(FREE-FM) WFNY Near The Bottom.

[kevinsealy]

As we saw the latest Arbitrend (Fall Part 2) came out yesterday with Radio and Records posting them. Since no numbers can be posted on this board, the ratings show that Free-FM has shown little growth since its inception in January of 2006.

Even though Opie and Anthony gave the station a slight boost in the Spring, there were reports that their numbers were leveling off and this does not spell good news at least for now for this format.

Are O & A getting more competition from other stations, or are the other shows on WFNY losing listeners even with Opie and Anthony getting better numbers than David Lee Roth?



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[StereoBrain]

I don't know the exact reason why Free-FM is tanking. I know why I dont like the new format, but I cant speak for everybody else.

It's obvious that Free-FM is going to be around for a while, despite the low numbers. CBS is continuing to invest in this sinking ship. The have just signed Ron & Fez. You can read about it here.
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=319287

 

[SoulCrusher]

If I had to speculate as to why Free-FM is tanking, it is due to a couple of factors. First of all, some of the programming is a little too diverse - take NYC for example. We've got your frat boy programming, the recently canceled Jim Cramer show, the somewhat controversial Penn Jillette (since he's an atheist and a libertarian, Bush Nation isn't going to take too kindly to him; I like him, though), and The Radio Chick for the soccer moms. If other Free FMs are this muddled, it's pretty easy to see why they're failing. Second, the music that is played is often out of touch with the listener. WFNY skews older with their programming, sounding like an AOR (think WBAB or WMMR) when they feel like playing music. Third, Free FM has alienated the listeners of the previous formats who want to hear music and talk - in that order, not the other way around.

 

[TowerBuzz]

No you're wrong, the music is right on point. The music under Mark Chernoff was way off target, it was way too old, Jefferson Airplane? Crosby Stills and Nash? Bob Seger?. on the Opie and Anthony station?. The music now is more of what the old krock sounded like and it reflects the edge that Opie and Anthony have and more of what JV and Elvis have. The audience is not an older one, they're not targeting traditional older, 25-54, talk radio males, if so O and A, JV and Elvis and ROn and Fez would not be a prt of the station. Ron and Fez is a curious hire since they dont even have a track record. They're somewhat known because of Opie and Anthony pushing them but they never struck ratings gold at WNEW. I always thought they were interesting but they're not a proven ratings attraction anywhere. Neither is Radio Chick though in fact she is the opposite.

 

[Jay F]

CBS should swallow their pride, give up on this silly FM Hot Talk idea, and go back to playing rock. It wouldn't be #1 by any means, but a rock format anchored by O&A in the morning would do a LOT better than their current format.

It's not just NY, FREE FM has horrific numbers from coast to coast. For example, check out the Chicago and San Diego ratings that came out today.

 

[Tony9000]

CBS should swallow their pride, give up on this silly FM Hot Talk idea, and go back to playing rock. It wouldn't be #1 by any means, but a rock format anchored by O&A in the morning would do a LOT better than their current format.

It's not just NY, FREE FM has horrific numbers from coast to coast. For example, check out the Chicago and San Diego ratings that came out today.

You want to anchor the station with O & A, ok. The numbers they are pulling do not make for an anchor. If the world liked the as much as everyone things, well then the numbers would be moving alot higher. To tell you the truth WFNY is a station in the works. After a year they still do not know how to fill the hours. The ratings went down, that does not show well of the station. O & A pull what they can, but remember alot of the listeners to this show listen on XM. The funny underlining story here is JV and Elvis who have increased numbers all the time. Yet they do not get the respect of the station. This makes me wonder if it is like the old days of Stern holding down O & A? Just a thought.....

 

[kevinsealy]

Jay F:

I don't know if WFNY switching to a Rock format is the answer. Before Free-FM, WXRK-Rock didn't do very well outside of Stern.




Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[Starscream]

You want to anchor the station with O & A, ok. The numbers they are pulling do not make for an anchor. If the world liked the as much as everyone things, well then the numbers would be moving alot higher. To tell you the truth WFNY is a station in the works. After a year they still do not know how to fill the hours. The ratings went down, that does not show well of the station. O & A pull what they can, but remember alot of the listeners to this show listen on XM. The funny underlining story here is JV and Elvis who have increased numbers all the time. Yet they do not get the respect of the station. This makes me wonder if it is like the old days of Stern holding down O & A? Just a thought.....

Really. Where are your numbers coming from? The last book - which caused all this garbage - had numbers that showed that JV and Elvis were PULLING O&A DOWN.

So unless there was a miracle turnaround, where MORE LISTENERS TUNE INTO JV AND ELVIS after O&A... you are making stuff up out of your blind loyalty to the Doghouse.

 

[bostonmusicman]

JV & Elvis need that evening drive slot where people can actually listen and give them even higher ratings. It's far too hard to hear at work because some of their material isn't office appropriate. Toss them in there and possibily even shift the Radio Chick to mid days when the soccer moms would tune in and give ratings. Toss more music on her show though, her talk isn't really hitting the male demo I personally feel. Why not fill the gap left by Jim Cramer with some Free Rock like Free Rock Work Break or Free Rock Lunch to attract listeners. Its almost like they don't know what to promote! It's the same with Free FM stations nation wide. It was like "Oh damn Stern is going, lets come up with something different to keep people listening out of curiousity..." Well we figured out what it is, and its a load of crap.

 

[MarcB]

It doesn't matter. WFNY is redoing a portion of it's line up anyway. Nick DiPaolo will be on 12PM-3PM and Ron & Fez will be on 6PM-9PM.

 

[Ozman]

bring Eddie trunk to Free and we got WNEW back in the day 2001-2002 era

It doesn't matter. WFNY is redoing a portion of it's line up anyway. Nick DiPaolo will be on 12PM-3PM and Ron & Fez will be on 6PM-9PM.

 

[Tony9000]

You want to anchor the station with O & A, ok. The numbers they are pulling do not make for an anchor. If the world liked the as much as everyone things, well then the numbers would be moving alot higher. To tell you the truth WFNY is a station in the works. After a year they still do not know how to fill the hours. The ratings went down, that does not show well of the station. O & A pull what they can, but remember alot of the listeners to this show listen on XM. The funny underlining story here is JV and Elvis who have increased numbers all the time. Yet they do not get the respect of the station. This makes me wonder if it is like the old days of Stern holding down O & A? Just a thought.....

Really. Where are your numbers coming from? The last book - which caused all this garbage - had numbers that showed that JV and Elvis were PULLING O&A DOWN.

So unless there was a miracle turnaround, where MORE LISTENERS TUNE INTO JV AND ELVIS after O&A... you are making stuff up out of your blind loyalty to the Doghouse.

Well that was all BS because they JV and ELVIS doubled the numbers and now in the new book they have shown a nice increase. What has O and A done for WFNY ???????????????????? With a 1.2 that sucks overalll. What's a 1.2 I have no idea....>But the Top station has a 7.0...........WFNY is 23rd.............If O&A are showing strong numbers they could carry WFNY as Stern did for all those years....Sorry not happening, going down hill 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2

 

[TowerBuzz]

Jay F:

I don't know if WFNY switching to a Rock format is the answer. Before Free-FM, WXRK-Rock didn't do very well outside of Stern.




Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

A. WXRK-Rock did better than free fm is doing after a year on the air

B. Currently the weekend music trends are higher than the weekday talk trends.

 

[TowerBuzz]

bring Eddie trunk to Free and we got WNEW back in the day 2001-2002 era

It doesn't matter. WFNY is redoing a portion of it's line up anyway. Nick DiPaolo will be on 12PM-3PM and Ron & Fez will be on 6PM-9PM.

A. Eddie Trunk is a guy who does a part time, once a week show on Q104, he's not even a great jock

B. If krock's old airstaff which had some very good jocks on it didnt get huge numbers, what would make you think that Eddie Trunk would do ANYTHING?... answer? he wouldnt. There is a reason Eddie Trunk is on Q104 once a week, late at night, he is just not that interesting. Other than having been around forever and knowing all of the hair bands from the 80's personally he does not offer much on air.

C. WNEW of the 2001 Era? if anyone actually had been listening to that station they would not be playing disco today. You're 21? so you were 16 then and unfrtunately your listening habits aren't anything that people who run radio stations care about.

WAIT AMINUTE I just looked at your profile signature, "oz"? aren't you the nit wit who posted several times here that Eddie Trunk was programming his dopey friday night Q104 show based on what you were playing on your little dipstick college radio show in the middle of nowhere that was not even streamed?.

 

[Starscream]

You want to anchor the station with O & A, ok. The numbers they are pulling do not make for an anchor. If the world liked the as much as everyone things, well then the numbers would be moving alot higher. To tell you the truth WFNY is a station in the works. After a year they still do not know how to fill the hours. The ratings went down, that does not show well of the station. O & A pull what they can, but remember alot of the listeners to this show listen on XM. The funny underlining story here is JV and Elvis who have increased numbers all the time. Yet they do not get the respect of the station. This makes me wonder if it is like the old days of Stern holding down O & A? Just a thought.....

Really. Where are your numbers coming from? The last book - which caused all this garbage - had numbers that showed that JV and Elvis were PULLING O&A DOWN.

So unless there was a miracle turnaround, where MORE LISTENERS TUNE INTO JV AND ELVIS after O&A... you are making stuff up out of your blind loyalty to the Doghouse.

Well that was all BS because they JV and ELVIS doubled the numbers and now in the new book they have shown a nice increase. What has O and A done for WFNY ???????????????????? With a 1.2 that sucks overalll. What's a 1.2 I have no idea....>But the Top station has a 7.0...........WFNY is 23rd.............If O&A are showing strong numbers they could carry WFNY as Stern did for all those years....Sorry not happening, going down hill 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!

Are you seriously claiming that the Doghouse had double the listeners of O&A? Are you saying that the only show that is keeping FNY afloat is the Doghouse?

First things first. Howard didn't come in with his huge numbers at the start of his tenure at K-Rock, so just stop with the comparison right there.

Secondly, O&A tried to develop a station before - they were finally getting somewhere with Ferall in the morning and R&F at night before the station got blown up. Wanna know how long that took? THREE YEARS.


What Mainelli is trying to do is build a station to maintain listeners. It's hard when the bread and butter of the station has a built in audience that's programmed to tune away at 9AM.

JV and Elvis have a dedicated audience. I'll grant you that much. But they ain't the saviors of the station.

 

[kevinsealy]

TowerBuzz:

What were K-Rock's numbers outside of Stern. We can't post numbers on this board. But I do believe that their numbers were better than what Free-FM is doing.

But will Infinity switch back to Rock. What are Opie & Anthony's numbers and how much of a boost will Free-FM get *IF* they go back to a Rock format?


Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[TowerBuzz]

Kevin while you are correct and we cannot post numbers here, and while Krock's numbers after Howard were always considered a problem by people posting on the board they actually were better than Free Fm's current post morning daypart numbers in the male adult demos. It is still early as far as Free Fm under Mainelli and there hasnt been a full line up for the better part of the year that they've been on air.Although nights arent a big priority for the 25 plus male demos.

O and A are doing ok in the adult male demos. The problem is theyhave not been the instant fix that a lot of people thought they would be. They appear to have leveled off already but you just have to wait and see what happens next. BUt it is true that last few trends O and a have been basically flat and Jv and Elvis have been going up. They are not double O adn A's numbers that's wrong but if you look at the book they have been trending up.

 

[content]

More importantly, how is Free-FM's revenue and cash flow?

 

[StereoBrain]

I'll have to agree with TowerBuzz, I think having O&A and maybe the Doghouse combined as the morningdive, along with a rock format the rest of the day, nights, and weekends. This would do MUCH better than Free-FM as present. This would fill one of SEVERAL format gaps for market #1.

And yes! K-Rock did much better numbers than Free-FM outside of mornings. At the same time a talk format is more expensive than a music format. They say that Free-FM's numbers vastly improved for the evening time slot after Booker left, and 923 replaced his show with music. You do the math!

 

[TowerBuzz]

That's actually not right Stereo if you look at the numbers Booker did very well. This is not any endorsement of Booker, the old format, the current format, etc it is just the reality of the books. Krock's music format did not do well past 11am but it did better than the current format in terms of ratings, that is right now but tghat could very well change when Freee Fm is up to speed with their full line up finally in place.

All you can do is watch and wait.