Radio One

[Radiogeek500]

What do you all think of this large Urban broadcaster? Seems like they are having tough times, especially with KKBT, but it doesn't stop there, their guy Tom Joyner they acquired from ABC 2 years ago and thus putting him on their stations isn't taking the rival's audience with him where there is a competitor. And a lotta critisism from Blacks that they're treating their employees like crap and wouldn't invite them to the recent 25th Anniversary party they held in DC, their Home base. And now their stock is at 5 dollars, dangerous considering that they are the largest black broadcaster. Wonder what they're gonna do about their problems, thoughts?

 

[quietboy]

Radio One made a lot of recent changes to their upper management I believe because of the recent problems. I think they even hired Barry Mayo from Emmis. I think that they are trying to reposition themselves. I always thought that it would be interesting if they merged with Inner City Broadcasting (than again that maybe a bad move). They will probably do what Infinity/CBS Radio is starting to do now an unload smaller market stations and concentrate on the major markets. They really need to refocus. Tom Joynor is still popular though in some markets but I think his brand is starting to get old and Steve Harvey is eating away at his audience. There was n't really an alternative to Tom until Steve came; syndication wise that is.

 

[Radiogeek500]

They might even have to unload KKBT if things get worse, I hear the company is in pretty big debt and selling a couple of Ohio stations and Louisville non core stations won't make a huge difference. Another problem is they don't have a sister to KKBT in LA to operate a cluster strategy and trying to get a 2nd signal will set them back 140 million for a Class A and 300 Million for Class a B/C.

KKBT's biggest problem is it is now a Black Only station, in LA that's a killer, only 7% of the population is African American and Blacks have LOTS of other choices, KPWR, KIIS, KDAY, KTWV, KJLH, KMVN, KBIG, KHHT, and others provide similar music and KKBT angered many listeners, especially Hispanics with all the changes and when KXOL signed on with a Latin Hip Hop format, that cut KKBT's share in half and KKBT isn't likely to recover that much, if any.

The same deal happens even in the Chocolate cities where RO should be doing it, Detroit and Philly are faltering, St Louis is so so, and the Jury is out on Dallas and Houston, and they're beginning to see errosion in DC and ATL. The only places where they can win are places where no one will even compete against them, places like Indianapolis, Louisville, and a couple other markets. Unless they get their act together, it's likely America's largest black broadcaster might be on the block.