KTAR buried!

[KMGX]

Well, McBland did some fascinating stuff today, "why do people drive poorly in the rain", an hour of "American Idol " chat, and the ever popular "ask a doctor" show.

Brilliant stuff. Yesterday he was talking about the Fight Night gala with the organizer and profusely thanking him for his free tickets.

I enjoy his show, but only in a surreal way.

You forgot the hour where he had some travel agent on to discuss when a good time to plan for a vacation would be. Now that is certainly compelling radio !

 

[rockjock420]

We get it. Pat is old and past his prime. We get it. You're right, but for god's sake, we get it!

 

[KMGX]

We get it. Pat is old and past his prime. We get it. You're right, but for god's sake, we get it!

Yeah, no more talk of this on the RADIO-INFO boards.

 

[rockjock420]

Personally I am a huge fan of pointing out how old and past his prime Pat's show is... but it seems like every day someone comes on here to tell us who the boring, predictable, ass-kissing guests were. Do you expect us to be surprised that he has a boring, predictable, ass-kissing guest on today?

 

[KMGX]

Personally I am a huge fan of pointing out how old and past his prime Pat's show is... but it seems like every day someone comes on here to tell us who the boring, predictable, ass-kissing guests were. Do you expect us to be surprised that he has a boring, predictable, ass-kissing guest on today?

I just think that most of us are in disbelief that such an incredibly small-market type of show and station is found in the nation's 5th largest city. It's like being caught in a really bad dream and unable to wake up... kind of like being caught in the middle of McBland's show now that I think about it. I just can't believe that this show continues... reminds me of an FM talk station in Ohio that had two guys that were around 65 talking for 9 hours throughout the day... and unlike KTAR, they had about 2 minutes of spots an hour... just crazy.

 

[KCIR]

You cracked us up! The Nurse and I are coughing more than John Dahl! We didn't realize McBland has a lock on boring!

A response from the good Doctor and his side kick ???

Cracked you two up, Huh? Well, you two have been cracking me up for months now. Very Entertaining, certainly not boring.

Would enjoy a ride in the '76 Gremlin sometime! We could dream about the good ole days, the days before 910 and 620 were turned into Sports Parking Lots.

 

[Legend City]

I'd go too, but only if you have a KRIZ ball on the bumper.

 

[davideduardo]

I just think that most of us are in disbelief that such an incredibly small-market type of show and station is found in the nation's 5th largest city.

About every year or so this "5th largest city" thing comes up again.

Media performance and standards are not set by a single city, but by the market... the sum total of people living in one of the OMB's Metropolitan Statistical Areas or in a rural county or trading area.

When we are talking about Phoenix in the context of radio or TV or cable or even newspapers, we are talking about the metro. Nobody in media, whether a provider or a buyer, cares about political jurisdictions set up for th epurpose of taxation, garbage collection and school districts.

Pheonix is still a large market by the correct standard... but it is not up there with Dallas, Houston and San Francisco... it is more the size of San Diego and Puerto Rico as a radio market.

In truth, what sets the standard for the kind of talent and programming available in a market is the available revenue pool, not the poopulation rank. Phoenix is 15th in population, 13th in revenue in the US.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Well, McBland did some fascinating stuff today...
...I enjoy his show, but only in a surreal way.

Surreal.

Yup, Pat McBland is becoming Phoenix radio's version of Dancin' Danny Babich.

 

[zumahans]

And once again we must remind the Saint of Irrelevant Statistical Fact that no one except sleezy radio ad salesmen cares about market size.

It is absolutely correct to refer to Phoenix as the fifth-largest city, as that implies a certain sophistication and culture and je ne sais quoi - wait, are we still talking about Phoenix? Hard to say Phoenix and je ne sais quoi without cracking up.

Yes David, you are technically correct, and no, David, you are talking about something totally irrelevant.

 

[davideduardo]

And once again we must remind the Saint of Irrelevant Statistical Fact that no one except sleezy radio ad salesmen cares about market size.

It is absolutely correct to refer to Phoenix as the fifth-largest city, as that implies a certain sophistication and culture and je ne sais quoi - wait, are we still talking about Phoenix? Hard to say Phoenix and je ne sais quoi without cracking up.

Yes David, you are technically correct, and no, David, you are talking about something totally irrelevant.

The metro population (along with the income of the residents, etc) is what determines how a community develops. A central city and its suburbs determine the ability to support the arts, educational institutions, health care facilities, and all manner of other things that the population, income, tax base and such of a larger community make possible. there is a reason why Blythe does not have a symphony orchestra.

 

[zumahans]

The metro population (along with the income of the residents, etc) is what determines how a community develops. A central city and its suburbs determine the ability to support the arts, educational institutions, health care facilities, and all manner of other things that the population, income, tax base and such of a larger community make possible. there is a reason why Blythe does not have a symphony orchestra.

Oh, so now you are an urban planning expert, too? (Oh God, now we're going to get the Argentina lecture again - spare us, David, we know you are worldly and urbane...).

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the nation, and people have a right to expect it to have a certain maturity because of that.

More important, a person who opines that Phoenix deserves better than your industry provides, because of its size, is entitled to have his opinion respected or addressed on those merits.

But not discounted based on the technicalities that you dwell in, but that the rest of us find oh so supercilious.

 

[davideduardo]

The metro population (along with the income of the residents, etc) is what determines how a community develops. A central city and its suburbs determine the ability to support the arts, educational institutions, health care facilities, and all manner of other things that the population, income, tax base and such of a larger community make possible. there is a reason why Blythe does not have a symphony orchestra.

Oh, so now you are an urban planning expert, too? (Oh God, now we're going to get the Argentina lecture again - spare us, David, we know you are worldly and urbane...).

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the nation, and people have a right to expect it to have a certain maturity because of that.

More important, a person who opines that Phoenix deserves better than your industry provides, because of its size, is entitled to have his opinion respected or addressed on those merits.

But not discounted based on the technicalities that you dwell in, but that the rest of us find oh so supercilious.

Fact: it is the total population of a metro area that determines the ability of the area to support art, culture, civic activities, even NFL teams. The Diamondbacks would hardly survive with just the city population of Phoenix... it takes the entire metro or market to sustain the level of economic and civic and cultural actrivities an area has.

Except for trash colleciton, police and schools and such, it really does not matter whether one lives in Phoenix or Glendale or scottsdale or Tolleson for them to enjoy the activities the metro has to offer.

Who really cares what the population of one jurisdiction in a metro has? It has no effect on the "critical mass" of the overall metro.

 

[zumahans]

Thank you professor. How dare anyone have an interpretation contrary to yours?

How dare anyone think the fifth largest city in the nation - a common, non-technical way of saying much the same thing as saying 15th-largest market - should have a certain sophistication?

Thank you ever so much for once again leaping on a person for having the temerity to say Phoenix is the 5th-largest city in the nation - which of course it is.

Thank you oh so much for explaining to the mere mortals that everyone should know that it is not reality that matters, only radio ratings as deigned to be shared by the radio Gods from Mount Arbitron through their chosen oracle.

I do not know how the world would function without these corrections.

 

[davideduardo]

Thank you professor. How dare anyone have an interpretation contrary to yours?

How dare anyone think the fifth largest city in the nation - a common, non-technical way of saying much the same thing as saying 15th-largest market - should have a certain sophistication?

Thank you ever so much for once again leaping on a person for having the temerity to say Phoenix is the 5th-largest city in the nation - which of course it is.

Thank you oh so much for explaining to the mere mortals that everyone should know that it is not reality that matters, only radio ratings as deigned to be shared by the radio Gods from Mount Arbitron through their chosen oracle.

I do not know how the world would function without these corrections.

What a crock! You are saying that a city of under 1.4 million population (Phoenix proper) is capable of the same array of services and educational opportunities and cultural activities and sports and recreation as one of 4 million (the metro)?

Were Phoenix alone, with no suburbs and just the "fifth largest city" it would be the size of the Greensboro, NC, market. As we know, Greensboro is a noted cultural and educational mecca known world-wide... sure.

My point is that the entire market or metro is what makes the "city" what it is. without the 60% of the population that does not live in the city itself, there would be far less going on in every sector... from the number of airline flights to cultural offerning.

 

[rockjock420]

How much culture is there in Port Hueneme? I don't mean how much can you drive to... Isn't Port Hueneme just Camarillo/Oxnard by the sea?

 

[KMGX]

I just think that most of us are in disbelief that such an incredibly small-market type of show and station is found in the nation's 5th largest city.

About every year or so this "5th largest city" thing comes up again.

Media performance and standards are not set by a single city, but by the market... the sum total of people living in one of the OMB's Metropolitan Statistical Areas or in a rural county or trading area.

When we are talking about Phoenix in the context of radio or TV or cable or even newspapers, we are talking about the metro. Nobody in media, whether a provider or a buyer, cares about political jurisdictions set up for th epurpose of taxation, garbage collection and school districts.

Pheonix is still a large market by the correct standard... but it is not up there with Dallas, Houston and San Francisco... it is more the size of San Diego and Puerto Rico as a radio market.

In truth, what sets the standard for the kind of talent and programming available in a market is the available revenue pool, not the poopulation rank. Phoenix is 15th in population, 13th in revenue in the US.

How nice of you to unceramoneously dismiss my opinion. Unfortunately, the radio industry doesn't exactly play by the 'introduction to media 101' approach that you have so nicely put together above.

First, the available revenue within a market does not equate to the level of talent present in all cases. New York has plenty of 'talent' that has and continues to fail despite their enormous hype and paychecks.

While I am very appreciative of your thoughts on the free market system, you are also missing the point that I was making (and inserting an irrelevant bunch of nonsense simultaneously). Phoenix, as a "larger" market //SHOULD// expect more from it's herritage talk station than infomercials about travel, discussion about if it's raining where you are and other meaningless banter. We, as phoenicians, shouldn't demand this simply because we live in Phoenix, but because the entire terrestrial radio industry is collapsing in upon itself and unless KTAR has plans to launch a satellite, perhaps they should raise their standards for what passes for stimulating talk radio.

I realize it's easy to take shots at Phoenix, because we're not the fandangled book-learnin' kind of smarts of New York or Boston, however does that mean we should simply settle for less? Your discourse about "the sum total of the population determines..." is quite accurate, and if you've checked the ratings, the sum total reject Pat McBland and the "survey radio" that KTAR puts forth in this market.

"the 5th largest city" remark is more of a show of disgust that I can hear more compelling radio in Syracuse or Boise than I can on the most "well known" or "herritage" talk station in Phoenix. I would say those cities have a much smaller revenue stream than Phoenix... so you see, it's not all about money, it's about expecting and demanding more.

 

[davideduardo]

How nice of you to unceramoneously dismiss my opinion. Unfortunately, the radio industry doesn't exactly play by the 'introduction to media 101' approach that you have so nicely put together above.

I did not dismiss your opinion. I took exception to the idea that the population of the cnetral city of a metro has anything to do with anything, including the quality of radio in a market.

First, the available revenue within a market does not equate to the level of talent present in all cases. New York has plenty of 'talent' that has and continues to fail despite their enormous hype and paychecks.

But without revenue, you can not expect any talent of signficance, save the rare personality who is so part of a small community that they never want to leave.

Phoenix, as a "larger" market //SHOULD// expect more from it's herritage talk station than infomercials about travel, discussion about if it's raining where you are and other meaningless banter.

Phoenix is not a top 10 market, and should compare its radio offerings with Seattle, San Diego or San Juan, not NY or Boston or Washington, DC.

In many unsalable dayparts, informercials are the staple of talkers even in larger markets... or gardening shows or computer shows. They are all, 100%, sales driven.

We, as phoenicians, shouldn't demand this simply because we live in Phoenix, but because the entire terrestrial radio industry is collapsing in upon itself and unless KTAR has plans to launch a satellite, perhaps they should raise their standards for what passes for stimulating talk radio.

Give me a break. Satellite is imploding, with sales in the Christmas season nearly 50% below that of 2005, and the stocks cratering (both were off about 15% last week alone...) In the sales demos, radio reach (cume) is not even off 2% over the last 20 years, and time spent listening is off less than 15%... considering the plethora of entertainment laternatives, quite a success story for an 80-year-old.

AM may be near-death; this is why KTAR has moved to FM, successfully.

I realize it's easy to take shots at Phoenix, because we're not the fandangled book-learnin' kind of smarts of New York or Boston, however does that mean we should simply settle for less? Your discourse about "the sum total of the population determines..." is quite accurate, and if you've checked the ratings, the sum total reject Pat McBland and the "survey radio" that KTAR puts forth in this market.

One chow does not define a market. Obviously, if the show is still on, it does somethening management likes. Oh, sidebar: one of my duaghters was born in PHX and I went to ASU. I am even a property owner in the KTAR coverage area, too. And I work with KHOT/KQMR. With all that, I can hardly be dismissed as demeaning Phoenix or taking shots at it. Heck, it's the only place where a 6" eucalyptus seedling can be 10' high in 3 years (as the one in my back yard did years ago).

 

[DrAkbar]

Oh Swell!

Now we've got Zumaphobe & the Ol' Perrico battling it out on the Phoenix board! Nurse Jeff and I saw what their blathering barbs did to the San Diego board and we hope they'll move on elsewhere! This is when a Pt Hueneme board would come in handy.

Back to topic:

Is Pat McBland boring where you are?

 

[Legend City]

Yeah, this is where you pop some corn, sit back and enjoy the fight.

So, will McBland talk about snow in phoenix tomorrow?

I betcha he will, and it probably snowed at a Wallace and Ladmo outside show, back in 72....... ;D