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Cumulus New Stations - Any format changes?

Now that Cumulus has the two additional stations, will any formats change?

WFTK - Rock
WOFX - Classic Rock
WGRR - Classic Hits
WRRM - AC
WNNF - Hot AC

Any thoughts?
 
Will there be any format changes? Only at 94.1.

WRRM, WGRR, and WOFX are solid performers. WFTK is starting to grow. Imagine the combo against WEBN with WFTK and WOFX (as Arbitorn originally wrote). 94.1 is a question mark. The others are not.
 
In examining their other market portfolios, if the format changed on 94.1 it would likely be one of three scenerios:

1. Country
2. FM Sports Talk
3. Top 40

Country seems like the least likely choice only because this market is already saturated. However, they seem to have at least one country station in nearly all of their markets. FM Sports Talk seems intriging only because of the amble sports teams here (Bengals, Reds, Xavier, UC, Cyclones) but didn't they already kind of try this on 96.5? Then you have Top 40 which would have signal superiority over Kiss. Or maybe they let the current format ride for a while longer... Thoughts?
 
cincyradio72 said:
In examining their other market portfolios, if the format changed on 94.1 it would likely be one of three scenerios:

1. Country
2. FM Sports Talk
3. Top 40

Country seems like the least likely choice only because this market is already saturated. However, they seem to have at least one country station in nearly all of their markets. FM Sports Talk seems intriging only because of the amble sports teams here (Bengals, Reds, Xavier, UC, Cyclones) but didn't they already kind of try this on 96.5? Then you have Top 40 which would have signal superiority over Kiss. Or maybe they let the current format ride for a while longer... Thoughts?

A new CHR would be interesting as Q102 has no brand identification (though decent 25-54) and Kiss is now the herataige Top 40.

Also could anyone see them moving 96 rock to 92.5, putting country back on 96.5 and going with CHR on 94.1?
 
titoisradio said:
Also could anyone see them moving 96 rock to 92.5, putting country back on 96.5 and going with CHR on 94.1?

I don't think they can do country on 96.5 for another year or two. They signed a non-compete with Entercom stating they wouldn't do country when they swapped 94.9 to them in '06.
 
Kent said:
titoisradio said:
Also could anyone see them moving 96 rock to 92.5, putting country back on 96.5 and going with CHR on 94.1?

I don't think they can do country on 96.5 for another year or two. They signed a non-compete with Entercom stating they wouldn't do country when they swapped 94.9 to them in '06.

Could they do country on 94.1 then?
 
Actually I believe the non-compete is over in April. So they could do country on 96.5 again.
 
With the tough economy and the way things are changing in the broadcast industry, I would think that we'll see a lot of stations move in different directions this year. Not just the possible ones in Cinci from sales.
 
Smooth Jazz anyone???

I know, it's a hard sell and a dying format (so they say), but we already have enough of the other CRAP on the radio. At least it would be something different!!
 
How would Bonneville react to country on 94.1? I can't imangine having two country stations that close together on the dial. Cumulus does have a few FM sports stations so it wouldn't surprise me if they decided on that for 94.1.
 
Used to be the best an all-sports station could hope for was a 2-share. You think they'll be the arguably fourth one in after 1360, 1530 and as much as WLW is?

If WFTK is working, move it to 94.1 and put leftovers on 96.5.

There's no future in jazz, even in a big market now that PPM has shown the diary numbers to be inflated. Smooth Jazz is the beautiful music of the 90's - elevator music...dentist office background. Just once, I'd like to see a jazz station play the kind of jazz you go to a club to hear. That wouldn't work in Cincinnati either. Same as Spanish - not enough bodies that care to sell it to.
 
Arbitorn said:
Used to be the best an all-sports station could hope for was a 2-share. You think they'll be the arguably fourth one in after 1360, 1530 and as much as WLW is?

I think FM sports on 94.1 could do better than 1360. 1360 doesn't even register on the ratings anymore. Richard Skinner and Andy Furman are available, plus I bet they can get the rights to Buckeyes games so we can get a better signal than 97.7. I'd like another sports station that could also get WW1 football games, because last sunday I couldn't get the playoffs here because WSAI and WCKY were both broadcasting the UK-Louisville game. One of the problems I could see with sports on 94.1 is that they would have to get Sporting News Radio, which WMOH already has.
 
So add up all of the shares NOT on WLW and WCKY and see what's left. You're right - 1360 doesn't even show up. WMOH doesn't do much better. The total audience available for a third sports station is not profitable, Buckeyes or not.
 
I would think now that 107.1 is the weakest of the ClearChannel stations (other than 1360...) so it might not be a bad idea to target that.

I bet with a good staff and better playlist, they can cause the demise of WKFS.
 
That makes more sense than smoooth jazz or sports, but I'd use the 96.5 frequency as the flanker - not 94.1. You could force Bonneville to defend the lower end of the demos, easing the squeeze on WARM from Q102. Kiss will be especially vulnerable if CC Texas meeting predictions come true. No one is there essentially now anyway. It wouldn't cost a ton to do up-bright-clean-and-tight on 96.5 and trim a couple of shares off Kiss and the Q.

Squeeze WEBN with a much more album-oriented Fox on the older side and FTK moved to 94.1 on the younger side. That leaves all kinds of room for GRR to be all things (that WARM is not) to all people.

Given the current CC mentality, the music on the competition will matter, but content between the tunes better be more than spots and slogans or the iPods will win. Give them a non-music reason to listen. Costs money, but how's what you're doin now working for you?
 
For all of you saying no on sports:
ESPN would be glad to take 94.1 Vs. CC's 1360. Their shows would get higher ratings automatically. The problem with Cincinatti from a sports perspective is the location. The Fan is in Columbus, and has the rights to the Buckeyes and Jackets. FM 94.1 probably would be called "The Fan" because that's what Cumulus has been calling most of their stations would probably have to secure the rights to the Bucks because that's the only team not under Clear Channel's control.
A possible line-up could include:
6-10 Mike and Mike
10-1 The Herd
1-3 Terrico and VanPelt
3-6 Firman?
6-8 another local sports talk show to rival WLW?
8PM The Pulse and ESPN Radio all night. I know Cumulus has been able to move ESPN from an existing outlet so it's not entirely out of the question. Also, a lot of cell phones and different devices seem to be dropping AM radio, so if people want sports, FM will be where they'll have to get it should they use said devices.
 
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