FM News is Now Gone in NY & Chicago. So......

[mr.ric]

.....shall we now start the clock on how long KROI will flip? I know they are owned by a different company from the stations in NY and Chicago, but ratings haven't yet went up for News 92 either. Could there probably be a change in the not-so-far future???

 

[willdav713]

Change to what?

You are comparing a totally different market. What flies in NY won't in TX. Different demographics.

They tried Spanish, and they tried Gospel.
If they flip to anything it would be Urban Oldies as a compliment to KBXX and KMJQ their sister properties. Plus 92.1's signal being in Seabrook doesn't help matters for any musical format. If that fails, it will go to brokered ethnic, or be sold.

It just flipped not to long ago, so they will probally keep it around for now at least until the Election is over.

Is KROI doing better than KTRH, or KPRC?

I would like to see the True Oldies feed go to KROI, but I see if it flips to anything Urban Oldies would probally work better for KROI since the KBXX, and KMJQ listeners could add that to their presets. Add an Old School Rap show on Saturday night and you are all set.

 

[mr.ric]

I only asked due to the fact that the numbers for FM News haven't gone up in any market it is in except Atlanta.

Also iirc, numbers for KROI were higher as a gospel station than they are now. And don't say it's too early to compare because it will be a year come November. They had a decent amount of time to pull up their weight.

 

[TheBigA]

Is KROI doing better than KTRH, or KPRC?

In the 6+, they're below KTRH and KUHF. They're above KPRC.

 

[jd]

It's also worth noting that in New York it was a case of a new FM going up against two heritage AM all news stations, WCBS and WINS.

In Chicago the FM news station was trying to make a dent against heritage all-news WBBM, which is now on FM as well.

Most importantly, in both cities the upstart FM news operations (owned by the same company) were poorly executed and suffered from an identity crisis early on. They didn't recover from that and couldn't gain any traction at all against the established news operations.

 

[stan]

The question for KROI is whether the billing is higher than with its previous formats. My guess would be that this is the case. That, and Houston is no New York - KROI has a main competitor in KTRH although they quit being a news station years ago.

 

[wdb2003]

Change to what?

You are comparing a totally different market. What flies in NY won't in TX. Different demographics.

They tried Spanish, and they tried Gospel.
If they flip to anything it would be Urban Oldies as a compliment to KBXX and KMJQ their sister properties. Plus 92.1's signal being in Seabrook doesn't help matters for any musical format. If that fails, it will go to brokered ethnic, or be sold.

It just flipped not to long ago, so they will probally keep it around for now at least until the Election is over.

Is KROI doing better than KTRH, or KPRC?

I would like to see the True Oldies feed go to KROI, but I see if it flips to anything Urban Oldies would probally work better for KROI since the KBXX, and KMJQ listeners could add that to their presets. Add an Old School Rap show on Saturday night and you are all set.

Why would Radio One flip 92.1 to Urban Oldies? It will hurt Majic.

 

[johndavis]

CBS is getting killed in DC with WNEW, too but according to DCRTV it's not going anywhere either.

It's making money.

I hear a lot more business on KROI now than when it was gospel. Praise ran a lot of Ad Council PSAs to fill its morning show breaks, and the ad dollars they're getting now aren't splitting dollars away from Magic. There is a method to their madness here.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The big question for News92FM isn't revenue, but profit. The news format might bring in more advertisers and $$$ than the previous Urban Gospel format, but it is also far more expensive to produce with the large staff.

The numbers so far are not encouraging, especially when considering the money issues Radio One has dealt with.

The Praise format pulled good numbers and was a nice sales fit with KBXX and KMJQ. My guess is that Urban Gospel would be reinstated should the plug be pulled on news.

I also think there is a strong possibility that RO simply puts the station up for sale. CBS could use it for a simulcast of 610. Of course it will sell for far less than the $72 million price paid in 2004.

 

[Kent]

I only asked due to the fact that the numbers for FM News haven't gone up in any market it is in except Atlanta.

Also iirc, numbers for KROI were higher as a gospel station than they are now. And don't say it's too early to compare because it will be a year come November. They had a decent amount of time to pull up their weight.

Despite the decent numbers, billing was an absolute horror story for Praise 92.1. It was lucky to achieve a power ratio of 0.5:1. Radio One released financials a few months ago and indicated billing at 92.1 was up sharply since the switch, though expenses were also up. Houston was off about 5% from the previous year, though they indicated they expected to be at or above previous years' levels by the end of the current fiscal year. As I understand, some of those expenses were considered one-time start-up expenses, which they won't have this year.

So, I don't expect to see a quick flip at KROI. Also, keep in mind that, as poorly as News 92 FM is doing in the ratings, it still gets about 3 times the audience share of the two Merlin FM news stations that flipped yesterday!

 

[wdb2003]

You do make a point Radio One could sell the station later on down the road for their so called future purchases. I hear they wanna try and get into New York and Chicago.

 

[the golden boy]

^^

With their money issues? Good luck with them trying to get into NY and Chicago.

I echo what the others said. If 92.1 were owned by Merlin, I'd be writing them off too.

 

[bturner]

I too have noticed the numbers on KROI. I think we need to view an all News station more like one would a niche format, perhaps a classical station of which very few survive. It may not be the numbers that count as much as revenue. All News is a good selling format compared to several others out there. I'd suspect some client dictated buys are the norm. The trick is to bring in enough revenue to meet expenses, keeping in mind News stations develop their following and trust factor over time. Just one disruption to everyday life in most of Houston could really bolster those ratings as new folks come to the station. I doubt they will ever challenge the top 3 or top 5.

Another thing I've wondered about is how many units it might take to reach an All News audience versus a music format. It would seem typical listeners would be samplers several times a day versus all day listeners. Then again, if the cost per thousand works, what does it matter. I'd think per unit rates might be fairly affordable if the TSLs show this. Certainly the format can carry a larger percentage of commercial content with many more sponsorship and branding opportunities.

 

[TheBigA]

Certainly the format can carry a larger percentage of commercial content with many more sponsorship and branding opportunities.

However, while other companies might have sales systems in place to accomodate that, I don't think Radio One does. They own the top two stations in town, and this one. You can't really include this station in a package with the other two. It's a unique buy.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Probably should give News92FM at least until the end of 2013 before making a decision about the long-term future. At least RO has two top rated siblings for 92.1 which mitigate any money crunch for the time being.

 

[TheBigA]

Probably should give News92FM at least until the end of 2013 before making a decision about the long-term future. At least RO has two top rated siblings for 92.1 which mitigate any money crunch for the time being.

Wow...it's easy to suggest losing money for two years when it's not yours.

If we were talking about a music format that can be done with low staffing, that's one thing. But this is a content-intensive format that requires words to be written before they're spoken. Original reporting to be done, since they can't rely on news gathering from either TV or print. A certain level of professionalism and credibility required. Merlin tried to hire good and experienced people too. And look what it got them.

There are a lot of things none of us know about Radio One. But I think it's asking a lot of a small company that's already on the edge of collapse to stick with what appears to be a fringe format for two years. Yes, I know it takes a long time for a format change to become recognized by the public. That's why stations refrain from doing them. But unfortunately, local news is perhaps the most expensive format one can attempt. Now we see why it took so long for it to happen in Houston, and why the other companies didn't attempt it.

 

[bturner]

Absolutely, All News is likely the most expensive format to opt for. I'd suspect a certain level of loyalty to the format if a company will give it a try. Luckily, between the Box and Majic, they own the market with their combined share. Still that's not an excuse. That's like a rich man handing out cash to anybody because he has it...something they'd never do. However, it is likely their Houston position that made them want to give it a shot. Certainly nobody is going to go after them.

 

[TheBigA]

This just in:

Nasdaq has put Radio One on notice that it faces delisting from the exchange with a stock price that’s fallen below $1 a share. Radio One stock closed down 2-cents to 92-cents in Wednesday trading.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Probably should give News92FM at least until the end of 2013 before making a decision about the long-term future. At least RO has two top rated siblings for 92.1 which mitigate any money crunch for the time being.

Wow...it's easy to suggest losing money for two years when it's not yours.

Radio One knew they were getting into an expensive format, so I don't expect them to be too quick to pull the plug, unless it is gushing red ink. They let La Mera Mera go for almost two years before the axe fell. Whatever growth happens in two years is probably all they're going to get.

Nasdaq has put Radio One on notice that it faces delisting from the exchange with a stock price that’s fallen below $1 a share. Radio One stock closed down 2-cents to 92-cents in Wednesday trading.

Not the first time, IIRC. Reverse stock split, anyone? :

Want yet another bankruptcy sale in the market? EMF could buy 92.1 for the K-Love format. ;D

 

[willdav713]

Is KROI doing better than KTRH, or KPRC?

In the 6+, they're below KTRH and KUHF. They're above KPRC.

Since they are above KPRC I think they stay around for a while until they flank. Still seems too early in the game.