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KTAR Changes to FM News/Talk 92.3

V

vettalkguy

Guest
From All Access:

New Positioning For KTAR-F/Phoenix Emphasizes FM, Talk
BONNEVILLE Talk KTAR-F/PHOENIX is tweaking its imaging to reposition the station from "NEWS 92.3 KTAR-FM" to the new slogan "FM NEWS/TALK 92.3 KTAR," starting WEDNESDAY morning.

[EDIT]


[EDIT-post truncated because originating material appears to be copyrighted
Unauthorized use of such content is in violation of Radio-Info's
TOS.]
 
Wow. That's a great move for them. I like the new name of FM Newstalk. I wonder if this has to do with Free FM changing formats?
 
And another pouring from TMISU's salt shaker in the battle with KFWhyEye. Obviously listeners have picked up on one of the station's big strengths - it's on FM and KFWhyEye is on Grandpa's band. From the Akbar 'n Jeff Scorecard: Mornings are KT'R's biggest daypart and they've got it tweaked; Aunt Carlos is a solid alternative to The Nearly Bald One and can hold audience against El Rushbo; Noon News is a write-off; the only thing saving McBland from oozing back into the tar pit is The News Room (but not as good since Kid left); Ded Simons in PMD is more bearable than The Windbag on 5~Fifty; and Savage at night is just a grumpy old white guy. Nurse Jeff could get better ratings. In summary: tough sleddin' ahead for KFWhyEye.
 
Dr. Akbar said:
And another pouring from TMISU's salt shaker in the battle with KFWhyEye. Obviously listeners have picked up on one of the station's big strengths - it's on FM and KFWhyEye is on Grandpa's band.
Click to expand...

KFYI may be on Grandpa's band, but KTAR-FM has Grandpa's newsman and talk-show host (Paul Harrrrrveyyyy and Captain Stupor). ;D
 
Here's a thought.....the ratings strength for KTAR is their news blocks. The ratings strength for KFYI is their talks shows. In these days of niche programming, it's suicide to try to be everything for everybody, it's even dangerous to try to be two things, like news AND talk.

Is it dangerous for KTAR to try to position themselves as news and talk? I don't know, but I don't think they're going to beat Rush or Hannity no matter what they put on the air. And I don't think KFYI is going to beat KTAR's drive time news blocks.

I think if I were KTAR I'd try to play off my strength, which is News.
 
"Has anybody seen my call letters?"

(Not to be confused with the line from the movie Porky's
"has anybody seen Mike Hunt? ;D)

Along with the "A" which Preston lost for them years ago, they're now
missing the KT'R too! In several listens today, the calls seem to be used
(other than the TOH legal ID) only at :02 and :30, in the intros to the
hard news segments.

As noted in a reply above, the rest of the time it's been "how can we
misspeak the new positioner?" This afternoon, Deputy Dan even tried to say
it twice as they were cutting his mic. Ded's sub Dixon was mangling it regularly.
And it's an even worse mouthful when it's a live read of the liner and the legal
together: "...on FM news/talk 92/3, KTAR-FM Glendale/Phoenix."

"Traffic and weather together on the nines, liner and legal together at
the top of every hour." (Russ, you can use that...no charge ;))

This probably reminds the KOOL jocks of when PD Kris changed the liner
from "KOOL 94.5" to "94-point-five KOOL-FM."

From the posts here, I'm sure KT'R wishes we were all "writing it down."
Did anyone sample 55/FYI today?
 
I agree that it's sounds awkward but it's actually shorter than 'News/Talk, 550, KFYI.' Personalities are bound to get it wrong on the first day.

Interesting now its the Valley's news station, not news/traffic/weather. And just as we were getting used to News Without the Static, it changes to It Just Sounds Better.
 
dudeguy said:
Here's a thought.....the ratings strength for KTAR is their news blocks. The ratings strength for KFYI is their talks shows. In these days of niche programming, it's suicide to try to be everything for everybody, it's even dangerous to try to be two things, like news AND talk.

Is it dangerous for KTAR to try to position themselves as news and talk? I don't know, but I don't think they're going to beat Rush or Hannity no matter what they put on the air. And I don't think KFYI is going to beat KTAR's drive time news blocks.

I think if I were KTAR I'd try to play off my strength, which is News.
Click to expand...

In a market as small as Phoenix (as far as the all-news format goes), News isn't really counterprogramming to political talk. Non-political talk is the counterprogramming. The reality is that anyone who listens to Rush, Hannity, et al DO care about the news, they just don't need to get it from long-form news blocks on the radio. They get it online and from KFYI's short-form news updates twice an hour - after all, how much news can one take? But on KFYI, the news is quick and soon replaced by something people want: decent talk. Replace McBland with Dr. Laura and you improve. If you must, compress the show by a minute or two and jam quick news updates along with the traffics on the QHs.
 
KJCB said:
The reality is that anyone who listens to Rush, Hannity, et al DO care about the news, they just don't need to get it from long-form news blocks on the radio.
Click to expand...

That's right, they don't need to get their news from the radio! They're told how to think through those entire programs! What do they need news for...to form their own opinions??? That would be a waste of perfectly good news.
 
rkchgo said:
KJCB said:
The reality is that anyone who listens to Rush, Hannity, et al DO care about the news, they just don't need to get it from long-form news blocks on the radio.
Click to expand...

That's right, they don't need to get their news from the radio! They're told how to think through those entire programs! What do they need news for...to form their own opinions??? That would be a waste of perfectly good news.
Click to expand...

People already have formulated their own opinions, when was the last time you listened to a show and it radically changed your opinion on a topic? Sure it happens from time to time, but that trite argument of "people are told how to think by talk-radio" is played out.
 
Yes, because it has been brought up, and discussed, we must now ignore it.

"People are told how to think by right-wing talk radio" is a perfect example.

That statement is boring, and we have already thought about it.

Therefore it is not true.
 
John McNary said:
Yes, because it has been brought up, and discussed, we must now ignore it.

"People are told how to think by right-wing talk radio" is a perfect example.

That statement is boring, and we have already thought about it.

Therefore it is not true.
Click to expand...

Actually......<thinking...>.....weren't we just told not to think that?

Amazing!
 
I really think they need to settle on an identity. I like the content - especially in the morning - it' s a great way to get up to date on the way into work. But the new ID sounds very cumbersome - in fact two days into it, and ALL of the on-air personalities are screwing it up. It's just not natural. Sooooo many years of using "KTAR" and now they don't - it's going to take a while to get used to not saying "KTAR".

In any event, they should have used the opportunity to also change "traffic and weather together on the 9's" to another time. Like on the 6s or 7s. Something with more leeway so that Detour Dan or whoever it is at the time, isn't crunched at the top and bottom of the hour - especially in the middle of rush hour. Granted Detour Dan can be verbose, but it is very frustrating when your driving to work and you get only west side traffic - or east side traffic - depending on where you are - and have to wait another 10 minutes to get "your side" of the valley - IF you're lucky. I've heard them got three traffic reports in a row (30 minutes) reporting on just the west side or just the east side. Either way, allowing just 60 seconds for traffic at the top and bottom of the hour is not reasonable in the valley. They need to work on that.
 
azmonsoon said:
...Like on the 6s or 7s. Something with more leeway so that Detour Dan or whoever it is at the time, isn't crunched at the top and bottom of the hour - especially in the middle of rush hour.
Click to expand...

Gary Bruce (Bruce Gary?--whatever his fake name is) doesn't need any more
time not to give the current temperature when he does traffic/weather
together during the 3:45 quarter hour. ::)

BTW, Steve Ludwig subbed in that slot once again today, and once again came
through with the current temp.

Just an FYI (no, not that FYI) for PD Russ whom we're pretty sure reads this
board. After all, we read the MasterBlogger!
 
azmonsoon said:
Sooooo many years of using "KTAR" and now they don't - it's going to take a while to get used to not saying "KTAR".
Click to expand...

It's strange not hearing KTAR. I think the only time I've heard "KTAR" in the last few days is in the ID, website, and using the telephone number.

azmonsoon said:
In any event, they should have used the opportunity to also change "traffic and weather together on the 9's" to another time. Like on the 6s or 7s.
Click to expand...

Totally agree! Yesterday, I believe at 5:00 p.m., there were so many car problems that Detour Dan actually got cut off in mid-promo, the TOH ID barely was audible, and they were late cutting to ABC News. We've discussed how anchors usually throw it to traffic/weather a little earlier than the 9's (8.37). Just move it to the 8's and if there's extra time, fill it with a better upcoming news report.
 
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