KTAR: News Without the Static

[brian4]

KT'R's new slogan. New music accompanies it. Any comments?

 

[MASTER_CONTROL]

i don't like the sleepy voiceover before traffic and i think the other signature music sounded more like a news station.

i think it's too soon to be changing-up these elements when they're trying to establish this new format.

 

[MASTER_CONTROL]

btw,

He's been offered a job by CBS in LA. An announcement is coming soon.

where's this announcement about the ktar pd going to knx?

 

[headphonejack]

I like it. The new voice guy doesn't sound like he's screaming.

 

[94117]

I like it. The new voice guy doesn't sound like he's screaming.

me likes too.

better bumpers, but it sounded like there was music missing throughout the newscast.?

ktar fm had a great signature sound, imo, and to switch it up so soon is strange to me.

i'll have to give it another listen.

"news without the static" is good.

 

[KOHS]

I like it so far.

While there might not be static in the news, they need to get rid of some of the "static cling" in their on-air staff. If I were Russ, I'd want to revamp several on-air positions starting with McMahon. Let the poor guy retire already!!! ;D

 

[newsgodaz]

;DSteely Dan "FM" "No static at all..."what a hip promotion were this 1979. And, fyi, the kid PD is partly responsible for McMahon along with several sponsors and their starving sales people. It's the nature of the business, and while the nearly famous One likes to think he's in a big market, Phoenix acts and sounds like a small. KTAR is the poster child for small market radio.KFYI is not much better.
No static No Ratings Nothing period. But what a great promo! Good luck to PD genious Russ Hill as he heads for all news in LA where no one listens to all news. Jeesh.

 

[vettalkguy]

And, fyi, the kid PD is partly responsible for McMahon along with several sponsors and their starving sales people.

Their ratings haven't been good for five years but their money has been. They're raking in record dollares again this year. They make a lot more money than KFYI or any other talk station.

 

[KMGX]

what a hip promotion were this 1979.

Indeed. KTAR-FM might has well have billboards saying "OMGOSH we pwn j00 cuz we don't have static!!!!" How incredibly uninspiring. Realistically, KTAR shouldn't brag about "no static" when you're on terrestrial radio... it's kinda silly... FM is just a different brand of static. Also, KTAR-AM has just as much annoying static (or almost) as KFYI... thanks to I-CRAP for contributing to the lousy quality--so really they should just keep their mouths shut with regard to the 'static' issue.

On the other hand, changing elements isn't necessarily a bad idea, there's nothing wrong with changing your sound/imaging/voice-guy, etc... it actually helps make things sound fresh... Their elements and voiceovers aren't the way I would have gone personally, but I'll give KTAR some kudos for keeping things fresh.

 

[rockjock420]

I'm not sure about your argument. KTAR-F is competing against KFYI. That's it. They aren't competing against satellite radio or anything else (at least not actively). When they say no static, they are referring to the difference between 550 and 92.3. Nothing else. And yes, 620 is on AM, and sounds terrible when HD is on. But 620 isn't competing against 550, or 92.3 or any one else for that matter (at least, no one significant).

It's all marketing. It's like when 620 talks about "Sportcenter in HD" when for most people it's not. It's marketing, not science. It doesn't have to be right.

 

[KMGX]

KTAR-F is competing against KFYI. That's it.

Wrong. They compete with KFYI, KKNT, KXAM, KFNX, KPHX, et al.

They aren't competing against satellite radio or anything else

Wrong again. Terrestrial radio does compete for time with ALL other media--satellite radio, iPods, internet broadcasts, etc.

When they say no static, they are referring to the difference between 550 and 92.3. Nothing else. And yes, 620 is on AM, and sounds terrible when HD is on. But 620 isn't competing against 550, or 92.3 or any one else for that matter (at least, no one significant).

However, it's kind of hypocritical to talk about static or poking fun at another station's sound when they have a station in their cluster that sounds just as bad.

 

[DrAkbar]

The Nurse and I've sent this one to TMISU: News that makes the stereo light come on!

Is KT'R-FM stretching where you are?

 

[rockjock420]

They compete with KFYI, KKNT, KXAM, KFNX, KPHX, et al.

How much time do you think Bonneville devotes to KKNT, KXAM, KFNX, KPHX, et al. in their programming meetings? I would guess they pay more attention to this board than that competition. That is to say "not a whole lot!"

Wrong again. Terrestrial radio does compete for time with ALL other media--satellite radio, iPods, internet broadcasts, etc.

Yes, that's true. But again, how much time are they devoting to that competition? Local news/talk (even crap like McMan) can't effectively be replaced by any of those formats. At least not in a way that is significant enough to be worth KTAR's attention. National talkers are available on satellite radio, ipods, internet broadcasts. Local news/information/content is not. At least not in a way that is significant enough to be worth KTAR's attention. KTAR is up against KFYI. All other competition is secondary. They are (trying to) take market share away from the station with the numbers, not from a dozen sources with no numbers.

However, it's kind of hypocritical to talk about static or poking fun at another station's sound when they have a station in their cluster that sounds just as bad.

They are not comparing themselves to 620. They are trying to say to the KFYI listener "hey, we've got news and talk too, but ours sounds better!" Whether it IS better or not is open to debate. Yes, it's a little weird that they criticize 550 for problems facing their own sister station, but they could just as easily use 620 to criticize 910 and 1060 for their inferior signals. Would you tell them not to because they own 860 (pretend for a minute it's not being sold).

Imaging is imaging. Sometimes it's accurate (FM sounds better than AM), sometimes it's a stretch (620 running promos referring to 50,000 watts of whatever), sometimes it's hypocritical (static), sometimes it's a little odd ("exclusive home of the Suns, DBacks and Cardinals" promos airing during a Suns game when the DBacks are on 92.3 at the same time.). Bottom line, who cares?

 

[94117]

i don't like the new production tweaks.

the new id and news opener doesn't match the other production elements.

ktar fm was sounding progressive there. now they got soft on us, reimaging the station for that 54+ demo, i guess.

to me, american radio sounds like it's stuck in the 1980's.

i'll tune-in for breaking news only. i'd rather read the news online, avoiding all the commercials and other nonsense.

if only phoenix had a frequency dedicated to traffic only, like those lpfm with roadway signs instructing you to tune-in for airport info, etc.

 

[rockjock420]

i don't like the new production tweaks.

the new id and news opener doesn't match the other production elements.

I'll agree with you on that. I was just starting to get that KTAR :sound" stuck in my head, and then they took it away from the top of the hour.

 

[kzewdude]

Methought KTAR was a talk station??? Why the big push on news? Unless the PD is trying to impress KNX? And we know how well all-news radio does in LaLaLand.

 

[rockjock420]

KTAR is a News/Talk station with the emphasis on the news side of things. KFYI is a News/Talk station where news is an unwelcome interruption

 

[KeithE4]

if only phoenix had a frequency dedicated to traffic only, like those lpfm with roadway signs instructing you to tune-in for airport info, etc.

Sounds like something Gumpdusky could do with KDUS since it doesn't draw flies with its half-a** sports format, especially if Sporting News Radio calls it quits. They do put a decent signal into most of the valley.

Is the freeway closed where you are? ;D

 

[KCIR]

May want to check out the Master Blogger's take on the new "without the static" campaign...at ktar.com

 

[kzewdude]

<<May want to check out the Master Blogger's take on the new "without the static" campaign...at ktar.com>>

Man, this guy needs to loosen his secret underwear. It's cutting off circulation to his brain.