Ten Years of FM Triopoly

[smedge2006]

It was ten years ago this month that the big ownership realignment took place and Clear Channel, Infinity-CBS, and Cox assumed their current station portfolios. Since then, not a single Class C commercial FM in the Tampa metro has changed hands. The format changes on those stations since then can be counted on six fingers:

92.5 to country to Spanish
95.7 to Urban (2002)
97.1 to Rock (2000)
101.5 to 80's
103.5 to Country (2005)

How many other Top 20 markets have all of their biggest signals owned by just three companies?

 

[MsMusicRadio]

I remember 104.7 flipping from Country to Classic Hits and 107.3 flipping from Rock/AC to Classic Hits

 

[Nostalgia]

Indeed, it is hard to fathom even among the radio people on this board. But recently I was discussing with a non-radio friend his personal favorites on the dial and he was blown away when I told him that the 18 top rated radio stations in this market were owned by just 3 companies. As much as we rant and rave about consolidation and triopolies, I think it is very clear that the average radio listeners out there have NO IDEA that their entertainment choices are controlled by this small group. And you can be D*&^ sure they have NO IDEA that Tom Kent is not sitting in a studio in St Pete every night, cannot even imagine what Voice Tracking is, and are still scratching their heads wondering why that AM station that was booming into their radio during the day disappears every night.

 

[smedge2006]

I think it is very clear that the average radio listeners out there have NO IDEA that their entertainment choices are controlled by this small group.

One reason may be the disappearance of the radio columnist. Before 2000, both the St. Pete Times and Tampa Tribune had them, going more or less back to the mid-70's. When the Sarasota paper folded Radio Babe's tent, that was the end of regular coverage of radio in the press. I think people may be more aware in a place like San Diego, where they still have at least one radio writer.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

In Pittsburgh, you have more variety in ownership groups. Beside CC and CBS, you have Forever(Keymarket), Saul Frischling(?), Renda, and Sheridan ( not much longer). i guess that means four companies, but only two behemoths and all the stations are just as cookie-cutter corporate.

 

[zoneguy]

The same shifts ten years ago also left just one real player on the AM band, Clear Channel. They managed to keep the most viable AM signals in the market and turned over the powerful 820 signal to Mega to keep it out of the hands of any real competition. That signal recently shifted back to Genesis, but 970 and 620 have had nothing but underpowered and underfinanced competition for years. 1250 is also a stronger signal for the dollar for holler crowd.

 

[naughtytalker]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

 

[Parttimer]

How many other Top 20 markets have all of their biggest signals owned by just three companies?

Almost all of them.

 

[barfly2]

I remember 104.7 flipping from Country to Classic Hits and 107.3 flipping from Rock/AC to Classic Hits

U92 (Oldies with Mason Dixon) and Country 104.7 actually flipped signals. I think it was April 2002. So the idea was Mason Dixon back on Q105. Don't remember why but they couldn't say Q105 though so it was Oldies 104.7 for a few months. I still have an old T-Shirt with the Oldies logo.

 

[djdanska]

I lived in Tampa from 95 to 97. I know it's over ten years ago, but i had the pleasure to be in tampa from september thru early january. Radio has changed! I was in Valrico back in the mid 90's. Kinda near bloomingdale high school. Was in high school. Did not drive. My walkman/fm radio was my main source of music. Since i lived very close to the riverview transmitters, i had a really hard time getting any station that did not broadcast from there. It just overloaded my radios. (Cheap walkmans..) I found a Panasonic FM/Casette player that worked very well. It had a local/distant switch. In both local and distant, i could not get stations like 98 rock. If i put the switch in the middle, it only cut the reception in half. That worked! I went through 3 of the same models and it lasted me many years! Best fm radio! Got Chicago FM stations in Downtown Milwaukee, WI!

Anyway, my comments on Tampa FM radio:
88.5 - Loved this station back in the 90's! Taped many Alternative Circus shows back then! In valrico, reception was very good but with a bit of noise that drove me nuts! Once their transmitter died and was replaced with the new one, it went away. Was like listening to a show on audio cassette!
Now: Was decent. Reception where i was staying, off 301, north of riverview was good. Did like the public radio newscasts. Did not stay up nights, so i did not hear the same type of music i heard in the 90's.
93.3 - Liked MJ and BJ back in the 90's. (I know.. I feel ashamed. It was the only morning show i was able to listen to where i was at that i could tolerate). Other than the morning show, i could leave the radio on for 3 hours and hear the same song over and over again. Was not a good station to listen to at the beach. Today: Basic top 40 station. I can hear the same exact music on any clear channel top 40 station. (Like 103.5 Kiss FM Chicago). Mixes in the weekend where pretty good. Better than b96 chicago for top 40 mixes. I am not a fan of the rap/hip hop mixes they play at b96 chicago.
95.7 - I did not get this station well back in the mid 90's, can't really stand the format today.
102.5 - Loved this station back in the mid 90's. Not as much as 88.5 nighttime, but was a good mix of music. Got it with a little static in Valrico. Good for a non-riverview station. Did not like the morning show today, but still listened when i was down there earlier.
103.5 - Loved the classic rock in the mid 90's. I think they switched towards the end of my living there. I did not listen to it when i was up there earlier this year.
98.7 - Was the only station that played House of Pain 7 times in a row! Extremely hard to get in, did not listen to much because of that. Now: I tuned in when i could. Most of the time i switched to a different station but did like some of the music and the talking. (XM is becoming the same way. I tune to BPM to see what's playing and most of the time just switch the station. Thanks sirius!)