Stern: My Show Was "Hard To Sell" In Atlanta

[Wildstyle K]

entire stations being simulcast....

For example Clear Channel takes 102.7 Kiss-FM in LA and brands itself simply as "Kiss-FM". They move their top talent from all their stations across the country to LA and create one Kiss-FM super station - and fire everyone else. Then they simulcast that station in every single market they own a top 40 station 24 hours a day.

And these conglomerate companies set up one super stations for each radio format - "Channel X" for alternative, "Mix FM" for Hot AC - you get the picture.

Maybe that would be good for Atl, but certainly don't want LA's version of KISS-FM taking over where I live! I like my KZZP as is ..... http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=164579.0;topicseen

Besides, in many ways, one station taking over all states & markets is sort of dumb (even though Satellite does it). Who says I want to have to accept and abide by what one location of people deems acceptable and good sounding? What if I / people want / enjoy certain specialty shows and stuff that their local stations decide to carry? In some ways, one super station for each format may be good, but in other ways, no way! If it must be done, then have those Super Stations exist IN ADDITION TO the other local choices available across the U.S.

 

[DToTheJ]

Totally agree that Howard is no longer as relevant as he once was. For me, it was when he went through the Divorce and started to date models and such.Before this I kinda could relate to him...

Agreed, right around the time of his split with Alison and the release of his movie (which hasn't appeared on any cable network for years, btw) he became a "different" Stern (or Sterns, to quote a previous poster ;D ).

 

[trig]

He's coming back, it's just a matter of time. ATL would be stupid to at least not try it on the return. Karmazon's running out of stock options and printer ink for all that worthless money he's printing. He can only kick his National Sales people in the A so long before they jump ship and go back to regular radio as well.

Atlanta radio has more national advertisers than most top five markets, so offending the local advertisers in Atlanta is irrelevant. To say Howard Stern won't bring ratings or sell in Atlanta shows how ignorant these ATL lifers are that make decisions in this town. I don't care for him either but he's entertaining and good at what he does to way too many people. People expect and deserve better than what ATL offers in morning drive. Lets face it, ATl radio suits aren't willing to take chances like they should. It's syndication, how much can it cost compared to a local Bert Show?

I hear it's not profitable to open a strip club in Atlanta either. LOL ;D

 

[kal30005]

entire stations being simulcast....

For example Clear Channel takes 102.7 Kiss-FM in LA and brands itself simply as "Kiss-FM". They move their top talent from all their stations across the country to LA and create one Kiss-FM super station - and fire everyone else. Then they simulcast that station in every single market they own a top 40 station 24 hours a day.

And these conglomerate companies set up one super stations for each radio format - "Channel X" for alternative, "Mix FM" for Hot AC - you get the picture.

Maybe that would be good for Atl, but certainly don't want LA's version of KISS-FM taking over where I live! I like my KZZP as is ..... http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=164579.0;topicseen

Besides, in many ways, one station taking over all states & markets is sort of dumb (even though Satellite does it). Who says I want to have to accept and abide by what one location of people deems acceptable and good sounding? What if I / people want / enjoy certain specialty shows and stuff that their local stations decide to carry? In some ways, one super station for each format may be good, but in other ways, no way! If it must be done, then have those Super Stations exist IN ADDITION TO the other local choices available across the U.S.

I didn't suggest that this was a GOOD thing for Atlanta ... or anywhere else! It's a horrible thing to happen.

I'm suggesting this will be a forced cost cutting measure. It's much cheaper for Clear Channel to program one good top 40 station and simulcast it in 30 markets, than to program and run 30 individual stations. And in a city like Atlanta, there just isn't enough ad revenue available to effectively program and run 20+ FM stations.

That's not to suggest locally programmed radio will disappear entirely. Even at Clear Channel, CBS and the other radio conglomerates, there are stations that are and will continue to be profitable on their own ... and I'm sure those stations will continue to operate on their own. And there will still continue to be locally owned and operated stations.

 

[jambox]

the only thing stern is good for...

is a target for zero-ing in my Leopold scope and 30.06

 

[radiogroupie]

Stern has long denied that he wants to return to terrestrial radio. But it's no secret that his celebrity power has dwindled somewhat since he moved to satellite radio. The last two years alone, he finished on Talkers' "Heavy Hundred" list in, what, 31st place?

Actually, I think the time might be about right for Sterns to return to terrestrial radio.

I believe with how things are evolving in radio at big companies like CBS and Clear Channel, you could soon see entire radio stations simulcast from LA or New York. Not just voice tracking, but the entire stations being simulcast.

For example Clear Channel takes 102.7 Kiss-FM in LA and brands itself simply as "Kiss-FM". They move their top talent from all their stations across the country to LA and create one Kiss-FM super station - and fire everyone else. Then they simulcast that station in every single market they own a top 40 station 24 hours a day. The only local content is the top of the hour ID and maybe a local news and weather news break. Most of the commercials become national spots, but they have a break for a few local spots the way local TV stations operate in prime time. So then the local staff might becomes a local ad sales rep and somebody to do news/weather. That could be it!

And these conglomerate companies set up one super stations for each radio format - "Channel X" for alternative, "Mix FM" for Hot AC - you get the picture. Not too dissimilar to what Clear Channel is currently doing on XM. There's really no alternative for these companies. There just isn't enough revenue in local radio to support having a large staff these days and that isn't likely to change. You KNOW it's coming!

The point being that Sterns might be the perfect morning talent for CBS's rock format. And he'd immediately be back on in a bunch of markets overnight. And his show would certainly draw national advertisers.

Wrong. If more NEW companies (real broadcsaters) bought stations in small/med markets they could staff them with decent air talent and still make money. Not great but good air talent capable of drawing local people to the stations. You know they way they uesed to do it. Mornings $60K Middays 35K Afternoons 40K nights 25-30k all nights Partime or voice tracked. There IS enough revenue to pay these kind of wages and make a profit. No investors, no debt service just good sound brodcasting. Private ownership. Let the CC's, and Cumulus's run there national networks in the majors.