KCBS ON FM? CBS HAS GOT TO BE KIDDING?

[BossRadioDJ]

It would not be an Oldies station.
Those who know me could guess the components.
But I've gotta check the matresses for the cash first.

Tripton ... how many mattresses have you got? :

I'm gonna go rent a fedora and come begging to everyone soon to help raise a few bucks for a local radio museum. (Maybe you've heard about it? If not, I'm gonna rent some pots and pans to bang on, too.)

Don't invest in radio stations. Invest in radio museums. It's actually a growth industry these days, and the returns are pretty substantial.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

...And one more thing:

Has anybody answered the musical question as to how many format changes the previous proprietor of the 106.9 frequency went through before giving up and selling out to CBS?

Harold Camping and his little operation must have really struggled along at that dial position for thirty years before The Big Eye came along to show 'em how it's done, right?

 

[davideduardo]

You know that 12+ is the equivalent of the "tallest midget"...sure your #1, buy no one cares because they look for folk over 6 feet. So David, KGO did take a hit in the crucial, most important demo.

I don't think so.

KGO had a 5.2 12+ in Spring, and a 2.7 in 25-54. In the October PPM, they had a 6.9 in 12+ and a 3.1 in 25-54. However, I think the reasl issue is that PPM shows non-coms in every table, vs. the "hidden in Maximiser" diary displ,ay. And KQED has a 4.6 in 25-54, and it is FM:

 

[samizdat]

CBS is lazy, though not as lazy as people under the age of 35 who wouldn't know where the AM dial is on their radio.

So it's lazy to pay attention to reality?

Do a little seat-of-the-pants research, people: round up a hundred folks under age 35 and ask them if they can receive AM radio. A significant number will say "no" (though they all have cars with perfectly adequate AM receivers).

Then, go shop for personal music players. Many of them come with a digital player AND an FM radio. Few, if any, receive AM.

Conclusion: if you have a heritage AM giant like KCBS, you'd better find a way to get it on FM.

"Lazy" would be sitting back, a la Citadel, and hoping the past carries you into the future. Whether the "KCBS on FM" move is a big success for CBS or not, it is far from a "lazy" act.

 

[DavidKaye]

Harold Camping and his little operation must have really struggled along at that dial position for thirty years before The Big Eye came along to show 'em how it's done, right?

Can't compare. KEAR 106.9 was merely a relay for the 24/7 Family Radio network. Prior to that, 106.9 had a tough time making money. They did jazz, showtunes, MOR, "underground" as the original KMPX, and finally big bands.

 

[DavidKaye]

If CBS is making money why do they change formats every 8 months?

They stay there are no stupid questions. Wrong. That's a stupid question. The majority of CBS radio stations do not change formats every 8 months. For instance, KCBS has been news since 1968. The adjusted their format about 15 years ago to eliminate the long-form programs and make it all-news. But that's been it.

CBS is making money. As I said, they have declared a dividend for the next quarter. Name another major owner that is doing that.

 

[LKellerIII]

If CBS is making money why do they change formats every 8 months?

They stay there are no stupid questions. Wrong. That's a stupid question. The majority of CBS radio stations do not change formats every 8 months. For instance, KCBS has been news since 1968. The adjusted their format about 15 years ago to eliminate the long-form programs and make it all-news. But that's been it.

Though not as long lived as All News on KCBS, it's true of most of their other stations, too.With the exception of 106.9, of course. KLLC has had the same basic format since at least the mid 90s, and KITS' format hasn't changed since before CBS bought the station.

If anything, people have wondered on this board why CBS lets stations like Alice and Live 105 go on year after year with the same format and what appear to be low (12+) ratings.

I guess the answer is that these two stations are reaching the desired demographic, and making money.

 

[airpab]

Lkeller- You've got it. Ratings don't necessarily mean money-loser or money-maker for that matter.

Many low-rated stations bill like crazy for many reasons...They hit their demo, great sales people, long standing in the market, etc.

DE can explain this way better than I can!

 

[ContactLenz]

Hello!

That was my point with KGO and KCBS...12+ doesn't mean squat...it is winning your target demo, and more accurately being able to sell your brand to your key demo...

 

[tripton99]

Maybe Neilsen will allow for the media to use the more relevant demographic (25-54) in its general release of data when it debuts its competitive radio ratings data. Arbitron will only allow 12+ rating information to be disseminated. The more important figures are tightly controlled and even this board is not supposed to quote Arbitron numbers directly or specifically.
For decades our only reference has been 12+, so it is understandable that such numbers are the popular quote. And it's tru the agencies want much more specific breakouts.

 

[davideduardo]

Maybe Neilsen will allow for the media to use the more relevant demographic (25-54) in its general release of data when it debuts its competitive radio ratings data. Arbitron will only allow 12+ rating information to be disseminated. The more important figures are tightly controlled and even this board is not supposed to quote Arbitron numbers directly or specifically.
For decades our only reference has been 12+, so it is understandable that such numbers are the popular quote. And it's tru the agencies want much more specific breakouts.

The reason Arbitron... and the ratings companies that have come and gone before... release 12+ is that the numbers are valueless for sales, while the more specific demos are most valuable.. You get the valueable things by paying for them... not for free. I don't think any ratings company, particularly Neilsen, will give away data so non subscribers can use it.

 

[davideduardo]

Maybe Neilsen will allow for the media to use the more relevant demographic (25-54) in its general release of data when it debuts its competitive radio ratings data. Arbitron will only allow 12+ rating information to be disseminated. The more important figures are tightly controlled and even this board is not supposed to quote Arbitron numbers directly or specifically.
For decades our only reference has been 12+, so it is understandable that such numbers are the popular quote. And it's tru the agencies want much more specific breakouts.

The reason Arbitron... and the ratings companies that have come and gone before... release 12+ is that the numbers are valueless for sales, while the more specific demos are most valuable.. You get the valueable things by paying for them... not for free. I don't think any ratings company, particularly Neilsen, will give away data so non subscribers can use it.

Of course, how badly do you want to see 25-54 for Dubuque, anyway?

 

[DavidKaye]

Maybe Neilsen will allow for the media to use the more relevant demographic (25-54) in its general release of data when it debuts its competitive radio ratings data. Arbitron will only allow 12+ rating information to be disseminated.

Why would they allow the media to publish the only data that they can sell? The reason 12+ (and now 6+) is published is because it is useless.

 

[tripton99]

I agree it's useless, but it gets used.
I'm on the same page with y'all. I was just 'splainin' why 12+ is the usual quote. As I understand it, even the media has restrictions on its use of 12+ .

 

[djtalker]

Because the Agencies subscribe to the book so they can control the station buys and to force more stations to subscribe. They pay a lot less then the radio subscribers!

 

[RadioStarOne]

If CBS is so HOT why is their stock price down to $4.57 in after hours trading?

 

[LKellerIII]

If CBS is so HOT why is their stock price down to $4.57 in after hours trading?

Possibly because that the economy has gotten so bad, and investors are so frigtened and bearish, that they are selling stocks for cash, and even great corporations with good revenue and low debt are seeing their stocks tank.

This would be especially true of corporation that could be expected to lose revenue as the economy worsens...like a corporation that depends on adverstising revenue, for instance.

 

[davideduardo]

Because the Agencies subscribe to the book so they can control the station buys and to force more stations to subscribe. They pay a lot less then the radio subscribers!

Agencies that are subscribed get the numbers no matter what stations are buying the service. Stations buy the ratings so they can use the data to sell with; agencies, otherwise, will not have the "benefit" of station input nor will they have datas on which to base pricing.

 

[DavidKaye]

I agree it's useless, but it gets used.

It gets used but only places like here and in magazines and on web pages where publishers can pretend to offer something useful. Yeah, I guess it's nice to be #1 or #2 or something. But it gives a false impression to the reader because it makes programming decisions look stupid. ("Why would that station change its format when it was #6?")

 

[DavidKaye]

If CBS is so HOT why is their stock price down to $4.57 in after hours trading?

It's the general trend in the stock market. Now would be the time to buy CBS stock (full disclosure: I currently own some, so this is self-serving, though I think I'm making an accurate appraisal). At the current price, the rate of return on investment will be over 17% per annum when the first quarterly dividend is given in January.

Unfortunately their longterm debt was shifted onto their current books giving the impression that they're now unprofitable, but as far as I know they're on track to pay their debt and even if they suffer the 15% loss in revenue that is predicted across the broadcasting sector, they will still be profitable for the near future.