Star and other radio stuff

[feeball]

It always seems like de ja vu when reading posts five years later.

It is a safe bet that as of right now CBS won't be flipping Star to anything. Even though the market is over saturated with the same product, it still gets numbers that have improved over the years.

KDKA is still where they have been for years. Seems that nobody can crack DVE from the top spot.

Y108 is dropping in numbers from previous years. It's not so much the Frogs as it is an overall decline in Country ratings across the United States.

And then there is 93.7.

This frequency has had an identity crisis over a five year span. First it was B94 (or whatever other B name they wanted to use), then it was K Rock, then it was The Zone, then back to B94, and now it is The Fan.

I can remember years ago people would speculate and ask if an FM sports talk station would make it. Guess now we will see.

When I first heard The Zone when it took over K Rock I felt that CBS was attempting to do just that, have a sports/personality driven FM station. A lot can be said as to where this frequency has gone wrong.

1. When B94 was in its prime, they did not have KISS breathing down their necks. When KISS enters a market with an existing CHR station, KISS always wins the ratings battle in the end. It might sound at times to be too repetitive, the songs might be too sped up than originally intended, but it wins nevertheless.

2. When K Rock was on the air, it did well with Howard Stern, but fell completely apart after his departure. From a 4 or a 5 to a 1.5 is a huge loss for any station to assume.

3. The Zone's numbers were below K Rock in its worst arbitron ratings period. A lot can be said about the personalities, the station still carrying Opie and Anthony, etc., the bottom line is it failed.

4. When CBS Radio resurrected B94 it sounded like a great idea. Numbers went in an upward direction, but they still could not dent KISS FM.

So to all of those wondering when Star 100.7 will flip formats, it will take a ratings swing by 93.7 of about a 3.5 to a 4.0 before CBS would even consider flipping.

 

[pghfmradiosucks]

The fact that a station can succeed playing the same lame uninspired songs over and over again at a sped up pace is really quite ridiculous. I, however don't care anymore. If listeners want to listen to KISS then more power to them. I, however, will not be listening.

 

[garnet]

CHR radio has played a tight list and has sped up records for literally 40 or 45 YEARS!!! When will this odd argument stop being made. We get it, you are way too cool to fall for such tricks...congratulations for being a few steps ahead of 12-24 yr old girls...well done. You ought to write a book about all you know about radio.

 

[pghfmradiosucks]

Thanks for the kind words "g". I'll send you an autographed copy of the book!! In the meantime, have fun listening to KISS with the girls. How many times has WDVE played "Stairway to Heaven" today? I'm sure you listen to that sorry excuse of a radio station as well.

 

[youngabe89]

So my question is, how long is it going to take until we can offically declare The Fan or whatever they're calling it a FAIL? The Zone lasted 6 months and it didn't have cheerleaders saying, "Give it a chance..." "Oh these ratings aren't accurate because..." Uhh...the station's ratings are REALLY low and dropped significantly when the change took place. Seems as if there are some people who really want the station to work, but I think it's a massive LOL fail. But someone will have a reason as to why it needs "time."

 

[feeball]

The fact that CBS Radio was allowed to obtain the KDKA FM call letters or the station surprises me. I was thinking that unless they obtain the broadcast rights to some major sports stuff (i.e. MLB, NFL, NHL, etc) and are able to lure in a few more of the sports talkers such as Madden, Cannon or Savran to the station, it might have a shelf life slightly larger than The Zone but not by much. I can't really make heads or tails of it because if there is one thing more boring than say watching golf, it's hearing a bunch of middle-aged monkey suit wearing sports writers yak about it.

Those are the same reasons why I despise ESPN.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I disagree.

Tell you why. When WTAE switched from news/talk to all sports in the late '90s, their ratings took a hit.

If memory serves, WTAE used to get 3's and 4's with its news/talk format, but sports- to this day- has only resulted in ratings in the 1's and 2's at their peak.

Generally, sports are not going to be a ratings hit. What it is is a revenue hit- with the male demographic promised and delivered.

For instance, WFAN in New York isn't a great station in terms of ratings. But it is in terms of revenue- I believe historically they are the top billing station in the country.

The only exception I know of is when the Red Sox and the Patriots were both World Champions in Boston. At that time, WEEI was the top rated station in Boston with a mark of- if memory serves- 5.5.

Which wouldn't be enough to win the Pittsburgh market.

I'm not saying The Fan is perfect. I'm not sure there is a "perfect" radio station anywhere.


But they just got the Pitt contract, there's a significant buzz regarding the station, and CBS has duplicated the format in other markets.

To the B-94 fans, The Fan may never have their ratings. But if they can deliver the revenue- and when I hear ads for their overnight show I'm inclined to believe they are getting it- my guess is it's going to be around for awhile.

 

[Parttimer]

The fact that CBS Radio was allowed to obtain the KDKA FM call letters or the station surprises me.

Huh? CBS owns KDKA, they already owned 93.7, and the rules are that an owner can use the same calls on one AM and one FM.

So what exactly is surprising about that?

 

[Jkf]

But they just got the Pitt contract, there's a significant buzz regarding the station, and CBS has duplicated the format in other markets.

Your arguement was well thoughtout and I could agree slightly with everything until this sentence.

Getting the Pitt contract is like owning a restaurant and not being able to serve Pepsi or Coke, but you somehow obtain the rights to serve RC cola. It's the "fourth" franchise in Pittsburgh. They can NOT survive on this contract alone.

What significant buzz are you talking about? The fact their own co-owned TV Station is FINALLY mentioning them in cross promotions? Ok, maybe. The fact that some writer ( we all know who ) from the paper bows down to their every move just to get his name out there? Ok, I'll give you that. But the general public is NOT tuning in. Listen to the repetition in the callers. Listen to the dead air and rambling when not even those people call in.

And not all of the CBS sports stations are doing well. And, even if they were who cares what CBS has done in Dallas. This ain't Dallas.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Getting the Pitt contract is like owning a restaurant and not being able to serve Pepsi or Coke, but you somehow obtain the rights to serve RC cola.

Don't know if you've heard, but that IS going to be the cola situation at the Consol Energy Center.
Next season it will be Sid, Geno, Dr. Pepper and RC.

(not that it matters much, as the Pens fans will be drinking Labatt or Ahrn City n' At)

 

[Pratte4Life]

You say that The Fan cannot survive on the Pitt contract alone.

But then explain the success of ESPN 1250, which has had no contracts with Pittsburgh teams for more than 10 years.

WBGG has had at some point in their 10 year history EVERY major Pittsburgh team on their airwaves- Steelers, Penguins, Panthers and even the Pirates during the Grapefruit League season. While I realize that these games are usually simulcast on the FM counterparts, they haven't done much for that station.

So my point is not that The Fan will become "Pitt Panther radio" and that will lead them to untold riches, but rather that they secured a nice sports contract and I would think they would keep the format around because of that.

As far as the buzz- I've seen a lot of TV ads dating back from the end of January regarding The Fan, and they have been very adept at getting print and blog attention.


What station has been written about more than The Fan lately?


Who cares about what CBS does in Dallas? My goodness, if CBS is starting this format up all over the country- don't you think that indicates they are serious about it?

 

[Seasoned Vet]

But then explain the success of ESPN 1250

Some success! While the station has survived, over the last few years it has ridded itself (one way or another) of its best on-air people - Madden, Benz, Cannon, Colony, Destio; heck, even throw in Crow - while gaining only Guy and Stan. We can only speculate who will be next when the annual May purge comes around again in 2011.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I don't think you can say that 1250 in a sports format has been a failure!

 

[Parttimer]

A good example of what PBP contracts can do for a sports station is 620 WDAE in Tampa. With just talk shows, they typically pulled numbers similar to 620 here. Now they have the Rays, Lightning, and share the Buccaneers with FM flagship US103.5.

Their current PPM numbers are double what ESPN 1250 has.

As for Pitt, even if the Fan got the Pirates and Steelers, there would be few conflicts, and the games would be surrounded by sports content, rather than listeners having to find the games on 3WS, and going back to oldies afterwards. The only team that would provide major schedule issues would be the Pens vs Pitt basketball, and I think CC values the Pens as highly as the Steelers, maybe moreso.

And if there were conflicts, there's always KDKA-AM for the games that get bumped... not a bad alternative.

 

[Boss Radio]

But then explain the success of ESPN 1250

Some success! While the station has survived, over the last few years it has ridded itself (one way or another) of its best on-air people - Madden, Benz, Cannon, Colony, Destio; heck, even throw in Crow - while gaining only Guy and Stan. We can only speculate who will be next when the annual May purge comes around again in 2011.

How did they rid themselves of Benz and Cannon? Benz was offered morning drive elsewhere, Cannon was offered five nights a week by CC. Both were better deals than they could have gotten from ESPN.

Madden self-destructed, and the (correct) call to fire him was made by ESPN corporate. He's having success on The X, but he's also doing a show that combines music with talk, and the calls are all taped and reviewed to keep the leash tight.

 

[Parttimer]

A good example of what PBP contracts can do for a sports station is 620 WDAE in Tampa. With just talk shows, they typically pulled numbers similar to 620 here. Now they have the Rays, Lightning, and share the Buccaneers with FM flagship US103.5.

Their current PPM numbers are double what ESPN 1250 has.

Just a quick correction.... Tampa numbers with just talk were similar to what 1250 does here...

 

[feeball]

The fact that CBS Radio was allowed to obtain the KDKA FM call letters or the station surprises me.

Huh? CBS owns KDKA, they already owned 93.7, and the rules are that an owner can use the same calls on one AM and one FM.

So what exactly is surprising about that?

But would the same call rule still apply in this specific case being that the K letter is looked upon as being a West call letter and W is looked at as being an East call letter? Just like if KDKA 1020 woke up one morning and said they were doing away with that call, they would end up being W-something or other. If any of what I just said makes sense.

 

[Parttimer]

But would the same call rule still apply in this specific case being that the K letter is looked upon as being a West call letter and W is looked at as being an East call letter? Just like if KDKA 1020 woke up one morning and said they were doing away with that call, they would end up being W-something or other. If any of what I just said makes sense.

Yep. CBS owns the KD call letters for AM, they can use them on an FM. The rule does not require that both be in the same market; Clear Channel has a bunch of heritage calls parked on little stations all over the south. If CBS wanted to use the KDKA-FM calls in an eastern market other than Pittsburgh, where the K is grandfathered in as it is with KQV, maybe it would have been an issue.