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Talk on FM?

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

I really don't know. It would depend largely on what direction Clear Channel decided to take with the new WIOD-FM. If it's a straight simulcast, I would imagine the current WIOD morning show would remain in place.
 
In the event there is to be a WIOD-FM during the initial stages right out of the barn you'd most likely you'd wanna leave programming the way it is for now. That's not to say there won't be some minor to major tweaking to follow later on....
 
WBGG to become WIOD-FM? Why would CC blow up a solid 25 -54 performer that's probably the number two biller in the cluster? Yes, I know they did it with Zeta, but CC will not make that mistake again.
 
Remember that Paul and Young Ron are syndicated. Hence, I don't think CC would want to drop them for a new WIOD-FM, as it would affect other stations.
 
Keeping in mind, WIOD-FM is only a fictitous radio station for the moment. As far as WBGG being a real number's performer, I don't see it, as it appears WBGG has been on a steady decline since this time last year overall, so as far as them being the number two biller I'm hard pressed to understand that...The number's I read don't quite show it...In an over all view...
 
jmtillery said:
radioguy39nj said:
Stormychuck said:
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".

I'm in total agreement! However, the current operators of NYs "AM Blasters", CBS (WFAN-660 & WCBS-880), Buckley (WOR-710) and Citadel (WABC-770) have shown no inclination to switch to FM.

CBS has the underperforming CHR 92.3 NOW-FM with WFAN on HD-3. A sports simulcast of WFAN on 660 AM and 92.3 FM could be possible. CBS has the #1 station in Detroit with a simulcast of all-sports 97.1 The Team, so they've done it elsewhere. CBS' successful all-news simulcast in SF has been previously discussed. WCBS Newsradio 880 is currently simulcast on 101.1 HD-3. If the plug is ever pulled on classic hits on 101.1, guess what's moving in!

Buckley has no FM station in NY, so WOR can't move to FM. WOR's only hope is for another operator to buy it, re-invent it and move it to FM. Bonneville is the only operator I know of who could do that, witness KIRO Seattle and KTAR Phoenix. Bonneville migrated news/talk on both of those stations to FM. KIRO and KTAR are very informative and entertaining stations. New York needs a news/talk outlet like those.

There's no way Citadel will blow up WPLJ simply to move WABC to 95.5 FM. 'PLJ's ratings aren't necessarily high, but it bills well and reaches the soccer moms on LI and in NJ. IMHO, Citadel isn't going to fix what's profitable. :)
 
WIOD for those interested stands for, "Wonderful Island Of Dreams" and one of the best radio stations I've ever worked in my career, they had a unique hiring practice in whereas you were invited to work for them, they sought you out and to me that's quite a compliment. During the time I was there for example their staffed news department alone rivaled the entire staff of any one Miami radio station at any given time, additionally WIOD had news bureau's in both Broward and Palm Beach counties staffed 24 hours a day. They were the BIG boy Music/News/Talk operation of the day. It surprises me Cox had sold off WIOD to Clear, however it was very expensive radio station to own and operate but Cox spent the money and had the number's to show it...

WIOD is a Miami mainstay and to continue it's call letter's life on FM would be the feather in the cap's of those who elect to do so.
 
ScottBurns said:
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.
[/quote]

If WBGG is the choice, they might as well make it Rush Radio 105.9. Also, the Dolphins are in their first season with CC, simulcasting on 940 AM and 105.9 FM. Other Rush Radio stations do not carry any pxp sports. Football might be OK, since it's only played once a week and wouldn't interrupt CC's Big 3 of Beck, Rush and Sean. This scenario would not address the issue of the lack of local talk radio in Miami.

If Cox flips WHDR to news/talk, it could have more of a local presence since Cox owns no programming. They'd probably get second tier talk programming for late night and overnight. :)
 
radioguy39nj said:
If Cox flips WHDR to news/talk, it could have more of a local presence since Cox owns no programming. They'd probably get second tier talk programming for late night and overnight. :)

Here's the way I would do it if WHDR is the station. First, I'd add a killer local morning show (5:30 AM - 9:00 AM) complete with local news. From 9:00 AM through midnight it would continue as local and live, complete with hourly newscasts with news updates on the half hours. Overnight would be syndicated in the beginning. Eventually the overnight and weekend programming would also become local/live.

If WBGG becomes WIOD-FM, I'd add Rush, Beck and Hannity with Hannity on at night leaving afternoon drive open for local talk along with a local morning show. Mornings, afternoons and late evenings/overnights would be local. Same as with WHDR, I'd add hourly local newscasts around the clock with news minutes on the half hours. Some syndication is fine, but the main objective would be local/live overall in either case.
 
Faraway said:
WBGG to become WIOD-FM? Why would CC blow up a solid 25 -54 performer that's probably the number two biller in the cluster? Yes, I know they did it with Zeta, but CC will not make that mistake again.

I believe if Clear Channel felt it had made a mistake with Zeta, CC would have flipped 94.9 back to WZTA. With regards why CC would blow up a another FM? Simple - to protect WIOD's news-talk which in the long run stands a much better chance of producing a greater return than classic rock.
 
ScottBurns said:
Remember that Paul and Young Ron are syndicated. Hence, I don't think CC would want to drop them for a new WIOD-FM, as it would affect other stations.

Paul and Young Ron do not have to be on a Miami station to remain syndicated. Additionally, as a decision maker myself, I'd look very carefully at the overall return when making a format change decision. If I saw that my 100kw FM would give me a bigger return with news-talk, I would not hesitate in flipping the FM to news-talk. I realize there is a tradeoff but the main consideration is which format is more valuable on any particular signal.
 
If WBGG did flip to talk WIOD-FM, Cox should shift WHDR from active to mainstream rock, or even a "classic rock that really rocks" type format.
 
Playing hypothetical....

Let's suppose that WIOD goes to FM. After a few months/years of simulcast, what would 610 do with itself? It's a decent signal.

cd
 
cd637299 said:
Playing hypothetical....

Let's suppose that WIOD goes to FM. After a few months/years of simulcast, what would 610 do with itself? It's a decent signal.

cd

I would continue with the simulcast to preserve the signal and dial position. Once a new viable AM format is discovered or created, then implement it at that time on AM 610. The challenge is finding a new listening audience within the 25 - 54 age demo for AM radio, regardless of the format, which is the whole reasoning behind moving WIOD to FM in the first place.
 
I agree WHDR would be a prime FM News/talk platform for local programming, all local all the time. Local audience participation, there's no shortage of topic's and there's no shortage of listener's who love to air their beef's on-air. Makes for entertaining radio and other then the nationally syndicated shows, not a lot available for listener's and their local topic's.
 
jmtillery said:
radioguy39nj said:
If Cox flips WHDR to news/talk, it could have more of a local presence since Cox owns no programming. They'd probably get second tier talk programming for late night and overnight. :)

Here's the way I would do it if WHDR is the station. First, I'd add a killer local morning show (5:30 AM - 9:00 AM) complete with local news. From 9:00 AM through midnight it would continue as local and live, complete with hourly newscasts with news updates on the half hours. Overnight would be syndicated in the beginning. Eventually the overnight and weekend programming would also become local/live.

If WBGG becomes WIOD-FM, I'd add Rush, Beck and Hannity with Hannity on at night leaving afternoon drive open for local talk along with a local morning show. Mornings, afternoons and late evenings/overnights would be local. Same as with WHDR, I'd add hourly local newscasts around the clock with news minutes on the half hours. Some syndication is fine, but the main objective would be local/live overall in either case.

The plan for WHDR sounds great, but the question remains, is Cox or any other operator willing to make the investment necessary to make a live and local FM news talker a success.

WBGG is still owned by CC, which is why I think if it does become WIOD-FM, it will become Rush Radio. CC will not tape delay Hannity on a station they own, IMHO.

Miami's two rockers, WHDR and WBGG are not doing well ratings-wise, making both candidates for a flip. Could it happen that both flip to talk? Stay tuned! :)
 
WIOD is already delaying Hannity for a guy who is not even talked about.

cd
 
Talk on FM? Time to bring back Neil Rogers, Rick and Suds, and Phil Hendire. Wonder where Howard Stern will be in a year?
 
CC just hired Joe Bonadonna to program WBGG (he starts today, I believe) -- he's a classic rock guy. So, I doubt any changes are imminent there.

WHDR is rumored to have dropped Bubba the Love Sponge, so if there is going to be a flip, they'd be the likely ones.

I'll repeat what I mentioned earlier about a way to do it. The people at sofloradio.com are doing their thing very well without a stick. I'd bet they'd do it for a revenue-sharing deal. Florida is a "right to work" state, so there are no unions to preclude something like that happening.

Shit, they could just pick up Jorge Rodriguez and Nicole Sandler have local news, and fill in the rest with syndication and they'd be golden. It shouldn't be a conservative or liberal station, but have a bunch of different ideas and opinions, and not rely solely on politics either. What a concept!

Cox, contact me. I'll program it for you!
 
Radioguy39nj.......Absolutely Flip em both, but financially your right, there's much more then changing the stations stationary to include on letter head and business card's the letter's FM,
and whatever call letters ie; WHDR-FM or WIOD-FM or both etc.....

The old adage spend to make, stocking a station that might be configured as News-talk facility on FM with half decent local on-air talent does not require their salary ranges to be 250K a year. Although it seems that everybody that does a talk show thinks thats what he or she is worth. Well, on a local level, afraid not. Others will have their own views on this, but I assure you staffing a station or utilizing what personal you already have on hand is simple science. Common thought among broadcasters and programmers when station changes are made that we need to send out for new talent, quick, hurry,
bring em in from LA, Chicago, New york so-forth, it`s always been the rule of thumb, and big radio corporations need to derail this train of thought because local talent can do just as good a job for a tiny fraction, and as it so happens their working for you right now. Enter simulcast.

If WBGG or WHDR is pulling less then stellar numbers and should their formats go dark would they really be missed and would it really matter, I suppose not, but as it stands now the question still remains will they, or won`t they, and which one will it be if they do....Isn`t radio exciting...
 
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