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Huntsville
- Thread starter nuffsaid
- Start date
Well WEUP was consistently a number 2 station in the market until WHRP arrived. WHRP of course morphed from format to format until they finally landed on their current urban a/c, which has and will always eat at WEUP's numbers as long as they stay urban a/c. WEUP had however been able to maintain around a #5, #6-ish rating with WHRP on the scene, until WHWT Hot 103.5 arrived. Since then the numbers have fluctuated up and down each trend and book for the urban stations, and that is simply because there are now three of them splitting the limited existing urban audience in Huntsville. If you add together WHRP, WEUP, and WHWT's current numbers you get a 10.8 and a #2 position which is consistent with what WEUP used to pull every time when they were the only ones doing any type of urban format years ago. So pretty much, the audience size is still the same for urban oriented music. The fluctuation means to me that all three are performing fairly equally with each other, since all three seem to share who is ranked the highest among them each time the numbers come out. One isn't standing out as the true better station than the other. Plus keep in mind that all three of those stations have better coverage in certain parts of the market area than the other does so book placement could play a small part in the number fluctuation.
As far as The Rocket, I really don't seem much change in their market status. They usually fluctuate between number 5, 6, 7ish range. The next trend could very well show a slight move up or down. In fact their latest trend number was three tenths of a share higher than their spring book number. I'm not saying that's significant, but the difference of one tenth could move you up or down a ranking.
Huntsville isn't a two or three station market, but it has become a very stale and boring market. No real movement or change for any station except for the recent morning show change for Hot 103.5. No format shake ups. No big happenings anywhere. All of the stations sound the same as their always do. In other words, Huntsville radio kinda sucks, and it has for years! Three stations for urban listeners, but we can't get one true CHR station? WZYP definitely isn't it. Why does Star 99.1 continue to try to fight (and lose) the A/C battle when REAL Top 40 would be perfect on that signal? Why can't we put WVNN-FM on a better signal like 93.3 so downtown and east Huntsville can actually listen to it on FM without static? Instead, 93.3 is waisted on a miserably failing country format that hasn't even slightly dented WDRM's numbers. Why do they think the THIRD time will be the charm for country on 93.3? Moving WVNN-FM to 93.3 frees up 92.5, and you could then put WUMP on 92.5 to make their FM coverage better. A new station on 97.7 moves to town, and the format they chose is sports? When the heritage sports station has never gotten about a 2 share? Does that scream "Huntsville needs another sports station" to you because it sure doesn't to me! There were other formats that would have been better for 97.7. Classic country's a good example. That would have made more sense and money. WQAH is consistently in the top 10, which is impressive given their terrible signal in Huntsville. 97.7 would have provided a much more reliable signal for that format.
I don't mean to rant on and on. Sorry if I've bored you. It's just that years of bad decisions in Huntsville radio have driven me crazy! All these things seem like no brainers to me. I just don't get it. Cumulus, Clear Channel, Black Crow. Huntsville deserves better radio, and since you three run most of it, could you provide some for once please!!
As far as The Rocket, I really don't seem much change in their market status. They usually fluctuate between number 5, 6, 7ish range. The next trend could very well show a slight move up or down. In fact their latest trend number was three tenths of a share higher than their spring book number. I'm not saying that's significant, but the difference of one tenth could move you up or down a ranking.
Huntsville isn't a two or three station market, but it has become a very stale and boring market. No real movement or change for any station except for the recent morning show change for Hot 103.5. No format shake ups. No big happenings anywhere. All of the stations sound the same as their always do. In other words, Huntsville radio kinda sucks, and it has for years! Three stations for urban listeners, but we can't get one true CHR station? WZYP definitely isn't it. Why does Star 99.1 continue to try to fight (and lose) the A/C battle when REAL Top 40 would be perfect on that signal? Why can't we put WVNN-FM on a better signal like 93.3 so downtown and east Huntsville can actually listen to it on FM without static? Instead, 93.3 is waisted on a miserably failing country format that hasn't even slightly dented WDRM's numbers. Why do they think the THIRD time will be the charm for country on 93.3? Moving WVNN-FM to 93.3 frees up 92.5, and you could then put WUMP on 92.5 to make their FM coverage better. A new station on 97.7 moves to town, and the format they chose is sports? When the heritage sports station has never gotten about a 2 share? Does that scream "Huntsville needs another sports station" to you because it sure doesn't to me! There were other formats that would have been better for 97.7. Classic country's a good example. That would have made more sense and money. WQAH is consistently in the top 10, which is impressive given their terrible signal in Huntsville. 97.7 would have provided a much more reliable signal for that format.
I don't mean to rant on and on. Sorry if I've bored you. It's just that years of bad decisions in Huntsville radio have driven me crazy! All these things seem like no brainers to me. I just don't get it. Cumulus, Clear Channel, Black Crow. Huntsville deserves better radio, and since you three run most of it, could you provide some for once please!!
A
ALRocker
Guest
Bring back AM 1000, the real TAK. It was the best. It was worth a listen just to hear them sign off. Those @#$% yankees! and mexicans!
I travel in the Huntsville market for work through most of the year and it seems to me that the radio landscape there as a whole is an anomaly compared to the markets around it. I think Huntsville is a market ripe for the picking for an organization that can get in there and really make some sweeping changes to stand out from the norm. I'm kind of surprised that there isn't a deep talent pool there, considering how many people from across the country live in the Huntsville/Athens area.
A tisket, a tasket, here's what's in the "peach colored basket"! The goose that laid the golden egg, which is the best air talent in the market, paired with an amazing ability to program for both the listener and the advertiser. I'm sure you will find "Peach radio" getting more and more attention and market share. With that combination, how can you keep it down on the farm? Both local and other markets are knocking on the door for that goose.
It's hard to beat two for the price of one. I'm sure the sucess would easily migrate to the Huntsville market, and beyond. Its an easy sale for the agency buyer.
It's hard to beat two for the price of one. I'm sure the sucess would easily migrate to the Huntsville market, and beyond. Its an easy sale for the agency buyer.
Whitfm, I agree with you 100%. It continues to surprise me that Huntsville radio is as bad as it is, and has been as bad as it is for so long. Its like its stuck in the past while neighboring markets leave it in the dust! It's pathetic that stations in a tiny market like Florence sound better.
Zach, you might be right about that one, and if it ruffles any feathers oh well. That must mean its true.
jsu, I'm beginning to think you might be right. How pathetic is that!? Its been long enough since they've had one, why waist the money on it now!? I'm assuming they don't want to go with a syndicated one either to fill the slot because there isn't one that fits their format... old. All the top 40 syndicated morning shows actually play real CURRENT top 40 songs and sound new and fresh. That'd give Huntsville a taste of how good WZYP should be and we can't have that now can we? But Rick Dees sure does fit doesn't he? Yawn....
Zach, you might be right about that one, and if it ruffles any feathers oh well. That must mean its true.
jsu, I'm beginning to think you might be right. How pathetic is that!? Its been long enough since they've had one, why waist the money on it now!? I'm assuming they don't want to go with a syndicated one either to fill the slot because there isn't one that fits their format... old. All the top 40 syndicated morning shows actually play real CURRENT top 40 songs and sound new and fresh. That'd give Huntsville a taste of how good WZYP should be and we can't have that now can we? But Rick Dees sure does fit doesn't he? Yawn....
I agree with what everyone else is saying, Huntsville radio in general is HORRIBLE. I'd like to add another observation....we are WAY saturated over here with News/Talk/Sports and "Classic...." whatever stations. I have 3 bands of presets on my radio, and two of them are COMPLETELY taken up with these types of stations:
"Classic..." stations:
92.7
96.9
100.3
106.1
106.9 (which we can pick up well here from Birmimgham)
107.3 (from Florence)
At any given time on these you will most likely here a selection of about 200 70s/80s hits (with a minor amount of 60s thrown in).
"Talk" stations (News/Sports/opinion/whatever):
92.5
92.9*
97.7
101.1 (from B'ham)
103.9*
106.5*
* translators of AM stations
This takes up over half the FM band of Huntsville. Add to that 3 country stations, 3 hip-hop/urban, 1 Hot AC, and one claiming to be "Top 40" (really not, the aforementioned ZYP), and you have a VERY boring selection (?) of HSV stations on the comm band. Thank goodness for my 5,000 song selection on my Ipad!!!
"Classic..." stations:
92.7
96.9
100.3
106.1
106.9 (which we can pick up well here from Birmimgham)
107.3 (from Florence)
At any given time on these you will most likely here a selection of about 200 70s/80s hits (with a minor amount of 60s thrown in).
"Talk" stations (News/Sports/opinion/whatever):
92.5
92.9*
97.7
101.1 (from B'ham)
103.9*
106.5*
* translators of AM stations
This takes up over half the FM band of Huntsville. Add to that 3 country stations, 3 hip-hop/urban, 1 Hot AC, and one claiming to be "Top 40" (really not, the aforementioned ZYP), and you have a VERY boring selection (?) of HSV stations on the comm band. Thank goodness for my 5,000 song selection on my Ipad!!!
Radio can be interesting and fresh in any format. The answer is presentation. Given the demograhics and the business mix in the area, there is clearly room for formats other than sports and talk. Presentation separates radio entertainment from an MP3. Making the "radio experience" exciting and fun is both possible and profitable.
RonM said:
This is one of the reasons why I stopped listening to Huntsville stations other than that week of the April 27 tornadoes. Another reason is The Rocket's playlist is too conservative for my liking.
Speaking of 97.7, the morning show boasts that they are the only locally broadcast sports show in the valley. Does that mean that The Griff Show on WUMP is out of town?
newbie here and I love all the radio/ratings/format talk!
newbie here and I love all the radio/ratings/format talk!
I believe Scott Griffin broadcasts his show from Birmingham, but it only airs in Huntsville (for now).
But really, what does it matter? There's no reason to do a 'local' sports show in Huntsville, because all anyone wants to talk about is SEC football. That's it.
Alabama A&M? Niche following. Doesn't move the needle.
UAH Hockey? Niche following. Doesn't move the needle.
Stars? No following.
Havoc? More of 'something to do' than a team that people want to actually follow.
Hammers? Who?
UNA? More of a Shoals thing.
High School: ding ding ding. There's the only 'local' sports that anybody gives a damn about. And that's only because it's a community thing. Either you went to that school or your kids do. But high school football talk doesn't play well on the radio because generally people only know or care about the school in their community. Unless there's a top SEC-type recruit in the area, there's not a whole lot of interest in the sport as a whole.
Which brings us back to SEC football. That's it. And you're going to get a better show with more informed guests and a bigger pool of callers if you pipe in a show from a Birmingham station.
Paul Finebaum has always gotten better ratings in Huntsville than any local show. Why? Because his show is highly entertaining and he talks about SEC football. That's all anyone in Alabama wants to hear about.
But really, what does it matter? There's no reason to do a 'local' sports show in Huntsville, because all anyone wants to talk about is SEC football. That's it.
Alabama A&M? Niche following. Doesn't move the needle.
UAH Hockey? Niche following. Doesn't move the needle.
Stars? No following.
Havoc? More of 'something to do' than a team that people want to actually follow.
Hammers? Who?
UNA? More of a Shoals thing.
High School: ding ding ding. There's the only 'local' sports that anybody gives a damn about. And that's only because it's a community thing. Either you went to that school or your kids do. But high school football talk doesn't play well on the radio because generally people only know or care about the school in their community. Unless there's a top SEC-type recruit in the area, there's not a whole lot of interest in the sport as a whole.
Which brings us back to SEC football. That's it. And you're going to get a better show with more informed guests and a bigger pool of callers if you pipe in a show from a Birmingham station.
Paul Finebaum has always gotten better ratings in Huntsville than any local show. Why? Because his show is highly entertaining and he talks about SEC football. That's all anyone in Alabama wants to hear about.
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