Did Immigration Bill Hurt Radio Sales?

[tillman]

Business Down
TULSA TV station KOTV reports House Bill 1804, OKLAHOMA's sweeping immigration reform bill, does not go into effect until NOVEMBER. Still, Hispanic business owners in TULSA say it has already had a devastating affect on their community's economy. This past weekend, Hispanic community leaders claimed that, fearing the effects of 1804, as many as 25,000 Hispanics have already left OKLAHOMA.

GAYTON-GALVAN Spanish KXTD (QUE BUENA)/TULSA, says fewer and fewer advertisers are opting to pay for spots during their commercial breaks. The companies, some of whom have advertised with QUE BUENA for 10 years, have told the station that the commercials simply aren't worth it anymore.

"The reason for that is they've seen a low attendance and low traffic for their business," QUE BUENA GM MARIA DE LEON said.

QUE BUENA believes that's because thousands of potential customers have already left TULSA. The station says while Hispanic businesses will be the first hurt by the exodus, it will eventually take a toll on the entire city.


http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=134852

[NOTE: URL provided as a courtesy for other Radio-Info members.]

 

[okcbill]

Perhaps if this trend continues, we won't have to "Press 1 for English" so much in the future.

 

[BehindTheLines]

I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day and the only copies of "People Magazine" they had were in Spanish.

I felt so cold and alone.

 

[milton77]

As far as KXTD's sales being down, they didn't cite what the time comparison was. One factor in having fewer listeners responding to their advertisers is simply KIZS. La Preciosa is most likely skimming their older listener base, which would also tend to have a higher disposable income.

 

[radioman921]

you beat me to the punch. KXTD programming sucks and La Presiosa is kicking their butt. They are also on AM and La P is on FM another factor. The immigration issue is an issue but when its all said and done they are losing business due to the bad programming and signal and nothing else....Just an excuse.

 

[Kent]

I have to agree. KXTD is making excuses. Hispanics listen to AM less than the general population, and they have an FM competitor now that's also on 24/7. Unfortunately, it's just a matter of simple math. 1530 really has never done much. I still remember seeing billboards, actually more like boards, advertising the old "Town and Country Radio" 1530 KTCR between Wagoner and Coweta in the 80's. Given that they were up long after KTCR went away, they might still be up along the highway right after you cross the Navigation Channel. KXTD was the callsign taken by the station after it flipped to religion and decided to target Tulsa. That format didn't have any success out of the starting gate as KXOJ was already head and shoulders above them. The station had a variety of formats and was dark for several stints between formats between contemporary Christian and regional Mexican.

Don't get me wrong, I wish Galvan well. It's great when someone dreams big and knocks off the corporate cookie-cutter competitor. However, KXTD has its work cut out for it, and making excuses won't make the problem go away.