LA Radio reports some possible format changes

[only1moore]

Well, regarding the possibility of a new Top 40 (probably a Rhythmic-leaning one) coming to Los Angeles, that idea does look attractive, since CBS seems to be on a Top 40 kick of sorts in Houston, Pittsburgh and Phoenix.

However, if CBS does bring one to LA, I wouldn't be surprised to see KIIS and KPWR pull out the famous retaliation card.

 

[trickman]

Oh, I'm sure they would. And selfishly speaking, a CHR battle in a city like LA would be SO much fun!!!

 

[LARadioNUT]

Two things...they aren't going to flip anything the weekend before Roy starts and two, it will be The Wave, not KLSX. KLSX does things for the clients that no other station can do and the advertisers that are loyal aren't going anywhere. KLSX may be down, but they are still profitable and made their last quarter budget...unlike most of the other stations in the cluster and CBS family. DavidEduardo, you do know a lot, but on this one, you are wrong.

Also, you claim Indie1031 does well in the west side and OC....the same place KLSX kicks ass...why does it not matter for KLSX but it does for indie?

 

[trickman]

Again, this is just my opinion, but I think both 94.7 and 97.1 days are numbered. However, 97.1 will more than likely get the CHR format.

Going on with what I said earlier, the perfect hybrid hits/hip hop/dance station that comes to mind for me is KISS 100 in London, but I know my dream of that will never happen.

Just check out the great mix of music in their playlist:

http://www.totalkiss.com/Channels/Music/Music_Playlist.aspx

 

[davideduardo]

Two things...they aren't going to flip anything the weekend before Roy starts and two, it will be The Wave, not KLSX. KLSX does things for the clients that no other station can do and the advertisers that are loyal aren't going anywhere. KLSX may be down, but they are still profitable and made their last quarter budget...unlike most of the other stations in the cluster and CBS family. DavidEduardo, you do know a lot, but on this one, you are wrong.

The Wave bills something like twice what KLSX does, and costs less to operate. KLSX is way down in the PPM, making its future very grim.

Next question...

Also, you claim Indie1031 does well in the west side and OC....the same place KLSX kicks ass...why does it not matter for KLSX but it does for indie?

KLSX is a full Wilson signal, one of the better ones, too. It should be billing above $30 million. Indie is a horrible, dreadful, nearly useless signal that found a tiny niche that was also salable to local merchants, just like a suburban newspaper. It may bill $7 million this year if lucky, but for what they paid for the station and its costs of operation, it's a good return... something you can not say for KLSX:

 

[djmimi]

I agree with David. Besides, you can always move the format to a satellite station, since Carolla and Leykis are already broadcasting into several different markets...

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree with David. Besides, you can always move the format to a satellite station, since Carolla and Leykis are already broadcasting into several different markets...

When San Francisco's Free FM imploded last year (total lack of listener interest), CBS moved Carolla and Leykis to their 1550 AM signal, which had been running podcasts and simulcasting KPIX-TV newscasts. At this point, only Leykis remains. I don't believe Carolla runs in the SF market at all anymore.

 

[ajhenderson]

Carolla's new deal was amended to take out his requirement to be cleared in SF. Since Leykis is distributed free of charge by CBS Radio, not WW1, KYCY doesn't have to pay to run him on their taxi frequency at crazy hours of the night.

 

[john77]

Well, regarding the possibility of a new Top 40 (probably a Rhythmic-leaning one) coming to Los Angeles, that idea does look attractive, since CBS seems to be on a Top 40 kick of sorts in Houston, Pittsburgh and Phoenix.

I very much doubt that a new CHR would be a "rhythmic leaning" as we technically already have this type of CHR here in KIIS and KPWR is taking nice of care of the Rhythmic audience... There is no hole between KIIS and KPWR, but there certainly is one between KIIS and fellow CC property, Hot AC KBIG.

 

[955wdhf]

Two things...they aren't going to flip anything the weekend before Roy starts and two, it will be The Wave, not KLSX. KLSX does things for the clients that no other station can do and the advertisers that are loyal aren't going anywhere. KLSX may be down, but they are still profitable and made their last quarter budget...unlike most of the other stations in the cluster and CBS family. DavidEduardo, you do know a lot, but on this one, you are wrong.

The Wave bills something like twice what KLSX does, and costs less to operate. KLSX is way down in the PPM, making its future very grim.

Next question...

Also, you claim Indie1031 does well in the west side and OC....the same place KLSX kicks ass...why does it not matter for KLSX but it does for indie?

KLSX is a full Wilson signal, one of the better ones, too. It should be billing above $30 million. Indie is a horrible, dreadful, nearly useless signal that found a tiny niche that was also salable to local merchants, just like a suburban newspaper. It may bill $7 million this year if lucky, but for what they paid for the station and its costs of operation, it's a good return... something you can not say for KLSX:

Well, I don't know if it's a good signal because I barely get it clear at all down in Southern Orange County like in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and parts of Luguna Niguel. Their signal is simular to 100.3.
It fades in and out.

 

[john77]

Very few markets do have two top 40 stations these days (Atlanta comes to mind), but KIIS makes a ton of money despite a 5.0 share.

Very few top 40 stations in any of our 20 largest cities and/or markets have ratings really worth bragging about, with WNCI/Columbus (16th largest city in the USA) leading the pack with a 7.7 the last time I checked, a rating which KIIS hasn't had since 1988.

KIIS's audience is approximately 42% Hispanic, as their MD pointed out in R&R last month, so getting Hispanics for them isn't a problem under any circumstances.

Anybody who'd want to take them on would undoubtedly set their sights on swiping listeners from KBIG, KOST & KYSR as well, which would be essentially mean more pop and less rhythmic music, with a much deeper and larger library than KIIS currently has.

Spot on, as always, Marv.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

A new CHR/Pop station to challenge KIIS won't have to 'lean rhythmic' at all.

There are tons of CHR/Pop hits from the past 3-5 years which KIIS ignored due to its protracted battle with KPWR for the 12-24 and 18-34 demos which would fit perfectly in the gold and recurrent libraries of the new station, including titles which KBIG & KOST have been playing for ages.

 

[davideduardo]

Well, I don't know if it's a good signal because I barely get it clear at all down in Southern Orange County like in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and parts of Luguna Niguel. Their signal is simular to 100.3.

KLSX is 21 kw off Wilson, while 100.3 is 5.3 kw. The difference in southern OC is not going to be noticable, as you are out of the good coverage area of both. KLSX and KOST come within a couple of miles of matching each other's coverage, with the advantage to KOST.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

A new CHR/Pop station to challenge KIIS won't have to 'lean rhythmic' at all.

There are tons of CHR/Pop hits from the past 3-5 years which KIIS ignored due to its protracted battle with KPWR for the 12-24 and 18-34 demos which would fit perfectly in the gold and recurrent libraries of the new station, including titles which KBIG & KOST have been playing for ages.

Nothing like playing a "ton" of unfamiliar recurrents and gold in a market. That's a receipe for success.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Just because KIIS didn't play those songs when they were hits doesn't make them unfamiliar, since those songs have undoubtedly been played on many of the area's 'adult-friendly' radio stations for many years, including those in both Ventura & SD County which can routinely and easily be heard throughout significant portions of the LA listening area.

 

[davideduardo]

Just because KIIS didn't play those songs when they were hits doesn't make them unfamiliar, since those songs have undoubtedly been played on many of the area's 'adult-friendly' radio stations for many years, including those in both Ventura & SD County which can routinely and easily be heard throughout significant portions of the LA listening area.

Our not-so-mysterious mystery poster is totally correct here. Neither the Ventura stations nor the SD ones have significant usage in the LA metro and very, very few would know those songs. Plus the fact that many of the KIIS listeners never cume the AC's.... most of that music is quite unfamiliar to the core KIIS P1.

 

[BigCrap]

I heard (from someone who would know) that KLSX is definitely on Roy's chopping block. Maybe that was a forgone conclusion to many of you (based on the public evidence, ratings, etc.), but now I'm convinced.

 

[zombywoof]

Roy Laughlin was on air with Adam Carolla between 6:00 and 6:30 this morning. The podcast will be available later this morning.

http://www.971freefm.com/pages/1247.php

 

[BigCrap]

The [Adam Carolla] show is now 17th in the core 18-49 demo. Considering that it is likely quite costly, I'd guess they might go for a buyout unless there is a performance clause.

David, have you listened to the link?
http://www.971freefm.com/pages/1247.php
Roy either completely supports the Adam Carolla show, or he is an incredibly bold liar attempting to misdirect everyone. I'm thinking he genuinely supports Carolla. Since you seem to be knowledgeabe and have sounded farily confident that the Carolla show is about to be canceled by CBS radio, I'm curious if this changes your mind.

BTW, while Roy said he is a big supporter of the Carolla show, mentioning that he admires the job the show has done filling Stern's shoes, there weren't any supportive (or negative) comments about KLSX. So maybe it flips, but Adam stays? Is there any other CBS property in LA where it would make sense to move him?

 

[zombywoof]

The podcast is up:

http://www.971freefm.com/episode_download.php?contentType=36&contentId=2846780

Give this a minute or two to load. This is a very odd segment. Carolla is known for getting into the studio just as the opening music is playing. It's clear that Laughlin wanted to talk to Carolla before the show but there was no time, and he simply followed Carolla into the studio as he blew past. What is unclear is whether he wanted to speak with Carolla on the air or whether he was waiting for the first break to speak to him privately. Regardless, he ends up on the air. I'd like to get some expert opinion on what's really going on here and what he's really saying. This all starts happening exactly two minutes into this podcast.