KFRC / KKGN flipping in future?

[mikecroaro]

Hi Folks:

What are the chances of each of these flipping tpo something else? Both are at the bottom of the ratings. Standarts? Granted this format tends to fermorm poorly. But I have to beleive it would be more successfull that what each has right now. No need to promote; word of a new niche format tends to spread quickly. (Doesn't it?)

Mike

 

[michael hagerty]

Hi Folks:

What are the chances of each of these flipping tpo something else? Both are at the bottom of the ratings. Standarts? Granted this format tends to fermorm poorly. But I have to beleive it would be more successfull that what each has right now. No need to promote; word of a new niche format tends to spread quickly. (Doesn't it?)

Mike

The chances are 100%. They'll eventually both be something else. The problem is what. Getting a better number than you have now doesn't mean you sell advertising, and that's the problem with Standards. KFRC abandoned it almost 20 years ago because they couldn't get sufficient ad buys. It would only be worse now. Most likely would be an ethnic format. And yes, you have to promote. Fewer people than ever are talking about radio. Word of mouth won't begin to cut it.

 

[Madmansam]

Someone in the radio industry once told me that he would rather operate a low or no ratings (in the Arbs) sports station in a market with two other sports stations than be a high ratings (in the Top 5) adult standards station in a market with no other standards stations to compete with.

 

[DavidKaye]

Someone in the radio industry once told me that he would rather operate a low or no ratings (in the Arbs) sports station in a market with two other sports stations than be a high ratings (in the Top 5) adult standards station in a market with no other standards stations to compete with.

It comes right back to commercial radio being an advertiser-driven medium. A lot of advertisers don't like people over 45 because they pay less attention to advertising than other folks. Advertisers probably brought it upon themselves, actually, by saying false and misleading things. As people get older they wise up and realize that many/most advertisers are lying to them.

Some examples:

System Pavers gives the impression that the next X number of callers who phone will get a special deal, implying that if people don't call immediately, they won't get the same deal. We all know that this is BS.

European Sleep Works gives the impression that sleeping on synthetic materials is harmful to health. Believe me, if it were so harmful there'd be lawsuits flying everywhere.

The Boston Medical Group gives the impression that they are tied to some college in Boston. They're not connected to anything in Boston, but one of the founders said that "Boston" sounded better than Costa Mesa, where they're headquartered.

C. Crane Company talks about listening to news on shortwave when promoting their radios. International broadcasters have been shutting down their shortwave stations en masse the past 10 years. I don't think even the BBC has any broadcasts on SW aimed to the U.S.

It goes on and on. Some claims are exaggerations. Others are outright lies, such as the radio spot for the remedy "invented by a teacher" that claimed to get rid of colds. Finally, the FTC shut them down.

So, after a few decades of being misled and lied to, people learn that they can't trust advertising.

 

[LKellerIII]

Someone in the radio industry once told me that he would rather operate a low or no ratings (in the Arbs) sports station in a market with two other sports stations than be a high ratings (in the Top 5) adult standards station in a market with no other standards stations to compete with.

As people get older they wise up and realize that many/most advertisers are lying to them.

Some examples:

System Pavers gives the impression that the next X number of callers who phone will get a special deal, implying that if people don't call immediately, they won't get the same deal. We all know that this is BS.

European Sleep Works gives the impression that sleeping on synthetic materials is harmful to health. Believe me, if it were so harmful there'd be lawsuits flying everywhere.

The Boston Medical Group gives the impression that they are tied to some college in Boston. They're not connected to anything in Boston, but one of the founders said that "Boston" sounded better than Costa Mesa, where they're headquartered.

C. Crane Company talks about listening to news on shortwave when promoting their radios. International broadcasters have been shutting down their shortwave stations en masse the past 10 years. I don't think even the BBC has any broadcasts on SW aimed to the U.S.

It goes on and on. Some claims are exaggerations. Others are outright lies, such as the radio spot for the remedy "invented by a teacher" that claimed to get rid of colds. Finally, the FTC shut them down.

So, after a few decades of being misled and lied to, people learn that they can't trust advertising.

Some of the worst were those Metabolife 365 commercials in the 90s. They'd pay radio DJs to take the stuff, and endorse it - the proof being the "amazing weight-loss" that resulted. Of course, its likely that the DJs had to sign contracts to agree to strict diets - which was no doubt the real cause of the weight-loss, not the phony medicine.

Along those same lines were the ubiquitous adds on KGO for AYDS Diet candy. That went bad in the 80s, and we all know why.

 

[DaveBayArea]

Someone in the radio industry once told me that he would rather operate a low or no ratings (in the Arbs) sports station in a market with two other sports stations than be a high ratings (in the Top 5) adult standards station in a market with no other standards stations to compete with.

That worked really well for KTRB...

Dave B.

 

[SFStatic]

Sorry to contradict Michael, but standards on 960 had over 5 times the ratings, and triple the billing that Green 960 has right now. It works if you do it right.

 

[michael hagerty]

Sorry to contradict Michael, but standards on 960 had over 5 times the ratings, and triple the billing that Green 960 has right now. It works if you do it right.

No problem with the contradiction. But when five times the ratings equals only three times the billings, that's a problem. And I'm guessing 3 times whatever Green 960 bills still wasn't adequate.

 

[travisl5678]

For a standards station done right, KEJY Eureka comes to mind, they play yesterdays standards with new stuff such as Michael Buble mixed in.

 

[Madmansam]

For a standards station done right, KEJY Eureka comes to mind, they play yesterdays standards with new stuff such as Michael Buble mixed in.

And another standards station that must be doing pretty good is KVIN-920 Ceres-Modesto which also simulcasts on low powered 92.3. Unfortunately, KVIN does not do anything local, they get their programming (from Dial-Global) via satellite 24/7. Travis, is KEJY local or satellite programming?

 

[travisl5678]

I'm pretty sure KEJY is local.

 

[mikecroaro]

I'm pretty sure KEJY is local.

I seem to recall that this station (920 AM, Modesto area) used to subscribe to the "Music of Your Life" syndicated program (circa 2007) with Jim Bainer, Pat Boone etc. However, when I last listened in December 2010, the music seemed to be locally programmed.

Thanks everyeone for the active discussion on the thread.

Mike

 

[Madmansam]

I'm pretty sure KEJY is local.

I seem to recall that this station (920 AM, Modesto area) used to subscribe to the "Music of Your Life" syndicated program (circa 2007) with Jim Bainer, Pat Boone etc. However, when I last listened in December 2010, the music seemed to be locally programmed.

Thanks everyeone for the active discussion on the thread.

Mike

I will check again but I am sure that KVIN is 100% Satellite Programming. It is Dial Global's Adult Standards format that was formerly Westwood One's AM Only service. Yes, KVIN was a part of JSN's Music Of Your Life service from 2004 until it blew up several years later. When KVIN first went on the air (in 1997 on 1390), it was originally Westwood One's AM Only until its switch to MOYL in 2004.