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The Last Days of Fabulous

A

accessdlp

Well, the final curtain is being drawn on the great history of the Mighty 690 as and English Language station.

This morning, Brad Chambers mentioned that the new owners would like to close the sale on XETRA by the close of business Monday. He also mentioned that there may be a 15 day period before that company can take over the station. So the last day of standards on 690 could be as early as Sunday night, or as late as 1/31, but no later.

Two interesting things at http://www.fabulousradio.com: Chambers announced that tonight would be the cut off for listeners to vote on what the last song on 690 would be (my pick: "My Way" by Francis Albert). Also this may NOT be Fabulous' last gasp. Bras is soliciting llisteners and online members of thier "Lounge Lizards" club to write in so he can compile a list of where the format will land next.

I do have some ideas along those lines, but time forces me to stop here...I'll post those later in the thread.

Don
 
Where it will end up...

Interesting that you say thaty Don. There really are not too many options for LA area sticks, but if they wanted to here are some suggestions:
KBLA
KTLK
670-AM
KMPC

I would guess though that they are more likely to land the format on a San Diego station, that an LA station.

But we have to remember that standards is a format that is going away and doesn't do that well, except in certain areas and markets.

> Two interesting things at http://www.fabulousradio.com:
> Chambers announced that tonight would be the cut off for
> listeners to vote on what the last song on 690 would be (my
> pick: "My Way" by Francis Albert). Also this may NOT be
> Fabulous' last gasp. Bras is soliciting llisteners and
> online members of thier "Lounge Lizards" club to write in so
> he can compile a list of where the format will land next.
>
> I do have some ideas along those lines, but time forces me
> to stop here...I'll post those later in the thread.
>
> Don<P ID="signature">______________

Member of the Los Angeles, Phoenix Radio, and California TV moderation team</P>
 
Re: Where it will end up...

> Interesting that you say thaty Don. There really are not
> too many options for LA area sticks, but if they wanted to
> here are some suggestions:
> KBLA
> KTLK
> 670-AM
> KMPC
>
> I would guess though that they are more likely to land the
> format on a San Diego station, that an LA station.

So what then is the essential difference between 690 and the 540/1260 combination???

John
 
Re: Where it will end up...

Not exactly much now. Gary Owens is at the Saul Levine combo now as well as Wink Martindale.

Biggest difference is signal, maybe money as well.

> So what then is the essential difference between 690 and the
> 540/1260 combination???
>
> John<P ID="signature">______________

Member of the Los Angeles, Phoenix Radio, and California TV moderation team</P>
 
Re: Where it will end up...

> Interesting that you say thaty Don. There really are not
> too many options for LA area sticks, but if they wanted to
> here are some suggestions:
> KBLA

Not likely a "pay for play" station would run an actual full-time format.

> KTLK

If CC had wanted to keep Fabulous in the L.A. market, they could have flipped 570 and 1150 instead of installing a new format on 1150.

> 670-AM

Lotus makes way too much money with ethnic programming.

> KMPC

IIRC, their owners are sports fanatics.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
Re: Where it will end up...

> > KBLA
>
> Not likely a "pay for play" station would run an actual
> full-time format.

Not too mention there aren't many Standards listeners in a boat in the Pacific and I don't think the fish and whales care

> > KMPC
>
> IIRC, their owners are sports fanatics.

That would explain why they've been Sports Talk with no ratings for what five years or so??? And their signal still stinks especially in Orange County where at times the last two months I have heard interference from KASA Phoenix in the DAYTIME, not to mention the ridiculous QRM at night caused by that Hersillo, Mexico station "La Poderosa". At night the seniors living in Rossmore and especially Laguna Woods could not hear KMPC. But then they'd probably be asleep anyway :>)

Well Fabulous could move to an HD Channel but then those who would be listeners are not likely to pony up the money to buy an HD receivable radio.

Well there's always 103.1 FM heh heh

Maybe the Internet-only option?? But how would they make money?
 
Re: Where it will end up...

Thanks for saving me soooooooo much typing.
> > > KMPC
> >
> > IIRC, their owners are sports fanatics.

Well, I don;t know how long they're going to hold on. I don;t know how much they are billing, but unless they make some move to get numbers (i.e. a Dodgers contract next time it's up), I don't see howlong they can hang on.

The calls have a great connection to the type of stuff Fabulous is playing right now. Outside of convincing Disney/ABC to flip 710, Themove wouldmake sense.

> Well Fabulous could move to an HD Channel but then those who
> would be listeners are not likely to pony up the money to
> buy an HD receivable radio.

That could be an option. I have not heard much of a push to promote HD in the LA market, If some programming special to HD can be developed...well, ya never know.
>
> Well there's always 103.1 FM heh heh

Better idea: 93.1 heh heh heh!
>
> Maybe the Internet-only option?? But how would they make
> money?

Maybe you can ask CBS, who is doing internet only for WCBS-FM (oldies) and WXRK (K-Rock...a casualty of Mr.Stern going to "eh-eh.") It can hold the format until the next round of format changes.

Personally, I find what 570 doing useless. IMHO, Mancow is not working, and Hendrie does not fit. The rest of the station sounds like Animal House, and the only things worth listeing to are Rome and maybe the Lakers. I'd dangle Fabulous in front of who ever is running KLAC and tell'em if it doesn't shape up in the next 3 or 4 books, start developing a taste for Dino.

Also, remember as we talk, we are only talking about the LA market. 690 essentially is a SD station. Any new beachhead for Fabulous will probably happen there first.

One last thing, we talk about formats going away. It's the kind of negativity in radio that has kept me from posting or even reading the posts here. I know..and Chambers knows...that standards will probably never lead the market. But what is wrong with a niche format, especially on AM? I mean, how else can broadcast compete with satellite unless we change our "number one or nothing" mindsets and ask, what format need is NOT being filled in this market? But that can be a separate topic all its own.

Don
 
Re: Where it will end up...

> Not exactly much now. Gary Owens is at the Saul Levine
> combo now as well as Wink Martindale.
John

This is an interesting development? When did Wink sign up?

It seems that Saul is intent on recreating the old KMPC magic of the '70's. If I were Saul, I'd invest in a better station voice, some distinctive jingles, and maybe an ad cammpaign beyond bus banners.

And if they can get Brad Chambers as PD? That may also solve the Fabulous puzzle.

Don
 
Re: Where it will end up...

>
> The calls have a great connection to the type of stuff
> Fabulous is playing right now. Outside of convincing
> Disney/ABC to flip 710, Themove wouldmake sense.

Disney corporate has a huge commitment to ESPN and Disney radio. Both are considered branding vehicles for the billion dollar ESPN and Disney entertainment divisions, and are part of a national concept. They would have to abandon the entire concept to even consider this...

> One last thing, we talk about formats going away. It's the
> kind of negativity in radio that has kept me from posting or
> even reading the posts here. I know..and Chambers
> knows...that standards will probably never lead the market.
> But what is wrong with a niche format, especially on AM? I
> mean, how else can broadcast compete with satellite unless
> we change our "number one or nothing" mindsets and ask, what
> format need is NOT being filled in this market? But that
> can be a separate topic all its own.

LA is a cost per point market. That means that nearly all the business is agency,a nd bough by the ratings. And it also means that there is nearly no money for any format that is totally 65+. It is simple economics. There are plenty of good formats that do not get on the air because the appeal is teen or over 55, neither of which can support a station. Remember, a decent coverage AM today is worth from $50 to $60 million, and a decent class B FM around $300 million. Such an investment can not pay off on billings form older listener targeted stations.
>
> Don
>
 
Re: Where it will end up...

As they say, "Money talks." If they get a backer, then KBLA could be a possibility.<P ID="signature">______________

Member of the Los Angeles, Phoenix Radio, and California TV moderation team</P>
 
Yes, Wink Martindale just started

Wink is now doing a weekend show, which is taped, but he can play anything he wants. He's on from 12noon-3pm Saturdays, followed by Gary Owens from 3pm-6pm.
Gary also has the daily slot, but Wink does not.


> This is an interesting development? When did Wink sign up?
>
>
> It seems that Saul is intent on recreating the old KMPC
> magic of the '70's. If I were Saul, I'd invest in a better
> station voice, some distinctive jingles, and maybe an ad
> cammpaign beyond bus banners.
>
> And if they can get Brad Chambers as PD? That may also solve
> the Fabulous puzzle.
>
> Don<P ID="signature">______________

Member of the Los Angeles, Phoenix Radio, and California TV moderation team</P>
 
How can the velvet "frogs" daughter be so pretty...and what will she do now...
 
Re: Yes, Wink Martindale just started

I don't think the Fabulous 690 was Brad Chambers creation.
It was Bennett Zier from CC in D.C. of I remember right.
The music mix dragged, was way less cool than the station's
foi Vegas image. With the slick rat pack facade it had
some potential, but too much of the music was draggy,
non-lounge oriented standards that a hundred other artists
have previously recorded. Sure, they played some gems-
but not enough to generate interest beyond the 65+.

Ultimately, Fab 690 would be a compelling story if they
generated some real numbers at least, they haven't broken
a 1 share. You can't say that CC didn't promote the station,
they had a nice board campaign most recently.

> Wink is now doing a weekend show, which is taped, but he can
> play anything he wants. He's on from 12noon-3pm Saturdays,
> followed by Gary Owens from 3pm-6pm.
> Gary also has the daily slot, but Wink does not.
>
>
> > This is an interesting development? When did Wink sign
> up?
> >
> >
> > It seems that Saul is intent on recreating the old KMPC
> > magic of the '70's. If I were Saul, I'd invest in a
> better
> > station voice, some distinctive jingles, and maybe an ad
> > cammpaign beyond bus banners.
> >
> > And if they can get Brad Chambers as PD? That may also
> solve
> > the Fabulous puzzle.
> >
> > Don
>
 
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