TV 104.1 WYOK Mobile Stunting

[cspotrun]

"Jack", the format to DO when you don't know WHAT to do. and obviously, they don't know WHAT to do.

 

[Rob]

I have yet to hear it since my radio died but thanks for the heads up.
Next time im in the car i'll tune in.

This is going to be a dismal failure.

But, this area DOES have too many country stations.

-Rob

 

[Tibbs4]

Kent was pretty much spot on on the Jack market break. I have to admit that whoever got conned into trying ths
format this late it it's evolution, in the Panhandle market with a thousand signals all overplaying various pieces of
this playlist should be lashed. To think satellite is going to help is wrong. Look for no more than a possible 1.5-1.9.

 

[Mario500]

Here is a link to the Mobile Press-Register article concerning the format change:

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1237540528311240.xml&coll=3

I liked the publicity stunt with the TV theme songs and openings. It would make a great format for a radio station with live announcers and requests for listeners. In addition to music from TV series, the station could broadcast music from news programs, game shows, and movies. I would most definitely listen to the radio more often if such a station were to exist in Mobile or anywhere.

 

[Rob]

Please tell me they dumped "rick and bubba"

 

[Tibbs4]

Rob---- I startin' to worry about yuh. You're making way to much sense without that radio. Amen on the R & B.

 

[Rob]

wait until i purchase REAL equipment!
sorry but i hated rick & bub.

 

[Nate Wesley]

I liked the publicity stunt with the TV theme songs and openings. It would make a great format for a radio station with live announcers and requests for listeners. In addition to music from TV series, the station could broadcast music from news programs, game shows, and movies. I would most definitely listen to the radio more often if such a station were to exist in Mobile or anywhere.

Not necessarily as a format (though I love the "TV Tunes" channel on AOL Radio), but I think your idea would be a great way to freshen up oldies stations. So many themes are full length lyrical songs instead of merely short instrumentals, and they have near instant recognition from adults of all ages. And there are themes from '60s shows to a few ones from the 1990s that would work.

 

[tomservo]

I liked the publicity stunt with the TV theme songs and openings. It would make a great format for a radio station with live announcers and requests for listeners. In addition to music from TV series, the station could broadcast music from news programs, game shows, and movies. I would most definitely listen to the radio more often if such a station were to exist in Mobile or anywhere.

Not necessarily as a format (though I love the "TV Tunes" channel on AOL Radio), but I think your idea would be a great way to freshen up oldies stations. So many themes are full length lyrical songs instead of merely short instrumentals, and they have near instant recognition from adults of all ages. And there are themes from '60s shows to a few ones from the 1990s that would work.

I really like that idea — didn't oldies stations do that sort of thing back in the 80's? I know XM's 60's channel did before the merger. Maybe not so much now, sadly.

I'd also like to hear old commercials peppered in here and there; they really add to the experience. TV Land used to do that but I think they don't show much classic TV anymore.

Of course, Cumulus could learn from this thread. Most of the songs I heard right before the flip were the short TV versions, or worse yet, truncated just seconds into the song because someone doesn't know how to work a computer. But I guess that's to be expected when your company runs on fumes.

 

[Poledo]

Jack's kinda an old format now. WYOK jumped on this ship too late. Does anyone think this format will last more than say 18 months?

How will this effect The Pirate? I know it won't hurt The Wave (Destin's Wave 102). How much will 'KSJ's ratings go up?

I wouldn't be surprised if they just put Jack on as a filler until they could find a real format for WYOK. Jack's not going to bring higher ratings than flipping to satellite fed country.

 

[Poledo]

I listened to Jack 104.1 today for the first time. The music isn't my cup of tea, so it wasn't easy to listen to but I had a couple thoughts.

First - Where are their listeners going to come from? They're directly competing with 106.5 but I would assume The Pirate has had time to build up a loyal following, plus they know how much Jimmy Buffet is required to get locals to listen... so they may take a hit, but I doubt they'll be knocked out. What other station is most likely to loose listeners to Jack 104.1? I think Q-100 is the most vulnerable. Does anyone else agree? Did Cumulus just shoot itself in the foot? Did they just give away all their country listeners just to shift 30% of Q-100's audience over to 104.1?
I guess My 107.3 might also loose some listeners, but they could easily tweak their format back toward oldies and gain some new/old listeners.

Second - Aside from playing music that I never liked to begin with, the presentation was pretty good. Maybe Mobile needs some more satellite fed formats? Over here in Florida we have a satellite fed Classic Rock station on 100.3, it's just as good as The Rocket. We've gotten to the point where you can tell if a station is "off the bird" when it sounds too good to be local.

All in all, I still think that "True Oldies" or even one of the satellite country (or classic country) formats would have been a better choice than Jack.

Last but not least, what happened to "The Alternative" on 101.5-2? While tweaking my presets I discovered that 101.5-2 doesn't exist today.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Where are their listeners going to come from? They're directly competing with 106.5 but I would assume The Pirate has had time to build up a loyal following, plus they know how much Jimmy Buffet is required to get locals to listen... so they may take a hit, but I doubt they'll be knocked out. What other station is most likely to loose listeners to Jack 104.1? I think Q-100 is the most vulnerable. Does anyone else agree? Did Cumulus just shoot itself in the foot? Did they just give away all their country listeners just to shift 30% of Q-100's audience over to 104.1?
I guess My 107.3 might also loose some listeners, but they could easily tweak their format back toward oldies and gain some new/old listeners.

Second - Aside from playing music that I never liked to begin with, the presentation was pretty good. Maybe Mobile needs some more satellite fed formats? Over here in Florida we have a satellite fed Classic Rock station on 100.3, it's just as good as The Rocket. We've gotten to the point where you can tell if a station is "off the bird" when it sounds too good to be local.

All in all, I still think that "True Oldies" or even one of the satellite country (or classic country) formats would have been a better choice than Jack.

Some of your points just cement how head-scratching it was for Cumulus to pick Jack FM at all. Was there really a need for Jack, since "My Rocket Pirate" already handles that territory? Cumulus would look like fools going after WABB again, and they can't go Hot AC on 104.1 either, unless they find something else for poor Q-100 to do.

In two close radio markets (Mobile & Pensacola) with big FMs that blanket both, Cumulus has let itself get boxed in. Clear Channel has managed things much better. Look at its mix of big signals on the coast: Lite Mix & KSJ own their audiences in Mobile. 'My' doesn't own Pensacola, but they're a player. TK &The Rocket play nice in both metros.

Cumulus' problem seems to stem from wanting to be successful in non-urban formats and the higher billing that they usually bring. I can understand that, but here's the reality: 93BLX is their only cross-market success. They own smaller urban ACs that are successful alongside 'BLX (WDLT) and in conjunction with 'BLX (Magic 106.1). The highest rated AM in Mobile? Gospel 900 WGOK. Cumulus hasn't totally ruined their urban properties since taking control of them, and they won't get competition for them anytime soon.

Both 104.1 and 100.7 have given Cumulus the most trouble on the Gulf Coast. If they don't want to keep spinning the format wheel, they're going to have to work to their established strengths and not against them. The big tent music formats have been covered, and I'm not sure the advertising pie is big enough for the old CHR/Country/Urban battles of the past. At least not with markets #96 and #124, collectively or separately.

 

[Mario500]

Last night on WPMI-TV, which had a relationship with Cumulus Broadcasting in Mobile, I saw a commercial advertisement for WYOK-FM’s new format and it featured computer-generated characters dancing to the type of music broadcast by the station. Later the advertisement bothered me by the interaction between two dancers, including one’s calm expression and the constant movement of the female character’s bosom, which was noticeable throughout the animation for such movement.

They may have gotten the attention of their target audience and lovers of animation, but this is not the right way to advertise a radio station’s new format. Sometimes a commercial advertisement has a deeper message sent by the station’s operators and the potential audience will stay away.

 

[Poledo]

I know I've posted this before and maybe this will be the last time I post it, but Cumulus just needs to combne WDLT and Magic 106.1 onto 104.1's 100kw signal. Move WCOA to 106.1 and move WGOK to 98.3. Then put True Oldies (or classic country or standards) on 1370 in Pensacola and 660 or 900 in Mobile. Simple enough?

 

[Nate Wesley]

I know I've posted this before and maybe this will be the last time I post it, but Cumulus just needs to combne WDLT and Magic 106.1 onto 104.1's 100kw signal. Move WCOA to 106.1 and move WGOK to 98.3. Then put True Oldies (or classic country or standards) on 1370 in Pensacola and 660 or 900 in Mobile. Simple enough?

Your WDLT & WCOA moves are practically no-brainers.

Any argument for not putting WDLT on 104.1 died with the success of Magic; you can't tell me 106.1 isn't programmed similarly to 98.3. "Magic 104.1, WDLT" with Tom Joyner would get the job done. Since Cumulus doesn't want an all-urban slate in Mobile, we'll hold off on moving WGOK to 98.3. We can watch Jack FM fail there, and have True Oldies or classic country to fall back on. Who knows, maybe XM will allow a simulcast of "Radio Margaritaville" for the right price.

NewsTalk 106.1 works for me. But I'm still in love with my idea of a big FM sports station. IF I can snatch ESPN Radio and and SEC sports rights (Alabama or Florida), I euthanize Q-100 and partner the new ESPN 100.7 with NewsTalk 106.1. Otherwise, Q-100 gets left alone, and we just roll with ESPN 1370 as the 106.1 partner.

Mobile: 93BLX, Magic 104.1, 98.3 Jack FM, 900/660 WGOK
Pensacola: Q-100 (ESPN 100?) , NewsTalk 106.1, ESPN 1370 (True Oldies?)

There, I've maximized the appeal of my biggest FMs and put my best performing stations in a position to remain successful.

 

[trock]

Nate your post makes perfect sense. Which means it's probably not going to happen in a million years. I for one would love for magic to move to 104.1. So I could actually hear it off line. Oh well. :-\

 

[Rob]

Well, 104.1's HAAT is awesome compared to 98.3 which I get on tropo (QRM from SUNNY 98.5) I do enjoy the jazz though, our 106.3 S'Breeze is weak none the less running at 6KW.

They COULD maybe do an HD-2 now, and 107.3 may make the move to T'Oldies. (they are now in HD)

Last I looked, 104.1 is about 2,000 feet (est) which makes me think it's on a tower shared by a TV station. Could be, 3,5 or 8 (NBC 15). As their towers are in between in, I think? Robertsdale? (sp?)

-Rob

 

[Poledo]

Since Cumulus doesn't want an all-urban slate in Mobile, we'll hold off on moving WGOK to 98.3. We can watch Jack FM fail there, and have True Oldies or classic country to fall back on. Who knows, maybe XM will allow a simulcast of "Radio Margaritaville" for the right price.

Hey, take the hand you're dealt. Cumulus bought all the urban stations in the dual markets and they have the highest ratings, even if they can't bill as much as the "average" stations. Why didn't Cumulus move WDLT to one of the 100kw sticks many years ago? Q-100 should have never been re-born, it should have become the new home of WDLT. Back when Q-100 was re-born, WDLT had higher ratings in Pensacola than Q-100 had, and their signal is horrible over here. Mobile's the big market. No one over there would care if WDLT had an ID of "Pensacola-Mobile" and any new format launched on 98.3 would have done better than Q-100 has done. On the same note, Magic 106.1 wouldn't have been needed. No one in Pensacola would care that they were listening to a "Mobile" station if that was the only source for the music, see WBLX for proof. WDLT didn't drop out of the Pensacola ratings until Magic signed on.

104.1 has been a mess ever since Clear Channel sold it to Cumulus. Jack caught me by surprise. After they dropped country and went with True Oldies on a 100kw in Atlanta, I figured it was a no-brainer for WYOK. That station is just cursed now, they can't possibly save it unless they move WBLX to 104.1. That would be funny.

Gospel gets great ratings on FM in the other southeastern markets, so why not give WGOK a small FM bump? Hell, they could probably save 104.1 too. <- Now that was funny!

WCOA is lost without Luke McCoy. That station could be #3 in the Pensacola market on our ONLY class A, 106.1, and they would be extending their signal to most all of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Baldwin counties including many growing areas with no news/talk coverage right now. No format tweak would be needed, but if they wanted to spend some cash and replace the local segments they could probably get up to the #2 spot in the ratings.

Cumulus has everything they need to dominate the Mobile market just like they control Fort Walton. They may not make as much money as Clear Channel, but they could do much better than they do now. Something's wrong with the people running that cluster. Just go ahead and offer to trade 100.7 and 104.1 to Dittman for WABB and get it over with.

 

[nv4phil]

It's been a month... has anyone's opinions of WYOK changed? I absolutely love Jack FM... I discovered it and immediately began researching it. I now have Jack bumper stickers from the Twin Cities (Their Jack is also on 104.1 MHz), as well as a Jack T-shirt from a market hosting dual Jacks in Missouri, and a KCBS Jack T-shirt in the mail from eBay.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands...but I absolutely think SparkNet, Dial Global, and Howard Cogan, are geniouses. Cogan doing a smart-ass named "Jack" had me sold on this from day one. I discovered Jack in mid-April.

Thank God for an alternative to the Sammy's commercials every fifteen minutes. Hi-my-name-is-Elvis-please-strip-me-naked-and-let-me-give-you-STD's... that got so old!

Jack gives me a VARIETY... They have had repeats, yes.... but they are far less often, and the playlist is loose-as-a-goose and all across the board. (with no bubble-gum-pop, and no country.) ... It's what I like in a radio station.

I wish their commercial breaks weren't as often, but that could be an illusion from me listening to the station so often. I noted the other weekend, only about four to eight minutes of 30 or 60 second spots, per hour... I can handle that... I adore the Lost Cat Magnet PSA's from the USPTO, even if I did find out that the ad campaign is a number of years old.

Some of those voicemails on Jack (even if they've been around for a while, as evidenced by other Jack stations' live internet feeds), are hilarious, too...

I hope to high Heaven that Bill or anyone else at Cumulus in Mobile, doesn't see threads like this and decide to pull Jack in a year or so. Have you guys any changed opinions of Jack, after it's been here for a period of time?

God Bless and 73
Phil D. Mills/NV4P
Tuscaloosa, AL/Pensacola, FL

 

[tomservo]

nv4hill, while I've never heard WYOK I have heard Jack and Bob and Alice and all the other variety hits stations out there. My complaint with those is the lack of cohesion with some of the songs. Going from Aerosmith to Mary Wells to Plain White T's is a sure way to drive everyone crazy. And it seems to be a trend with all the variety hits stations I've heard in the past.

Basically, there's a well known bit of criticism towards these types of stations that's actually pretty accurate: it's like listening to your friend's iPod (you don't control the song mix) but with commercials.

Owners like it because the whole thing can be run from a PC in a broom closet. :