Is AM Dead in LA?

[sportstatic]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

 

[davideduardo]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

 

[oldies76]

David, just curious and I know this is not in L.A.
What are the latest ratings and demo statistics for oldies KDZA AM 1350?

 

[sportstatic]

David, you've got a great point! KCBS just went AM/FM in the Bay ~ I can see CC doing a simulcast on one of their dead FMs. That would be the final nail for AM in LA! :'(

 

[K6JHU]

KNX is also KTWV-HD2. May be KTWV-HD1 before too long

The question is how long before there are enough HD receivers (if ever) to move AM to HD-2. That seems to be the only real future for AM.

 

[davideduardo]

David, just curious and I know this is not in L.A.
What are the latest ratings and demo statistics for oldies KDZA AM 1350?

This is a twice a year non-continuous market. Fall book is not out yet. The Spring book showed them with a 1.1 12+ or 20th in the market, and in 25-54 it had a 2.0 for 17th. There are 19 commercial stations in the market, meaning that there are some out of market stations ahead of KDZA (Only 26 shares go to local commercial stations, in fact).

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

Do you think they could make up the billing difference this year on a KFI AM/FM combo or is KHHT's billing really low right now?

 

[nmoore6676]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

I had heard somewhere that now that the tower is back that they (KFI) were slated to install a new main rig. Wonder if that is still on. I have noticed that they have never turned on the hash generator since going back full power. Their auxiliary tower was not IBOC friendly.

I suspect that an AM/FM combo might help their numbers a bit as younger listeners do not use FM. Maybe it would need alternate programming with more youth appeal though, I can’t see the 18-35 set tuning to Rush and Dr. Laura in droves even with FM. Handel would need to spruce up his last two hours too but J and K could have youth appeal if they got even wilder.

I wonder if eventually the powers that be were to mandate an all digital system for the MW band that it could be salvaged or will it become a relic like the rotary dial telephone?

 

[westfield60]

John and Ken and Handel are really the only shows listenable on KFI for anyone under the age of 40. KFI desperately needs to change that evening show (Suits and Kennedy) for something more entertaining. KABC I agree is practically dead and buried. I agree AM is really dead in LA

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

John and Ken and Handel are really the only shows listenable on KFI for anyone under the age of 40. KFI desperately needs to change that evening show (Suits and Kennedy) for something more entertaining. KABC I agree is practically dead and buried. I agree AM is really dead in LA

I see nothing wrong with Rush Limbaugh. He's the (second) great communicator. Dr. Laura I've never thought of as a great fit. It's too bad Sean Hannity isn't on KFI but there's always hope now that the show is 1/2 owned by Premiere. As for Kennedy & Suits or (weekends) Armstrong & Getty, just awful. These people don't belong on Los Angeles radio or radio at all, for that matter.

Note that Alan Colmes is no longer on KTLK. About the only thing (and I do mean "thing") listenable on that turkey.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Note that Alan Colmes is no longer on KTLK. About the only thing (and I do mean "thing") listenable on that turkey.

Did you mean 1260/540 KGIL?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Note that Alan Colmes is no longer on KTLK. About the only thing (and I do mean "thing") listenable on that turkey.

Did you mean 1260/540 KGIL?

It is easy to mistake the two.

 

[davideduardo]

I suspect that an AM/FM combo might help their numbers a bit as younger listeners do not use FM. Maybe it would need alternate programming with more youth appeal though, I can’t see the 18-35 set tuning to Rush and Dr. Laura in droves even with FM. Handel would need to spruce up his last two hours too but J and K could have youth appeal if they got even wilder.

You don't need under-35 to do well in 25-54. And it has been proven over and over and over that the same format, moved or placed on FM, will do vastly better 35-54 than on an AM.

Examples
KIRO
WIBC
WHIO
WOKV
KTAR
KSL
WWL
WPGB

 

[socalguy]

Perfect examples DE (don't forget WTOP), but the advertising revenue factor remains. Hot will likely finish '08 somewhere around $21-$22 million in gross revenues (my guess). Assume 40% of that number is net profit (again my guess). That's still a lot of cash. BTW this is about the same this year as 98.7. The question CCLA braintrust is faced with is what is the potential the revenue gain based on slightly higher ratings (in the right demos) if they do a Bonneville style simulcast. My guess is not enough to justify it...yet.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

As the legal ID geeks (I'm here, just waiting for Fybush ) come out of the woodwork...

"KFI Los Angeles, KFI HD Los Angeles, KFI-FM Los Angeles, KFI HD1 Los Angeles."

(This assumes--sadly--that their AM I-CRAP will be on, come the predicted simulcast. )

The last piece of the ID I'm actually not sure of. Would it be KFI HD1 or KFI-FM HD1?
I ask since in Phoenix it's KOOL-FM, KOOL HD1 (although they take the short form and
do the COL only after both calls), but there's no AM station in KOOL's legal ID mix.

Somewhere I heard that an -FM suffix is not applicable on an HD1, even if it is on the
analog license, since HD1 is also in effect a "suffix."

Yes I know, I'm being way too anal about this. ;D

 

[ercjncpr]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

Actually , a pretty cool idea, David

 

[ercjncpr]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

I had heard somewhere that now that the tower is back that they (KFI) were slated to install a new main rig. Wonder if that is still on. I have noticed that they have never turned on the hash generator since going back full power. Their auxiliary tower was not IBOC friendly.

I suspect that an AM/FM combo might help their numbers a bit as younger listeners do not use FM. Maybe it would need alternate programming with more youth appeal though, I can’t see the 18-35 set tuning to Rush and Dr. Laura in droves even with FM. Handel would need to spruce up his last two hours too but J and K could have youth appeal if they got even wilder.

I wonder if eventually the powers that be were to mandate an all digital system for the MW band that it could be salvaged or will it become a relic like the rotary dial telephone?

AM is already a relic in many other countries

 

[nmoore6676]

Besides KFI, Southern California no longer has any other dominant AM stations. KABC is pretty much down for the count ~ just like KNX & KFWB. But, take a look at San Francisco ~ 3 consistant and strong AM strations.
???
So, is AM finally dead i LA?

Just in LA?

Demographically, it's even worse.

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

I had heard somewhere that now that the tower is back that they (KFI) were slated to install a new main rig. Wonder if that is still on. I have noticed that they have never turned on the hash generator since going back full power. Their auxiliary tower was not IBOC friendly.

I suspect that an AM/FM combo might help their numbers a bit as younger listeners do not use FM. Maybe it would need alternate programming with more youth appeal though, I can’t see the 18-35 set tuning to Rush and Dr. Laura in droves even with FM. Handel would need to spruce up his last two hours too but J and K could have youth appeal if they got even wilder.

I wonder if eventually the powers that be were to mandate an all digital system for the MW band that it could be salvaged or will it become a relic like the rotary dial telephone?

AM is already a relic in many other countries

About AM I fear you may be right, my question though was whether anyone thinks that the band (MW) from 530 to 1700 KHz could be saved it they decreed it to be all digital or at least most of it. All of the new technologies (WiFi, Cellular) use the UHF to microwave frequencies so there is not a lot of other modern interest in the MW band.

Certain military uses still are extant for the LF band and there is still shortwave. There are still certain signal coverage advantages for MW but Amplitude Modulation doesn't fare too well with all of the electronic noise we have today. Riding the HD signal on top of the main channel just seems to produce more electronic hash so it is kind of self destructive, like a starving person eating his own arms and legs.

 

[ercjncpr]

Wild, outta-my-mind prediction: 92.3 KFI-FM, and by May.

As the legal ID geeks (I'm here, just waiting for Fybush ) come out of the woodwork...

"KFI Los Angeles, KFI HD Los Angeles, KFI-FM Los Angeles, KFI HD1 Los Angeles."

(This assumes--sadly--that their AM I-CRAP will be on, come the predicted simulcast. )

The last piece of the ID I'm actually not sure of. Would it be KFI HD1 or KFI-FM HD1?
I ask since in Phoenix it's KOOL-FM, KOOL HD1 (although they take the short form and
do the COL only after both calls), but there's no AM station in KOOL's legal ID mix.

Somewhere I heard that an -FM suffix is not applicable on an HD1, even if it is on the
analog license, since HD1 is also in effect a "suffix."

Yes I know, I'm being way too anal about this. ;D

I believe KNX does it as KNX-AM and HD..KTWV-HD2, Los Angeles"

 

[ercjncpr]

[/quote]

AM is already a relic in many other countries
[/quote]

About AM I fear you may be right, my question though was whether anyone thinks that the band (MW) from 530 to 1700 KHz could be saved it they decreed it to be all digital or at least most of it. All of the new technologies (WiFi, Cellular) use the UHF to microwave frequencies so there is not a lot of other modern interest in the MW band.

Certain military uses still are extant for the LF band and there is still shortwave. There are still certain signal coverage advantages for MW but Amplitude Modulation doesn't fare too well with all of the electronic noise we have today. Riding the HD signal on top of the main channel just seems to produce more electronic hash so it is kind of self destructive, like a starving person eating his own arms and legs.

[/quote]

Ewwww!
in any case, shortwave is dead also...most of the major SW broadcasters of old have abandoned it for the internet. Shortwave broadcasting is aimed almost exclusively at Africa,the mid-East and Asia at this point.