In today's NERW Scott Fybush mentions that WXKS (AM) is "struggling" one year in and changed its nickname (no doubt they may have meant to do it eventually anyway, the
"Rush Radio" nickname being to attract attention)
http://fybush.com/nerw.html
Fybush says Clear Channel's intent was to "keep all of Limbaugh's profits within the family"
and they had launched Rush Radio stations in New Orleans, N.C., etc. Ah, but those were on
fairly powerful FMs, not on an AM which, while it does have an improved signal, isn't quite up to WTKK or WRKO or certainly WBZ standards. And we're a parochial town here, preferring
local talk; at first there were no local shows on "Rush Radio" then Katz was added. Now, I might expect CC to stay with what is now "Talk 1200" until election time 2012--the hiring of
Paula O'Connor and Eric Coldwell (for Katz show) and perhaps a promotional pitch may help.
But it looks like the PPM ratings are showing undesired results for 680, 96.9, and 1200
(WBZ not so much, perhaps due to its news presence during the day, Rea and Leveille at night, etc.)
Is it possible there are too many conservative talk stations for the audience here? As the old western movie cliche said, "This town ain't big enough for the two of us". Well, is it not big enough for 3.5 conservative talkers (WRKO, WTKK, WXKS and WBZ--forgive me Steve L. for lumping you in with the conservatives, but I'm thinking more Dan Rea here)? We know Clear Channel wants a good return on investment. Most likely they'll stick with the current format till the 2012 elections, I'd think, but would CC have been better off trying to shift its hosts to the other stations?
WBZ is out of the question, but one wonders if they might try to get Rush back on WRKO or perhaps even WTKK, but they insist on live airing I believe. I could picture them pitching Hannity on delay (again) to WTKK, perhaps in that 6pm slot. Beck, who knows. As for local Katz, should Talk1200 fold up its tents eventually he could try RKO or TKK.
But the PPM ratings are indeed brutal--people tuning in to the likes of McPhee, Carr, Severin,
Graham, Katz, etc. for a segment or two then _tuning out_. If CC is committed to keeping its stable of national talkers on, they could well keep 1200 on, and make a marginal profit, if that.* Otherwise, someday people may tune to 1200 expecting El Rushbo but get La Mega Musica instead
*--the ratings may not show it but if they go after a desirable demo and please national advertisers, they could do a slight profit here and maybe clean up in other cities. Just my
opinion; as Dennis Miller is wont to say, "But, that's just my opinion. Hey..I could be wrong."
"Rush Radio" nickname being to attract attention)
http://fybush.com/nerw.html
Fybush says Clear Channel's intent was to "keep all of Limbaugh's profits within the family"
and they had launched Rush Radio stations in New Orleans, N.C., etc. Ah, but those were on
fairly powerful FMs, not on an AM which, while it does have an improved signal, isn't quite up to WTKK or WRKO or certainly WBZ standards. And we're a parochial town here, preferring
local talk; at first there were no local shows on "Rush Radio" then Katz was added. Now, I might expect CC to stay with what is now "Talk 1200" until election time 2012--the hiring of
Paula O'Connor and Eric Coldwell (for Katz show) and perhaps a promotional pitch may help.
But it looks like the PPM ratings are showing undesired results for 680, 96.9, and 1200
(WBZ not so much, perhaps due to its news presence during the day, Rea and Leveille at night, etc.)
Is it possible there are too many conservative talk stations for the audience here? As the old western movie cliche said, "This town ain't big enough for the two of us". Well, is it not big enough for 3.5 conservative talkers (WRKO, WTKK, WXKS and WBZ--forgive me Steve L. for lumping you in with the conservatives, but I'm thinking more Dan Rea here)? We know Clear Channel wants a good return on investment. Most likely they'll stick with the current format till the 2012 elections, I'd think, but would CC have been better off trying to shift its hosts to the other stations?
WBZ is out of the question, but one wonders if they might try to get Rush back on WRKO or perhaps even WTKK, but they insist on live airing I believe. I could picture them pitching Hannity on delay (again) to WTKK, perhaps in that 6pm slot. Beck, who knows. As for local Katz, should Talk1200 fold up its tents eventually he could try RKO or TKK.
But the PPM ratings are indeed brutal--people tuning in to the likes of McPhee, Carr, Severin,
Graham, Katz, etc. for a segment or two then _tuning out_. If CC is committed to keeping its stable of national talkers on, they could well keep 1200 on, and make a marginal profit, if that.* Otherwise, someday people may tune to 1200 expecting El Rushbo but get La Mega Musica instead
*--the ratings may not show it but if they go after a desirable demo and please national advertisers, they could do a slight profit here and maybe clean up in other cities. Just my
opinion; as Dennis Miller is wont to say, "But, that's just my opinion. Hey..I could be wrong."