• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Could November 1st Become The "Default" Date For All-Christmas Flips?

J

Joseph_Gallant

While a few stations went all-Christmas on (or even before) November 1st in years prior to 2022, most that did so were in small or medium markets (I think the largest market that saw annual all-Christmas flips on November 1st prior to 2022 was Salt Lake City, where in recent years, two FM stations went all-Christmas around 12:01 A.M. MDT on November 1st).

But this past year, (2022) Chicago's WLIT-93.9 took the plunge on November 1st.

Given that, and give that several all-Christmas stations this past season had record ratings, I wonder if November 1st will be going forward the "default date" for most all-Christmas stations taking that proverbial plunge.

The idea is that these stations could get to extend the period of inflated ratings.

One reason might be the hope that a November 1st start date for all-Christmas programming might mean higher ratings towards the tail end of the fall book. Another is related to the first reason, in that by going all-Christmas earlier, stations could charge higher ad rates to advertisers, especially retail (which is the dominant ad category for most music stations).

If Nielsen Audio's Chicago Fall 2022 book breaks down ratings on a week to week basis, and if WLIT's numbers spiked immediately after November 1st, that may well convince many (or even most) stations that go all-Christmas around the country each year to do so on November 1st in the future.

BTW, the Hallmark Channel cable-TV network, which for several years has broadcast 24/7 Christmas romance movies during the Holiday season, started the Yuleathon this past year on October 21st. I wouldn't be totally surprised if in the next year or two, they start as early as mid-October or even Columbus Day weekend. So for some people, having a local radio station play 24/7 Christmas music on November 1st wouldn't be much of a "stretch", given the Hallmark Channel's version of all-Christmas TV.
 
Last edited:
Serenade Radio played "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme yesterday. The DJ was explaining how Torme wrote the song when it was hot like it is now.
 
Music Choice's Sounds of the Seasons channel is doing "Christmas in July" until next Monday. On Tuesday August 1st., it will switch to the Pulse until the Labor Day weekend. Coming attractions include the Patriot Day marathon on September 10th. and 11th., followed by Oktoberfest on September 12th.
 
Just now Serenade Radio played Ray Conniff and mentioned how he and the singers were popular at Christmas, but of course he won't be doing that. We had quite enough of that last night, he said. Did you hear Kevin? I'm going to have to have a word with that boy, he said.
 
I think this has happened in certain markets already but most likely it won’t become the default date for every station to do that.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom