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One FORMAT... what would it be?

If Cincinnati and Dayton was automatically given a News/Talk format but only could have ONE FM station in the city to cover the entire market... which format would be the format to cover the whole city for both Cinci and Dayton?
 
I grew up in an era where Cincinnati had 5 viable mass appeal AM stations (550/700/1230/1360/1530) and no one was listening to FM. I left out 1480 mainly because the car radios of the day all had 5 buttons & those were the 'default 5' when you bought a new car in Cincinnati. The two biggies were 550 in the morning and 1360 the rest of the day/night. That's the closest glimpse of what 1 station would have looked like had this question been posed 45 years ago...An entertaining information based morning show and a very broad appealing top 40 format the rest of the day. That was 45 years ago...would that answer play today?
 
To BobOnTheJob..It is very interesting that you brought this up. You might want to check out the the postings on "Easy Listening." Check out the posts on MOR.

There are stations around the country using a form of the MOR station with the heavy news elements of national & local news, traffic and sports. Plus, interviews with the area newsmakers. This is matched with a music format. The station could be like what WKRC Radio had been with Jerry Thomas, Stan Matlock, Rich King with the right music mix and info elements.

The question in the Cincinnati metro when someone wants the local news will they turn to any one else other than WLW or WKRC? Plus, another challenge is finding and being able to afford the talent.
 
I believe it could work with live and local personalities. It would be an uphill battle competing against WLW and WKRC because most of the people who listen to them, have forgotton how to use the tuning dial, or have presets 1 through 5 all programmed for WLW or WKRC. You would need to invest in billboards and TV commercials and word of mouth.
 
If I understand the premise, there would be one FM station that would cover both Dayton and Cincinnati with a news/talk format, and we're picking which specific news/talk format?

First, there's no station that can truly cover both markets. Middletown's 105.9 comes the closest, followed by 94.9. Second, are we assuming there is no WLW or WHIO? If so, the lone nes talker would run the most popular syndicated shows with a live morning and possibly afternoon show, which could either be in the Jim Scott mold or "The Cin-Day Metroplex's Early Morning News".

If WHIO and WLW (and WKRC, etc) was still there..beats the crap out of me. I've followed the thread on reviving full service MOR on the other board, but since it's been at least 20 years since the last tunes were played on a regular basis on WLW (except overnight) or WHIO, I'm not sure there's an audience for music mixed with talk anymore.
 
I was surprised that WPFB did not go to a commercial broadcaster instead of NKU, as it would've made for an ideal FM sports station. As far as a MOR station, it would need to cater to a younger audience, with lifestyle news, technology news updates and some light hearted entertainment news all on the hour.
 
Trouble is...those younger audiences aren't waiting for the top of the hour when they can get it now. That's what makes any retro-concept like full service MOR iffy at best. I want my music NOW. I want my news NOW...none of that waiting for traffic on the tens, let alone waiting through a couple of songs and features.

It is surprising that NKU spent all that cash on buying three radio stations that aren't in the area they get students from (I'm sure the AM will eventually spin off). So many universities and colleges are selling off their radio stations (like Cedarville U)
 
microbob said:
What does that say for the future of the news & music formats if you can get instant access to both online?
Most radio listening is done in cars...until free seamless wi-fi exists in most cars, it probably doesn't mean much.
 
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