Lotus

[davideduardo]

It depends on what the reporters do. If they go out, cover stories, and provide audio, that function can be done by TV. As long as there are live anchors reading the news, the audio is just an accessory to telling the story. It's obviously more interesting with actual quotes, but the story can be told without it.

Very good point. When I took WUNO in San Juan to all-news around 1983 we were up against Mike Joseph's WKAQ, which had been all news for half a decade and had had a morning 6 AM to 9 AM news block for nearly 30 years. And they had one of the two biggest TV stations in the same building.

We got all the non-local news via AP, and most of the local news that way, too, as both AP and UPI had local bureaus. We also got open-air police and fire and government service radio reports. Added in were "correspondents" who were in the local governments of the six main municipalities (like "counties" on the mainland) and authorized by them.

Our feature was to use reverse phone directories and call until we got a neighbor or business next door or someone who was an eye witness to describe what they saw on the scene. Our anchors were very good at that type of "man in the street" interview and it gave us a very real local feel.. Out approach was very "street" in all aspects, so that gave us the flavor we wanted.

The result is that we had someone on the scene 30 minutes to 45 minutes before the "other station" even if they were not a professional reporter. With San Juan's traffic, sometimes we had on-scene descriptions of fires, protests, big accidents and other such events as much as an hour ahead of the traditional all news station and within less than a year were beating them.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Well, apparently this is a bigger story than I thought. I noticed on Monday that the KOMO-TV simulcast at 11 PM was gone, and it hasn't returned all week. It does appear that at least some of the reporters are still on through today, as I heard Corwin just the other day, can't remember whether it was yesterday or Wednesday.

Lance's post just a few steps above yours says just that, some are working through today

 

[Kelly A]

Just as an aside; here's a heritage news radio station that's going through some significant staffing cuts, and what is the most talked-about topic? When what friggin music station is going to go Christmas first.
I get it. Nobody would confuse many on this site for brain surgeons, but good Lord, really??

 

[lanceventa]

Just as an aside; here's a heritage news radio station that's going through some significant staffing cuts, and what is the most talked-about topic? When what friggin music station is going to go Christmas first.
I get it. Nobody would confuse many on this site for brain surgeons, but good Lord, really??

Maybe since outside of this thread, it hasn't been reported anywhere so nobody knows it is happening? Just like the KUNS thread, you can't just make a story appear if there is nobody sending the story.

I'm probably the only "reporter" even trying to get information about the cuts from the station, but we're talking about a company that is very tight-lipped to begin with. Only one person has even posted that they were cut publicly and two others simply updated their LinkedINs to show they no longer work there. Pretty hard to make a report with only a sliver of the details out there.

 

[Kelly A]

Maybe since outside of this thread, it hasn't been reported anywhere so nobody knows it is happening? Just like the KUNS thread, you can't just make a story appear if there is nobody sending the story.

I'm really talking about numbers. In other words, look at the numbers of Christmas music predictions right here on the Seattle/Tacoma forum over 24 hours, versus comments about the changes at AM-1000. It seems like the most innocuous, benign, least impactful topics that include bottom feeders like KIXI, speculating about which station will flip Country, or some LP in Olympia, get more interest than a heritage station making major changes in Seattle. It's like some alternative universe.

I'm probably the only "reporter" even trying to get information about the cuts from the station, but we're talking about a company that is very tight-lipped to begin with. Only one person has even posted that they were cut publicly and two others simply updated their LinkedINs to show they no longer work there. Pretty hard to make a report with only a sliver of the details out there.

Not to hijack this topic, but since you already did: Think about it for a second Lance; a Univision station in the market is about to be replaced by a conventional English language format. Do you really expect Sinclair to sing it from Mt. Rainier? As CarDealer-Seller-Whatever said (sorry K); that was a press release intended for ad agencies and their sellers, so they can take into account (pardon the pun) the upcoming changes and target demographics in programming at KUNS. Announcing something that effects the Hispanic viewers in Seattle Tacoma is red meat to some news agencies, who would likely run a headline that might include (hyperbolic example) Sinclair pulls the rug out from Hispanics in Seattle! I made that up, but you get the idea.

Now, let's get back to the changes at AM-1000.

 

[Kelly A]

It depends on what the reporters do. If they go out, cover stories, and provide audio, that function can be done by TV. As long as there are live anchors reading the news, the audio is just an accessory to telling the story. It's obviously more interesting with actual quotes, but the story can be told without it.

And I worked at KOMO when sometimes they used the same package audio from TV on KOMO Radio. The problem was when reporters were at a scene, bouncing back and forth between describing what happened, which many times for TV just isn't necessary, and letting the video tell part of the story: 'As you can see here.' 'This crime scene tape tells the story'. 'Looking over here, you can see the damage to the roofs of these homes..' I understand that Lotus is willing to take the risk because of the current ad revenue challenges verses the cost of doing something different, especially on an AM station. I think that diluted news content by playing TV stories on radio are only going to degrade the overall product.

The folks at KIRO 97.3 must rightfully be jumping for joy. Lotus is essentially throwing in the news towel in Seattle. No mas!!

There's no question that advertising revenue has fallen for everyone. Even NPR, Sirius, and Spotify have identified advertising shortfalls as the reason for cutbacks.

I'd say those particular cuts are for different reasons. In the case of NPR and SXM, many of those cuts were related to their acquisition or ramping-up of podcasts. Donors and sponsorship dollars just didn't offset the cost of hiring all the producers, reporters, and editors whose job was focused primarily on producing podcasts. The only one making money on podcasts these days is Joe Rogan.

When revenue goes down, you can't pay people. There are some expenses, such as rent or insurance, they can't avoid. But they can lay off staff. If the people are laid off, they could return when the economy improves.

I get it and have worked at the corporate level when those tough decisions are made. It's understanding whether pain and effort is worth the risk. You're right, that news is a HUGE commitment. But given the geopolitical climate and going into an election year, this isn't the time to throw in the towel. Sometimes as a business, you need to dig in, cut expenses where you can, but in my view, not if listeners are going to hear a significantly diminished product.

 

[TheBigA]

I think that diluted news content by playing TV stories on radio are only going to degrade the overall product.

Champaign taste and beer money. This is the lowest rated news station in town. It's being beat by an NPR station in Tacoma! When the choice is between using TV audio and not covering news at all, you run TV audio. You try to avoid the obvious bad cuts where they say "As you can see...." That's not impossible. In fact it's very easy.

The folks at KIRO 97.3 must rightfully be jumping for joy. Lotus is essentially throwing in the news towel in Seattle. No mas!!

Have you looked at the ratings? The white towel was thrown a while ago.

But given the geopolitical climate and going into an election year, this isn't the time to throw in the towel. Sometimes as a business, you need to dig in, cut expenses where you can, but in my view, not if listeners are going to hear a significantly diminished product.

Listeners have already made their decision, and they did it when the station had a full staff of reporters. They went from a 3.4 to a 2.2. If they weren't competitive then, it's never going to happen.

 

[Kelly A]

Champaign taste and beer money. This is the lowest rated news station in town. It's being beat by an NPR station in Tacoma! When the choice is between using TV audio and not covering news at all, you run TV audio.

You're right about one thing; trying to generate Champaign-revenue results on a Miller Light(tm) investment is a recipe for failure. They got these stations for a song, and they clearly intended on running them on the same scale song. But news stations from a revenue perspective (which, last I checked is what matters) don't have to have huge ratings. One needs to only look at WTOP for an example. If you're going to deliver a watered-down product, expect ratings and revenue that reflects it.

You try to avoid the obvious bad cuts where they say "As you can see...." That's not impossible. In fact it's very easy.

Again I'm not in the hot seat, but it seems like cutting your reporter staff entirely is taking too large of a bite. Realizing one doesn't harm the golden geese stations, but I can't help but think assuming you can stick TV on the radio will not gain the savings or results they're hoping for.

Have you looked at the ratings? The white towel was thrown a while ago.

N/T stations have always had big ratings swings. A lot is attributed to the amount of news. This isn't a Country station we're talking about here.

 

[TheBigA]

N/T stations have always had big ratings swings. A lot is attributed to the amount of news. This isn't a Country station we're talking about here.

The drop has happened over 6 months. KUOW is #1 this month, so obviously it's not the format's fault.

 

[Kelly A]

The drop has happened over 6 months. KUOW is #1 this month, so obviously it's not the format's fault.

Most NPR affiliates are doing well from a ratings perspective, but as you pointed out, it hasn't been reflected in revenue from UC's or donations. WAMU Washington D.C. has been top three 18-34 and 25-54 for the past two years. WTOP has been not even top ten in the last three books. And yet, who brings in the most revenue? Hint, it's not WAMU.

 

[TheBigA]

And yet, who brings in the most revenue? Hint, it's not WAMU.

I'm sure KIRO is doing fine in the revenue department, and their ratings held steady while KNWN dropped like a stone.

I don't care what format you're in, if you drop that far that fast, there's a problem.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm sure KIRO is doing fine in the revenue department, and their ratings held steady while KNWN dropped like a stone.

I don't care what format you're in, if you drop that far that fast, there's a problem.

I've never claimed that there wasn't a problem with KNWN. Part of that might be the decline of AM listeners. Their FM is a poor excuse for a rimshot. That, and they spend zero on promotion, and likely cut out the research and programming consultants. Sometimes you can't cut your way to prosperity.

 

[xmtrland]

KIRO FM has benefited in several ways with the demise of AM1000. KIRO FM also has an agreement with KIRO TV to use news stories and they are able to integrate them well.

Maybe lotus feels that if they lean more on KOMO TV and have to give them credit after or before every story the give the impression they are still KOMO, They only have to mention the legal calls at the top of the hour. So to the average listener they are KOMO again, just a thought.

 

[davideduardo]

I've never claimed that there wasn't a problem with KNWN. Part of that might be the decline of AM listeners.

You bring up a valid point that can be contributing here. Fewer AM choices over time and a lessening of quality can produced overall lesser cume traffic on AM. I have seen this over the last year or so with the move of KNX to FM: the remaining AM band cume and station shares are in a wobbly but steady decline.

I've seen this in a variety of markets as benchmark stations add FM or move to FM; the remaining share for the other AMs declines because of the loss in what we could call "band traffic".

Of course, there are so many other variables involved. In particular, AM news, talk and sports have "news cycles" which rise and fall based on events ranging from wars to having a winning season; that makes analysis of other factors hard, just as all situations with multiple variables are.

 

[Kelly A]

Maybe lotus feels that if they lean more on KOMO TV and have to give them credit after or before every story the give the impression they are still KOMO, They only have to mention the legal calls at the top of the hour. So to the average listener they are KOMO again, just a thought.

I'm willing to bet that since Sinclair wouldn't allow Lotus to use the KOMO call letters, they'd prefer some level of association insulation between KOMO-TV and KNWS. As I recall, part of the original purchase and sales agreement was that KNWS needed to provide promotion to KOMO-TV, not the other way around.

 

[bossbill]

Geez... I shoulda kept 97.7 in Raymond so nobody would be talking about it now like it's an ugly duckling.
Does no one realize that the population on the west side of the Sound has been growing and growing? Northern Mason and Kitsap counties are booming, and they get great signals from South and North Mountain. It's not all about "Seattle" anymore.

 

[TheBigA]

You bring up a valid point that can be contributing here. Fewer AM choices over time and a lessening of quality can produced overall lesser cume traffic on AM.

And yet that hasn't hurt KIRO-AM

 

[xmtrland]

I'm willing to bet that since Sinclair wouldn't allow Lotus to use the KOMO call letters, they'd prefer some level of association insulation between KOMO-TV and KNWS. As I recall, part of the original purchase and sales agreement was that KNWS needed to provide promotion to KOMO-TV, not the other way around.

Yes but as we all know its about what the listener hears. And that is KOMO Doesn't matter if there is a TV after that.

MDCL has not seemed to hurt KIRO-AM either

 

[MarkW]

This is very unfortunate. If they think the ratings are weak now, just wait until a few report cards are issued following the decimation of the newsroom.

I am fearful the all-news format in Seattle will not survive much longer.

This is what happens when a company with zero experience doing all-news radio tries, in the modern era, to do all-news radio. Merlin, Cumulus and Radio One all failed at the format and it now appears Lotus is on the verge of joining the list.

I agree with Kelly A that this is a major "win" for KIRO-FM.

 

[TheBigA]

This is what happens when a company with zero experience doing all-news radio tries, in the modern era, to do all-news radio. Merlin, Cumulus and Radio One all failed at the format and it now appears Lotus is on the verge of joining the list.

Then really what you're saying is that the format only has a chance for success if it's done by CBS. Which no longer owns radio. And even CBS failed when it launched an all-news in Washington DC. iHeart only has one all-news station, it's WBZ-AM in Boston, which it bought from CBS. The station is still in the Top 10, even after numerous staff layoffs.

To be fair, the companies you list didn't fail because they didn't invest in staff, but because the competition was better. That was certainly the case for Merlin. That may be the case in Seattle with KIRO-FM and KUOW. As I've pointed out KNWN had a huge drop in the ratings for 6 months before the staff change. People have cast their vote already. The station was already losing money. That's why they made the layoffs. Not because of lack of experience. If the people stop listening when you're fully staffed, and if the format is losing money when you're fully staffed, maybe you should listen to the people.