Phoenix Arbitron Ratings Rewind

[landtuna]

In much the same way that KOY went from very nearly a statewide signal at 550 to 1kw at 1230...

Sad.

I've actually had PDs and GMs tell me that they've changed formats that were delivering good numbers because it was hard to describe what they were doing to time buyers.

REALLY sad.

 

[KeithE4]

In much the same way that KOY went from very nearly a statewide signal at 550 to 1kw at 1230...

Sad.

Did their ratings and revenue decrease? My guess is it did some, since 1230's signal starts having trouble in north Snobsdale and east Mesa's Geezer World area (but not in Sun City).

I've actually had PDs and GMs tell me that they've changed formats that were delivering good numbers because it was hard to describe what they were doing to time buyers.

REALLY sad.

Any business has to be able to competently explain its product to its paying customers. The buyers are the paying customers, not us.

 

[landtuna]

Any business has to be able to competently explain its product to its paying customers. The buyers are the paying customers, not us.

I would think that any ad buyer would be able to understand what market they are chasing and equate that with the station's demo. And certainly the sales staff could make that connection if the buyer was unsure.

 

[KeithE4]

Any business has to be able to competently explain its product to its paying customers. The buyers are the paying customers, not us.

I would think that any ad buyer would be able to understand what market they are chasing and equate that with the station's demo. And certainly the sales staff could make that connection if the buyer was unsure.

I would certainly hope so! And the buyer had better be sure, or else (s)he's not paying attention to his/her clients either.

 

[DrAkbar]

Did their ratings and revenue decrease? My guess is it did some, since 1230's signal starts having trouble in north Snobsdale and east Mesa's Geezer World area (but not in Sun City).

Yes indeedy. 5~Fifty is too good a frequency for a niche format that appeals to primarily 55+ listeners. That's why a previous owner moved KMGE from 13~Sixty to 5~Fifty, then Clear Channel moved it to 9~Ten and put KFWhyEye on the big signal.


...........miss that "fake left, fake right" attention grabbing billboard KGME used years ago!

 

[johndavis]

Did their ratings and revenue decrease? My guess is it did some, since 1230's signal starts having trouble in north Snobsdale and east Mesa's Geezer World area (but not in Sun City).

1230 has no problems in either north Scottsdale or east Mesa during the day. Nighttime is a different story, but it's not like KOY had any night numbers on 550 anyway. That's not a slam on seniors who go to bed early, it's true of any station that caters to adults. By 7:00 at night, most adults over 25 are watching TV or doing something else. The money is made during the day. It was true back on 550, and it's true at 1230.

As the Sinatra fans die off, Nostalgia stations are going in two directions: MOR (sounding like KOY did in the 70's) or 50's/60's Oldies (KOOL Gold 960 anyone?) MOR is the easier path to take right now because you can still play the occasional Perry Como and Sinatra song next to Rita Coolidge, but ultimately I see Nostalgia filling the role that Oldies used to play before everyone discovered The Four Seasons "Who Loves You" tests well and called it Classic Hits. If the Boomers give up on Classic Hits, that's where they'll end up.

 

[johndavis]

I've actually had PDs and GMs tell me that they've changed formats that were delivering good numbers because it was hard to describe what they were doing to time buyers. They literally dumbed down the station so it could fit in an easy one, two or three word description. In a couple of cases, the ratings dipped but revenues went up because time buyers suddenly "got it".

Or as Paul Talbot would say "What's on your business card?"

If you can't describe what any business does in a couple of words (fit it on your business card) then it's not focused enough.

 

[michael hagerty]

Did their ratings and revenue decrease? My guess is it did some, since 1230's signal starts having trouble in north Snobsdale and east Mesa's Geezer World area (but not in Sun City).

1230 has no problems in either north Scottsdale or east Mesa during the day. Nighttime is a different story, but it's not like KOY had any night numbers on 550 anyway. That's not a slam on seniors who go to bed early, it's true of any station that caters to adults. By 7:00 at night, most adults over 25 are watching TV or doing something else. The money is made during the day. It was true back on 550, and it's true at 1230.

John: Except that for part of the year, part of your morning drive show (as much as half of it in December and January) is done on your nighttime pattern.

 

[DrAkbar]

Did their ratings and revenue decrease? My guess is it did some, since 1230's signal starts having trouble in north Snobsdale and east Mesa's Geezer World area (but not in Sun City).

1230 has no problems in either north Scottsdale or east Mesa during the day. Nighttime is a different story, but it's not like KOY had any night numbers on 550 anyway. That's not a slam on seniors who go to bed early, it's true of any station that caters to adults. By 7:00 at night, most adults over 25 are watching TV or doing something else. The money is made during the day. It was true back on 550, and it's true at 1230.

John: Except that for part of the year, part of your morning drive show (as much as half of it in December and January) is done on your nighttime pattern.

KayOhWhy 5~Fifty ran 5kw day and 1kw night with one stick. Even today that 1kw at 5~Fifty is awesome. However KayOhWhy 12~Thirty runs 1kw thru one stick day and night. The skywave interference at night (and before local sunrise) on 12~Thirty is another story. As Los Buckeye Boyz recall, the FCC allowed all those former Class IV Ancient Modulation© stations that ran with 250 watts at night, to increase to 1kw...as long as they accepted the skywave interference. For a real treat, try listening to both KIDR and KCBS at 7~Forty in the winter when nights are clear and long. YIKES!




© copyright 1970 AkJeff Enterprises, all rights and wrongs reserved.

 

[johndavis]

KayOhWhy 5~Fifty ran 5kw day and 1kw night with one stick. Even today that 1kw at 5~Fifty is awesome. However KayOhWhy 12~Thirty runs 1kw thru one stick day and night. The skywave interference at night (and before local sunrise) on 12~Thirty is another story. As Los Buckeye Boyz recall, the FCC allowed all those former Class IV Ancient Modulation© stations that ran with 250 watts at night, to increase to 1kw...as long as they accepted the skywave interference. For a real treat, try listening to both KIDR and KCBS at 7~Forty in the winter when nights are clear and long. YIKES!
© copyright 1970 AkJeff Enterprises, all rights and wrongs reserved.

Correct. Everybody on 1230 is non-D and spaced fairly close together. That's why the tower remains on Buckeye Road. It's not the greatest night signal, but the alternatives that have been studied are far worse.

 

[michael hagerty]

Well, let's fast-forward our rewind 10 years. Here's the fall '95 Arbitron (again from Google Books' Billboard magazine archive....M-S 6A-12M, 12+):

1. KTAR-AM (620-News/Talk): 8.0

2. KKFR-FM (92.3-Rhythmic CHR): 7.0

3. KFYI-AM (910-News/Talk): 6.2

4. KMLE-FM (107.9-Country): 5.8

4. KOY-AM (550-Adult Standards): 5.8

6. KNIX-FM (102.5-Country): 5.7

7. KUPD-FM (97.9-AOR): 5.0

8. KOOL-FM (94.5-Oldies): 4.1

8. KYOT-FM (95.5-Smooth Jazz): 4.1

10. KSLX-AM-FM (1440 & 100.7-Classic Rock): 3.8

11.KKLT-FM (98.7-Adult Contemporary): 3.5

12.KDKB-FM (93.3-AOR): 3.3

13.KESZ-FM (99.9-Adult Contemporary): 3.2

14.KZON-FM (101.5-Modern Rock): 2.7

14.KEDJ-FM/KHOT-FM (106.3 & 100.3-Modern Rock): 2.7

16.KZZP-FM (104.7-CHR): 2.5

16.KHTC-FM (96.9-Classic Hits): 2.5

18.KTWC-FM (103.5-Oldies): 2.1

19.KVVA-AM (860-Spanish): 1.0

20.KGME-AM (1360-Sports): 0.8

21.KMJK-FM (106.9-Urban Adult): 0.5

 

[johndavis]

Well, let's fast-forward our rewind 10 years. Here's the fall '95 Arbitron (again from Google Books' Billboard magazine archive....M-S 6A-12M, 12+):

1. KTAR-AM (620-News/Talk): 8.0

2. KKFR-FM (92.3-Rhythmic CHR): 7.0

3. KFYI-AM (910-News/Talk): 6.2

4. KMLE-FM (107.9-Country): 5.8

4. KOY-AM (550-Adult Standards): 5.8

6. KNIX-FM (102.5-Country): 5.7

7. KUPD-FM (97.9-AOR): 5.0

8. KOOL-FM (94.5-Oldies): 4.1

8. KYOT-FM (95.5-Smooth Jazz): 4.1

10. KSLX-AM-FM (1440 & 100.7-Classic Rock): 3.8

11.KKLT-FM (98.7-Adult Contemporary): 3.5

12.KDKB-FM (93.3-AOR): 3.3

13.KESZ-FM (99.9-Adult Contemporary): 3.2

14.KZON-FM (101.5-Modern Rock): 2.7

14.KEDJ-FM/KHOT-FM (106.3 & 100.3-Modern Rock): 2.7

16.KZZP-FM (104.7-CHR): 2.5

16.KHTC-FM (96.9-Classic Hits): 2.5

18.KTWC-FM (103.5-Oldies): 2.1

19.KVVA-AM (860-Spanish): 1.0

20.KGME-AM (1360-Sports): 0.8

21.KMJK-FM (106.9-Urban Adult): 0.5

Are you sure that's from 1995? KZZP relaunched in March 1996.

 

[michael hagerty]

John:
Yep...I goofed and should have typed KVRY and adult contemporary. It's fall '95.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[DrAkbar]

Well, let's fast-forward our rewind 10 years. Here's the fall '95 Arbitron (again from Google Books' Billboard magazine archive....M-S 6A-12M, 12+):

WOW! A 20 share 12+ for Ancient Modulation© stations in the top ten. And no one had Hi Def back then



© copyright 2000 Los AKJEF Enterprises, derechos reservados

 

[michael hagerty]

Well, let's fast-forward our rewind 10 years. Here's the fall '95 Arbitron (again from Google Books' Billboard magazine archive....M-S 6A-12M, 12+):

WOW! A 20 share 12+ for Ancient Modulation© stations in the top ten. And no one had Hi Def back then



© copyright 2000 Los AKJEF Enterprises, derechos reservados

Yep...and that 5.8 and tied for 4th place for KOY is the satellite fed nostalgia format.

And how about that 2.1 for Twice 103.5 (or as I used to torture Don Jerome by calling it..."207")?

Where is Don Jerome these days?

 

[johndavis]

Yep...and that 5.8 and tied for 4th place for KOY is the satellite fed nostalgia format.

And how about that 2.1 for Twice 103.5 (or as I used to torture Don Jerome by calling it..."207")?

Where is Don Jerome these days?

Twice the Train Wrecks would have had a 30 share if radio people counted. We used to start staff meetings at another station by turning them on and waiting for a segue.

You can also thank that station for inspiring Jerry Ryan to move the Christmas stunt to KEZ after MAC America held the license and launched The Oasis. But if you gave KTWC's wandering MOR format a little focus it would've sounded a lot like what passes for Nostalgia in most cities today.

I think that 2.5 at KVRY was either equal or below KZZP's last stand. (I think it was either a 2.5 or a 2.9.) On KZZP's final weekend, they had a 2.5 winner's weekend where you had to say the phrase that pays in 2.5 seconds. Then Sunday morning, out of the final spots of American Top 40, they bailed out on playing the number one song to roll Funeral For A Friend into the ticking clock. KVRY didn't quite turn out as planned if it was back in the 2's in 1995.

If you build it, they will come... Well, maybe.

 

[michael hagerty]

Yep...and that 5.8 and tied for 4th place for KOY is the satellite fed nostalgia format.

And how about that 2.1 for Twice 103.5 (or as I used to torture Don Jerome by calling it..."207")?

Where is Don Jerome these days?

Twice the Train Wrecks would have had a 30 share if radio people counted. We used to start staff meetings at another station by turning them on and waiting for a segue.

There is a very famous, well-established radio air talent in this market who told me that Twice was his favorite radio station....for no other reason than that he had no idea what record was coming up next.

 

[johndavis]

There is a very famous, well-established radio air talent in this market who told me that Twice was his favorite radio station....for no other reason than that he had no idea what record was coming up next.

I think my favorite cold seg was Dreamweaver into The Days of Wine and Roses.

 

[michael hagerty]

I once heard these six in a row:

Julie Do Ya Love Me

Go Tell It On the Mountain

Black Magic Woman

Ring Of Fire

Theme from Love Story

Nights in White Satin

 

[DrAkbar]

I once heard these six in a row:

Julie Do Ya Love Me

Go Tell It On the Mountain

Black Magic Woman

Ring Of Fire

Theme from Love Story

Nights in White Satin

YIKESx6! Although the last two probably weren't as disastrous due to the heavy use of strings. But Santana into Johnny Cash...no survivors in that wreck!