WBAP on 96.7 is a Smart Move

[txchipk]

Running news/talk programming on 96.7 is one of the smartest things Citadel can do based on the ears they are capable of reaching with the signal. 96.7 is second-tier signal and always will be, however, the most densely-populated areas where the signal does poorest are in ethnically high parts of southern Dallas county, areas that have little interest in right-wing talk.

Smart move. I wonder if this is a preemptive move against the long-rumored news/talk on 97.1 that I keep hearing of.

Coverage wasn't the reason. I've posted the AM-to-FM discussion before...including in 2008:
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=105669.0

The number of news/talk FMs has only gone up since then in other markets. I would think Citadel's chapter 11 is a factor...but coverage isn't since WBAP is 50 kw day and night. Coverage hasn't been an issue in other markets either...KSL Salt Lake City is also 50 kw day and night and still created a KSL-FM. Ditto for KCBS San Francisco's addition of KFRC-FM 106.9 there. In both cases, the FM has less coverage area than the AM...it's about getting the format on FM.

The issue for many heritage AM stations is aging demos...moving to or adding FM exposes the stations to people under 40 who have long given up listening to AM and don't consider it an option. AM is dead to young listeners. When Domingo has posted the 18-34 PPMs, no AM appears in the the top 25. In that demo, KTCK which otherwise dominates KESN and KRLD-FM, falls behind or is at parity with those two. If people are aging out 25-54 and no young people are coming in, there is no way long-term to maintain the 25-54 numbers since the math doesn't work. Getting on FM does allow exposure to people under 55.

The KCBS/KFRC-FM combo moved up to #2 25-54 PPMs after the addition of the FM. In the several years since it went from AM to FM, WTOP 103.5 Washington has also been dominant 25-54.

 

[dfwrunner]

What a waste of FM bandwidth...FM is for MUSIC (but not MUSAK, learn the difference)!!!

 

[NAGantt]

How much of a signal gain are they receiving from broadcasting in mono, im in an area where their signals always good so i cant tell a difference

 

[dfwrunner]

They should put BizRadio on 96.7...much better solution if you're going to ruin an FM signal with talk.

 

[amisdead]

They should put BizRadio on 96.7...much better solution if you're going to ruin an FM signal with talk.

Get over yourself. Just because you don't like spoken word doesn't mean there aren't many others who do. And by making WBAP available on FM, more people will be able to enjoy it than ever.

FM isn't any more for music than it is for spoken word. It's just a band and it's completely content neutral. You're just stuck in your antiqued thinking.

Basically, everything sounds better in FM, that's why it won the market share battle over 30 years ago.

 

[NAGantt]

They should put BizRadio on 96.7...much better solution if you're going to ruin an FM signal with talk.

Get over yourself. Just because you don't like spoken word doesn't mean there aren't many others who do. And by making WBAP available on FM, more people will be able to enjoy it than ever.

FM isn't any more for music than it is for spoken word. It's just a band and it's completely content neutral. You're just stuck in your antiqued thinking.

Basically, everything sounds better in FM, that's why it won the market share battle over 30 years ago.

his name says it all

 

[johnsummers]

Mike Shannon is correct....'BAP has coverage out the wazoo....I mean, Fayetteville, Ark, in the daytime!!...But, it's that muddy audio that people, especially those under...say...40, object to most. Although, I don't know what's worse, mp3 audio or AM fidelity...

 

[louisNatl]

Do we know if there are plans for WBAP to abandon the AM frequency? I concur that the move to FM is smart to target the younger demo but using that powerful signal to deliver information to rural communities at night is very valuable.

KIRO in Seattle moved their talk format to FM and switched their 50KW AM signal to sports. Since then, their ratings have plummeted and all news KOMO-AM has taken the top spot. This just proves that AM is far from dead!

 

[klutch00]

Do we know if there are plans for WBAP to abandon the AM frequency? I concur that the move to FM is smart to target the younger demo but using that powerful signal to deliver information to rural communities at night is very valuable.

KIRO in Seattle moved their talk format to FM and switched their 50KW AM signal to sports. Since then, their ratings have plummeted and all news KOMO-AM has taken the top spot. This just proves that AM is far from dead!

If I'm correct, one thing that AM has going for it in the Seattle area is that the terrain is quite hilly and FM stations have a difficult time reaching those 'pockets' where the signal falls out. I believe the same scenario holds true in San Francisco. If the AM band must implode, don't eliminate the band entirely. Instead, make the band wall to wall clear channels with perhaps a few exceptions. Under such a scenario, have each state in the union have at least one such facility with a full-time transmission capability of up to 100,000 watts. Of course, also improve sound quality on the band with a high-quality analog transmission standard.

 

[billyg]

Do we know if there are plans for WBAP to abandon the AM frequency? I concur that the move to FM is smart to target the younger demo but using that powerful signal to deliver information to rural communities at night is very valuable.

I doubt that will happen anytime since the AM is solid and the FM is a rimshot that doesn't cover the whole metro. The only thing that could really hurt WBAP is if Clear Channel takes back all their Premiere Networks programming to start Rush Radio. This FM simulcast could be a precaution if that happens.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

I doubt that will happen anytime since the AM is solid and the FM is a rimshot that doesn't cover the whole metro.

Could the KPMZ/WBAP-FM 96.7 stick be moved to Cedar Hill, with full
ERP/HAAT coverage a la KLUV, without impacting other 96.7s and/or
adjacents elsewhere in Texas?

Such a move would still give "local service" coverage to Flower Mound.
Heck, the COL is just north of the Bob Crandall International Airport.

I did a rough look-see and there may be one or more stations even on
96.7 that could be interfered with (closer distance for one).

Did Fagreed ever commission an engineering study (I know that costs
money... :) or can our R/TV engineering readers advise?

 

[lomax]

Now let's see which one of the former 96.7 d.j.'s or programmers/personalities from these blogs, with a love for the format have the moxie, werewithal and influence to bring it back on another frequency. They did play some nice music.

 

[txchipk]

Do we know if there are plans for WBAP to abandon the AM frequency? I concur that the move to FM is smart to target the younger demo but using that powerful signal to deliver information to rural communities at night is very valuable.

KIRO in Seattle moved their talk format to FM and switched their 50KW AM signal to sports. Since then, their ratings have plummeted and all news KOMO-AM has taken the top spot. This just proves that AM is far from dead!

KOMO is also simulcast on KOMO-FM there (since last May)... I believe both are in the top 10 25-54 during drive times. The point is not to maintain 6+ numbers, but in the 25-54 demos...

 

[txchipk]

I doubt that will happen anytime since the AM is solid and the FM is a rimshot that doesn't cover the whole metro.

Could the KPMZ/WBAP-FM 96.7 stick be moved to Cedar Hill, with full
ERP/HAAT coverage a la KLUV, without impacting other 96.7s and/or
adjacents elsewhere in Texas?

No, it is 2nd adjacent to KSCS and KEGL. 2nd and 3rd adjacent full Cs have to be separated by a minimum of 64 miles...thus why 93.7, 94.5, 96.7, 98.3, 99.1, 100.7, 101.7, 103.3, 105.7, 106.7 are all rimshots from 64-65 miles away in Wise County or Grayson County since they are all 2nd or 3rd adjacent to existing Cedar Hill facilities.

 

[arnoldevns]

So the question is, will this move maybe add a share to WBAP's numbers? Is that enough to make it worth their while. I'm sure it is. Half that might make it worth their while.

Ron Chapman is quoted in the Star Telegram today as saying Platinum did make money, but not enough money, for Citadel. That's probably true. This move isn't so much about making a bigger profit as it is about cutting costs.

I guess one question I have is whether or not some of the AM's see their younger demos increase on just the AM side after starting a simulcast on FM. Do some of those young listeners decide to try the AM signal occasionally?

 

[longtimelistener]

So the question is, will this move maybe add a share to WBAP's numbers? Is that enough to make it worth their while. I'm sure it is. Half that might make it worth their while.

Ron Chapman is quoted in the Star Telegram today as saying Platinum did make money, but not enough money, for Citadel. That's probably true. This move isn't so much about making a bigger profit as it is about cutting costs.

I guess one question I have is whether or not some of the AM's see their younger demos increase on just the AM side after starting a simulcast on FM. Do some of those young listeners decide to try the AM signal occasionally?

You contradicted Chapman and yourself. Platinum made money but not enough. Citadel thinks having WBAP on FM will make MORE money than Platinum made.

 

[amisdead]

Do we know if there are plans for WBAP to abandon the AM frequency? I concur that the move to FM is smart to target the younger demo but using that powerful signal to deliver information to rural communities at night is very valuable.

Listening at night is a small fraction daytime listening. Also, if the rural communities are outside the DFW market, then having listeners in those areas, while nice, is not directly profitable to the business and would not be a significant factor for making that kind of decision.

I know I am in the minority here, but if I were Citadel I would do whatever it took to get another Cedar Hill signal: Trade 96.7 and 820 to Salem for 94.9 or 96.7 here and 106.7 in Atlanta to Radio One for 97.9.

Putting WBAP on 96.7 is a good first step, but I would go all the way and then burn the boats. FM is the future and faster you get there in full, the more likely your cash-cow franchise (WBAP) remains your cash-cow franchise.

 

[musicfan101]

This is the start of the migration of the AM talkers to FM....two of them already have the call letters set! KLIF-AM on 93.3, KRLD on 105.3 and a good chance "Rush Radio" on 97.1 (with a simulcast on 1190).

It's like 1965 all over again with the AM/FM simulcasts. I think KRLD would be well-served as the next one to do this. They can split when need be for sports conflicts and infomercials. In my wildest dreams, KRLD AM/FM would migrate back to its all news format of the 80's.

KRLD is already doing it on HD-2...that's good enough

What happened to "Indie-Verse"? That was a pretty good station.

 

[lomax]

Lots of mislaced egos on the likes of KLUV, KVIL, Mix, KISS...move them to marinal 96.7 which splatters and picket fences..especially south of I-30. and SW Ft. Worth..and they're finished. Their #1 reason for success, big signal over all of DFW coverage area. 96.7 is an addendum to WBAP...sign off the Big AM 820 which comes in loud and clear on clock radios all over North texas and So. Oklahoma, and WBAP is finished.

 

[amisdead]

I am not advocating WBAP move to the marginal 96.7 and turn off the lights on 820. I am only advocating a complete to FM if they can get ahold of another full-market Cedar Hill signal.