To CCENG & Others - N Fla Board

[John FL]

In a seperate posts CCENG wrote - "I was beginning to wonder if anyone except the long winded guys in Jax were even lurking....man, those Jax guys can write some novellas when they get started on here!"

There are NO long winded Jax guys - except for me and I am guilty as charged. It may have taken me too long but I have learned a lesson. I figured if I stirred the pot enough, just maybe the kind of participation we once had for the Jax portion of the board would return. Despite everything, that never really happened and I'll be man enough to take responsibility for the obvious outcome.

All along, my intentions may have been honorable but my methods apparently discouraged more than encouraged others to participate. I let ego take center stage and that wrong. It's not about me - it's about radio - and so it should be. I'm harmless but I need grounding every now and then and so I appreciate your comment more than you can imagine.

 

[redneckriviera]

Oh, engineers are notoriously cranky (actually, Charlie seems like one of the most communicative tech-types I've ever encountered)! But, JohnJax, I'll submit that most/many of us do appreciate your efforts to initiate conversation on this board, whether we choose to participate in a particular thread or not...

 

[radioboy]

JohnJax,

I also enjoy reading your posts. I'm not familiar enough with Jax radio to comment very often, although on a recent trip through Brunswick, I did note that Jax has a new "Country Legands" station. It was the only one I listened to this time, although I heard Gator earlier this year.

 

[Stormychuck]

Johnjax you have a PM

 

[cceng1]

JohnJax....I was doing exactly what you were doing....trying to stimulate some traffic on the board......looks like it worked for both of us !!

CCENG

 

[John FL]

Chuck, a friend is someone who is honest with another and your personal comments to me showed that you not only care but you are a friend. I will do better. This is not my board - it belongs to everyone who wants to post or read. Writing novels kills the message and funny thing is I'm hardly that person I may sound like in these posts.

It's time to get real and as you say - keep it short. So, in doing so I will just say..sorry folks for sounding like a real butt wipe at times. I guess I fell in a little trap so thanks all for the lifelines of support.....John

 

[Tibbs4]

Oh, engineers are notoriously cranky (actually, Charlie seems like one of the most communicative tech-types I've ever encountered)! But, JohnJax, I'll submit that most/many of us do appreciate your efforts to initiate conversation on this board, whether we choose to participate in a particular thread or not...

I am reporting this post to the mod. RNR ;D Actually, JohnJax - I agree. Love all and any posts from NWF board. It's all family. You know that. Plus, us yankees (anyone above Crestview) miss the beaches and all of the finer assets thereof this half of the year...no matter how old we get/

 

[radioboy]

Oyster Radio is selling its stations - one (WOYY)to Faith Radio Network and two (WOYS, WOCY)to 3G (Gomes family) out of Rhode Island.

 

[jmtillery]

JohnJax, just so you know, I have always enjoyed reading your posts. It's obvious you put much thought into what you have to express to the rest of us. You make some very valid points and constructive arguments regarding, not only Jacksonville radio, but, radio in general. I don't always comment on all of the boards, which includes the Jacksonville portion of the North Florida Board, but I can assure you that I always read every post and walk away feeling that I have learned something very useful whenever I read any of your comments.

 

[jmtillery]

Oyster Radio is selling its stations - one (WOYY)to Faith Radio Network and two (WOYS, WOCY)to 3G (Gomes family) out of Rhode Island.

Alan, please contact me off-list. I'd like to talk with you regarding the Oyster Group.

[email protected]

 

[TommyR]

Someone once told me, "Just because they aren't talking doesn't mean they aren't listening."

I'm pretty sure that came from a co-worker at 970!

But seriously...John, know that even though I don't respond too much, I am reading. Actually you explain your position so well that I am at times left with nothing to add.

Which reminds me of another industry gem: "Leave 'em wanting more."

 

[jmtillery]

Oh, engineers are notoriously cranky (actually, Charlie seems like one of the most communicative tech-types I've ever encountered)! But, JohnJax, I'll submit that most/many of us do appreciate your efforts to initiate conversation on this board, whether we choose to participate in a particular thread or not...

RNR - Send me an email at your convenience - [email protected].

 

[jmtillery]

Chuck, a friend is someone who is honest with another and your personal comments to me showed that you not only care but you are a friend. I will do better. This is not my board - it belongs to everyone who wants to post or read. Writing novels kills the message and funny thing is I'm hardly that person I may sound like in these posts.

It's time to get real and as you say - keep it short. So, in doing so I will just say..sorry folks for sounding like a real butt wipe at times. I guess I fell in a little trap so thanks all for the lifelines of support.....John

JohnJax - You seem to have your finger on the pulse of things relating to Jacksonville radio, so I would like your honest opinion about a question that was asked on the L. A. Board, and I asked it on the Orlando Board.

What Jacksonville radio station will be the next one to change format, how soon will the format change take place and what will the new format be? To personalize it just a bit, which station would you like to see change its format and to what?

 

[John FL]

Mark, Cox radio owns rock in this town and they do well with it and they will continue doing so. I hear and read of some classic rock stations around the country going to something called the next generation of classic rock. It would seem logical Rock 105 (WFYV) will need to do something to stay fresh and competitive. They may be headed there.

With X1029 (WXXJ) launched and successful, I can see their Eagle brand of classic hits (WJGL) in a couple of years morph into offering more classic alternative hits especially as they move more into the 90s – it’s inevitable. For those who dig alternative stuff, Cox could have a real lock on it from new to old with a classic rocker also to boot. Plus, they probably could sell a combo of both so maybe that's in the cards.

WFKS (KISS) is a station that I have always felt could be a more formidable challenger in the CC cluster. But the reality is they have slashed payroll and after WEJZ gets the lion share of billing for female listeners, they are among a few other stations that perform well enough in 25-54 females to get some of the action and they do. Given that, unless the station is sold, I can’t see them talking the chance on something else.

Since you asked what I would like to see happen it would be this. If WFKS offered a more pop-oriented greatest hits format where they offered titles not heard elsewhere and with the eventually of adding 90’s tunes, that station would see an increased opportunity to be a more formidable challenger with increased cume AND time spent listening. Among Gen X listeners, I believe there is an underserved market who like rock and country but who also would like to hear the biggest hits by the biggest artists. Differentiating yourself from the rest of the pack is a strategy. In PPM, being part of a format that is heard in restaurants and stores etc. helps deliver the very audience advertsiers want - those in 25-54 who are at these places in the first place because they are spending $$$.

PPM is coming down the road. If any major changes are to take place in our market, I would suspect it would come after PPM data can be dissected and digested. So for now, I expect little or nothing to happen. That's my take.

 

[jmtillery]

JohnJax, you may be on to something regarding a few of the stations you mentioned, especially your assessment of WFYV.

What are your thoughts regarding a second market news-talker on FM and possibly moving sports programming to one of the FM signals? WOKV does an excellent job as the market's only news-talk outlet for Jacksonville, but do you think that format may garner better results on a full 100kw FM? And, if WOKV were to move exclusively to FM, what would your thoughts be regarding what should be done with AM 690?

 

[John FL]

Mark, For a time, sports talk WJXL simulcast on FM and they beat CC's WFXJ solidly. But JXL is continuing to do that now on AM beating FXJ 3-1 overall. Broadcasting on FM appears to only increase exposure potential and not necessarily more listening. This has already been proven and a reason I feel Jax is not a big sports radio town.

As for WOKV, I wonder why we would entertain better results. The AM/FM combo frequently earn 3 times the average ratings found in other markets for the format. Would it really be in the interest of Cox Radio to enhance WOKV's position even further at this time? Many of Cox's music formats attract males. So does WOKV. I think it could skew performance results even more than already exists. Maybe I'm wrong, I'd like to hear other opinions if that's the case.

If PPM shows WOKV loosing dominance or if in time things change in our market where one of Cox's music formats takes a dive, maybe then it would make sense for WOKV to be on a full power FM swapping signals with one of their performance challanged music formats or even selling the current WOKV FM. 690 is a killer signal and for reasons that have nothing to do with good business - I'd like nothing to happen to 690.

 

[jmtillery]

My opinion is that AM will eventually go the way of extinction. I don't believe this will happen tomorrow or next week, but my opinion is it will happen. The main reason is AM radio has been on a constant decline in radio listenership for years. Even with the best format on AM, the younger demos have migrated to the FM band. Eventually even great AM stations such as WOKV-AM will only attract the geriatric demo which advertisers don't want. In other words, it is becoming increasingly difficult for AM stations to sell advertising due to the demos AMs tend to deliver. WOKV is still doing well for now, so don't look for any kind of massive overhaul there anytime soon. However, the day is coming that even for news-talkers, the wave of the future is to offer what has been considered tradition AM formats on the FM band.