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Terre Haute Book

R

radiojobs44

Guest
Well it's that time again. The book ends this week and we have 4 weeks to wait and see how everyone did. We have listened to the changes this book with Crossroads and Midwest flipping a 50,000 watter each...did it make a difference? Here is what I have. I actually gave WBOW about double the shares that I did when they first launched, also gave WIBQ a little more as well. WMGI will close the gap to a reasonable distance with this book...mainly because of the morning show and WIBQ chipping away at WTHI. We'll see.

12+ Persons

1. WTHI 19.0
2. WMGI 16.6
3. WIBQ 10.3
4. WWVR 5.9
5. WWSY 4.7
6. WBOW 3.0
7. WAXI 3.0
8. WCBH 2.3
9. WMMC 2.0
10. WSDM 1.0

25-54 - I won't go out on a limb with numbers but here is what I think the rundown will look like. It doesn't look a lot different but it looks close to me.


1. WTHI
2. WIBQ
3. WMGI
4. WWVR
5. WWSY
6. WBOW
7. WAXI
8. WSDM
9. WMMC
10. WCBH
 
I say too high on WMGI, WIBQ, WWSY, and probably a little too low on WTHI and WWVR. No way WTHI is under a 20 share. Also I don't think the WMGI morning show is that great. It's not bad (like WBOW's) but I just don't think it is anything special. They can be funny, but sometimes the girl is hard to understand, and a lot of things they say or talk about don't make sense. You can tell they don't know the area well. But other than Mix, Bob and Tom, and Hi 99's Waking Crew is there any other decent Morning Show in the area? I don't think so. WBOW sure isnt. WWSY and WAXI is okay if you just want to hear the music, but no local time or weather info. Mike & Mike on the Crock are tolerable. So maybe you are right Mix will do fine in the morning.

As far as WIBQ, when they first launched, I thought they would do very well. However, after listening to it, I am thrilled to have the big talkers (esp. on FM) but am disappointed in their local news, weather, and sports. You can tell it is all canned stuff and it just doesn't sound good. I don't ever hear any local sports other than promos for Illini football this fall. Does anyone in TH really care about Illini Football? Why not go for the Colts or Bears? Why not try to get the ISU sports from Crossroads, or why not try to broadcast the High School Game of the week? Maybe WIBQ could have broadcasted West Vigo's run to the state championship? I just felt Midwest had the chance to really do something special with the new format, and while the shows they run are very good, the rest of it- not that good. Also some Glenn Beck would be nice.

1. WTHI 21.4
2. WMGI 14.7
3. WWVR 7.8
4. WIBQ 7.1
5. WAXI 5.1
6. WWSY 4.2
7. WBOW 3.0
8. WMMC 2.6
9. WCBH 2.4
10. WSDM 2.0

Is anyone every going to try a rock station and go after the River? Rock used to RULE this town 15 years ago. WAXI, WWVR just sound like the same station, and WBOW sounds like a lighter version of those two. I say which ever one gets the guts to go full out rock could be in for a pleasant surprise in the fall.
 
You said that WAXI & the WWVR sound like the same station. Was that a typo or did you really mean to put that down? I can't see them as sounding remotely alike.

As far as a station going Rock, I don't think it will happen in this market. The River plays everything from Classic Rock to New Rock and it sounds much better than it did a few years ago. I think they have covered their bases and unless someone put a lot of money into a big stick...I don't think they would do much damage. There are places to attack them and it might work if you put it on a big signal...but...what do you gain? Say you tear them up and you are the number one Rock station in the market out of 2, or 4 if streach and include WWSY or even WAXI. You are now most likely the number 4 station in the market behind WTHI, WMGI & WIBQ. Your men numbers will be great but your women numbers will most likely be poor. It is really all about the bottom line and what you can sell, not what you can score big ratings with. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have another rock station in the market (god knows we need it) but I don't see any of the current owners in the market (Crossroads or Midwest) putting themselves out there like that. If anyone would do it, it should be Crossroads. They have nothing to lose really. They have several poor performing radio stations so why not. Oh yeah...they won't hire qualified people that actually know how to run radio stations, they just move the ones they have around.

So I'm back to where I was...you won't see another Rock station of any kind go head to head against WWVR and it's a shame.
 
Sorry it was a typo... I meant WWSY! WWSY and WAXI are both running Classic Hits, with WWSY playing a few more 80's and very early 90's than WAXI, who stick with the 60's, 70's and earlier 80's. I feel either one of those two would be better served in rock.

I think there is money to be made with Rock. The River seems to do okay on a 7 share. If you do a rock station right, you can pull in a lot better numbers. Terre Haute needs a rock station with an attitude. Like a WEBN/Cincinnati or even WXTT Champaign. If you have access, look at some of the ratings from the 80's and early 90's. Rock ruled TH. You put together an airstaff that knows how to have fun, knows the music and lifestyle, and can relate to the listener you could have a winner. I think any Rock station that plays music in the morning with a good, local jock, would crumble the River. The two above stations could not do any worse on advertising than they are doing now. Just my opinion.
 
f you do a rock station right, you can pull in a lot better numbers <...> You put together an airstaff that knows how to have fun, knows the music and lifestyle, and can relate to the listener you could have a winner.
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When WZZQ did that to the best of its ability during a couple periods (when the local PD could shake corporate's desire to call the station rock but program it "hard" AC) in the early 90s, they got their best ratings. IIRC, they were #2, sometimes by a comfortable margin, when they did it. But it was never, ever going to be enough to overcome Hi-99. Make no mistake, country has ruled TH radio for 20+ years. Anybody really think that's going to change?
 
You are correct that County has ruled for a very long time but can something else beat HI 99...Yes. I believe anyone can be beat...you just have to have a superior product and great people to run it. Is that possible in the current market configuration...only time will tell. I didn't say that it was going to happen today or even this year, but it can happen. Do I think it will be with a Rock staion? No.
 
Your Music, Your Station. We're number one in the mornings, WBOW 102.7 FM

???
 
I think you'll see WBOW take a dive in morning drive and see a spike upward after 10AM. I forced myself to listen to the morning show on Monday, and I caught a 15 minute rant that Julie had telling Adam the proper way in saying the temp. It was so stupid and selfserving on her part, and after all the lecturing, they didn't give the current temp!! They never do which is no better than the voice-trackers. The breakfest club is so over.
 
WTHI will remain #1 because of its heritage and now "Only Country Station" status which you will see numbers probably be in the upper 20's now.

WMGI will only be #2 because its the ONLY Top 40 station in the market. Wow, whoever is scheduling music...yikes! Learn what a CHR is, not a Rhytmic My Own Playlist station. I heard Darude Sandstorm into B2K Bump Bump Bump into Miley Cyrus the other day. Why dont you let someone who knows how to schedule music do it? Beyonce Diva was a flop, and Mix played the hell out of it.

WWVR likes being in third place and probably will remain in that place.

WAXI could be sitting pretty at #4 and the reason I say that is because it has a good following and record so far. With the changes, its the only station that has remained consistant besides Emmis and crew.

WIBQ I am being very optimistic here because the outdoor marking they did this book. Its got a solid lineup but they better learn how to program FM newstalk soon or otherwise it wont be this high very long.

WBOW / WWSY tie for this place, they are both okay stations, not doing anything great for me, but WBOW did fill a huge AC gap in the market. AC used to do really well here and if Crossroads gets some kind of head on their shoulders it could do better. WWSY much better than it was a year ago. Im not sure I like the Gold AC/Classic Hits hybrid but if they keep Indy's 104.5 in mind when programming, it sure has potential.
 
When the book comes out it'll be interesting to see how your numbers compare.
I will be right here to remind you of your 'picks'.
 
KOBAYASHI_MARU:

Obviously your in the market and have a hard on for one of the stations. Not sure which one it is. However, I was simply stating the history and how it will probably play in the current role for Spring.

I did say that if WIBQ does well it will be due to the fact that they have outdoor help.

As for WMGI and my beef with the music, Terre Haute really isn't a "Ryhthmic Kinda Market". The station itself sounds great, has great jocks, and sounds big market with the pure sonification. Wow, the music is all over the place. If you hear DaRude Sandstorm as a regular play and not buffer music, and your not in New York City or Toronto, you might want to look at your Music Gen. Then B2K Bump, Bump, Bump? Sounds like someone hooked their I-Pod up to a 50,000 watt station.

When it comes to WBOW well I do wish them the best. However, you NEVER go on the air touting your Live and Local status when its clearly coming out of the Waitt Radio kitchens of Omaha. Doesnt matter how you like your Lemon Pie, if Aunt Millie Johanson makes it or Sara Lee @ Kroger, its either homeade or storebought, and your listeners CAN TELL.
 
KentuckyMedia, you are right on it! I have to agree on pretty much everything you've posted.

As for the Music on WMGI, I'm a bit older, so I am a bit out of touch on what's new in that Genre, but it does seem like a lot of older songs get a lot of spin during the day time, and weekends especially. I agree the music has taken a turn for the worse in 2009. They used to be pretty good on their playlist, but seems like something is a miss with the recurrents/golds. Again, I don't keep up to date with that format's music, but there are some songs I know that are pretty old and spin a lot. Also, for a Top 40, the imaging could use a refresher, I know there are a couple liners that I don't even understand what the heck they are trying to say. The imaging at that station has gone waaaay downhill since Steve Smith left town. Their Jingle package has been the same for a decade it seems like!

Again they have above average jocks (not crazy about the morning gal, but she is better than Julie Henricks), and presentation is okay, but if they want to stay right behind Hi 99, I would give the music and imaging a good, hard look.
 
I think WBOW fills a hole in Terre Haute and may do better than we think. As for WMGI, I think the music is a bit off. The morning gal is not my favorite, but I like the guy. I miss Julie...I think she did a good job. There were a couple of others that I liked too, but I can't remember the names. Steve Smith was good. They've had a lot of turnover.
 
RadioBroadcaster said:
I think WBOW fills a hole in Terre Haute and may do better than we think. As for WMGI, I think the music is a bit off. The morning gal is not my favorite, but I like the guy. I miss Julie...I think she did a good job. There were a couple of others that I liked too, but I can't remember the names. Steve Smith was good. They've had a lot of turnover.
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Yeah WBOW fills a niche, but they haven't filled it properly. Bad local morning show, and boring satellite the rest of the day. Delilah has been in the market before, and failed each time.

I miss Julie on Mix FM too. I loved her Midday show, I was dissapointed when she moved to mornings and eventually left the station. They never have found someone to fill her shoes. Steve Smith and Julie could have been a great morning show, I think Steve was great in the morning, and great with what he did as a PD for Mix FM.

It sure does seem like WMGI has a big turnover each year. Has anyone on their staff actually survived more than two years? That whole building since Midwest took over from what I hear has been a revolving door.
 
I'm no longer in the market but spent several years tere and actually loved Terre Haute.
I've always kept a close eye on the market and found the picks interesting.
 
I miss Julie on Mix FM too. I loved her Midday show, I was dissapointed when she moved to mornings and eventually left the station. They never have found someone to fill her shoes. Steve Smith and Julie could have been a great morning show, I think Steve was great in the morning, and great with what he did as a PD for Mix FM.
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Anyone know where those guys went? Steve, Julie, Chad, Rick, Tara? Those are the people I remember.
 
Steve is at Y102 down south somewhere. Julie went back to College. Tara is still around somewhere. I have no idea who Rick is & Chad is in Wisconsin.
 
Didn't Rick go to Texas after MIX-FM? Don't recall which city, maybe San Antonio? May or may not still be there.
 
I don't ever remember a "Rick" There was a Rich who took over after Beau Richards a long time ago, then left and came back a couple years ago, but I don't know where he went the 2nd time, he just kind of vanished.
 
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