It seems that we should start placing bets on Forever Broadcasting for the next book as to what the next station will be either. If B94.5 can't produce anything, then what will happen? Who wants to make some suggestions and place some bets. 
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What will happen to Forever after next book?
- Thread starter TiggerSwoosh
- Start date
Here are some market predictions:
105.9 will flip to an all-Polka format. They will change the name to "Stan FM".
The Bus will move to 98.7, QWK will move to 99.5, and Lite will move to a frequency that Forever doesn't own yet. In fact, the plan is to have QWK on a different with each book.
WGMR will continue to tweak its format and eventually it will become a Churban-Spanish-news/talk hybrid that will take the market by storm.
3WZ will continue to bore people to tears while pulling down huge numbers.
105.9 will flip to an all-Polka format. They will change the name to "Stan FM".
The Bus will move to 98.7, QWK will move to 99.5, and Lite will move to a frequency that Forever doesn't own yet. In fact, the plan is to have QWK on a different with each book.
WGMR will continue to tweak its format and eventually it will become a Churban-Spanish-news/talk hybrid that will take the market by storm.
3WZ will continue to bore people to tears while pulling down huge numbers.
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fwdmo
Guest
Spackler1 said:
Hmmmmmm...you mention Magnum, Forever, First Media & AMN, EVERY commercial owner in the Market EXCEPT 2510/Results. Why is that?
Didn't you guys....oh, I'm sorry, "they" just change a format after ONLY 6 months??
What are your predictions for you guys....oh, sorry...my bad..."them?"
Just having fun...if you do work for 2510, WOWY sounds great and I wish you luck with B94.5...and Nick Bazoo rocks!
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ratingsgeek
Guest
Seems like we've become very accepting of something pretty insidious that's happening here: stations being used as weapons. The last two moves in State College are textbook examples of a company (Forever, and its subsidiary, 2510) taking "extraneous" radio stations (98.7 & 94.5) and programming them for the sole purpose of crushing two very weak competitors ("Joe" & WGMR). With all due respect, "Joe" is hanging on by a thread and WGMR is looking up at the AM stations. It's not as though either one was a threat to Forever's ad revenue. It's like beating up on the littlest kid in the neighborhood, just because you can. Blood lust. And, as such, perhaps the worst abuse of the FCC's consolidation rules anywhere in America, so far. Is this what the commission really wants?
Don & Kerby get Double Points for B-94.5: using a station "owned" by a guy, Nick Galli, who is their employee (in Keymarket) and partner (in Burbach) to attack a 2-share radio station (WGMR) in a format they abandoned 60 days ago saying "there is no market anymore for a CHR in State College". That takes balls of steel. Or no conscience. True Hall-of-Fame Broadcasters, these guys.
Don & Kerby get Double Points for B-94.5: using a station "owned" by a guy, Nick Galli, who is their employee (in Keymarket) and partner (in Burbach) to attack a 2-share radio station (WGMR) in a format they abandoned 60 days ago saying "there is no market anymore for a CHR in State College". That takes balls of steel. Or no conscience. True Hall-of-Fame Broadcasters, these guys.
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ratingsgeek
Guest
"You have to admit though, going CHR was a smart move for Galli. They had nothing to lose."
I don't know, Spack. I'm certain that what really chased WJHT out of the format was having direct client after direct client tell 'em "Your target demo doesn't listen to radio anymore. Here, let's ask my employees!" (all of whom say "Shit, no!"). I've heard this from CHR & rock buddies in all different markets. Try telling a bar owner or shop owner that iPods aren't killing "young adult radio." Uh, yeah, right. And, of course, the agencies never did have much 18-24/18-34 money--now it's all going into online advertising. So, now, with no ratings to show for the next 6 or 12 months, they get to fight Quick, Bus, GMR & 3WZ for what's left.
Smooth Jazz? Upscale, well educated, professional--rich--audience. In a community full of PSU executives, professors, and other well-paid highly-educated (high tech) employees. And nobody to pitch against except Public Radio (10-second mention vs. 60-second spot). And ratings don't matter because there's nothing else like it...
Still think it was a smart move?
I don't know, Spack. I'm certain that what really chased WJHT out of the format was having direct client after direct client tell 'em "Your target demo doesn't listen to radio anymore. Here, let's ask my employees!" (all of whom say "Shit, no!"). I've heard this from CHR & rock buddies in all different markets. Try telling a bar owner or shop owner that iPods aren't killing "young adult radio." Uh, yeah, right. And, of course, the agencies never did have much 18-24/18-34 money--now it's all going into online advertising. So, now, with no ratings to show for the next 6 or 12 months, they get to fight Quick, Bus, GMR & 3WZ for what's left.
Smooth Jazz? Upscale, well educated, professional--rich--audience. In a community full of PSU executives, professors, and other well-paid highly-educated (high tech) employees. And nobody to pitch against except Public Radio (10-second mention vs. 60-second spot). And ratings don't matter because there's nothing else like it...
Still think it was a smart move?
Smooth Jazz? You're the ratings geek. Look at the book. Without quoting numbers, which is frowned upon here, they had less than 1 point 12+, less than 1 1/2 share 25-54, less than 2 35-64, NO number for Men 25-54, again no number for Men 34-64 ( I wonder if it's ok to quote numbers when there are no numbers).
I'm the first guy to say that it can be done, but selling with no evidence of an audience is hard. Just ask the Buzz guys. I think they have a better chance at getting some numbers with the CHR.
But - they didn't give Smooth Jazz much of a chance, and unless I missed it completely, they did no marketing outside of a few newspaper ads. I wonder if they could have sold it if they actually had some ratings. Whether they can sell CHR remains to be seen. It's early, but from the way it sounds, they aren't selling it yet.
The old "your target demo doesn't listen to the radio anymore" is an objection like any other - it can be overcome with a little work. Like this objection to the Smooth Jazz sales pitch: The upscale, affluent, educated professional doesn't listen to the radio - they have satellite radio.
I'm sure you train your sales people to overcome objections, don't you Mike?
I'm the first guy to say that it can be done, but selling with no evidence of an audience is hard. Just ask the Buzz guys. I think they have a better chance at getting some numbers with the CHR.
But - they didn't give Smooth Jazz much of a chance, and unless I missed it completely, they did no marketing outside of a few newspaper ads. I wonder if they could have sold it if they actually had some ratings. Whether they can sell CHR remains to be seen. It's early, but from the way it sounds, they aren't selling it yet.
The old "your target demo doesn't listen to the radio anymore" is an objection like any other - it can be overcome with a little work. Like this objection to the Smooth Jazz sales pitch: The upscale, affluent, educated professional doesn't listen to the radio - they have satellite radio.
I'm sure you train your sales people to overcome objections, don't you Mike?
notice how Mikey never mentions WOWY (I wouldn't either if they beat me M-F 6a-7p, 25-54 adults and 35-65 adults - with no promotional money, no Channel 4, no mall advertising and one full time on-air employee) and why is he so bitter? His company had the chance to buy Dame, can Forever and 2510 help it that they didn't even try? And...I'd find some other CHR/Rock buddies to get my info from. When you have a CHR in a college town with a 6-7 share and you can't sell it - you don't change formats - you change GMs.
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ratingsgeek
Guest
Though I think I know who you're shooting at, don't be quite so sure. By my count there are 15 to 20 former station owners, general managers, program directors, sales managers and/or research pros either living in the SC market or with longtime ties to PSU and continued interest in the market. Anonymity allows everyone to share observations. Without anonymity boards like this die. Because if contributors feel that they can't express themselves without stating their name, rank & serial number, they'll just stop contributing.
With all due respect, "Joe" is hanging on by a thread and WGMR is looking up at the AM stations.
If you're gauging GMR's success from a simple ratings standpoint, I don't think that's a fair assessment. Contrary to popular belief, that's one of Cary Simpson's more successful properties. Knowing Cary personally, he's not going to sell until he's good and ready, and the price better be right.
If you're gauging GMR's success from a simple ratings standpoint, I don't think that's a fair assessment. Contrary to popular belief, that's one of Cary Simpson's more successful properties. Knowing Cary personally, he's not going to sell until he's good and ready, and the price better be right.
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fwdmo
Guest
kenhawk1160 said:
Is that kinda like being the valedictorian of special ed?? (oh, relax, it's just a joke).
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fwdmo
Guest
revbabe said:
That's like saying Jay Leno has never been President of the United States so he can't make cracks at GW.
I can't imagine going through life without a sense of humor!?!
Is that kinda like being the valedictorian of special ed?? (oh, relax, it's just a joke).
Don't give me that. NOT COOL. Like I said, he is a personal friend. When you can put together a group the size of his in less than a decade, AND make it profitable, then you can blow your horn. Not until.
Don't give me that. NOT COOL. Like I said, he is a personal friend. When you can put together a group the size of his in less than a decade, AND make it profitable, then you can blow your horn. Not until.
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