WABC..another new low

[Marckd]

I also think WABC should have news as a bigger part of its format. Talk stations have in the past been sourses for loads of news and information. That still should not change. WABC is being run today as a talk station the way WNEW was run as a standards station from 1990 to its demise in 1992. WABC has hardly any local news anymore. Weekends this paid programming also must go. WABC is going downhill. WOR is also doing horrible in ratings though I think they are a better station. Hopefully WOR and WABC will make improvements as time goes on

 

[TheBigA]

I also think WABC should have news as a bigger part of its format. Talk stations have in the past been sourses for loads of news and information. That still should not change.

The days of one station being all things to all people ended more than 25 years ago. Today, listeners and stations specialize. When you have two stations that specialize in news coverage, anything WABC does will be seen as weak when compared to WCBS or WINS. No one is going to tune in to WABC for news when they have two much better alternatives nearby. So they're better off focusing on their specialty, which is conservative talk.

One of the journalistic problems you run into trying to do news on a talk station is the perception that your news comes from the same POV as the talk. If you put straight news on a conservative talk station, it's a turn-off for the P1s. A lot of news/talkers have dropped ABC Radio News because it's perceived as being liberal. Some have signed with Fox or Salem, but both are unavailable to WABC. A local news staff would face the same problem. If they report on Bloomberg's gun control plan, that's seen as liberal. WNEW never had to face problems like that 20 years ago.

 

[wadio]

It'll be interesting to see what happens at WOR, and if improving programming actually results in increased ratings on AM.

You're kidding, of course! Rita Cosby is an improvement over David Paterson? Andy Dean is an improvement over Jerry Doyle? Joan Hamburg an improvement over Joan Hamburg? Coast to Coast, an improvement over Coast to Coast? Hey, I like Mark Simone, when he isn't interviewing 80 year old comedians, but an improvement over Mike Gallagher ... not so much. What exactly do you expect to see happen? :

 

[TheBigA]

What exactly do you expect to see happen? :

Did you read the next sentence in my post after the one you quoted?

I said "I'm personally not too hopeful."

 

[wadio]

Actually you said you're not hopeful and don't expect to see a change due to improving programming. So in the absence of improving programming (as is the case, IMHO) what do you expect to see? That's my question.

 

[TTalkradio1]

Allan Sniffen wrote, "And while I'm no fan of syndication, I could live with it *if* the shows were more compelling. Imus has lost his famous acerbic, curmudgeon attitude, Rush and Hannity are broken records, Levin sounds like he's pandering, and Savage is unfocused. Those shows either need to be fixed (probably impossible) or replaced." The part about the shows needing to be replaced is ridiculous for someone to say who is from the radio industry.

 

[reelyreal]

You're making my point, but you're just far too stubborn to admit that anyone but you can possibly have a point.

It doesn't all come down to weekend infomercials. At the same time, it doesn't all come down to declining AM listenership as a whole. These are all pieces of a big puzzle. So far, CBS Radio has figured out how to stave off drops in listenership and revenue in multiple markets and GUESS WHAT?!?! They all have compelling programming around the clock.

The various ownership of WABC over the years has clearly dropped many little balls, but it's adding up to a big failure. It doesn't have to be this way, but I'm of the belief that there's no turning back at this point.

 

[TheBigA]

So in the absence of improving programming (as is the case, IMHO) what do you expect to see? That's my question.

First of all, the jury is still out with regards to the programming improving. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the programming is bad.

But to answer your question, in keeping with the thrust of my series of posts, the downward spiral of AM listenership will continue regardless of what they do.

So far, CBS Radio has figured out how to stave off drops in listenership and revenue in multiple markets and GUESS WHAT?!?! They all have compelling programming around the clock.

The clock is ticking on CBS, and they know it. They saw it with WFAN, which was their lowest rated AM in NYC. Other owners have dealt with it in the same way. There is very little motivation to invest money in new programming on AM right now. Scan up and down the AM dial and tell me if anyone, regardless of owner, is doing anything compelling.

 

[wadio]

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the programming is bad.

Where did I say it's bad? I said it's not an improvement. I don't think many people would argue with that.

 

[wadio]

Allan Sniffen wrote, "And while I'm no fan of syndication, I could live with it *if* the shows were more compelling. Imus has lost his famous acerbic, curmudgeon attitude, Rush and Hannity are broken records, Levin sounds like he's pandering, and Savage is unfocused. Those shows either need to be fixed (probably impossible) or replaced." The part about the shows needing to be replaced is ridiculous for someone to say who is from the radio industry.

He also wrote, "First, WABC needs to stop pretending it's a news source ("newstalk radio"). It's not anymore than most FM stations are. You don't hear FM music stations using "news" in their branding. Neither should WABC. It needs to be branded for what it is rather than something it's not."

There's nothing wrong with the branding. News/talk is a legitimate format but it's not being implemented correctly at WABC. A news/talk station is supposed to discuss the day's news. WABC (what's left of it) is all politics all the time -- that's the problem.

 

[reelyreal]

Scan up and down the AM dial and tell me if anyone, regardless of owner, is doing anything compelling.

WTIC regularly has on local newsmakers from CT, talking about local issues that directly effect me as a resident of CT. I find it compelling. WBZ has very fascinating talk shows on every single night. WCBS and WINS still churn out the best radio news product in the world.

Getting off the CBS thang...

WARE in Ware, MA plays one of the widest oldies libraries anywhere. I find that compelling. WINY in Putnam, CT talks to local newsmakers, local community activists, local everything every single day of the week.

I could keep going.

The programming is out there. Yeah, the AM band will die. It's not going to die this week, there's still plenty of money to be made, and some very compelling programming out there. Just because you don't enjoy it doesn't mean the rest of us non negative nancies don't as well.

 

[evalmaster]

Why is there so much hanging on to the legacy of WABC? At this point they have been talking longer than they were music. Cumulus probably doesnt care what happened at 770 in the 60's and 70's. Most of their employees have probably never heard musicradio77. Times have changed- things evolve. Z100 is probably the true descendent of WABC- not the stale talk on 770. As much as I am not a big fan of Clear Channel, if they pay some attention to WOR they have a reasonable chance to show up Cumulus and their mess on WABC.

 

[DToTheJ]

WABC has to be the worst major market talk station in the country. Wall to Wall syndication (save the 5AM hour) during the week...

That right there is the microcosm of WABC's problems.

 

[taylorengineer]

A couple of points.
1. Consultants did not "pick" Republican based talk radio. Very few "liberal" talk hosts have been able to develop an audience because the people who would be likely listeners are, as a group, not interested in talk radio. Talk has been successful in only limited demo groups - mostly white males.
2. Radio has become a niche service but it is always possible that will change. A return of "full service radio" probably is not in the cards but there is the possibility of new formatics which might attract a diversified audience.
3. The problem is, and always has been, content. As competition intensifies programming must improve. I can't remember the last time a station launch was exciting. Take WNSH for example. Here's a launch with great possibilities for great showbiz.....and what does Lew jr. do? 10,000 songs in a row. That's how you make a splash in the most sophisticated market in the USA??!!
WE need owners who understand showbiz. BigA will mention all those smart guys at Cumulus.....so where the hell are they?? This was the rocket scientist's "secret weapon?"
This station should have come on fully staffed, complete ad campaign blanketing key zips, vehicles wrapped, street crews ready on day 1 for 24/7 promotion.....a comprehensive plan of attack with clear goals set.
My guess is none of that was done.
Don't say "it's too expensive." Sometimes you gotta' spend money to make money. You just have to have the people on board who can effectively budget and spend that money on the things that matter.

 

[TimeIsTight]

Why is there so much hanging on to the legacy of WABC?

It's not, necessarily, the "music" legacy we are talking about. For 30-years, or so, WABC has had a "leader in talk radio" legacy, that shouldn't be discarded or ignored either.

Over the very long term, being on a clear channel frequency with a non-directional signal in the top market makes WABC something special compared to the rest of the AM pack. Even its call letters are, probably, the most memorable in radio. The first thing we all learn to recite is our ABC's. ( and don't think that didn't help them in diary ratings over the years)

There is no doubt that AM radio, in general, is doing a slow fade, what is alarming about WABC is that the ratings show the rate of decline accelerating, and offering junk programming, like infomercials, in prime time, is just going to make the station, and listener interest in AM in general, fade that much faster.

 

[TheBigA]

BigA will mention all those smart guys at Cumulus.....so where the hell are they??

Huh? What are you talking about? I have never used "smart guys" and "Cumulus" in the same sentence.

This station should have come on fully staffed, complete ad campaign blanketing key zips, vehicles wrapped, street crews ready on day 1 for 24/7 promotion.....a comprehensive plan of attack with clear goals set.

One element about this launch was the surprise. It's hard to keep a suprise when you're interviewing candidates for jobs. Sure those who get hired are likely to be quiet. But those who don't are free to blab.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Over the very long term, being on a clear channel frequency with a non-directional signal in the top market makes WABC something special compared to the rest of the AM pack.

Not true at all, and this is a part of the problems on the AM band that hasn't been discussed here.

First: There is no such thing as a "clear channel" station, and hasn't been for at least 30 years. The old definition of "clear channel" was an AM frequency with only one station on it. The last clear channel frequency (I believe it was 1200 kHz) "died" long ago. Even during WABC's MusicRadio days, there were other stations on 770 (WABC's fight with KOB/Albuquerque NM as to which station would be the "primary" clear channel station on 770 is one of the longest regulatory cases in FCC history), and now there's even another station on 770 in New York state, which directs almost all of its signal north into Canada.

Second: AM stations, in general, don't cover as large an area as they used to, mainly due to interference issues. More and more electronic devices (most having some kind of computer chips in them) are wreaking havoc with noise levels. Its generally estimated that most AM stations have effectively lost about 30% of their coverage areas over the past twenty years as noise levels have increased. Many AM stations are applying for higher power levels *just* so they can cut through the ever increasing noise floor.

 

[taylorengineer]

Huh? What are you talking about? I have never used "smart guys" and "Cumulus" in the same sentence.


Maybe I'm mistaken but I'm almost sure you were the person telling me what a gifted programmer Mike McVay is. You also said since I called him by the incorrect first name that I obviously didn't know anything about him or his programming ability.
I would argue that if programming is his "specialty" then maybe he should try a different line of work. Not that he is not a competent researcher/bean counter - I'm sure he is very good at crunching numbers and setting up the surveys for testing.
He does not have the "gut" instinct for programming and that's true for most others in management today. Do you think managing "by the numbers" is the correct approach to programming? I'm a math guy....I wish we knew how to explain life with math....but when it comes to human behavior you're SOL.

This station should have come on fully staffed, complete ad campaign blanketing key zips, vehicles wrapped, street crews ready on day 1 for 24/7 promotion.....a comprehensive plan of attack with clear goals set.



One element about this launch was the surprise. It's hard to keep a suprise when you're interviewing candidates for jobs. Sure those who get hired are likely to be quiet. But those who don't are free to blab.



Everyone was buzzing for days about a possible country format. It was no shock choice - IMHO it was a very good choice.
Country is quickly getting big with kids - "Hickhop" by artists like Cowboy Troy, Colt Ford, Miranda Lambert, and the Gawja Bois is the new honky hip hop. There is tons of country based music which does NOT sound like Conway Twitty and Loretta.
I would love a chance to do a high energy, CHR based country format with all new artists. What I feel is missing in so many stations today is that high energy, heavy personality approach. But you need highly talented people to pull that off....not people who grew up as liner jocks.
Had a real kick ass "Power Pig" approach been taken the buzz would have been there - secret or not. Besides.....how was any NYC station going to adjust to a country coming to town? More Taylor Swift spins?

 

[TheBigA]

I would argue that if programming is his "specialty" then maybe he should try a different line of work.

So you admit you don't know anything about him, yet you feel qualified to judge him?

 

[KFodor]

Like most radio stations and, for that matter, anything else, they blow off the weekends, and have for a long time. The infomercials pay for themselves, and advertisers don't buy the 6+ Monday-Sunday numbers. It doesn't matter what happens to that number. And if they had pre-empted the infomercials, the coverage would have been unsponsored because the time is normally sold to the long-form shows.

People tune in to WABC for very specific things: Imus, Rush, Hannity, etc. Everything else can be called "sustaining." That includes talking about the storm.

It's not that talk stations "blow off the weekend". But, weekends seem to perform not as well as weekdays in talk radio, no matter what you put on them.

However, this might have been a missed opportunity for WABC. People tune into these stations for information. Had they been wall to wall with traffic and weather coverage, and divvied up some hours for local talk, it might have sounded better.

I'm not against infomercials (they can help pay the bills), but in a weather emergency such as that snowstorm, local coverage IS warranted...