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FM Talk - Is this format anywhere on the Atlanta radio radar?

M

mouthoff

Guest
I know there's lots of upper management types that read this, so can any of you tell me if FM Talk is anywhere close to a reality here in Atlanta? And please, no political talk either. With election time upon us, between boring ads--and hosts that sound like political ads--I'm totally fried on this type of radio. Can someone just put on people who talk about the same things everyone else does?
 
CBS Radio is experimenting with Free FM. It's really hard to measure because of the David Lee Roth disaster. O&A are turning things around in the markets they are in so it will be another 6 months to a year to see if Free FM is a keeper.
 
I wouldn't advise holding your breath for it.

mouthoff said:
Can someone just put on people who talk about the same things everyone else does?
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Umm ... you mean like politics & stuff?

Among most people I choose to associate with (excluding sports, which already has a format) that's pretty much a primary topic of conversation or at least there are definite political overtones/elements to many of our conversations.

That leaves me curious what the heck you want them to talk about?
American Idol & Desparate Housewives? That sounds like a lot of AC/CHR morning shows.
Relationships & personal interactions? Sounds kind of like Dr. Laura.
Most other subjects - computers & music as a couple of examples -- fall into niche show territory.

So I have to admit I'm a little stumped about what this format you're calling for is actually supposed to be about? Or is it about nothing, essentially a talk-radio form of Seinfeld maybe?
 
I can't believe there's a thread on FM radio with no mention of Clear Channel's highly successful Real Radio. I say highly successful only in comparison to the pathetic performance of WGST since my arrival.
 
We had Real Radio on 105.3FM. Scott Farrell made my mornings more enjoyable with Sully and Orff. I may get bashed in here for saying it, but I wish those guys were still on air in Atlanta.
 
johnnykool said:
We had Real Radio on 105.3FM. Scott Farrell made my mornings more enjoyable with Sully and Orff. I may get bashed in here for saying it, but I wish those guys were still on air in Atlanta.
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Scott's on Sirius now.

But yeah, we had 105.3 in 2004, which was talk on FM. When the night came, it basically became a WGST simulcast. Right now there's no sign of talk coming back to the FM dial.
 
I think WGST would be better in ratings if they were on an FM frequency. Just scrap or sell 640 and get rid of it. On second thought it wouldn't make any sense to put GST on another of Clear Channel's FM frequencies. Maybe swap 640 AM with another company like Cox, Infinity, or ABC for an FM frequency.
 
Who will flip first? Dave or 96rock? Dave can only justify bad ratings to clients and agencies for so long before they bail. 96rock is taking a beating with the Braves, and the music day parts aren't doing well either. So who will it be? FreeFM with O&A in the mornings, or 96rock with the RG's in the morning, Braves at night, local talk in between?
 
johnnykool said:
We had Real Radio on 105.3FM. Scott Farrell made my mornings more enjoyable with Sully and Orff. I may get bashed in here for saying it, but I wish those guys were still on air in Atlanta.
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Sully and Orff are still in Atlanta on Dave.
 
I think a well-known conservative broadcasting company is currently making a deal to purchase another FM in this market and have it go FM talk. From what I hear the deal could be finalized shortly and we could hear FM talk as soon as November. Now that would be interesting, wouldn't it? :eek:
 
Cool, thanks for the responses. Glad to hear some companies may be looking into it. The type of FM talk I'd like to see is something like TV's Jon Stewart. He does more politics than I'd prefer, but he typically pokes fun at it. He's also funnier than crap. Most talk radio sounds like revenge of the nerds; guys who think they're funny, but aren't. If I were a betting person, I'd say either Lite-FM or Dave would be most likely to flip to talk. I doubt 96 Rock would. Also, I would hope that whomever flips doesn't just fill it with shows from other markets. I'd like to see someone local. Would love to hear Jimmy Barron here on talk. This way, I'd hear about some local stuff that guys or shows from other places wouldn't likely discuss.
 
Your post strikes a chord within me that must be responded to. I do not care for any of the hosts you've mentioned. That being said, it is your OPINION, CHOICE, INTERESTS and the like that make up what you listen to. Everybody is different. It it any reason why we seem to have such disagreement on this board about how to fix radio? Maybe what we need is to understand that you can't please everyone, therefore, look to what pleases you. If radio doesn't have it, look on the internet...or satellite...or create your own! The possibilities are endless! That's why radio is failing! TOO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS! Years ago, during radio's heyday, everybody was EXPECTED to do the same thing, listen to the same thing and like the same thing. Diversity has killed radio. Darn those 60's radicals! Oooh, sorry. I came off my medication.

The point is, the audience is demanding more variety and that is something radio is not able, by it's very limitations of broadcast frequency, to provide.

Good luck on the FM talk. There are those of us who'd like to see it.
 
Surfer said:
Your post strikes a chord within me that must be responded to. I do not care for any of the hosts you've mentioned. That being said, it is your OPINION, CHOICE, INTERESTS and the like that make up what you listen to. Everybody is different. It it any reason why we seem to have such disagreement on this board about how to fix radio? Maybe what we need is to understand that you can't please everyone, therefore, look to what pleases you. If radio doesn't have it, look on the internet...or satellite...or create your own! The possibilities are endless! That's why radio is failing! TOO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS! Years ago, during radio's heyday, everybody was EXPECTED to do the same thing, listen to the same thing and like the same thing. Diversity has killed radio. Darn those 60's radicals! Oooh, sorry. I came off my medication.

The point is, the audience is demanding more variety and that is something radio is not able, by it's very limitations of broadcast frequency, to provide.

Good luck on the FM talk. There are those of us who'd like to see it.
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mouthoff said:
Cool, thanks for the responses. Glad to hear some companies may be looking into it. The type of FM talk I'd like to see is something like TV's Jon Stewart. He does more politics than I'd prefer, but he typically pokes fun at it. He's also funnier than crap. Most talk radio sounds like revenge of the nerds; guys who think they're funny, but aren't. If I were a betting person, I'd say either Lite-FM or Dave would be most likely to flip to talk. I doubt 96 Rock would. Also, I would hope that whomever flips doesn't just fill it with shows from other markets. I'd like to see someone local. Would love to hear Jimmy Barron here on talk. This way, I'd hear about some local stuff that guys or shows from other places wouldn't likely discuss.
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I could see Dave flipping, but why would Lite FM flip to talk? They do pretty well with the AC format, especially around Christmas.
 
the golden boy said:
mouthoff said:
If I were a betting person, I'd say either Lite-FM or Dave would be most likely to flip to talk.
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Personally, I would love to see Lite FM go talk. I'd jump at the chance to take them down to 1.3 share.
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If either station flips to talk, I doubt that there would be any show that would be local other than morning drive. Unless you're using sydicated stuff, talk can get very expensive.
 
Brian Donegan said:
I think WGST would be better in ratings if they were on an FM frequency. Just scrap or sell 640 and get rid of it. On second thought it wouldn't make any sense to put GST on another of Clear Channel's FM frequencies. Maybe swap 640 AM with another company like Cox, Infinity, or ABC for an FM frequency.
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WGST-FM 105.7 1993-2000. Waste of bandwidth except for split programming during the O.J. trial (trial on 640, normal programming on 105.7).

105.3 was a cheap attempt to bolster WGST's bad night signal, and junk to fill the daytime. Failed after 7 months.

Moving to FM might gain listeners (96.1 is mostly talk and Braves now), but it will not beat WSB as long as Boortz and Clark are still there.

WGST should probably throw in the towel, but I hope it stays around solely so that Fox News doesn't go to WSB (Fox News is on Cox's WHIO Dayton and KSMG Tulsa).
 
While it's true the jury seems to be out on FM talk (it only apparently does well in a couple of markets), one would think Atlanta would be a good city for it considering the failure of stations like 96 and Dave. The question is where else is there a format opening in Atlanta OTHER than FM talk? And to hold up CC's horrific attempt with Real Radio from a few years back as an example of how well the format would do here is absurd. Never as a worse line-up been assembled. 8 Hours of MJ? You're kidding. And Scott Ferrell is extremely talented but he complete phoned in his show with absolutely no regard for the audience (unless you're entertained by a guy watching tv and eating).
 
TULSA has a FM Talk station????? Huh???? What kind of signal? Which owner? What kind of local programming?
 
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