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Questions about K Rock

F

feeball

Guest
With Megan Slater exiting March 2nd I got to wonder if K Rock will still be K Rock afterwards? Come April 2 it's going to be a talker, but wouldn't CBS Radio want to destroy the current format in order to unveil the new format? Surely they don't want to just unveil a new format on everyone's lap, would they? Or is it a case of it's CBS Radio and anything's possible? Logic would say that K Rock would stop being K Rock long before April 2. Am I making any sense to anyone right now?
 
Rumor has it current generic VT's will be used till Apr 2nd.
 
Yeah Todd I think they would have pulled the plug long before now. What I can't seem to get out of anyone involved is if they will continue being K Rock right up to the day of the new format? I don't think they will and Megan's departure being 30 days before the new format, it leads me to believe there will be a flip to a different format until the new talker debuts.
 
I think K Rock will remain until April 1 even when Megan Slater leaves. They will probably remain jockless until the flip.
 
Scott's Debut (was Re: Questions about K Rock)

This chat made me decide to give Scott's website a look. Posted there is:

"Evolve or Die!

I will be returning to the airwaves soon, hosting an all-new show on an all-new station! The new show will feature an all-talk format - comedy, sports and guests with news commentary on the events of the day. We will debut at three in the afternoon, Monday April second on 93.7 FM!"

Simp;y FWIW.
 
Do all of you think 93.7 will serve as a major competitor to FM News Talk 1047? If so, think they will take a big bite out of the FM News Talk King?
 
Sahisko said:
Do all of you think 93.7 will serve as a major competitor to FM News Talk 1047? If so, think they will take a big bite out of the FM News Talk King?
Click to expand...

No because the listeners of 104.7 are the die hard GOP supporters and they will not give a personality driven talker the time of day. Whether 93.7 adopts the Free FM moniker or not, it is a proven ratings dud throughout the country.
 
I somewhat see your point. I listen to 1047 and I am not a conservative but just seek to listen to talk radio other than repetitive songs on the radio. With 1047 being a talker on the FM radio dial it comes in crystal clear for me other than WPTT which has worse reception than my cordless phone and KDKA that tends to bore me after awhile with senior citizens calling in to ask about "Them Steelers." It would be safe to say that the majority of people from Pittsburgh are more Democratic yet 1047, which leans conservative, has very great ratings. Now I don't think a liberal FM Talk Radio station would do well but I think people in Pittsburgh are open to another talk radio station other than KDKA and The conservative mouthpiece, 1047. If CBS Radio was smart, they would market 937 as more as a "KDKA FM" and target it to the 50 and under crowd with kind of the same style as KDKA AM but a younger appeal. This I believe would take a large bite out of 1047. And they don't have to be all politics either. This might be what they are doing with 937 as FreeFM but if they keep the same garbage such as Kidd Chris, then it would not only be too embarrasing but not score any ratings.
 
Sahisko said:
I somewhat see your point. I listen to 1047 and I am not a conservative but just seek to listen to talk radio other than repetitive songs on the radio. With 1047 being a talker on the FM radio dial it comes in crystal clear for me other than WPTT which has worse reception than my cordless phone and KDKA that tends to bore me after awhile with senior citizens calling in to ask about "Them Steelers." It would be safe to say that the majority of people from Pittsburgh are more Democratic yet 1047, which leans conservative, has very great ratings. Now I don't think a liberal FM Talk Radio station would do well but I think people in Pittsburgh are open to another talk radio station other than KDKA and The conservative mouthpiece, 1047. If CBS Radio was smart, they would market 937 as more as a "KDKA FM" and target it to the 50 and under crowd with kind of the same style as KDKA AM but a younger appeal. This I believe would take a large bite out of 1047. And they don't have to be all politics either. This might be what they are doing with 937 as FreeFM but if they keep the same garbage such as Kidd Chris, then it would not only be too embarrasing but not score any ratings.
Click to expand...

How true about the WPTT reception and the KDKA senior callers. Unfortunately corporate feels that shows similar to Kidd Chris are the way to go. If only ratings would agree with that logic, then Free FM would not have to fear imminent extinction in about 18 months or so nationwide. I'm sure a positive spin will be placed on the format coming to Pittsburgh, but any average person with the abilities to access arbitron numbers knows that Free FM has been the biggest disaster to ever hit terrestrial radio, much less CBS Radio. Which poses the following question to anyone that can answer: has there ever been a format change in the history of terrestrial radio that has been a bigger disaster than Free FM?
 
How true about the WPTT reception and the KDKA senior callers. Unfortunately corporate feels that shows similar to Kidd Chris are the way to go. If only ratings would agree with that logic, then Free FM would not have to fear imminent extinction in about 18 months or so nationwide. I'm sure a positive spin will be placed on the format coming to Pittsburgh, but any average person with the abilities to access arbitron numbers knows that Free FM has been the biggest disaster to ever hit terrestrial radio, much less CBS Radio. Which poses the following question to anyone that can answer: has there ever been a format change in the history of terrestrial radio that has been a bigger disaster than Free FM?
Click to expand...

A good many of the FREE-FM stations started when Howard Stern left for Sirius. His fans weren't interested in left-leaning talk radio with music on the weekends. In many of those Stern markets turned Free-FM, the stations were active rock. Its been tough finding an audience for any left-leaning talk station. Look at what happened to Air America. I don't know if its true, but I bet on the FREE-FM stations the ratings are up during the weekends when they're playing music. Back in November I got a chance to listen to 94.1 WYSP - a Free-FM station and it was the weekend and they were playing good active rock format songs. I think an FM Sports station, like ESPN or FOX would be an excellent addition to the FM dial locally. Look at the big ratings Ellis Cannon brings in on 104.7 for example. I know there's no sports show on KDKA-AM anymore, but a couple of years ago when the choices were Paul Alexander or Ellis Cannon, I'd take Ellis' show any day because of the fact its FM. I'll probably listen to more Pirates games this year on radio since I won't have to listen to static crashes like the old days on KDKA.
 
SteelRocker said:
How true about the WPTT reception and the KDKA senior callers. Unfortunately corporate feels that shows similar to Kidd Chris are the way to go. If only ratings would agree with that logic, then Free FM would not have to fear imminent extinction in about 18 months or so nationwide. I'm sure a positive spin will be placed on the format coming to Pittsburgh, but any average person with the abilities to access arbitron numbers knows that Free FM has been the biggest disaster to ever hit terrestrial radio, much less CBS Radio. Which poses the following question to anyone that can answer: has there ever been a format change in the history of terrestrial radio that has been a bigger disaster than Free FM?
Click to expand...

A good many of the FREE-FM stations started when Howard Stern left for Sirius. His fans weren't interested in left-leaning talk radio with music on the weekends. In many of those Stern markets turned Free-FM, the stations were active rock. Its been tough finding an audience for any left-leaning talk station. Look at what happened to Air America. I don't know if its true, but I bet on the FREE-FM stations the ratings are up during the weekends when they're playing music. Back in November I got a chance to listen to 94.1 WYSP - a Free-FM station and it was the weekend and they were playing good active rock format songs. I think an FM Sports station, like ESPN or FOX would be an excellent addition to the FM dial locally. Look at the big ratings Ellis Cannon brings in on 104.7 for example. I know there's no sports show on KDKA-AM anymore, but a couple of years ago when the choices were Paul Alexander or Ellis Cannon, I'd take Ellis' show any day because of the fact its FM. I'll probably listen to more Pirates games this year on radio since I won't have to listen to static crashes like the old days on KDKA.
Click to expand...

I believe Los Angeles fooled around with this format years ago while Howard was still on in the morning, but they did not call it Free FM. I remember Howard bitched about how awful the station sounded with all of the Howard Stern "clones" that followed him in the morning. People like JV and Elvis, Tom Leykis, Don and Mike, etc. It did not work then and it is not working now. And how convenient for Free FM to have rock music on the weekends when arbitron really doesn't give a rat's.
 
Couple of thoughts here-

First of all, I WISH the elderly KDKA callers would call up and talk about "Them Steelers." But if KDKA's audience is talking about "Them Steelers"- it is complaining that "there's this new stadium I voted down."

Second, Cannon's show's popularity is in part attributed to the FM signal, no doubt. But I think also he comes off as a fan, and he is one of the few hosts in town who do.

Cannon tends to go places I wonder about (why do you like EMINEM? You're a 40 something year old lawyer for Gods sake!), but he will let you call your favorite team "we" and has a good time if you make a reference to Larry Demery or something.

In comparison, Alexander was kind of dull. At least Tolo, as goofy as he was, was lively.

Third- I too have some questions about FREE FM. While I applaud the idea of a talk format that talks about something other than sports and politics- a lot of questions remain.

The big gun of the station is going to be Scott Paulsen. Now, who doesn't like Scott Paulsen? Everyone does- I do- he's great, right?

I mean I used to listen to that show he did on WBGG and, well, you know, I was the only one.

There are many reasons why WBGG doesn't do well up against WEAE. Promotion- number of local shows- better morning show.

But when the decision was made WBGG would be changing to sports the original question was if WEAE would change formats. Surely Paulsen, a beloved personality, and "the new home of the Steelers" would be able to draw more listeners than an abusive gasbag like Mark Madden, right?

Except Madden outworked, outhustled, and outperformed Paulsen. While Madden was breaking a story, Paulsen was having "The 3:40 guest" or "Herschel Buys a Hot Rod."

It sometimes seemed his 12-year-old cousin was hosting the show instead of Paulsen.

WBGG has never recovered.

I wish all the best to Paulsen at Free FM- he's very likable. I admire the way he thinks out of the box and I like, for the most part, his characters. Clearly his post-WBGG career has been successful.

Now, will in this format his show stand alone- as it does on WDVE? I mean if I want to listen to classic rock in the evening- Scott's it.

Or will it? The audience for "pop-culture talk" could easily be swayed to actually listen to music- you know- actual pop-culture. I don't think Doug Hoerth or Don and Mike will present any challenges for obvious reasons- though they do something of "FREE-FM" talk already.

The question is will I, the listener, say "I want to listen to the topic that Scott Paulsen pulls out of his hat today instead of my passions of sports/music/news"?

That's a daunting task. And the one strike against him is it seems that Paulsen, who is an engaging and not negative personality, will be surrounded by hosts with a negative slant- Mac, Chris Kidd (or is it Kidd Chris?), etc.
 
Pratte4Life said:
I don't think Doug Hoerth or Don and Mike will present any challenges for obvious reasons- though they do something of "FREE-FM" talk already.
Click to expand...

Don and Mike are actually on a few of the Free FM stations already. I know DC has them and I want to say Baltimore as well. Doug Hearth will do nothing for the listeners of the Free FM station, if anyone listens at all.
 
Uh, fee, you do know I was referencing the talk in the market that will likely be going head-to-head with Paulsen that might be thought of as a similar format?
 
I keep forgetting about WURP having Don and Mike. As far as Doug Hoerth goes, is he still alive?
 
The Doug Hoerth comment was meant to be a joke and it succeeded.
 
Yes, I knew that, that is why I had LOL in the beginning. Who would ever think he would not still be in radio after two decades? Heck, he will be carried out with his boots still on while playing in the "sandbox" thirty years from now! ;D
 
Now I got to question whether Paul Harvey is still alive or not?
 
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