HOT 97.5 Sold to Good News Broadcasting

[TheBigA]

I think he just misread the viability of programming a Boomer-centric format and not including enough music that also appeals to younger demos.

The sad part is he put his reputation on the line, and authored numerous articles promoting the commercial viability of formats aiming at 65+. The station airing the format apparently didn't find any benefits in that demo, and asked him to adjust the music. That's what led to the ratings drop.

But I've said this numerous times that the easiest way for any radio station to improve it's 6+ share is to add 60s music to their format.

 

[K.M. Richards]

When I finally moved from Tujunga to Phoenix in 1972, the Los Angeles noncommercial dial was pretty much set with ... [edit] ... KCSN in Northridge at 88.5 mHz (it was the last to come on the air in my area);

Actually, 88.5 was originally applied for by what was then San Fernando State College May 9, 1963 (my seventh birthday!), and the application was drawn up by none other than Saul Levine, who also donated the original transmitter and antenna.

CP was granted June 20, with 10 watts ERP, and it signed on as KEDC the following April. In 1966, they filed for an increase to 320 watts and were licensed at that ERP a year later. They went to 3kW in 1974, and the call letter change was apparently concurrent with that increase.

So I am guessing, Ted, that Tujunga was just too far away from Northridge for the signal to get to you before that last increase.

 

[K.M. Richards]

The sad part is he put his reputation on the line, and authored numerous articles promoting the commercial viability of formats aiming at 65+. The station airing the format apparently didn't find any benefits in that demo, and asked him to adjust the music. That's what led to the ratings drop.

That is indeed the sad part. I have to admit that I thought he was wrong from the start, and that was what led me to research the viability of an 80's-focused format as not just attractive to 55+ but also mass appeal enough to get some younger demos.

But I've said this numerous times that the easiest way for any radio station to improve it's 6+ share is to add 60s music to their format.

Provided no one looks at the demo breakouts ...

 

[KilowattKat]

The station airing the format apparently didn't find any benefits in that demo, and asked him to adjust the music. That's what led to the ratings drop.

But I've said this numerous times that the easiest way for any radio station to improve it's 6+ share is to add 60s music to their format.

There was an attempt to add other elements to attract listeners other than just being a jukebox. Veteran radio personality Danny Davis did a live remote on Wednesdays (10-3) from the Desert Diamond Casino hosting the "The Club 55 Plus Dance Party". This was 2 years ago.

 

[EricStein]

And that is my point. The primary reason that religious stations now dominate the noncommercial sector of the FM band today in cities like Phoenix is because when that part of the band was wide open, few, if any, secular noncommercial entities chose to apply for radio stations in the band.

And now, groups like K-Love want stations on the commercial side of the dial because of the assumption that more listeners scan through 92.1-107.9 than down at the non-commercial end of the dial.

 

[lanceventa]

And now, groups like K-Love want stations on the commercial side of the dial because of the assumption that more listeners scan through 92.1-107.9 than down at the non-commercial end of the dial.

They want stations period. 75% of the FM dial is in the commercial portion and more likely to be available for sale. They don't care where on the dial it is, but there is a bonus if they have an existing audience they can transfer over.

 

[TheBigA]

And now, groups like K-Love want stations on the commercial side of the dial because of the assumption that more listeners scan through 92.1-107.9 than down at the non-commercial end of the dial.

Other music non-profits are free to copy the model of K-Love, raise money, and buy available FM frequencies. One such group did so recently in the state of Washington.

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The Oldies Preservation Society immediate mission is to keep all these great songs from the early years of rock on the radio in the Spokane area. We at O.P.S. believe that preserving the music of yesterday is essential for the radio listeners of today and tomorrow.
To help accomplish our mission, for many years we solicited donations on radio station KOOL 107.1FM to help expand our membership and raise financial support through regular Pledge Drives. All this was done to help O.P.S. fulfill our goal of someday owning and operating our own radio station.