If 93.3 WLZT went away...

[Nu_Roo_2]

...the broadcasting textbooks would have to find a new example for how to perpetually waste a major asset for minimal gain.

 

[imadethisusernamemyslef]

Word.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Don't know why it took so long, but it suddenly just struck me:

CC probably thinks 93.3 is less than a full-market signal, e.g. thinks its potential isn't much different from 106.7's.

THAT misperception would explain why they continue to think a (non-Christmas) 3-share is acceptable for WLZT, instead of moving Gen-X to 93.3 or flipping 93.3 from Soft AC to traditional Classic Hits.  Either Gen-X or C. Hits would provide a no-brainer spike in share for 93.3 -- a 5, minimum -- and with sales-friendly demos.  They don't understand that 93.3 should be able to earn much higher shares (while hurting Saga a lot F 35-54 if the format is Classic Hits).

Mystery solved.  Now if they could just hurry up and figure it out...

 

[alans613]

CC LOVES "Thorn In The Side" signals for some reason...as I wrote on another post, 94.5 in Dayton did it for years to Z-93...had 94.5 not been around, Z would've at least been doing a 5 share. CC is most likely trying to protect 'NCI from 'SNY is my guess...if not for 'LZT, Sunny would have 3 more shares to add to their ratings, which would put them at least Top 3. CC thinks they're "Thorn in the side" logic is complicated(and it probably is to the average non radio geek), but I can read them like a book. Try again Cheap Channel. ;D

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

CC LOVES "Thorn In The Side" signals for some reason...as I wrote on another post, 94.5 in Dayton did it for years to Z-93...had 94.5 not been around, Z would've at least been doing a 5 share.  CC is most likely trying to protect 'NCI from 'SNY is my guess...if not for 'LZT, Sunny would have 3 more shares to add to their ratings, which would put them at least Top 3.  CC thinks they're "Thorn in the side" logic is complicated(and it probably is to the average non radio geek), but I can read them like a book.  Try again Cheap Channel.   ;D

Actually, if stations A&B are in the same format and B goes away, A rarely gets all of B's shares.  Having more stations in a format typically builds the total shares for that format, to varying degrees.

I've long suspected "thorn in the side to Saga" was the overriding rationale for 93.3, but some surprising discussion I've had with a top exec at CC (whom I respect and admire immensely, BTW), now leads me to believe there's more to it than that, including some surprising misperception about the relative quality of 93.3 and 106.7's signals.

And as I keep mentioning, if "thorn to Saga" is really a consideration, having a traditional Classic Hits on a good signal (93.3) would very handily accomplish that goal, with F 35-54.  There's no need to continue failed variations on an approach they've tried with 93.3 for what -- 7 years now?  But with the signal-misperception issue, I'm beginning to wonder if all the key players actually understand how badly 93.3's potential benefit to the cluster is being squandered (except perhaps around Christmas).

 

[battlefield]

Yawn. I grow tired of this "waste of a big stick" argument that accompanies any format decision with which you disagree.

Plain and simple: if the station is doing what the owner(s) have intended, nothing's gonna change. And, here's a thought, the goals of the station might NOT be based on the Persons 12+ numbers (I guess I should say 6+ in this PPM world). It's almost a certainty that station management is not judging the station's performance on the ratings numbers that are seen by the public. The "Beauty Contest" ratings have received that slang term over the year because they really don't mean a thing. It's nice if you're Top 5 6+ but you're not selling based on that number.

Advertisers are buying radio based on very specific demographics, as is indicated by this quote i read about Pandora internet streaming:

"The advantage of Pandora is marketers can target users based on age, gender, home ZIP code and musical taste, letting them deliver more relevant ads than what’s possible on regular radio."

So, just consider that the publicly available Arbitron numbers really do mean nothing to the people running the radio stations. It's all about the millions of ways you can break down the overall information into something that the radio station can use to sell commercials. Plain and simple.

You might disagree with the decisions of the people running these "waste of a big stick" stations, but I guarantee you that those people are making money hand over fist.

This whole trend almost makes me wish the Progressive Talk discussion would heat back up... Sean, are you out there?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Yawn. I grow tired of this "waste of a big stick" argument that accompanies any format decision with which you disagree.

Have a cup of coffee.  I actually haven't been talking about any "big-stick wasting" except 93.3 for quite awhile.  Right now that's the only truly full-market Columbus signal that is tremendously -- and doggedly -- underutilized in a highly underproductive, needlessly duplicative format

Plain and simple: if the station is doing what the owner(s) have intended, nothing's gonna change.

Lazy man's logic.  The long-term winners continually optimize.  It's easier to get away with coasting in Columbus and still look good -- for a lot longer than elsewhere, anyway.  Complacency comes back to bite you at some point.

And, here's a thought, the goals of the station might NOT be based on the Persons 12+ numbers (I guess I should say 6+ in this PPM world). It's almost a certainty that station management is not judging the station's performance on the ratings numbers that are seen by the public. The "Beauty Contest" ratings have received that slang term over the year because they really don't mean a thing. It's nice if you're Top 5 6+ but you're not selling based on that number.

Exactly.  That's what I said on Oct 12 in the thread "Re: First Columbus PPMs - September 2010":

"As for the off chance Sunny could take #1 12+ at some point if 93.3 flipped from mainstream AC (I say "at some point" because even if Sunny took ALL of WLZT's  September share, it would still fall short or WNCI by half a point):  So what?  People at CC, like all the operators, know the 12+ is just a beauty contest, not the numbers that drive sales, i.e. the ones that count."

You might disagree with the decisions of the people running these "waste of a big stick" stations, but I guarantee you that those people are making money hand over fist.

Of course they are.  The paucity of big sticks in this market make it possible for the big-stick owners to look good when they're actually making less than they should be able to generate with their assets.  Besides, just because 93.3 is being underutilized doesn't mean that some operators aren't doing an excellent job with other big-stick stations such as WNCI, WCOL and WTVN (all of which I admire, even though my personal tastes don't lean to country, talk or today's CHR).

BTW, Gen-X was the first time in years a local operator actually did something that I've been advocating with a half-way decent signal, and look what happened.  And I have it from a good source that the other format that was being considered for 106.7 is exactly the format that I've been advocating for 93.3 because of its amazing absence from the market and huge potential on a good Columbus signal:  Traditional Classic Hits.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Yawn. I grow tired of this "waste of a big stick" argument that accompanies any format decision with which you disagree.

Plain and simple: if the station is doing what the owner(s) have intended, nothing's gonna change. And, here's a thought, the goals of the station might NOT be based on the Persons 12+ numbers (I guess I should say 6+ in this PPM world). It's almost a certainty that station management is not judging the station's performance on the ratings numbers that are seen by the public. The "Beauty Contest" ratings have received that slang term over the year because they really don't mean a thing. It's nice if you're Top 5 6+ but you're not selling based on that number.

Advertisers are buying radio based on very specific demographics, as is indicated by this quote i read about Pandora internet streaming:

"The advantage of Pandora is marketers can target users based on age, gender, home ZIP code and musical taste, letting them deliver more relevant ads than what’s possible on regular radio."

So, just consider that the publicly available Arbitron numbers really do mean nothing to the people running the radio stations. It's all about the millions of ways you can break down the overall information into something that the radio station can use to sell commercials. Plain and simple.

You might disagree with the decisions of the people running these "waste of a big stick" stations, but I guarantee you that those people are making money hand over fist.

This whole trend almost makes me wish the Progressive Talk discussion would heat back up... Sean, are you out there?

Somebody call me? I was listening to my podcasts of Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Yawn. I grow tired of this "waste of a big stick" argument that accompanies any format decision with which you disagree.

Have a cup of coffee. I actually haven't been talking about any "big-stick wasting" except 93.3 for quite awhile. Right now that's the only truly full-market Columbus signal that is tremendously -- and doggedly -- underutilized in a highly underproductive, needlessly duplicative format

Plain and simple: if the station is doing what the owner(s) have intended, nothing's gonna change.

Lazy man's logic. The long-term winners continually optimize. It's easier to get away with coasting in Columbus and still look good -- for a lot longer than elsewhere, anyway. Complacency comes back to bite you at some point.

And, here's a thought, the goals of the station might NOT be based on the Persons 12+ numbers (I guess I should say 6+ in this PPM world). It's almost a certainty that station management is not judging the station's performance on the ratings numbers that are seen by the public. The "Beauty Contest" ratings have received that slang term over the year because they really don't mean a thing. It's nice if you're Top 5 6+ but you're not selling based on that number.

Exactly. That's what I said on Oct 12 in the thread "Re: First Columbus PPMs - September 2010":

"As for the off chance Sunny could take #1 12+ at some point if 93.3 flipped from mainstream AC (I say "at some point" because even if Sunny took ALL of WLZT's September share, it would still fall short or WNCI by half a point): So what? People at CC, like all the operators, know the 12+ is just a beauty contest, not the numbers that drive sales, i.e. the ones that count."

You might disagree with the decisions of the people running these "waste of a big stick" stations, but I guarantee you that those people are making money hand over fist.

Of course they are. The paucity of big sticks in this market make it possible for the big-stick owners to look good when they're actually making less than they should be able to generate with their assets. Besides, just because 93.3 is being underutilized doesn't mean that some operators aren't doing an excellent job with other big-stick stations such as WNCI, WCOL and WTVN (all of which I admire, even though my personal tastes don't lean to country, talk or today's CHR).

BTW, Gen-X was the first time in years a local operator actually did something that I've been advocating with a half-way decent signal, and look what happened. And I have it from a good source that the other format that was being considered for 106.7 is exactly the format that I've been advocating for 93.3 because of its amazing absence from the market and huge potential on a good Columbus signal: Traditional Classic Hits.

I guess I should be talking 6+ now, too. Old habits die hard. Would love to see someone post some hints as to the locat 6-12 numbers.

 

[Florentino]

Somebody call me? I was listening to my podcasts of Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz.

Sean, that literally made me LOL.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Actually, the looming rightward shifts in Washington and the statehouses could help give Progressive talk its second opportunity to come up with a viable radio model. It really helps to have more boogey-people to go after. OTOH, with the economy being issues 1, 2 and 3, the rules are a little different this time -- as evidenced by the fact that there IS a looming rightward shift that goes beyond the usual regression to the mean (no double-entendre intended).

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Somebody call me? I was listening to my podcasts of Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz.

Sean, that literally made me LOL.

You do know I used to advertise with you. 8)

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Actually, the looming rightward shifts in Washington and the statehouses could help give Progressive talk its second opportunity to come up with a viable radio model. It really helps to have more boogey-people to go after. OTOH, with the economy being issues 1, 2 and 3, the rules are a little different this time -- as evidenced by the fact that there IS a looming rightward shift that goes beyond the usual regression to the mean (no double-entendre intended).

Actually, Roo, it might be worth posting a similar thread...you know...like, if 1460 went away. Wait, it pretty much has... ;D

But for that, I would call upon the services of an expert in the news/talk arena...

Holland Cooke ;D

I hope this gets his attention.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Yawn. I grow tired of this "waste of a big stick" argument that accompanies any format decision with which you disagree.

Have a cup of coffee.  I actually haven't been talking about any "big-stick wasting" except 93.3 for quite awhile.  Right now that's the only truly full-market Columbus signal that is tremendously -- and doggedly -- underutilized in a highly underproductive, needlessly duplicative format

Plain and simple: if the station is doing what the owner(s) have intended, nothing's gonna change.

Lazy man's logic.  The long-term winners continually optimize.  It's easier to get away with coasting in Columbus and still look good -- for a lot longer than elsewhere, anyway.  Complacency comes back to bite you at some point.

And, here's a thought, the goals of the station might NOT be based on the Persons 12+ numbers (I guess I should say 6+ in this PPM world). It's almost a certainty that station management is not judging the station's performance on the ratings numbers that are seen by the public. The "Beauty Contest" ratings have received that slang term over the year because they really don't mean a thing. It's nice if you're Top 5 6+ but you're not selling based on that number.

Exactly.  That's what I said on Oct 12 in the thread "Re: First Columbus PPMs - September 2010":

"As for the off chance Sunny could take #1 12+ at some point if 93.3 flipped from mainstream AC (I say "at some point" because even if Sunny took ALL of WLZT's  September share, it would still fall short or WNCI by half a point):  So what?  People at CC, like all the operators, know the 12+ is just a beauty contest, not the numbers that drive sales, i.e. the ones that count."

You might disagree with the decisions of the people running these "waste of a big stick" stations, but I guarantee you that those people are making money hand over fist.

Of course they are.  The paucity of big sticks in this market make it possible for the big-stick owners to look good when they're actually making less than they should be able to generate with their assets.  Besides, just because 93.3 is being underutilized doesn't mean that some operators aren't doing an excellent job with other big-stick stations such as WNCI, WCOL and WTVN (all of which I admire, even though my personal tastes don't lean to country, talk or today's CHR).

BTW, Gen-X was the first time in years a local operator actually did something that I've been advocating with a half-way decent signal, and look what happened.  And I have it from a good source that the other format that was being considered for 106.7 is exactly the format that I've been advocating for 93.3 because of its amazing absence from the market and huge potential on a good Columbus signal:  Traditional Classic Hits.

Just had another thought (I know, that's dangerous...):  I wonder if WSNY's restriction from using Arbitron for sales might be part of CC's rationale for letting 93.3 languish as an also-ran AC, instead of using its big signal to WIN  in another format?

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Hey, Roo. We had our first frost last night. Surprisingly, WLZT hasn't started playing Christmas music.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Hey, Roo. We had our first frost last night. Surprisingly, WLZT hasn't started playing Christmas music.

I am sure the elves at the Clear Channel workshop are busy preparing for this year Yule Tide surprise. Just give it a few weeks =)

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Hey, Roo. We had our first frost last night. Surprisingly, WLZT hasn't started playing Christmas music.

I am sure the elves at the Clear Channel worship are busy preparing for this year Yule Tide surprise. Just give it a few weeks =)

Oh, we'll be in the thick of holiday music in a few weeks. I say we start placing bets now. Here's mine:

WLZT--November 12 onward

Sunny--This coming Monday online, weekends on-air November 5-7 and 12-14, Delilah weeknights from November 14, non-stop from November 19.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I predict 94.7 will skip Christmas music this year, and 93.3 will go all-Christmas on Nov 1 but then make a surprise flip to Classic Hits on Nov 7.  Then a few months later the Blue Jackets will take the Stanley Cup..

 

[xmusicmatt]

Hey, Roo. We had our first frost last night. Surprisingly, WLZT hasn't started playing Christmas music.

I am sure the elves at the Clear Channel worship are busy preparing for this year Yule Tide surprise. Just give it a few weeks =)

Oh, we'll be in the thick of holiday music in a few weeks. I say we start placing bets now. Here's mine:

WLZT--November 12 onward

Sunny--This coming Monday online, weekends on-air November 5-7 and 12-14, Delilah weeknights from November 14, non-stop from November 19.

WLZT could throw up a Christmas 'webstream' any day now .. from my understanding this is already avail for stations to use on their websites.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Hey, people got their wish today for about 25 minutes.. WTVN AM was broadcasted on 93.3 WLZT during the height of the Severe Weather in Central Ohio on 10/26/10.