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Journal Broadcast Group buys Khits and BOB

Actually, the BOB to KFAQ simulcast makes sense.

Cox didn't just simulcast KRMG on FM to fill in holes in it's AM signal, it did so to create a "band barrier" between itself and KFAQ.

Now people listening to KRMG on FM have to switch bands to cross-cume between KRMG and KFAQ. They also don't have to switch bands when cross-cuming between KRMG and KMOD, K-95, MIX, etc. It's been well-established by the many AM talkers now simulcasting on FM in other markets that doing so gives them a big advantage over their AM competitors.

Whether Journal beats KRMG or not is irrelevant (although they actually have, in the past). For years, they've been competitive with KRMG, and have made a profit doing so. KRMG changed the game by simulcasting KRMG on FM, it's well within the realm of possibility that Journal would respond by picking up a an underperforming FM to do the same. KFAQ has long been a profit center for them, and it would make good business sense to adapt to changes in the marketplace to protect, and hopefully grow that.

I know I'm excited at the prospect of not having to switch bands to get not one, but two full doses of unconstitutional brainwashing from the Republican Talk Radio Propaganda Machine!
 
pokerface said:
Actually, the BOB to KFAQ simulcast makes sense.

Cox didn't just simulcast KRMG on FM to fill in holes in it's AM signal, it did so to create a "band barrier" between itself and KFAQ.

Now people listening to KRMG on FM have to switch bands to cross-cume between KRMG and KFAQ. They also don't have to switch bands when cross-cuming between KRMG and KMOD, K-95, MIX, etc. It's been well-established by the many AM talkers now simulcasting on FM in other markets that doing so gives them a big advantage over their AM competitors.

Whether Journal beats KRMG or not is irrelevant (although they actually have, in the past). For years, they've been competitive with KRMG, and have made a profit doing so. KRMG changed the game by simulcasting KRMG on FM, it's well within the realm of possibility that Journal would respond by picking up a an underperforming FM to do the same. KFAQ has long been a profit center for them, and it would make good business sense to adapt to changes in the marketplace to protect, and hopefully grow that.

I know I'm excited at the prospect of not having to switch bands to get not one, but two full doses of unconstitutional brainwashing from the Republican Talk Radio Propaganda Machine!
Click to expand...

I didn't say Cox added an FM for KRMG just to fill signal limitations. I said it was a big reason...and it was.

To say KFAQ is "competitive" with KRMG is somewhat laughable. There have been times where KFAQ has been competitive with KRMG, but there have been many more times where the numbers just haven't been there for 1170. Really, they haven't been close to KRMG since Del Giorno moved to Nashville. Lately, they've been MILES away from KRMG.

Most, if not all of the stations NightAire mentioned that are now simulcasting an FM are #1 in their format in their market. This wouldn't be the case with KFAQ.

Also, Journal isn't simulcasting a news/talk on AM and FM in any other market they service. Why would they do it in Tulsa? Right now, they're filling a hole with KFAQ. A very small hole. Why take 92.9 and do anything other than try to improve it? Is there any significant reason to believe that simulcasting KFAQ (who virtually NO ONE listens to) will bring higher numbers than they're pulling with BOB FM?

The folks at Journal aren't stupid enough to do this, is what I'm saying. Unless it is an experiment (which will fail miserably).
 
ionosphere said:
I didn't say Cox added an FM for KRMG just to fill signal limitations. I said it was a big reason...and it was.

To say KFAQ is "competitive" with KRMG is somewhat laughable. There have been times where KFAQ has been competitive with KRMG, but there have been many more times where the numbers just haven't been there for 1170. Really, they haven't been close to KRMG since Del Giorno moved to Nashville. Lately, they've been MILES away from KRMG.

Most, if not all of the stations NightAire mentioned that are now simulcasting an FM are #1 in their format in their market. This wouldn't be the case with KFAQ.

Also, Journal isn't simulcasting a news/talk on AM and FM in any other market they service. Why would they do it in Tulsa? Right now, they're filling a hole with KFAQ. A very small hole. Why take 92.9 and do anything other than try to improve it? Is there any significant reason to believe that simulcasting KFAQ (who virtually NO ONE listens to) will bring higher numbers than they're pulling with BOB FM?

The folks at Journal aren't stupid enough to do this, is what I'm saying. Unless it is an experiment (which will fail miserably).
Click to expand...

Ummm .... yeah

When you've #1 or #2 in a market for 20+ years, generating MASSIVE profits, filling in a few signal holes in some of the the least desirable zip codes in the market is not a prime motivator to take a full-market FM signal out of the marketplace. Trust me, those signal limitations haven't hurt KRMG one bit.

Second, people don't own radio stations to get ratings. They own radio stations to turn a profit. Ratings are simply a tool they use to achieve that.

Journal has consistently posted profits with KFAQ. As is the case in most markets, when a radio station is at the top of the market, their rates reflect that. A station at the top of the ratings will also likely have a very good sales department, whose efforts, when coupled with those great ratings, will create inventory pressures which drive CPP past what many advertisers and agencies will pay, regardless of market position. There are always plenty of advertising dollars available for solid 2nd-tier radio radio stations, that, while not having ratings as strong as the market leader, can demonstrate that they can deliver an audience at a good CPP. A good operator can turn that into a profit all day long.

I don't know whether BOB is turning a profit, or not. If it's not, then it is entirely within the realm of possibility that Journal would follow the trend happening all over the country of AM talkers simulcasting on FM. It's only going to become more common. As PUR continues to drop, more and more multi-station operators will do this. In all the time it's been happening, how many FM simulcasts of AM talkers have been dropped, with the FM going back to originating it's own programming?
 
I can't say on whether those stations are #1 in their markets... and I agree that if Journal hasn't done it in other markets, it makes it less likely here.

6+, Bob has been dancing above KFAQ but no higher... occasionally their ratings have been surprisingly close... and I would assume KFAQ would get at least SLIGHTLY higher-than-current ratings on FM, if just because they'd be more visible, and in two places... and the demo should go younger, which is better for getting advertisers.

You've made me question it; it'll be interesting to see. I've thought KFAQ is a station on life support... why they don't kill it off (other than not having a better idea for a 50 kw clear-channel) is beyond me. Pokerface, you obviously believe it to be making money... if so, that amazes me... but more power to 'em. All the more reason to add an FM.
 
Journal does news/talk on FM in Springfield, MO with KSGF. I'm not aware of them doing it anywhere else, but it seems to be working well in the Ozarks.

The big reason talkers are moving to FM is to get younger. At least a third of the 25-54 audience simply doesn't tune to AM.
 
NightAire said:
I can't say on whether those stations are #1 in their markets... and I agree that if Journal hasn't done it in other markets, it makes it less likely here.

6+, Bob has been dancing above KFAQ but no higher... occasionally their ratings have been surprisingly close... and I would assume KFAQ would get at least SLIGHTLY higher-than-current ratings on FM, if just because they'd be more visible, and in two places... and the demo should go younger, which is better for getting advertisers.

You've made me question it; it'll be interesting to see. I've thought KFAQ is a station on life support... why they don't kill it off (other than not having a better idea for a 50 kw clear-channel) is beyond me. Pokerface, you obviously believe it to be making money... if so, that amazes me... but more power to 'em. All the more reason to add an FM.
Click to expand...

In the words of that great philanthropist, Kevin O'leary; "Life is hard, money doesn't care, your tears don't add value."
 
pokerface said:
Ummm .... yeah

When you've #1 or #2 in a market for 20+ years, generating MASSIVE profits, filling in a few signal holes in some of the the least desirable zip codes in the market is not a prime motivator to take a full-market FM signal out of the marketplace. Trust me, those signal limitations haven't hurt KRMG one bit.
Click to expand...

Bartlesville and the rapidly growing areas of population between B'Ville and the northern Tulsa suburbs aren't desirable? Interesting.And if you don't think the signal issues north of Tulsa were a big reason, you are either misinformed or in denial.

pokerface said:
Second, people don't own radio stations to get ratings. They own radio stations to turn a profit. Ratings are simply a tool they use to achieve that.
Click to expand...

Exactly....

pokerface said:
Journal has consistently posted profits with KFAQ. As is the case in most markets, when a radio station is at the top of the market, their rates reflect that. A station at the top of the ratings will also likely have a very good sales department, whose efforts, when coupled with those great ratings, will create inventory pressures which drive CPP past what many advertisers and agencies will pay, regardless of market position. There are always plenty of advertising dollars available for solid 2nd-tier radio radio stations, that, while not having ratings as strong as the market leader, can demonstrate that they can deliver an audience at a good CPP. A good operator can turn that into a profit all day long.
Click to expand...

I'm a believer that KFAQ's advertising dollars are more of a product of their reach. But...sales has never been my area of experience.

pokerface said:
I don't know whether BOB is turning a profit, or not. If it's not, then it is entirely within the realm of possibility that Journal would follow the trend happening all over the country of AM talkers simulcasting on FM. It's only going to become more common. As PUR continues to drop, more and more multi-station operators will do this. In all the time it's been happening, how many FM simulcasts of AM talkers have been dropped, with the FM going back to originating it's own programming?
Click to expand...

I think the bigger question is how many markets have multiple AM talkers simulcasting on FM? I'm sure there are some...any of Tulsa's size? I tend to think that, for the most part, FM simulcasting happens because of the success of the AM counterpart.
 
Kent said:
The big reason talkers are moving to FM is to get younger. At least a third of the 25-54 audience simply doesn't tune to AM.
Click to expand...

Oh, I completely agree. I just don't agree with the thinking that Journal would simulcast their horribly under-performing AM talker on what is probably their best FM signal in this market.
 
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