-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Roddy,
Very insightful, as always. Respectfully, I have to disagree. I just really think moving C&R to AM drive is the definition of throwing good money after bad. It seems like you don't agree but, essentially, if you move them to mornings you are now rebuilding 2 dayparts, with no guarantee that what the do in afternoons will even translate into mornings. And, we know that they bill successfully, and, right now, I can't imagine justifying taking a risk on the biggest moneymaker on air for you, given these economic times.
So, strictly from a business perspective, you have to look at the risk reward.
Scenario #1, you move C&R to mornings and put someone steady or recognizable on PM drive. So, C&R are now head to head with the 400 lb gorilla, The Bert Show, as opposed to the afternoons when they are head to head with, well, no one. In the afternoons, you just went from a talk intensive, personality based show to a more tradition jock & songs set-up. The risk: Maybe C&R take some share from Bert and catch a little of the older set, or maybe they get slaughtered. In afternoons, obviously people that listen to C&R are listening because the like to banter, and you just changed that setup, so you run the risk of losing a lot of that share as well, not to mention, maybe advertisers stay on afternoons, or maybe the shift to morning. Maybe they wait and see because we know how much advertisers like change.
But, then, if C&R fail in the AM drive, you've ruined their brand and completely lost that revenue. But, if the move works, C&R bill roughly the same they billed in afternoon, and you have to figure out a way to redevelop the PM drive revenue stream.
Scenario #2, leave C&R be and find something new in the morning that is more focused on an older crowd, say, the happy medium between Bert and S&V. In this situation, C&R continue along being the stable and billing part of the day, and you have a chance for the AM drive to develop. Now, same situation, AM drive fails. The difference is, you haven't killed the golden goose (at the moment), and you can try again. Also, if the new AM drive show does well, you can potentially boost C&R in the afternoons.
I probably rambled, but the gist is, normally you take risks because there is a greater reward. In this scenario, I think the more risky decision (upending C&R) has much less upside (they bill about the same and you get an average amount of cash flow from PM drive). On the other hand, the safer decision (leave C&R alone and get a new AM drive show) has a TON more upside (C&R do what they do, and you have a chance for a good morning show to happen and they begin to generate a good revenue stream)
Anyway, that is my two cents. I would love to hear your take.
Very insightful, as always. Respectfully, I have to disagree. I just really think moving C&R to AM drive is the definition of throwing good money after bad. It seems like you don't agree but, essentially, if you move them to mornings you are now rebuilding 2 dayparts, with no guarantee that what the do in afternoons will even translate into mornings. And, we know that they bill successfully, and, right now, I can't imagine justifying taking a risk on the biggest moneymaker on air for you, given these economic times.
So, strictly from a business perspective, you have to look at the risk reward.
Scenario #1, you move C&R to mornings and put someone steady or recognizable on PM drive. So, C&R are now head to head with the 400 lb gorilla, The Bert Show, as opposed to the afternoons when they are head to head with, well, no one. In the afternoons, you just went from a talk intensive, personality based show to a more tradition jock & songs set-up. The risk: Maybe C&R take some share from Bert and catch a little of the older set, or maybe they get slaughtered. In afternoons, obviously people that listen to C&R are listening because the like to banter, and you just changed that setup, so you run the risk of losing a lot of that share as well, not to mention, maybe advertisers stay on afternoons, or maybe the shift to morning. Maybe they wait and see because we know how much advertisers like change.
But, then, if C&R fail in the AM drive, you've ruined their brand and completely lost that revenue. But, if the move works, C&R bill roughly the same they billed in afternoon, and you have to figure out a way to redevelop the PM drive revenue stream.Scenario #2, leave C&R be and find something new in the morning that is more focused on an older crowd, say, the happy medium between Bert and S&V. In this situation, C&R continue along being the stable and billing part of the day, and you have a chance for the AM drive to develop. Now, same situation, AM drive fails. The difference is, you haven't killed the golden goose (at the moment), and you can try again. Also, if the new AM drive show does well, you can potentially boost C&R in the afternoons.
I probably rambled, but the gist is, normally you take risks because there is a greater reward. In this scenario, I think the more risky decision (upending C&R) has much less upside (they bill about the same and you get an average amount of cash flow from PM drive). On the other hand, the safer decision (leave C&R alone and get a new AM drive show) has a TON more upside (C&R do what they do, and you have a chance for a good morning show to happen and they begin to generate a good revenue stream)
Anyway, that is my two cents. I would love to hear your take.
Uriah said:
I am thinking the same thing after hearing the big news on the K-Rock format flip to CHR. One has to wonder why they won;t give it a try here. Dave is not going to work. You can't languish in a format for years and expect to jump up in the ratings by making subtle changes. It is time to burn down the house and re-build it.
If anybody can revive Star 94's morning show from no longer having Steve and Vikki, it's Jamie White from Los Angeles. She could give Bert a run for his money. Jamie's in talks right now to go somewhere outside of LA but hasn't inked a contract yet. I can reach her if needed. Her Jamie, Jack, and Stench show at Star 98.7 KYSR was #5 in the country for on-line listeners. She was huge in Denver and they moved her to LA. People love to call in talk to her so Star 94 would need to place less emphasis on music during the morning show and more on letting her provide the on air content. She has a huge following so you would have people from all around the country listening in.
Slider, your point-of-view is a very valid one. In fact, you've made several excellent points. That was the station's thinking after S&V left, and it appears to be their thinking now since J.R. told All Access that he's looking for a morning show (unless he just wants to see what comes in before making a decision).
I guess my feeling is somewhat based on studying CHR for years and having a pretty good idea what listeners expect. Of course, it's true that Star 94 had been a more adult CHR than most. But I tend to look more at the station as an overall brand and not so much at individual dayparts. I think listeners expect CHR stations to fulfill their brand expectations, meaning play the hits and be fast-paced, with the exception being mornings. And that's been proving more true with the PPM. It's interesting that J.R.'s approach to the music clocks recognizes that.
I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the inspiration for Cindy & Ray was the success of Star's former sister station, 107.9 The Link in Charlotte. Matt & Romona were very successful in afternoon drive. In that case, I totally agreed with The Link's approach because, as a pop alternative station at the time, the pacing was much different from CHR. A 2-person team fit just fine.
Our opinions are just that, of course, opinions. Star 94 will be very interesting to watch as things unfold.
I guess my feeling is somewhat based on studying CHR for years and having a pretty good idea what listeners expect. Of course, it's true that Star 94 had been a more adult CHR than most. But I tend to look more at the station as an overall brand and not so much at individual dayparts. I think listeners expect CHR stations to fulfill their brand expectations, meaning play the hits and be fast-paced, with the exception being mornings. And that's been proving more true with the PPM. It's interesting that J.R.'s approach to the music clocks recognizes that.
I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the inspiration for Cindy & Ray was the success of Star's former sister station, 107.9 The Link in Charlotte. Matt & Romona were very successful in afternoon drive. In that case, I totally agreed with The Link's approach because, as a pop alternative station at the time, the pacing was much different from CHR. A 2-person team fit just fine.
Our opinions are just that, of course, opinions. Star 94 will be very interesting to watch as things unfold.
RoddyFreeman said:
Roddy, just because All Access, Rick Mack or JR Ammons say they are "searching for a morning show" doesn't mean they are searching for a show outside of the station.
Don't be surprised if Tripp and a soon-to-be-named female make up the new afternoon show after Cindy & Ray move to mornings.
VT Doug Miller 10:00 - 12:00 and it's a nice, clean re-position back to the roots!
Slider7 said:
Scenario #3 (safest and most cost effective), put C&R in BOTH AM & PM drive for 3-4 months. This way, C&R THEMSELVES can promote the hell out of their replacements (whichever drive will be the most successful) so their replacements will not start cold in this fickle market.
PS: And C&R could be promoted as "the most listened to team", etc.......
Roddy I agree. Even if C&R aren't right programming wise it's right business wise. In this economy with their ratings already effecting revenue it would be very expensive to hire and market a new unfamiliar morning show. Go with the safest bet and that's the familarity of the C&R name. Anything else is a high risk. With the Mess ratings spelling trouble from day one it's likely they have already been proactive in making a change. The morning troubles are not new news. If nothing surfaced before now it's doubtful they really believe something better is out there. A change from C&R now would look very desperate. The question is, will C&R get the marketing bucks the Mess got early on. Will they get the marketing bucks S&V got? Doubtful.
jy said:
Uh, excuse me, the announcement that Cindy & Ray were moving to mornings happened long before your post. Try to keep up now.
- Status