Huntsville Numbers... My thoughts

[RollTide]

What is going on at Black Crow Huntsville (Rocket City Broadcasting)? Does anyone else up here on the north end of the state find it fascinating that Star 99.1's numbers are abysmal falling down to number 12 in the market? That is unacceptable for the 100,000 watt powerhouse who has always been a top 5 or 6 station. I don't listen to the new morning show they have but from what I hear, it sucks. Also, Rocket 95.1's numbers are on a drastic downward fall as well to the current number 9 position. Has the crude adult humor of the new go fish radio network morning show worn off? Let's not forget that no one seems to be listening to the new Oldies format on 1550. Best AM signal in Huntsville and it didn't even show up in the numbers! Atleast as Urban A/C they were still pulling a little bit of numbers. How far will they let it fall before you start making some obviously much needed changes. Oh, and I'm sure Cumulus is regretting their descision to abandon the well performing "Power 93.3" urban format for the crap country they have on that signal now which has made virtually no dent on WDRM what so ever. Too late to change it back to urban now that Stroh has Hot 103.5 on the air. No more room for another urban in this market. 93.3 has been jinxed from day one. Try to explain this one. You finally find a format (urban) that performs well and makes the top 5, and in the stations prime you change it to urban a/c, then move that format to a weaker signal and try country again on 93.3 for a 3rd time??? I'll never understand the logic behind that move. So here we sit with a waisted, perfectly good frequency yet again. So what do we do? Let's explore that thought shall we. The FM simulcast of WVNN seems to have helped as they have settled nicely into the top 5. Why not try a stronger FM signal and simulcast 770 WVNN with 93.3 FM. I'll bet that would help WVNN even more on a better FM signal, and I'm sure it would make a lot more money than the current country station is making. Then you could do one of two things with 92.5 FM. Either go back to the 92.5/94.1 simulcast since Urban A/C seems to be doing pretty descent (currently at number 7). I'm sure better Decatur and Athens coverage would help things. Or try your attempt at bringing WUMP 730 sports to FM by simulcast it on 92.5 since Cumulus has been trying to bring WUMP to FM on the 103.9 translator anyway. Then you could simulcast 92.5 on the 103.9 translator for better Huntsville FM coverage. Sounds like a winner to me!

 

[ALRocker]

Here are my thoughts. The Rocket started the spiral downward when the started playing a lot more classic rock. The Vulcan in Birmingham has done the same thing, and they are down, too. I never have and never will listen to Star, they could go silent and it wouldn't bother me. As for 93.3, I agree with you, put VNN on it for better coverage. Speaking of 93.3, I wonder if they have spun the format wheel more than any other station anywhere? 1550 is never going to do well- it's an AM station, 'nuff said. Anyway 1600 is doing party blues and oldies now, which is basicly what was on 1550. 1600 used to boom in here in Cullman, but now all I can hear is a spanish station from Atlanta. More thoughts coming up, stay tuned.

 

[BlueWanderer]

Here are my thoughts. The Rocket started the spiral downward when the started playing a lot more classic rock. The Vulcan in Birmingham has done the same thing, and they are down, too.

I think people got sick and tired of Fish's act and the usual rotation of mainstream bands that they tuned out for now. Their ratings will probably pick right back up in the summer. As for The Vulcan, that station's ratings are really not that much better than X's when it was around. Birmingham needs an all modern rock station again (on 101.1fm with new owners), not what Huntsville has.

 

[Charles1]

Don't you think it's unrealistic for "new owners" to take over 101.1? Given that the trend in radio today is for conglomerates to own multiple stations in a single market, and that the other three of Birmingham's "Big Four" ownership groups (Clear Channel, Citadel and Cox) are maxed out in the number of stations they can own in the Birmingham market, it's very unlikely that anyone is going to swoop in and rescue WYDE-FM from the train wreck that it was and is...unless Crawford were to experience unforeseen financial problems. Face it...listeners in Birmingham, Huntsville and the rest of northern Alabama are stuck with the tripe that Crawford is dishing out.

 

[BlueWanderer]

I know it's unrealistic. I have no further comment.

 

[CHRles]

I am very impressed by Rhythmic CHR Hot 103.5's numbers. The station is only 300 watts strong yet posts over a 3.5 share(!!!). I'm betting that it's beating 104.3 ZYP in the areas where Hot can be picked up. Unfortunately for ZYP, despite their heritage, jocks, and great imaging, they are owned by Cumulus. This means they won't be able to retaliate musically, and will continue to have a conservative/overly adult leaning playlist in the daytime.