Why Stations Like KXNT Stick To Lifestyle Talk

[billboardmister]

KXNT like most other Clear Channel stations are looking for ratings and since being the # 1 talk station in Las Vegas, they're on the right track.

I believe KXNT is part of CBS as well.

KXNT has a lot of sponsers for a talk station and doesn't have to run 30 minute informercials like their competitor KDWN does.

KXNT used to stick to more hard news and controversial topics but after a ratings slip, they got a new program director and is trying to change the direction of the talk station.

So talk stations like KXNT tend to very particular on what is discussed because they want to remain # 1. It's a ratings race and KXNT like others want to remain competitive in the talk market.

Politically incorrect topics such as illegal immigration discussed on KDWN every day is an issue but is not something the corporate owned giants want to discuss constantly. They want to keep their sponsers and draw new listeners.


KDWN on the other hand is not owned by anybody because they are privately owned.
So this means KDWN is free to discuss anything whether it's controversal or not. They don't have to answer to anyone like KXNT does. KDWN can't get past their 1 half share for many years. KDWN used to be # 1 but that was back in the mid 1980's when they were the only game in town.

If KXNT was to do what KDWN does, KXNT might lose listeners and sponsers.

On KDWN, I hear the same 10 callers or so bitch and moan about the same all the time. KXNT's callers are different because they're not the same callers over and again. KXNT screens their calls while KDWN does not.

KXNT is more modern than the 1970's pre era KDWN AM 720.

KXNT uses computers and and a board op.
KDWN sticks to 4-track carts, reel to reel tape, LP's & 78's.
KXNT has Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mike Gallagher and Coast To Coast AM.

KDWN has "Wake Up America" weeknights and then there's a show on Sunday nights where a talk show host is a babysitter for 5 hours talking to lonely old people about the 1930's & 1940's.

KXNT listner base is 35+. KDWN is mostly 45+ to 75+ plus.

KDWN's owner died a few months ago and their contract is up at the plaza hotel.
The hotel's new owners have not decided to renew their contract due to some controversal matters. After nearly 30 years on the 2nd floor of the plaza hotel, KDWN will be forced to move by summer of 2006. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by billboardmister on 09/07/05 06:01 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[Jay_F]

I don't think KDWN is a good example of an issues/political/news driven talk station. The way KDWN sounds, KXNT could beat them easily no matter if they take the issues or lifestyle approach. Of course that could all change depending on what the future owner of KDWN does with the station.



KXNT like most other Clear Channel stations are looking for
> ratings and since being the # 1 talk station in Las Vegas,
> they're on the right track.
>
> I believe KXNT is part of CBS as well.
>
> KXNT has a lot of sponsers for a talk station and doesn't
> have to run 30 minute informercials like their competitor
> KDWN does.
>
> KXNT used to stick to more hard news and controversial
> topics but after a ratings slip, they got a new program
> director and is trying to change the direction of the talk
> station.
>
> So talk stations like KXNT tend to very particular on what
> is discussed because they want to remain # 1. It's a ratings
> race and KXNT like others want to remain competitive in the
> talk market.
>
> Politically incorrect topics such as illegal immigration
> discussed on KDWN every day is an issue but is not something
> the corporate owned giants want to discuss constantly. They
> want to keep their sponsers and draw new listeners.
>
>
> KDWN on the other hand is not owned by anybody because they
> are privately owned.
> So this means KDWN is free to discuss anything whether it's
> controversal or not. They don't have to answer to anyone
> like KXNT does. KDWN can't get past their 1 half share for
> many years. KDWN used to be # 1 but that was back in the mid
> 1980's when they were the only game in town.
>
> If KXNT was to do what KDWN does, KXNT might lose listeners
> and sponsers.
>
> On KDWN, I hear the same 10 callers or so bitch and moan
> about the same all the time. KXNT's callers are different
> because they're not the same callers over and again. KXNT
> screens their calls while KDWN does not.
>
> KXNT is more modern than the 1970's pre era KDWN AM 720.
>
> KXNT uses computers and and a board op.
> KDWN sticks to 4-track carts, reel to reel tape, LP's &
> 78's.
> KXNT has Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mike Gallagher and
> Coast To Coast AM.
>
> KDWN has "Wake Up America" weeknights and then there's a
> show on Sunday nights where a talk show host is a babysitter
> for 5 hours talking to lonely old people about the 1930's &
> 1940's.
>
> KXNT listner base is 35+. KDWN is mostly 45+ to 75+ plus.
>
> KDWN's owner died a few months ago and their contract is up
> at the plaza hotel.
> The hotel's new owners have not decided to renew their
> contract due to some controversal matters. After nearly 30
> years on the 2nd floor of the plaza hotel, KDWN will be
> forced to move by summer of 2006.
>

 

[collinsradio]

Billoard Mesiter I find your analysis hilariously simple.
KDWN is not a player. KXNT is a very average N-T station
that does the basics. No rocket science here. Why KDWN
gets so much attention here is amazing, doesn't say
much for KXNT.

 

[ajhenderson]

> Billoard Mesiter I find your analysis hilariously simple.
> KDWN is not a player. KXNT is a very average N-T station
> that does the basics. No rocket science here. Why KDWN
> gets so much attention here is amazing, doesn't say
> much for KXNT.

They get so much attention because they should have sold to Clear Channel eight years ago and been revived WLW-style to be the 8-share 50kW heritage flamethrower they should be.

 

[collinsradio]

>
> They get so much attention because they should have sold to
> Clear Channel eight years ago and been revived WLW-style to
> be the 8-share 50kW heritage flamethrower they should be.

Are you attempting to attach WLW's sucess soley with CC?
WLW has always been dominant through several owners. Vegas
however isn't Cincy. CC could buy it and steal Rush from
KXNT, then what? They would need to budget for live and
local News & Talk talent, something they tend to do very little
in a market the size of Vegas. It wouldn't be an easy win,
Infinity is not going to lay down, and CC has failed to
develop through Premiere the nbext supserstar. Glenn Beck
just hasn't broke through, Doctor Laura is unavailable,
as is the #2 host Hannity. If you can lay out a plan that
would demonstrate CC's strategi I'd be interested in seeing
it.

 

[ajhenderson]

> Are you attempting to attach WLW's sucess soley with CC?
> WLW has always been dominant through several owners. Vegas
> however isn't Cincy. CC could buy it and steal Rush from
> KXNT, then what? They would need to budget for live and
> local News & Talk talent, something they tend to do very
> little
> in a market the size of Vegas. It wouldn't be an easy win,
> Infinity is not going to lay down, and CC has failed to
> develop through Premiere the nbext supserstar. Glenn Beck
> just hasn't broke through, Doctor Laura is unavailable,
> as is the #2 host Hannity. If you can lay out a plan that
> would demonstrate CC's strategi I'd be interested in seeing
> it.

I'm not so sure WLW has always been as hugely successfully, continuously, as it has been with CC. They have taken a number of heritage sticks and revived them to some degree. Another Ohio blowtorch, WTAM, was always a dominant news source, but its ratings have jumped by 125% or so since CC implemented changes.

As to live and local talent, if you can't coerce people to move to LAS VEGAS, you deserve whatever mediocrity you get. Everyone wants to live there. Go local with morning news, local against Rush, Beck against Dr. Laura, local against Hannity, Savage against O'REILLY and GALLAGHER??!! and get recreate KABC's Red Eye Radio from midnight-4. It would cost more than running a hole like any of the Lotus AMs, but so is the cost of attempted greatness.

 

[Tom_]

It would be interesting to see someone in Vegas go to a mix of live and local talk 24/7 from both political perspectives, w/ some syndicated. KDWN could do this, and then get Doug Basham, Thom Hartmann, and Art Bell (Art w/ a nightime local show) back on the air in the market...

Ken Landow MD is overlooked takent at KDWN...he could do very well every evening with his sense of humor, ability to listen and ask questions to callers, and immense medical knowledge... I just saw the book he was critiquing w/ a caller this week in Costco tonight! lol

Don Davis (KDWN gardening host) is very knowledgeable as is Jeff Burke (KDWN nutritition host), and both could be paid weekend talent...

It would be unfortunate if Clear Channel came in since then all of the above veteran hosts (and others) would end up either off the air or on KLAV 1230... It's best if stations with a history like KDWN remain locally owned and operated... Otherwise, the veteran local hosts who listeners are familiar with are history (or they have to pay for air time elsewhere)... Landow, Burke, Davis, etc. all have their loyal fans and would get listeners elsewhere...


> > Are you attempting to attach WLW's sucess soley with CC?
> > WLW has always been dominant through several owners. Vegas
>
> > however isn't Cincy. CC could buy it and steal Rush from
> > KXNT, then what? They would need to budget for live and
> > local News & Talk talent, something they tend to do very
> > little
> > in a market the size of Vegas. It wouldn't be an easy win,
>
> > Infinity is not going to lay down, and CC has failed to
> > develop through Premiere the nbext supserstar. Glenn Beck
> > just hasn't broke through, Doctor Laura is unavailable,
> > as is the #2 host Hannity. If you can lay out a plan that
> > would demonstrate CC's strategi I'd be interested in
> seeing
> > it.
>
> I'm not so sure WLW has always been as hugely successfully,
> continuously, as it has been with CC. They have taken a
> number of heritage sticks and revived them to some degree.
> Another Ohio blowtorch, WTAM, was always a dominant news
> source, but its ratings have jumped by 125% or so since CC
> implemented changes.
>
> As to live and local talent, if you can't coerce people to
> move to LAS VEGAS, you deserve whatever mediocrity you get.
> Everyone wants to live there. Go local with morning news,
> local against Rush, Beck against Dr. Laura, local against
> Hannity, Savage against O'REILLY and GALLAGHER??!! and get
> recreate KABC's Red Eye Radio from midnight-4. It would cost
> more than running a hole like any of the Lotus AMs, but so
> is the cost of attempted greatness.
>

 

[FloridaBear1776]

A good indicator for the way a cc-owned KDWN might go is WFLF, Orlando. That 50 kW station had been an underperforming sports talker when CC converted it to talk in January 2001 and snatched Rush Limbaugh from longtime affiliate WDBO.
That station started with morning drive local, syndication in middays, and
an afternoon drive import from Tampa. Then it added local in PM drive, and
has seen its ranking make the top 15 or so. Not spectacular, but good inroads against DBO. The weekends are brokered on FLF, and there's no local nighttime talent. No doubt CC would think having a bunch of local shows at 3 a.m. and other odd times on KDWN is a waste of money, and no way would CC permit the cost-saving expediency of having the host "combo" and taking calls unscreened.
>
> Ken Landow MD is overlooked takent at KDWN...he could do
> very well every evening with his sense of humor, ability to
> listen and ask questions to callers, and immense medical
> knowledge... I just saw the book he was critiquing w/ a
> caller this week in Costco tonight! lol
>
> Don Davis (KDWN gardening host) is very knowledgeable as is
> Jeff Burke (KDWN nutritition host), and both could be paid
> weekend talent...
>
> It would be unfortunate if Clear Channel came in since then
> all of the above veteran hosts (and others) would end up
> either off the air or on KLAV 1230... It's best if stations
> with a history like KDWN remain locally owned and
> operated... Otherwise, the veteran local hosts who
> listeners are familiar with are history (or they have to pay
> for air time elsewhere)... Landow, Burke, Davis, etc. all
> have their loyal fans and would get listeners elsewhere...
>
>
> > > Are you attempting to attach WLW's sucess soley with CC?
>
> > > WLW has always been dominant through several owners.
> Vegas
> >
> > > however isn't Cincy. CC could buy it and steal Rush from
>
> > > KXNT, then what? They would need to budget for live and
> > > local News & Talk talent, something they tend to do very
>
> > > little
> > > in a market the size of Vegas. It wouldn't be an easy
> win,
> >
> > > Infinity is not going to lay down, and CC has failed to
> > > develop through Premiere the nbext supserstar. Glenn
> Beck
> > > just hasn't broke through, Doctor Laura is unavailable,
> > > as is the #2 host Hannity. If you can lay out a plan
> that
> > > would demonstrate CC's strategi I'd be interested in
> > seeing
> > > it.
> >
> > I'm not so sure WLW has always been as hugely
> successfully,
> > continuously, as it has been with CC. They have taken a
> > number of heritage sticks and revived them to some degree.
>
> > Another Ohio blowtorch, WTAM, was always a dominant news
> > source, but its ratings have jumped by 125% or so since CC
>
> > implemented changes.
> >
> > As to live and local talent, if you can't coerce people to
>
> > move to LAS VEGAS, you deserve whatever mediocrity you
> get.
> > Everyone wants to live there. Go local with morning news,
> > local against Rush, Beck against Dr. Laura, local against
> > Hannity, Savage against O'REILLY and GALLAGHER??!! and get
>
> > recreate KABC's Red Eye Radio from midnight-4. It would
> cost
> > more than running a hole like any of the Lotus AMs, but so
>
> > is the cost of attempted greatness.
> >
>

 

[collinsradio]

Beck outside of a few markets has never been the star
CC thought he would be. Local news in the morning,
KXNT is already entrenched with the News
image. The Savage addition is not bad. "Red Eye Radio"-
I hope you're kidding. Matter a fact KABC moved that show
to mornings, I believe it finishes in at around 30th in
its demo. CC tends to successfully revive big AM sticks,
when they have weak competition, with inferior signals.
This would not be the case here. Your strategy is based
on faulty assumptions, and unfocused tactics. I grade
it a D.

 

[ajhenderson]

> A good indicator for the way a cc-owned KDWN might go is
> WFLF, Orlando. That 50 kW station had been an
> underperforming sports talker when CC converted it to talk
> in January 2001 and snatched Rush Limbaugh from longtime
> affiliate WDBO.
> That station started with morning drive local, syndication
> in middays, and
> an afternoon drive import from Tampa. Then it added local in
> PM drive, and
> has seen its ranking make the top 15 or so. Not spectacular,
> but good inroads against DBO. The weekends are brokered on
> FLF, and there's no local nighttime talent. No doubt CC
> would think having a bunch of local shows at 3 a.m. and
> other odd times on KDWN is a waste of money, and no way
> would CC permit the cost-saving expediency of having the
> host "combo" and taking calls unscreened.

WFLF truly is a sorry station. Too bad, they have the very beginnings and possibility to be great. Of course, going up against DBO is tough, but I don't think KXNT has the historic reputation that WDBO has. Add the fact that a lot of people are moving in to Vegas (to a greater extent than CenFla), and there's a lot of new people who could care less about heritage.

If CC took over KDWN, they'd no doubt take back Rush and Coast, although I hope they wouldn't run Coast previous-day refeeds for FOUR HOURS before the live show like on FLF (9p-5am ET). Which leads me to the question, BTW, of how the Rushes and Savages of the world feel about being taken off good stations and being used as the proverbial carrot to suit their networks' needs... but another topic for another day.

 

[FloridaBear1776]

> If CC took over KDWN, they'd no doubt take back Rush and
> Coast, although I hope they wouldn't run Coast previous-day
> refeeds for FOUR HOURS before the live show like on FLF
> (9p-5am ET).

They do that, I am told, because the syndicators can't get any money for spots sold after midnight. Larry King and Mutual had the same problem years and years ago, they forced stations to take the entire Mutual affiliation to get the overnight show. So in order to make the show viable, part of it has to air before the witching hour on the east coast. That's not a problem in the PST zone, where Coast begins at 10 p.m. local time. Perhaps KDWN could keep running Michael Reagan at 3 a.m.

Which leads me to the question, BTW, of how the
> Rushes and Savages of the world feel about being taken off
> good stations and being used as the proverbial carrot to
> suit their networks' needs... but another topic for another
> day.
>
Rush transcends whatever station he's on. To a lesser extent, that is true for Savage as well. It's a sign of how much star power these guys have, that they can take their audiences with them if contract talks hit a snag. Sure beats being some small local guy and being forced to wait out a six-month noncompete
as a condition of changing signals.

 

[ajhenderson]

> > If CC took over KDWN, they'd no doubt take back Rush and
> > Coast, although I hope they wouldn't run Coast
> previous-day
> > refeeds for FOUR HOURS before the live show like on FLF
> > (9p-5am ET).
>
> They do that, I am told, because the syndicators can't get
> any money for spots sold after midnight. Larry King and
> Mutual had the same problem years and years ago, they forced
> stations to take the entire Mutual affiliation to get the
> overnight show. So in order to make the show viable, part of
> it has to air before the witching hour on the east coast.
> That's not a problem in the PST zone, where Coast begins at
> 10 p.m. local time. Perhaps KDWN could keep running Michael
> Reagan at 3 a.m.

I understand that it's next to impossible to sell national spots in overnight unless you have a gazillion affiliates (Noory's pretty close), but every other station in the U.S. seems to be airing shows in these hours. Stations that don't have C2C typically run shows midnight-3am, or 2-5am, or what not. The syndicators are just happy to be on the air somewhere. It's just a market name on a (hopefully lengthy) list.

Besides, WFLF could at least run ANY syndicated show not already cleared in the market from 9-midnight; at the very least, rerun Rush (a la WGST), Glenn Beck, etc. C2C shouldn't expect pre-midnight air, as they don't start until 1am ET, when most east coast CC newstalkers air them.

As for Coast spots, that's what PIs are for.

 

[drtylawndre]

I agree... Bob Massie Spell? the Dr and the gardner are top programs good information and good radio...the all could syndicate... Massi is on fox TV ....I'm not into Mystics...but kdwn's Mystic Mona jams the line at midnight she good at what she does too

on lifestyle talk...and forgive the politics but it is important to make my point
let's face it when Bush and Iraq had 80% approval knxt was all politics and gun-ho now that it is down in the 40% approval range all host like kxnt's can do is play a little lip service to the topics and let the national hosts deal with the issues...Alan Stock like a lot of conservative radio peopl is a liberal but talked the talk for the money ...just like Barry YOUNG and Bruce Jacobs down in PHX ...THE SAW RUSH'S SUCCESS and switched sides to keep their career a float add LA basewd Joe Crummy to that list too..even though he claims he's in PHX

 

[collinsradio]

Joe Crummey is far more talented than the Alan Stocks
& Barry Youngs, the political thing he does is just one
aspect of his personality. He's a comic, musican, and
writer.


I agree... Bob Massie Spell? the Dr and the gardner are top
> programs good information and good radio...the all could
> syndicate... Massi is on fox TV ....I'm not into
> Mystics...but kdwn's Mystic Mona jams the line at midnight
> she good at what she does too
>
> on lifestyle talk...and forgive the politics but it is
> important to make my point
> let's face it when Bush and Iraq had 80% approval knxt was
> all politics and gun-ho now that it is down in the 40%
> approval range all host like kxnt's can do is play a little
> lip service to the topics and let the national hosts deal
> with the issues...Alan Stock like a lot of conservative
> radio peopl is a liberal but talked the talk for the money
> ...just like Barry YOUNG and Bruce Jacobs down in PHX ...THE
> SAW RUSH'S SUCCESS and switched sides to keep their career a
> float add LA basewd Joe Crummy to that list too..even though
> he claims he's in PHX
>

 

[voiceguy1]

> I agree... Bob Massie Spell? the Dr and the gardner are top
> programs good information and good radio...the all could
> syndicate... Massi is on fox TV ....I'm not into
> Mystics...but kdwn's Mystic Mona jams the line at midnight
> she good at what she does too
>
> on lifestyle talk...and forgive the politics but it is
> important to make my point
> let's face it when Bush and Iraq had 80% approval knxt was
> all politics and gun-ho now that it is down in the 40%
> approval range all host like kxnt's can do is play a little
> lip service to the topics and let the national hosts deal
> with the issues...Alan Stock like a lot of conservative
> radio peopl is a liberal but talked the talk for the money
> ...just like Barry YOUNG and Bruce Jacobs down in PHX ...THE
> SAW RUSH'S SUCCESS and switched sides to keep their career a
> float add LA basewd Joe Crummy to that list too..even though
> he claims he's in PHX
>
I am now positive that you have NO idea what the H*** you are talking about. You are probably someone who either worked part time in radio or NEVER worked in radio!

 

[drtylawndre]

Re: personal attack but no facts

> I am now positive that you have NO idea what the H*** you
> are talking about. You are probably someone who either
> worked part time in radio or NEVER worked in radio!


...when you can't deal with the issue attack the person...why don't you give some reasons for your statement? Back it up with logic.

I looked at your posts. All ten of them, they are all similar short insults, "get a clue"... "your not in radio" ..etc. Nothing complex, nothing more than a couple of lines and all at the sixth grade level. Why don't you present a more in depth theory, if you are so smart?....please educate the rest of us.

(Your about the only one on this forum that doesn't agree that stations like kxnt have moved away from hard politics to life style happy talk...and have seen ratings go up..)

 

[drtylawndre]

> Joe Crummey is far more talented than the Alan Stocks
> & Barry Youngs, the political thing he does is just one
> aspect of his personality. He's a comic, musican, and
> writer.


He is good...after Goyette got fired....though..Crummy has to tow the political line somewhat which makes him predictable...
>

 

[voiceguy1]

Re: personal attack but no facts

> > I am now positive that you have NO idea what the H*** you
> > are talking about. You are probably someone who either
> > worked part time in radio or NEVER worked in radio!
>
>
> ...when you can't deal with the issue attack the
> person...why don't you give some reasons for your statement?
> Back it up with logic.
>
> I looked at your posts. All ten of them, they are all
> similar short insults, "get a clue"... "your not in radio"
> ..etc. Nothing complex, nothing more than a couple of lines
> and all at the sixth grade level. Why don't you present a
> more in depth theory, if you are so smart?....please educate
> the rest of us.
>
> (Your about the only one on this forum that doesn't agree
> that stations like kxnt have moved away from hard politics
> to life style happy talk...and have seen ratings go up..)
>
First of all, my posts are short...to match you're attention span.
Second of all, I never said they have not gone more lifestyle.....they have, and the numbers for the morning show have gone up steadily.
I get annoyed at people like you who come on this forum and take shots at everyone with NEVER anything Good to say. Something tell s me that you don't even work in radio....but I could be wrong, I guess paying for a show means you work in radio.

 

[BigPipes]

Re: personal attack but no facts

SHUT UP! nobody cares about what you have to say. Use a real name or get no respect.



> First of all, my posts are short...to match you're attention
> span.
> Second of all, I never said they have not gone more
> lifestyle.....they have, and the numbers for the morning
> show have gone up steadily.
> I get annoyed at people like you who come on this forum and
> take shots at everyone with NEVER anything Good to say.
> Something tell s me that you don't even work in radio....but
> I could be wrong, I guess paying for a show means you work
> in radio.
>

 

[voiceguy1]

Re: personal attack but no facts

> SHUT UP! nobody cares about what you have to say. Use a real
> name or get no respect.
>
>What's your real name Pipes......?
doesn't matter, I still don't respect you!
>