-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
WSCR has its eye on FM dial
- Thread starter radioman148
- Start date
Yeah, the speculation on the "other" local board has honed in on WJMK as the likely victim - if and when such a switch is made. Personally, I have very mixed feelings about this. CBS might get a few more listeners to the WSCR-FM feed than what WJMK gets, but what of the AM? Does it become relegated to the trash heap of other ignored properties?
Many would laud such a move, but I'd like to point out that to most of us it would amount to one less station to dial in. So, even less variety than before.
Personally, if they had to do an AM simulcast, I'd prefer it be WBBM. And, experience in other markets has shown that those sorts of FM simulcasts garner excellent ratings. CBS has done well with a similar arrangement in San Francisco with KCBS and Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington and the KSL-AM-FM combo in Salt Lake. All have done much better than a sports talk format would do.
Many would laud such a move, but I'd like to point out that to most of us it would amount to one less station to dial in. So, even less variety than before.
Personally, if they had to do an AM simulcast, I'd prefer it be WBBM. And, experience in other markets has shown that those sorts of FM simulcasts garner excellent ratings. CBS has done well with a similar arrangement in San Francisco with KCBS and Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington and the KSL-AM-FM combo in Salt Lake. All have done much better than a sports talk format would do.
BRNout said:Yeah, the speculation on the "other" local board has honed in on WJMK as the likely victim - if and when such a switch is made. Personally, I have very mixed feelings about this. CBS might get a few more listeners to the WSCR-FM feed than what WJMK gets, but what of the AM? Does it become relegated to the trash heap of other ignored properties?
Many would laud such a move, but I'd like to point out that to most of us it would amount to one less station to dial in. So, even less variety than before.
Personally, if they had to do an AM simulcast, I'd prefer it be WBBM. And, experience in other markets has shown that those sorts of FM simulcasts garner excellent ratings. CBS has done well with a similar arrangement in San Francisco with KCBS and Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington and the KSL-AM-FM combo in Salt Lake. All have done much better than a sports talk format would do.
I don't think you'll see WSCR disappear anytime soon from the AM band. This move however is in step with
the general trend of younger people listening to FM only.
Down the road we can only speculate on the future of the Score.
Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington
WTOP (AM) Silver Spring, Maryland transmits with just 3500 daytime and 44 watts at night. The FM simulcast increases the reach at night.
Much different situation in Chicago. AM 670 and FM 104.3 transmit with the maximum power allowed by the FCC. As everyone knows, 670 is a 50,000 watt clear channel, and one of the strongest signals in the entire country. IMO it would be a total waste to simulcast the same programming on both frequencies.
More likely they intend to simulcast WSCR on a WJMK subchannel. Hopefully they move The Score to WJMK-HD3, and they don't kill the Oldies which are already on WJMK-HD2.
avtosalon said:Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington
WTOP (AM) Silver Spring, Maryland transmits with just 3500 daytime and 44 watts at night. The FM simulcast increases the reach at night.
Much different situation in Chicago. AM 670 and FM 104.3 transmit with the maximum power allowed by the FCC. As everyone knows, 670 is a 50,000 watt clear channel, and one of the strongest signals in the entire country. IMO it would be a total waste to simulcast the same programming on both frequencies.
More likely they intend to simulcast WSCR on a WJMK subchannel. Hopefully they move The Score to WJMK-HD3, and they don't kill the Oldies which are already on WJMK-HD2.
WTOP was originally on 1500 as a highly directional 50kw and didn't cover the current population sprawl. Moving the product to FM was obvious.
In the case of 670, it does have a big signal. However, the field strength has no chance against modern day interference. Also, FM is the place to be as AM radio today has few listeners under 40.
radiorob2.0 said:avtosalon said:Bonneville has gotten killer ratings with WTOP-FM in Washington
WTOP (AM) Silver Spring, Maryland transmits with just 3500 daytime and 44 watts at night. The FM simulcast increases the reach at night.
Much different situation in Chicago. AM 670 and FM 104.3 transmit with the maximum power allowed by the FCC. As everyone knows, 670 is a 50,000 watt clear channel, and one of the strongest signals in the entire country. IMO it would be a total waste to simulcast the same programming on both frequencies.
More likely they intend to simulcast WSCR on a WJMK subchannel. Hopefully they move The Score to WJMK-HD3, and they don't kill the Oldies which are already on WJMK-HD2.
WTOP was originally on 1500 as a highly directional 50kw and didn't cover the current population sprawl. Moving the product to FM was obvious.
In the case of 670, it does have a big signal. However, the field strength has no chance against modern day interference. Also, FM is the place to be as AM radio today has few listeners under 40.
WSCR is simply trying to establish a place on the FM dial. Time will tell how they proceed with the AM.
Yeah, but you all missed one of my points: that IF you're CBS radio and you want to flip an FM to garner great ratings and make big bucks - then WBBM is the better choice. WSCR on FM would seem to be a waste - the content isn't that compelling and - many of you are right - coverage on 670 is perfectly fine.
If you're going to waste a 50 kw AM signal by simulcasting it on an FM that everyone will switch to, then flip WBBM because you'll easily see triple the listenership on 104.3 that way. And, the KSL example is a perfect one, the AM is a monster while their 102.7 FM simulcast is a class C - but not as strong as others in the market. Yet with it, they're killing 'em in the ratings. A similar scenario could be seen with WBBM. As for WSCR? Not so much.
If you're going to waste a 50 kw AM signal by simulcasting it on an FM that everyone will switch to, then flip WBBM because you'll easily see triple the listenership on 104.3 that way. And, the KSL example is a perfect one, the AM is a monster while their 102.7 FM simulcast is a class C - but not as strong as others in the market. Yet with it, they're killing 'em in the ratings. A similar scenario could be seen with WBBM. As for WSCR? Not so much.
BRNout said:Yeah, but you all missed one of my points: that IF you're CBS radio and you want to flip an FM to garner great ratings and make big bucks - then WBBM is the better choice. WSCR on FM would seem to be a waste - the content isn't that compelling and - many of you are right - coverage on 670 is perfectly fine.
If you're going to waste a 50 kw AM signal by simulcasting it on an FM that everyone will switch to, then flip WBBM because you'll easily see triple the listenership on 104.3 that way. And, the KSL example is a perfect one, the AM is a monster while their 102.7 FM simulcast is a class C - but not as strong as others in the market. Yet with it, they're killing 'em in the ratings. A similar scenario could be seen with WBBM. As for WSCR? Not so much.
I agree with you and maybe both will happen. They may convert another FM or use HD2 channels.
WBBM's ratings are still very good. Although your plan would make them even better, right now they may be more concerned about WSCR since baseball season is here and their ratings are not climbing like they had hoped. Already they've added Dan McNeil and changed their lineup.
So whether or not we agree with this strategy, WSCR seems to be their priority right now.
radioman148 said:Although your plan would make them even better, right now they may be more concerned about WSCR since baseball season is here and their ratings are not climbing like they had hoped. Already they've added Dan McNeil and changed their lineup.
So whether or not we agree with this strategy, WSCR seems to be their priority right now.
Putting them on FM isn't going to ever make the White Sox as big a draw as the Cubs are. Not even close. That's just how it is. The Sox should be happy to have a killer 50 kw powerhouse as a flagship and CBS should be happy to have a piece of the MLB pie here. HD-2? Sure. But a full FM? That would be a waste IMO.
BRNout said:radioman148 said:Although your plan would make them even better, right now they may be more concerned about WSCR since baseball season is here and their ratings are not climbing like they had hoped. Already they've added Dan McNeil and changed their lineup.
So whether or not we agree with this strategy, WSCR seems to be their priority right now.
Putting them on FM isn't going to ever make the White Sox as big a draw as the Cubs are. Not even close. That's just how it is. The Sox should be happy to have a killer 50 kw powerhouse as a flagship and CBS should be happy to have a piece of the MLB pie here. HD-2? Sure. But a full FM? That would be a waste IMO.
I don't think it's just about the White Sox. Sure the Sox give their rating a lift, but not as much this year.
I just think they're trying to find some better answers for their advertising dollars. I'm not so sure they'll ever end up on 104.3 FMs regular channel. We'll see.
I'll bet they do. Or if not 104.3, then one of their other channels. Look at it this way: music formats are not necessarily gaining ground in the most desirable demos, whereas talk/sports programs are. BUT... I don't think they're going to really get the ratings boost they are looking for by simulcasting on an HD-2 channel. That would be like moving to short wave! Sure, they could pick up a few listeners, but not enough. They need the main analog FM channel!
What will happen to the AM? Who knows! It's not for the office buildings downtown, that's for sure. And never has been (don't blame CFL's, either)!
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a flip, with sports going to the FM and a nice oldies channel on 670-- especially if they turned off the danged IBLOCK and put it on CQUAM! They would have TONS of listeners, in-market and elsewhere, because there's almost nothing like that left on AM. Why not put the old time programming on the old time media where the older listeners are...
What will happen to the AM? Who knows! It's not for the office buildings downtown, that's for sure. And never has been (don't blame CFL's, either)!
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a flip, with sports going to the FM and a nice oldies channel on 670-- especially if they turned off the danged IBLOCK and put it on CQUAM! They would have TONS of listeners, in-market and elsewhere, because there's almost nothing like that left on AM. Why not put the old time programming on the old time media where the older listeners are...
It's hard to see how simulcasting would make more money for CBS. WSCR AM/FM would have to make more money than WSCR and the FM combined. And moving WSCR to FM only is highly unlikely; there's nothing they could do on 670 that would make the money WSCR does on 670 or what the old music FM made.
In Denver, sports station KKFN moved from AM to FM. The 12+ ratings are a little higher on FM, but only a little.
The AM became KRWZ "Crusin' Oldies" with lower ratings than sports had on AM and considerably lower ratings than the old FM music format, which was smooth jazz. KRWZ's demos would be considerably older than sports and probably quite a bit older than smooth jazz.
Maybe the new arrangement in Denver makes more money, but they certainly had more listeners with sports on AM and smooth jazz on FM.
In Denver, sports station KKFN moved from AM to FM. The 12+ ratings are a little higher on FM, but only a little.
The AM became KRWZ "Crusin' Oldies" with lower ratings than sports had on AM and considerably lower ratings than the old FM music format, which was smooth jazz. KRWZ's demos would be considerably older than sports and probably quite a bit older than smooth jazz.
Maybe the new arrangement in Denver makes more money, but they certainly had more listeners with sports on AM and smooth jazz on FM.
jh said:It's hard to see how simulcasting would make more money for CBS. WSCR AM/FM would have to make more money than WSCR and the FM combined. And moving WSCR to FM only is highly unlikely; there's nothing they could do on 670 that would make the money WSCR does on 670 or what the old music FM made.
In Denver, sports station KKFN moved from AM to FM. The 12+ ratings are a little higher on FM, but only a little.
The AM became KRWZ "Crusin' Oldies" with lower ratings than sports had on AM and considerably lower ratings than the old FM music format, which was smooth jazz. KRWZ's demos would be considerably older than sports and probably quite a bit older than smooth jazz.
Maybe the new arrangement in Denver makes more money, but they certainly had more listeners with sports on AM and smooth jazz on FM.
Getting back to the WBBM idea does KCBS in San Francisco simulcast or are they on an HD subcarrier?
jh said:KCBS is an AM/FM simulcast.
That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure.
flytrap said:Bring Back WMAQ. I used to listen to Country on 670 at night when I was a kid. Of course that will never happen.
Check this out! http://www.scottchilders.com/timecapsule/TCWMAQ.htm
flytrap said:Bring Back WMAQ. I used to listen to Country on 670 at night when I was a kid. Of course that will never happen.
I liked WMAQ the best when they aired Monitor on the weekends in the 50s & 60s.
Don't forget Patterns in Music with John Doremus, which always began with the music from "Dream of Olwen". And the Lux Radio Theatre (have I got that name right)? My mom used to catch me listening at night on my Remco 1-transistor radio when I was supposed to be sleeping, and make me turn it off! Man, the sound quality I used to get on that little set!
audioguy said:Don't forget Patterns in Music with John Doremus, which always began with the music from "Dream of Olwen". And the Lux Radio Theatre (have I got that name right)? My mom used to catch me listening at night on my Remco 1-transistor radio when I was supposed to be sleeping, and make me turn it off! Man, the sound quality I used to get on that little set!
And Jack Eigen at 11PM.
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.