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WPHT AM 1210 at a 2.2 in June 2014 PPM's

I hate to continue discussion of WPHT- but I'm just wondering what other formats besides news, or sports could work? What happened to getting creative? I guarantee theres some sort of format that could really work and actually freshen up the drab AM stations in philly. Try a hybrid of classic rock/ 80's hits with some 90's alternative thrown in. Add some really interesting small- time talk shows about legitimate important news and for good measure you can have hannity or rush in for our friendly conservatives. Look, I know music isn't always meant to be on the AM, but what else are we gonna do? I'm sick of hearing sports on 1210 idea. No- you want sports? Check 610, 660, 97.5, 94.1 and at night we also can also throw in 700, 1000, 1500, 1520, 1530. Plenty of outlets for sports. Now think about, if PHT switched to this rock, 80's, 90's small talk format, I'll betcha people will start listening. OGL can use some competition. Also, for our DX'er friends, hearing good music on a blowtorch station will be a much needed change.

It's risky, but if I could make CBS do this, I would certainly be willing to run PHT and put my format to the test. The moral- Radio owners need to get creative. There's more to life than just Syndicated talk, Non- stop news and Sports.

This is like somebody in one of the Titanic lifeboats, with the Titanic's stern out of the water and the bow underwater, asking "what else can we try?"

Oldies on FM and Older Oldies on AM is one of the things CBS tried with this station.
And DXers don't sell spots.

Big A, no, they are not making money. But as is is the least worst option for now.
 
They are an integral part of the combined market strategy for Philadelphia, sold as a package. Typically in a combo like this, they sell demos, not individual stations.

And between KYW and WPHT they deliver the White, blue collar, Archie Bunker, pre-death demo. But who wants to buy that?
 
That's why they include other stations as part of the package.

Probably. But what advertiser cares how having those listeners in the package - and paying to reach them? CBS really can't charge for them. They don't help the money demo cost per thousand. Anyone who wants to make a targeted buy is not going to want them.
 
Big A, no, they are not making money.

How do you know that a station that billed $6 million last year is not making money? They bill about the same as WRDW, and more than WRFF. While that is not in the top tier of stations, it is in a group that should be profitable. Given the decided lack of options for any AM station, they probably will continue to do what they are doing as long as it produces a profit.
 
Probably. But what advertiser cares how having those listeners in the package - and paying to reach them? CBS really can't charge for them. They don't help the money demo cost per thousand. Anyone who wants to make a targeted buy is not going to want them.

Half of the WPHT listeners are under 55. *

* 3 book rolling average.
 
Well Fred I see your point. But in all honesty who would care if we tried that? At this rate, its worth a shot. Either that or we can go to 24/7 Stock Reports all day. Or "Sounds of Wildlife 1210" "All Nature, All the Time"
 
Just a glance at the rolling averages that David E referenced, and it looks like CBS might start to re-consider the switch of KYW to 1210, and WPHT to 1060.

Everything depends on the company's priorities. And certainly one of them would be the branding and the tradition of the '1060' through the decades. And the news would no longer be 'the center of your dial'. But if the recent KYW books indicate this is more than just a seasonal bloop, the bigger omni 1210 signal has to be a consideration. The way things are going on AM -- WCBS and WINS have been sluggish after that winter, for example -- the frequency swap might amount to just a tradeoff, like changing the toilet paper aboard your average Carnival cruise ship. But signal priority has to stand a chance of being raised in CBS discussions nowadays. And the publicity that such a swap generates won't hurt, either.

Yet at this point into 2014, it appears that KYW has taken the bigger hit of the two properties. Which format is more worth preserving, *if* it comes down to that choice? And through what method(s)? Maintenance of the bigger biller will get the nod, a lead pipe cinch.
 
Just a glance at the rolling averages that David E referenced, and it looks like CBS might start to re-consider the switch of KYW to 1210, and WPHT to 1060.

Hmmm. Just that KYW has better coverage of western and northern suburbs. But I'd say news is the top priority for CBS in all markets, including Philadelphia.
 
Just a glance at the rolling averages that David E referenced, and it looks like CBS might start to re-consider the switch of KYW to 1210, and WPHT to 1060.

Everything depends on the company's priorities. And certainly one of them would be the branding and the tradition of the '1060' through the decades. And the news would no longer be 'the center of your dial'. But if the recent KYW books indicate this is more than just a seasonal bloop, the bigger omni 1210 signal has to be a consideration. The way things are going on AM -- WCBS and WINS have been sluggish after that winter, for example -- the frequency swap might amount to just a tradeoff, like changing the toilet paper aboard your average Carnival cruise ship. But signal priority has to stand a chance of being raised in CBS discussions nowadays. And the publicity that such a swap generates won't hurt, either.

Yet at this point into 2014, it appears that KYW has taken the bigger hit of the two properties. Which format is more worth preserving, *if* it comes down to that choice? And through what method(s)? Maintenance of the bigger biller will get the nod, a lead pipe cinch.

It's an interesting idea. KYW would improve its coverage in Bucks County (where they don't have much cume now due to what Julius calls a "bad signal") but loose coverage (and cume) in the Western 'burbs. Classic business mistake: To risk current customers by trying to get new ones.

And let's face it, the angry old White guys who listen to these stations, especially WPHT, historically don't deal well with change - any change. They didn't seem to handle Rush moving to FM and then back to 1210 a year later at all well. Just like listeners in New York seem to have trouble dealing with Rush moving from one AM station to another. Inertia is AM radio's friend. Change is not.
 
Yea that whole IQ106.9 didn't last too long now did it? Although I did enjoy hearing Dave Ramsey on sunday nights. The angry old white guys just have to face it that things never stay the same. If for CBS the best move is to swap 1060 and 1210, then do it. However, I will miss hearing the classic theme song "K-Y-W Newsradio 10-60"!

I bet all you Delaware valliers sung that, didn't you?;)

But still I don't see what CBS has got to loose (besides millions of bucks I guess) by switching WPHT to a new format. But for God's sake if they do that, please, I beg you, NO SPORTS!!!!
 
Just a glance at the rolling averages that David E referenced, and it looks like CBS might start to re-consider the switch of KYW to 1210, and WPHT to 1060

The calculated 5 mV/m of both signals covers 4.5 million persons. There is no real "listeners reached" gain, and lots of downside in making a switch against decades of KYW usage habit.
 
But still I don't see what CBS has got to loose (besides millions of bucks I guess) by switching WPHT to a new format. But for God's sake if they do that, please, I beg you, NO SPORTS!!!!


You say "no sports." Julius says "sports." I guess that guarantees they'll do nothing.
 


The calculated 5 mV/m of both signals covers 4.5 million persons. There is no real "listeners reached" gain, and lots of downside in making a switch against decades of KYW usage habit.

Maybe but it's not the same 4.5 million people. They will lose some. They pick up some potential listeners who've been doing fine without KYW and they are not likely to gain many of them as actual listeners. Result: Net loss in cume.
 
Maybe but it's not the same 4.5 million people. They will lose some. They pick up some potential listeners who've been doing fine without KYW and they are not likely to gain many of them as actual listeners. Result: Net loss in cume.

That was exactly my point in mentioning that the downside is
significant.

Some listeners lost, uncertainty about gaining new ones and the major issue of a frequency change breaking decades of habit and dial position awareness.

 
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