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Liberal Talk Keeps Improving in Portland

P

pdxmitch

Guest
I know it's just one market, but it's my market and the market I have numbers for. It's also liberal talk's biggest success story.

I know we can only post rankings here, so I'll just say KPOJ is #4 12+, #4, 25-54, #1 M18+, and Portland's #1 AM station.

KPOJ airs a local Thom Hartmann show in AM drive and Ed Schultz middays, but is AAR the rest of the day. They run AAR news during the day, ABC news when AAR's not available, plus a totally lacking "Northwest Radio News" service, with no local content except during morning drive.

I think KPOJ's success has a lot to do with having a great signal and getting all the attention that came with AAR's debut. Most new liberal talk stations seem to launch with little local fanfare these days (like most radio stations do). Sure, Portland's liberal, but so are most major markets. Portland does seem to consume media in disproportionately higher amounts, though. Although we're the #24 media market, we're usually at or near the top in Internet use surveys (we're the #4 most active city on CraigsList, I read just yesterday), #1 in public radio listenership (It's the #1 station here, although secretly since Arbitron doesn't list it), and there was something else media-related we were #1 in that I just read a couple days ago, but I've forgotten it. Anyway, I think it's the weather keeping us inside. And maybe that we don't have much else to do.

AAR Deathwatch day 400-something. Nearing 500 by now.
 
Huh?

> I know it's just one market, but it's my market and the
> market I have numbers for. It's also liberal talk's biggest
> success story.
>
> I know we can only post rankings here, so I'll just say KPOJ
> is #4 12+, #4, 25-54, #1 M18+, and Portland's #1 AM station.
>
>

What are you talking about? Portland Spring book not out 'till next week.

KPOJ is #12 12+ per R&R. It was down fall to winter. What're you trying to pull?
 
Re: Huh?

> What are you talking about? Portland Spring book not out
> 'till next week.
>
> KPOJ is #12 12+ per R&R. It was down fall to winter. What're
> you trying to pull?

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Mar-Apr-May trends, which I just saw yesterday. The P1 trends were up from the last book, too, which were the lowest ratings they'd had. I believe these are the highest ratings they've had, though. I think the launch of Hartmann's local show helped a lot.
 
>
> I think KPOJ's success has a lot to do with having a great
> signal and getting all the attention that came with AAR's
> debut. Most new liberal talk stations seem to launch with
> little local fanfare these days (like most radio stations
> do). Sure, Portland's liberal, but so are most major
> markets.

KPOJ also has a great spot on the dial, 620. I've long contended that progressive talk radio would have similar success in New York City if it were on a similar signal, such as WOR's 50,000 watts at 710. As it is, Air America is severely handicapped by being on WLIB's crappy signal at 1190.

The New York market is just as liberal as Portland, but liberals can't listen to a station that they can't hear. Even so, it's remarkable that in the New York market Al Franken has an audience that's two-thirds as large as Rush Limbaugh's in the 25-54 "money" demo -- and Franken actually beats WOR in that demo.
 
You captured something...

> I think KPOJ's success has a lot to do with having a great
> signal and getting all the attention that came with AAR's
> debut.

You hit two big factors straight on. Without a good signal
you can't attract a mass audience. I mean a GOOD signal.
Good in moving vehicles; good inside buildings; good in
homes, including home offices, garages and workshops.
Ain't gotta get there with 500 Watts on 1600 (no particular
station meant, just power/dial position in any market).

Attention. Barnum had it right. There is no such thing as
bad publicity. Whoever orchestrated the acclaim and protest
did a great job of getting attention.

Now for the lesson AAR needs to learn...and seems to be
learning:

If conservative stations relied only upon extreme conservatives
they'd die in the numbers.

If liberal stations try to rely only upon extreme liberals they'll
die in the numbers.

Radio = entertainment.

If a host takes himself too seriously, doomed.

About the only thing Limbaugh consistently does right is to
poke fun at himself in a way that some interpert as an overstuffed
ego. C'mon folks, it's a "bit".

Find a way to make your points while amusing/entertaining and you'll
get numbers...left or right 'cause most of the population does NOT
consist of ideologues. Without a broad-based audience you're preaching
to the choir and the choir is so busy singing the hymns they ain't
out spending money with potential advertisers.

BTW: That does NOT say "be moderate". It says be entertaining.<P ID="signature">______________
Yes, and even the fleas on their children's pets, the cockroaches under their sinks and the fleas on their camels.</P>
 
Re: Huh?

> I think the launch of Hartmann's local show helped a lot.

I've been listening to Hartmann's local show on the KPOJ stream instead of WLIB mornings, as I really don't like Jerry Springer's radio style, and I find his KPOJ show to be even better than his national show. Very entertaining!

I can see how he may have helped to kick up KPOJ's numbers.<P ID="signature">______________
also known as tombetz.</P>
 
Re: Huh?

> > What are you talking about? Portland Spring book not out
> > 'till next week.
> >
> > KPOJ is #12 12+ per R&R. It was down fall to winter.
> What're
> > you trying to pull?
>
> Sorry, I should have been more clear. Mar-Apr-May trends,
> which I just saw yesterday. The P1 trends were up from the
> last book, too, which were the lowest ratings they'd had. I
> believe these are the highest ratings they've had, though.
> I think the launch of Hartmann's local show helped a lot.
>
that's the same trend listed at R&R, it says 12TH.
 
Re: Huh?

> > > What're you trying to pull?

> > Sorry, I should have been more clear. Mar-Apr-May trends

> that's the same trend listed at R&R, it says 12TH.

Arbitron has actually embargoed trends for Portland. If you look at the top of the column, it says "Wi'05" and not "Sp'05 P2."
 
Hartmann Also added to AM 1090 Seattle

Beginning this weekend (23-24, July '05), Thom Hartmann (his ntl show) added to 50,000 watt "Seattle's Progressive Talk, AM 1090" weekends, from 11a-2p. Stephanie Miller, Lionel, Clark Howard, and Amy Goodman are also part of the New AM 1090 Weekend lineup...

Re: to Les on signals: Theoretically, here, AM 1090 and AM 620 cover all of western WA and nw OREGON, that is, combined between the two...

Anyone have info on coverage of these stations in Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon???

KPOJ 620kHz 25kW/10kW DA2 class B

KPTK 1090kHz 50kW/50kW DA2 class B

And, of course, 25kW at 620kHz ='s greater horizontal groundwave propagation than higher on the dial...so KPOJ is a HUGE signal...

And, 1090's skywave goes well N into Canada at night...since skywave distance increases as you go up the dial...


U' wrote:
> > I think the launch of Hartmann's local show helped a lot.
>
> I've been listening to Hartmann's local show on the KPOJ
> stream instead of WLIB mornings, as I really don't like
> Jerry Springer's radio style, and I find his KPOJ show to be
> even better than his national show. Very entertaining!
>
> I can see how he may have helped to kick up KPOJ's numbers.
> <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by this Tom: on 07/24/05 06:30 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Its the Signal ..and its not stupid to think that way

> You hit two big factors straight on. Without a good signal
> you can't attract a mass audience. I mean a GOOD signal.
> Good in moving vehicles; good inside buildings; good in
> homes, including home offices, garages and workshops.
> Ain't gotta get there with 500 Watts on 1600 (no particular
> station meant, just power/dial position in any market).
>

I argued this same point a few weeks back due to the Boston issue.... when lib radio has quality signal they do well....and on FM in Madison they do well too.

Ive suggested that maybe its time for AAR to figure the next step and thats to improve what they have for now....as they continue to grow, Im sure they will get better signals but for now, they don't get the best stations...so its going to be sometimes an uphill struggle...

I hope this will work for KTLK in LA, they got 50Kw but someone posted that they have more nulls and signal problems than expected....so with some work maybe things will turn out a little better as the format grows...

Im a little mystified that there is no effort among liberal investors to grab the ABC/Disney stations.....what a blast that would be....id love to kick Elder out in LA and kick all the WABC people (especially that Hannity dude) to the curb and bring in good liberal hosts .....I dont care if its AAR or Jones or Democracy Now ...plus they get KGO if that happened....man, that would be simply awesome..

and before a conservative attacks me for saying that....think Salem...if thats ok, its certainly ok for AAR or others to have a "built-in" network of stations.

its SIGNAL ...baybee!
 
Re: Its the Signal ..and its not stupid to think that way

> ....so with some work maybe things will turn
> out a little better as the format grows...


I think the format is doing fine....AAR, the network however, need ALOT of help. Maybe that's what you meant to say.<P ID="signature">______________



</P>
 
Re: Its the Signal ..and its not stupid to think that way

> I argued this same point a few weeks back due to the Boston
> issue.... when lib radio has quality signal they do
> well....and on FM in Madison they do well too.
>
> Ive suggested that maybe its time for AAR to figure the next
> step and thats to improve what they have for now....as they
> continue to grow, Im sure they will get better signals but
> for now, they don't get the best stations...so its going to
> be sometimes an uphill struggle...
>
> I hope this will work for KTLK in LA, they got 50Kw but
> someone posted that they have more nulls and signal problems
> than expected....so with some work maybe things will turn
> out a little better as the format grows...

.....Disclaimer: doc9464...I pointed this out, and my prediction of insufficient coverage for the L.A. market is ONLY meant to be just a prediction based on theoretical considerations by looking at data on the FCC web site...The new pdf FCC web site pattern plots for AM stations make it much easier to understand... ***By any chance is there anyone here familiar with KTLK's directional signal, 50kW/44kW DA2, and its coverage of the market???*** :)

.....as for 50kW/50kW DA2 class B AM 1090 Seattle's Progressive Talk, from direct measurements I can say that the signal fades in and out or is nonexistent at times all together at night in the rapidly growing eastern and southeastern suburbs such as Issaquah, Maple Valley, Covington, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Auburn, etc. Between 80 degrees and 170 degrees the Eaug = less than 275 mV/m at 1km with the lowest value of 104 mV/m at 90 degrees.

.....On the other hand, some of these towns are some of the most "red" areas of the market area...The station sends a huge amount of energy to the north of Seattle, both day and night (max at night - Eaug 4124mV/m at 1km 5 degrees and 4129mV/m at 240o). I haven't been in Everett, Whidbey Island, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, etc. at night, but from theoretical considerations and the salt water of Puget Sound, I would bet that they are getting plenty of power with no interference day and night...

So don't get me wrong about 1090, it's still an EXCELLENT signal compared to many other AAR and prog talk affiliates...covering Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue... I've heard it in Ellensburg in eastern Wa. during the day. It's just the growing fringe suburbs which of course are well away from the city of license...that's the engineering challenge for lots of growing metro areas...

....AM 620 KPOJ Portland has no problem whatsoever covering Portland and all its suburbs plus the Willammette Valley (Salem,Kaiser,Corvallis,Albany,Eugene,Springfield) and SW Washington (Kelso,Longview) 25kW/10kW DA2

...AM 540 KRXA Carmel Valley / Monterey Bay is a good signal 10kW/500watts DA at only 540kHz...salt water to its advantage, both day and night...

Other tech folks, please add other AAR and prog talk stations you're familiar with...<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by this Tom: on 07/25/05 07:19 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Its the Signal ..and the voice!

In listing the advantages of a strong signal someone forgot to mention that good radio voices come through a lot better with a strong signal. Some radio guys just have a better voice, and an appealing voice helps a lot. Art Bell, Thom Hartmann and Doug Stephan are some with outstanding voices. A resonant animated voice sounds a lot better when it's fully modulated, and flat when it's underpowered. One reason FM talk radio can be appealing, and when are we gonna get AM Stereo? Unfortunately the bandwidth on Sirius is an insult to voice admirers so I can't recommend it. Don't know about voice on XM though.<P ID="signature">______________
• K5ZN</P>
 
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