R
radioprofessor
Guest
Was nice to return to Seattle for a bit of work after not visiting for several months. I am a bit saddened at the state of radio in this market. KUBE seems on auto-pilot and I am surprised THE END and MOVIN are still even in the formats. No effort is being made on either station to make them winners in their format parameter. KBKS has been in free fall since their PD/Consultant left and I have a feeling a complete revamp is coming. The format is strong the execution in music, mornings and promotion is not. The station had potential in late winter. It seems rudderless. The rest of the market is cutting back or simulcasting or both. Very sad in my humble view.
I find it an interesting parameter that it is the local companies that own stations in Seattle: Fisher, Crista and KING-FM that field full staffs and local programming pretty in signficant ways. KPLZ, KOMO, KCMS, KING-FM have big staffs and big promotion budgets and a local emphasis. The other groups in town choose one or two stations in the cluster to focus dollars on and let the rest whither. Entercom puts dollars only on KISW, the END is a syndicated morning show and virtual automation after that, KMTT has lost heritage talent and its music difference, the WOLF is in decline only being helped by KMPS' overload of commercials.
CBS has slashed and burned. KMPS and KZOK get the dollars. KBKS has had no real PD in six months and have seen 5 straight months of decline in ratings to where they are no longer a factor. JACK and KPTK have zero staff or dollars. Sandusky might as well be automated on all formats with little spent for real personalities or promotions. Only WARM gets any real dollars for advertising anymore. JAZZ, MOVIN and KIXI are laughable. Clear Channel has spent dollars on KUBE and KJR-AM but KJR-FM and KFNK are throwaway stations. Bonneville has one station with all syndicated talk and a full market FM that is now a simulcast of KIRO. Tragic. The parameter for good radio is disappearing except with local owners. I see this trend in other markets as well. Local owners are still trying while major groups are cutting and satisfied with success on one or two out of six stations in their cluster. It is an ugly parameter for our industry and Seattle seems to be on the leading edge. SF and LA are close behind in my view.
In the consulting field stations have trimmed our duties to once a year market visits. Some may cheer but in my humble view consultants with vision are needed now more than ever. Perceptual overviews I have just viewed show listeners agree with the above analysis and parameters.
I find it an interesting parameter that it is the local companies that own stations in Seattle: Fisher, Crista and KING-FM that field full staffs and local programming pretty in signficant ways. KPLZ, KOMO, KCMS, KING-FM have big staffs and big promotion budgets and a local emphasis. The other groups in town choose one or two stations in the cluster to focus dollars on and let the rest whither. Entercom puts dollars only on KISW, the END is a syndicated morning show and virtual automation after that, KMTT has lost heritage talent and its music difference, the WOLF is in decline only being helped by KMPS' overload of commercials.
CBS has slashed and burned. KMPS and KZOK get the dollars. KBKS has had no real PD in six months and have seen 5 straight months of decline in ratings to where they are no longer a factor. JACK and KPTK have zero staff or dollars. Sandusky might as well be automated on all formats with little spent for real personalities or promotions. Only WARM gets any real dollars for advertising anymore. JAZZ, MOVIN and KIXI are laughable. Clear Channel has spent dollars on KUBE and KJR-AM but KJR-FM and KFNK are throwaway stations. Bonneville has one station with all syndicated talk and a full market FM that is now a simulcast of KIRO. Tragic. The parameter for good radio is disappearing except with local owners. I see this trend in other markets as well. Local owners are still trying while major groups are cutting and satisfied with success on one or two out of six stations in their cluster. It is an ugly parameter for our industry and Seattle seems to be on the leading edge. SF and LA are close behind in my view.
In the consulting field stations have trimmed our duties to once a year market visits. Some may cheer but in my humble view consultants with vision are needed now more than ever. Perceptual overviews I have just viewed show listeners agree with the above analysis and parameters.