WFNX ratings down, again

[ciao99]

The ratings decline continues at WFNX:

12+ ratings:
*down 38% from Winter 07-Winter 08
*down 43% Fall 07- Winter 08.

Yes, WFNX had a good fall book. In retrospect, that book looks like a fluke. The Winter 08 rating is right on par with WFNX's "post-programming adjustments" performance of Spring 07 and Summer 07.

WFNX doesn't even match WNNW. That station bested WFNX by a tenth of a rating point. Mind you, WNNW is on an AM signal from Lawrence, largely inaudible to Boston listeners. And it's in Spanish.

WFNX is now on par with WILD, both achieving the same 12+ rating in Winter 08.
Let's remember, WILD signs off at sundown, and automates all it's programming aside from Sunday public affairs shows. It also targets our city's black community.

You can't blame WFNX's slide on the programming switch of WBOS to Alternative: ratings at WBOS slipped 2 tenths of a rating point.

Has Boston under-estimated minority listeners? Or has it over-estimated rock listeners?
Perhaps WFNX has simply over-estimated the demand for Adult Contemporary oldies like "Salisbury Hill" among Alternative rock listeners.

 

[rapking]

If It Rocks and Get Poor Ratings , Its Good For Boston Crappy Radio Dial .

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

I agree 100% with "Rapking"
Boston Radio Dial NEEDS!!!! either three (Rhythm AC Station, Smooth Jazz, or Urban AC Station) That is why there are so many of those Volunteer Run/Community Stations that can ONLY be heard in two cities in Boston Urban Neighborhood Cities. One of those stations (Touchfm.org) broadcast LIVE online. Sometimes their site does not work, sometimes the online audio does not work. If you don't have internet access, nor not live in those two cities, you can not listen to that station
Radio Companies and Radio Stations Higher Management and Presidents NEEDS to look into this problem.
There are a lot of Urban area in this part of Boston area of Massachusetts, but no true Urban Radio Station that (EVERYONE) in this part of Massachusetts can hear. It is very sad.
There are many Ethnic radio stations (mostly all of them broadcasting in Hatian, and Spanish) There are many of them. There are many Rock Stations, Classic Rock, and CHR, HOT AC, Soft Rock Stations.

It's sad what happened to W I L D 1090am, and Star 93.7 after Vinnie Paruzzi Death. It is very sad here.
Bosto NEEDS one of those three formats as mentioned in the begginning.
thank you

Peace Be With All Of You

 

[inthewolf]

This is how sad my life has become.

I literally laughed out loud when the FNX ratings came in and said to my buddy "wow, Ciao is going to be fired up. FNX went down. Its gotta be like Christmas morning at Ciao's house".

Of course my buddy asked me "what the hell are you talking about" followed shortly by "maybe you should get other hobbies".

Also, please note, that WBOS had tremendous 18-34 growth. Clearly they don't show all the abritron numbers to Ciao at his overnight board op position.

O&A also had really strong growth in the key demos.

 

[WRKOLD]

Any word on how the Sandbox is doing? I really like that show, and hope it can make it.

 

[Keith321]

The ratings decline continues at WFNX:

Bring on the Smooth Jazz!

Phoenix Radio Smooth Jazz 101.7!

I think the artsy/culture side of jazz would work for the Phoenix newspaper/radio combination.

Maybe with a few long haired specialty jazz programs on the weekend.

I think it's the perfect choice for the sub-par signal of FNX. (The Jazz fans would seek it out for sure.)

 

[FNXEd]

WRKOLD - rating were down but not too bad in our key demos. Some will say that the last book was a fluke, while others could argue that it might have been more accurate than most. We all know that the ratings aren't a perfect science. Either way, no giants steaks this book. I wouldn't count us out though, our billboard campaign just started so be sure to keep an eye out.

As far as jazz goes, we have the Jazz Brunch on Sundays.

Ciao, I want you to come to Cinco de Mustache or BMP so I can give you a hug. Bring Pimp with you.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

good idea @Keith321"


"Chill with Mindi Abair)<<<<weekend program She is MADDDD HOTTTTTTT and that show is MADDDDDDDDD DIFFERENT AND MADDDDDDDDD COOL.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

also, for those who live in the city of Boston, also have it on an AM station, such as ?? 1510am
Because, (when you listen on a walkman) there are parts of inner Boston (Backbay, Southend, Roxbury, Coom AVE, Downtown) you can not get 101.7 in those parts of town.
therefore have it also on an AM station, (example: 1510am, 1300am, 1260am)

 

[WBIMDJ]

also, for those who live in the city of Boston, also have it on an AM station, such as ?? 1510am
Because, (when you listen on a walkman) there are parts of inner Boston (Backbay, Southend, Roxbury, Coom AVE, Downtown) you can not get 101.7 in those parts of town.
therefore have it also on an AM station, (example: 1510am, 1300am, 1260am)

Man I don't know who's posts are harder to understand, yours or Rapking. Are you guys related? Anyways, coming from someone who actually listens to the station (From your post I bet the last time you tuned in was 1998)
'FNX has a GREAT signal downtown and those parts now that they've moved to the top One Financial Center in 2006, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

 

[mistermicrophone]

The ratings decline continues at WFNX:

12+ ratings:

12+...please. How is the station doing in the demo? How is the station billing? How is the simulacast doing to help increase the bottom line?

I know you want to make this a "their 12+ ratings suck, flip the format" post, but the fact is, success is NOT based on 12+ numbers.

 

[spilot113]

WRKOLD - rating were down but not too bad in our key demos. I wouldn't count us out though, our billboard campaign just started so be sure to keep an eye out.

As Neanderpaul said....let the numbers manipulation begin! But who are we kidding? WFNX had a 0.8 in this last book!

I mean...a FREAKIN' ZERO point EIGHT.

If it's a fluke, it's the same fluke they had in Spr and Smr '07! (What is it they say? 3rd time's a charm?)

WFNX is beaten by an AM Spanish station in Lawrence!

WFNX is beaten by a 250 watt station in Cambridge playing music from before most of us were born!~

WFNX is tied with WILD AM 1090...a daytimer with no one home!

WFNX in Boston is beaten by WGIR in MANCHESTER NEW HAMSPHIRE!

There ain't too many ways to put a shine on this. It's pretty tough sell to convince someone FNX is on the right path. I think it's time to do something else with WFNX, or change the management. (I would save the money on the billboard campain until you know you have a product that resonates.)

I know ChrisH will probably tell us what a wonderful year WFNX is having......but a ZERO-POINT-EIGHT!

I won't denigrate the talent they have on the air...they all seem to do a credible job. But the station is heading into the wrong direction strategically (which is not the fault of the talent).

It's pretty bad when you get beaten by WBOS!

....there are parts of inner Boston (Backbay, Southend, Roxbury, Coom AVE, Downtown) you can not get 101.7

I thought they moved their transmitter/tower to One Financial Plaza...?

 

[inthewolf]

You say its pretty bad that FNX got beat by WBOS. How is that bad? WBOS has one of the best signals in Boston. If FNX did beat WBOS than that would be unbelievable. FNX, over the years, has never beaten WBOS. Why would that change now? You can hear WBOS in Worcester and Plymouth. You can't hear FNX in either of those places.

WBOS, up until recently, has skewed older which means people with landlines. This also means that these people get books.

FNX skews to a younger, early adopter audience which means cell phones which means no arbitron books.

The only question that matters is "Does FNX make money"?

Consider this, WBCN has a 2 (12 plus) and bills over 10 million a year (this does not count Pats). Do you think FNX, even with a point 8, makes money? Something like 4 million? I would think so.

So if FNX is making money than there will be no format switch. There will be no going out of business, etc.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

@WBIMDG, I try to tun in on my way to and from work on the weekend, and can not get 101.7 anywhere on Comm Ave as well as in Kenmore Square, I'm talking about listenning on a walkman. I can not get it.
I can get it a tiny bit in Allston, but not good at all

 

[aaronread]

@WBIMDG, I try to tun in on my way to and from work on the weekend, and can not get 101.7 anywhere on Comm Ave as well as in Kenmore Square, I'm talking about listenning on a walkman. I can not get it. I can get it a tiny bit in Allston, but not good at all

Well, 99.9% of walkmans have absolutely terrible tuners in them. No filtering, no attenuators, not even a real antenna. With all the blanketing interference from the Pru, it's no surprise you can't get WFNX in Back Bay and the surrounding neighborhoods.

 

[WBIMDJ]

Hey Lauro, time for a new walkman then, lol. I can get 'FNX as clear as a bell from my house in West Roxbury (about 6 miles or so from the transmitter all the way in through Brookline, Cambridge, Brighton, Mission Hill and at also my friend's place on Comm Ave right near Kenmore. 3 years ago we couldn't get 'FNX on a Bose Wave radio at all, with the new(er) signal it's clear as a bell in her dorm.

 

[rapking]

@WBIMDG, I try to tun in on my way to and from work on the weekend, and can not get 101.7 anywhere on Comm Ave as well as in Kenmore Square, I'm talking about listenning on a walkman. I can not get it.
I can get it a tiny bit in Allston, but not good at all

The Pru Tower Blocks alot of FM station , That are not on the Pru .

 

[ciao99]

You say its pretty bad that FNX got beat by WBOS. How is that bad? WBOS has one of the best signals in Boston. If FNX did beat WBOS than that would be unbelievable. FNX, over the years, has never beaten WBOS. Why would that change now? You can hear WBOS in Worcester and Plymouth. You can't hear FNX in either of those places.

WBOS, up until recently, has skewed older which means people with landlines. This also means that these people get books.

FNX skews to a younger, early adopter audience which means cell phones which means no arbitron books.

The only question that matters is "Does FNX make money"?

Consider this, WBCN has a 2 (12 plus) and bills over 10 million a year (this does not count Pats). Do you think FNX, even with a point 8, makes money? Something like 4 million? I would think so.

So if FNX is making money than there will be no format switch. There will be no going out of business, etc.

You make some valid points about the younger audience and the landlines. You yourself alluded this was the motivation behind tweaking the format to incorporate adult contemporary oldies.

http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,96453.msg755176.html#msg755176


"Take a survey of all the people under 34 that you know. How many of them have landlines? I bet its not a lot. So FNX has to program to Arbitron. When the people meter comes maybe things will change but until then its Peter Gabriel for everyone."

Thing is, WFNX is playing Peter Gabriel, and it's not working.

From the get-to-go, my criticism has been the WFNX changes are going against station brand, and without dividends. Get over Fall'07, it was a fluke. The ratings were consistently higher before the concentration on big name 90's bands. So what do the adult contemporary oldies bring to the table? If sales are up, great. You didn't have to tweak your playlist in such a bizarre direction to improve sales.

 

[FNXEd]

I am sure that playing Peter Gabriel is behind it...

Have you put in for the PD gig? I can put in a good word for you.

Christ.

 

[ciao99]

I am sure that playing Peter Gabriel is behind it...

Have you put in for the PD gig? I can put in a good word for you.

Christ.

Stop being so literal. Peter Gabriel is an example of the shift in the WFNX playlist. And it's not working.