doesn't do younger demo stations. They are 25-54 specialists. An aggressive CHR station to take on Kiss and Jam'n just isn't their style.

 

[radiojomo]

And where exactly is CBS going to launch AMP? If they would have flipped anything in Boston to AMP, it would have been a few months ago when they did the "Big Flip" between WBCN, The Sports Hub and Mix 104.1. The Sports Hub seems to have a growing audience, so there's no flips for CBS in the future. As far as Greater Media, I don't think they're doing any CHRs in their portfolio, and I'm sure its easier to sell their mix of formats in Boston that all have a similar demos to clients in a packaging deal. CHR would be way off that mix. But that could be wrong. An 8.2 for Kiss might be something that either CBS or GM wants to do, who knows...

 

[blackgold]

I'll bet you that 96.9 could become Boston's first Spanish language FM station! It would be all stereo with a mixture of Latin music-salsa, rumba, baladas, reggeton, you name it! And all in stereo! HD Stereo, in fact.

 

[rapking]

I'll bet you that 96.9 could become Boston's first Spanish language FM station! It would be all stereo with a mixture of Latin music-salsa, rumba, baladas, reggeton, you name it! And all in stereo! HD Stereo, in fact.

Only if Garbage media sell this signal .

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Spanish FM? Doubtful that will happen anytime soon.
There is no way that format could generate the income
necessary to pay for the FM license...Maybe someday...

 

[dhoule]

I think that Greater Media said they aren't interested in Howie so that they can get him for a cheaper price in a couple of years. My guess is that they will dump Jay Severin when his contract ends and put Howie on in the afternoon. Howie doesn't get into quite as much trouble as Jay. Although, I can't stand either one.

 

[scranton]

Today Jay called some women who were worried about the display of the flag harridans and hags--but not in a "sexist way"

 

[thirdendorsed]

I think that Greater Media said they aren't interested in Howie so that they can get him for a cheaper price in a couple of years. My guess is that they will dump Jay Severin when his contract ends and put Howie on in the afternoon. Howie doesn't get into quite as much trouble as Jay. Although, I can't stand either one.

More silly pontificating. Look at Carr's demos. Then explain to me why they would want to wait until his audience is even older and then sign him.

windows open, windows close. this one has slammed shut.

 

[WRKORadio]

Word around town is that new talk format will hit in early 2010.

 

[raccoonradio]

For who, RKO (new lineup?), TKK (new lineup?), or someone else?

Howie has gotten some good ratings and they may be skewing older but talk tends to do that. Who knows if it would work out for TKK and Howie come 2012. Yes HC and the audience will be older by then. Or are
stations trying to appeal to slightly younger audiences (...the ones you see fiddling with their mp3 players?
Can they be attracted to political talk?)

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

If this younger generation acts as those before them have......then we can expect them to "age into" becoming interested in public and civic affairs, and by extension....talk radio.

The question for Entercom and Greater Media then becomes:

Which will have the patience and willingness to wait out the other, and have its talk outlet become the next generation's "Talk Station"?

Only time is going to answer this one.

 

[CTListener]

If this younger generation acts as those before them have......then we can expect them to "age into" becoming interested in public and civic affairs, and by extension....talk radio.

What if they're not listening to radio of any kind now, being hooked on the iPod? Wouldn't their interest in public and civic affairs be more likely to play out as greater use of the Internet or TV -- which they're using already -- than radio?

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

If this younger generation acts as those before them have......then we can expect them to "age into" becoming interested in public and civic affairs, and by extension....talk radio.

What if they're not listening to radio of any kind now, being hooked on the iPod? Wouldn't their interest in public and civic affairs be more likely to play out as greater use of the Internet or TV -- which they're using already -- than radio?

That's why the operative word in reply #12 is the first word: "IF".

Should your scenario turn out to be the correct one, then talk radio is in very deep trouble.

 

[IceCold]

I consider myself an avid fan of talk radio, I average about 5 or 6 hours a day listening to national and local shows. That's pretty rare for my age demo (I'm 21). Anyway, I thought I would chime in regarding WTKK

I discovered this station almost a year ago, I was not impressed with the talent level of the hosts then and I think they have gotten even worse. Jim and Margery forget it, they are flakes, cant take them seriously, I laugh at anyone who claims Egan has center right political views, she is just as far to the left as Braude. Its not their politics that makes me refuse to tune in during their show, its the fake bickering and whining, every other sentence is "But Jim, But Jim, But Jim".

Michael Graham, probably the most capable and tolerable host on WTKK, but really squanders serious airtime, ie: the other day during the shootings at MGH he was blabbing about women driving naked (totally fine in my book) but come on, I know he has the news on right next to him, he knew what was going on. If he considers himself a conservative he should have been doing monologues on gun rights, taking calls from witnesses at the hospital. I understand he is a "comedian" albeit I like the guy, I wouldn't honor him with the title.

Jay Severin, the guy is smart and I know doing a 4 hour show is hard but, ever since he got back on the air from his suspension its been a snooze fest. The guests are boring, and he is way to polite to the callers, even the knuckle heads that deserve to have their lungs tore out. Thinks way to highly of himself for accomplishing very little.

Michele McPhee- Don't get me started.

Final Thoughts-

This station is doing absolutely nothing to attract younger demos, high school, college and young professionals hardly listen to talk radio as it is.

Here is what you do, get rid of Curtis S. at 10pm, get a young conservative or liberal in that time slot, someone that has a clearly defined political stance and let them go all out, a real bomb thrower that argues with callers, cuts them off, a total nuisance, BUT carries out a good show. If they fail , they fail, if they are worth their salt and start a following, move them to a drive time slot. WTKK's problem is that they try to promote an atmosphere of "respectful conversation blah blah blah " no one buys in to that crap.

NICE GUYS DONT MAKE IT ON RADIO. STOP TRYING TO BE A NICE STATION.

by the way, this is my first post, great to be here.

 

[raccoonradio]

I haven't heard enough of Egan but she may be a fiscal conservative but social liberal...and not totally sure of the former. Someone on SaveWRKO has nicknamed that show "Two Chicks Dishing" after the old WRKO
show (note: Mr Braude is not female of course but they're being sarcastic!)

>>"But Jim, But Jim, But Jim".

I do listen to some of McPhee but for the subject matter...not crazy about her voice.

If you stay up late enough try Phil Hendrie--liberal on some issues, conservative on others; he does all kinds of fake voices/humor/satire (1-4 am)

 

[HHH]

".....someone that has a clearly defined political stance and let them go all out, a real bomb thrower that argues with callers, cuts them off, a total nuisance,"

Oh boy, just what we need. More polarizing crap where morons are mobilized to drink either red or blue Kool Aid, and blame the "other side" for every problem known to man. Don't forget to point out bad bahavior by your "opponents" and completely ignore the same behavior when conducted by "your side".

"BUT carries out a good show."

Yup, the "show" is what matters. The "show". Key word: "show", as in theatrical production. I realize that this is a radio thread, and that most people on this thread only care about ratings and press, but I can't help but comment on the uneasy feeling that I get when ratings and press is the goal and pretty much everything else is not considered.

"If they fail , they fail, if they are worth their salt and start a following, move them to a drive time slot. WTKK's problem is that they try to promote an atmosphere of "respectful conversation blah blah blah " no one buys in to that crap."

Yup, no one buys into that crap. Respectful conversation. What an outdated and foolish concept. We get so much more accomplished when we yell at each other and walk away.

You are only 21, probably full of testosterone, piss and vinegar. When you get to be my age you will understand the power of a mature exchange. But I know it does not make for a "good show". So what's the point, eh?

 

[raccoonradio]

Some can be civil and still entertaining and informative, like Gene Burns (KGO these days) and Avi Nelson
(WRKO fill ins)
Hendrie tries to attract "red" and "blue" alike with his varied views and he puts down politicians and
citizens alike who try to be TOTALLY left, or TOTALLY right. As for the "red or blue kool Aid" the idea is that by being extreme (Savage, Rhodes, or even Rush, Howie, etc.) and stuck to one end, you entertain and are
provocative

>>We get so much more accomplished when we yell at each other and walk away.

Take note that even though he may get loud with some callers he disagrees with, Howie does at least thank
them for the call regardless so that's a bit civil

 

[IceCold]

".....someone that has a clearly defined political stance and let them go all out, a real bomb thrower that argues with callers, cuts them off, a total nuisance,"

Oh boy, just what we need. More polarizing crap where morons are mobilized to drink either red or blue Kool Aid, and blame the "other side" for every problem known to man. Don't forget to point out bad bahavior by your "opponents" and completely ignore the same behavior when conducted by "your side".

"BUT carries out a good show."

Yup, the "show" is what matters. The "show". Key word: "show", as in theatrical production. I realize that this is a radio thread, and that most people on this thread only care about ratings and press, but I can't help but comment on the uneasy feeling that I get when ratings and press is the goal and pretty much everything else is not considered.

"If they fail , they fail, if they are worth their salt and start a following, move them to a drive time slot. WTKK's problem is that they try to promote an atmosphere of "respectful conversation blah blah blah " no one buys in to that crap."

Yup, no one buys into that crap. Respectful conversation. What an outdated and foolish concept. We get so much more accomplished when we yell at each other and walk away.

You are only 21, probably full of testosterone, piss and vinegar. When you get to be my age you will understand the power of a mature exchange. But I know it does not make for a "good show". So what's the point, eh?

What radio hosts exemplify the qualities above that you desire so much?