Format for 100.3 in August will be....?

[aaronsnet]

I personally think that the new 100.3 should continue a talk format and steal the big names away. Rush loves to live large doesn't he? He has a large audience, paycheck, and waist size. Wouldn't he (Hannity and Boortz included) rather go with a "BigTalker" that can cover "2 time zones and 5 states" instead of "5 counties" (if that)?? I wonder if they will switch stations because of this change...

And during an election year!?! The conservative powers that be really dropped the ball on this one.

 

[Fiveahead]

I think the skiing dude has a point.

But, they're not going to be a news/talk station. They've made no secret that they're going with a music, possibly country, format.

I just hope once they bring WIVK down to mere mortal range the other owners in the market make their tribute payments to Ed and John in cash.

 

[BillBattle]

There is no question 100.3 is going to be country. Why would Pirkle bring on Brantely to do a talk format? Pirkle said on Ch 10 interview that Brantly will be on the air. I bet Brantly does afternoon drive against Gunner on WIVK. What a shootout between Brantely and Gunner on two 100kw country stations!!

 

[jetfli]

There is no question 100.3 is going to be country. Why would Pirkle bring on Brantely to do a talk format? Pirkle said on Ch 10 interview that Brantly will be on the air. I bet Brantly does afternoon drive against Gunner on WIVK. What a shootout between Brantely and Gunner on two 100kw country stations!!

If Pirkle isn't going country, this is the greatest format launch con in Tennessee radio history.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

There is no question 100.3 is going to be country. Why would Pirkle bring on Brantely to do a talk format? Pirkle said on Ch 10 interview that Brantly will be on the air. I bet Brantly does afternoon drive against Gunner on WIVK. What a shootout between Brantely and Gunner on two 100kw country stations!!

If Pirkle isn't going country, this is the greatest format launch con in Tennessee radio history.

It's definitely a more enjoyable con than having to say that losing 92,000 watts is an improvement.

 

[BillBattle]

What is 92,000 watts among friends! A watt here a watt there sooner or later it makes a difference!

 

[SkinnyMinny]

Information obtained from a source that requested to remain anonymous indicates 100.3's new format will be Oldies... primarily Buddy Holly with a little Booker T. and The MG's and The Pretenders thrown in. RAVE ON!

 

[Wildstyle K]

According to Channel 10, Ed Brantley is the new GM of 100.3 and will be an on-air personality.

Now what format do you think that would indicate?

Um...... electro-hiphop and house?

 

[Fiveahead]

I would like to change my prediction. I now think that there is an 80% chance they'll be a Top-40/CHR station with a heavy urban lean.

Thoughts?

 

[primer]

I would like to change my prediction. I now think that there is an 80% chance they'll be a Top-40/CHR station with a heavy urban lean.

Thoughts?

JP and Brantley will follow the money... your prediction actually has 0% chance of happening. If you think they are going to take the best signal in Knoxville and target teens and young adults... you havent been on the business side of radio.

Country - 99% going to happen

News Talk - Will have extremely high overhead after paying the local talk and news talent needed to make real money. However, the money is there if the format is done right. So there is a chance but not as likely as Country.

Other money making options might inclued AC or Classic Hits.

Rest assured thet 100.3 is going to be a country station. Not as young as 93.1 and not as old as Merle... this is a done deal. Brantley has already talked to one certain IVK jock about joining the team after he sits out his non-compete. What else do you need to know.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I'm glad my previous post is receiving the amount of attention it deserved. ;D

 

[boogiecheck]

I think there is a 50% chance they'll go country and a 50% chance they'll go Top-40/CHR/Urban.

The money is there for both, I've seen the market's figures.

 

[Fiveahead]

I would like to change my prediction. I now think that there is an 80% chance they'll be a Top-40/CHR station with a heavy urban lean.

Thoughts?

JP and Brantley will follow the money... your prediction actually has 0% chance of happening. If you think they are going to take the best signal in Knoxville and target teens and young adults... you havent been on the business side of radio.

Country - 99% going to happen

News Talk - Will have extremely high overhead after paying the local talk and news talent needed to make real money. However, the money is there if the format is done right. So there is a chance but not as likely as Country.

Other money making options might inclued AC or Classic Hits.

Rest assured thet 100.3 is going to be a country station. Not as young as 93.1 and not as old as Merle... this is a done deal. Brantley has already talked to one certain IVK jock about joining the team after he sits out his non-compete. What else do you need to know.

Obviously you haven't thought this through.

If someone were to walk into my office today and say,

"Clark, if you analyze the market you'll see by programming your 100,000 watt radio station with a CHR format you'll face very little in the way of competition and generate approximately 4 million dollars of revenue a year. By going country you'll face a large battle and if successful only generate roughly 2 million dollars of revenue a year."

I would be a fool to do anything but put a CHR format on the signal.

 

[primer]

I would like to change my prediction. I now think that there is an 80% chance they'll be a Top-40/CHR station with a heavy urban lean.

Thoughts?

JP and Brantley will follow the money... your prediction actually has 0% chance of happening. If you think they are going to take the best signal in Knoxville and target teens and young adults... you havent been on the business side of radio.

Country - 99% going to happen

News Talk - Will have extremely high overhead after paying the local talk and news talent needed to make real money. However, the money is there if the format is done right. So there is a chance but not as likely as Country.

Other money making options might inclued AC or Classic Hits.

Rest assured thet 100.3 is going to be a country station. Not as young as 93.1 and not as old as Merle... this is a done deal. Brantley has already talked to one certain IVK jock about joining the team after he sits out his non-compete. What else do you need to know.

Obviously you haven't thought this through.

If someone were to walk into my office today and say,

"Clark, if you analyze the market you'll see by programming your 100,000 watt radio station with a CHR format you'll face very little in the way of competition and generate approximately 4 million dollars of revenue a year. By going country you'll face a large battle and if successful only generate roughly 2 million dollars of revenue a year."

I would be a fool to do anything but put a CHR format on the signal.

Your make believe dream numbers don't matter much in reality. Just to make it clear... 100.3 IS going Country... that is the fact. They rest of this is just fun speculation. Talk to you at the beginning of August.

 

[MN Maniac]

Okay, I am new to the area. So, I don't have the benefit of knowing the history of the market (although I'm trying to catch up as quickly as I can!) But here's what I have learned so far:

1) 100.3 is a huge signal. It is one of few that has parity with WIVK. As far as I have been able to determine, none of the recent Country challengers to WIVK (93.1, 96.7) has a comparable signal. Presumably, this has much to do with the fact that neither has been able to make much of a dent in WIVK's incredible shares. 100.3 has no such signal limitations. This would suggest they have a much better chance against WIVK vs it's previous challengers.

2) Ed Brantley was part of WIVK for several years, both as an air talent and then as a General Manager. He was let go by Citadel in early May. Ed Brantley has now been hired by 100.3's owners to serve in the same capacity there. Ed knows WIVK inside and out, better than anyone else.

3) Country makes a lot of money in these parts. Specifically, WIVK makes a WHOLE lot of money.

These three factors added together tells me that 100.3's new format will be Country. The new station will be imaged, packaged, promoted, and marketed as a direct competitor to WIVK.

 

[gr8oldies]

With that said...and I'm new to the area too...Country audiences are fiercely loyal to heritage country stations in a lot of other markets. Yes, there is parity in the signal, a familiar personality and GM who does indeed know the heritage station but will half or more of the audience switch that years-long habit.

 

[BillBattle]

I would like to change my prediction. I now think that there is an 80% chance they'll be a Top-40/CHR station with a heavy urban lean.

Thoughts?

JP and Brantley will follow the money... your prediction actually has 0% chance of happening. If you think they are going to take the best signal in Knoxville and target teens and young adults... you havent been on the business side of radio.

Country - 99% going to happen

News Talk - Will have extremely high overhead after paying the local talk and news talent needed to make real money. However, the money is there if the format is done right. So there is a chance but not as likely as Country.

Other money making options might inclued AC or Classic Hits.

Rest assured thet 100.3 is going to be a country station. Not as young as 93.1 and not as old as Merle... this is a done deal. Brantley has already talked to one certain IVK jock about joining the team after he sits out his non-compete. What else do you need to know.

That says it all. You have the sorces in the Citadel building. It going to be Country.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

So the big question is... If you had the best signal, dial position, and GM in Knoxville, where would you see the most opportunity? What format would steal the most audience and generate the most revenue? Forget the 'Ed's only country' stuff. He's generated audience and money with several different formats. What would you do if you had the best stick and the best guy to generate ears and money with it?

 

[boogiecheck]

Okay, I am new to the area. So, I don't have the benefit of knowing the history of the market (although I'm trying to catch up as quickly as I can!) But here's what I have learned so far:

1) 100.3 is a huge signal. It is one of few that has parity with WIVK. As far as I have been able to determine, none of the recent Country challengers to WIVK (93.1, 96.7) has a comparable signal. Presumably, this has much to do with the fact that neither has been able to make much of a dent in WIVK's incredible shares. 100.3 has no such signal limitations. This would suggest they have a much better chance against WIVK vs it's previous challengers.

2) Ed Brantley was part of WIVK for several years, both as an air talent and then as a General Manager. He was let go by Citadel in early May. Ed Brantley has now been hired by 100.3's owners to serve in the same capacity there. Ed knows WIVK inside and out, better than anyone else.

3) Country makes a lot of money in these parts. Specifically, WIVK makes a WHOLE lot of money.

These three factors added together tells me that 100.3's new format will be Country. The new station will be imaged, packaged, promoted, and marketed as a direct competitor to WIVK.

100.3, "The Hitkicker" was the only station ever to really challenge WIVK for not only listeners but also those all important advertiser dollars. The then owners, Dick Broadcasting, saw the threat and made one of the smartest moves in market history, they entered into an LMA so they could at least get those dollars in house until they could figure out a format they could place on the signal.

Let's remember, 100.3's signal footprint is much larger than WIVK's giving them the upper hand with where it can be heard, static free. It's also larger than anyone else's in this market, yes, even WOKI's current or future signal.

Ed Brantley is a legend in the market. He was a very successful PM drive jock for many decades on WIVK and at one point was one of the most listened to jocks in America. Ed knows country music so well it's surprising he isn't one of the Carters. He was also one of the top billers for WIVK when they finally allowed him to "double up" his airshift with a client list. Finally Ed was the GM of the entire cluster and was the sole reason the Knoxville cluster was the only Citadel cluster to outperform projections.

WIVK does make a lot of money. WIMZ makes a lot of money too, as does WWST/WKHT.

All I know is that if I were the GM or PD of any Citadel, Journal or South Central station I wouldn't be sleeping much.

Someone is going to need a bigger boat.

 

[Tennessee Cowboy]

I'm gonna put this out to see how it works out between now and the end of the year:

Two Anderson County licensees met in Litton's back room for an early lunch some time in June. The meeting included a well-respected GM and a small entourage of bean counters and lawyers. By the end of 2010:

107.7 erodes into the low teens and hasn't found the bottom yet
100.3 Merle country, with less Tom T. Hall and more Big & Rich. Top 4 or 5 by 12/31 and heading up
98.7 considering adding 990 to quiet nervous advertisers and Limbaughs
96.7 True Oldies
94.3 Moving off Sharps Ridge to wherever dad is renting offices, format based on what Ed's gut feeling
93.1 Staying right where it is because, well, a $30 country radio spot is less than a $150 country radio spot, no matter how many people are listening.

JP and RM hide their lunch meetings anyway. Neither thinks people know what their cars look like or think that Litton's bathroom has a clear line-of-sight to the back room.

It's still unlikely. These two guys are too independent and like it that way. Depends on how good a uniter Ed is.

And, yes, I'm off my meds again tonight. Cowgirl apparently prefers rum on Thursday nights. See you with something even stranger this time next week.