What would you do with the marginal AM signals?

[kinetic]

In light of the "end of KGO" thread posted earlier (a little prematurely, I think), if demographics are a problem or if AM is a problem perhaps solved with an FM simulcast, what does one do with KNEW and the so-called Green Radio?

My first thought when someone asked me this was just shut 'em off. They're a waste of time and money. That's a flippant response, of course. They cost very little to run. Even with Michael Savage on KNEW, the stations make a profit (I'm told) but if I can be so bold as to make another flip comment, this is Clear Channel and for reasons many of us could venomously spew, they want to make more than the couple of million (I'm told) they're already making.

Okay, doing what? As near as I see it, the AM band is adequately represented in the mainstream by KCBS, KGO, KNBR and KSFO. Now if a couple of those stations are struggling or have a rocky future (as some are suggesting in the KGO thread) then what future could possibly await the marginal AM signals like the two owned by Clear Channel?

So put yourself in the driver's seat: What would you do? Status quo is unacceptable because Clear Channel tends to be arrogantly hostile to reality. They want more. What would you put on either station to attract more listeners, or perhaps different listeners? Are either of those possible?

 

[DavidKaye]

My first thought when someone asked me this was just shut 'em off. They're a waste of time and money. That's a flippant response, of course.

It's not so flippant. Lots of AM stations have been turned off. KPAY in Chico, KDON in Salinas, KLBT or KBLT or whatever it was in Lakeport, KPLS in Santa Rosa, KWUN in Concord. And those are just the ones that come to mind without research.

Often the land beneath the antennas is worth far more than the stations themselves. This was the case of KWUN, which was across from the Concord Pavilion on Myrtle and Holly Drives. The land is now a housing development.

I suspect that the BCDC (Google it) would gladly buy KROW Island (KKGN's site), as well as the sites of KNEW, KVTO/KEAR, KMKY, and KIQI, all which reside on bay tidelands.

 

[radioman148]

My first thought when someone asked me this was just shut 'em off. They're a waste of time and money. That's a flippant response, of course.

It's not so flippant. Lots of AM stations have been turned off. KPAY in Chico, KDON in Salinas, KLBT or KBLT or whatever it was in Lakeport, KPLS in Santa Rosa, KWUN in Concord. And those are just the ones that come to mind without research.

Often the land beneath the antennas is worth far more than the stations themselves. This was the case of KWUN, which was across from the Concord Pavilion on Myrtle and Holly Drives. The land is now a housing development.

I suspect that the BCDC (Google it) would gladly buy KROW Island (KKGN's site), as well as the sites of KNEW, KVTO/KEAR, KMKY, and KIQI, all which reside on bay tidelands.

You should see more AM stations (the weaker ones) shutting down as the switch to FM continues. Like David said the land the antennas sit on are worth more.

 

[kinetic]

My first thought when someone asked me this was just shut 'em off. They're a waste of time and money. That's a flippant response, of course.

It's not so flippant. Lots of AM stations have been turned off. KPAY in Chico, KDON in Salinas, KLBT or KBLT or whatever it was in Lakeport, KPLS in Santa Rosa, KWUN in Concord. And those are just the ones that come to mind without research.

Often the land beneath the antennas is worth far more than the stations themselves. This was the case of KWUN, which was across from the Concord Pavilion on Myrtle and Holly Drives. The land is now a housing development.

I suspect that the BCDC (Google it) would gladly buy KROW Island (KKGN's site), as well as the sites of KNEW, KVTO/KEAR, KMKY, and KIQI, all which reside on bay tidelands.

You should see more AM stations (the weaker ones) shutting down as the switch to FM continues. Like David said the land the antennas sit on are worth more.

You won't get an argument from me. It's like San Quentin State Prison. The state should close it, send the prison population to other facilities (and if the state reduces its prison population, that'll be easier to do) and then they could sell the land, which also sits on desirable waterfront property. What does the state wanna do? Build a new death row there. We're not even executing anyone anymore, are we?

I know --off topic, but it makes the larger point about land value. However, it's not an option. It is for me; the market is as well served as AM can serve it. KNEW and KKGN are marginal signals that generate marginal profit. Maybe that should be enough, but it's Clear Channel; they want more. Aside from the lazy man's programming solution of syndicated cookie-cutter talk show claptrap, are there any other format possibilities?

 

[TVradioguru]

Since I was the one who started the original thread about KGO being knocked off the top spot in target demo, I'll offer an opinion as to whether we're being premature in predicting the demise of AM stations, at least in the larger markets. Are we witnessing the decline of Medium Wave radio as a competitive medium? Yes, it appears we are.

The fact is that once the PPM started rolling, KGO dropped from #1 to #12 seems to indicate that the decline potentially started a few years ago. Its becoming obvious now what we really knew all along, that diary respondents were not able to recall what they listened to and were merely writing down a well known station. With the advent of PPM's, real listening habits are being revealed.

The other issue is the aging demographic that listens to spoken-word news/talk shows, combined with poor reception of AM radio in buildings and at places of employment because of shielding and computer power supplies and other electronic devices that interfere with AM radio reception. If you think about it, because AM radio is becoming increasingly less convenient to listen to, listeners will make less of an effort.

In focus groups and research I've seen lately, over 70% of folks surveyed responded that noise and poor reception have changed their radio listening habits especially as it relates to AM listening.

 

[radioman148]

>>the market is as well served as AM can serve it. KNEW and KKGN are marginal signals that generate marginal profit. Maybe that should be enough>>

As long as they're generating profits they will probably stay on.
The key is when they no longer do that or if someone can find a way to take a bigger profit by selling land, etc.

 

[SFStatic]

I agree that as long as they are making money, companies will keep them on. Also, both KNEW and Green 960 had over 40% growth in online listening last year. KNEW has more online listeners than any other SF Clear Channel station except Wild and KMEL.

 

[kinetic]

I agree that as long as they are making money, companies will keep them on. Also, both KNEW and Green 960 had over 40% growth in online listening last year. KNEW has more online listeners than any other SF Clear Channel station except Wild and KMEL.

How much profit does that generate? Does radio have the same online revenue generating problems as newspapers? (As in, ya just can't charge confiscatory rates.)

I'd be curious to know who's doing the listening. Stereotypically, we assume older listeners aren't using the internet as prolifically as younger ones, so is that where the growth is? If that's true, that means AM can grow its audience but then, why isn't that audience tuning into the other AMs?

Ultimately, it's reasonable to expect Clear Channel will leave the stations alone if there's even a marginal profit, but I'm still waiting to hear if anyone has a better format idea. Is there alternative programming for either of those two bands that might generate more ratings (terrestrially) and revenue thereby?
Still curious to know if anyone's

 

[radioman148]

I agree that as long as they are making money, companies will keep them on. Also, both KNEW and Green 960 had over 40% growth in online listening last year. KNEW has more online listeners than any other SF Clear Channel station except Wild and KMEL.

How much profit does that generate? Does radio have the same online revenue generating problems as newspapers? (As in, ya just can't charge confiscatory rates.)

I'd be curious to know who's doing the listening. Stereotypically, we assume older listeners aren't using the internet as prolifically as younger ones, so is that where the growth is? If that's true, that means AM can grow its audience but then, why isn't that audience tuning into the other AMs?

Ultimately, it's reasonable to expect Clear Channel will leave the stations alone if there's even a marginal profit, but I'm still waiting to hear if anyone has a better format idea. Is there alternative programming for either of those two bands that might generate more ratings (terrestrially) and revenue thereby?
Still curious to know if anyone's

I've heard of wifi for cars. I don't know how close we are to it, or how reliable it will be as far as listening in a car.
I'd love to hear input from someone who has a good understanding of it.