Xtra and KDUS who goes first

[azenergyfan]

Ok, we all know KTAR has sports in this town so do we really need two more stations? I am thinking the fork may be put in KDUS. If that happens, what goes to KDUS? It be nice to have something original or something different than the same ol political talk that is on the am band. I wouldn't mind a piped in hot talk format while they use the morning sickness in am drive.

 

[DrAkbar]

ummmm....how 'bout Lumberyard 10~Sixty? Because Gumpdusky can't figure out how to run 14~Forty at night, slide that format over to KDUS and we'll be enjoying Brown Eyed Girl 24/7 ! That'll free up KAZG for the East Valley Radio Network, Pt III.

 

[rockjock420]

It's got to be whichever network goes away first, Fox Sports or Sporting News, and we all know that's going to be sporting news. how else will 1060 fill their days? There isn't enough snake oil in the world to buy the dayparts occupied by Sporting News.

 

[Legend City]

KTAR has sports, they also carry the games and are forced to suck up to the powers that be, so you hear what the teams want you to hear.

I tuned in this morning to Xtra, and was rudely reminded that Bick and MJ are moved, had to listen to that dullard Dan Patrick. At least it wasn't Tony Bruno and his daily call to Pat O'Brian. One of the stations will go, probably KDUS, there is way too much sports here, not not enough quality to go around.

(KTAR, Xtra, KDUS and those abominations at KXAM, oy vey!)

 

[LILBITAAAA...NICE]

They both need help, like Dr. Bob style help.

KDUS is cheap inexpensive radio. As long as they keep brokering all their shows they stay afloat. If the Dumb and Dumber show leave, sadly, Kemp wont have much to hang onto. They are a low-cost station and is very easy to run. Highest bidder however, could change their state. I see Sandusky shopping it if it starts to fail more and more. No format flip, just a sell off, especially with a weak signal.

XTRA is a goat rodeo. An apathetic sales staff and too many niche shows is the reason why. Dan Patrick in the mornings? That leaves one local sports talk show in the morning. Local will always win out in talk radio. Money makers in sports talk is afternoon drive time, proven fact. Moving Bick and MJ to Afternoons bumps the station in that slot, but starting them at 2p(an hour later than Gambo and Ash start) will keep the traveling salesmen and lunch crowd pegged on KTAR. Plus that time slot will force MJ alone a lot prior to games, as Bick will have to bounce to cover events. 5 different shows 5 days a week in their 6'oclock block plus niche shows on Weekends, kills drive by listeners. Hockey on Radio and NASCAR aren't a sales or ratings booms (didnt help KDUS). Too Much work to do there. But they will go how their contracts go with Rome and DP.

Bottomline, there needs to be 2 sports stations in the Valley- as in every major market. Problem is we currently only have one.

 

[EricStein]

Couldn't 1060 just come back from a 21-year hiatus and return as Phoenix's home for "funk 'n soul" as KUKQ? Either that, or they can lease it out to Nova M, making Phoenix LibTalk the format that can't stay in one place on the dial for at least three years (hey, anything's better than that 1190 facility - well, maybe it's better than 1310 or 1540 - even 1480 had a better metro night signal!).

 

[rockjock420]

even 1480 had a better metro night signal!).

Not much.

 

[KMGX]

They both need help, like Dr. Bob style help.

KDUS is cheap inexpensive radio. As long as they keep brokering all their shows they stay afloat. If the Dumb and Dumber show leave, sadly, Kemp wont have much to hang onto. They are a low-cost station and is very easy to run. Highest bidder however, could change their state. I see Sandusky shopping it if it starts to fail more and more. No format flip, just a sell off, especially with a weak signal.

XTRA is a goat rodeo. An apathetic sales staff and too many niche shows is the reason why. Dan Patrick in the mornings? That leaves one local sports talk show in the morning. Local will always win out in talk radio. Money makers in sports talk is afternoon drive time, proven fact. Moving Bick and MJ to Afternoons bumps the station in that slot, but starting them at 2p(an hour later than Gambo and Ash start) will keep the traveling salesmen and lunch crowd pegged on KTAR. Plus that time slot will force MJ alone a lot prior to games, as Bick will have to bounce to cover events. 5 different shows 5 days a week in their 6'oclock block plus niche shows on Weekends, kills drive by listeners. Hockey on Radio and NASCAR aren't a sales or ratings booms (didnt help KDUS). Too Much work to do there. But they will go how their contracts go with Rome and DP.

Bottomline, there needs to be 2 sports stations in the Valley- as in every major market. Problem is we currently only have one.

I'll partly agree with this assessment.

At one time, about 10 years ago, KDUS wasn't really that bad, they had more local sports talk than KGME or KMVP--and they did a pretty decent job, back then they had Sportsfan Radio Network, which later became Fox Sports and was on KGME. Cutbacks and Gumpdusky being who they are made it a much less palatable station. Most people don't even know it's called "the fan" just about everyone mockingly still calls it "the deuce" (it's previous life). Bob Kemp does a great job, he certainly isn't a passionate guy per se, but if you want mostly objective analysis and a guy that won't give you a lot of shtick then that's the best show in Phoenix in that regard. Too bad their signal is crap and their other hosts leave something to be desired.

Xtra Sports had an amazing 1 year or so from late 2000-2001, they had an awesome lineup, from Jacobs/Vince, Rome, Bickley/MJ and of course Gambo/Ash (before they were shills). What I'll disagree with from Lilbit's post is that local doesn't always win. Local has to be GOOD to be competitive (of course it also needs a good signal, which KTAR has). Rome beats McCabe and Colin Cowheard (a horrible show on ridiculous tape delay by the way). Local doesn't win in news/talk either... Rush/Hannity are the franchise in Phoenix, Aunt Carlos and Mac/GAYdos are second fiddle always (or 12th fiddle, whatever). As a side note, tuning around yesterday I heard Mac/GAYdos talking about urination and excretory functions as it relates to the light rail... remember when KTAR was classy? Then again, look at the company I guess... another story for another day.

As long as one sports station is basically a billboard for the Suns/Diamondbacks/Cards, the need for another sports station will always exist, sadly we have only 2... 1 full power AM that's a blowtorch advertiser/shill and two others that combined could be half-assed.

Dan Patrick should NEVER be on in the morning in a major market. I wonder which celebrity he saw last night that he'll drop their name into the show, hey Dan, we get it, you shook hands with someone famous, if it's not related to sports, save it for off the air, because your monotone, passionless delivery is enough to put people back to bed, not wake up. By the way, it's nice that they give Andrew Babinsky a whole 15 seconds to give us the local scoreboard and sports news during Dan's show... wow, how generous of Clear Channel, guess they needed that eXTRA minute for a super-beta prostate ad... jeez.

 

[buster2]

They both stick around because Sandusky has no better ideas about what to put on an AM station. It might as well be sports, unless they want to simulcast KUPD (just like back in the day).

XTRA is viable as long as Rome gets some ad dollars, and Bickley and MJ make a nice alternative to Gambo and Ash. Now...


I LOVE Gambo and Ash but KTAR is killing them. I know they need to sell spots, but....DANG! they are overloaded. And it's made worse by all the insipid "Sports updates in HD" crapola. Sports updates in HD... HD? What the heck does that mean? At least Hacksaw Hamilton's bogus "high speed sports wire" sounded plausible.

But aside from the dumb HD moniker, I tune into Gambo and Ash to hear, well, Gambo and Ash, NOT the same "Leandro Barbosa is out for tonight's Suns game with a tweaked hamstring" EVERY 12 MINUTES!

Kill at least half these updates and get more content from the hosts. KTAR hired these guys because they have chemistry together, know about sports, and are fun to listen to. That's why I listen to them, not for the latest scores; at least not during every freakin' spot break.

But... typical KTAR.... No matter who owns them, and whether it's sports or news or talk, eventually all must bow to the almightly power of the KTAR format of larding up the shows with every conceivable bell and whistle. Clutter is king..

Memo to KTAR: I prefer Gambo and Ash, but Bickley and MJ are on the air more without all the clutter KTAR demands. When you guys are doing HD updates, guess where I'm listening?

 

[KeithE4]

They both stick around because Sandusky has no better ideas about what to put on an AM station. It might as well be sports, unless they want to simulcast KUPD (just like back in the day).

That's the "Gump" in Gumpdusky. ;D

XTRA is viable as long as Rome gets some ad dollars, and Bickley and MJ make a nice alternative to Gambo and Ash. Now...

Rome is the only reason for XTRA to exist, just like Limbaugh & Hannity keep KFYI afloat. If CC had to bet their stations on Jacobs & Windbag on 550 and Bickley & MJ on 910, they'd be in deep doo-doo.

I LOVE Gambo and Ash but KTAR is killing them. I know they need to sell spots, but....DANG! they are overloaded. And it's made worse by all the insipid "Sports updates in HD" crapola. Sports updates in HD... HD? What the heck does that mean? At least Hacksaw Hamilton's bogus "high speed sports wire" sounded plausible.

Every "sports update" is a thinly-veiled plug for one of the teams that KTAR broadcasts.

But aside from the dumb HD moniker, I tune into Gambo and Ash to hear, well, Gambo and Ash, NOT the same "Leandro Barbosa is out for tonight's Suns game with a tweaked hamstring" EVERY 12 MINUTES!

Be sure to listen to the next Suns game on KTAR to find out who's replacing him. That's what they're trying to say.

Kill at least half these updates and get more content from the hosts. KTAR hired these guys because they have chemistry together, know about sports, and are fun to listen to. That's why I listen to them, not for the latest scores; at least not during every freakin' spot break.

But... typical KTAR.... No matter who owns them, and whether it's sports or news or talk, eventually all must bow to the almightly power of the KTAR format of larding up the shows with every conceivable bell and whistle. Clutter is king..

TMISU like to make money as much as any corporation, church-owned or publicly-traded.

Memo to KTAR: I prefer Gambo and Ash, but Bickley and MJ are on the air more without all the clutter KTAR demands. When you guys are doing HD updates, guess where I'm listening?

Plus, they do traffic reports, unlike 620. Memo to TMISU: Bring Detour Dan to AM. That way I won't change the station. That type of clutter is necessary for us commuters. ;D

 

[admanscott]

East Valley Radio III has a nice ring to it, Dr. Akbar! I think I'll do it!

In point of fact, I'd bring it back tomorrow, but I will be more careful with timing the economy so it makes business sense. Last time my instincts stunk.

I AM working on putting together a demo for a very unique weekend talk show concept I hope to clear on one of the bigger talkers here and then roll out nationally (or on Sirius/XM) if it has legs. I'll announce it here first, of course. The show will be a political/lifestyle talk mix......think a mix of Olbermann, Rick Sanchez of CNN and Glenn Beck.....with a centrist approach.

more later....

Scott Anderson

 

[landtuna]

I like the Good Doctor's plan with one simple (?) change.....

Put the Lumberyard on any 24/7 FM capable of Valley-wide coverage. Dump the colon-blow and hire a few of the recently laid-off KOOL jocks (and Mojo and Michaels). Leave the music just the way it is.

OK, that's more than one simple change but it would make me turn my radio on again.

 

[KeithE4]

I like the Good Doctor's plan with one simple (?) change.....

Put the Lumberyard on any 24/7 FM capable of Valley-wide coverage. Dump the colon-blow and hire a few of the recently laid-off KOOL jocks (and Mojo and Michaels). Leave the music just the way it is.

OK, that's more than one simple change but it would make me turn my radio on again.

That would be either 93.3, 97.9, or 100.7 - none of which need a format switch. All do fairly well (that's the "dusky" in Gumpdusky. ;D ).

HD2 on 93.3 or 100.7 might work if anyone actually owned an HD-FM receiver so they'd have some listeners (97.9 HD2 is KDUS).

 

[Bill Drake]

Couldn't 1060 just come back from a 21-year hiatus and return as Phoenix's home for "funk 'n soul" as KUKQ? Either that, or they can lease it out to Nova M, making Phoenix LibTalk the format that can't stay in one place on the dial for at least three years (hey, anything's better than that 1190 facility - well, maybe it's better than 1310 or 1540 - even 1480 had a better metro night signal!).

What are you smoking? 1190's night signal is at least as good as all the other "B" tier stations like 1230, 1360, 710, 740, 1010, etc. 1480 is (was) a sad joke. Should either go dark or move to the expanded AM band.

Face it: Feenix is a big town (as opposed to a city) with a lot of sub-par night time AM signals.

 

[EricStein]

What are you smoking? 1190's night signal is at least as good as all the other "B" tier stations like 1230, 1360, 710, 740, 1010, etc. 1480 is (was) a sad joke. Should either go dark or move to the expanded AM band.

Face it: Feenix is a big town (as opposed to a city) with a lot of sub-par night time AM signals.

I would have to disagree with you. Have you ever tuned in either 1190 or 1480 in the East Valley? They're both pathetic nighttime signals. I just think 1480 (despite their higher dial position) has a bit of an edge over 1190 at night, unless you live in Tolleson or North Scottsdale (and no, I'm not smoking anything). I also believe that 1480's facilities have been maintained better over the years than 1190. Past ownership never cared about the upkeep of 1190, that's why it is such an underachiever at its frequency (and I laughed when they used to call themselves the "clear, strong signal" during their Music of Your Life days, because even little graveyard 1230 had a better signal than them at the time - especially at night). I also laugh at the posts calling 1060 a "weak signal," because it sure isn't as bad as the other 5kW stations on the high AM - 1190, 1310, 1440, or 1480 - during the day.

The simple fact is there is no all around good signal above 1100 kHz in this market. Case closed.

 

[KeithE4]

What are you smoking? 1190's night signal is at least as good as all the other "B" tier stations like 1230, 1360, 710, 740, 1010, etc. 1480 is (was) a sad joke. Should either go dark or move to the expanded AM band.

Face it: Feenix is a big town (as opposed to a city) with a lot of sub-par night time AM signals.

I would have to disagree with you. Have you ever tuned in either 1190 or 1480 in the East Valley? They're both pathetic nighttime signals. I just think 1480 (despite their higher dial position) has a bit of an edge over 1190 at night, unless you live in Tolleson or North Scottsdale (and no, I'm not smoking anything). I also believe that 1480's facilities have been maintained better over the years than 1190. Past ownership never cared about the upkeep of 1190, that's why it is such an underachiever at its frequency (and I laughed when they used to call themselves the "clear, strong signal" during their Music of Your Life days, because even little graveyard 1230 had a better signal than them at the time - especially at night). I also laugh at the posts calling 1060 a "weak signal," because it sure isn't as bad as the other 5kW stations on the high AM - 1190, 1310, 1440, or 1480 - during the day.

The simple fact is there is no all around good signal above 1100 kHz in this market. Case closed.

1480 is audible in the 'Tuke at night. Not clear, but audible. 1190 isn't audible anywhere south of Baseline and east of 16th St.

And I won't even go into the Part-15-wannabe signal that KDUS has to the south of its tower. IBOC hash from KNX wipes it out almost anywhere in the SE valley south of Elliot Rd.

 

[DrAkbar]

Unless there's a play by play broadcast on after 6pm, who the hell cares about the nightime signal of KDUS...or for that matter KGME? Bricks were hurled at KMVP 8~Sixty when they were a Sports Parking Lot simply because a lot of listeners couldn't hear the Suns or D'backs game at night. The Nurse and I remind all that most stations make their $$ between 6am and 6pm, then coast after sunset. As far as the topic goes: both Xtra & KDUS will continue to hang in there as long as operating costs are kept low and can be offset by profitable FMs in their respective clusters.

 

[LILBITAAAA...NICE]

I agree with the good Dr. with his conglomerate theory. I still think the first of those station that gets someone new and fresh (up and comer or Established new face in the valley) will win the battle for second. How many time can we re-hash DP, Rome, Bick and MJ, Rock and Manuch, Tony Bruno, and Kemp. Finding some talent that isn't long in the tooth in the area or showing signs of gray hair might be the best for the Valley.