Layoffs coming to 95.7

[ContactLenz]

@Interloper...really? When I carried the A's on my NON-sports station, I got a bump of 60,000 in 25-54 cume. I'd call that a pretty nice hit, and one that can mean the difference between a successful station and one that sucks.

I am not saying a station won't have success with PBP, BUT depending on your deal, and the fact that unless you convert that cume, you likely broke even at best with revenue, and maybe get a bump, but it doesn't build audience and sustained loyalty unless your other programming (sports host shows as an example) is compelling. Helps also as you know if the team is decent, or at least competitive throughout the season.

My point is that if one thinks that PBP is a "magic bullet", they are wrong. Otherwise you would see many more sports stations and even some non-sports stations lining up to clear a team and their games.

Plus, even though baseball captures the imagination best on the air more than any other sport, it also consumes the most time (162 games) and just like most music programers know "you won't be hurt by what you don't play, but can be with what you do."

 

[LKellerIII]

So in the future the only radio formats on FM in the bay area will be talk, news, religion, ethnic, and sports? I hope not!

Are you about doing radio or are you about being a DJ? FM is indeed moving to talk, news, religion, ethnic, and sports. AM radio disappeared off the radar years ago, even for Hispanics and Hindis.

And if it's true that music is increasingly less popular on FM, especially with the younger demographic - due to MP3s, the ease of downloading music for the lowest prices ever (corrected for inflation), and internet radio - there will be room for news, talks, sports, etc. - on FM.

Keep in mind - when I was young in 1970, single songs were available on 45 RPM records for 99 cents...sometimes discounted as low as 69 cents in the "remainder:" bins of record stores. Corrected for inflation, that's $5.50 in current dollars per 1970 dollar. Meanwhile, songs download today for 99 cents to $1.29.

 

[RadioStarOne]

That's just fine and I agree, but to eliminate music on the FM band completely would be kind of crazy. That is what it reads like their saying to me when they post those comments! nuff said, so sorry if anyone took what I was saying the wrong way.

 

[MWLX]

Lots of uninformed info on this thread. No layoffs at 95.7 since the original May posting. Coming up on the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 1 switch to all-sports format. Decent publicity budget. Good job of carrying A's broadcasts with full pre- and post-game coverage. Negotiating to carry Warriors broadcasts.

From a quality standpoint, the content is easily the equal of KNBR, which got stale with its 20-year headstart. Entercom deserves some credit for giving this format a legitimate chance to succeed. Whether it will or not is a question yet to be answered.

 

[1069_KIFR]

When the A's and Giants play each other, I do tune to 95.7 for the much better sound quality.

 

[Phedeks]

Obviously some KNBR fanboys in here stirring things up. The Game is just a better station. Period. Sound Quality and Subject matter. KNBR = Giants 90% of the time. I'm sorry but I can't listen to that and only that. The Game talks football still, KNBR doesn't talk football until football season or the draft and it's brief and STILL GIANTS OFF SEASON TALK. It's a fact talking football generates interest so what the hell is KNBR doing? They are so clueless. If 95.7 gets Ralph Barbieri it's a wrap.

 

[SportsDotCom]

I agree with David. Talk & Sports can prosper on FM. The Games just has poor content/ programming. Their management seems unable to figure it out.

What can they do better? Are there any local sports talkers that they can hire? Whether it's hiring away from KNBR stable or out of work talkers? I know there are some guys in their current stable that are not locals.

On a side note... Have the replaced Barbieri on KNBR?

 

[radioguy39nj]

I agree with David. Talk & Sports can prosper on FM.

It's already happening elsewhere. You've got the KCBS All-News 740 AM & 106.9 FM simulcast out there. DC's all-news WTOP (103.5 FM) is the highest billing station in the country. CBS' 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit is #1 in that market. Competing sports stations in Boston and Philly are on FM.

Anybody see a trend here? News, talk & sports formats are migrating to FM.

 

[Finatic]

Obviously some KNBR fanboys in here stirring things up. The Game is just a better station. Period. Sound Quality and Subject matter. KNBR = Giants 90% of the time. I'm sorry but I can't listen to that and only that. The Game talks football still, KNBR doesn't talk football until football season or the draft and it's brief and STILL GIANTS OFF SEASON TALK. It's a fact talking football generates interest so what the hell is KNBR doing? They are so clueless. If 95.7 gets Ralph Barbieri it's a wrap.

Hmm, well I'm not quite sure what makes one a KNBR "fanboy". I am a longtime KNBR listener, and I have listened to "The Game" as well since it's inception (and still do). I don't agree at all that "The Game" is a better station. Sound quality, ya, ok, sure. It is better, but if I don't like the programming I'm not going to listen because the sound quality is good. Subject matter? Depends on your interests. I can see where A's/Raiders fans would prefer "The Game". There's no denying KNBR's focus on the Giants and 49ers. But I've heard an awful lot of drivel on 95.7, and while their "Lucky Break" contest was interesting, "The Guru" is atrocious. I can respect your view if you like 95.7 better, but to say KNBR is clueless is a bit absurd considering their ratings vs. "The Game" which has made NO improvement whatsoever after being on for over a year and gets ONE SIXTH the audience KNBR does. And if 95.7 gets Ralph, it's a wrap? Huh? Again, 95.7's starting point is one-sixth the audience. Maybe Ralph would add a bit, but based on his appearance a couple weeks back, where he sounded pretty out of it, I'm not sure he's capable of handling a show, at least full-time. If "The Game" hasn't made a dent in over a year, I wouldn't bet on them surviving in the long run.

 

[recto101]

Ok if 95.7FM is going down the tubes. Wouldn't Cumulus buy 95.7 FM and Kill off 1050AM and put programming there. Or will the flip take place once 95.7 gets the NBC Sports Radio Network? I know KNBR/KTCT was named in a CBS Press release to carry CBS Sports via Cumulus/CBS agreement.

 

[geek-orama]

Since Entercom bought KBLX to keep Cumulus from adding an FM to KNBR I doubt they would sell them 95.7.

 

[djtalker]

For some reason, 95.7 has added a goon called guru and he definetly is the worst presentation on the station. Obvously comes cheap and thinks he's doing the listeners a favor by putting down a selected few A's players. Everyother word is "folks" one of the most overused words in the industry. They think he is cute because he won a local comedy contest the station sponsored. I believe he is on Sunday nights. I feel embarassed for him and the station. I'm sure management must have some kind of integrity to the broadcast community to judge what is right or wrong.

 

[Finatic]

For some reason, 95.7 has added a goon called guru and he definetly is the worst presentation on the station. Obvously comes cheap and thinks he's doing the listeners a favor by putting down a selected few A's players. Everyother word is "folks" one of the most overused words in the industry. They think he is cute because he won a local comedy contest the station sponsored. I believe he is on Sunday nights. I feel embarassed for him and the station. I'm sure management must have some kind of integrity to the broadcast community to judge what is right or wrong.

Yes, "The Guru" was the winner of their "Lucky Break" contest, which was not a comedy contest, but a contest to win a one year on-air contract with the station. The contest was a fun idea, and in the interest of full disclosure, I was one of the early contestants, and was deservedly eliminated in the first round. So what I'm about to say is definitely not sour grapes. But "The Guru" is a joke. I heard him during the Sharks playoffs and he repeatedly referred to "Coach McKellen". (For those non-hockey fans, the Sharks coach's name is Todd McLellan.) I'm sorry, but if you've been given a chance to start a career in radio, at least take it seriously enough to get key people's names right. I get that he has no prior experience, but he's an awful communicator and not radio material, IMHO. To me, the problem with this contest and with 95.7 in general, is that they seem far more focused on their on-air talent having "attitude" than actually knowing what they're talking about or being good broadcasters.

 

[LKellerIII]

For some reason, 95.7 has added a goon called guru and he definetly is the worst presentation on the station. Obvously comes cheap and thinks he's doing the listeners a favor by putting down a selected few A's players. Everyother word is "folks" one of the most overused words in the industry. They think he is cute because he won a local comedy contest the station sponsored. I believe he is on Sunday nights. I feel embarassed for him and the station. I'm sure management must have some kind of integrity to the broadcast community to judge what is right or wrong.

Yes, "The Guru" was the winner of their "Lucky Break" contest, which was not a comedy contest, but a contest to win a one year on-air contract with the station. The contest was a fun idea, and in the interest of full disclosure, I was one of the early contestants, and was deservedly eliminated in the first round. So what I'm about to say is definitely not sour grapes. But "The Guru" is a joke. I heard him during the Sharks playoffs and he repeatedly referred to "Coach McKellen". (For those non-hockey fans, the Sharks coach's name is Todd McLellan.) I'm sorry, but if you've been given a chance to start a career in radio, at least take it seriously enough to get key people's names right. I get that he has no prior experience, but he's an awful communicator and not radio material, IMHO. To me, the problem with this contest and with 95.7 in general, is that they seem far more focused on their on-air talent having "attitude" than actually knowing what they're talking about or being good broadcasters.

He sounds like Milt Kahn. He was a "super-fan" type who used to call in to KNBR, and I guess somebody liked him, so they gave him a few few fill-in gigs on KNBR in the early 70s. KPIX was looking for a new sports-anchor and got the bright idea to hire Kahn. He was funny looking, had a lot of facial tics, couldn't read a teleprompter very well, and made a lot of verbal gaffes.

Finally on that fateful day in 1975 (IIRC) when Hank Aaron beat Babe Ruth's career home run record...709, I think; Kahn opened his sportscast by announcing, "Babe Ruth has just beat Hank Aarons's career home run record..."

Milt was gone the next day.

I also recall that in the late 60s, KRLA Top 40 radio in LA had a contest to fill their morning drive spot. If you won, you became the morning drive DJ. The contest got a lot of publicity for the station. A lot of star-struck teen listeners and amateurs called in to audition. You had to correctly say the tongue-twister "Sweet swinging Sally sold silver sea shells by the shining sea shore." The ultimate "winner" was a ringer - Russ O'Hara, who had been a soul DJ across town at KGFJ. Nobody ever called the station on their little trick.