Yet another operations manager bites the dust at Clear Channel Atlanta

[TheBigA]

1. NPR has failed miserably, as has most other media, at doing compelling programming on their IBOC as well as analog channels.

Simple question: What "compelling programming" COULD be offered that might attract a sizable audience that also wouldn't canabalize the main channel? Because once again, the main problem with IBOC is nobody owns a radio, and no one sees a reason to buy one. Everything anyone possibly could want is already available for free in one way or another. There's simply nothing anyone can offer that would motivate a person to buy a new radio...unless the radio did something else.

 

[dubboy]

ok boys get it right

it's about long term ratings, just like Star down for a couple of years and now back, but they have had good ratings for a long time

Q100 down early on with Beat, it only took two years to get to the front

Newstalk 750 was on top, then PPM put them in a tail spin until they came to FM, now a top rated station

Bull had a couple of books 25-54, KICKS has been top rated every other book before and since

B98 was not always voted the number one at work, but have been most of the time.

V103, dominates Atlanta radio, WALR came close a couple of times but faded

Dave fm popped up a couple of books and now fading, back to a place they have been

It's a business, those who stay on top win

 

[taylorengineer]

1. NPR has failed miserably, as has most other media, at doing compelling programming on their IBOC as well as analog channels.

Simple question: What "compelling programming" COULD be offered that might attract a sizable audience that also wouldn't canabalize the main channel? Because once again, the main problem with IBOC is nobody owns a radio, and no one sees a reason to buy one. Everything anyone possibly could want is already available for free in one way or another. There's simply nothing anyone can offer that would motivate a person to buy a new radio...unless the radio did something else.

Good points again, Big A. The main fear management has is that any success on IBOC would cut the pie slices even thinner. And the slices are already pretty thin as it stands with just the analog channels in play. You're sweating hard just to make numbers with your dominate ANALOG signal - you can't even really pay attention to the second tier analog signals. Who has any time/resources for IBOC?
Another good point - something which may evolve down the road with IBOC. That's making the radio do something besides spit out music. The infamous "killer app." This is just the kind of direction radio folks need to go. Outside the traditional radio business model......what can we do which will entertain people and create profits for our shareholders. Just one simple idea.....could the radio do something else useful?
Howard Stern, whatever you think of his schtick, brought 10 million new subscribers to XM/Sirius. Mr. Personality......Mr. Showbiz.....the one and only Howard Stern. Never duplicated....never replicated. There are more American originals out there who, by his/her personality alone, could be the genesis of a successful evolution of IBOC.

 

[TheBigA]

Howard Stern, whatever you think of his schtick, brought 10 million new subscribers to XM/Sirius.

Sez who? The accepted number is 3 million. Nationally. When he was on OTA, he had 14 million.

Here's the thing: Anyone who goes on IBOC has to be willing to talk to himself for a year or two. Who is going to pay a top talent, even one who's on the beach, to do a show that no one listens to? It's a waste.

 

[taylorengineer]

Howard Stern, whatever you think of his schtick, brought 10 million new subscribers to XM/Sirius.

Sez who? The accepted number is 3 million. Nationally. When he was on OTA, he had 14 million.

Here's the thing: Anyone who goes on IBOC has to be willing to talk to himself for a year or two. Who is going to pay a top talent, even one who's on the beach, to do a show that no one listens to? It's a waste.

You're right. I Dogpiled the number - according to Tuna Amobi (real name!)an analyst with Standard and Poor's in New York, the number is closer to 2 million. Still....a big number for one personality..........
You're right again about the investment required to get IBOC in the game. But we are at a juncture - is IBOC viable or not. If not.....if it's not worth the investment....then turn it off - stop wasting energy and creating adjacent channel interference. If the industry sees a future in it then get off the fence. Do what needs to be done.