What is up with indie 1031???

[BACKnUSSR]

KSCA was pretty cool too. Not sure why somebody doesn't actually do AAA here.

Two main reasons: no audience and no sales.
It is the one format done in Los Angeles that has NEVER had any success.
Doesn't seem like "the move to make".

 

[davideduardo]

. Remember they became K-Light (KLIT) from May '89-July 1, 1994

That's K-LIT. The ongoing joke was to steal the hyphen off the building on Sunset, which apparently provoked several angry management letters.

before thay became FM 101.9 later KSCA LA's Finest Rock. THEN they went Spanish in Feb '97. Nicole and Co at KSCA were the ones complaining about the ratings as related to the signal.

I recall being lectured by Bill Ward and several others at the offices next to Forest Lawn as to the signal being the problem. That was about 5 months before KSCA, in Spanish, got something like a 6.7 in its first book.

 

[BACKnUSSR]

I recall being lectured by Bill Ward and several others at the offices next to Forest Lawn as to the signal being the problem. That was about 5 months before KSCA, in Spanish, got something like a 6.7 in its first book.

I don't think that AAA was going to get numbers no matter what the signal was. Its failed on every frequency its been on and it always seems to be "a signal problem".
But David, as you've pointed out before, the 101.9 signal was especially deficient for any format not
looking to capitalize upon ethnic (primarily Hispanic) communities where its signal did best.

 

[davideduardo]

But David, as you've pointed out before, the 101.9 signal was especially deficient for any format not
looking to capitalize upon ethnic (primarily Hispanic) communities where its signal did best.

The KSCA signal is roughly comparable to the KIIS signal... just a mile or two separates the 70 dbu of one from the other at any point. KIIS seems to do OK in the MSA, too.

At over 40% of the metro population, and nearly 55% of the 18-43, there is really no large area in the metro that is not significantly Hispanic, so today a major Hispanic station (in either language) has to cover decently pretty much 100% of the MSA:

 

[commando]

Indie needs to dump the irrellevant old rock stars (who gives a sh*t about Steve Jones or the Sex Pistols anymore?), and all those dozens of specialty shows... there is no continuity of programming there now...

 

[atwater kent]

But David, as you've pointed out before, the 101.9 signal was especially deficient for any format not
looking to capitalize upon ethnic (primarily Hispanic) communities where its signal did best.

The KSCA signal is roughly comparable to the KIIS signal... just a mile or two separates the 70 dbu of one from the other at any point. KIIS seems to do OK in the MSA, too.

At over 40% of the metro population, and nearly 55% of the 18-43, there is really no large area in the metro that is not significantly Hispanic, so today a major Hispanic station (in either language) has to cover decently pretty much 100% of the MSA:

"Roughly comparable," yes. But KIIS' signal, at 8000 watts and 900 meters vs. 4800 watts at 860 meters for KSCA, does have better coverage and penetration.

Success for the Spanish format on 101.9, vs the albeit poor AAA programming on KSCA, was possible in good part because of demographically/geographically advantageous signal coverage. Spanish success on the signal has to also be chalked up to better programming.

KSCA's AAA programming was amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed to low numbers. The only other attempt at AAA was CC's Channel 103.1 on the vastly inferior signal now occupied by the amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed Indy 103.1.

 

[davideduardo]

"Roughly comparable," yes. But KIIS' signal, at 8000 watts and 900 meters vs. 4800 watts at 860 meters for KSCA, does have better coverage and penetration.

The difference in the 70 dbu is about 2.5 miles... KIIS reaches 11.2 million in the 70 and KSCA anout 10.6... out of 13.5 million in the MSA. In other words, the folks outside the 70 of either are in deep southern OC or the high desert.

Success for the Spanish format on 101.9, vs the albeit poor AAA programming on KSCA, was possible in good part because of demographically/geographically advantageous signal coverage.

If you cover well all but the lowest part of the OC and the high desert, then the issue is not signal. The issue was not poor programming either, because adequate programming will do fine in the absence of better programming for a niche format. The problem all along was, simply, the fact that the demographics and ethnicity of LA can not possibly support a AAA format.

KSCA's AAA programming was amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed to low numbers.

GWB was haedly underfunded. And most believe that KSCA was appropriate for the LA AAA lifesyle.... there just were not enough potential listeners

The only other attempt at AAA was CC's Channel 103.1 on the vastly inferior signal now occupied by the amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed Indy 103.1.

Indie has won more awards than any station of its size for its innovative programming. Saying it is amateur because you don't like it comes across as a cheap shot.

 

[atwater kent]

"Roughly comparable," yes. But KIIS' signal, at 8000 watts and 900 meters vs. 4800 watts at 860 meters for KSCA, does have better coverage and penetration.

The difference in the 70 dbu is about 2.5 miles... KIIS reaches 11.2 million in the 70 and KSCA anout 10.6... out of 13.5 million in the MSA. In other words, the folks outside the 70 of either are in deep southern OC or the high desert.

Success for the Spanish format on 101.9, vs the albeit poor AAA programming on KSCA, was possible in good part because of demographically/geographically advantageous signal coverage.

If you cover well all but the lowest part of the OC and the high desert, then the issue is not signal. The issue was not poor programming either, because adequate programming will do fine in the absence of better programming for a niche format. The problem all along was,

simply, the fact that the demographics and ethnicity of LA can not possibly support a AAA format.

KSCA's AAA programming was amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed to low numbers.

GWB was haedly underfunded. And most believe that KSCA was appropriate for the LA AAA lifesyle.... there just were not enough potential listeners

The only other attempt at AAA was CC's Channel 103.1 on the vastly inferior signal now occupied by the amateur, unfocused, underfunded and doomed Indy 103.1.

Indie has won more awards than any station of its size for its innovative programming. Saying it is amateur because you don't like it comes across as a cheap shot.

GWB "underfunded" the AAA format attempt in comparison to the salaries, concentrated and consistent marketing campaigns, etc. of other formats in the market and of the time. GWB should get the credit for having the guts to give the format a shot and I believe they wanted it to succeed. My opinion is that, compared to the AAA format execution of KBCO, KTCZ, KFOG, WXRT, etc, KSCA always lagged behind in programming savvy, market focus, staff and overall execution. They were sincere but unable to give KSCA the sound and science to succeed in a major market.

If awards is the going measurement of success and professionalism, I'll retract my "amateur" label on Indy 103.1. The rest stands. And, I never said I don't "like" Indy. I think Max and his crew are having fun and doing the best they can given the circumstances.

 

[hamNcheese]

Indie has won more awards than any station of its size for its innovative programming. Saying it is amateur because you don't like it comes across as a cheap shot.

chewgoteetmaing!

 

[scooty430]

Indie is doomed?

I guess nobody got the memo, because people (quite a few on here, actually) were predicting its demise almost from day one.

And that was....what.....four years ago? Five years ago?

Last time I checked they were still on the air.

Oops.

 

[Talking Furniture]

Doom comes in many colors. Doomed to obscurity. Doomed to low wages. Doomed to eat KROQ's dust. Doomed to being too obscure for the majority of listeners. Doomed to never being as hip as the truly hip would like you to be. Doomed to never being heard east of the 5. Doomed to...

 

[Indielover]

Doomed are the listeners of bad corporate radio...like KROQ

 

[Doctah]

Indie -- doomed to being considered one of the most adventurous and interesting radio stations in the country? Doomed to be considered a trend setter by artists and Hollywood music consultants?

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Doomed to be written up in rolling stone magazine in summer of 2006. Indie is not for everyone but i think kroq and indie compliment one another. Indie plays tons of new bands you would never otherwise here and if you want the tried and true listen to kroq. I would bet money that if indie had a decent signal kroq would be a hurtin. But doomed in a sense it will never do as well as it could because of the signal issues but aside from that. I wonder if someof the music we here on shows like smallville and ghost whispeer and how i met your mother they here something they like on indie and go with it i wonder if that has happenend? i love indie and i never thought i would say this but thank you clear channel for indie!!!

 

[scooty430]

Good points all!

Indie was also featured in Los Angeles Magazine's "Best of LA" Contest. They pit cool things about the city against each other and have people vote.

It was KCRW vs. Indie. KCRW ended up winning, but still cool to see Indie mentioned.

(Voters also picked the Central Library over Vin Scully! Kind of a weird match up there.)

 

[hotpatrick2004]

But indie is 24/7 music kcrw is not. I like indie better myself but morning electic show on kcrw i like.

 

[Countrykitten]

No matter what, you have to give it to Indie's in this market, battling it out with the big broadcast boys. They are some of our last chance to take risks the pencil pushers won't touch... on the other hand, some are not loyal to a format because they can flip as the heart desires. Overall, I don't think we ever want to see them disappear as they do give some big boys a run for their money.

 

[Doctah]

Anyone have any real insight on what Entravision's long term plans for the station is? I'm pretty impressed they've stuck with it for so long, since it's still such a bizarre fit for a company that focuses on Spanish-language radio. Even though the ratings are tiny, does Indie get any sort of premium for its loyal, upscale listeners? Is that its saving grace?

Or is Entravision still plotting something else?

 

[Rocco]

even if you don't like Indie, you really should like Indie. it is one of the last bastions of a real radio station out there... one that is not over-programmed with tired jocks reading liners and doing horrific phoners like you here on 98.7

 

[hamNcheese]

Doom comes in many colors. Doomed to obscurity. Doomed to low wages. Doomed to eat KROQ's dust. Doomed to being too obscure for the majority of listeners. Doomed to never being as hip as the truly hip would like you to be. Doomed to never being heard east of the 5. Doomed to...

I live about 3000 miles east of the 5 and can still hear Indie. They have this new thing called the world wide intraweb. or as the cool kids say the http//:www