R.I.P. ROW

[AlexBrowne]

Anyone know exactly when 100.9 will stop broadcasting their soft AC format, and switch over to whatever junk they plan to replace it with???

My guess - the 19th is the last day then they stunt for a weekend and launch the new junk the 22nd.

Does the latest news from the River Rats give us a hint about the date? The River Rats have announced that WKLI will continue to simulcast River Rats game broadcasts, with WROW, through Sunday, February 21. The team's broadcasts will return exclusively to the new Magic 590 AM on February 26 and will continue on that station for the duration of the 2009-10 season, including the Calder Cup Playoffs. So you'd think February 22, or some time that week, would make sense.

 

[tower17]

I had guessed the 22nd earlier in the thread... Will they maybe stunt half the day with an afternoon launch?

On a side note - the fact that two unimportant threads keep getting pushed above news from the real market is more evidence that Hudson Valley should be it's own board

 

[fnutstheradioguy]

Here's a question that in a round about way relates to what Steve V was saying in the TU...
When will radio management idiots realize that what they SCREAM about in sales meetings is exactly what the radio station needs!!!
I have been to many sales meetings in my 20 plus years in the biz and the word frequency came up often. Sales peole are supposed to convince advertisers that purchasing a 12 month schedule would increase revenue exponentially!!! Why then would the same NOT be true for RADIO... DUH...You need to advertise your station so the general public can see your logo and dial position so they check you out. If you don't tell anybody NEW about the stations...how do you increase your listenership???
IF YOU DO THE SAME THING...YOU CAN EXPECT THE SAME RESULTS!!!
IF YOU WANT DIFFERENT RESULTS...YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!

Management needs to start opening thier eyes to the fact that they are trying to sell Hyundai's at Mercedes prices!!!
The way to generate more revenue is NOT to cut staff...
Any good marketing person knows...to make more YOU MUST SPEND MORE!!! If yo spend money on advertising the station...and spend some money on GOOD AIR TALENT...guess what the result is??? A BETTER EFFIN PRODUCT!!!
If yo utruly want your radio station to be better...you need to do something different!!! SPEND IT TO MAKE IT!!!

 

[tower17]

You make a great point and maybe if their advertisers were smart they'd ask the reps the same question you did and then spend their money with Regent or Clear Channel who both advertise themselves. Pamal has never been a leader and when they are following it is always painfully behind the curve. If only they had sold the cluster long ago.

 

[kbradio]

How much would it actually cost ABC to do TV, Newspaper and Billboard advertising? Can't they just do a trade with TV, Newspaper and Billboards, advertise ABC and ABC advertises their product.

 

[MarcB]

Unfortuneatly most businesses will not do a trade for anything. Sad but true.

 

[tower17]

MarcB is right. People balk at the idea of trade almost more than paying for the actual advertising. I don't get it. They will pay for the advertising but when you put it in terms of their own goods and services they are appalled.

It could still be worked out though. A joint cross marketing agreement between Lamar and a radio station would be possible.

 

[klutch00]

I think it's great WROW is going music on AM....... let's see if they get a 2.0 share 12+

Too many AMs are doing boring talk... how many times can we have people complain about Obama.

Not every body does content like Rush, so let's play a song. Play Your Song from Elton John.

It will help the AM band keep listeners...

I remember visiting WROW radio when it was in the ch 10 building, it played records then, sleepy MOR,

if you play the right songs on AM radio you can get an audience, will it not beat WGY, no, but you can get a number

and sell some spots... If you play the right titles you can build to a 2.5 12+, but with WGDJ on at 1300, there's too many talkers.

If I'm correct, one thing 590 has going for them is greater range than 100.9. Frankly, I think a presentation similar to Timeless Cool, particularly during the evenings and perhaps overnight hours could work.

 

[MHVRadiofan]

If I'm correct, one thing 590 has going for them is greater range than 100.9. Frankly, I think a presentation similar to Timeless Cool, particularly during the evenings and perhaps overnight hours could work.

During the day yes. They put a listenable signal -for AM into Poughkeepsie . 100.9 doesn’t even come close. .At night however they are a victim of the usual AM chatter ,and don‘t go very far. To bad the FCC doesn’t allow better use of the upper expanded band. I know to many stations in the 1600 -1700KH portion would lead to the same mess as the rest of the AM band but around here there isn’t much up there.

 

[tower17]

Considering Pamal isn't that into spending money do you think this will be the format:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today's_Best_Country

If I recall correctly, Bug Country dropped a satellite format before Christmas for a locally automated one. Maybe it wasn't their choice because a satellite network would rather have a bigger stick in a market especially if that stick is in town.

 

[DToTheJ]

Albany Times-Union article which confirms a format change on 100.9 FM today at 10:09 AM (how tacky):
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=904004

 

[ROCKTHEMIC]

I threw up in my mouth a little!

 

[hulahoop]

Thats a good thought Gadon!

 

[klutch00]

If I'm correct, one thing 590 has going for them is greater range than 100.9. Frankly, I think a presentation similar to Timeless Cool, particularly during the evenings and perhaps overnight hours could work.

During the day yes. They put a listenable signal -for AM into Poughkeepsie . 100.9 doesn’t even come close. .At night however they are a victim of the usual AM chatter ,and don‘t go very far. To bad the FCC doesn’t allow better use of the upper expanded band. I know to many stations in the 1600 -1700KH portion would lead to the same mess as the rest of the AM band but around here there isn’t much up there.

Well, Poughkeepsie is about sixty or so miles south of the WROW transmitter so that's pretty damned good, especially for a five-kilowatt signal. Granted, 590 is at the low end of the band which helps and I wouldn't rule out the Hudson River probably playing a factor as well. I take it that the signal starts to fade right about the city of Hudson at night. Even with that, 100.9 doesn't put out that strong a signal that far away (FTR for better or worse, I get this information from maps I've seen on Radio-Locator).

Now, regarding the use of the expanded band: I'm not so sure it was a good idea to create it in the first place. I think it would have been better if the FM band should've been expanded either down to 82 MHZ (but of course channel six would have to be eliminated), or up to 114 MHz if that's available; having up to half or so of the new channels with a maximum ERP of six-kilowatts. Then get as many as possible of the marginal operations (mainly those with bad night-time signals) to move to the new band. I think that the FCC made a mistake by breaking down the clear channels, and it's time to restore them if possible. Moreover, I think There could be more clear channels if enough AM broadcasters were to 'take the plunge.'

 

[klutch00]

I seriously thought they were one of the best radio stations in the country, and here they are, about to switch. Honestly, what is the point of listening to MUSIC on an AM station???

I agree ... to a point.

WKLI has a unique (especially for FM) format. Normally, this is an AM format. (more on that in a bit) The two things that drive me crazy about the station, are the amount of ads they have. Way too many breaks per hour.. and long! They could at least afford to have 1 commercial-free hour during the day. I know it pays for the programming... but it's overkill. Plus, their annoying "jingles" ... played after (& in between) EVERY song! THAT drove me up the wall!

Now here's where I disagree. The format they use is a mix of Citadel's "Timeless" (which I believe is ending today) and Dial Global's "America's Best Music". Timeless used to be heard here on Pamal's 930 WIZR Johnstown. They were my favorite station--- over and above MAGIC. Timeless has since only been heard in this region on 970 AM (Norwich) and 1270 AM (Walton) Locally, we get "ABM" on 1190 & 1230. To me, THIS music was MADE for AM radio! I absolutely prefer to hear Sinatra, Carpenters, Bread, Mathis, Striesand et all, on AM radio. IMO, AM sounds MUCH better than it used to, and is a compliment to the overall sound. Music on AM was the foundation of what radio is today.

There are many AM stations around us playing standards to pop-rock. Several are on my presets, and now 590 is as well! 8)

I think it is possible for the sound quality of AM stations to be improved WITHOUT having to utilize IBOC. I've said it before and I'll say it again, why can't there be a high quality ANALOG broadcast standard for AM? I don't know if AMAX is/was the answer, but it should be a consideration. I definitely think AM stereo was NEVER given a fair chance and should strongly be reconsidered.

Now, if the powers-that-be are serious about the format, they'll consider unique ways to promote the station and raise funds. I say sponsor concerts, dances and maybe antique car shows; just for starters.

 

[Towerclimber31]

This is the equivalent of taking your grandmother to Northwoods on Rosa Road. You are doing your best to keep her comfortable until that fatefull day when she is no more.

Here is why:

There is no one under 45 who listens to AM radio. Exception, WFAN in New York City. Most under 30 don't even know what AM radio is. The people under 30 listen to radio as whole less than half the amount of time that they did 10 years ago. They don't know what AM is, and if they did, they are doing something else anyway. Promote it you say? Radio stations are loathe to spending money on big promotional campaigns anymore. Even the ones that control the billboards.

No one fights for AM radio. The technology is there for AM to sound as good if not better than FM. Yet, owners will not spend the money. The return on expense will be zero because you will only be losing listeners for AM stations from here on out. Radio station are loathe to spend more to get more. They sure as heck aren't going to spend more to get less.

There is so much electrical interference now. AM signals are hard to tune in many areas, nulled in many others.

Cars have crummy AM radios now. Radio station owners would have had to pay car dealers to help improve the radios to pitch their service, much like XM/Sirius did. Radio stations are loathe... well, you get the idea.

I liked WKLI. I like the music, I like the format. I will check in on it periodically. Its better than nothing, but 590 AM is on life support.

 

[DToTheJ]

I'm surprised Albany hasn't put "Magic" on the HD-2 channel of 100.9 FM - then again, that would be rubbing salt into the wounds, as virtually nobody listens to HD radio...

 

[MoldaMania182]

I'm surprised Albany hasn't put "Magic" on the HD-2 channel of 100.9 FM - then again, that would be rubbing salt into the wounds, as virtually nobody listens to HD radio...

Pamal as a group has actively refuted ever going HD radio. So that will never happen.

 

[DToTheJ]

Pamal as a group has actively refuted ever going HD radio...

Well, I suppose we can say they're doing something right!

 

[klutch00]

This is the equivalent of taking your grandmother to Northwoods on Rosa Road. You are doing your best to keep her comfortable until that fatefull day when she is no more.

Here is why:

There is no one under 45 who listens to AM radio. Exception, WFAN in New York City. Most under 30 don't even know what AM radio is. The people under 30 listen to radio as whole less than half the amount of time that they did 10 years ago. They don't know what AM is, and if they did, they are doing something else anyway. Promote it you say? Radio stations are loathe to spending money on big promotional campaigns anymore. Even the ones that control the billboards.

I was thinking of alternative fund-raising methods which might provide for some income. I think that alternative fund raising methods like the ones I mentioned earlier are going to be one way that specialty and marginal operations stay alive

No one fights for AM radio. The technology is there for AM to sound as good if not better than FM. Yet, owners will not spend the money. The return on expense will be zero because you will only be losing listeners for AM stations from here on out. Radio station are loathe to spend more to get more. They sure as heck aren't going to spend more to get less.

There is so much electrical interference now. AM signals are hard to tune in many areas, nulled in many others.

I think electrical interference can be curtailed by having insulating electrical wires or limiting the emission of such interference.

Cars have crummy AM radios now. Radio station owners would have had to pay car dealers to help improve the radios to pitch their service, much like XM/Sirius did. Radio stations are loathe... well, you get the idea.

I liked WKLI. I like the music, I like the format. I will check in on it periodically. Its better than nothing, but 590 AM is on life support.

I would suggest that 590 add music similar to what "Timeless Cool" offers, at least in the evening hours. This could draw in some younger listeners. If all else fails and it's proven that the AM band is virtually beyond repair, I say turn the entire band into clear channels with perhaps a few exceptions. Get the remainder of stations on the band to move to FM, even if that means expanding that band as I mentioned earlier. Whatever happens, the AM band shouldn't be eliminated entirely. I feel the clears serve a purpose, especially in an emergency!