Winter 2007 Phase II Arbitrends

[calguy]

Wow, KOST is tied for number one in the latest trend with KLVE. Not bad...
They scored number one numbers 12+ and Women 18+.
KOST middays was number one Women 18+ and Persons 12+.
Afternoons was number one in Women 18+ too. Not too shabby considering
the beating KOST and it's Program Director was taking on these boards last week.

 

[mostb1]

Wow, KOST is tied for number one in the latest trend with KLVE. Not bad...
They scored number one numbers 12+ and Women 18+.
KOST middays was number one Women 18+ and Persons 12+.
Afternoons was number one in Women 18+ too. Not too shabby considering
the beating KOST and it's Program Director was taking on these boards last week.

In all fairness, I think only one person was beating up on her. She was defended quite well.

With KOST being #1, might make some sense for someone to look at the numbers of FRESH from New York City and do the same here. Might be good for Emmis since Movin is going virtually nowhere or for a slowly fading KBIG to retool which would protect the "Wall of Women" for Clear Channel.

With all the spots Radio One bought during the first weeks of Q1, they got nothing out of their massive tv campaign for V100.

Jack is just blazing along as a jukebox.

KTLK is now lower than sports sister KLAC. About time to kill off that progressive talk format. It's a total loser.

And we don't need two news stations either. How much lower can KFWB go? I'd keep it news and turn KNX into a 24/7 talk station, though.

 

[Jay F]

Excellent trend for KOST, but keep in mind it includes a Christmas music December. That leg will drop off when the Winter book is released next month and KOST will no longer be #1.

Still KOST is a very solid station. Stella didn't deserve that kind of beating, although it was coming from just one individual.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Agreed--KOST is among the most prestigious radio stations in America, and its coast-to-coast reputation within the industry is very well deserved.

AC has never been a 'sexy' format, but a very consistent one which continuously evolves as the years go by. Jhani Kaye was a master at that (as are the PDs at WBMX, WLTW and other AC powerhouses), and Stella has done a terrific job at cotinuing to build on what Kaye accomplished.

 

[david]

With KOST being #1, might make some sense for someone to look at the numbers of FRESH from New York City and do the same here. Might be good for Emmis since Movin is going virtually nowhere or for a slowly fading KBIG to retool which would protect the "Wall of Women" for Clear Channel.
KTLK is now lower than sports sister KLAC. About time to kill off that progressive talk format. It's a total loser.
And we don't need two news stations either. How much lower can KFWB go? I'd keep it news and turn KNX into a 24/7 talk station, though.

* Movin to Fresh - I can see that. Something's gotta give here, as KBIG was not setting this market on fire, and is now diluted even further by KMVN
* Disagree about KTLK - The recent changes are long overdue. First, it's about time they call themselves K-Talk, rather than the previous ludicrous "K-TLK". Mr. K in PM Drive is a good add. And, their sounders until 3 weeks ago were just awful. KTLK sounds much better produced now.
* KABC's music sounders are simply awful. The small market music bed that plays under each of its newscasts is worse than useless, it actually pushes a listener away. KABC is a mess altogether. Now they are going to give up live and local in overnights. Not that Kevin James was anywhere remotely as good as Doug McKintyre was on Red Eye Radio. Their local newscasts often contain one story before they go into traffic. Compare that to KFI who has comprehensive newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour
* KFWB needs to tweak its clock so that it feels like the news flows. The station still sounds like it's overstocked with spots. WINS in NYC has a much more fluid flow to it. KFWB needs to study WINS and adopt some of their techniques.
* KNX abandonened their news identity when they kicked out George Nicholaw. The station's long-form interviews in PM Drive with non-news-makers drives home the point that 1070 is not where you go for news anymore. I recall an interview a couple months ago with a designer of a hotel in Northern Sweden, who was describing the Northern Lights. Great interview for a Talk station, but not for an all-newser, which KNX is not anymore.

 

[StopWhining]

Wow, KOST jumped three-tenths of a point---coincidentally, about the same amount Star and KBIG dropped. And this is crowning achievement how?!? (Still more evidence CC should change the format at Star, KBIG...or BOTH!)

The only thing Clear Channel should be celebrating, along with CBS and every other station in the market, is making their stations sound so bland and uncompetitive that NO ONE can score 5% of the listening audience. How sad is that when 4.6% of the listening is enough to be #1?!? Truly pathetic.

I stand by my previous statements about KOST 103's intern-turned-PD Stella Schwartz. All she did to tie for #1 was NOT remove the Christmas music. Wow, good intern. Very good.

 

[calguy]

I stand by my previous statements about KOST 103's intern-turned-PD Stella Schwartz. All she did to tie for #1 was NOT remove the Christmas music. Wow, good intern. Very good.

You could still make your point more eloquently. But you know what. I've done this before and more than made my case in another thread. Oh and for your edification, the numbers for this trend are not for December and the Christmas music, but are as I've been told for the later period starting in January.

Congrats to the hard working staff at KOST and Program Director Stella Schwartz.

 

[radioresearcher]

The numbers include the last four weeks of the fall book (which included three weeks of Christmas music) and the December "monthly". It is a three month rolling, which is December-January-February.

Christmas music at AC is radio's version of a sweeps stunt.

KOST's competitive environment is especially challenging considering that KRTH is up dramatically and moving more into it's arena musically with more 70's music. Now, they have probably benefited from KZLA going away (35-64 females were core Country listeners).

KKGO may have the opportunity to maybe pull some of those listeners back from KOST and KRTH.

If you notice though, both KOST and KRTH went up after KZLA went away.

Is KOST doing well - the answer is yes. Is the number inflated a bit by the Christmas music - the answer is yes again.

However, with all that said, KOST sounds solid IMHO and Stella and her staff have done a tremendous job.

I stand by my previous statements about KOST 103's intern-turned-PD Stella Schwartz. All she did to tie for #1 was NOT remove the Christmas music. Wow, good intern. Very good.

You could still make your point more eloquently. But you know what. I've done this before and more than made my case in another thread. Oh and for your edification, the numbers for this trend are not for December and the Christmas music, but are as I've been told for the later period starting in January.

Congrats to the hard working staff at KOST and Program Director Stella Schwartz.

 

[ajhenderson]

Wow, KOST is tied for number one in the latest trend with KLVE. Not bad...
They scored number one numbers 12+ and Women 18+.
KOST middays was number one Women 18+ and Persons 12+.
Afternoons was number one in Women 18+ too. Not too shabby considering
the beating KOST and it's Program Director was taking on these boards last week.

And we don't need two news stations either. How much lower can KFWB go? I'd keep it news and turn KNX into a 24/7 talk station, though.

Yeah, we need another talk station even more. MAYBE if it's on a decent FM stick and programmed to a younger audience than 640, 790, 830, and 870. But what decent syndicated product is left?

 

[calguy]

The numbers include the last four weeks of the fall book (which included three weeks of Christmas music) and the December "monthly". It is a three month rolling, which is December-January-February.

Christmas music at AC is radio's version of a sweeps stunt.

KOST's competitive environment is especially challenging considering that KRTH is up dramatically and moving more into it's arena musically with more 70's music. Now, they have probably benefited from KZLA going away (35-64 females were core Country listeners).

KKGO may have the opportunity to maybe pull some of those listeners back from KOST and KRTH.

If you notice though, both KOST and KRTH went up after KZLA went away.

Is KOST doing well - the answer is yes. Is the number inflated a bit by the Christmas music - the answer is yes again.

However, with all that said, KOST sounds solid IMHO and Stella and her staff have done a tremendous job.

Thank you for the clarification. I stand corrected. As you noted Christmas had a hand in the numbers, but it would seem that KOST did well afterward too, so they've got something to be proud of.

 

[calguy]

Actually, wouldn't knowing what the monthly numbers were reveal more.
Then we would know if Christmas music had any impact on the trend.
Anyone have access to those?

 

[mostb1]

Wow, KOST is tied for number one in the latest trend with KLVE. Not bad...
They scored number one numbers 12+ and Women 18+.
KOST middays was number one Women 18+ and Persons 12+.
Afternoons was number one in Women 18+ too. Not too shabby considering
the beating KOST and it's Program Director was taking on these boards last week.

And we don't need two news stations either. How much lower can KFWB go? I'd keep it news and turn KNX into a 24/7 talk station, though.

Yeah, we need another talk station even more. MAYBE if it's on a decent FM stick and programmed to a younger audience than 640, 790, 830, and 870. But what decent syndicated product is left?

We already have an FM yacker targeting a younger demo. And it isn't setting the market on fire.

CBS doesn't have much of a choice. This market is already saturated with news on local tv. And they're part of that reason with both KCAL and KCBS programming almost 11 hours of local news each weekday alone.

This market doesn't need more syndicated product. It needs LOCAL product. Look at what Bonneville does at their talk stations.

You don't need to program to a younger audience. You need entertaining yet informative hosts. They'll come along.

If something like "Red-Eye" on the Fox News Channel is the idea of how to program to a younger audience, it's back to the drawing board...

 

[mostb1]

With KOST being #1, might make some sense for someone to look at the numbers of FRESH from New York City and do the same here. Might be good for Emmis since Movin is going virtually nowhere or for a slowly fading KBIG to retool which would protect the "Wall of Women" for Clear Channel.
KTLK is now lower than sports sister KLAC. About time to kill off that progressive talk format. It's a total loser.
And we don't need two news stations either. How much lower can KFWB go? I'd keep it news and turn KNX into a 24/7 talk station, though.

* Movin to Fresh - I can see that. Something's gotta give here, as KBIG was not setting this market on fire, and is now diluted even further by KMVN
* Disagree about KTLK - The recent changes are long overdue. First, it's about time they call themselves K-Talk, rather than the previous ludicrous "K-TLK". Mr. K in PM Drive is a good add. And, their sounders until 3 weeks ago were just awful. KTLK sounds much better produced now.
* KABC's music sounders are simply awful. The small market music bed that plays under each of its newscasts is worse than useless, it actually pushes a listener away. KABC is a mess altogether. Now they are going to give up live and local in overnights. Not that Kevin James was anywhere remotely as good as Doug McKintyre was on Red Eye Radio. Their local newscasts often contain one story before they go into traffic. Compare that to KFI who has comprehensive newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour
* KFWB needs to tweak its clock so that it feels like the news flows. The station still sounds like it's overstocked with spots. WINS in NYC has a much more fluid flow to it. KFWB needs to study WINS and adopt some of their techniques.
* KNX abandonened their news identity when they kicked out George Nicholaw. The station's long-form interviews in PM Drive with non-news-makers drives home the point that 1070 is not where you go for news anymore. I recall an interview a couple months ago with a designer of a hotel in Northern Sweden, who was describing the Northern Lights. Great interview for a Talk station, but not for an all-newser, which KNX is not anymore.

KTLK is a loser. It's been around long enough to proclaim it so. It isn't growing. The hot air from its hosts are actually deflating it as is proved by its poor numbers. Not that I didn't expect that. Most of my friends are liberals (as a conservative, I am their lone outlet to the truth) and they will not leave their precious NPR. It does matter how pretty the wrapping for KTLK is now, the product, for the most part, stinks. And with all the sports commitments, it can't ever do anything after 6 PM. And that will hurt Mr. K as well.

I'd rather see Clear Channel move Dr. Laura over to KTLK and put a strong local host in from noon-3PM on KFI especially with the upcoming presidental elections and ton of California propositions for 2008. Then build KTLK out as a lifestyle type talk station. With Mr. K's vast general knowledge, he can fit that quite well ala what he was doing on KABC.

 

[davideduardo]

Actually, wouldn't knowing what the monthly numbers were reveal more.
Then we would know if Christmas music had any impact on the trend.
Anyone have access to those?

December's real number from Arbitron was a 5.7. Jan and Feb are extraps; they show Jan about 2 points off the high mark and Feb was the strongest non-Christmas month in several years, just a little under December.

 

[calguy]

Actually, wouldn't knowing what the monthly numbers were reveal more.
Then we would know if Christmas music had any impact on the trend.
Anyone have access to those?

December's real number from Arbitron was a 5.7. Jan and Feb are extraps; they show Jan about 2 points off the high mark and Feb was the strongest non-Christmas month in several years, just a little under December.

So if the February numbers were just a little under December that would show that it's not all Christmas?

Thanks David...

 

[Marv-L.A.]

How long HAS this wall-to-wall Christmas music trend been going on anyway?

I'm not sure how long KOST and other AC stations have been doing so, but it's always been good for a spike in the ratings.

 

[calguy]

How long HAS this wall-to-wall Christmas music trend been going on anyway?

I'm not sure how long KOST and other AC stations have been doing so, but it's always been good for a spike in the ratings.

KOST first did the "Month Long of Christmas Songs" in December 2001, but they weren't the first. My sources told me that many on the satff
didn't care for it back then. The ratings however proved too good not to stop. It's been a tradition ever since.

The good news for KOST in this trend is that their February numbers were almost as good at their Christmas numbers.

 

[StopWhining]

How long HAS this wall-to-wall Christmas music trend been going on anyway?

I'm not sure how long KOST and other AC stations have been doing so, but it's always been good for a spike in the ratings.

KOST first did the "Month Long of Christmas Songs" in December 2001, but they weren't the first. My sources told me that many on the satff
didn't care for it back then. The ratings however proved too good not to stop. It's been a tradition ever since.

The good news for KOST in this trend is that their February numbers were almost as good at their Christmas numbers.

The bad news is that 4.6% of the listening audience is enough to be #1 in Los Angeles. In other words, KOST isn't doing anything great, they just happened to be the best-selling brand of vanilla ice cream this month (no toppings available, sorry!). I predict in 5-10 years, every station in the market will score a 2.5 and it will be a victorious day for Clear Channel, whose company motto should be "Just Okay Sounding is Okay, So Take No Chances". YAWN, LOS ANGELES RADIO. (Maybe since KOST is #1, Clear Channel will hire interns as Program Directors for the rest of their L.A. stations too?) Now where were we? Oh yes, we were trying to name specific things Stella Schwartz has actually done to improve KOST 103. So far, the list includes answering request lines, getting coffee for Mark & Kim, and NOT removing the popular Christmas music. Truly a trailblazer. Anyone?

 

[calguy]

How long HAS this wall-to-wall Christmas music trend been going on anyway?

I'm not sure how long KOST and other AC stations have been doing so, but it's always been good for a spike in the ratings.

KOST first did the "Month Long of Christmas Songs" in December 2001, but they weren't the first. My sources told me that many on the satff
didn't care for it back then. The ratings however proved too good not to stop. It's been a tradition ever since.

The good news for KOST in this trend is that their February numbers were almost as good at their Christmas numbers.

The bad news is that 4.6% of the listening audience is enough to be #1 in Los Angeles. In other words, KOST isn't doing anything great, they just happened to be the best-selling brand of vanilla ice cream this month (no toppings available, sorry!). I predict in 5-10 years, every station in the market will score a 2.5 and it will be a victorious day for Clear Channel, whose company motto should be "Just Okay Sounding is Okay, So Take No Chances". YAWN, LOS ANGELES RADIO. (Maybe since KOST is #1, Clear Channel will hire interns as Program Directors for the rest of their L.A. stations too?) Now where were we? Oh yes, we were trying to name specific things Stella Schwartz has actually done to improve KOST 103. So far, the list includes answering request lines, getting coffee for Mark & Kim, and NOT removing the popular Christmas music. Truly a trailblazer. Anyone?

Do you think CBS is any better? What about Citadel, Cumulus or Bonneville? What would you do that would make KOST, or any other station in the cluster of the company you hate so much better than they are now? As Nimitz said to Halsey, the world waits... Nah, on second thought, never mind...

You know it's funny. I just read about the survey that Radio-Info did. You really should read about the results. It's quite enlightening.

 

[StopWhining]

<<Do you think CBS is any better?>>

Nope. As I stated in a previous post, I think Los Angeles radio stations, as a whole, sound boring and uninspired.


<<What would you do that would make KOST, or any other station in the cluster of the company you hate so much better than they are now?>>

For starters, I'd like to see Clear Channel grow some balls and use KBIG to go after one of CBS' FMs. While we're at it, I'd love to see CBS dump 97.1's horrible programming (with the exception of the Triplets), and use it to go after KOST 103. Kevin Weatherly would kick "Intern Stella's" ass in a battle o' programming music. AND, if Clear Channel and CBS ever did actually grow balls and use (at least) one station to battle the other company's, they could expand their client list. Some rivalry between radio stations is just what this market needs to wake up from it's decade-old sleepy slumber. As it stand now, KOST 103 swiped 3/10ths of a point from its own sister stations, and Clear Channel is pretending Intern/PD Stella Schwartz is some sort of hero. Nothing personal, but that is lame. Ask for mediocrity and you shall receive...


<<You know it's funny. I just read about the survey that Radio-Info did. You really should read about the results.>>

Okay, I will. Nah, on second thought, never mind...