New stations. . .thoughts?

[PAJake]

It's been quiet on the boards so I'll try to get it going again. . .

96.3 and 104.9 have been on for a little while now. Any new or changed opinions out there?

I still like 96.3 - probably listen to that more than anything else, although 107.5 is a close 2nd. As for 104.9, well I'm quickly moving farther away from their targeted age range - faster than I'd like to admit - but I do check them out every now and then and I've been lucky enough more than once a day to catch an old 80s tune which brings back some good (and a few not-so-good-at-the-time) high school memories. Still, it's a rare day that I don't change the station after listening to just one song.

My unprofessional guess is that the Wolf makes it but 104.9 does not. Time - and ratings - will tell.

By the way. . .nice to see WKRP back on TV, even if it is on sporatic Sunday afternoons.

 

[AZJoe]

I actually enjoy Movin' 104.9, the old school jamz are what lock me in, and the heavy R&B playlist makes it much more unique in this town. As for The Wolf 96.3, I know several people who enjoy the mix of classic rock and country, but for me , hearing Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line" followed by ZZ Top's "Tube Steak Boogie" just doesnt flow. I hope both stations find success and at least they arent a clone of other formats in Anchorage.

 

[akradiozjs]

104.9 will do OK for awhile, they need to freshen up their list a bit as it's beginning to stagnate, and they'll need jocks eventually. 96.3 is DOA, I'm thinking a 1.7 12+ with non-existent TSL - they'll get cume while folks are still checking them out, but that will fade over time; country listeners are loyal and KBRJ/KASH are just better - plus Wolf's signal is crap. They've still got that dumb 'Coache's Show' for the Wild, and their talent is brutal. Case in point: their morning guy Six-Pack (for the record - nice guy, just not an on air talent) did a break about the Exxon-Valdez Supreme Court decision recently, and compared the situation to a 'mouse getting a cookie and still wanting a glass of milk'......what the hell does that even mean? As long as they're unwilling to spend the money on talent, promotions, and their sound quality - 96.3 will continue to be the revolving door of Anchorage radio.

And on that note - did anyone else see the write-up in Radio and Records that NNB has abandoned Arbitron and is now using Eastlan? Guys - it doesn't matter what audience measurement service you use - if your product sucks, nothing will change! Funny how Arbitron was a suitable choice when the Buzz was #1 in its ranker under Randy Fitzsimmons, sounds like you need new management - God knows you can't keep your talent happy, see the Bob/Buzz/X-Rock PD who moved to AK and left after 3 months

 

[KenaiPen]

For a guy who doesn't think much of the Wolf and NNB, you certainly seem to pay a lot of attention. B-T-W - I would cancel Arbitron too...they can't seem to get their sampling of 18-44 right - in either men or women - and they still haven't started calling cell phones. The diary system isn't working well anymore and the PPM won't happen in Alaska in our lifetime...might as well as try something else. Eastlan is already in the Valley and is gaining ground in smaller markets...from what I've read their intended target for business.

The guy who left did it for family reasons...nothing more...nothing less. (I asked...) Not everyone is suited for living here.

 

[akradiozjs]

For a guy who doesn't think much of the Wolf and NNB, you certainly seem to pay a lot of attention.

What kind of competitor would I be if I didn't? That's most people's problems - they're NOT paying attention and are far too self absorbed to notice the outside world.

The guy who left did it for family reasons...nothing more...nothing less. (I asked...) Not everyone is suited for living here.

You 'asked' - or read the press release. Unlike you, I have a detailed history with this company - Drew Stone, an ex KFAT PD left for 'family reasons' as well (I believe he lasted 2 months).

Arbitron is the gold standard in this industry...flawed? Absolutely, that's why you sell on a 2-4 book average (where NNB still sucks). No agency will buy Eastlan. Comparing Anchorage to the Valley is apples to oranges. While the Mat-Su is measured, it's not an Arbitron market, hence the reason they use Eastlan.

Good to see you again Kenai - I was afraid we'd lost you after the last time you argued with me.

 

[KenaiPen]

Just been busy...discussions don't run me off but certainly it doesn't mean I ever or never agree with you. For the record...I did ask as I have a passing acquaintance with someone over there. Detailed history with the company? As a part timer? Here or somewhere else. Are your assumptions based on acutal knowledge or taking a guess? If it was as part timer...it probably more of the latter than the former. And the reality is no one ever knows for sure unless you're in the room.

On the ratings - I wasn't comparing the Valley to Anchorage...it simply was a statement that Eastlan is a known quanity for some in the market place. Besides...selling over a 3-4 book average still doesn't make a wrong a right. Bad sampling in every book still leads questionable reliability...short term and long term - that I learn in stats class in school. Short or long term...the diary method is no longer working well enough to depend on it...gold standard? Standard yes...gold...hardly.

And this is a guess...you're slamming the Wolf quite hard...did you think that coaches show may be on due to a contract obiligation that they may have? Secondly...why is it so hard for people to give someone credit for at least trying something totally different? I see this everywhere...complain there's nothing different on the radio...and when someone tries...slam the hell out of them.

 

[AZJoe]

I give anyone credit for trying something different here in Anchorage, I think the Wolf is an interesting concept and hope it works out, it is just hard for me to listen to the mix, George Strait and the Steve Miller Band are strange bedfellows! Movin' should shake up its playlist, add some tunes (there are hundreds they havent played yet) and quit playing some so much. Yet this is a station where I can hear hit songs that get zero airplay on any other stations in this market, and that is a good thing. I detest cookie cutter formats and stations being clones of each other, and with Movin and Wolf we have something different- and that is a good thing!

 

[akradiozjs]

Just been busy...discussions don't run me off but certainly it doesn't mean I ever or never agree with you. For the record...I did ask as I have a passing acquaintance with someone over there. Detailed history with the company? As a part timer? Here or somewhere else. Are your assumptions based on acutal knowledge or taking a guess? If it was as part timer...it probably more of the latter than the former. And the reality is no one ever knows for sure unless you're in the room.

Yeah, I'd call five years a detailed history. I worked in the Fairbanks market for 3.5 of those years, Anchorage the rest. As to my employment status with the company, while I was a college student in Fairbanks, I was part time as the APD/MD of KXLR/KWLF (if you call 35 hours a week p/t ), when I moved to Anchorage - I was offered $30k to be full time on KRPM, and God bless NNB for trying to retain me, but when I was offered about half again more than that to work in insurance - you can understand why I passed. As far as my most recent tenure with NNB - I worked about 5 hours a week to come in and VT 7-mid on X-Rock, was part time and very proud of it - and was offered numerous full time opportunities within that timeframe. So I know what you're getting at, and while yes I was 'part time' I'm not some wet behind the ears know it all, and for your edification - I am now full time elsewhere in the market and very happy.

As far as my opinions - you know what people say about them, sorry mine stinks! I think the idea for the Wolf is a cool concept, like X-Rock was - and as a radio listener I wish they were doing it right! As their competitor, I'm OK with the fact they've not a clue...NNB is all for trying something different and that's GREAT - but do it right! If you're a fan of the music they played on X-Rock, know that most of it will never see the light of day in Anchorage again because NNB f*cked that format so badly, the cream of the crop gets painted with the same brush as the crap they mixed in with it, and no manager would OK adding that music into their library, lest they pull a 1.0 too, don't think Johnny Cash and Waylan Jennings won't meet the same fate given their current state in the market.

You and I can agree that Arbitron sucks, let's just leave it at that - even though I think NNB's consistenly lackluster performance is fairly representative. And for here and now - it is the gold standard, I hope that changes as much as the next guy.

I'm sure the coach's show is under contract, I'd buy it out.