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- Thread starter Holland Cooke
- Start date
PRO-AM up, is that a fluke because of the elections, or is it a permanent increase?
Not only did HJJ not get a bump......but RIPR actually saw its numbers drop.
Also interesting to see WPMZ-1110 suddenly show up. Perhaps they have finally paid to get thier signal encoded?
Also interesting to see WPMZ-1110 suddenly show up. Perhaps they have finally paid to get thier signal encoded?
Fish where they swim?
Imagine if they added an FM simulcast, and put Beck/Limbaugh/Hannity where-80%-of-TSL lives?
wknd92 said:
Imagine if they added an FM simulcast, and put Beck/Limbaugh/Hannity where-80%-of-TSL lives?
Looking at Coast's cume 453,500. Compared to HJJ's 72,700. I would think maybe leave SNE alone. (as bad as that sounds!) And maybe consider some new programming for 920. I can't tell you the last time I put SNE on plus I'm not really in their demo, but I think it would be a waste to put canned talk on a beautiful 50,000 watt signal. I can see Citadel doing it on 99.7 (even though it sounds like TV audio on FM).If there was something worth relaying on an under-performing or lack-luster FM like 99.7, then do it. I would think in CC's eyes that 93.3 still makes some $ and doesn't have the overhead of paying an airstaff.
The cume for HJJ would be higher if it were on FM, by virtue of the fact that it's on FM. It also gives the programming a certain kind of "legitimacy". People don't listen to AM radio anymore. And people don't have to listen to FM radio for music anymore. A move to FM is the right one. Take the AM and broker it out.
jeffryan said:
Go have a chat with WCBS about that one. WBZ and KFI will be standing by for your call as well. ;D
Plenty of people still listen to AM Radio. What's keeping it alive is the simple fact that people like to hear about what's going on in the world. Music was made for FM. But people seem to be just fine with News and Information on AM.
New York
4th place WCBS-AM 880 All News
6th place WABC-AM 770 News Talk Information
7th place WINS-AM 1010 All News
Boston
2nd place WBZ-AM 1030 News Talk Information
Los Angeles
4th place KFI-AM 640 News Talk Information
AM's a dead technology. For the first time in my life I can ask a younger person to explain AM radio to me and they're clueless.
This is why you're already seeing the migration to FM. There are exceptions to the rule as you point out, but FM is king over AM now more than ever.
People want to hear news and information, yes, but I'm sure they appreciate it more on FM. The content is important, but if your delivery system is the town crier, do you think people will huddle outdoors to hear him?
Even those who are willing to listen to AM have to deal with the static, HD splatter, and poor coverage. AM technology is not only outdated, but it's neglected a lot of the times. AM radio in Philly (from an engineering standpoint) is awful. It's just a matter of time before WIP, WPHT and KYW are on FM. They're unbearable to listen to on AM at times and over the long term the brand suffers as a result.
AM vs. FM. They're just delivery systems. One is not supposed to be exlusively music or spoken word formats. This is one of the few things radio is starting to get right. The first step to attracting an audience is to make sure they can hear you load and clear.
This is why you're already seeing the migration to FM. There are exceptions to the rule as you point out, but FM is king over AM now more than ever.
People want to hear news and information, yes, but I'm sure they appreciate it more on FM. The content is important, but if your delivery system is the town crier, do you think people will huddle outdoors to hear him?
Even those who are willing to listen to AM have to deal with the static, HD splatter, and poor coverage. AM technology is not only outdated, but it's neglected a lot of the times. AM radio in Philly (from an engineering standpoint) is awful. It's just a matter of time before WIP, WPHT and KYW are on FM. They're unbearable to listen to on AM at times and over the long term the brand suffers as a result.
AM vs. FM. They're just delivery systems. One is not supposed to be exlusively music or spoken word formats. This is one of the few things radio is starting to get right. The first step to attracting an audience is to make sure they can hear you load and clear.
Not this damned idea again! What will it take to realize that WHJJ SUCKS! Whether it stays on A.M. or supplants an F.M. music station (all of which seem to be doing much better ratings-wise), WHJJ flat-out, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt, SUCKS! It's obvious C.C. doesn't care about it. It's a way for their only A.M. station to make revenue which is getting harder & harder. C.C. is probably happy about that! It (WHJJ) just sits there in its closet (yes, I know it's really in the southeast corner of the Ghettoplex) chugging along. It doesn't ask for anything & still turns out a 1.8. C.C.'s other station-in-a-boxes (B & 93.3) are more or less doing the same.
I WISH WHJJ were a competitor! I really do! WPRO does an excellent job & to have 2 competitive stations would only be beneficial to the listener. But, WHJJ, as it currently is, wouldn't be cleaning WPRO's clock by being on F.M.. WHJJ, on F.M., would still SUCK!
1. Helen does have a good show. She should go to a more traditional slot such as 6-9 or 9-Noon.
2. Going off of what I've heard people not talk about then: Beck, Hannity & Levin are non-starters in this town. I admit I don't have ratings to go off of but WPRO's lineup seems to have more "street talk" in this town.
3. Providence isn't McMarket. Local talk does well here. WHJJ should focus more on that.
4. Just down the road in New London WXLM was displaced FROM F.M. TO A.M.!
5. WSNE-FM has heritage too. For as long as I can remember (~1983 or so), 93.3 has been WSNE (or WSNE-FM) which has been music for moms. For 25 years it's been softer than PRO-FM & more hip than 105.
6. Local news with local reporters are needed. I'm not talking from here. I will agree with Holland that being from elsewhere isn't necessarily an automatic out. For R.I. it is probably a benefit as I have heard (and have said it myself) what a pit R.I. is. The kind of local I am talking about is the locally-staffed kind. The kind that used to go out & interview the governor, the mayor, the man on the street. The kind that would make sure their mic flag is displayed prominently if any sort of camera (newspaper, T.V., cell phone, whatever) was on hand.
7. New media. 'nuff said.
I love A.M. radio & want to see it live forever. Radio was predicted dead when T.V. came around. A.M. was predicted dead in the late '70s when F.M. overtook A.M.. A.M. can, does & should continue to reinvent itself. By having a few strong stations on the band the better for the rest. I'd rather have 2 bands full of choices than only 1.
I WISH WHJJ were a competitor! I really do! WPRO does an excellent job & to have 2 competitive stations would only be beneficial to the listener. But, WHJJ, as it currently is, wouldn't be cleaning WPRO's clock by being on F.M.. WHJJ, on F.M., would still SUCK!
1. Helen does have a good show. She should go to a more traditional slot such as 6-9 or 9-Noon.
2. Going off of what I've heard people not talk about then: Beck, Hannity & Levin are non-starters in this town. I admit I don't have ratings to go off of but WPRO's lineup seems to have more "street talk" in this town.
3. Providence isn't McMarket. Local talk does well here. WHJJ should focus more on that.
4. Just down the road in New London WXLM was displaced FROM F.M. TO A.M.!
5. WSNE-FM has heritage too. For as long as I can remember (~1983 or so), 93.3 has been WSNE (or WSNE-FM) which has been music for moms. For 25 years it's been softer than PRO-FM & more hip than 105.
6. Local news with local reporters are needed. I'm not talking from here. I will agree with Holland that being from elsewhere isn't necessarily an automatic out. For R.I. it is probably a benefit as I have heard (and have said it myself) what a pit R.I. is. The kind of local I am talking about is the locally-staffed kind. The kind that used to go out & interview the governor, the mayor, the man on the street. The kind that would make sure their mic flag is displayed prominently if any sort of camera (newspaper, T.V., cell phone, whatever) was on hand.
7. New media. 'nuff said.
I love A.M. radio & want to see it live forever. Radio was predicted dead when T.V. came around. A.M. was predicted dead in the late '70s when F.M. overtook A.M.. A.M. can, does & should continue to reinvent itself. By having a few strong stations on the band the better for the rest. I'd rather have 2 bands full of choices than only 1.
N1WVQ said:
AM radio most assuredly will not live forever. I'm amazed it hasn't already been sunsetted by the Commission.
You're a radio geek, so I appreciate what you're saying. But you guys need to understand the public doesn't care about the delivery system. And that's what AM radio is - a delivery system. The public DOES care about good content AND being able to hear that content clearly and with ease. A staticy interference filled AM radio band with stations that have limited coverage just don't cut it in 2010. There are many alternative delivery systems available that are far superior.
As a media provider, you have to find people where they live. And fewer and fewer people can be found tuning around the AM dial. People are tuning out radio entirely, but the few people who still listen to radio reside mostly on the FM band. AM is radio's past.
Where do media consumers reside these days? The internet. More specifically, the mobile internet. Radio companies need to find ways to monetize podcasts and start moving their branding away from AM radio.
The sad reality is that the majority of AM radio listeners are a) old or b) radio geeks. And when old people die, who's going to replace their listenership?
At some point expect an FCC mandate that all AM stations shift to FM. Of course they'll have to open up some new bandwidth to do it. Possibly the Channel 5/6 portions of the spectrum. Then there'll be fierce competition and resistance to moving 'cause, at first, there won't be any audience. Not until a whole new generations of radios are sold. We might even see some stations giving away radios in order to have listeners!
The mandate, when it comes, likely will NOT take into account extreme rural areas where it would take 250,000 or so Watts at about 1,000 Feet above average terrain to replicate the coverage of about 25,000 of non-directional AM. The end result will that large areas will lose radio entirely but government won't care because the population concerned is small and probably doesn't vote much.
Think I'm wrong? Look at Canada.
The mandate, when it comes, likely will NOT take into account extreme rural areas where it would take 250,000 or so Watts at about 1,000 Feet above average terrain to replicate the coverage of about 25,000 of non-directional AM. The end result will that large areas will lose radio entirely but government won't care because the population concerned is small and probably doesn't vote much.
Think I'm wrong? Look at Canada.
This makes me wonder if the 50,000 WATT AM signals that I now enjoy will one day be history. I like WINS and WCBS. I listen to both almost daily. Same thing with WLS Chicago. I enjoy their programming. Nothing to drastic will change for me though as long as they keep their internet streams going. But I'll miss being able to reach over to my bedroom nightstand to tune them in on my radio.
Yes, I'm a radio geek. A proud one at that too. I also work in radio. It's my bread & butter. Having worked @ A.M. & F.M. stations I've found the A.M.s to be the most fun for me & the most fun-sounding with the F.M.s too constricting. Yes, we've crossed paths too.jeffryan said:
That being said, F.M. was said to be a failure circa the late 1950s. A.M. adapted to television & had come out a winner. Very few saw a need for F.M. radio. However, A.M. PROGRAMMING grew stagnant in the late 1960s-1970s when F.M. finally got around to experimenting & giving the people what they want. Now, F.M. is where A.M. was then.
I'm not against new media but I think it should part of the overall experience, not supplant it. A.M. needs to survive & thrive. If you look at WOON's website it has several additional offerings: All-news ON2, ON3 sports, ONTV, Bryant Bulldogs, etc.. These compliment the main A.M. 1240 signal.
I can't say about podcasts as I haven't been inclined much to listen to one but I once had an internet station. I'm too jaded with that to figure it has any sort of longevity. If the trend is for people to be their own P.D.s then why listen to a stream? I can find what I want elsewhere without having to listen to crap I don't want. Personally, I go to Youtube to find music.
So what can A.M. do to survive? First, drop the attitude that it's on life-support. Thankfully the number of people who have never listened to A.M. is growing. WHY is that good? Because then they are unfamiliar with its shortcomings (example: have a weak signal that only covers a few towns? Go back to HOMETOWN RADIO! Superserve those within the listening area with local sports, news, info & personalities); they are more likely to be open-minded about listening to an A.M. station.
I don't see why the F.C.C. should sunset the A.M. band. What can the F.C.C. do with it then? Aircraft &/or marine beacons like in longwave? Not as much money to be made there as with 5,000 commercial broadcasters. Give it to the amateurs? That's exactly what it will be: a gift.
N1WVQ said:
The shortcomings will be immediately evident if they ever discover AM radio. And I guarantee you they won't stick around long.
If you have a choice of having content on AM or FM, why in the world would you chose AM? You're correct that you need good content to gain an audience, but they have to be able to HEAR that content. AM just doesn't cut it anymore.
VelvetR said:
This subject comes up every so often.By my understanding AM's will eventually have to move to a new FM band.From what I have read it is an idea right now but the FCC will adventually force the AM's off the air.I think they still have problems to straighten out with Digital TV.Once they get that done they will more than likely concentrate on radio.
If there is a new extended FM band From what I understand AM stations will have first bid on a new FM frequency on the new band. to clear out AM.Correct me if I'm wrong.
RE "Not this damned idea again!"
Since WSB/Atlanta recently added an FM simulcast, Cox Media Group internals estimate that audience has grown 10% PER WEEK.
Damned idea...
Since WSB/Atlanta recently added an FM simulcast, Cox Media Group internals estimate that audience has grown 10% PER WEEK.
Damned idea...
Re: RE "Not this damned idea again!"
Holland, that may well be in that market; but Rush was losing audience here before the switch from PRO-AM to HJJ and I don't think Beck or Hannity translate well into the market, even if they had a better "presence" on FM if they simulcast AM to FM. The 54+ demo is shrinking with each day here...just look at the Pro-Jo obits!Holland Cooke said:
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