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Talk Radio FM
- Thread starter RadioGaga
- Start date
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Dan Shoe
Guest
I don't think anyone will be shocked if Cumulus makes that move on 106.7. It makes as much sense as any of the other formats they could put on that stick.
Actually, it would make more sense to put all talk on the new 92.1. Have you seen the messages on their Facebook page? Everybody (including me) is having bad reception problems getting them or are just plain pissed off over the change. It seems like they're all making the switch to 92.7 or The Peak. Reception's so bad here in Mechanicsburg, they might as well just shut the station down and not have any frequency there.
I think you don't I'm not even from your area but that's a waste of space. Talk or Sports on FM that's already on AM is pointless. Put some music format you don't have on there. Anything but sports/talk. FM Radio should be for music only that's it. I don't care if its christian rock, religious music, polka, bluegrass, as long as its music it should be on FM. AM should only be for news and talk and traffic and weather.
At the NAB Radio show last week, some of the major groups that have put talk on FM stations have found that the audience tends to be more female and a bit younger than the equivalent format on AM. They also mentioned that it takes roughly 18-24 months to build sales back up to the level of the music stations they had on that channel prior to talk. It is not a quick fix. You have to be in it for the long term to recoup your costs.
Depending on how the talk format is done, it could be cheaper to operate long term. The Philly comptroller for KYW (He worked all the CBS radio and TV stations in Philly then,) told me once that the "nut" to operate that station was high, but once that was paid, it was a cash printing press. That only applies to their news format. Other talk is probably different.
Of course with the FCC internally talking about eliminating the AM band completely, in line with all TV channels above 30, moving to FM might be a good long term plan. YES, that is being discussed in the FCC.
Depending on how the talk format is done, it could be cheaper to operate long term. The Philly comptroller for KYW (He worked all the CBS radio and TV stations in Philly then,) told me once that the "nut" to operate that station was high, but once that was paid, it was a cash printing press. That only applies to their news format. Other talk is probably different.
Of course with the FCC internally talking about eliminating the AM band completely, in line with all TV channels above 30, moving to FM might be a good long term plan. YES, that is being discussed in the FCC.
WMAL (AM) in DC is simulcasting on 105.9 as of noon today.
I've been suggesting for the past 2 years since moving back here that FM Talk is a format that should be in the area. I saw FM News-Talk 104.7 in Pittsburgh go from people suggesting it will never work to now a solid top 5 performer. I don't understand the thinking that talk is AM not FM material. I'm all for it.
As for 92.1 - I live in Lancaster Co. near the Susquehanna River and I pick up the signal pretty good from here, however, if I have to listen to classic rock, it would be 92.7 for me. I will only have on 92.1 for the few times I'm in the car when the Steelers are playing.
As for 92.1 - I live in Lancaster Co. near the Susquehanna River and I pick up the signal pretty good from here, however, if I have to listen to classic rock, it would be 92.7 for me. I will only have on 92.1 for the few times I'm in the car when the Steelers are playing.
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Dan Shoe
Guest
Here's one other consideration. Cumulus is already running almost all the "major" music formats on their stations in Central PA. Rock, Modern Rock, Pop, Oldies, Hot AC, Country, etc. They need to be extremely careful with what they put onto that huge 106.7 signal. There's no reason to launch a competitor to your own station and risk damaging one of your own brands. That's why a lot of discussion about news-talk makes sense. It's one of the few formats they're not already competing in, and it's only served by a relatively smaller signal on 580am.
I doubt they'll consider a niche' musical format on that big stick. So why not target a strong talk format with a big stick, especially in a politically active location, with a huge presidential election looming?
I doubt they'll consider a niche' musical format on that big stick. So why not target a strong talk format with a big stick, especially in a politically active location, with a huge presidential election looming?
Since this is such a conservative area (really, it is!) FM talk would make some money. It would probably be clear channel doing it though because they have all the big names. Unless Cumulus wants to put some left leaning shows on, which may lead to book burnings outside the station...
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Dan Shoe
Guest
The holy trinity of conservative talk, Rush - Hannity - Beck, are already locked up by WHP. But there's other options out there. You could look at some of the B-Level conservative talk shows and get your station off the ground. A lot of those shows run almost exclusively on barter, so you' re not talking a ton of capital to invest. Let's be honest, could it do WORSE than Cool pop - Cat - Mix - Channel 1067?
You position yourself as the "new" edgy voice who's not afraid to take on the establishment. Maybe you take 2 points out of WHP and give yourself a solid combo sell for some of the other stations in the cluster.
I need to stop, I've already talked myself into this idea...and I'm sure Cumulus is completely going to blow this and end up putting on some god awful station to compete with 3 other stations in the market.
You position yourself as the "new" edgy voice who's not afraid to take on the establishment. Maybe you take 2 points out of WHP and give yourself a solid combo sell for some of the other stations in the cluster.
I need to stop, I've already talked myself into this idea...and I'm sure Cumulus is completely going to blow this and end up putting on some god awful station to compete with 3 other stations in the market.
The only way I can see this happening is if Cumulus were to simulcast WSBA on one of their York sticks. Since WARM has already been WINKED, that would leave 96.1. The question then would be overlap with Harrisburg and WHP. If that were not a problem....they could put SOX's classic hits on 106.7 to get some of that Harrisburg money. I feel it's safe to bet that Cumulus will do everything they can do to dominate both Harrisburg and York/Lancaster. What format's are they currently having success with. WINK has been successful in Harrisburg...so they expanded the brand into York/Lancaster. WIOV has been a consistant winner in Lancaster. Could that brand be expandable? They already share some staff with 102.3. WQXA has done very well in three markets. Is there a better frequency available? We now have a new CHR battle brewing as well. The wild card at this moment is 106.7. It is a Harrisburg signal that covers York/Lancaster as well. Their tower is geographically right in the middle of the ADI. I'm sure some strategy is in the works to try to dominate the region. Take a close look at what format's are being done by competitors in each market that are currently beating them. Trust me...the games not over yet.
bossjock 56 said:
Highly doubtful they stick talk on 96.1. WHP is owned by Clear Channel who owns Premiere who distributes Glenn, Rush, and Hannity. No way will a big stick FM get access to those shows unless it's a Clear Channel stick.
What should happen and what will happen could be two different things. Time will tell.
One thing that probably WILL happen......job cuts. A source told the DCRTV website that Lew Dickey paid a visit to Cumulus' newly aquired DC cluster. The source in a nutshell said something along the lines of the remaining jobs being safe until the end of this month....then there will be lines at the unemloyment office. There are some good people at the former Citadel/Harrisburg. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of them.
Might be cool if someone did an FM talk format that was, say, at least 50% local. Maybe Bruce Bond makes a return? The syndicated shows are basically everywhere. Might be a good way to stand out. Not sure shareholders would like any of my ideas though.
In Pittsburgh's FM talk, the lineup starts with local Quinn & Rose, then syndicates Beck, Rush, Hannity, and at 6-8 was a local sports show (Ellis Cannon was the original sports guy), then Savage and syndication overnight. Point is, local is good, and Q&R have one of the top if not the top morning show in Pittsburgh (possibly behind 'DVE). So, I agree, total syndication would stink.RockMustLive said:
Seltzer said:
G. Gordon Liddy
XCountry285 said:
The problem with what you're saying is that few, if any people under 50 listen to AM radio at all. So, if you want to lower your demos a bit to keep advertisers in your corner, you put the talk programming on FM. And, yes...it does work...proven in market after market.
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