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Z Country Goes To 1067

RockofHBG said:
I wonder if all the people upset over the switch is making them change their minds.
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Even the lowest rated, the seemingly most insignificant radio stations have fans. And when those stations disappear, that fan base can be very vocal. The ratings have spoken loudly and consistently. Channel 106.7 and the Gen X format is forever toast. Too bad, as many programmers rooted for it's success as the 80s music core, as big and as powerful as it has been and fueling quite a number of formats, is aging. The 90s, particularly the early 90s, was a bad time for pop music. I'm not talking about quality, as that is in the ear of the beholder. I amreferring to the music not being mass appeal as much of it was not plsyed in many markets. During the 90-94 era, the Top 40 format was close to dead. Many markets didn't even have a single station in the format. Country was king in the 90s, Long live Z Country.
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Insiders will tell you 90s pop music tests horribly in research. Applause to stations willing to take a shot on Gen X radio, but it was a failed idea from the start. But putting on a new country station that will compete against your own proven brand is not a very wise thing either. Isn't the tower located in Lancaster County?
 
Yes, it is. In fact, it's about 5 minutes down the road from The Rose. passed by the tower every night on my way in when I worked there.
 
But putting on a new country station that will compete against your own proven brand is not a very wise thing either.
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There's a lot of overthinking in radio. There are few things a radio cstation can do formaticly that won't affect one of it's own properties in some way. Trying to dothat can be like trying not to offend anybody. You end up with a format that doesn't affect another stick...yours or the competitors.I believe it was convicted bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks. He replied "that's where the money is". Why do would you target a successful competitor or competitors format(s)? 'Cause that's where the listeners are!
 
RockofHBG said:
But putting on a new country station that will compete against your own proven brand is not a very wise thing either.
Click to expand...

There's a lot of overthinking in radio. There are few things a radio cstation can do formaticly that won't affect one of it's own properties in some way. Trying to dothat can be like trying not to offend anybody. You end up with a format that doesn't affect another stick...yours or the competitors.I believe it was convicted bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks. He replied "that's where the money is". Why do would you target a successful competitor or competitors format(s)? 'Cause that's where the listeners are!
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I would totally agree with you if it wasn't a co-owned station. If I own a McDonalds, chances are I'm not going to put up another one in the same proximity, Burger King may come in.

And what makes this even more strange is there is a history of ratings from when Z 107 and IOV competed before. Wanna bet this move drops IOV to single digits within a year and LAN regularly is the top ranked station in Lancaster again. Clear Channel must be laughing about this.
 
If I own a McDonalds, chances are I'm not going to put up another one in the same proximity, Burger King may come in.
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What sense does that make? If there are two McDonalds close together, Burger King will go nowhere near them. It's a stronger front. That aside, yes, Cumulus takes the chance of hurting their established station in one market, but could make great gains in two other markets. And in the market that they could get hurt in, they still control all the country shares and most likely more of them. Ever hear of the phrase "combo sell"? And that keeps any competitor from coming into the country battle.
 
I'm guessing the impact in Lancaster County will depend on the diary placement. I thought originally that Cumulus might sell off IOV. As far as GTY, I wouldn't be too worried, like one poster suggested. They barely had a presence in Hbg, and zero in Lancaster. GTY's audience seems very loyal.
 
A key thing to consider is the fact that for over 20 years both WIOV & WRKZ both
competed successfully as country stations. Even in the last years of the Country format
on 106.7 the station billed well, and did relatively well in terms of ratings. The only reason
the format was changed is because Citadel thought it may be possible to be successful
with another format on 106.7 and thereby also reduce competition to WIOV. FACT is
they couldn't . By returning to the country format on 106.7 Cumulus will have Country
stations that encompass the entire ADI, and whether or not 106.7 takes a few shares
from WIOV in Lancaster....it really doesn't matter they own them all and ultimately
when you've got as many stations in the market as they do with as many different
formats it enhances your ability to sell combo advertising schedules. As far as selling off
WIOV there would be no chance of that as WIOV is and has been a cash cow for years.
It was one of the highest producing stations in terms of revenue in the former Citadel
cluster and will continue to be a market leader in Lancaster and Reading even with the
re-introduction of Z Country 106.7.
 
In listening to the new Z Country, the music is on target. This is the playlist that Cumulus runs on most of it's country outlets. It's a well researched mix of new and older county. They do play some hits of the 80's. It's about as mainstream as you can get. We'll have to see how this plays out and who if impacts the most. As I've always said...ya gotta play the hits.
 
Since it's back to "Z Country", does this mean there will be a change in the station call? I don't work in radio so I don't know if WRKZ is available or not. I know when I was living in Pittsburgh I was stunned when 93.7 went Active Rock and took on the WRKZ for about 3 years. It was weird but also sort of cool since I grew up listening to WRKZ (Z-107) in Lancaster. Last I heard it was assigned to a station in Ohio. I would think a "Z" would at least have to be in the call.
 
SteelRocker said:
Since it's back to "Z Country", does this mean there will be a change in the station call?
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At the very least, there should be one impending. Cumulus was able to carry over the WMHX calls for the "Channel" era, but that can't work when you're going by "Z" in your positioning! :-X
 
Cumulus doesn't even list this station as one of theirs in Pennsylvania (on their corporate website). Used to be Citadel?
 
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