Fast the way the old year passes ...

[KeyTimes950]

While there is an element of "who cares?" about this question, I'd like to see thoughtful answers to what you believe we'll see (hear) on Pittsburgh airwaves in 2013.

I'll confess to being stumped and seeing a lot of snow in my crystal ball, and all my tea leaves blew away when I tried to consult them. In short, I'm not sure what to expect.

Anybody have different ideas? Or maybe different questions than what forms when I try to conjure up predictions?

 

[cingram]

Since no one else has responded, I'll take the bait and say that what I see for 2013 is fewer people
(on the big, corporate-run stations) and fewer stations (on the AM dial).

I also believe that there will be at least one more attempt at an FM move-in during 2013, and most
likely, a few more translators. And at least one AM station will be sold.

C.

 

[Parttimer]

I also believe that there will be at least one more attempt at an FM move-in during 2013, and most
likely, a few more translators. And at least one AM station will be sold.

C.

The Bob Stevens empire expands?

 

[cingram]

The Bob Stevens empire expands?

It already did: Bob (and Ashley) recently closed on the purchase of three radio stations in the vicinity
of Oakland, Maryland. Purchase price: $775,000. What Bob will do with these stations, two FMs and
one AM, remains to be seen.

C.

 

[F.M.Hertz]

It's hard to say what will happen in the next 12 months, although I think Clarke's prediction is on target. There wasn't much that went on with Pittsburgh radio in 2012, by the way.

Hoping not to ruffle any feathers, but it seems like Pittsburgh is one of those market with nothing that really stands out. We have a couple of talk stations, a couple of country, a rock station, a sprinkle of AC, etc. but nothing that really stands out. So, to expand on this, what type of station or format would you bring to Pittsburgh if you could? Also, what changes would you make to existing stations?

We do need a jazz station, instead of hearing about one and/or one that you can get over HD or the internet.

 

[KeyTimes950]

It's hard to say what will happen in the next 12 months, although I think Clarke's prediction is on target. There wasn't much that went on with Pittsburgh radio in 2012, by the way.
Hoping not to ruffle any feathers, but it seems like Pittsburgh is one of those market with nothing that really stands out. We have a couple of talk stations, a couple of country, a rock station, a sprinkle of AC, etc. but nothing that really stands out. So, to expand on this, what type of station or format would you bring to Pittsburgh if you could? Also, what changes would you make to existing stations?
We do need a jazz station, instead of hearing about one and/or one that you can get over HD or the internet.

To quote the venerable Mr. C, I'll bite on this one.

Fully agree, 2012 was not a year of happenings such as some in the not-too-distant past.

Also, I wonder how the Pittsburgh Jazz Channel folks will turn the Bethany College station at 88.1 into a regional over-the-air jazz network.

I'm not sure there is any station or format I'd bring in, though I actually miss the beautiful music format once heard on WLOA and WKJF, and wouldn't mind mixing that with some nighttime classical concerts, perhaps the Metropolitan Opera on Saturdays if it could be wrested from WQED-FM (or even shared -- I could see a deal where QED also carries the Met with financial support from an aforementioned other station doing what essentially would be commercial fine arts to an extent) and some Sunday religious services.

OK, as for changes at existing stations:
If I were St. Joseph's Missions, I'd spin off AM 860 and AM 1510 to other owners and concentrate on FM 106.7. On one front, I don't think SJM needs to simulcast on three frequencies. On another, that might open the door, for instance, to a national sports network not likely to turn up otherwise on Pittsburgh radio.
If I were Clear Channel, I'd actually start a news operation at WPGB or try to put together a news operation that would service all the CC stations, news, sports and music.
If I were Renda, I'd run more of Channel 4's morning news on WMNY. If WTAE's news was on from 5-7, it would be a bit more classy than three hours of that TRN morning news block.
But I'm not any of the above.

 

[pman44]

One prediction: I think you will see Vinnie from The Fan moving over to KDKA-AM. They have found their new Cigna and it's a good chance you will see him on the 1020 morning show by the end of the year.

 

[pman44]

Insiders would know more, but I would guess that the elections propped up some stations in 2012. I wonder with the lack of those ad dollars in 2013 if we will see even more cutbacks to local staff and programming.

 

[Parttimer]

I think Clear Channel might have to consider some sweeping changes in the near future. There are 3 indicators of this...

1) DVE's audience is starting to age out. I graduated high school in '76, so I'm right in their core listening age group.... later this year I won't be a 25-54 anymore.... much of their audience is headed out of demo. They have to figure out a way to get DVE younger.

2) CC is moving FM conservative talk stations back to AM in other markets, San Diego for one.

3) We've heard that the new PD at 104.7 somehow has a mission to add sports content.

This would be way out there, but could we see a flip-flop of 970 and 104.7, with maybe Madden also moved over from the X? And to take it further, maybe you morph the X and DVE together musically into something that sounds like 98 Rock in Tampa (#1 or right up there in all adult male demos) and put something on 105.9 that either complements Kiss' 18-34 audience (like Urban) or go Country.

Conservative talk would not get the numbers on 970 that it gets on FM, but it sure wouldn't get the .4 they have there now. And an FM sports outlet would go head to head with the Fan and put them on better ground for play-by-play contracts.

 

[cingram]

At least on the surface, December was not a good ratings month for the Clear Channel stations. WDVE
in the 7-share range, and in third place, cannot be good news. The X has half of that. Kiss is off three
points from its 9-share high, earlier this year. WPGB is down considerably since the election. WBGG is
fractional. WWSW is #1, but some of that is the soon-to-be-gone Christmas music, and WRRK is right
on their tail. (I cannot recall 96.9 ever before being as high as #2.)

These are all 6+ observations. I'm sure the 25-54 picture is rosier, at least for some. And WSHH and
numerous other stations are not even listed.

C.

 

[Parttimer]

It's really hard to draw too many conclusions from December and the coming "Holiday" ratings periods because Christmas music throws everything out of alignment in the adult demos. I do find it interesting that Steel City did so well by not playing Christmas music, obviously they pulled a lot of 3WS and WSHH listeners as the "regular music" alternative.

DVE will have to deal with the previously discussed issues regarding their aging audience, and the X is suffering from the absence of Pens hockey. Star is almost a CHR now, which appears to be affecting Kiss, and the jury is out on the future of conservative talk.

It could be interesting.

 

[FreddyE1977]

-The FCC will relax broadcast/newspaper cross-ownership rules, and Richard Scaife will buy KQV.
He'll merge the news operation into the Trib to give the latter some extra marketing oomph, and
will fill-out the schedule with an assortment of talk shows that the Trib has tried out online.

- No end in sight for Radio Disney on 1250, as the Mother Ship will want to keep firm control and
deny that signal to the new CBS and NBC Sports Talk nets.

- Significant parts of the CBS Sports Talk national feed will turn-up on 1020.

- St. Joseph Missions will buy a couple more stations, including potentially 850 in Johnstown.

- Another outlying small signal will give Spanish a whirl.

- The morning drive Dream Team of Frankie Day and Dr. James Winer will still find no takers.

 

[cingram]

No end in sight for Radio Disney on 1250, as the Mother Ship will want to keep firm control and
deny that signal to the new CBS and NBC Sports Talk nets.

ABC/Disney owns 1250. I won't be surprised if, for the right price, they sell it.

C.

 

[Parttimer]

Disney has wanted to sell 1250 for years.

 

[KeyTimes950]

All of your predictions make sense. Let me focus on some of them ...

(1) I would not be surprised if Disney sells WDDZ, nor if Cumulus turned out to be the buyer. AM 1250 still seems to be a very strong central-metro signal and might make a good home for much of what Cumulus is trying to do with news-talk and maybe sports-talk as well. (Even with a CBS-owned sports-talk in town.)

(2) I've heard rumors about more sports talk here, oddly enough from Clear Channel. Rumors, I know, are a dime a dozen if that expensive, but I really wonder if there may be expansion of the mix of sports talk it now offers on three HD2 signals (Steelers, Penguins and WBGG on a WPGB subchannel).

(3) If the FCC relaxes those newspaper-broadcast crossownership rules, KQV will be Trib Total Media Radio within 90 days, if that long. And I think after some of the recent FCC waivers, I see that happening, too. Don't rule out a Scaife bid for an FM of some sort to go with it.

(4) KDKA will not go sports talk during weekday dawn-dusk hours, but don't rule out some weekend and overnight moves, the former around Winer and the Rob Pratte cavalcade of paid shows. (And don't knock that, Pratte actually has some good stuff in his mix.)

 

[cingram]

If the FCC relaxes those newspaper-broadcast crossownership rules, KQV will be Trib Total Media Radio within 90 days, if that long. And I think after some of the recent FCC waivers, I see that happening, too. Don't rule out a Scaife bid for an FM of some sort to go with it.

Scaife presumably has the resources, but if I had a KQV-FM I wouldn't be doing news with it.

For that matter, a good downtown FM translator probably isn't out of the realm of possibility.

C.

 

[Parttimer]

Keymarket has a translator on 105.5 overlooking downtown on the north side stick that is used by multiple stations, if it could be bumped up to 100 watts or so if could probably be very useful.

And speaking of our Froggy friends, I still think 103.5 is the most underutilized signal in the market (aside from 106.7 of course). Of would be a good simulcast partner for a sports AM.

 

[cingram]

Keymarket has a translator on 105.5 overlooking downtown on the north side stick that is used by multiple stations, if it could be bumped up to 100 watts or so if could probably be very useful.

And speaking of our Froggy friends, I still think 103.5 is the most underutilized signal in the market (aside from 106.7 of course). Of would be a good simulcast partner for a sports AM.

I doubt Keymarket wants to let go of that translator. I also doubt the power can be increased, due
to its height.

103.5 has potential but it's a convoluted road to get it there. WAOB should be on a NCE frequency.
They have no need for 50,000 watts in the commercial end of the band.

C.

 

[F.M.Hertz]

Some good predictions, but there are some that I scratch my head at. Yes, Vinnie will be on the KDKA Morning Show this year, but as a guest. He is not the next John Cigna. No one could take his place, and besides, why get rid of a good thing? Larry, John, and Paul do a great job in the mornings and the show is the bright spot of 1020 AM.

Sports would be great on the weekends, preferably Saturday afternoons like they did with "Sports Saturday" which they had for many years on the schedule. Also it would be a great compliment to the Fan where they could use that stations resources and promote synergy between the two stations. Plus if the Fan runs programming from the CBS Sports Network like some are predicting on the weekends, it would be the ideal place to go to for local sports talk.

Would like to see 104.7 be more aggressive and have local news, not taped headlines from Cleveland. Cut back Rose and Quinn to 3 hours and air the first hour of Glenn Beck. Also, and this is my one "if I ran Clear Channel" thoughts: Either air Phil Hendrie on tape delay from the previous day from 9p to Midnight. Or put him on live on WDVE from 1am to 4 am. He's on the air at 1360, but he is going unnoticed on a station with a week signal that no one seems to listen to.

And I second Clarke's motion: Scaife should have a KQV-FM that is a hybrid of news and talk. The resources of KQV-AM, but with better announcers, and not having the same cookie-cutter types of talk shows.

My other wish is that Pittsburgh would have a talk station that is similar to the "hot talk" done by KFI in Los Angeles. #DINGDONG

 

[FreddyE1977]

I would not doubt that Disney wants to sell 1250 (though I've heard they are asking an
exorbitant price). But I still think they will take steps to assure it does not go to another
sports talk format to compete with ESPN on 970.