Re: The Walk and Oldies 106.3
<div align="justify"><font face=arial>Okay, let's play Fantasy <strike>Football</strike> Radio.
First, let's talk about the WGVC format. It occurs to me that you and Wilkins may both be right. Maybe they aren't going to flip but his friend who works there really thinks it will happen. If I were going to blow off The Walk's format in favor of Oldies, I would not want to telegraph that fact to the staff and advertisers because sales would crater over night. So it's entirely possible that employees think that's the game plan and it's not. Or it is but they reserve the right to change their minds. Like you, I can't imagine blowing off $1.7 million dollars in sales on WGVC. Sure the format is declining but it could take a while to die. I can just about guarantee you that of that $1.7 million, it is largely direct. It's a nice bonus to have when the demographic of people who own businesses is the same demo as those who listen to your station. Entercom already blew up an Oldies station and came to regret it. (I believe. I was not explicitly told this.) Are they going for two?
"My prediction: Regional Mexican on the FMs, with time-brokered gospel on the AM.
Since those are the only two formats they have so far, that's a reasonable assumption. But I still think a better play would be to take the talk contracts they have on WSPA-AM and put them on the two FM's. They aren't great signals but better than WORD and WYRD. They could make a play for Rush (All RL contracts have a 90 day out) and could also go after Sean Hannity. WORD/WYRD carries the show but not until 8pm. Surely ABC would take take a live carry on two FM's over a 5 hour delay on two AMs. Boortz would be good 9 to noon. Unfortunately, Drake's appeal is all Spartanburg where WOLI/WOLT is weak. So they could hire a new morning show or take a run at WORD/WYRD's. Local Morning Show, Boortz, Limbaugh, Hannity and whoever... it doesn't matter, talk is almost all Mon-Fri 6a-7p anyway. They can make a lotta bucks brokering out Saturday and Sunday Mornings as does WORD/WYRD.
As does carolinaradiofan, I see the potential to split the FMs, but perhaps not in that way.
Here's another play: Deal WOLT right back out to, say, WRIX FM Anderson who would benefit hugely by enhancing it's talk station's coverage area with another FM. Davidson then puts Spanish on the remaining FM. It might well be able to do 75% of the sales on one FM as they could on two.
And think about this: Clear Channel has La Brava. Can you imagine an AM and two FM's carrying Spanish programming in a market that is only 3-4% latino? While at the same time, it is 15-20% African American but has only one Urban station? What's wrong with that picture?
WTPT: The more I think about it, the more likely I think it is that Entercom will "Jack" WTPT. WTPT has the potential to diminish both WFBC <u>and</u> WROQ. Why compete with yourself?<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
<div align="justify"><font face=arial>Okay, let's play Fantasy <strike>Football</strike> Radio.
First, let's talk about the WGVC format. It occurs to me that you and Wilkins may both be right. Maybe they aren't going to flip but his friend who works there really thinks it will happen. If I were going to blow off The Walk's format in favor of Oldies, I would not want to telegraph that fact to the staff and advertisers because sales would crater over night. So it's entirely possible that employees think that's the game plan and it's not. Or it is but they reserve the right to change their minds. Like you, I can't imagine blowing off $1.7 million dollars in sales on WGVC. Sure the format is declining but it could take a while to die. I can just about guarantee you that of that $1.7 million, it is largely direct. It's a nice bonus to have when the demographic of people who own businesses is the same demo as those who listen to your station. Entercom already blew up an Oldies station and came to regret it. (I believe. I was not explicitly told this.) Are they going for two?
"My prediction: Regional Mexican on the FMs, with time-brokered gospel on the AM.
Since those are the only two formats they have so far, that's a reasonable assumption. But I still think a better play would be to take the talk contracts they have on WSPA-AM and put them on the two FM's. They aren't great signals but better than WORD and WYRD. They could make a play for Rush (All RL contracts have a 90 day out) and could also go after Sean Hannity. WORD/WYRD carries the show but not until 8pm. Surely ABC would take take a live carry on two FM's over a 5 hour delay on two AMs. Boortz would be good 9 to noon. Unfortunately, Drake's appeal is all Spartanburg where WOLI/WOLT is weak. So they could hire a new morning show or take a run at WORD/WYRD's. Local Morning Show, Boortz, Limbaugh, Hannity and whoever... it doesn't matter, talk is almost all Mon-Fri 6a-7p anyway. They can make a lotta bucks brokering out Saturday and Sunday Mornings as does WORD/WYRD.
As does carolinaradiofan, I see the potential to split the FMs, but perhaps not in that way.
Here's another play: Deal WOLT right back out to, say, WRIX FM Anderson who would benefit hugely by enhancing it's talk station's coverage area with another FM. Davidson then puts Spanish on the remaining FM. It might well be able to do 75% of the sales on one FM as they could on two.
And think about this: Clear Channel has La Brava. Can you imagine an AM and two FM's carrying Spanish programming in a market that is only 3-4% latino? While at the same time, it is 15-20% African American but has only one Urban station? What's wrong with that picture?
WTPT: The more I think about it, the more likely I think it is that Entercom will "Jack" WTPT. WTPT has the potential to diminish both WFBC <u>and</u> WROQ. Why compete with yourself?<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>