Indianapolis Arbitrend

[realinsider]

You've got to be kidding... read the history. False accusations, mean spiritedness and trashing each other is what this forum is all about. :

 

[11south]

You've got to be kidding... read the history. False accusations, mean spiritedness and trashing each other is what this forum is all about. :

here here

 

[hipporadio]

Have you considered the option of being the ONLY FM sportstalk station? You've tried everything else that hasn't worked.

I believe you'll have to pry the syndicated talent from the cold, dead fingers of Jeff Smulyan.

Smulyan vs Cold Coffee?

Not even in the same leagues.

Are Smulyan and the GM of WXLW 950 in the same league?

The GM of 950 is absolutely without a doubt one of the nicest guys in the entire world. Why are you bringing him up? What point are you trying to make? If you are trying to sully a man's reputation, then shame on you.

...Then the “Indiana board” invites a decommission... IF it’s only about trashing good men who step-up to serve this industry. I know little about the current world of 950AM, but cut some slack on one that is trying to manage it [against odds].

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I can't even name the man/woman who is GM at WXLW. What I do know is that Jeff Smulyan is in the biggest league in Indy. Which other Hoosier can claim owning stations in NYC or LA?

 

[jo-nathan]

Arbitron is a relic that needs to be replaced. Any system that, in the 21st century, uses diaries should not be considered anywhere near reliable. That's why you see such weird shifts. And as someone already pointed out, people don't list the correct information (wrong calls, wrong jocks, etc.) most of the time. But, until PPM is perfected, this is what we're stuck with... unless Eastlan or something like it catches on.

 

[radioindy]

You've got to be kidding... read the history. False accusations, mean spiritedness and trashing each other is what this forum is all about. :

You mean like when the Indy station owner you're defending that comes on here and trashes former employees with accusations that can't be proven? It is not only mean-spirited and tacky, and leans toward illegal.

Yes, I agree with you on that! Would you like me to dig those postings back up to refresh everyone's memory of the classic Old Skool accusations of all his former employees?

Didn't think so - but everyone should start THERE!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

unless Eastlan or something like it catches on.

Isn't Eastlan also diary-based? ???

 

[jo-nathan]

unless Eastlan or something like it catches on.

Isn't Eastlan also diary-based? ???

You're right, I had forgotten about that until after I made my original post. I still say that anything diary based needs to be scrapped.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Who is the company that makes phone cals asking questions that can only be answered with the station's calls they are trying to rate?

They throw away any calls that don't answer with the call letters as a no response?

Have you listened to WILO today? yes-keep no-nonresponsive.

What station have you listened to today? correct calls-keep other-out

Have you listened to Big Vern on the Big show today? yes-keep no-nonresponsive.

At the end of 20 phone calls a book is provided. And...YOUR STATION IS NUMBER ONE!

I have a few stations that have used these over the years. markets like Columbus, Frankfort, etc.

One company would do another twist on this. use their interns to call and ask if you've lsitened to WXXX today. Only works in today's world with non-com stations. The do not call list and federal restrictions do not apply to non profits and newspapers.

 

[radioindy]

Who is the company that makes phone cals asking questions that can only be answered with the station's calls they are trying to rate?

They throw away any calls that don't answer with the call letters as a no response?

Have you listened to WILO today? yes-keep no-nonresponsive.

What station have you listened to today? correct calls-keep other-out

Have you listened to Big Vern on the Big show today? yes-keep no-nonresponsive.

At the end of 20 phone calls a book is provided. And...YOUR STATION IS NUMBER ONE!

I have a few stations that have used these over the years. markets like Columbus, Frankfort, etc.

One company would do another twist on this. use their interns to call and ask if you've lsitened to WXXX today. Only works in today's world with non-com stations. The do not call list and federal restrictions do not apply to non profits and newspapers.

One of the 'scam' companies I know of is Ratings with Results.

That one is an elderly woman and her son who would send mass mailings to smaller stations telling them they had a survey that showed their station as No. 1 in the county/area. If they'd send $300 they'd get the survey - but even this didn't work as they wouldn't send the results. The woman was sued by a few stations, and her excuse was she (or her son) had cancer or some sort of disabilitating problem, but she used that excuse for several years.

I'm sure others have more info on this, and others offering such services.

 

[radiowannab]

I would imagine getting ratings is a lot like getting data from the government. It is slow, outdated, and innacurate many times. I saw one of those books once and couldn't make heads or tales of it. How does it even work? Is it like the tv system or different?

 

[radioindy]

I would imagine getting ratings is a lot like getting data from the government. It is slow, outdated, and innacurate many times. I saw one of those books once and couldn't make heads or tales of it. How does it even work? Is it like the tv system or different?

You seem to have a lot of questions regading how the biz works. For that, you might want to check out some factual sites instead of a commentary forum.

But I still think you're an insider.

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

The Arbitrends are out today. Some guys may need to tweak their sound or consider a format change.

http://www.radio-info.com/content/arbitron.php?market=040

 

[fwmw]

Some guys may need to tweak their sound or consider a format change.

Your post implies there is a difference?

Seriously, this is an interesting "checkpoint" ratings set. F-D, who might you identify as a candidate for tweaking or format change? Why?

I only identify WFMS, WIBC, WFBQ, and WZPL as "heritage" in their respective formats. Perhaps WHHH, but I don't know how long they (or WTLC or WTTS) have been in their respective formats.

fwmw
in fw, not in.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

WHHH went on in 1986 I think, 1990 at the latest.

WTLC has been in it's format sicne 1970 something. When I was working at a gas station in high school I heard it in cars in 1977.

WZPL heritage? Same call letters I guess but many format tweaks since it became "Indyz Zapple". remember the big apple being crunched on the ID? While I was the first person on WZPL when the format changed and calls changed i don't remember what year, 1980 I guess. WNDE was still playing music and thinking they had a chance.

WNDE is heritage too. Same calls but many format tweaks since WFBM.

WZPL does have a benchmark. Pre and Post Smiley. I have seen a few jocks make such a difference. Before Smiley they struggled. Free Steve and Julie.

I think WTTS has been some "Bloomington inbred format" since they moved from Country in the early 1980's. I don't dislike Bloomington, I just think it interesting WB kicks them and WB has such a weak signal. Wait, everyone kicks them. Didn't WKKG beat them in the last DMA?

WIAN and now WFYI have been doing their thing since what 1990?

WBDG has been a classic since the 1970's but has fallen on hard times. A great top 40 when that was the term. I couldn't believe how great high school kids could sound. Not bad now but most of the kids are uninterested either through the program or high school apathy.

 

[radiowannab]

Why is there no 950 AM on the ratings? Am I just missing them? I listen to them quite a bit. But they don't show up on the link provided.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

WXLW is not listed for the second book in a row. I imagine they won't appear again, since a large portion of their programming is simulcast on WFDM-FM.

 

[qskyradio]

I think WTTS has been some "Bloomington inbred format" since they moved from Country in the early 1980's. I don't dislike Bloomington, I just think it interesting WB kicks them and WB has such a weak signal. Wait, everyone kicks them. Didn't WKKG beat them in the last DMA?

Hmmmm... Where are you getting your data? In the last full survey, WTTS' DMA cume tripled that of WB and doubled WKKG's - and beat out The Track, WKLU, WFYI and statistically tied WTLC in Indianapolis. The "inbred format" is known nationally as Triple A (Adult Album Alternative), and while audiences aren't as numerous in sheer size, they are a high qualitative advertisers dream. Please get your facts straight.

 

[bigtime]

WTLC replaced WIAN at 105.7 starting around 1968. Seems like they were located at a hotel (Dearborn?) near the RCA record plant on the near east side. TLC then moved to Villa Ave. on the southside before later moving to studios around 2200 North Meridian. They were on the circle for a while, then the northwest side (at 106.7) with HHH before moving to their current address near 10th & Meridian.

HHH went on in October 1991.

 

[Timewarp]

I suspect that WTTS is much more popular than these ratings show. Triple A listeners are not
very good about filling out the diary.

Here in Lafayette we once had a great triple A station called WIIZ (The Wiz). It went off the
air about 15 years ago. Even after 6 months of static on 98.7, it was still making 4s and 5s
in the book. When a station that has gone silent can still make good ratings, I lose faith in
the ratings game.

It upsets me that everyone seems to be trying to play it safe with bland programming. No
one dares to try to do something unique. Where are the rebel program directors? Guys like
Cris Conner who once brought us WNAP??