Denver KOA Ends All-News Morning Show

[TheBigA]

You're confusing a transport mechanism with the platforms using it.

The point is I don't limit my consumption to news radio. There are other ways to get news.

There's a saying in Silicon Valley: "Eat your own dog food". In other words, you can't fully understand how your platform works, and how it's being used, unless you use it yourself.

I know how it works. I choose to use other sources. This is a purposeful decision.

Multiple sources. There are these people called "reporters". Admittedly an endangered species, they use various sources, including sometimes actually talking to other people, to find out what's going on.

You don't have to be employed as a reporter to serve as a source. By that I mean user-generated-content. People posting video of news taking place. That can be a source if you put several together for verification. Using the internet as a source gives you access to millions of reporters. We can't afford to hire millions of reporters.

I bet most of it is national in scope. There's still a role for local radio and TV news.

As I often say, I can cook my own food, yet I still like to eat out. So sure, there's a role for local. It's not a one or the other thing.

The change at KOA has to do with how people use radio. If a station does spot news, people will only listen for a short time. If a station has a talk show, they listen longer. The goal at KOA is to improve TSL. That's what we've seen at similar stations in other markets.

 

[Mark Roberts]

The change at KOA has to do with how people use radio. If a station does spot news, people will only listen for a short time. If a station has a talk show, they listen longer. The goal at KOA is to improve TSL. That's what we've seen at similar stations in other markets.

If KOA can't make a morning news block work in a market this size (and one that's growing steadily), then its management is incompetent. But that's what I expect from iHeart. They don't understand news, think that something that sounds like news is good enough, but there are alternatives (at least in part) so it's not good enough. Instead of trying to do better, this is what we're going to get from KOA come Monday:

Wipeout (roughly 10m30s)

(Not entirely wrong, and at least there's some recognition of reality, but Kaminsky refers to Zohran Mamdani as a "communist" which is not correct.)

That kind of monologue is going to get TSL? What you see in that Substack video isn't much different, in content or length, from what you hear on the air on Kaminsky's show.

I don't think it's about TSL. I think it's about cutting costs without considering the damage being done to the station by chasing listeners off who are unlikely ever to come back.

 

[TheBigA]

If KOA can't make a morning news block work in a market this size (and one that's growing steadily), then its management is incompetent.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. They've been doing the morning news block for years, and KOA ratings have gone steadily downward. The audience has spoken. It's time for a change. That's what they're doing.

I don't think it's about TSL. I think it's about cutting costs without considering the damage being done to the station by chasing listeners off who are unlikely ever to come back.

Look at the audience data. The people who listen to news are all over 65. That's not who the advertisers want. If they go away, that's OK.

 

[Mark Roberts]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

Now you're just making excuses for a bunch of incompetent programmers who don't respect news and who don't understand it. This is not a criticism of the people actually putting the news broadcasts together, who are doing the best they can in an environment that doesn't support them. This is a criticism of management.

They've been doing the morning news block for years, and KOA ratings have gone steadily downward. The audience has spoken. It's time for a change. That's what they're doing.

The wrong kind of change, in my opinion.

Look at the audience data. The people who listen to news are all over 65. That's not who the advertisers want. If they go away, that's OK.

Problem is, do you really think that right-leaning monologues (especially in Colorado) of seemingly interminable duration are going to attract the listeners "the advertisers" want? If you think that, I'll start looking to see if you're hanging out at one of the mushroom shops on Colfax the next time I'm in the vicinity.

 

[TheBigA]

Now you're just making excuses for a bunch of incompetent programmers who don't respect news and who don't understand it.

They understand it just fine in Boston. WBZ-AM is a top rated local news station.

4.5

4.4

4.1

4.5

WBZ-AM

WBZ NewsRadio 1030

News/Talk

iHeartMedia

311,000

Problem is, do you really think that right-leaning monologues (especially in Colorado) of seemingly interminable duration are going to attract the listeners "the advertisers" want?

You think Colorado is more liberal than California? KFI is top rated, and makes lots of money with local conservative talk. Same with WLW. That's the model. Look at the track record. The audience for broadcast radio is limited. It's not the 80s anymore. Those who still listen are very clear about what they want. You can blame management all you want. But at some point, the listeners are the ones who determine what radio does. Radio stations program to people who listen. That should be obvious.

 

[KilowattKat]

I would check out KMOX or WCCO for examples how they run a news/talk station that is not all political.

The same with WGN.

 

[radiofan2023]

You think Colorado is more liberal than California? KFI is top rated, and makes lots of money with local conservative talk.

Handel isn't that conservative. KABC is more conservative than KFI and, signal strength differences set aside, they don't get great ratings.

 

[Mark Roberts]

They understand it just fine in Boston. WBZ-AM is a top rated local news station.

4.5

4.4

4.1

4.5

WBZ-AM

WBZ NewsRadio 1030

News/Talk

iHeartMedia

311,000

And as you yourself said in post #9, iHeart inherited the station's programming. Given enough time, the usual iHeart rot will set in. They're not exempt from the quarterly rounds of layoffs.

You think Colorado is more liberal than California?

It depends on where you are...in both states. All you have to do is look at this week's election results to see where Colorado is going...and that's not even accounting for the rejection of Trumpism that played a role in the results. I live in Colorado and am well aware of what goes on.

You can blame management all you want. But at some point, the listeners are the ones who determine what radio does. Radio stations program to people who listen. That should be obvious.

If Steve Jobs had that philosophy, there wouldn't have been an iPhone. Radio people are so limited in their thinking.

Yes, I agree with you that the business model has to change in order for radio to survive and maybe even thrive. But the answers don't seem to be coming from radio people. And they won't come from people of my generation, either. I've said that before, too.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

Especially if the water tastes bad. Which is iHeart's problem with news.

This is true in market after market. Sports on radio makes money. The Broncos have a sellable brand. I bet most of the money the station makes comes from sports.

Interesting thing...and I heard this just yesterday...word on the street is that iHeart is trying to get out of its arrangement with the Colorado Rockies (major league baseball). I'm told KOA is losing money on those broadcasts. I would take that with several grains of salt, but the fact that this is bandied about at all says something.

And that's the last I have to say about this.

 

[TheBigA]

And as you yourself said in post #9, iHeart inherited the station's programming. Given enough time, the usual iHeart rot will set in. They're not exempt from the quarterly rounds of layoffs.

But you said that iHeart doesn't know news. I gave you an example where they've retained quality news reporting because the station has also retained its audience. This is on an AM only station that has no translator or simulcast. The audience for KOA has clearly made other plans. They did so while the station continued its morning news show. So there's no point spending money for news programming when the audience has already left. It begins with the audience.

There are other radio companies in Denver. If there's a huge market for news, why doesn't Bonneville flip one of their stations to all news. They have a lot of experience in the format. But they know it would be financial suicide. So they don't,

Yes, I agree with you that the business model has to change in order for radio to survive and maybe even thrive. But the answers don't seem to be coming from radio people.

What radio people are doing is shifting resources from a declining platform to the growing one. That's not AM radio. There is no amount of money radio companies can spend that will get people to use AM radio for news instead of the device that's in their pocket. So what the radio companies are doing is finding ways to monetize digital content. That's where the future is. Not AM radio.

Interesting thing...and I heard this just yesterday...word on the street is that iHeart is trying to get out of its arrangement with the Colorado Rockies (major league baseball). I'm told KOA is losing money on those broadcasts.

When was the last time the Rockies made the playoffs? Don't you think that matters? Don't you think that may be the reason why they're losing money? Or is it all iHeart's fault?

 

[NYAZSporty]

Interesting thing...and I heard this just yesterday...word on the street is that iHeart is trying to get out of its arrangement with the Colorado Rockies (major league baseball). I'm told KOA is losing money on those broadcasts. I would take that with several grains of salt, but the fact that this is bandied about at all says something.

Interesting indeed if true, especially since they recently let go on longtime Rockies radio PBP voice Jerry Schemmel.

 

[davideduardo]

Problem is, do you really think that right-leaning monologues (especially in Colorado) of seemingly interminable duration are going to attract the listeners "the advertisers" want? If you think that, I'll start looking to see if you're hanging out at one of the mushroom shops on Colfax the next time I'm in the vicinity.

It only takes 4% or so of listening to be a top station in a market like that. There are certainly enough conservatives and moderates to significantly populate the listenership of that kind of talk station.

 

[DavinaR]

And as you yourself said in post #9, iHeart inherited the station's programming. Given enough time, the usual iHeart rot will set in. They're not exempt from the quarterly rounds of layoffs.


It depends on where you are...in both states. All you have to do is look at this week's election results to see where Colorado is going...and that's not even accounting for the rejection of Trumpism that played a role in the results. I live in Colorado and am well aware of what goes on.



If Steve Jobs had that philosophy, there wouldn't have been an iPhone. Radio people are so limited in their thinking.

Yes, I agree with you that the business model has to change in order for radio to survive and maybe even thrive. But the answers don't seem to be coming from radio people. And they won't come from people of my generation, either. I've said that before, too.

Especially if the water tastes bad. Which is iHeart's problem with news.

Interesting thing...and I heard this just yesterday...word on the street is that iHeart is trying to get out of its arrangement with the Colorado Rockies (major league baseball). I'm told KOA is losing money on those broadcasts. I would take that with several grains of salt, but the fact that this is bandied about at all says something.

And that's the last I have to say about this.

You might be on to KOA wants to get rid of the Rockies as they fired the play by play for the team last month.

 

[Gregg.]

Look at the audience data. The people who listen to news are all over 65. That's not who the advertisers want.

All News skews old. But the people who listen to conservative talk radio might even be older. The fact is that nationally, KOA has one of the highest billing numbers among AM stations. The ratings might not be that great but the All-News format can run a lot of commercials and rake in the dollars. KOA gets a big share of Denver radio advertising. Yes, a lot of that is thanks to sports but mornings contribute too.

You'd think that iHeart wouldn't mess with success. All news in mornings, middle of the road talk in middays, sports talk in PM drive time and play-by-play or more sports talk in the evening.

 

[TheBigA]

All News skews old. But the people who listen to conservative talk radio might even be older.

Actually, all news is slightly older. The difference is the time spent listening. People will listen to news/talk longer than all news.

You'd think that iHeart wouldn't mess with success. All news in mornings, middle of the road talk in middays, sports talk in PM drive time and play-by-play or more sports talk in the evening.

My sense is they've seen a lot of erosion in the morning, and that's why they're making this change.

 

[Intheairnevada]

A lot of truckers would use information on from this station to get over the Rockies, of course now all kinds of weather info…

 

[Mark Roberts]

You'd think that iHeart wouldn't mess with success. All news in mornings,

Not as of Monday, except 5-6 am.

middle of the road talk in middays,

That’s not accurate. Ross Kaminsky very clearly has stated that he’s aligned with the Ayn Rand school of thought, and he frequently refers to Zohran Mamdani as a “communist”. Aside from the latter being an incorrect characterization, these are not stances that one associates with “middle of the road” politics. He and Mandy Connell are definitely right-leaning. And now Michael Brown is coming over from KHOW. Brown is definitely of the conservative persuasion.

Kaminsky, to his credit, is pretty clear that he’s not a journalist, and he was saying last week that he wouldn’t try to influence the way Jeana Gondek (who remains in mornings) presents news. Still, these are distinctions that can be hard for the general public to latch onto.

Kaminksy and Gondek also said on Friday there would still be four newscasts an hour in the morning block, though there was no indication about their length. It could be that the ultimate result of these changes is the replacement of some features and newsmaker interviews with Ross Kaminsky monologues and interviews. In other words, there would be some difference but not as much as first appeared.

I think the day will come when iHeart will have to sacrifice a full-power FM signal to a KOA simulcast to keep KOA viable. The translators just don’t cut it.

 

[TheBigA]

I think the day will come when iHeart will have to sacrifice a full-power FM signal to a KOA simulcast to keep KOA viable. The translators just don’t cut it.

I don't see it happening at iHeart. They haven't done it in Boston, LA, or Cincinnati. They see news/talk as an AM format, targeting older listeners. That isn't going to change with an FM simulcast. It didn't help 6+ ratings at WBAP in Dallas. It didn't help the demographics at WINS or KCBS. Neither station is a factor in 25-54. Broadcast radio is a declining platform. FM is not the future. Streaming is.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't see it happening at iHeart. They haven't done it in Boston, LA, or Cincinnati. They see news/talk as an AM format, targeting older listeners. That isn't going to change with an FM simulcast. It didn't help 6+ ratings at WBAP in Dallas. It didn't help the demographics at WINS or KCBS. Neither station is a factor in 25-54. Broadcast radio is a declining platform. FM is not the future. Streaming is.

And they tried it in San Diego, too. But that was "decades ago" but it still did not work.

 

[Gregg.]

I don't see it happening at iHeart. They haven't done it in Boston, LA, or Cincinnati. They see news/talk as an AM format, targeting older listeners. That isn't going to change with an FM simulcast. It didn't help 6+ ratings at WBAP in Dallas. It didn't help the demographics at WINS or KCBS. Neither station is a factor in 25-54. Broadcast radio is a declining platform. FM is not the future. Streaming is.

iHeart is of two minds on this. There are several iHeart FM stations either simulcasting a talk radio format with an AM (Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Birmingham, Fresno, Albany, Syracuse) or running it on FM alone (New Orleans, Raleigh, Charleston, Greensboro, Tallahassee).

As David mentions, there are other markets where iHeart or Clear Channel put talk on an FM frequency and withdrew it later: San Diego, Tucson, Columbia. But that's only three markets where iHeart gave up on FM talk, as opposed to eleven stations I counted where iHeart continues to air talk on FM.

I suppose iHeart lets the local management team determine whether it's wise to put older-skewing talk on an FM frequency. Despite the mature appeal, can it bill so well that the demographic problem is moot?

 

[Mark Roberts]

Denver alternative paper Westword examines the KOA and KHOW changes:

Inside Huge Shakeup to KOA Radio's Morning Lineup

"We periodically review our programming to ensure that we are meeting our listeners’ needs. Occasionally this means that we need to make some changes."

www.westword.com