Rhythmic CHR Returns to Des Moines

[Casey]

You have no idea what apparently has been going on between Cumulus and Connoisseur.....

Unbelieveable is all I can say and quite a feat as well.

I gotta admit. Well played.

Get ready for a big full blown CHR war in Des Moines.

I am assuming this is very recent? Cumulus just completed the acquisition last week.

 

[radiorobert]

You have no idea what apparently has been going on between Cumulus and Connoisseur.....

Unbelieveable is all I can say and quite a feat as well.

I gotta admit. Well played.

Get ready for a big full blown CHR war in Des Moines.

I am assuming this is very recent? Cumulus just completed the acquisition last week.

Cumulus knew trhe bulk of deal was going through back in late June. Chris Ryan was brought in as PD while still on Cumulus's payroll. He accepted his Texas job with Cumulus before he left Bismark for Des Moines. In case the Cumulus/Citadel deal never went through Connissuer had plans to keep running the station with commercials. Otherwise if Cumulus did get the initial green light, they were ready to sell and leave the market. Which is whats happening. 98.3 is going to flip to CHR. Thanks to HITS 105-9's groundwork and success.

 

[Casey]

Interesting. I don't see what Connissuer got out of the deal, but Cumulus has really been busy it seems.

So 97.3 and 92.5 won't be flipping to CHR. Though surely Cumulus isn't keeping them both country?

 

[radiorobert]

Interesting. I don't see what Connissuer got out of the deal, but Cumulus has really been busy it seems.

So 97.3 and 92.5 won't be flipping to CHR. Though surely Cumulus isn't keeping them both country?

Don't know either but one can only assume there must have been some money involved in the background and Connissuer was more than happy.

Actually, I see Cumulus keeping both country's to keep that money monopoly safe and sound. Since apparently they haven't been able to sell FM talk on 98.3, Cumulus can have a pretty kick butt combo with two country's, a Rhythmic CHR to take KISS on with, Classic Rock on KGGO to cover the boomer demo's and a sports talker that rakes in a ton of cash just for one guy alone. (Tirrell)

 

[joebtsflk1]

Yes, I'd think keeping 97.3 as a country flanker may be the safest move. But assuming that Cumulus blows up one of the country stations, KHKI would be the one that goes, BUT...KJJY would move to 97.3. Even though there's little practical difference in the coverage of 115 kW at the 500' range versus KJJY's 42 kW (IIRC) at the 540' range, 97.3 is capable of 100 kW at 984'. Get your country station on the best possible freq. That's what's happening in CR and why CC can't compete with their rimshotter A versus a C1 that's right in CR w/ KHAK.

 

[Casey]

Even if Clear Channel's KKSY was a C, it would still be way behind KHAK. It's just a junk station. The audio on the station sounds mediocre at best compared to KHAK. The rest of the time, the station sounds like complete garbage or on multiple occasions, it has to buffer constantly. The last major incident rendered KKSY completely unlistenable for several weeks due to a high-pitched squeal. It also has an incredibly shallow playlist with some of the worst syndicated jocks you will ever hear. That pretty much sums up KKSY. A complete failure on Clear Channel's part. I would not be surprised if Clear Channel changed up the Cedar Rapids market in the not-so-distant future. WMT FM is not doing so hot. Moving it to Country would be an interesting move, and currently, Clear Channel's best option if they want to tackle the number one station in Cedar Rapids.

KHKI may be capable of better coverage, but I am not convinced Cumulus will really care. KHKI and KJJY are currently pretty close in coverage, with both being the strongest country stations in Des Moines by far. Either one is more than suitable for serving the market with country.