Infinity lost yet again

[Radiogeek500]

Two blown opportunities. Not many clusters/stations can say that, but Infinity's KPLN can.

The opportunity to Jack it up was Jacked by KFMB-FM. That blew Infinity alone outta the water.

But still salvation could have been had. Jeff and Jer could have been grabbed and 103.7 could have said "Hi Star!"

DO'H, CC stole both Jeff and Jer and the Star opportunity.

Well, now what for KPLN. I just don't see them playing Arrow style classic rock for much longer, but at the same time is there a big void? Well, mabye Hurban, but that wouldn't be a compliment type sell with KYXY.

Thoughts?<P ID="signature">______________
20 Years of POWERFUL music
Power 106 La's Party Station.

JOSH, Moderating the whole Radio-Info radio state of California and Indiana too!</P>

 

[DoctorWu]

Well, everyone's been predicting the death of the Planet since 1996. They've never been a ratings leader, but the salespeople make good cash from it. As long as there's money to be made carving up a piece of KGB's pie, why change it?

That said, who knows what their management will do? (Who EVER knows what management will do?)

- Doc

> Well, now what for KPLN. I just don't see them playing Arrow
> style classic rock for much longer,

 

[Garrett]

Amen!

Yup!
_________

It depends on how you look at it...
There's two types of Classic Rock, the more abstract type where you focus on the Albums and the Artists, but do not pay much attention to what's hit the pop charts. Then there's the more "Arrow" type "Classic Hits" rock that the Planet has tried to focus on, which is more an Oldies style direction.

Now, a few years ago this was a fine when there was just KGB and KPLN. But now there's Jack playing classic rock music along with lots of Pop, and I think that may cut into the Planet's demo.

I think you are right about the fact that they have blown some opportunities. But keep in mind that the whole Jeff and Jer and Star concept would probably have gone to 103.7, had it not been for Bob Bollinger moving to Clear-channel.

Doc is correct about Planet's demise being predicted before. However, keep in mind that had it not been for Howard Stern being dropped by Clear-channel, KPLN might still be gone. If you recall, when the decision to put Stern on KPLN was made, the station was very much in limbo. Now, I think having him on the station has brought attention to a station that some may not have previously been interested in.

So what now?
Well, again, that depedns on how you look at it. If you focus mainly on general cumes, you would say that it is time for a change at 103-7. On the other hand, you have to look at billing also. And, what about the future of billing; Are you are satisfied that 103.7 will continue to bill well? If not, change might be an option.

There is one format left for them to go to, the Oldies format vacated by Clear-channel. But I am not sure that is much of a solution, since an "Oldies103.7" would need to play much of what Jack plays in order to stay afloat. However, they would indeed be the exclusive station officially in the format in this market, unlike Classic Rock, where they are not.

The other possible solution is for them to try to get Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw to come over, but I have a feeling that's a long shot. KGB without DSC, is kinda like Pizza without cheese...


> Well, everyone's been predicting the death of the Planet
> since 1996. They've never been a ratings leader, but the
> salespeople make good cash from it. As long as there's money
> to be made carving up a piece of KGB's pie, why change it?
>
> That said, who knows what their management will do? (Who
> EVER knows what management will do?)
>
> - Doc
>
> > Well, now what for KPLN. I just don't see them playing
> Arrow
> > style classic rock for much longer,
>

 

[SDRadio]

Doc has it right

> As long as there's money
> to be made carving up a piece of KGB's pie, why change it?

You do not have to be number one to be successful in the radio market. If a station is billing and making $$$, why spend millions on a few shaves on the ratings scale.

Sports stations have consistantly been top billers (and earners) ... yet are very seldom number one in the market.

I don't know the return of investment for KPLN, but knowing Infinity Radio ... it'll change when the market says.

Remember, radio is a bidness ... and bidness is good for 103.7 FM<P ID="signature">______________
+--
Chris
SDRadio.net</P>

 

[DoctorWu]

Mmmm... cheese.

You win the "1-liner of the week" award!

- Doc

> KGB without DSC, is kinda like Pizza without cheese...

 

[Crusty_Bob]

> Well, everyone's been predicting the death of the Planet
> since 1996. They've never been a ratings leader, but the
> salespeople make good cash from it. As long as there's money
> to be made carving up a piece of KGB's pie, why change it?


As has been said: the Planet makes a profit and KYXY probably makes a VERY BIG profit, so Infinity has had little or no need to tinker with success: the total air talent payroll for the two stations together is probably about equal to what Jeff or Jer earns. I don't think Bob B. could have brought J&J to the Planet. For one thing they literally do not have the room for such an act so they'd need to move into a new building (you'd need a lot of new space for offices and egos for the Showgram). Infinity San Diego is a very dull place, where nothing has ever changed KYXY and the only Planet talent signings in recent years have been for a succession of lame ass morning shows, so Bob B. must be having fun making deals at CC.

 

[collinsradio]

That facility was designed for KYXY back in the
good old days of single FM ownership. Planet-
is about as dull as a radio station could be,
once Stern goes away-it's over. A fellow LA
jock has called Planet a generic version of
Arrow 93 without the Hollywood trapping. It's
virtually outside of Stern, unlistenable. As
much as I think of Mcginess,the safe-list
classic (burned-out) rock is a virtual textbook
case of what's wrong with radio. I met the
PD, and was duly unimpressed. They should have
done Jack, a much better fit for KPLN than
KFMB-FM.




>
> As has been said: the Planet makes a profit and KYXY
> probably makes a VERY BIG profit, so Infinity has had little
> or no need to tinker with success: the total air talent
> payroll for the two stations together is probably about
> equal to what Jeff or Jer earns. I don't think Bob B. could
> have brought J&J to the Planet. For one thing they literally
> do not have the room for such an act so they'd need to move
> into a new building (you'd need a lot of new space for
> offices and egos for the Showgram). Infinity San Diego is a
> very dull place, where nothing has ever changed KYXY and the
> only Planet talent signings in recent years have been for a
> succession of lame ass morning shows, so Bob B. must be
> having fun making deals at CC.
>

 

[Garrett]

Uh oh,
Mark the date, print out the thread, hang it on a wall and frame it...
I agree with Collin!!!!!!!


That facility was designed for KYXY back in the
> good old days of single FM ownership. Planet-
> is about as dull as a radio station could be,
> once Stern goes away-it's over. A fellow LA
> jock has called Planet a generic version of
> Arrow 93 without the Hollywood trapping. It's
> virtually outside of Stern, unlistenable. As
> much as I think of Mcginess,the safe-list
> classic (burned-out) rock is a virtual textbook
> case of what's wrong with radio. I met the
> PD, and was duly unimpressed. They should have
> done Jack, a much better fit for KPLN than
> KFMB-FM.
>
>
>
>
> >
> > As has been said: the Planet makes a profit and KYXY
> > probably makes a VERY BIG profit, so Infinity has had
> little
> > or no need to tinker with success: the total air talent
> > payroll for the two stations together is probably about
> > equal to what Jeff or Jer earns. I don't think Bob B.
> could
> > have brought J&J to the Planet. For one thing they
> literally
> > do not have the room for such an act so they'd need to
> move
> > into a new building (you'd need a lot of new space for
> > offices and egos for the Showgram). Infinity San Diego is
> a
> > very dull place, where nothing has ever changed KYXY and
> the
> > only Planet talent signings in recent years have been for
> a
> > succession of lame ass morning shows, so Bob B. must be
> > having fun making deals at CC.
> >
>

 

[Benshaton]

> That facility was designed for KYXY back in the
> good old days of single FM ownership. Planet-
> is about as dull as a radio station could be,
> once Stern goes away-it's over. A fellow LA
> jock has called Planet a generic version of
> Arrow 93 without the Hollywood trapping. It's
> virtually outside of Stern, unlistenable. As
> much as I think of Mcginess,the safe-list
> classic (burned-out) rock is a virtual textbook
> case of what's wrong with radio. I met the
> PD, and was duly unimpressed. They should have
> done Jack, a much better fit for KPLN than
> KFMB-FM.
>
>
>
>
> >
> > As has been said: the Planet makes a profit and KYXY
> > probably makes a VERY BIG profit, so Infinity has had
> little
> > or no need to tinker with success: the total air talent
> > payroll for the two stations together is probably about
> > equal to what Jeff or Jer earns. I don't think Bob B.
> could
> > have brought J&J to the Planet. For one thing they
> literally
> > do not have the room for such an act so they'd need to
> move
> > into a new building (you'd need a lot of new space for
> > offices and egos for the Showgram). Infinity San Diego is
> a
> > very dull place, where nothing has ever changed KYXY and
> the
> > only Planet talent signings in recent years have been for
> a
> > succession of lame ass morning shows, so Bob B. must be
> > having fun making deals at CC.
> >
>
They could fill the nitch for oldies programming in this area as long as Infinity doesn't turn it into another repetitive K-EARTH. 99.3 was actually tied with the Planet during it's final book as an extended oldies format. I believe that opening up the playlist was the main reason for it's spike in 99.3's ratings. Without Stern and without other changes, I can see even signal challenged KPRI doing better in future books than The Planet.