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Jack isn't everywhere...

Like West Texas.
We have no Bobs, Jacks, Mikes, Bens, Bills....
(Ok, we have Bills, but that's a different thing).

No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me puzzled.
Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very quickly, especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA, Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)

Jack, where are ya? We need ya!
You call me, we'll put Jack on here!
 
> No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me puzzled.
> Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very quickly,
> especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA,
> Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)

We're still Jack-less (or any clone) in Northeast Ohio, and Cleveland is a top 30 market.

-OA
 
Jack is in TX

That's because there IS nothing north of Dallas. Austin has a BOB-FM, too.
>

> No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me puzzled.
> Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very quickly,
> especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA,
> Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)
>
> Jack, where are ya? We need ya!
> You call me, we'll put Jack on here!
>
 
Re: Jack is in TX

> That's because there IS nothing north of Dallas. Austin has
> a BOB-FM, too.

I just got a tape of BOB-FM from Austin in a trade this week... it sounds very good. Listening to internet streams is one thing, but on tape it sounded strong. I see why it does so well there. The presentation is different from Jack, but one line ("The only time Less is More is true is with perfume [spraying sound effects] -- Bob FM") made me laugh out loud.

As for Lubbock, have patience. We're a little more than halfway through 2005; consider how few Variety Hits stations there were on 1/1/2005 compared with now. The fact that Lubbock has a station called "K-Jack" with calls KJAK makes me think that JACK-FM will likely never be licensed there, even though KJAK is a religious station (it is in the commercial band). As for Variety Hits of another name, NextMedia has a Hot AC there with the most to lose from someone making such a move. With a religious and a Christian rock station in the FM commercial band, in conjunction with some Spanish stations, there isn't as much room for "other formats" as you'll find in other markets.

With that said, it would be very interesting to see Ramar flip KLZK from Soft AC to Variety Hits after that station's horrid 18th place 12+ finish last fall. If KLZK posts another bad number in Spring '05, it would show that last fall was not a fluke and that a change might be in order.

But keep in mind with these non-continuous markets that with only two books a year, making a change at this point, before the Spring '05 numbers come out, might be a very risky proposition.<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
> No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me puzzled.
> Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very quickly,
> especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA,
> Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)

I believe (if my memory is correct) that Houston is the only top 10 market now without a Jack-like format. Houston is also the only top 10 market WITH an all '80s station. I don't think that's just coincidence.

Also, I don't think there are any Jacks in any market that has an '80s station.

Can anyone think of any examples where the two DO exist in one market?
 
Add Cincinnati market 27 to that list. There is a Bob FM but its signal does not cover the entire market and very few even know it exists.




> > No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me puzzled.
>
> > Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very quickly,
> > especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA,
> > Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)
>
> We're still Jack-less (or any clone) in Northeast Ohio, and
> Cleveland is a top 30 market.
>
> -OA
>
 
> Add Cincinnati market 27 to that list. There is a Bob FM but
> its signal does not cover the entire market and very few
> even know it exists.
>
>
>
>
> > > No sign of Jack north of Dallas. And this has me
> puzzled.
> >
> > > Lubbock TX usually picks up on these trends very
> quickly,
> > > especially when you've got the Variety format in NY, LA,
>
> > > Dallas, and Boston (still not in Houston, though, huh?)
> >
> > We're still Jack-less (or any clone) in Northeast Ohio,
> and
> > Cleveland is a top 30 market.

Dayton is also Jack-less
 
> I believe (if my memory is correct) that Houston is the only
> top 10 market now without a Jack-like format.

Washington (#8) doesn't have an in-market Jack or a clone, but Jack FM from Baltimore puts in a good signal into the Washington area, especially in the Maryland suburbs, so it's not like they are totally without one.


> Also, I don't think there are any Jacks in any market that
> has an '80s station.

> Can anyone think of any examples where the two DO exist in
> one market?
>
According to radio-locator.com, there are only six 80s stations in the U.S.(Jacksonville, Birmingham, Houston, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Yuba City, Dayton). I looked at the stations in those markets and you are correct in that there are no 80s and variety hits stations that exist in the same market. <P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
 
In Rochester NY, they HAD an all 80's station a few years back.
Today, they still have BUZZ fm,(70's and 80's radio) and Fickle,(random radio) and they're even owned by the same people!(Entercom)
That's the closest I could find to a Jack/Bob/Joe like station, and an 80's station in the same market.<P ID="signature">______________
"If you never say NO, How much is your YES worth?"









</P>
 
Other than Tampa, no 80s stations are doing much at all. Does it make sense that if JACK came on in, for example, Houston, bkrmingham or Jacksonville that those markets' 80s stations' days would be numbered?
> >
> According to radio-locator.com, there are only six 80s
> stations in the U.S.(Jacksonville, Birmingham, Houston,
> Tampa/St. Petersburg, Yuba City, Dayton). I looked at the
> stations in those markets and you are correct in that there
> are no 80s and variety hits stations that exist in the same
> market.
>
 
Thanks, that's intresting feedback about Lubbock!

>
> As for Lubbock, have patience. We're a little more than
> halfway through 2005; consider how few Variety Hits stations
> there were on 1/1/2005 compared with now. The fact that
> Lubbock has a station called "K-Jack" with calls KJAK makes
> me think that JACK-FM will likely never be licensed there,
> even though KJAK is a religious station (it is in the
> commercial band).

Good point, hadn't thought of the K-JAK angle. But 92.7 will never change formats unless they sell. It's owned by a ministry I believe.

As for Variety Hits of another name,
> NextMedia has a Hot AC there with the most to lose from
> someone making such a move. With a religious and a
> Christian rock station in the FM commercial band, in
> conjunction with some Spanish stations, there isn't as much
> room for "other formats" as you'll find in other markets.

Will have to wait and see on Mix100 . I don't see them fliping. They may be waiting out the future of Z102. If Z102 goes, Mix might become the CHR (IMHO)
>
> With that said, it would be very interesting to see Ramar
> flip KLZK from Soft AC to Variety Hits after that station's
> horrid 18th place 12+ finish last fall. If KLZK posts
> another bad number in Spring '05, it would show that last
> fall was not a fluke and that a change might be in order.
>
If Chuck Hinze were still in charge, Variety Hits would be inevitable at 104.3. But now, I don't know who is, just that Lew Dee is the PD right now. The question is, how satisfied is RAMAR with 104.3. Is it a sales issue or a ratings issue there. If it's sales, then probably no changes will occur.

> But keep in mind with these non-continuous markets that with
> only two books a year, making a change at this point, before
> the Spring '05 numbers come out, might be a very risky
> proposition.
>
That's the hardiest part of living in a market like Lubbock. If you're stuck with bad radio or without a big city format, you have to wait a year or two for any changes. And a year is real real long time to some of us!
 
> In Rochester NY, they HAD an all 80's station a few years
> back.
> Today, they still have BUZZ fm,(70's and 80's radio) and
> Fickle,(random radio) and they're even owned by the same
> people!(Entercom)
> That's the closest I could find to a Jack/Bob/Joe like
> station, and an 80's station in the same market.
>
In Chicago, people would have most likely embraced Jack if it had been put on WCKG, but since choosing heritage WJMK, it doesn't sound like Jack will last in Chicago. By dumping Oldies for Jack, they got rid of their listener base for oldies and the new base might not embrace Jack. Also with Stern going to Sirius at the 1st of next year, Infinity Broadcasting Chicago might have 2 stations not doing well because it's Stern that's helping WCKG billing wise, and that'll be gone once his show moves to Sirius. Only the Chicago Arbitron book will tell if Jack is a success or not. The p2's will still show for oldies, and the final rating won't likely drop much for Spring 2005. That's why I say it'll be the summer book that'll determine if Jack is a success or not in Chicago. If Jack doesn't show in the Chicago books, then that's just as bad as Nine FM, which hasn't shown up in a year on WRZA, and only 9 month (not sure about time frame) on WKIE and WDEK. But worse if a city stick doesn't show up in the books.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by dave73 on 06/13/05 03:50 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> According to radio-locator.com, there are only six 80s
> stations in the U.S.(Jacksonville, Birmingham, Houston,
> Tampa/St. Petersburg, Yuba City, Dayton). I looked at the
> stations in those markets and you are correct in that there
> are no 80s and variety hits stations that exist in the same
> market.
>

The Yuba City 80s station (KXCL "Flash 103.9") and Placerville's Bob FM (KBDB) are both rimshots into the Sacramento market. First Broadcasting owns them both.

KXCL is also the only remaining 80s station not owned by Cox.
 
Re: Thanks, that's intresting feedback about Lubbock!

> Good point, hadn't thought of the K-JAK angle. But 92.7 will never change
> formats unless they sell. It's owned by a ministry I believe.

Agreed; I don't expect K-Jak to change, barring a sale. A 100kw station like that would be quite valuable, but religious stations can pull all sorts of cash from brokered time from churches, religious groups, etc. But short of some agreement being reached (and a name change/call letter swap), it would preclude JACK-FM from entering the market, much like WBOB in Cincinnati prevented the Bob FM trimulcast (WOXY et al).

> Will have to wait and see on Mix100 . I don't see them fliping. They may be
> waiting out the future of Z102. If Z102 goes, Mix might become the CHR (IMHO)

KMMX has been trending up 12+ the past three books. I doubt NextMedia will do anything there unless it takes some sort of nose-dive this book.

> That's the hardiest part of living in a market like Lubbock.
> If you're stuck with bad radio or without a big city format,
> you have to wait a year or two for any changes. And a year
> is real real long time to some of us!

Two book a year markets are tough in general. I could tell you some nightmare stories about frustration out of Ft. Myers about that, but it'd be out of place for this forum. But with WW1's SAM Radio now available from the bird, it's possible for radio station owners to put Variety Hits on the air on the cheap (without needing an MD who can program the complicated VH format well).<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
> We're still Jack-less (or any clone) in Northeast Ohio, and
> Cleveland is a top 30 market.
>
> -OA

Well, the only station where you could be Jacked in Cleveland is Clear Channel's 100.7 WMMS (currently active rock). If 'MMS flips to adult hits (as Drew FM, I suppose, since Cleveland was where Drew Carey was born), then WONE-FM could convert into a mainstream rock station by adding more currents from the mainstream rock charts (even hard-edged content, such as metal). Believe me, if 'MMS flips, this could leave alternative WXTM as the only current-based rock station in Cleveland.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by PassDutch on 06/13/05 08:36 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Thanks, that's intresting feedback about Lubbock!

> But with WW1's SAM Radio now available from the bird, it's
> possible for radio station owners to put Variety Hits on the
> air on the cheap (without needing an MD who can program the
> complicated VH format well).
>

I wouldn't be suprised to see Mix100's siser station Rock101 do that. (The NextMedia stations in Lubbock were sold to Wilks communications a couple weeks ago, and word is, Wilks is already in the building). The thing about 101.1 is, they've done satellite radio before (As the Oasis 101.1, using WWI's AC format), and seeing as how they are already classic rock (and probably taking a beating from KFMX), I wouldn't be surprised if Sam shows up at KONE 101.1 some time.
 
Re: Thanks, that's intresting feedback about Lubbock!

> I wouldn't be suprised to see Mix100's siser station Rock101
> do that. (The NextMedia stations in Lubbock were sold to
> Wilks communications a couple weeks ago, and word is, Wilks
> is already in the building). The thing about 101.1 is,
> they've done satellite radio before (As the Oasis 101.1,
> using WWI's AC format), and seeing as how they are already
> classic rock (and probably taking a beating from KFMX), I
> wouldn't be surprised if Sam shows up at KONE 101.1 some
> time.

I received a tip that NextMedia's WKOO flipped from WW1 Oldies to WW1 Variety Hits as SAM 105.3 this morning. If NextMedia is willing to try it in one market, maybe it'll also be willing to try it elsewhere.<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
> In Chicago, people would have most likely embraced Jack if
> it had been put on WCKG, but since choosing heritage WJMK,
> it doesn't sound like Jack will last in Chicago. By dumping
> Oldies for Jack, they got rid of their listener base for
> oldies and the new base might not embrace Jack. Also with
> Stern going to Sirius at the 1st of next year, Infinity
> Broadcasting Chicago might have 2 stations not doing well
> because it's Stern that's helping WCKG billing wise, and
> that'll be gone once his show moves to Sirius. Only the
> Chicago Arbitron book will tell if Jack is a success or not.
> The p2's will still show for oldies, and the final rating
> won't likely drop much for Spring 2005. That's why I say
> it'll be the summer book that'll determine if Jack is a
> success or not in Chicago. If Jack doesn't show in the
> Chicago books, then that's just as bad as Nine FM, which
> hasn't shown up in a year on WRZA, and only 9 month (not
> sure about time frame) on WKIE and WDEK. But worse if a
> city stick doesn't show up in the books.

I think that there's consensus all around that Jack should have gone on WCKG. But about 104.3 Jack-FM not rating got me thinking: Has a full-market signal ever gotten a 0.0 share in the ratings?

Regarding the oldies, Clear Channel must be rejoicing that they did not flip 1690 to Air America, as was being speculated (and even by All Access!).
 
Chicago

Please keep WRLL in perspective, Justin. Unfortunately for the Oldies format, it's not like 1690 is all of a sudden a player in Chicago just because WJMK flipped. 'Real Oldies' hasn't worked anywhere yet and isn't likely to be viewed as a replacement for REAL Oldies stations (which are not the same as the really old Oldies stations given the 'Real Oldies' title).
>
> Regarding the oldies, Clear Channel must be rejoicing that
> they did not flip 1690 to Air America, as was being
> speculated (and even by All Access!).
>
 
Re: Chicago

> Please keep WRLL in perspective, Justin. Unfortunately for
> the Oldies format, it's not like 1690 is all of a sudden a
> player in Chicago just because WJMK flipped. 'Real Oldies'
> hasn't worked anywhere yet and isn't likely to be viewed as
> a replacement for REAL Oldies stations (which are not the
> same as the really old Oldies stations given the 'Real
> Oldies' title).
> >
> > Regarding the oldies, Clear Channel must be rejoicing that
>
> > they did not flip 1690 to Air America, as was being
> > speculated (and even by All Access!).
> >
>
Also 1690 has poor coverage of the market at sunset, so WRLL won't gain much ratings wise.
 
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