Bill Drake said:
Actually, Air America had a 1.5, actually a 1.8, I think, when they were on a station that carried more than the length of their stick - meaning, KXXT.
I decided that I could not let this go unchallenged. I went back and took a peak at the 12+ and 25-54a books for the time KXXT was around as Air-America Phoenix. Not once did they crack a 1.5 or even a 1.2. They hit a 1.1 at peak--really I know we're not supposed to quote specifics so I will leave it at that. They may have been above a 1.5 in a trend someplace, but I doubt it.
Bill Drake said:
Just how broad is that brush you paint with when stating that Air America has never proven to be a success? I know there are quite a few markets where AAR does quite well. No doubt you will ask me to name them. I think you can look them up the same way I did...
I only paint with a broad brush when one needs to be used--such as in this case. I decided to look into some of the top markets to see if your claim is accurate and sadly, it is not. See for yourself
No specific numbers quoted, but you can look them up for yourself.
Los Angeles: KTLK AM 1150 - They are in 38th place! with LESS THAN a 1.
San Francisco: KQKE AM 960 - A whopping 25th place with less than a 1.5.
San Diego: KLSD AM 1360 - (appropriate call letters I think) Now this is a phenomenal station here, but still can't crack a 2. How uninspiring.
Chicago: WCPT AM 850 - 29th place, less than a 1.
Washington D.C.: WWRC AM 1280 - DEAD LAST PLACE, in fact, they received 0.0's in a couple books sandwiched between other unimpressive numbers.
New York: WWRL AM 1600 - 27th place with less than a 1.
I believe I've made my point, I could go on, there are plenty of examples to prove my point. If you call finishing in lower than 25th place with less than a 1 share on average a success, then that's great, but Air-America is a very niche format incapable of garnering a significant audience in most markets. In the above example, I even tried to help your argument by deliberately selecting more liberal cities, still a failure! Ouch.
Bill Drake said:
I hardly see KFYI as a resounding success with an infrequent, tiny plurality lead in a diluted radio market. And it took them a long time and lots of money to get where they are, Just ask the Beer Baron Freddie Von Weber about that trip. So you sell your credibility to become number one? That's the new Amerikan way....
No offense, but did you actually see the latest trends? KFYI destroys KTAR by more than 2-1 in some day-parts. Particularly in the coveted 25-54m demos. It took KFYI some time to establish a true dominance over KTAR--some of it has to do with KTAR shooting itself in the foot but some of it is due to a changing of the landscape of talk radio. People don't want Sun City toaster-talk on their talk stations anymore. No one cares if it's raining where they are, no one wants to know "what's your favorite TV show, give me a call", that's amateur hour these days. KTAR is still stuck in 1983, and until their P.D. stops whining about a show from out of town being treated like it's a local show (a show which also beats KTAR by the way) then they will continue to be a ship floating in the doldrums of Phoenix talk radio.
Bill Drake said:
It doesn't take a lot of talent to belch out talking points faxed from the Repubic National Committe every day. Just ask Rush "Oxy" Limberger about that.
Air America could do much better locally if they had a decent signal and some qualified broadcast people running the show.
It never takes long for the truth to come out. Your political bias brings about your discontent for KFYI. You really should try to be objective and just look at the numbers. Air America can certainly do a lot better, but they need to focus on building talent rather than bringing in re-treads, has beens and 'never was' type of broadcasters. Leave the embittered talk to their conservative counterparts like Bill O'Riely and such.
"The" Bill Drake was the reason people listened to Top 40, a genre which is now gone. I am merely stealing his great name for this board. However, it's impressive that someone here actually knows who he is. (Since most of the conversation in this group is continual bloviating over the latest "#1" station - which all sounds like #2 to me....)