KBIG. Is the clock ticking down?

[KathyClningMyHseNYnkrs]

Radio 98-7 would be an evolution from the existing format.

WRFF is No. 1 18-34 in Philly and No. 5 25-54 after just four months on the air in a PPM world.

Basically, it's a very adult leaning Alternative - and would probably keep a lot of the existing cume that KYSR has now.

I am under the impression that KYSR's current desired demo is *women* 25 - 44, which is the demo of Fresh. I honestly think that 98.7 is heading towards Fresh, or Fresh under another name, and that Fresh 98.7 "would be an evolution from the existing format."

If I'm wrong, then I'll come back to this thread and admit it. But if I'm right, you heard it here first.

 

[only1moore]

it would be nice to hear Dance music on LA airwaves everytime dance music hits the airwaves it Doesn't have a good Signal i hope it ends on 104.3 or even add CHR/Dance

I agree. But if that happens, Emmis (and in particular KMVN) might try something to upstage them whether they go after the LGBT community or not with a Dance format.

 

[davideduardo]

Given the huge dropoff is billings @ KZLA for 2006 vs. 2005, I don't see how CC could launch a country station without spending a ton of money on the air personalities they hire.

Could a country station have even a shot at billing $30,000,000+?

Not with the 2.0to 2.2 share roof that the format has in LA.

 

[Hunter]

I honestly think that 98.7 is heading towards Fresh, or Fresh under another name, and that Fresh 98.7 "would be an evolution from the existing format."

If I'm wrong, then I'll come back to this thread and admit it. But if I'm right, you heard it here first.

They may call themselves "Fresh", but if they try to do the Fresh format as it's done in NY they will be competing too closely with their sister station KOST.

And speaking of borrowing monikers from another market....it annoys the crap out of me that with all the creative people in this industry, so many stations become sheep and can't come up with their own identity...especially when it's a generic name like "Fresh", or "Movin". It's not even so much that other stations use the same moniker, but that everyone flocks to it like it's the flavor of the week. Does anyone feel the same way?

 

[sfradio]

I say 98.7 will flip to radio 98.7

 

[Hunter]

It's not even so much that other stations use the same moniker, but that everyone flocks to it like it's the flavor of the week. Does anyone feel the same way?

Let me retract my question....It really belongs in it's own thread.

 

[Reggiefan1945]

Is calling yourself fresh really going to change how people veiw a station. Whomever came up with Fresh is brilliant, they are getting stations all of the country to pay to use their special word and magical formula! Give me a break! These companies have way too much time and way too much money on their hands. I have a special Ratings Rock and a listener mood ring I can sell them...I need to put my twins thru medical school.

K.I.S.S.

 

[davideduardo]

And speaking of borrowing monikers from another market....it annoys the crap out of me that with all the creative people in this industry, so many stations become sheep and can't come up with their own identity...especially when it's a generic name like "Fresh", or "Movin". It's not even so much that other stations use the same moniker, but that everyone flocks to it like it's the flavor of the week. Does anyone feel the same way?

The reason why names tend to be duplicated market after market is that in this age where a home internet station in Caribou, Maine, technically is broadcasting to the whole world, a name used by any station that is registered can be protected everywhere in the US. Let's say a station named "Asparagus 101" in Deadwood, SD registers the name for radio nationally, and streams, they can prevent any station anywhere from using the name... as cool and desirable as it might be.

This is why companies will register a name and use it all over... or buy the rights to one. Blame it on the internet, not on radio..

 

[leethalweapon]

And speaking of borrowing monikers from another market....it annoys the crap out of me that with all the creative people in this industry, so many stations become sheep and can't come up with their own identity...especially when it's a generic name like "Fresh", or "Movin". It's not even so much that other stations use the same moniker, but that everyone flocks to it like it's the flavor of the week. Does anyone feel the same way?

The reason why names tend to be duplicated market after market is that in this age where a home internet station in Caribou, Maine, technically is broadcasting to the whole world, a name used by any station that is registered can be protected everywhere in the US. Let's say a station named "Asparagus 101" in Deadwood, SD registers the name for radio nationally, and streams, they can prevent any station anywhere from using the name... as cool and desirable as it might be.

This is why companies will register a name and use it all over... or buy the rights to one. Blame it on the internet, not on radio..

I think it would also have a bit to do with branding your product. The KISS brand in the US is most likely associated to (in most cases) a CHR format. STAR is generally linked to some form of AC format. Here in Australia if you mention MMM you will have people talk about rock. Such is the power of the brand.

 

[Hunter]

The reason why names tend to be duplicated market after market is that in this age where a home internet station in Caribou, Maine, technically is broadcasting to the whole world, a name used by any station that is registered can be protected everywhere in the US. Let's say a station named "Asparagus 101" in Deadwood, SD registers the name for radio nationally, and streams, they can prevent any station anywhere from using the name... as cool and desirable as it might be.

This is why companies will register a name and use it all over... or buy the rights to one. Blame it on the internet, not on radio..

Actually isn't "Asparagus 101" licensed to Pluma SD? ;D

This practice started long before the internet became a significant marketing tool. In the early 90's for example, I worked at one of the numerous "Fox" monikered classic rock stations. Granted, eventually there were many other classic rock monikers, but for awhile it seemed that "Fox" for classic rock radio was as synonymous as McDonalds was for hamburgers.

Perhaps I don't understand your explination, but to me it sounds like you are suggesting that there aren't too many monikers left, since too many home internet stations in places like Caribou, Maine have registered all the monikers that anyone can think up.

Whatever KBIG, Star or any other CC station may become in the next few days, it will hopefully be something unique and new for the market infused with plenty of (pardon the use of the word) fresh creative ideas - even if they use the flavor of the day moniker.

 

[calguy]

Whatever KBIG, Star or any other CC station may become in the next few days, it will hopefully be something unique and new for the market infused with plenty of (pardon the use of the word) fresh creative ideas - even if they use the flavor of the day moniker.

It won't be unique. They'll just try to replicate the Fresh format. Being CC it'll be something like My104 or something like that. They've used that in many markets already. But who other than Michael Martin or KBIG's PD really knows, what they'll call it? It will compete with KOST, but CC won't care as long as it brings in the female demos. I believe David E calls it the wall of women or something like that. I think it will have very light, soft imaging and no jocks for at least a week or so. I think we'll know more on Monday.

 

[henry]

TAKE IT FROM ME....

YOU DO NOT WANT CLEAR CHANNEL FLIPPING ANY FORMATS in CC Los Angeles.

I've watched what they've done being a losing cluster in Salt Lake, and Clear Channel has reverse midas syndrome. They touch gold (that only needs polishing), and they end up turning it to rust.

KBIG survives because it has a history. Fresh 104.3 won't have a history. They'll spend less on programming and staff, which means it will sound worse. Mark my word, it'll be an AC version of Movin'.

 

[Hunter]

They touch gold (that only needs polishing), and they end up turning it to rust.

They've already done that to the radio industry.

 

[Hunter]

The problem with 98.7 is that it is nt a full market signal... if they want to go up against KROQ (Alternative is the winner in Houston) they need to use the KBIG facility.

If they are only concerned about competing with KROQ, this is true. However, in the big picture, if one signal is rock and the other is AC, the better signal should carry the AC insure best penetration through buildings and offices (downtown) and other work places. In addition, KROQ's signal is marginal to good. KYSR's is better.

 

[davideduardo]

If they are only concerned about competing with KROQ, this is true. However, in the big picture, if one signal is rock and the other is AC, the better signal should carry the AC insure best penetration through buildings and offices (downtown) and other work places. In addition, KROQ's signal is marginal to good. KYSR's is better.

Star is marginally better on a 70 dbu and 60dbu plot, but using a Langly Rice, KROQ's height advantages comes through. Overall, they are comparable. Considering that the big increases in PPM are modern / alternative in Houston, which has somewhat similar ethnicity to LA, my vote is that they do rock on KBIGs channel, than flip a coin on 92.3 and 98.7. With 3 ACs and much lower usage of radio by non-Hispanic white women compared to men, I can't see them continuing with three ACs for long.

 

[Hunter]

Star is marginally better on a 70 dbu and 60dbu plot, but using a Langly Rice, KROQ's height advantages comes through. Overall, they are comparable. Considering that the big increases in PPM are modern / alternative in Houston, which has somewhat similar ethnicity to LA, my vote is that they do rock on KBIGs channel, than flip a coin on 92.3 and 98.7. With 3 ACs and much lower usage of radio by non-Hispanic white women compared to men, I can't see them continuing with three ACs for long.

Indeed there are way too many AC's in the market, but Hot's numbers look better than Big's or Star's, plus they just added Kevin James, albeit overnight, so I don't think changes are happening to Hot this week...unless it involves a freq swap for some reason. CC does need a Hot AC to flank KOST...I believe 104.3 is the logical signal choice for the reasons I mentioned regarding in office listening.

98.7's signal can do fine against 106.7....KROQ's tweeky little 5KW may go a bit further, but 98.7's 75KW is still at a respectable height and actually offers a stronger signal in the areas where the majority of Alt/Active Rock P1's are likely to live and listen to an LA based station.

 

[Sgeirk]

I was always under the impression that Star had one of the best signals in the LA market for building penetration. Wrong?

 

[calguy]

TAKE IT FROM ME....

YOU DO NOT WANT CLEAR CHANNEL FLIPPING ANY FORMATS in CC Los Angeles.

I've watched what they've done being a losing cluster in Salt Lake, and Clear Channel has reverse midas syndrome. They touch gold (that only needs polishing), and they end up turning it to rust.

KBIG survives because it has a history. Fresh 104.3 won't have a history. They'll spend less on programming and staff, which means it will sound worse. Mark my word, it'll be an AC version of Movin'.

In many ways you're right. The stations that do well within the CC chain were good to begin with. KOST and WLTW come to mind, not to mention KIIS. These stations were winners before CC bought them and have continued because they not only live on their past reputation but have retained enough of the people that were there before to stay on top. KBIG has been an also-ran ever since it dropped Beautiful Music and has been subject to speculation about format changes for years now. It was a target that the new VP of Programming for the cluster could easily pick on and he has. But he's far from done. He'll change Star next and then try to put his stamp on all of the stations even if they don't need changes. After all, he has to justify his job, or he's out. Right now he's calling all the shots with KBIG. Their PD has little or no power now.

 

[Hunter]

I was always under the impression that Star had one of the best signals in the LA market for building penetration. Wrong?

With 75kw, 98.7 has a very strong signal. But KBIG also has 65kw on a taller mountain. Both signals are very strong, but height with a strong signal is better.

And to add to my previous post, not to flip flop, but if CC does do the "Radio" format that has been winning in Philly and not Active Rock, they would formatically be wedged between KROQ, and also be doing battle with Jack who has a monster signal. If this is the case, perhaps they would need 104.3's heft.

 

[davideduardo]

With 75kw, 98.7 has a very strong signal. But KBIG also has 65kw on a taller mountain. Both signals are very strong, but height with a strong signal is better.

KBIG puts a 70 dBu over 13.6 million, KYSR over only 10 million. KBIG is at three times the height of KYSR; were KYSR able to go up Mt. Wilson they would have to power down to around 3 to 4 kw, like 101.9 that was, if I recall, 78 kw on Flint, and went to 4.8 kw on Wilson, KBIG is vastly superior to KYSR and KROQ.

And to add to my previous post, not to flip flop, but if CC does do the "Radio" format that has been winning in Philly and not Active Rock, they would formatically be wedged between KROQ, and also be doing battle with Jack who has a monster signal. If this is the case, perhaps they would need 104.3's heft.

WBEB was #1 in the diary, too. The big gain in PPM in Houston is with Arrow and The Buzz, both forms of rock... KODA, the AC, got flat diary to PPM shares, while these two Clear Channel rockers shot up from out of the top ten to well inside the top 10. Philly has little comanlity with LA... Houston has great similarities, particularly in the Hispanic segment.... Philly has nearly no Hispanics.