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What will Jack do Now?

Now that the monthly Arbitrends have come out and CBS FM has gone down what will the suits at Infinity do now? Will they bring jocks to the station? Will they change the music or will they just ignore the whole thing till the first book is made public in October?
 
> Now that the monthly Arbitrends have come out and CBS FM has
> gone down what will the suits at Infinity do now? Will they
> bring jocks to the station? Will they change the music or
> will they just ignore the whole thing till the first book is
> made public in October?

They will continue to research and do whatever the listeners indicate. While the LA Jack was an exception as it filled a real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54 stations quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not think they will be overly concerned until the winter book.
>
 
> They will continue to research and do whatever the listeners
> indicate. While the LA Jack was an exception as it filled a
> real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54 stations
> quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not think they
> will be overly concerned until the winter book.
> >
>
Thank you. While I feel for the oldies fans who lost their station, I do feel that they are digging "Jack" an early grave. Yes, WNEW did better than Jack 25-54, but then again, they also beat KTU in 25-54 numbers, and I don't see anyone writing obituaries for WKTU.

Plus, Jack is going up against established competition in WPLJ (so far seems to be unaffected in the NYC book). It's taken Mix a long time to come around, and Infinity has stuck with the format. No reason to believe they won't do the same with Jack.
 
> > They will continue to research and do whatever the
> listeners
> > indicate. While the LA Jack was an exception as it filled
> a
> > real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54 stations
> > quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not think
> they
> > will be overly concerned until the winter book.
> > >
> >
> Thank you. While I feel for the oldies fans who lost their
> station, I do feel that they are digging "Jack" an early
> grave. Yes, WNEW did better than Jack 25-54, but then
> again, they also beat KTU in 25-54 numbers, and I don't see
> anyone writing obituaries for WKTU.
>
> Plus, Jack is going up against established competition in
> WPLJ (so far seems to be unaffected in the NYC book). It's
> taken Mix a long time to come around, and Infinity has stuck
> with the format. No reason to believe they won't do the
> same with Jack.


But unlike L.A., "Jack" is performing worse than its predecessor 25-54. The idea of abandoning Oldies is that "Jack" will skew younger and do better 25-54... But, it is too early to make any kind of judgment.
 
> > > They will continue to research and do whatever the
> > listeners
> > > indicate. While the LA Jack was an exception as it
> filled
> > a
> > > real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54
> stations
> > > quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not think
> > they
> > > will be overly concerned until the winter book.
> > > >
> > >
> > Thank you. While I feel for the oldies fans who lost
> their
> > station, I do feel that they are digging "Jack" an early
> > grave. Yes, WNEW did better than Jack 25-54, but then
> > again, they also beat KTU in 25-54 numbers, and I don't
> see
> > anyone writing obituaries for WKTU.
> >
> > Plus, Jack is going up against established competition in
> > WPLJ (so far seems to be unaffected in the NYC book).
> It's
> > taken Mix a long time to come around, and Infinity has
> stuck
> > with the format. No reason to believe they won't do the
> > same with Jack.
>
>
> But unlike L.A., "Jack" is performing worse than its
> predecessor 25-54. The idea of abandoning Oldies is that
> "Jack" will skew younger and do better 25-54... But, it is
> too early to make any kind of judgment.
>


I think they eventually had to do something with CBS fm, the 25-54 #'s were starting to slip & from what the 25-54#'s they had were very top heavy. So something needed to be done at some point. I don't think Jack was the way to go, but they should be given till at least the fall & possibly the winter book before any real judgements can be made. I don't think it will work & it doesn't look good, but it should be given a few more months before we call it dead
 
If jack failed on CBSFM down the road which i would love to see since i loved the oldies format cbsfm had for years, what will Infinity change CBS-FM too after this format?
> > > > They will continue to research and do whatever the
> > > listeners
> > > > indicate. While the LA Jack was an exception as it
> > filled
> > > a
> > > > real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54
> > stations
> > > > quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not think
>
> > > they
> > > > will be overly concerned until the winter book.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > Thank you. While I feel for the oldies fans who lost
> > their
> > > station, I do feel that they are digging "Jack" an early
>
> > > grave. Yes, WNEW did better than Jack 25-54, but then
> > > again, they also beat KTU in 25-54 numbers, and I don't
> > see
> > > anyone writing obituaries for WKTU.
> > >
> > > Plus, Jack is going up against established competition
> in
> > > WPLJ (so far seems to be unaffected in the NYC book).
> > It's
> > > taken Mix a long time to come around, and Infinity has
> > stuck
> > > with the format. No reason to believe they won't do the
>
> > > same with Jack.
> >
> >
> > But unlike L.A., "Jack" is performing worse than its
> > predecessor 25-54. The idea of abandoning Oldies is that
> > "Jack" will skew younger and do better 25-54... But, it is
>
> > too early to make any kind of judgment.
> >
>
>
> I think they eventually had to do something with CBS fm, the
> 25-54 #'s were starting to slip & from what the 25-54#'s
> they had were very top heavy. So something needed to be
> done at some point. I don't think Jack was the way to go,
> but they should be given till at least the fall & possibly
> the winter book before any real judgements can be made. I
> don't think it will work & it doesn't look good, but it
> should be given a few more months before we call it dead
>
 
> If jack failed on CBSFM down the road which i would love to
> see since i loved the oldies format cbsfm had for years,
> what will Infinity change CBS-FM too after this format?

Interesting question. IF Jack fails, maybe CBS FM will go soft ac, like "Sunny 101.1" Favorites of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I think that would do well. Maybe some type of rock format, but I don't think that would happen. Perhaps regular AC and battle Lite FM, even though Sunny would battle.


> > > filled
> > > > a
> > > > > real hole in that market, it usually takes 25-54
> > > stations
> > > > > quite a while to estasblish their turf. I do not
> think
> >
> > > > they
> > > > > will be overly concerned until the winter book.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > Thank you. While I feel for the oldies fans who lost
> > > their
> > > > station, I do feel that they are digging "Jack" an
> early
> >
> > > > grave. Yes, WNEW did better than Jack 25-54, but then
>
> > > > again, they also beat KTU in 25-54 numbers, and I
> don't
> > > see
> > > > anyone writing obituaries for WKTU.
> > > >
> > > > Plus, Jack is going up against established competition
>
> > in
> > > > WPLJ (so far seems to be unaffected in the NYC book).
>
> > > It's
> > > > taken Mix a long time to come around, and Infinity has
>
> > > stuck
> > > > with the format. No reason to believe they won't do
> the
> >
> > > > same with Jack.
> > >
> > >
> > > But unlike L.A., "Jack" is performing worse than its
> > > predecessor 25-54. The idea of abandoning Oldies is that
>
> > > "Jack" will skew younger and do better 25-54... But, it
> is
> >
> > > too early to make any kind of judgment.
> > >
> >
> >
> > I think they eventually had to do something with CBS fm,
> the
> > 25-54 #'s were starting to slip & from what the 25-54#'s
> > they had were very top heavy. So something needed to be
> > done at some point. I don't think Jack was the way to go,
>
> > but they should be given till at least the fall & possibly
>
> > the winter book before any real judgements can be made. I
>
> > don't think it will work & it doesn't look good, but it
> > should be given a few more months before we call it dead
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Check my website www.freewebs.com/radiostuffandnews
</P>
 
What will Jack do

> If jack failed on CBSFM down the road which i would love to
> see since i loved the oldies format cbsfm had for years,
> what will Infinity change CBS-FM too after this format?


C'mon, Mike- do you really expect an informed answer just 3 months after they switched to Jack and understanding they will stick with this for at least a year?
 
Re: What will Jack do

I guess not. After seeing how they stuck with WNEW's current format until they found the right touch to ny classic dance hits, im thinking it will be the same with Jack.
>
> C'mon, Mike- do you really expect an informed answer just 3
> months after they switched to Jack and understanding they
> will stick with this for at least a year?
>
 
Even if WCBS-101.1's ratings fall, Infinity may still make more money with the station broadcasting "Jack" than as an oldies station.

As an oldies outlet, WCBS-FM probably had one of the highest-paid airstaffs of any radio station in the country.

But since most "Jack" formats do not have live announcers, WCBS-FM has cut a significant part of the station's "overhead". Even if the station's ratings fall, and the price of ad spots is cut accordingly, the much lower costs of running the station could leave CBS-FM with a bigger profit than when it was broadcasting oldies.

In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of anmnouncers.
 
> Even if WCBS-101.1's ratings fall, Infinity may still make
> more money with the station broadcasting "Jack" than as an
> oldies station.
>
> As an oldies outlet, WCBS-FM probably had one of the
> highest-paid airstaffs of any radio station in the country.
>
> But since most "Jack" formats do not have live announcers,
> WCBS-FM has cut a significant part of the station's
> "overhead". Even if the station's ratings fall, and the
> price of ad spots is cut accordingly, the much lower costs
> of running the station could leave CBS-FM with a bigger
> profit than when it was broadcasting oldies.
>
> In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> anmnouncers.
>
And they may not even have to cut ad rates, if despite the low 12+ ratings, they can do well in certain attractive demos, much like PLJ has cornered the suburban soccer mom market to successful billing despite mediocre ratings.
 
Really no way of telling what they were thinking, other than how to please wall street. But you’re right the benefit of no air talent is reduced overhead, but is it real world thinking? And like everything else will fickle listeners simply grow tired of Jack as we know it today?


In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> anmnouncers.
 
OMG

That is the biggest bunch of B.S. going around right now.

Has it occoured to some of you that:

* most of these Jack stations are still and will be paying off existing contracts of talent from the previous station?

* the revenue hit these stations will take in the short-term for a format flip?
The dollar amounts from these can be astounding and take many months to recover.

* the money spent on Marketing and Research for an all-new station is many times
more than these stations would be paying (if any) for marketing the former
station.

In other words (read carefully), it's costing them a lot more money short-term to do these flips than sticking with the old formats.

The moves were economic, however TOTALLY NOT from the "they don't want to pay jock salaries" aspect- many Oldies stations' revenue has been in a free-fall
for a number of years from the aging demos and inability to be competitive 25-54.

Now, can we PLEASE get off the "corporate radio hates paying talent" conspiracy?
It is in your mind and not an everyday reality behind any of these stations.


> In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> anmnouncers.
>
 
> Even if WCBS-101.1's ratings fall, Infinity may still make
> more money with the station broadcasting "Jack" than as an
> oldies station.
>
> As an oldies outlet, WCBS-FM probably had one of the
> highest-paid airstaffs of any radio station in the country.

Not really. Those jocks may have made a coupple of hundred a year, but that is small compared to marketing, sales cost, management, G&A, etc. And they were saving because they didx not have a big morning show... that can cost over a million.
>
> But since most "Jack" formats do not have live announcers,

But it will.

> WCBS-FM has cut a significant part of the station's
> "overhead".

Nope. They have not even saved 5% on total costs, in my opinion.

> Even if the station's ratings fall, and the
> price of ad spots is cut accordingly, the much lower costs
> of running the station could leave CBS-FM with a bigger
> profit than when it was broadcasting oldies.

The math does not show this. The savings on talent are insignificant.
>
> In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> anmnouncers.

No way. The salareis were hardly huge by todays's standards.
 
Re: OMG 2

>
> In other words (read carefully), it's costing them a lot
> more money short-term to do these flips than sticking with
> the old formats.
>

And this differs from any other format change how?
 
Re: OMG 2

> >
> > In other words (read carefully), it's costing them a lot
> > more money short-term to do these flips than sticking with
>
> > the old formats.
> >
>
> And this differs from any other format change how?
>

I'm confused with this whole salary issue. OC told me a while ago it had nothing to do with jocks/salaries. Some stations have been Jack for well over a year and are still jockless. It would seem like they are saving a boat load of money without jocks. Is Jack in Dallas or Denver still paying old contracts for former jocks?<P ID="signature">______________
Check my website www.freewebs.com/radiostuffandnews
</P>
 
Jack/Jocks

> > Even if WCBS-101.1's ratings fall, Infinity may still make
>
> > more money with the station broadcasting "Jack" than as an
>
> > oldies station.
> >
> > As an oldies outlet, WCBS-FM probably had one of the
> > highest-paid airstaffs of any radio station in the
> country.
>
> Not really. Those jocks may have made a coupple of hundred a
> year, but that is small compared to marketing, sales cost,
> management, G&A, etc. And they were saving because they didx
> not have a big morning show... that can cost over a million.
>
> >
> > But since most "Jack" formats do not have live announcers,
>
>
> But it will.

WHEN? Some Jack stations have been on for well over a year and are still jockless. How long will it take before Jack gets jocks?



> > WCBS-FM has cut a significant part of the station's
> > "overhead".
>
> Nope. They have not even saved 5% on total costs, in my
> opinion.
>
> > Even if the station's ratings fall, and the
> > price of ad spots is cut accordingly, the much lower costs
>
> > of running the station could leave CBS-FM with a bigger
> > profit than when it was broadcasting oldies.
>
> The math does not show this. The savings on talent are
> insignificant.
> >
> > In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> > format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> > anmnouncers.
>
> No way. The salareis were hardly huge by todays's standards.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Check my website www.freewebs.com/radiostuffandnews
</P>
 
> Even if WCBS-101.1's ratings fall, Infinity may still make
> more money with the station broadcasting "Jack" than as an
> oldies station.
>
> As an oldies outlet, WCBS-FM probably had one of the
> highest-paid airstaffs of any radio station in the country.
>
> But since most "Jack" formats do not have live announcers,
> WCBS-FM has cut a significant part of the station's
> "overhead". Even if the station's ratings fall, and the
> price of ad spots is cut accordingly, the much lower costs
> of running the station could leave CBS-FM with a bigger
> profit than when it was broadcasting oldies.
>
> In many cases, the reason for the switch to a "Jack"-type
> format was ecomonic: to eliminate the huge salaries of
> anmnouncers.
>
I wish I knew where that rumour began. Sure the staff was veterin and not aftra minimum but BIG SALERIES.. No way.
 
OMG 3

> And this differs from any other format change how?

Not a bit- that's part of my point. This whole "suits are killing jocks off by going Jack because Jack means no jocks" conspiracy is laughable.

Radio hacks are out there hating jack for 2 reasons:

* they don't get it (because it doesn't fall into their little box of what radio is supposed to be to them)

* it's replaced a couple of popular oldies stations (NYC, Baltimore, Indy)


> > In other words (read carefully), it's costing them a lot
> > more money short-term to do these flips than sticking with the old formats.
> >
>

>
 
Re: OMG 3

> > And this differs from any other format change how?
>
> Not a bit- that's part of my point. This whole "suits are
> killing jocks off by going Jack because Jack means no jocks"
> conspiracy is laughable.
>

No, you're saying they're not adding jocks because of the costs associated with a format change. I'm saying that it's never been an issue with other format changes.

If your goal is to discredit the "JACK means no jocks" consipiracy, you need better ammo.

Frankly, I don't care. I don't own Infinty stock.
 
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