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It's official - News 92 is Sinking

J

JimTexBell

KROI FM - News 92 has hit the iceberg and is officially "sinking". The highly respected and experienced news director who put them on the air and built the operation two years ago is gone. Denise Bishop has been kicked out the door, and according to Mike McGuff, her position has been eliminated.

Just goes to show that it doesn't matter how good a job you do, it's the ratings numbers that decide your fate.:confused:

OK folks. Who wants to start the "office pot" on when News 92 will disappear from Houston's airwaves? I predict sometime in the coming year.
 
I read it and thought the same thing, Jim. I sure hate to see it happen, but it sure isn't a good sign for News 92. With all of the expense Radio One incurred building studios and hiring well known staffers, I really would think they'll hold on as long as possible. I must say, you still hear a variety of new advertisements during breaks so they are still selling the station, and I imagine the billing remains good. It's a shame the station doesn't have better ratings as Houston needs a go to station in the event of an emergency situation. As bad as this will read, that has been part of what has hurt KROI. There hasn't been a hurricane, major flooding, or any natural disasters in Houston since KROI flipped to news. This is when the station will truly shine and become the go to station for most Houstonians. 92 has the resources, there is no doubt about that. Their coverage of the motel fire on the Southwest Freeway a few months ago was impeccable. It'll be a mistake to lose it as we probably will never see another all news station here if it does fail. For the sake of the thread, I'll say 12 more months being given to the news operation.
 
Pretty odd to not have a news director...who is running the ship? Maybe RO has decided to let the producers decide everything, and the RO Houston market manager steps in with non-news decisions. In any case not a positive sign for the future of News92FM. However I strongly doubt the plug would be pulled in the middle of hurricane season.

Wild speculation, but I've often wondered if 92.1 might wind up with CBS.
 
I've noticed that News92FM is filling a LOT of commercial breaks (surprisingly during PM drive) with PI spots and occasional PSAs...the good news is at least Radio One has the other two highly rated stations in town to carry the load revenuewise. Ever since the new PD arrived, the station sounds great and the format flows seamlessly between components...
 
It is becoming more apparent with each ratings report that Houston's news & talk audience are quite pleased with Opie Erickson and Michelle Berry's offerings at KTRH then they are KROI. I don't understand it but I am hardly the "normal" radio listener.
 
I must agree with the post saying something like another Ike or Rita or flooding situation like Allison caused for KROI's value to be shown to the Houston audience. Once they make listeners feel safe in a situation where mother nature has her sights on Houston, I think there will be more believers. I would worry KTRH might not be able to provide the coverage these days despite their resources but I could be wrong. Will News 92 go away? I might be the lone wolf in this pack, but I think it will stick around. A company doesn't put this sort of investment into such a format without a long term plan.

I have too heard the PIs and PSAs but also a number of fairly new advertisers. I have to suspect the billing looks much better that the Arbitron numbers and considering the numbers we see, those who see the entire diary might find KROI is doing well in the right demographics.
 
I must agree with the post saying something like another Ike or Rita or flooding situation like Allison caused for KROI's value to be shown to the Houston audience. Once they make listeners feel safe in a situation where mother nature has her sights on Houston, I think there will be more believers. I would worry KTRH might not be able to provide the coverage these days despite their resources but I could be wrong. Will News 92 go away? I might be the lone wolf in this pack, but I think it will stick around. A company doesn't put this sort of investment into such a format without a long term plan.

I have too heard the PIs and PSAs but also a number of fairly new advertisers. I have to suspect the billing looks much better that the Arbitron numbers and considering the numbers we see, those who see the entire diary might find KROI is doing well in the right demographics.
 
So for the sake of News 92's survival we should pray for a hurricane or major flood? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I don't agree with that premise at all. A news operation doesn't "prove itself" in major disaster reporting. It "proves" itself every day, even on slow news days, with high quality, incisive, and balanced reporting. That's what attracts listeners. If News 92 isn't doing that every day, it's not going to be doing it during a disaster.

"Quality" reporting isn't like the groundhog that only comes out once a year. If listeners aren't getting quality reporting every day, they're not likely to be listening during a disaster.
 
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I agree with you Jim, but I'm not questioning their level of reporting or delivery of the news. It's not flawless, but it's informative and presented in a professional manner. What I'm saying is that KROI is going to be get its recognition when the next major disaster hits Houston, people run for the radio, dial up 740 KTRH, and hear how the Democrats are destroying this country instead of delivering the information we will need to avoid a catastrophe. The partnership with KHOU is no mistake. That's going to be key when something disastrous strikes around here. I won't pray for a flood, but it'd take one at this point to pull us out of this drought.
 
You may be right, but what baffles me is why anybody in Houston thinks KTRH is still the famous "News Radio" station it used to be. Nobody listens to KTRH for news reporting anymore because "real news" just isn't there. It's officially "News/Talk" with heavy emphasis on the "Talk".

I agree when you're in the kind of drought we're having a rainy tropical storm isn't the worst thing that can happen, as long as it's not like what happened with Tropical Storm Allison of 2001. There are parts of Houston that still haven't recovered from that one.
 
I agree a news station proves itself every day but when the general population wants information they go where they find it. Certainly you are not saying if another Ike or Allison had Houston in the crosshairs people wouldn't tune across the dial for the latest updates. I contend shining during such events builds a reputation in the minds of radio listeners.
 
You are right in saying people tune to where information is during emergencies. And they will stay tuned to the station providing the most and best information. My point, I think, is that a news station that proves itself every day will build a loyal listener base that will increase in size during emergencies.
 
You both make great points. I'll add that people are typically creatures of habit, and yes they will tune across the dial for the most part if they are relying on the radio for information, but out of every 100 people looking for updates, I'd bet 90 of them will still tune to 740 first. Old habits die hard, as we all know. This is what KROI hasn't been able to figure out yet. How to become the primary source of news for Houston. If I had the answer, I'd freely give it to them. They deliver a good newscast, people just aren't flocking to them, and regardless of what some may say it's not the signal handicapping the effort being put forth.
 
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purpledevil said:
With all of the expense Radio One incurred building studios and hiring well known staffers, I really would think they'll hold on as long as possible.
Click to expand...

I also think you have to consider, if all-news isn't working, what else would? Any other African American-targeted format would eat into Majic and The Box. My guess is that R1 will hold onto News 92 as long as possible, but after that point, they'll try to sell it/swap it - probably to CBS.
 
Gospel was pulling good ratings on it, but billing was horrible from what I've read. A true urban oldies maybe, but that'd basically kill KCOH. Why do you guys think CBS would be interested in 92.1? They have a pretty solid cluster as it stands and haven't they been more in the sell mode in the last few years? Add that to 92.1 being a rimshot, while all 4 CBS FM's reside on Senior Rd. and I just couldn't imagine CBS being a suitor for KROI.
 
Trenton: most of us here remember when KTRH was simply relevant and not just a 50,000 Watt chatterbox.
 
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