WHTT

[Jay F]

What do you think would happen if WHTT dropped the more recent music and went classic hits? Not back to oldies, but 70s-mid 80s based classic hits. My guess is they would o better, maybe even become a market leader. Classic hits stations are doing very well 25-54, especially with PPM. The more current music can be found elsewhere and waters down the station.

 

[Element9]

Once again, it's 12+; once again it's about 400 diaries; and once again, a station can have a lousy, month and a bad 12+ but a strong 25-54. Star had a soft 12+ number in Winter, but owned 25-54 Women. That said, a 3.9 through two-thirds of the Spring book seems to indicate WHTT is having a rough time competing as an AC against Star and WJYE which appear to have further solidified their "at work listening" strength in the last few months. WHTT seemed to have its best ratings about three or four years ago, with a blend of 60s-70s-80s as Buffalo's Greatest Hits and a line-up that featured local personalities in key dayparts, Bill Lacy and Gail Ann Huber in mornings, Jim Pastrick middays and Harv Moor afternoons, with Tony Venturoli and Brian J on weekends. Now, half of those names are gone, with middays and much of the weekend voice-tracked. Given the financial challenge that Citadel faces, the situation at WHTT doesn't look encouraging, however 97 Rock and WEDG appear to be stable. BTW, interesting to note that R-I's 12+ ratings list WEDG as an Entercom property. Huh? Does R-I know something?

 

[SirRoxalot]

The sinking fortunes of WHTT appear to reflect the on-air changes. To say that they sound "lack-luster" would be a compliment. The music seems unfocused, the mornings lack spice, and the mid-day voice-track isn't worthy of market #52. Good grief - can't they find somebody better to VT that job? Local would be a real plus.

 

[ThePickleReport]

I understand its about demos, demos, demos, and not 12+. If someone has the 25-54 rankings men and women I'd love to hear about it---not the numbers, just top 5 rankings would suffice. That way we could put the lackluster 12+ numbers to rest.

IMHO, Upstate NY tends to "over AC" itself. If you are the third AC in a market odds are you don't have the talent, programming, and music to compete.

 

[SirRoxalot]

If you are the third AC in a market odds are you don't have the talent, programming, and music to compete.

It's especially tough to compete if you don't have any money for talent or promotion, and are owned by a company on the verge of bankruptcy. Out-of-market syndication and VT usually don't work well in Buffalo unless you have a market-exclusive format.

 

[hiphopRadio]

maybe WHTT should flip format to Urban and go for WBLK since its third in ratings dont make sense being a third AC in the city

 

[Coldfinger]

maybe WHTT should flip format to Urban and go for WBLK since its third in ratings dont make sense being a third AC in the city

Kiss and Z-100, and Star to an extent, have that covered.

 

[nitro99]

I think Element 9 is pretty spot-on in his comments. WHTT had more listenabliity (if I can steal that wording from Budweiser) when it was Buffalo's Greatest Hits. Western New Yorkers like it live and local, and outside of when Jackson Armstrong VT'd at KB, most listeners aren't fooled by voice tracking or satellite-fed formats.

Unfortunately, the new generation of music listening is done on mp3's and ipods. So what does this mean for FM radio?

Back to the future.

The majority of people listening to radio are older, so why not program it with an older curve?

I'd set up the station like it was five years ago. Why bother trying to cater to the 18-34 soccer moms? If you can't sell oldies/classic rock/greatest hits, don't change the format, change the SALES STAFF.