KYW...Q & A

[gethigh]

I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I understand the need that my station serves, and I under how my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless crap on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus Christ!"
I also know that there are some advertisers who do not benefit themselves by advertising on KYW, they do it so they can stroke their egos. I also know that Fred Sherman should be put out to pasture, his on air delivery Sucks, and is antiquated. He sings the KYW tagline for goodness sake, and I don't care if it's his trademark.

My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when the average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the world)How do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least remain among the top 3.
Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM station is not one of them)

 

[Jim_Hicks]

Perhaps you should have read David Hinckley's column in yesterday's NY Daily News. He wrote about WINS which starated the format a month after co-owned KYW.
The same "you give us 22 minutes" slogan.

It works in NYC, it works here.

Some of us prefer to get our news in capsule form on the KYWs and WINS' of this world. And since WINS pulls in 2.5 million different listeners during the course of an average week, and KYW pulling a similar Philly size numbers, it is obvious that many people want to hear what is being offered.

You do not have to like KYW. You do not have to listen. But for many of us adults in the working world, we start and end the work day with KYW. I get out of bed at 4:30am to make the drive to Philly. I want to know what happened over night and what traffic problems to expect. When I get out of the office at 3:30pm, I again tune in to find out what happened during the day and what to expect driving home. And it is the case in morning and evening that I listen for at least a full half hour. You can get everything you need in 22 minutes, but I like to hear the full half hour of news, including the more full business news at :25 and :55. Yes, Fred Sherrrrrrrrman can grate on the nerves sometimes, but I value his opinion, particularly his "Stocks to Watch" which I read on KYW on-line (I can't listen to the "Opening Bell" at work). Since I have two careers, radio and as a financial analyst, I actually have earned enough to have money invested.

You apparently do not need this. Fine. That's why there are a lot of stations out there. For most adults in the working world, we want to know what KYW tells us. It does effect our lives.


> I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I
> understand the need that my station serves, and I under how
> my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about
> me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless crap
> on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype
> sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates
> that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus
> Christ!"
> I also know that there are some advertisers who do not
> benefit themselves by advertising on KYW, they do it so they
> can stroke their egos. I also know that Fred Sherman should
> be put out to pasture, his on air delivery Sucks, and is
> antiquated. He sings the KYW tagline for goodness sake, and
> I don't care if it's his trademark.
>
> My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they
> offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when the
> average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves
> advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the world)How
> do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least
> remain among the top 3.
> Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM
> station is not one of them)
>

 

[bierkenstock]

For someone who is unwilling to tolerate any criticism of his employer (WCOJ, Coatesville), you seem very willing to bash KYW.

WCOJ does not "own its market." Chester County is in the Philadelphia DMA market and WCOJ does not even own Chester County. Most people in Chester County are listening to KYW and other Philadelphia stations. If WCOJ subscribed to Arbitron, you'd be aware of this, but possibly the station can't afford it. You can also infer this from the Chester County businesses advertising on KYW (recently I've heard General Sales of West Chester and Pickering Valley Feed and Farm Store on KYW). Maybe advertisers consider KYW rates, which you seem to think are excessive, a good investment. Spots on a "dollar a holler" station which do not produce results - even with low rates - are money down the toilet, money small businesses can ill afford to waste. KYW sells to agencies representing major advertisers. They know what they are buying, unlike the mom and pop merchants sales reps for small town stations deal with.

WCOJ "superserves" its market? How? With a handful of senior citizens trying to sell each other junk from their garages and attics? With interminable interviews with minor bureaucrats and volunteers from local do-gooder groups? With a schedule of weekend infomercials that would make even WPEN blush, plus a schedule of paid religion that would make Salem commit the sin of envy? With local programming being pushed aside increasingly for third-string syndicated talk shows, which can't get cleared in Philadelphia? (How much do Ed Schultz and Dave Ramsey pay to get on the station?) I don't think you should talk about "endless crap?"

Apparently, your real agenda here is you want somebody to give you tips for selling against KYW ("do they have chinks in their armor?"). KYW sales reps have a better product than you, a known product and they have evidence to document their claims. You, on the other hand, can put the client on the radio (talk about "stroking egos").

> I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I
> understand the need that my station serves, and I under how
> my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about
> me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless crap
> on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype
> sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates
> that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus
> Christ!"
> I also know that there are some advertisers who do not
> benefit themselves by advertising on KYW, they do it so they
> can stroke their egos. I also know that Fred Sherman should
> be put out to pasture, his on air delivery Sucks, and is
> antiquated. He sings the KYW tagline for goodness sake, and
> I don't care if it's his trademark.
>
> My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they
> offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when the
> average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves
> advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the world)How
> do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least
> remain among the top 3.
> Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM
> station is not one of them)
>

 

[Chesterco]

"I work for an AM radio station that owns its market." Saying WCOJ "owns" West Chester is like saying WTMR "owns" Camden. Sheesh, I gave KYW 20 minutes and they gave me the world. I gave 20 minutes to WCOJ and I got older.

West Chester has 2 radio stations. WCHE, a 250 watt daytimer, is doing a fine job. The morning talk show has really grown and it sounds like they have some solid paying spots. They're a fine small market station with no delusions of grandeur. To me, that's "superserving" your market.

(By the way, in the first quoted line of this post I dropped rubberballsNliquor’s apostrophe on “its.” Some of us in Chester County have a basic understanding of grammar.)

 

[BrianT]

> I agree whole-heartedly with Jim...KYW gives the listener exactly what they want..a comprehensive, yet fast look at the news, sports, weather and traffic.
Their slogan of "you give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world" is right on.







Perhaps you should have read David Hinckley's column in
> yesterday's NY Daily News. He wrote about WINS which
> starated the format a month after co-owned KYW.
> The same "you give us 22 minutes" slogan.
>
> It works in NYC, it works here.
>
> Some of us prefer to get our news in capsule form on the
> KYWs and WINS' of this world. And since WINS pulls in 2.5
> million different listeners during the course of an average
> week, and KYW pulling a similar Philly size numbers, it is
> obvious that many people want to hear what is being offered.
>
>
> You do not have to like KYW. You do not have to listen.
> But for many of us adults in the working world, we start and
> end the work day with KYW. I get out of bed at 4:30am to
> make the drive to Philly. I want to know what happened over
> night and what traffic problems to expect. When I get out
> of the office at 3:30pm, I again tune in to find out what
> happened during the day and what to expect driving home. And
> it is the case in morning and evening that I listen for at
> least a full half hour. You can get everything you need in
> 22 minutes, but I like to hear the full half hour of news,
> including the more full business news at :25 and :55. Yes,
> Fred Sherrrrrrrrman can grate on the nerves sometimes, but I
> value his opinion, particularly his "Stocks to Watch" which
> I read on KYW on-line (I can't listen to the "Opening Bell"
> at work). Since I have two careers, radio and as a
> financial analyst, I actually have earned enough to have
> money invested.
>
> You apparently do not need this. Fine. That's why there
> are a lot of stations out there. For most adults in the
> working world, we want to know what KYW tells us. It does
> effect our lives.
>
>
> > I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I
> > understand the need that my station serves, and I under
> how
> > my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about
> > me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless
> crap
> > on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype
> > sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates
> > that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus
> > Christ!"
> > I also know that there are some advertisers who do not
> > benefit themselves by advertising on KYW, they do it so
> they
> > can stroke their egos. I also know that Fred Sherman
> should
> > be put out to pasture, his on air delivery Sucks, and is
> > antiquated. He sings the KYW tagline for goodness sake,
> and
> > I don't care if it's his trademark.
> >
> > My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they
> > offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when
> the
> > average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves
> > advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the
> world)How
> > do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least
> > remain among the top 3.
> > Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM
> > station is not one of them)
> >
>

 

[gethigh]

> "I work for an AM radio station that owns its market."
> Saying WCOJ "owns" West Chester is like saying WTMR "owns"
> Camden. Sheesh, I gave KYW 20 minutes and they gave me the
> world. I gave 20 minutes to WCOJ and I got older.
>
> West Chester has 2 radio stations. WCHE, a 250 watt
> daytimer, is doing a fine job. The morning talk show has
> really grown and it sounds like they have some solid paying
> spots. They're a fine small market station with no delusions
> of grandeur. To me, that's "superserving" your market.
>
> (By the way, in the first quoted line of this post I dropped
> rubberballsNliquor’s apostrophe on “its.” Some of us in
> Chester County have a basic understanding of grammar.)
>

Are you some kind of idiot?? WCHE is a 250 Watt Daytimer as you said, and you actually compare that to a 5,000 watt fulltime. WCHE gives time away and plays psa's. they aren't heard very far outside of west chester. at 250 watts, I don't see how 'CHE can seriously be "the talk of chester county" most of their programming is playing moldy oldies. besides, have you ever been in the studios of WCHE? I went there one time to see if I could do a 1 hour show....what a disaster of a station that place is. It looks like children run it, WCHE is no less then a hobby for the jokers who run it. nobody in chester county...except for you take them seriously. Hell, they are probably going to tank soon, even West chester university finally woke up and yanked the Golden Rams broadcast from WCHE once they realized that NOBODY WAS LISTENING.

 

[Chesterco]

At least no one from WCHE has been asinine enough to trash KYW in favor of their station.

Yes sir, give me Fred Sherrrrrrman over Ron McNiel any day.

Captain Happy, you don't seem to be living up to your nickname. I would have thought name calling was beneath you. (Insert gag here.) Calm down, it's only local radio.

 

[rdcuff]

The 22 minutes refers to the portion of a half hour that isn't advertising, right?

I've been listening to KYW since I could hear them on skip at night in Buffalo in the 1960s.

I've been living somewhere in & around the Delaware Valley since 1979.

Through all that time very little has changed in the on-air product. That provides a comforting component to the morning routine, just like WBEN's Clint Buehlmann did in Buffalo for decades.

While my "consumption" of information has changed since the Internet came into my house, I can still get an updated sports score at the beginning of a half hour and not just a "tease" that says "coming up in sports..."

KYW's news coverage is too Philadelphia city-centric for my tastes up in Allentown, but that's my problem, not theirs.

By definition, I would surmise you can't compete against KYW in your situation. You aren't in their league. You should chase after ad dollars from local businesses, not those with regional draws.


>
> My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they
> offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when the
> average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves
> advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the world)How
> do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least
> remain among the top 3.
> Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM
> station is not one of them)
>

 

[eGillCVI]

Everybody listens to KYW at one time or another. Seriously. And the way Arbitron has these silly diaries filled out, it's no wonder people are over-stating how much they're listening.

PPM's will change KYW's ratings drastically which will make some people happy and others sad. I don't expect their numbers to tank, but I also don't expect KYW will be #1 or #2 12+ after the Arbitron "revolution."

However, KYW has a solid product and it's the closest thing this market has to "heritage." They apparently do a lot of research to find out what's working, what's not, and what they need to do to stay relevant. Regardless, there will always be people--albeit a minority--who find KYW irrelevant. But KYW couldn't care less. They'll probably outlast every other station in the market.

Hell, it's been 40 years already! Why would anything change now?

> I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I
> understand the need that my station serves, and I under how
> my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about
> me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless crap
> on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype
> sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates
> that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus
> Christ!"
> I also know that there are some advertisers who do not
> benefit themselves by advertising on KYW, they do it so they
> can stroke their egos. I also know that Fred Sherman should
> be put out to pasture, his on air delivery Sucks, and is
> antiquated. He sings the KYW tagline for goodness sake, and
> I don't care if it's his trademark.
>
> My question is what is the magic about KYW? I know they
> offer necessary info, news traffic and weather. But when the
> average TSL is roughly 20 minutes...as they themselves
> advertise ( give us 20 minutes, we'll give you the world)How
> do they consistantly pull in the #1 rating or at least
> remain among the top 3.
> Do they have any chinks in their armor? ( being an AM
> station is not one of them)
>

 

[DG02816]

Chiming in on the side of Jim and Brian...KYW is consistent with maintaining format.They've done the same thing for 40 years. I've been in PA just over 4 yrs and see them as a constant amidst the format flips of the week in this market. And I admit it...I like Haryy Donahue & Co. in the morning!


Dave Gardiner


WVCH 740

Chester/Philadelphia<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by DG02816 on 10/12/05 11:56 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[BobAltimari]

> I work for an AM radio station that owns it's market. I
> understand the need that my station serves, and I under how
> my AM radio station superserves it's market. ENough about
> me, I'm not KYW. I can't stand listening to the endless crap
> on KYW, none of the info effects me. I know that teletype
> sound is only there for effect. I know KYW charges rates
> that would make Billy Graham stand up and yell "Jesus
> Christ!"
>

Jesus, if it weren't for the jokes and perfect diction, I would have SWORN Julius May snuck back in!<P ID="signature">______________
I've done it all...HOO HOO...tell 'em, Fred!
FOX News Alert: YOU SUCK!!! Ya like apples?</P>

 

[OldNumber7]

> Do they have any chinks in their armor?

Interesting question. I think there are a couple of POTENTIAL challenges, but I'm sure they are doing a lot of thinking about how to make lemonade out of these:

First, I'm guessing the most active KYW users probably are the same people most likely to seek out the same sort of KYW-type information from other sources that now offer it. Why wait for a forecast or a score or a traffic report or school closing if you can get it from the Web or your cell-phone? KYW can't be happy that so much info that's been their bread and butter is now so widely available elsewhere (and becoming increasingly easy to get from those other sources).

Second, the transient population in the region is growing. More people have moved into the region (especially the outer burbs) in recent years with no allegiance to the city, the old neighborhoods, the Philly attitude...or KYW. It's a desirable upscale demo that risks getting lost unless the station can embrace it. WPVI-TV faces the same problem -- these people don't feel the market's heritage media is talking to them.

Third, the format isn't designed to speak to the younger demographics (nor should it be), but what mechanisms are in place to encourage people to discover KYW as they age? In the new sea of media alternatives, does a station like KYW get crowded out by other options facing the people who are aging into their 30s, buying homes and becoming commuters?

I'm sure there are other issues, but there's a couple for starters.

 

[TheRadioPolice]

Re: KYW...I'll bet they proofread!

Many of us work in radio or would like to. That being said, whether you're on-the-air or writing proposals for clients, good English usage and proofreading are both vital skills.

Let's take a look at the original post of this thread. For example, "I under how my AM radio station superserves it's market," or "ENough about me," Proofreading, anyone?

And how about "none of the info effects me." That would be "affects."

Finally, "they consistantly pull in the #1 rating" Spell check would make that "consistently."

Why is KYW outselling your station? If your sales proposals are written like your posts, perhaps they, like you, aren't taken seriously.
TRP

 

[bierkenstock]

> most of their programming is playing moldy oldies.

Yes. The same music Ron McNeil played on WCOJ until recently.

> I went there one time to see if I could do a 1 hour show

And what happened? Did they turn you down and so you went to do sales at WCOJ? If they are so bad, what does that say about you?

You might find this post interesting:
http://www.phillytalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1574&st=0&#entry10791


>
>
> Are you some kind of idiot?? WCHE is a 250 Watt Daytimer as
> you said, and you actually compare that to a 5,000 watt
> fulltime. WCHE gives time away and plays psa's. they aren't
> heard very far outside of west chester. at 250 watts, I
> don't see how 'CHE can seriously be "the talk of chester
> county" most of their programming is playing moldy oldies.
> besides, have you ever been in the studios of WCHE? I went
> there one time to see if I could do a 1 hour show....what a
> disaster of a station that place is. It looks like children
> run it, WCHE is no less then a hobby for the jokers who run
> it. nobody in chester county...except for you take them
> seriously. Hell, they are probably going to tank soon, even
> West chester university finally woke up and yanked the
> Golden Rams broadcast from WCHE once they realized that
> NOBODY WAS LISTENING.
>

 

[gethigh]

> > most of their programming is playing moldy oldies.
>
> Yes. The same music Ron McNeil played on WCOJ until
> recently.
>
> > I went there one time to see if I could do a 1 hour show
>
> And what happened? Did they turn you down and so you went
> to do sales at WCOJ? If they are so bad, what does that
> say about you?
>
> You might find this post interesting:
http://www.phi> llytalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1574&st=0&#entry10791
>
> not me...sorry. He seems to have a beef with rubberballsnliquor
>
> >
> >
> > Are you some kind of idiot?? WCHE is a 250 Watt Daytimer
> as
> > you said, and you actually compare that to a 5,000 watt
> > fulltime. WCHE gives time away and plays psa's. they
> aren't
> > heard very far outside of west chester. at 250 watts, I
> > don't see how 'CHE can seriously be "the talk of chester
> > county" most of their programming is playing moldy oldies.
>
> > besides, have you ever been in the studios of WCHE? I went
>
> > there one time to see if I could do a 1 hour show....what
> a
> > disaster of a station that place is. It looks like
> children
> > run it, WCHE is no less then a hobby for the jokers who
> run
> > it. nobody in chester county...except for you take them
> > seriously. Hell, they are probably going to tank soon,
> even
> > West chester university finally woke up and yanked the
> > Golden Rams broadcast from WCHE once they realized that
> > NOBODY WAS LISTENING.
> >
>

 

[Slinky]

> > not me...sorry. He seems to have a beef with
> rubberballsnliquor

Just an FYI: When you change usernames, your new username is still linked with your old profile.