I think part of the speculation is fueled by the "Liberal talk radio is a failure" concept promoted by the conservative blogosphere and on some other radio-info boards.
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WINZ
- Thread starter livingfruitvirus
- Start date
I think the record shows WINZ has been one of the better run and more successful "liberal/progressive" talk formatted stations. The addition of DeFede, and adding a lot of traditional news/talk elements like local news, a lot of traffic and Weather Channel shows that CC-Miami is at least giving it a try. It really comes down to the sales department at CC-Miami living up to their side of the bargain.
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raydioaydio
Guest
And that there seems to be the problem. Whoever is running the sales department seems to be clueless. Not only is WINZ falling short in the spots dept, so is WIOD. Are these two sold together as a combo by the same staff, or are they separate? Neither one seems to be selling to their potential!
raydioaydio said:
They're sold together as a package.
In all fairness, with the melting pot that is South Florida, English speaking AMs seem to struggle. Meanwhile Spanish talker WAQI has really done well over the past two years, but I believe I read somewhere that its median listener age is 70.
Sales is generally clueless when it comes to AM. I was doing afternoon AM talk up north, and one of the top sales people approached me with information that the Southland Corporation (7-11) was interested in sponsoring part of the show. "So, before I speak to them," she asked, "exactly what do you do in the afternoons?" This was after TWO YEARS on the air. She admitted she never listened to me, since no one really wanted to buy AM.raydioaydio said:
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artradioguy
Guest
About broadcast deregulation, it was the worst thing to happen to American radio. It gave rise to the megaliths that own broadcasting now, it took away almost all local focus at the majority of stations and made it a liability to become a local broadcaster. The only money to be made in radio is for sales people and a station like WINZ just needs board ops and sales people with the exception of DeFede.
Great generalization, Mr. Gumbo. Love that you group all sales professionals together like that. Maybe we should generaliz that all jocks are pompous, lazy and jealous because I can think of one or two jocks who fit that description. JEEZ!!!
Not all AM is under-valued and under-sold. #1 billing station in the country at one point was WFAN-AM, an all-sports radio station.
Not all AM is under-valued and under-sold. #1 billing station in the country at one point was WFAN-AM, an all-sports radio station.
Obtuse1 said:
In the Winter book for West Palm Beack, WINZ was tied with WIOD and WFTL for 12+.
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DaleGriffin
Guest
Why no FM Talk in Miami?
Clarification: FM Talk that is more political than say Monsters or Lex and Terry.
Clarification: FM Talk that is more political than say Monsters or Lex and Terry.
I'd say it's because WIOD, WINZ and all the others have the market locked up. Even if the shows are on tape delay, we have all of the major shows in the market, and we even have local shows in addition. The only benefits of an FM talker in the market would be better signal patterns and less interference, but given the decent ratings that the AM talkers have, no one sees those as big reasons to make the jump.
Dale Jackson said:
FM talk isn't really all that great of a performer around the country. For some reason CBS wants to keep pushing it. It sounds like a good idea; a younger skewing alternative to left vs. right AM radio banter, but it hasn't performed to expectations. I think that's because FM talk tries to push a comedy angle to it, and from what I've heard, most "comedy" talk show hosts are really, really, really lame. In Florida, WTKS-FM is held to a higher standard of FM talk, but I visit Orlando frequently and haven't found anything on that station interesting except for The Hideout, and they fired that show.
But as some said, the signal of FM has less interference, so I could maybe see a cheap solution like WIOD-FM or WINZ-FM.
Oh, and James Crystal Enterprises in West Palm recently reformatted 640 to Mantalk, and they're trying to aim it at Broward and Dade counties now. That's kind of FM talk-ish, but on AM, and an AM with a lousy signal in Dade county. Good one, guys.
It's doubtful CC will convert one of their FM's to either WIOD-AM or WINZ-FM. For one thing, WINZ-AM hasn't proven itself. For another, despite the mis-info posted earlier, WIOD bills big-time. One could argue that Schnitt et al would get better demos on FM, hence better billing. BUT what would they do with the 610 signal? Remember, at the end of the day, the billing for the AM and FM combo will have to be better than it is now...I doubt they could find something else that could bill even close to what WIOD is doing.
No, I think the more likely candidate - if at all - would be Cox's HDR. However, even that is doubtful.
Of course, the only one that I know of on this board who has access to billing figures would be Mr. Eduardo. I'd be curious on his take.
No, I think the more likely candidate - if at all - would be Cox's HDR. However, even that is doubtful.
Of course, the only one that I know of on this board who has access to billing figures would be Mr. Eduardo. I'd be curious on his take.
WIOD definitely bills well, just based on the numbers David's posted here before. But why would broadcasting WIOD on FM necessarily mean they'd have to find something else to do with the AM side? There are several talkers throughout the country that are using their FM side to supplement the AM... WHIO in Dayton is one that comes to mind. WBT in Charlotte as well, even though they use their FM signal more to serve an area in the metro that the AM side doesn't cover very well. Still, though... what's to say 'IOD couldn't simulcast? It'd actually bring in a little extra money, I'd think.
Faraway said:
I didn't mean a full move to FM. I was just considering the possibility of one of the AMs simulcasting on FM, as is done in many cities. Even WWL in New Orleans, which is a Class A 50kw blowtorch day and night, simulcasts on WWL-FM.
3 STEPS TO ARBITRON SUPREMACY FOR WIOD (OR WINZ):
1. Study the well-researched game-plan that was effectively utilized to completely move Washington D.C.'s legendary all-news heritage from WTOP-1500-AM to WTOP-103.5-FM with overwhelming success.
2. Do the same for either WIOD or WINZ.
3. Watch as you become an instant TOP 5 station here in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale radio market.
There is a reason why our WSVN-7 is a nationally-renown television station, and it's not because of FOX's "American Idol". It's because of the 'in-your-face' NEWS !
THE MAJOR
1. Study the well-researched game-plan that was effectively utilized to completely move Washington D.C.'s legendary all-news heritage from WTOP-1500-AM to WTOP-103.5-FM with overwhelming success.
2. Do the same for either WIOD or WINZ.
3. Watch as you become an instant TOP 5 station here in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale radio market.
There is a reason why our WSVN-7 is a nationally-renown television station, and it's not because of FOX's "American Idol". It's because of the 'in-your-face' NEWS !
THE MAJOR
Good point, Major, and love it or hate it (the in-your-face tabloid style news), it gets ratings and sells. WIOD is just as up-front with their news as WSVN is, at least as much as the News/Talk format will allow for. Put that baby on FM and watch it fly sky high!
The-Major said:
El May-yor is right. As the phrase that pays says-"IF IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS!" For all the people who downtalk WSVN 7, face it. People hate Uncle Neil, but gee wizz Wally, if that many people hated them why are their ratings so good?
The answer Beave? Simple, people thrive others misery. It's a fact of nature. Why do you think that people gripe about tie-ups on the I or Turnpike, and in the same breath, tell how awesome of an accident they saw. I don't think that a full dose of that style would work for radio. While some stories would fly, people want the pictures to go along with it. Society is just that whacked. ;D
Stuart Elliott said:
ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME on FM (shock and awe or otherwise) would be beneficial for those of us that work in office buildings during the day that are hurricane-proof and AM radio signal-proof so that we can stay informed as to what's going on in the wild and wacky South Florida metropolitan area all around us.
Of course you may state - 'But Major - That's what WTVJ NBC-6 on 87.7 FM can offer !' To that I state that 3 hours of "Today" is not local South Florida news. Neither is "Martha", "iVillage", "Days Of Our Lives", or "Passions".
But then you may rebuttal - 'But Major - You've got the Internet, right ? Go ahead and surf it to get in on the latest news !' To that I add that some of us can't (or aren't supposed to) spend the work day surfing web sites galore because we are very busy actually working at our official jobs doing official business.
OK - Enough of that for now. Bring me the news on FM so that I can stay informed while I am at work !
THE MAJOR
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