Radio Disney WDDZ-AM 1250

[PittsburghKid]

I was looking at the most recent radio ratings for the Pittsburgh market and noticed that Radio Disney WDDZ-AM 1250 doesn't have any rating listed next to it. And this leads me to ask these two questions: In all seriousness, are there people out there who actually listen to this station in Pittsburgh? While I don't have children, even if I did and played this music for my children, I cannot imagine tolerating playing AM music over my car radio. Especially since you can hear Radio Disney on satellite. Listening to Disney music is difficult enough no matter how clear the channel may be. But listening to artists like Justin Bieber over the 1250 AM airwaves must be like listening to fingernails on a chalk board.

Anyway, since a lot of you work or have worked in the radio business, does this station have a chance in your opinion? Or if you were in charge of this station and you were stuck with this format, what would you do to bring in listeners?

Just curious for your thoughts.

All the best,
-PittsburghKid

 

[Parttimer]

I almost always play Radio Disney when my 8-year-old is in the car, but I get it from satellite. If I'm the car that doesn't have a satellite receiver and try to listen to it on AM, he asks what's wrong with it....

For the life of me I've never figured out how the terrestrial affiliates make any money.

In the case of 1250, I think it's now mostly a case of not being able to find a buyer for the station who will pay what they want for it, and this is virtually a zero-overhead way to keep it on the air.

 

[KeyTimes950]

Re: Radio Disney and other AM activity

I hadn't noticed that WDDZ doesn't show up in the ratings. Then again, I haven't had a reason to tune to AM 1250 since before Disney dumped the ESPN programming there. (No, I do not have any would-be Disney listeners in my household, but I don't know of any Disney listeners among my younger relatives in targeted age groups.)

I know there has to be an audience given the promotions that station does and I believe there is some advertising sales activity there. However, I don't believe Disney is trying to get rid of the station. Even if it was trying, I wonder who would buy it, as it seems most of the market's AM activity seems to be an afterthought after what's important for the FM siblings of those AMs that have such siblings.

Speaking of trying to get rid of a station, I see another pitch by Business Talk Radio for AM 1550. Still asking $225,000, for what it is worth, for 1,000 watts day, 4 watts night.

 

[Parttimer]

Re: Radio Disney and other AM activity

. However, I don't believe Disney is trying to get rid of the station.

When the sports format was dropped, it was mentioned in news articles stating that they were changing formats because they couldn't find a buyer.

 

[secondchoice]

I am not bashing anybody and please do not try to confuse me with the truth. In the "big picture" this a cheap way to promote Disney. Radio Disney is a "tool' to promote the Disney Channel (s). I know they have let some of their "smaller market" operations go in the past couple of years but This operation is kind of like many religious operations only instead of Praising and Preaching for God, they promote the Mouse. Instead of fund raising drives Disney writes the check. BTW I am not declaring Disney a "cult"!

 

[FreddyE1977]

I have a few friends who are "soccer mom" types who like this station
because the music is "safe" to play for their tweens in the minivan as they
are being shuttled hither and yon during the day. But they are probably the
only people who are tuning in to Radio Disney. Certainly not the kids themselves
who have no idea what AM radio is (and, increasingly, no idea of FM either)

From those moms who tune it in I have heard complaints about the quality of
the IBOC-buzzed signal and how it does not sound nearly as good as it used to
on 540.

 

[pman44]

I have two teen daughters that grew out of Radio Disney right about the time they switched from 540, so I haven't listened to 1250 much. On the few times that I have tried to tune in, it's not reliably there. A few times they've been off the air, or hte signal is very weak.

But I am grateful for Radio Disney, it is one of the few "safe" places to listen to music with your kids while driving. Even the tamer music stations will play ads for viagara or some other things that you'd rather they not hear.

It was also very interesting when my girls "caught on" to RD--how they shorten songs or speed them up; the ratio of music to ads; the repetition of certain promos; how they play disney stars but ignore (mostly) Nick stars; etc.

The problem is what to listen to in the car now, lol.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

It was also very interesting when my girls "caught on" to RD--how they shorten songs or speed them up; the ratio of music to ads; the repetition of certain promos; how they play disney stars but ignore (mostly) Nick stars; etc.

This seems to be a lot worse than it was say 10 years ago. Is it just solely because they have more Disney stars to promote? I don't remember it being that bad back then, but now it seems like EVERYONE they play is Disney affiliated, whereas it used to be more of a mix.

 

[FreddyE1977]

But I am grateful for Radio Disney, it is one of the few "safe" places to listen to music with your kids while driving. Even the tamer music stations will play ads for viagara or some other things that you'd rather they not hear.

That hits upon one of my major pet peeves. Ads for Viagra and related products/services, along with nudie bars,
during sports programming at any hour of the day or night. I am really glad I do not have an eight year old son
who likes baseball, or I'd be doing nothing but answering uncomfortable questions.

Every time it makes you ask "are things really that bad in the Sales Department?" the answer keeps coming
back, "Yes. Yes they are."

 

[KyDXIn]

It was also very interesting when my girls "caught on" to RD--how they shorten songs or speed them up; the ratio of music to ads; the repetition of certain promos; how they play disney stars but ignore (mostly) Nick stars; etc.

This seems to be a lot worse than it was say 10 years ago. Is it just solely because they have more Disney stars to promote? I don't remember it being that bad back then, but now it seems like EVERYONE they play is Disney affiliated, whereas it used to be more of a mix.

Sounds like a "cult" to me!

 

[secondchoice]

It was also very interesting when my girls "caught on" to RD--how they shorten songs or speed them up; the ratio of music to ads; the repetition of certain promos; how they play disney stars but ignore (mostly) Nick stars; etc.

This seems to be a lot worse than it was say 10 years ago. Is it just solely because they have more Disney stars to promote? I don't remember it being that bad back then, but now it seems like EVERYONE they play is Disney affiliated, whereas it used to be more of a mix.

Sounds like a "cult" to me!

No just business.

If you were a music director at a CBS or RCA / NBC station during the 1960's and 1970's I bet you would give the "record" division's demo 45's a couple of extra spins. Of course there would be papers and legal documents saying your were "fair"! The FCC did look at such stuff back then. Now the Feds allowed stations "caught" to just promise to give the "indies" a couple of extra plays. Pre 80 / 90 most broadcasters went out of their way to stay in the good graces of the FCC.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

Absolutely agreed. KyDXIn, please don't use my posts to make assertions I don't agree with. If I thought Radio Disney was a cult, I'd say so. They say right up front they're affiliated with Disney, so if they have the stars to play, they can go for it. It's not as though they're trying to "sneak" the Disney connection in.

If there are more marketable Disney stars nowadays, it probably just shows that they've gotten better at developing things that age group wants to hear, without missing the non-Disney people. Then again, so much non-Disney pop is questionable for little kidlets beyond them being able to bleep out a phrase or two...also a change from 10 years ago.

 

[Parttimer]

They also play Beyonce, most of the American Idol stars, One Republic, Taio Cruz, Jason Mraz and lots of other
non-Disney artists. Their house artist roster has alo grown, led by Selena Gomez.

 

[cingram]

It's typical for Radio Disney not to show up in the ratings, because the listeners are under age 10, and
the parents aren't likely to admit to listening.

Even with the introduction of the PPM, where listeners as young as 6 are measured, it's still a no-show
in most markets.

I don't mind AM radio. I do mind IBOC on AM radio, which makes WDDZ sound like a bad telephone line
during the daytime.

As it stands now, 1250 is a placeholder waiting to be sold.

C.

 

[DToTheJ]

In the "big picture" this a cheap way to promote Disney. Radio Disney is a "tool' to promote the Disney Channel (s). I know they have let some of their "smaller market" operations go in the past couple of years but This operation is kind of like many religious operations only instead of Praising and Preaching for God, they promote the Mouse...

Are you saying that this is a "Mickey Mouse operation"? :

 

[secondchoice]

In the "big picture" this a cheap way to promote Disney. Radio Disney is a "tool' to promote the Disney Channel (s). I know they have let some of their "smaller market" operations go in the past couple of years but This operation is kind of like many religious operations only instead of Praising and Preaching for God, they promote the Mouse...

Are you saying that this is a "Mickey Mouse operation"? :

I would rather work for Disney, than what the ABC radio / Citadel / Cumulus folks have endured!!

BTW. I do not currently work for any previously named companies.

 

[KyDXIn]

Absolutely agreed. KyDXIn, please don't use my posts to make assertions I don't agree with. If I thought Radio Disney was a cult, I'd say so. They say right up front they're affiliated with Disney, so if they have the stars to play, they can go for it. It's not as though they're trying to "sneak" the Disney connection in.

Geez, lighten up! I thought the smiley face was a blatent hint that I was joking, or was I striking too close to home for you?

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." W. Shakespeare.

 

[FreddyE1977]

It's typical for Radio Disney not to show up in the ratings, because the listeners are under age 10, and
the parents aren't likely to admit to listening.

C.

That's a very intriguing point. I wonder what other stations actually
outperform their book because many of their listeners don't want to admit that they listen?

And if that's the case, how do you stay sane if you sell for them?

 

[cingram]

I wonder what other stations actually
outperform their book because many of their listeners don't want to admit that they listen?

The PPM has proven that Top 40 and Oldies are as popular as ever. Those formats were royally screwed by
the COLRAM (soft) diary for over 20 years. Personally (or corporately), if I were doing one of those formats
(particularly Top 40), and were a ratings subscriber, I would sue over two decades of bad measurement and
lost revenue.

C.

 

[xm41]

I wonder what other stations actually
outperform their book because many of their listeners don't want to admit that they listen?

The PPM has proven that Top 40 and Oldies are as popular as ever. Those formats were royally screwed by
the COLRAM (soft) diary for over 20 years. Personally (or corporately), if I were doing one of those formats
(particularly Top 40), and were a ratings subscriber, I would sue over two decades of bad measurement and
lost revenue.

C.

I don't think the lawsuit would get very far. You would have to prove that they knew at the time that the measurements were bad.