Ratings are out for the final winter books

[toddjammin]

Per R & R, the final winter ratings are out. All I can say is WTZN the Zone is off to a bad start for the first month and actually went down in the ratings. Here's how the stations ranked.
1.WDVE
2.KDKA
3.WDSY
4.WPGB
5.WJAS
6.WRRK
7.WSHH
8.WKST
9.WWSW
10.WAMO
11.WOGI
12.WXDX
13.WLTJ
14.WZPT
15.WOGF
16.WEAE
17.WORD
18.WTZN

 

[Pratte4Life]

A few notes.

Lo and behold- KDKA is actually UP!

Now, I realize the standard for KDKA is to be No. 1 and that's it. However, the only move I see them making during that book is getting rid of John McIntire.

And the suits at The Zone might want to take note.

The other thing I wanted to comment on was the sports stations. It's not that surprising their numbers would go down after Steelers season is over. Even though the sports stations are hockey friendly, hockey's younger fan demographic is generally not as apt to listen to sports talk or talk in general.

However, WBGG to go off the radar totally has to be telling.

 

[Boss Radio]

KDKA has traditionally gotten a boost in harsh winters because they get tune-ins for school closings and weather information.

 

[Parttimer]

However, WBGG to go off the radar totally has to be telling.

They always complained Savran was too expensive. It now appears he was all they had. Maybe they don't care.

 

[Boss Radio]

Basically, they don't care.

The AM station serves as a dumping ground for a lot of the sports commitments they don't want cluttering up the various FM stations.

The run it on the cheap and hope they make enough money on it to break even.

 

[Parttimer]

Then they should do with it what they do with 1250 WHNZ in Tampa... most of the day is brokered. They did run Imus, although that ended shortly before the fiasco, and the Devil Rays, the baseball team no one wants, buy the time to air their games there. A former Y97 AE who works there says the place "prints money."

 

[Pratte4Life]

Good point on KD- But I still think it's telling the loss of Mac didn't hurt them.

Who knows? Maybe with this new mid-day guy it might spark something of a comeback. I can't see them sinking any lower.

Regardless, it's rather obvious that since Scott Paulsen didn't go as well as they planned WBGG has been an afterthought.

They were an entity when Savran was there and Tunch and Wolf bought the time- as you recommended Parttimer.

My question, however, is why WEAE beats them so badly. I've never been able to understand it.

 

[Parttimer]

EAE was there first, and carried over the sports tradition of Cope and Savran on WTAE. (and remember, when ABC bought it, it was supposed to become Radio Disney until they figured out sports would do well).

Madden was there before Savran.

CC never put a morning show on 970 because a) they didn't want to spend the money and b) they figured those guys already listeneed to DVE in the mornings (protect the mothership). Mike and Mike are good, and EAE localizes them somewhat by bringing them to town.

970s signal has big issues. The sticks are on McKnight Road and the station sounds like it's underwater in most of Ross and McCandless, and goes away entirely in Cranberry. Sounds great in Uniontown, but if you can see the towers forget it.

I don't think the market likes Jim Rome. (I'd run him on delay at night).

Actually if I was running it now I'd do non-sports brokered programming until 4PM, then run Rome on delay 4-7 to set the stage for night games/long form shows.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I agree with a lot of what you say- but remember WEAE's signal isn't any great shakes either.

I never was a big Mike and Mike fan. I know they do a lot of Pittsburgh content, and so maybe that's why they are successful here, but I don't know- having Dick Vitale on as a guest to say things like "THUMBS UP TO THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS! THUMBS DOWN TO THE NBA RACIAL FOUL STUDY!" just doesn't do it for me- and I'm a Vitale fan!

I also don't think the market likes Jim Rome. And to tell you the truth- I think Rome's prime has passed. He just doesn't seem to have the guests he once did- and callers insulting each other has gotten old in its 12th year or so.

His show also has a lot of NBA talk and lingo and that's not going to fly in Pittsburgh.

Tell you the truth- I think one of the reasons WBGG is slumping is their programming just isn't that good. The FOX Sports Network is practically unlistenable- and I say that while I am actively searching for an alternative to ESPN- which seems intent on covering sports the way Rolling Stone covers pop culture.

Not to mention stuffing Vitale's Gene Siskel impersonation on us.

 

[Boss Radio]

Let's not forget that 970's afternoon show is terrible. I don't know why they hired Bendel. He has no flair for radio at all. Benz is a snarly, arrogant little guy who comes across as badly as Sam Nover used to with a similar personality.

They don't break stories, they aren't funny -- so why should listeners bother? To counter-program Madden, they should have gone for someone who is super-knowledgeable, but can be more contemporary than Savran was.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

For those of you who listen to/like country (I personally can't stomach it), is WDSY that much better than the Frogs, or is it just a habit since it's been around so long?

 

[toddjammin]

For those of you who listen to/like country (I personally can't stomach it), is WDSY that much better than the Frogs, or is it just a habit since it's been around so long?

I'm not a big country fan either, but to answer your question, I think it is a little bit of both.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I see primarily the same playlist between the two.

The thing that I see that's different is at least WDSY doesn't insult your intelligence with their DJ names which are all takes on the frog nickname.

Farrah Froggit- for instance. Nothing personal against whoever this DJ is- she does her job well- but I just feel sorry for her that they make her use that name.

The final straw was "Jumping Jimmy Roach." This is one of the most respected radio personalities in the market and they patronize him that way.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

I see primarily the same playlist between the two.

The thing that I see that's different is at least WDSY doesn't insult your intelligence with their DJ names which are all takes on the frog nickname.

Farrah Froggit- for instance. Nothing personal against whoever this DJ is- she does her job well- but I just feel sorry for her that they make her use that name.

The final straw was "Jumping Jimmy Roach." This is one of the most respected radio personalities in the market and they patronize him that way.

This is why I like SAM better than BOB. They don't say asinine things like "Sam used to hang out at the Greengate Mall" or something of the like. My hope is that one day the DJs on BOB will just snap and yell "this is stupid!!"

 

[Koss4AA]

I see primarily the same playlist between the two.

The thing that I see that's different is at least WDSY doesn't insult your intelligence with their DJ names which are all takes on the frog nickname.

Farrah Froggit- for instance. Nothing personal against whoever this DJ is- she does her job well- but I just feel sorry for her that they make her use that name.

The final straw was "Jumping Jimmy Roach." This is one of the most respected radio personalities in the market and they patronize him that way.

Uh..... the girl who used "Farrah Froggit" hasn't been on the air there in at least a couple years. And Jimmy hasn't used "Jumpin'" Jimmy for more than 4 years. At least be up to speed on what they're doing, whether or not you like the format and imaging.

By the way, the listeners obviously don't consider themselves insulted, particularly women. Get out the latest Arbitron and check those demos. But that is a typical industry-person view of the FROGGY marketing, which is never the same as the listeners'.

No, I don't work there. Just know the situation well.

 

[Radio_Realist]

Uh..... the girl who used "Farrah Froggit" hasn't been on the air there in at least a couple years. And Jimmy hasn't used "Jumpin'" Jimmy for more than 4 years. At least be up to speed on what they're doing, whether or not you like the format and imaging.

That's the problem with airing really lame programming. If you chase your listeners away (as Froggy did with their stupid swamp names), getting rid of those lame program elements won't bring back those listeners unless you someone let the people who aren't listening to your station know you've made the change.

It's not the listeners' responsibility to keep up to speed on what the Froggies are doing nowadays. The responsibility lies with the radio stations.

 

[Sahisko]

This is why I like SAM better than BOB. They don't say asinine things like "Sam used to hang out at the Greengate Mall" or something of the like. My hope is that one day the DJs on BOB will just snap and yell "this is stupid!!"

Corporateradiosucks, I am waiting for that day. I wonder if WRRK's managers discipline their employees by saying things such as, "Bob was not happy about your lack of enthusiasm on air" or "Bob is going to need you to come in on Saturday.....yeaaaaaaahhhh and how about Sunday too....mmmmmkay? (If you seen Office Space you will get that joke)

I noticed another thing about Bob FM Djs other than sensing the vibe that they have some serious depression....they talk as if they are reading something on script created weeks before. Its hard to explain, just listen to the station and you will hear what I am talking about. Like you know how most DJs might talk about an artist or the weather or something corny between songs or before a commercial or might say "Here is a new song from Black Eyed Peas here on 961 Kiss" or whatever? WRRK Djs dont expres that individuality. They just say something like "Bob likes music that is why he bought a radio station." I mean, if you get even comment on the weather, tell a corny joke or make reference to the current music playing, what is the purpose of even having on air personalities? Then again it is experience I suppose.

 

[ChancellorDukat]

Corporateradiosucks, I am waiting for that day. I wonder if WRRK's managers discipline their employees by saying things such as, "Bob was not happy about your lack of enthusiasm on air" or "Bob is going to need you to come in on Saturday.....yeaaaaaaahhhh and how about Sunday too....mmmmmkay? (If you seen Office Space you will get that joke)

I noticed another thing about Bob FM Djs other than sensing the vibe that they have some serious depression....they talk as if they are reading something on script created weeks before. Its hard to explain, just listen to the station and you will hear what I am talking about. Like you know how most DJs might talk about an artist or the weather or something corny between songs or before a commercial or might say "Here is a new song from Black Eyed Peas here on 961 Kiss" or whatever? WRRK Djs dont expres that individuality. They just say something like "Bob likes music that is why he bought a radio station." I mean, if you get even comment on the weather, tell a corny joke or make reference to the current music playing, what is the purpose of even having on air personalities? Then again it is experience I suppose.

I've noticed this Sahisko, it almost sounds like they are only DJ sound bits rather than someone is live behind the microphone. Perhaps it is part of the whole "Jack FM format" the Jack FM where I live flipped three weeks before WRRK did and they are still running jockless at the moment. I could say I just want to listen to the music, I dont want to hear the DJ small talk. But if I said that I would be out of a job.......... ;D

And Sahisko....."Have you seen my stapler?" haha.

 

[Parttimer]

Bob is absolutely the worst-executed version of this format I've ever heard. JACK in Dallas has the weird drop-ins but they done by a guy with a great voice, and the delivery makes it entertaining. The Bob stuff borders on creepy.

 

[garnet]

I wish the signal for SAM was better...I agree its lightyears better than BOB, course its got the network $...but you truly have no idea what you're going to hear on SAM...meanwhile...on BOB...any minute now...Rock Lobster...