When will WBAP get it?

[ropertex]

820's Winter-to-Winter book down 25%...

Doesn't the station realize that Dallas went solidly Democratic in November? Bush and Perry both have 55% disapproval ratings IN TEXAS.

Yesterday, Mark Davis was talking about being a Democrat as something "to get over" like it was a disease. He still uses the royal "we" to refer not to North Texans, but to Republicans. Rush makes fun of Michael J Fox's fatal illness and calls global warming "a fraud...a fraud!!!!!" Hannity claims Senator Reid called our soliders "losers" and fauns over General Motors' Americanism while promoting cars made in Canada and Mexico. And what is more anti-Texan than that sneering Mark Levin telling the "libs" to "get off the phone" before he hangs up on them?

The "News and talk of Texas" indeed....

 

[guy_gadbois]

You have some valid criticisms there, but calling Texas 'solidly democratic' was a bit over the top.

 

[ropertex]

>>You have some valid criticisms there, but calling Texas 'solidly democratic' was a bit over the top. <<


I said DALLAS not Texas

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

As long a they bring in the sales,they will not give up Mark,Rush,and Sean. I agree with the "one sidedness" of the talk shows. They are no more than a 2-3 hour infomercial for the GOP.but the laggin Air America is an infomercial for the Demos. The news is limited,where it once was dominant and made WBAP. Thats a shame ,considering the stable of talent they have in the newsroom. They are not used enough. Rush's ratings actually took a dip this past time out. Has he peaked? Most likely people are getting wary of his arrogance on both sides of the politcal field. Sean just pushes his books,which are more rehashed crap from his other books. Despite Dallas county's changing political landscape, WBAP goes into conservative central, and east Texas good ol'boy areas,where beating up Clintons is a regional past time.

 

[DoogieDown1]

I said DALLAS not Texas

You're right about Dallas specifically. Ft. Worth, of course, has always been more liberal or progressive or whatever. But the DFW suburbs (a large population) remain mostly conservative, if not proud to call themselves Republican.

I think fewer people are attracted to the idea of being identified with either party--though they're forced to vote for one or the other in most meaningful elections.

The Mark Davis/Rush Limbaugh line-up will always be a revenue and ratings success story in this town. But I happen to think there's an opening for a libertarian talker to earn a nice living here. Someone with the late great Molly Ivins' sense of humor, but with a much more moderate and Libertarian political slant could find a nice audience in N. Texas. Now finding that "someone" (who, did I mention, needs some radio talent as well!) will take a keen-eyed, and eared, talent scout.

 

[GRAYWOLF]

I think fewer people are attracted to the idea of being identified with either party--though they're forced to vote for one or the other in most meaningful elections.

They choose to do that, they aren't forced... 8)

 

[DoogieDown1]

They choose to do that, they aren't forced... 8)

Ha! Yeah... I guess I should say they're "forced" to vote for one or the other if they "choose" to exercise their right to vote.

 

[sexyback]

Cute way to bring typical nitwit leftist views to the board. WBAP ratings go down must be because of the Rush and Sean and Levin Shows. Air America hosts as most libs are not entertaining. Perhaps Hal should do more shtick less spots.. perhaps Mark should not be so laid back and lazy sounding. Maybe the news all afternoon should be local and more story counts instead of national and lame. Maybe AM radio is now dead for good. Or, you can blame global warming for the ratings decrease...surely thats the answer.

 

[BBontheRadio]

Maybe AM radio is now dead for good. Or, you can blame global warming for the ratings decrease...surely thats the answer.

Hell, blame Bush. Everything else is his fault!

 

[little1]

Cute way to bring typical nitwit leftist views to the board. WBAP ratings go down must be because of the Rush and Sean and Levin Shows.

Well, When you add up Rush, Sean and Mark L, don't you get something like 8 hours of WBAP's programming?

Do you have some other explanation for why they've lost 25% of their audience?

I'm not sure if it's 'typical nitwit leftist views' as much as the truth.

Dallas has turned much more dem the last few years. And overall, the GOP's approval rating is dropping (one poll has Bush below 30%) ...

The question becomes does WBAP just ride the GOP bandwagon no matter what? KLIF back in teh day had conservative David Gold and lib Bob Ray Sanders...At least that way, you cover both sides...

 

[arnoldevns]

820's Winter-to-Winter book down 25%...

Doesn't the station realize that Dallas went solidly Democratic in November? Bush and Perry both have 55% disapproval ratings IN TEXAS.

There are many reasons why WBAP is down and politics is not one of them.
For one thing, Dallas is a city of 1.2 million people in a metropolitan region of 6 million. Much of this area is solidly conservative and likely supports the viewpoint of the hosts on WBAP. Fort Worth and the suburbs are much more likely to be the home of WBAP's core listeners.

The problems with WBAP have been brewing for several years. It used to be that WBAP had news in the morning with Hal & Dick providing some comic relief. Mark Davis followed with a three hour local talk show. There was a solid hour of news at noon with Hello Texas featuring Paul Harvey. Then you had a two hour drive time afternoon news block from 4-6 after Rush and leading in to Randy Galloway.

The hallmark of the station was local programming for most of the day, with Rush being the lone exception. It's a very different station now.
The morning show is not as good since Dan Potter left. Mark Davis is still a great local talk show host, but he's only doing local stuff from 9-11 now. He's all national starting at 11 and going until Paul Harvey hits at 11:45. Then Rush comes on at noon instead of Hello Texas. After Rush is done at 3, we get Sean Hannity (from New York) until 6. Yes, they still run lots of traffic and some local news at the top and bottom of the hour, but it's just not the same as being all local at those times. Randy Galloway is now on ESPN 103.3. His folksy brand of sports talk was well-suited for WBAP's audience. Instead, WBAP runs Mark Levin (also from New York) from 6-8.

So figure it this way: from 5am to 8pm - WBAP used to do 12 hours of local programming each day. Now they do only 6 hours. That's the problem. It takes time for these things to catch up with a station like WBAP, but they finally have.

I know the shows that fill the schedule at WBAP are produced by ABC and are probably mandated from the corporate office, but ultimately this situation will not be fixed until WBAP gets back to doing more local programming.

 

[gbsncmtr]

I believe that "tested" has really hit the nail on the head with this post!

I'm a long time WBAP listener, but the ONLY time I listen now is in the mornings. I enjoy Hal Jay and his crew, and Mark Davis's show is great until they go national at 11:00.

I never listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, or Mark Levin.

Oh, for the good ol' days of "Hello Texas" and Randy Galloway!

 

[Fergie]

"Instead, WBAP runs Mark Levin (also from New York) from 6-8."
FYI...Mark does his show from D.C. not New York. It is just ISDN'd to WABC studios

 

[sexyback]

"There are many reasons why WBAP is down and politics is not one of them. "

Politics is keeping AM alive, or you can put on 1190 and listen to Merle in Mono..

"I never listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, or Mark Levin."

Well good for you. That settles it, those hosts must be awful.

I mentioned a few ideas above on what possible reasons there are for a bit of a tumble..add that to arbitron methodology...< that we sound like a bunch of 55 year old or older men whining about what used to be.> There are new owners coming soon. Lets see what they think.

 

[davideduardo]

"
I mentioned a few ideas above on what possible reasons there are for a bit of a tumble..add that to arbitron methodology...<

Why would Arbitron methodology, essentially the same since 1965, have any effect from book to book?

 

[BBontheRadio]

Dallas has turned much more dem the last few years. And overall, the GOP's approval rating is dropping (one poll has Bush below 30%) ...

Don't look now, but the approval rating for the Dems in Congress is just as low. Voters don't seem to be happy with the "job" that anybody is doing lately.

 

[arnoldevns]

"
I mentioned a few ideas above on what possible reasons there are for a bit of a tumble..add that to arbitron methodology...<

Why would Arbitron methodology, essentially the same since 1965, have any effect from book to book?

I believe he's talking about the weighted books that in recent years have caused the ratings of spanish-language stations to jump.
It was certainly a change in Arbitron methodology. How it impacts a station like WBAP is somewhat debateable though.

 

[sexyback]

"I believe he's talking about the weighted books that in recent years have caused the ratings of spanish-language stations to jump. It was certainly a change in Arbitron methodology. How it impacts a station like WBAP is somewhat debateable though."

No fresh bodies coming in.. older leaving the demo.. no help from the weighted books.. There is no one reason, but lots of small things that will have to be addressed with new management. I totally get that the left side would hate 8 hours of right side content..thats the chance they take by not having something local 5-7p. This is not just a WBAP problem. The thing I always remember is..its all free.. just push the button when you don't like something...or get on the air and take on the person you don't like.

 

[davideduardo]

"I believe he's talking about the weighted books that in recent years have caused the ratings of spanish-language stations to jump. It was certainly a change in Arbitron methodology. How it impacts a station like WBAP is somewhat debateable though."

There has been no significant change in Arbitron overall methodolgy "in recent years."

The methodology is quite simple: they send out diaries in proportion to the population in eache age, sex, geographic and ethnic cell. If they do not return in proportion, that cell is weighted up or down to make it proportional. No group, after weighting, is out of proportion at all.

There has been an addition to the number of different proportionally sampled groups, though. At the beginning of 2006, Hispanics were divided into two subgoroups, Spanish dominant and English dominant. These are now sampled in proportion to the percentage of each group in a market.

In other words, if 18-24 males are 8% of the market, 8% of the diaries will be sought from that group. If too many come back, each is weighted down. If not enough come, each is weighted up.

The growth of Spanish language radio has to do with the fact that there are more Hispanics. The market is now one-quarter Hispanic, and 2/3 are Spánish dominant.

 

[texas_prwriter]

820's Winter-to-Winter book down 25%...

Doesn't the station realize that Dallas went solidly Democratic in November? Bush and Perry both have 55% disapproval ratings IN TEXAS.

The morning show is not as good since Dan Potter left. Mark Davis is still a great local talk show host, but he's only doing local stuff from 9-11 now. He's all national starting at 11 and going until Paul Harvey hits at 11:45.

I have to agree. I listen to about an hour of the WBAP Morning News from 6-7 a.m. on my commute to downtown Dallas. Since Amy Chodroff took over, there's just something not quite right about the show. Amy seems like a competent anchor, but she just hasn't gelled in my mind. I find myself flipping over to KRLD more and more, only to go back to WBAP in time for the sketches just before the top of the hour, then back to KRLD for the 7 a.m. CBS newsbreak.

And, I agree with all: WBAP is desperately needing more local programming. I can't handle Hannity or Levin, so KRLD is my choice on the ride home. Local programming morning and afternoons makes a big difference. If only more people would recognize KRLD has quality programming.