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Country Battle in Ft Wayne

B

Big Thangz

So I couldn't help but notice that there is truly a country battle going on in Ft Wayne.
Recently, US 93.3 launched a new radio campaign. It's hard not to see the commercials of the so called "president" or "GM" on TV talking about how US 93.3 is commercial free (and they are). If you listen to the station, they play these segments in between songs that tells everyone that K105 is again playing commercials. Indeed, if you flip to K105 when you hear these...........they are playing commercials. They are obviously being monitored by US 93.3.
If you went to the K105 concert on the 4th of July or were even anywhere close to Coliseum Blvd you saw "The Plane". "US 93.3 is Commerical Free" :eek: It was impossible to miss & I can only imagine what K105's faces looked like when they first looked up at it. For 5 hours that plane circled & circled & circled for all to see. It didn't rain in Ft Wayne that day but their parade didn't look as good as it used to.
It is true that 93.3 is in the crapper & has been for years upon years. K's dominance in the market is obvious & I'm sure that they will continue to do well. However, I believe they realize that they aren't dealing with a AMP or a Summit Station (one who doesn't know how to win). They are dealing with Oasis and in Ft Wayne he has already brought one station back from the grave. Thoughts?
 
All one has to do is flip on BTU and realize that they still stink. I hate to say it but they sound worse now than when AMP owned them. The idea of having there own little "country" is one of the corniest things I have ever heard of. Just because Oasis has won with other formats doesn't mean this one will work. K105 has a dominant hold on Fort Wayne and for a reason...they know how to do radio the right way. Federated Media will never lose to BTU...it just won't happen.
 
countryradio said:
Federated Media will never lose to BTU...it just won't happen.
Click to expand...
Never? They said that WLYV would never beat WOWO, in fact for one rating book, they did. They said that WOWO would never lose their #1 ranking, they did. They said that WMEE would never be beaten in AM drive, they have been for quite a while. They said that and oldies station would never win 12+, one has. They said that AM radio would always be the top billers in the market, quess what......

There is a difference between what you hope, and reality. Maybe it won't be WBTU that does it, but K105 does have some vulnerabilities. All stations do.
 
I agree 100%, every single station isnt competition proof.

I understand you dont like the "cheese" about US93, but I hate...but Russ knows what hes doing here. He is getting the name out everywhere (commercials, plane, etc). K105 will always do well...thats a given, but all Russ wants out of BTU is to make a dent in the side of it.

The most important thing to realize is that listeners are entertained! Look at Kirbie Konfer and his creation of Froggy's all over the country. It works!!! (Maybe not in Pittsburgh, but it works)
 
I wasn't talking about other stations beating K105...I was just saying that BTU will not beat them...BTU still has a bad name in the market from past ownership...you are right that listeners want to be entertained, I'm still trying to figure out what they are doing to be entertaining with their corny presidential names...listeners aren't stupid...they know what is good and what isn't...this isn't good and as long as they stay on this path, it won't be good...If they make a dent, I will be SHOCKED!
 
Big Thangz said:
So I couldn't help but notice that there is truly a country battle going on in Ft Wayne.
Recently, US 93.3 launched a new radio campaign. It's hard not to see the commercials of the so called "president" or "GM" on TV talking about how US 93.3 is commercial free (and they are). If you listen to the station, they play these segments in between songs that tells everyone that K105 is again playing commercials. Indeed, if you flip to K105 when you hear these...........they are playing commercials. They are obviously being monitored by US 93.3.
If you went to the K105 concert on the 4th of July or were even anywhere close to Coliseum Blvd you saw "The Plane". "US 93.3 is Commerical Free" :eek: It was impossible to miss & I can only imagine what K105's faces looked like when they first looked up at it. For 5 hours that plane circled & circled & circled for all to see. It didn't rain in Ft Wayne that day but their parade didn't look as good as it used to.
It is true that 93.3 is in the crapper & has been for years upon years. K's dominance in the market is obvious & I'm sure that they will continue to do well. However, I believe they realize that they aren't dealing with a AMP or a Summit Station (one who doesn't know how to win). They are dealing with Oasis and in Ft Wayne he has already brought one station back from the grave. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Did anyone that might have been out at the IPFW event see any kind of a confrontation between the people from BTU and K? My brother-in-law works for Ft. Wayne's finest, and said that there were a few tense moments when someone with a K105 shirt (a man) approached someone with a US 93.3 shirt (a woman), grabbed her arm, took the t-shirts she was handing out, and threatened her that she better leave the premises before he called the police. My brother-in-law was on duty out there, and was asked by someone from the station to go get the shirts back from K105. If that's true, I think some of the discussion on here about FedMed not having anything to worry about is obviously not true. At least one person over there seems to be VERY worried...
 
Fed Met has had a lot of success stories, but they've been beaten before. I can remember WMEE's Top 40 days, and though they may have eventually prevailed over competitors like WFWQ and B-106, there apparently were a few sleepless nights on Maples Road. When B106 came to town, WMEE was all over the road musically, they tightened up pretty quick. I can remember the beginning days of WBYR, (which I had a very small part), repositioning WMEE as "Disco 97" and even monitoring the station 24/7 so we could give heads up to our listeners to call WMEE's contest line.
 
Big Thangz said:
you saw "The Plane". "US 93.3 is Commerical Free" :eek: It was impossible to miss & I can only imagine what K105's faces looked like when they first looked up at it. For 5 hours that plane circled & circled & circled for all to see.
Click to expand...

kudos for the plane gimmick. I applaud that one. gotta love the "in your face" attitude.

However, this type of "hype" can only last so long. It'll peak some interest, but the commercial-free, and all the gimmicks will wear thin after a while and people will go back to what they are comfortable with. Talking to adults like they are children with cartoonish gimmicks won't last.

Just like Bill Shirk, Oasis will make his money - he's no fool. But his stations will always be second (third, fourth, etc) to the big boys. At least he's entertaining himself! Can't blame him for that.
 
Had the chance to hear 93.3 this weekend. I gotta think the presidential name thing will get or already has gotten old. If you have to explain what the "IRS" means, people aren't gonna get it. Too cute for their own good.

And is 93.3 under the impression that the reason country is red-hot right now because of music from 10 years ago? I never heard two in a row from this decade, but maybe a Keith Whitley/Tractors twin-spin is what the people want. ???
 
Trust me. As someone who worked their for 8 years. Federated Media will spend whatever it takes to win.

If they feel threatened, they will spend plenty of money on billboards, tv ads and so forth.

I know Roger will come to play, but Fed Med will not hesitate to spend money to protect its cash cow. (pun intended)
 
i believe many country p1 listeners also listen to other formats, so this may not be a simple k vs. u.s. battle. also, with the constant shift in the market - formats, dj's, ownership - the 12+ ratings everyone quotes here are utterly meaningless.

that's my perspective having thoroughly studied the market.
 
fwmw said:
i believe many country p1 listeners also listen to other formats, so this may not be a simple k vs. u.s. battle. also, with the constant shift in the market - formats, dj's, ownership - the 12+ ratings everyone quotes here are utterly meaningless. that's my perspective having thoroughly studied the market.
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Right On! To think people listen to only one station is a doomed philosophy in radio. Many classic rock listeners will also switch over to country, and vice versa. There is no loyalty to stations because all the stations are cookie cutter configurations. Corporate or individually owned. There is NO difference.
 
radioho - My pharmacist wants to know the name of that bitter pill you swallowed. He says he will stock it in bulk at his pharmacies located near radio studios.
 
fwmw said:
radioho - My pharmacist wants to know the name of that bitter pill you swallowed. He says he will stock it in bulk at his pharmacies located near radio studios.
Click to expand...

Russ - I like the new board name!

No bitter pill here - just LOTS of years working in radio.
 
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