K-Rock's ship still doomed to sink with O&A on board

[Brooklyndon]

O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.

When will CBS uinderstand the meatheads/frat boys listen to hot 97, and the sophiticates listen to rock, but it wont be k-rock, because its imagining itself for college dropouts who have no dispoable income.

 

[Walter Graff]

I couldn't agree with you more. K-Rock will hemorrhage to death. O&A will not garnish any more ratings than the paltry ratings they already have. The problem is there is no way to go. Most all radio is still programmed for songs made twenty to thirty years ago with a sprinkling of a few of what is out there today that isn't necessarily worthy of radio. There are few too new options in radio these days and as a method of entertainment, it is dying overall. Hence why pay services like satellite which offer many selections in tight niches for many tastes have grown so fast. You can't have supply and demand when there is no supply; music is in some of the worst places it's been in forty years. Rap is dead, hip hop is a cliche and rock is thirty years old. K-rock to me is a euphemism for a tombstone. Watch for CBS to dump radio completely. They are already looking for a buyer.

 

[kevinsealy]

Qoute from Brooklyndon,

>>>O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.<<<

You are already forcasting the death of this station which has just been reborn and don't even have a DJ lineup yet.

Although the may not have the same ratings success they had during the Stern days, it will be an improvement from Free-FM.


Thanks,
Kevin L.Sealy

 

[winreader]

Qoute from Brooklyndon,

>>>O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.<<<

You are already forcasting the death of this station which has just been reborn and don't even have a DJ lineup yet.

Although the may not have the same ratings success they had during the Stern days, it will be an improvement from Free-FM.


Thanks,
Kevin L.Sealy

Short term, yes. Long term...CBS should get out of radio.

K-Rock's numbers when Stern was there, were consistently in the low 2s. That's with a top morning show.

O&A? Terrible numbers. 10a-7p will outperform the morning show this go round. O&A don't have have the chops to do mornings much less carry a station forward. The only thing that keeps them going is the fact that CBS has another 2 years left to pay them, has already eaten millions in contracts, (Imus, JV and Elvis, Leslie Gold) and can't find or sign anyone else.

Let's be honest. If you've listened to O&A of late, their reputation is way better than the actual show which is unprepared, irrelevant, unfunny, whiny, and narrow. Daily topics are limited to...what their comedian friends are doing, what the staff is doing, how badly they are treated, a couple of weird news stories that few care about.

What is the target audience for that show? Besides the handful of pests that show up on 57th Street occasionally and at their appearances, there really isn't one. A once promising show doomed because the immature hosts insist on repeating the same mistakes over and over instead of re-inventing with the times.

 

[Brooklyndon]

Qoute from Brooklyndon,

>>>O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.<<<

You are already forcasting the death of this station which has just been reborn and don't even have a DJ lineup yet.

Although the may not have the same ratings success they had during the Stern days, it will be an improvement from Free-FM.


Thanks,
Kevin L.Sealy

Its like they are building a new house on a foundation of mud brick. Its bound to repeat itself.

 

[DToTheJ]

O&A don't have have the chops to ... carry a station forward.

On the contrary: They did fairly well in boosting WNEW's ratings and revenue in the late 90's/early 00's. The station was actually starting to show some traction in the 12+. Who knows where the station might stand if "Sex for Sam" never happened.

 

[Insideradio]

I'm still a believer that people want to be entertained in the morning. Tell me a better morning show that caters to men? O&A do a very good job. Yeah, they push the envelope. But contrary to an earlier post, I think they ARE relevent, topical, and VERY entertaining.

And with Arbitron, who knows who's listening and who isn't? Yes it's the only barometer to measure listening habits right now but it's antiquated. It's a piece of paper! In this day and age who has time to fill out every station you listen to for a week? NO ONE! And for all we know, the diary could be for the man of the house, age 18-34, but his wife fills it out. So accuracy is questionable at best.

Bottom line is I think more people are listening to Opie and Anthony than the diaries indicate. The people who are THAT gung ho about hearing more music and less talk in the mornings probably already have Ipods and burned CD's anyway...

 

[neo11]

Qoute from Brooklyndon,

>>>O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.<<<

You are already forcasting the death of this station which has just been reborn and don't even have a DJ lineup yet.

Although the may not have the same ratings success they had during the Stern days, it will be an improvement from Free-FM.


Thanks,
Kevin L.Sealy

Short term, yes. Long term...CBS should get out of radio.

K-Rock's numbers when Stern was there, were consistently in the low 2s. That's with a top morning show.

O&A? Terrible numbers. 10a-7p will outperform the morning show this go round. O&A don't have have the chops to do mornings much less carry a station forward. The only thing that keeps them going is the fact that CBS has another 2 years left to pay them, has already eaten millions in contracts, (Imus, JV and Elvis, Leslie Gold) and can't find or sign anyone else.

Let's be honest. If you've listened to O&A of late, their reputation is way better than the actual show which is unprepared, irrelevant, unfunny, whiny, and narrow. Daily topics are limited to...what their comedian friends are doing, what the staff is doing, how badly they are treated, a couple of weird news stories that few care about.

What is the target audience for that show? Besides the handful of pests that show up on 57th Street occasionally and at their appearances, there really isn't one. A once promising show doomed because the immature hosts insist on repeating the same mistakes over and over instead of re-inventing with the times.

For what it's worth, K-Rock's numbers with Stern were in the 3's, and WXRK often broke the top 10 12+ (meaningless, but still). Most of that was obviously due to Stern. At the same time though, the station does serve a very underserved niche and I just don't see it getting low 1's like Free FM. Time will tell.

 

[Garrett]

O&A who have no ratings in Boston, which is basically the same format as the new K-Rock. Why are they keeping these two fools as their anchor. Why are they imaging around them? K-Rock is doomed to failure with this crap on.

When will CBS uinderstand the meatheads/frat boys listen to hot 97, and the sophiticates listen to rock, but it wont be k-rock, because its imagining itself for college dropouts who have no dispoable income.

When The King walked away from CBS, he abdicated his thrown. By acknowledging O & A by fighting them in the media, he crown them as the New Royal Couple of the Media.

All hail the new Kings of Media.

 

[Brooklyndon]

I'm still a believer that people want to be entertained in the morning.

Nice Pitch, everyone's an idealist, plays to my emotions. Okay I'm listening.

Tell me a better morning show that caters to men?

Stern did, but he's gone now. I know that DJ Star was big with the kids as well. I guess O&A are the only game in town. Okay, I'm still listening.

O&A do a very good job. Yeah, they push the envelope.

Okay, O&A do a good job, but can you quantify that statement? Because when the reccession comes and all our revenue is tied up in advertizing contracts, I want to be able to throw hard numbers at my boss or its me who's getting cost cut. And push the envelope? Last thing I want is all the black people in america to boycott my beer, soda, brand of condoms, movie, or restaurant chain because my ad-dollars support these "envelope pushers". I'll let you finish your pitch, but I'm starting to get scared.

But contrary to an earlier post, I think they ARE relevent, topical, and VERY entertaining.

Hmm, I'll have to listen sometime. I usually have WABC on for the traffic.

And with Arbitron, who knows who's listening and who isn't? Yes it's the only barometer to measure listening habits right now but it's antiquated. It's a piece of paper! In this day and age who has time to fill out every station you listen to for a week? NO ONE! And for all we know, the diary could be for the man of the house, age 18-34, but his wife fills it out. So accuracy is questionable at best.

So by that logic, even fewer people could be listening to this show than arbitron shows. I know I don't listen to them, I'm a marketing exec, remember, I listen to WABC for traffic report in the morning.

This whole O&A thing is starting to scare me, with no numbers, all I do is open myself up to risk of loss of my job.

Bottom line is I think more people are listening to Opie and Anthony than the diaries indicate. The people who are THAT gung ho about hearing more music and less talk in the mornings probably already have Ipods and burned CD's anyway...

If you know so much about listener habits, then why are you selling add spaces and not doing marketing? Funny thing about those IPODS though, how can my compony get our ads on there? Do you know of any network who release all music podcasts I can put my spots in?

 

[DToTheJ]

I guess O&A are the only game in town.

Precisely. There are morning shows out there that all appeal to different demos, and if you tune out the likes of Scott & Todd, Whoopi, Jim Kerr and Elvis Duran, you'll eventually come around to O&A.

 

[Brooklyndon]

I guess O&A are the only game in town.

Precisely. There are morning shows out there that all appeal to different demos, and if you tune out the likes of Scott & Todd, Whoopi, Jim Kerr and Elvis Duran, you'll eventually come around to O&A.

Yeah Id definitely check out what O&A have to offer after going through the above, plus Miss jones and Ed Lover. So for a seventh option, O&A are your go to guys.



Bottom line, CBS is stupid trying to go Lowest Common Denominator imaging on a rock station, wheh the Lowest Common Denominator is listenign to Hot 97. Anyone ever here the kids from Fresh Kills and Ronconkoma air it out on Funkmaster Flex's show (forget everyone in the Bronx)?

Rock is a niche product in New York City, mass market imaging will degrade the brand and put K-Rock in the same position it was in after Stern left.

If I could beat the execs at K-Rock over the head with one word it would be "sophistication, sophistication, sophistication, sophistication, sophistication...." Look, I'm as excited as the next guy to have rock back, but the novelty will wear off real soon, leaving K-Rock's balance sheet with a huge write-down in goodwill and an operating expense to match it.

 

[radiolover78]

I don't know if K-Rock is still doomed to sink with O+A around, but personally, I would like to see 92.3 FM start on a clean slate.

 

[feeball]

Watch for CBS to dump radio completely. They are already looking for a buyer.

With some of the moves made recently by CBS Radio, it is being run like a company who wants out of the business of radio. Having absolutely zero back-up plan for Howard Stern's departure, flipping well established formats in larger markets with a radio concept, and staying with that format entirely too long.

 

[DToTheJ]

With some of the moves made recently by CBS Radio, it is being run like a company who wants out of the business of radio. Having absolutely zero back-up plan for Howard Stern's departure...

Actually, they did have a backup plan for Stern's departure: Free-FM.

What they did lack is a Plan B for the abrupt departure of Mr. Imus...

 

[RadioStarOne]

They should put Imus back on its been a month, they should start by having him do a Imus comments on the top national news story of the day feature. Then in two weeks add a Imus comments on the top New York City story of the day. Then in another two weeks add a Imus comments on the top Sports story of the day. Then in another few weeks add a Imus comments on the top regional sports story of the day. By now I'm sure all you programming savy individuals get the picture. Its called the rehabilatation of Don Imus.

These features should run in morning and afternoon drive times so that the advertisers that support Imus and the ones that aren't quite ready to support him have time to get their feet wet so to speak. In time if enough of them come on board the decision can be made as to put Imus back on the air in the morning or afternoons on a full time basis again!

Interesting isn't it? This could be a great compromise between Imus CBS and all the legal suits involved in this mess. Not to mention CBS makes all the listeners that liked Imus in the morning happy at the same time CBS gets some revenue! Just an idea that popped into my mind that might end the legal hassels between Imus and the folks running the CBS Radio Company! Your idea's are welcome!

 

[feeball]

Free FM was the back-up plan for Stern's departure? To me Free FM seems more like a desperate plan that was hatched maybe six months before Howard was to leave than an iron clad back-up. Keep in mind, this is coming from a company that had made claims for years that hey had a plan in place for Stern's departure. That plan involved who? Mark and Brian, Mancow, Opie and Anthony, no! It involved David Lee Roth, Rover, and Adam Carolla. Two of which are completely out of the equation.

So yes CBS is being run like a company looking to get out of the business of radio.

 

[XCountry285]

Why don't they just start to slowly change over to strictly alternative rock music? they could have WRRV's Music All Morning Show on there. they do really well.

 

[StereoBrain]

Two of which are completely out of the equation.

Two out of the equation? Rover is still in syndication and so is Adam Carolla. Which two are you talking about?

 

[Walter Graff]

Free FM was the back-up plan for Stern's departure? To me Free FM seems more like a desperate plan that was hatched maybe six months before Howard was to leave than an iron clad back-up. Keep in mind, this is coming from a company that had made claims for years that hey had a plan in place for Stern's departure. That plan involved who? Mark and Brian, Mancow, Opie and Anthony, no! It involved David Lee Roth, Rover, and Adam Carolla. Two of which are completely out of the equation.

So yes CBS is being run like a company looking to get out of the business of radio.

It sounds to me like it was less about not planning and more about believing someone who said:

"Hey, let's not do what everyone else is doing. Let's go in a different direction. Let's take the next step in radio. What else is there to do with radio? Adam Carrolla is funny, David Lee Roth is a cool musician who has a mind and could be very interesting, O&A proved they can draw (well, a long time ago), etc. We could make a new and completely difernt type of talk radio. Let's draw some names we know with some names who never had the chance they deserve, and mix that with totally new types of talent. It's cool, and it's free. Hey, how about this; FREE-FM as in you have to pay for Howard, but our line-up (much more diverse) is free!!!"

And everyone sitting around the table said, wow, that sounds pretty cool!!

I think those at CBS really wanted to do something different with FREE FM since you can't be Howard Stern, but it simply didn't work. It's not CBS' decisions necessarily that have got them in trouble, it's radio in general which is dieing like the old tubes they used to use in radios. Everyone is either looking to reinvent what has been a success or try something that might help make radio something people want to listen to again. Let's face it, if it wasn't for folks having to use there car, radio would have died a long time ago. So while you have a prisoner in their car each morning and evening, you can try the only two options in radio; rehash what has work in the past, or try something completely different. I think CBS tried the latter, but it simply was wrong place, wrong time. And what do you do when "try something completely different" doesn't work? You switch to the only other option "rehash old radio" now called K-Rock. And when K-Rock fails again, they'll switch to "Try something new and different "again. And option three is sell radio and get out of it before you hemorrhage to death.