Talk on FM?

[FLjack2]

Do you think Miami is ripe to do what Cox has been doing around the country -- putting news/talk on FM?

Cox just started a simulcast of WSB on FM. The hope is that more people will access the station. Many mp3 players and cellphones now have FM built in. But not AM. Their numbers have been steadily eroding since PPM. Plus, AM demos are always much lower. So, on FM, there is more chance of marketing to younger people. (Still 35+, but not 65+ lol)

CC could simulcast WIOD somewhere, but they dont seem to have a very low performing FM station. By cume it would be BIG, but it's got double the cume of WIOD already! There was a rumor floating around (that I heard from someone who works for a syndication company,) that Cox was thinking of flipping 93 Rock to talk. It's seriously under-performing in the ratings. It's got the lowest cume of all the commercial English-speaking stations and coming in with a 1.7 rating. (Shortly after I heard the rumor, they added Bubba The Love Sponge to the line up. So there went that...)

Could Miami/Fort Lauderdale support an FM news/talk? Think it would be more "traditional" like WIOD or more like Real Radio in Palm Beach? Or do you think the split language of the market is a barrier to FM talk?

 

[Stormychuck]

Fljack2, Your so right maybe it's time for a WIOD-FM, could it work, perhaps, common misconception is that Spanish speaking listener's don't listen to English speaking stations, which is not always the case, however WIOD-FM if there is to be said station and properly programmed could possibly have a fair and equal balance, Miami radio no doubt has changed through out the years and with the advent of AM frequencies quickly falling by the wayside, it's time to start thinking outside the box and it just so happens FM for the most part is the only other broadcast tool available.

Additionally, your right about younger listener's, another misconception and not so hard to believe they too listen to news affairs, and as you pointed out there is more of a chance of marketing to younger people if their news source is coming from, perhaps' an FM. Younger people relish being kept in the loop and with proper programming, keeping them in the loop would in fact work wonder's...

Simulcast either and or, and as we speak, this is being discussed every which way but loose by all the biggie's, the question is, which one of the FM formats will they sacrifice.....

 

[JayR]

Additionally, your right about younger listeners, another misconception and not so hard to believe they too listen to news affairs, and as you pointed out there is more of a chance of marketing to younger people if their news source is coming from, perhaps an FM. Younger people relish being kept in the loop and with proper programming, keeping them in the loop would in fact work wonders...

The younger generation get their newstories from the internet, whether it's a terrestrial station stream or online-only service.

 

[jmtillery]

Your so right maybe it's time for a WIOD-FM, could it work, perhaps, common misconception is that Spanish speaking listener's don't listen to English speaking stations

I believe Miami/Fort Lauderdale is long overdue for news-talk on FM. The question is which FM do you sacrifice or "blow-up" to make room for WIOD-FM?

Regarding Hispanics and English language radio, I was told a while back by a very good Hispanic friend of mine that Hispanics who listen to News, Talk and News-Talk radio prefer to listen to English news-talk and not Spanish language news-talk. This conversation was the result of me inquiring as to the viabiity of creating a Spanish language news-talk outlet. He informed me, for the most part, that Hispanics who listen solely to Spanish language radio, only want music and not news-talk. This is one reason formats such as Regional Mexican seem to work well on AM radio. Realizing this is only one opinion, as I did not conclude a massive research campaign on the subject, does anyone else have a differing opinion? Comments?

 

[jbrasco951]

An 'IOD simulcast would be the only option. Cox doesn't not have their own talk programming, and would have to work with B and C list talkers from TRN and Westwood One like Fred Thompson , Jerry Doyle, Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage.

Salem already tried that WKAT and it didn't work. There are new FM talkers in mid-size markets, but for Miami to have one would only work with local talkers like 'IOD of the 90s, but no one has the talent, money or patience to make it fly.

 

[cd637299]

On top of that, we have about 6 or 7 high power Spanish language FMs in this market. Those won't switch anytime soon.

If it's Cox that wants to give it a try, they'd have to blow up 93 Rock....If Clear Channel, it'd be WBGG likely.

For one short time, WIOD was an HD2 on the former Love 94. Now Love moved onto the HD2.

WIOD for the most part isn't a ratings monster here.....it'd be a risk to try moving that format onto a strong FM signal, IMO.

cd

 

[radioguy39nj]

There are new FM talkers in mid-size markets, but for Miami to have one would only work with local talkers like 'IOD of the 90s, but no one has the talent, money or patience to make it fly.

And there lies the problem. Much of the local talent for a potential WIOD-FM is at online talk station sofloradio.com. National programming doesn't need to be dropped altogether, as it's too profitable, but if WIOD-FM doesn't have an increased local presence, it won't work. The talent is in the Miami area at sofloradio, but I don't think Cox, CC or anyone else will make the investment necessary to make it successful.

 

[Stormychuck]

JayR, correct to mention that a portion of the younger generation get their news stories from the internet, and other viable means. However in keeping with the theme of an FM news/talk type station, if a said FM news/talker would just happen to appear on-air in Miami by some remote chance, there may be, "that remote", possibility of louring away some of the younger audience of the internet and terrestrial listener concerns to an FM news/Talk type format because this idea has yet to be applied in Miami. Its not necessarily a brand new concept although maybe its well over due for some real serious consideration.

Miami, has always been known as the "Phantom Market" and as a former broadcaster in Miami I've seen idea's come, and I've seen idea's go, Miami no doubt is a diverse market and because of this diversity Miami has never been short on trying on for size, something new, something innovative and for sake of all of us holding my breath for an FM/News station in Miami, I suppose we all shall see if they have the "BIG ONES" to try it-on for size......


"I VOTE YES"

 

[Stormychuck]

Radioguy39nj, bingo, the local presence by far one of most important venues when considering the FM/News talk thing in Miami. The other, well we all know, the big $$$$$$, and loans I suppose are not coming fast and furious enough to give rise to the FM/News-talker, but the jury is still out, let's see what happens......Although my vote really doesn't count, " I STILL VOTE YES"!...

 

[fmboi]

WIOD-FM wouldn't work because WIOD-AM doesn't work!

How about someone trying something new? As was already mentioned, there's some great local talent at sofloradio.com. Some owner would be wise to take their lineup, perhaps modify it a bit with some syndicated fare (but none of the bombastic Limbaugh or Beck types), and do something different... more skewed to a younger than 60 year old audience.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Radioguy39nj, bingo, the local presence by far one of most important venues when considering the FM/News talk thing in Miami. The other, well we all know, the big $$$$$$, and loans I suppose are not coming fast and furious enough to give rise to the FM/News-talker, but the jury is still out, let's see what happens......Although my vote really doesn't count, " I STILL VOTE YES"!...

The issue is much the same in the NY market, long the feeder to Miami-Ft Lauderdale. There's very little local talk in NY either, and that's in the #1 media market! There's more than enough unemployed local talk talent in the NY area to make a populist news/talk outlet on FM work, but no one is going to spend the $$$$ to make it happen.

In the meantime, WABC remains the #1 talk outlet in the NY market with a 100% syndicated lineup (including Rush & Sean, Beck is on WOR) and has only token competition from WOR. Very sad, especially considering this is NY!

 

[jmtillery]

WIOD-FM wouldn't work because WIOD-AM doesn't work!

The reason WIOD-AM doesn't work as well as it should is because it is AM. By adding an FM simulcast, WIOD will attract the 25-54 adult as has happened in other markets where traditional news-talk has been made possible on FM. An AM stand-alone signal (with no FM) will not attract the much needed younger demo. Everywhere news-talk has been added to FM, we have seen where the target demo numbers have increased dramatically. The same will happen in Miami with WIOD.

Likewise, I agree that Miami can also support a separately formatted local/live FM talk station, bringing back local talk as the market once had, only present it on FM.

 

[jmtillery]

There's more than enough unemployed local talk talent in the NY area to make a populist news/talk outlet on FM work, but no one is going to spend the $$$$ to make it happen.

While at the same time if one of these companies wants to be innovative and take the risk by getting out the checkbook and creating a local/live talk station, they'd see it was well worth the investment within a few PPM reports. The station that does this first is the station that will reap the biggest rewards. Anyone else following will be viewed upon as a "wannabe copycat", so who is going to be first and take home the prize.

 

[radioguy39nj]

There's more than enough unemployed local talk talent in the NY area to make a populist news/talk outlet on FM work, but no one is going to spend the $$$$ to make it happen.

While at the same time if one of these companies wants to be innovative and take the risk by getting out the checkbook and creating a local/live talk station, they'd see it was well worth the investment within a few PPM reports. The station that does this first is the station that will reap the biggest rewards. Anyone else following will be viewed upon as a "wannabe copycat", so who is going to be first and take home the prize.

I absolutely agree! Citadel runs WABC as if it can never be beat. If a populist, mostly local news/talk outlet on FM arrived, WABC would no longer be the #1 talk station in NY. IMHO, all-news WINS could be vulnerable also, but that's another issue.

It's much like the late 70s, when WABC as a top 40 station still held tightly to it's #1 overall rating. They thought FM could never hurt them. When the original WKTU Disco 92 launched in July 1978, it knocked WABC out of the #1 slot in three months. WABC was never #1 again. Musicradio 77 was history.

The rewards are there for the operator who wants to go for it.

 

[Stormychuck]

radioguy39nj, No doubt at one time AM radio dominated the broadcast arena. AM radio now is all but obsolete, what worked on the AM frequency of yesteryear does not work now, stations owners and operator's of today are still clinging to the idea that they can pull number's and profits out of the AM's hat when in fact its vastly becoming nothing more then a failed medium..

JMTILLERY pointed out in other posting's, AM radio has all but seen the end of it's life-cycle, it's time to move forward, be creative and utilize the FM's potential for what it's worth. I've seen and read a lot of posting's from the nay-sayer's that anything FM/News-Talk will not work for all the various reason's they can muster, on the other hand I've seen and read all of the various reason's why it will. It's time to set aside the status quo and move ahead, an FM/News-Talker whether simulcast or otherwise for all intents and purpose I believe will see an unforeseen unsurpassed growth potential that's time has come.

Now on the other hand, local programming, what Rush Limbaugh and the others make in a yearly contracted salaries, locally programmed FM/News-talk stations could fully staff several stations for several years and still have a bunch of money left-over. (LOL) In other words owner's and operators ought to go ahead and give FM/News-Talk a shot if it doesn't work and they fall-flat on their ass with it, they can always get-up brush themselves off and figure out something else...FM/News-talk time has arrived.....

 

[Stormychuck]

The main question which FM station would best serve the purpose of an FM/New-Talk facility?
Since everybody pretty much agrees that it will eventually happen....

 

[jmtillery]

The main question which FM station would best serve the purpose of an FM/New-Talk facility?
Since everybody pretty much agrees that it will eventually happen....

On the surface it appears either Cox Radio's WHDR-FM 93.1 or Clear Channel's WBGG-FM 105.9. In the case of simulcasting WIOD, it would obviously need to be a Clear Channel station, in which case, WBGG is the most logical choice.

 

[radioguy39nj]

The main question which FM station would best serve the purpose of an FM/New-Talk facility?
Since everybody pretty much agrees that it will eventually happen....

FM News Talk has already arrived in a number of markets under different operators. So far, it has not arrived in the top 3 markets of NY, Chicago or LA. Those markets have 50 kW AM blasters whose signals travel far, but that doesn't mean news/talk won't get to FM there eventually.

 

[jmtillery]

The main question which FM station would best serve the purpose of an FM/New-Talk facility?
Since everybody pretty much agrees that it will eventually happen....

FM News Talk has already arrived in a number of markets under different operators. So far, it has not arrived in the top 3 markets of NY, Chicago or LA. Those markets have 50 kW AM blasters whose signals travel far, but that doesn't mean news/talk won't get to FM there eventually.

It's only a matter of time before the "AM Blasters" in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago make the switch to FM News-Talk, or someone else will be innovative first and take the risk, reap the rewards and eat the "AM Blasters" lunch. It isn't a question of "if" it will happen. It's a matter of "when".

 

[ScottBurns]

If that happened, do you think that CC would keep Paul and Young Ron for mornings on a potential WIOD-FM?


On the surface it appears either Cox Radio's WHDR-FM 93.1 or Clear Channel's WBGG-FM 105.9. In the case of simulcasting WIOD, it would obviously need to be a Clear Channel station, in which case, WBGG is the most logical choice.
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