Merlin drops FM News in NYC and Chicago - meaning for WWIQ?

[rdcuffpa1]

Per Inside Radio - NYC's "FM News 101.9" went to "New Rock 101.9" at 10:05 AM; Chicago's "FM News 101.1" went to Hot AC as "i101".

http://www.insideradio.com/

and

http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2495084&spid=24698

Richard in Allentown, PA

 

[PhillyWatch]

Merlin set out from the beginning doing something different here than in NY or CHI. I'd expect 106.9 to at least see its first birthday before any major revamp. So, short term- nothing. However I think this shows that if things don't start to tick upward in about a year from now, Merlin might stir their Philly pot.

 

[jhguthlac]

In Chicao and NYC, they were airing the most expensive radio format. In Philadelphia, they are not. We are seeing why they did not challenge KYW. They do not know how to do the news format well.

 

[aindik]

I'm wondering what will happen with the NY based people who were being used on the Philly morning show.

 

[TimeIsTight]

Don't forget that Merlin has signed syndication agreements to carry, at least three of, Clear Channel's Premier talk shows for X-period of time on WWIQ.

It will have to carry these shows, at least, that long and is not likely to dump the talk format after that unless it proves to be a total ratings, or revenue disappointment.

So, for, at least, the next year or two WWIQ isn't going to be much different than it is right now.

The changes in Chicago and New York were desperate moves brought about by the complete lack of any audience traction for the all news format that it started in both cities almost a year ago.

 

[DToTheJ]

@Aindik: I read that two staffers that happen to be siblings will continue "gathering" news for WWIQ. Here's a better idea: hire people physically in Philly to do it? :

 

[musichead1029]

Aindik: I read that two staffers that happen to be siblings will continue "gathering" news for WWIQ. Here's a better idea: hire people physically in Philly to do it? :

Why? Reading news and traffic off the internet can be done from anywhere. If they were to eventually challenge KYW, they'd need a serious local presence, but not as an appendage to a talk format. WPHT has, and continues to use CBS 3 staffers - an existing corporate resource - to do news and weather on 1210. Why create a parallel resource when you already have what you need? Think 2012, not 1972.

Any listener can get news in much greater detail off the net while listening to talk programming than a station would ever provide. KYW is the only outlet in the market that has developed (minimal) resources to provide unique value-added news content. Anyone that wanted to take them on would have to do the same, and that's unlikely from a cost standpoint. If KYW ever appeared truly vulnerable, CBS would find an FM resource for it in seconds.

Now that Merlin is dismantling its news hubs in NY and Chicago, it might make sense for them to locate a central information facility elsewhere, but for the minimal boilerplate news presence on IQ, it could be anywhere they have the facilities and the people.

 

[PhillyWatch]

Aindik: I read that two staffers that happen to be siblings will continue "gathering" news for WWIQ. Here's a better idea: hire people physically in Philly to do it? :

Why? Reading news and traffic off the internet can be done from anywhere.

This kind thinking is why radio is hurting.

With radio, you're required to tune in your dial to specific numbers to hear this broadcast seemingly made for you from somewhere not too far away from your location. The industry itself is a testament to being local- just look at morning radio across the country. Local staff get results, and IQ needs local to survive. I think IQ should do local hourly news briefs. I was listening to the audio of the NY flip this morning, and you're able to bang out a good number of stories in that small bit of time. Hire someone to keep an eye on news networks/websites/stations to see what's happening and do hourlies. It could be smart to position the station as the one you can quickly twist your knob to at the top of every hour to hear what's going on in the world around you (without having to switch to AM).

 

[Robbien]

IQ would be smart to bring in more local talent.

 

[mcradiofree]

IQ would be smart to play dead air, it would get more cume.

 

[jhguthlac]

Let's see. We get our on-air news from Fox and CNN. Sports from ESPN and Fox Sports. Weather forecast from the Weather Channel. "IQ would be smart to bring in more local talent." ???? What century are you living in?

 

[PhillyWatch]

Let's see. We get our on-air news from Fox and CNN. Sports from ESPN and Fox Sports. Weather forecast from the Weather Channel. "IQ would be smart to bring in more local talent." ???? What century are you living in?

"We"? I get my on-air news from 3, 6, or 10, and France 24 offered by WYBE for world news. Weather comes from Adam Joseph or John Bolaris on Twitter. Most other news updates come from various local and national reporters and organizations on Twitter too. In the age of smartphones and tablets, I believe news aggregation is much more varied that you think. Are tons of people still heading to foxnews.com and CNN.com for news? (unfortunately) yes. Are tides beginning to turn? Yes. Grandma & Grandpa may be locked in to Fox News, but their grandkids sure aren't.

 

[Bill_W]

Grandma & Grandpa may be locked in to Fox News, but their grandkids sure aren't.

Well, I'm locked into Fox News when I'm home and even in my car via Sirius-XM. I'm not a grandparent yet. In fact, my children are locked into Nick and Disney. My youngest prefers Nick Jr & Disney Jr. And they can still get their Nick via the FiOS wire.

 

[PhillyWatch]

Grandma & Grandpa may be locked in to Fox News, but their grandkids sure aren't.

Well, I'm locked into Fox News when I'm home and even in my car via Sirius-XM. I'm not a grandparent yet. In fact, my children are locked into Nick and Disney. My youngest prefers Nick Jr & Disney Jr. And they can still get their Nick via the FiOS wire.

And who's to say where they might be getting their news & information from once they're old enough to (hopefully) be interested in the happenings of their city and the world? When it comes to radio, if IQ is trying to take on KYW for the title of "radio information source", they could at least be local where they're most straightforwardly competing with KYW- the top of the hour.

 

[musichead1029]

WWIQ Taking On KYW?

...if IQ is trying to take on KYW for the title of "radio information source", they could at least be local where they're most straightforwardly competing with KYW - the top of the hour.

Is IQ trying to take on KYW? If they are, they'll need a lot more than local updates on the hour. On-air positioning aside, I don't think anyone wants to spend the money to truly take on KYW. Merlin just exited the news busineess in its two top markets. And with all the other media sources available, a standalone terrestrial radio station isn't in a position to take on a KYW which has sister TV and radio stations to share the load.

As a talk station, they can use ABC and a decent locally hosted morning show or even just drop ins to cover local topics. And it doesn't matter where the studios are located. Anything more is unjustifiable to the bottom-line budget.

I get my on-air news from 3, 6, or 10, and France 24 offered by WYBE for world news. Weather comes from Adam Joseph or John Bolaris on Twitter. Most other news updates come from various local and national reporters and organizations on Twitter too.
......
Are tons of people still heading to foxnews.com and CNN.com for news? (unfortunately) yes.

If you want the latest sensational crime report for Philly, lifestyle fluff and weather clowns, any local TV news will do. France 24 covers international features and some hard France and international news from a different prospective as does Al Jazeera and several other English language international news stations. It's also on the net at the click of a button. The U.S cable news channels are nationally focused and have some fluff and repetition but Fox, and to a certain extent CNN, are generally reliable sources for national news. Twitter has sporadic information surrounded by lots of fluff, repetition and insanity requiring careful source selection.

Weather internet sites offer plentiful straight data without the distraction of clowns in bowties and Twitter egos. (What's Bolaris' schtick on Twitter? Dating tips? ;D)

People usually use radio for news in the car. KYW has that covered regionally. I don't see any room for a second source to get a suitable return on a heavy investment in news on the radio, AM or FM. Merlin learned this the hard way in NY and Chicago, which is why they're taking a different approach here. It's definitely not 1972 anymore.