Country In NYC?

[neo11]

Ummm but K-Rock isn't rock anymore... at least not on it's analog signal...

That's not my point.  WYNY got better ratings than post-Stern K-Rock. 

Did it get better demos?  Better billing?  That's what matters.

[Justin Case]

Okay, may be I'm missing the point here?  why are comparing numbers mediocre numbers from YEARS ago to dismal numbers of today?   Plus let's not forget the demographics of NY have changed too over time... it's more diverse than ever and that doesn't bode well for country usually.

[d21ofnj]

I know its not the best alternative but isnt the country format on WKTU-HD2 still on air?

[TheBigA]

Did it get better demos? 

It got different demos.  More women than men.

 Better billing?  That's what matters.

All three CBS FM stations are near the bottom in revenues.  The CBS country station in Chicago brought in $20 million, which is $5 million more than each of the three CBS music stations in NY.  It's bad when Chicago beats New York.

[TheBigA]

Okay, may be I'm missing the point here?  why are comparing numbers mediocre numbers from YEARS ago to dismal numbers of today?   Plus let's not forget the demographics of NY have changed too over time... it's more diverse than ever and that doesn't bode well for country usually.

You can be #1 in New York with a 6 share.  That's all it takes.  You can be Top 10 with a 4.  You don't think you can program a country station on a good signal (which it hasn't had) and get better than a 2?  That's what it's getting in Miami.  Country gets a 3 share in LA.  How diverse do you think the demo is there?

I'm just suggesting that someone in NY consider taking a chance.  WRXP is the obvious target.

[neo11]

Did it get better demos? 

It got different demos.  More women than men.

And that's a problem.  More stations in NYC are targeting female demos.  More competition there.

 Better billing?  That's what matters.

All three CBS FM stations are near the bottom in revenues.  The CBS country station in Chicago brought in $20 million, which is $5 million more than each of the three CBS music stations in NY.  It's bad when Chicago beats New York.
[/quote]

I'll agree but only to a point.  What makes you think a country station will bring in better revenues than, say, CBS-FM, which is much higher in the ratings than a country format would ever be in NYC (even if its demos skew older...I'd bet country would skew older as well, especially in NYC).  And Fresh, while not performing to its potential, consistently is in the top 3-4 stations in the city overall in cume and is still consistently in 3 share territory with younger demos, something which a country station would have a hard time achieving.

WXRK is the more obvious choice because it's the weakest link, but there's still a lot of "what ifs" with that station.  What if they gain some more traction over the summer?  If they show some growth, I'm sure CBS Radio will give them some time, and if they do show that growth, it will be with the younger demos that they are craving to get and which country certainly won't get them.

I'll turn the argument on its head: it'll be rather difficult for a country station to beat a 2 share in NYC (which is just about where 92.3 is right now), so in a choice between two very mediocre outcomes, ratings-wise, I think the more attractive demos would win out, and in that case, 92.3 NOW > Country.  Also, I'll add that just because what's on 92.3 is underperforming right now, it doesn't automatically mean country is the answer.

You bring RXP into the equation even though it's not a CBS station.  It's really the same situation there...horribly underperforming station (moreso than 92.3).  And RXP has been around much longer without showing growth.  Country probably would be an improvement over what they have there now.  The question of course then is whether it would be *more* of an improvement over any other format out there.  Not just in terms of raw ratings, but billing and revenues as well.

[TheBigA]

What makes you think a country station will bring in better revenues than, say, CBS-FM

Read the rest of my post.  WUSN Chicago brought in $5 million more than WCBS-FM.  Each of the three CBS FM stations is billing about $15 mil.  It's a good thing their three AM stations are carrying the weight.  For its great 12+ numbers, WCBS-FM is a dog in revenues.  One of the worst billing stations in the Top 10.  I blame the lousy demos.  If revenues was the main criterion, WCBS-FM would be flipping formats tomorrow.

[neo11]

What makes you think a country station will bring in better revenues than, say, CBS-FM

Read the rest of my post.  WUSN Chicago brought in $5 million more than WCBS-FM.  Each of the three CBS FM stations is billing about $15 mil.  It's a good thing their three AM stations are carrying the weight.  For its great 12+ numbers, WCBS-FM is a dog in revenues.  One of the worst billing stations in the Top 10.  I blame the lousy demos.  If revenues was the main criterion, WCBS-FM would be flipping formats tomorrow.

That's an apples and oranges comparison though.  Chicago is far more of a "midwestern" market than New York is, and is much more receptive to country music.  The billing reflects that, and even then, it's still not a home run.  But you can be sure it wouldn't be $5 million better than CBS-FM in NYC.

Revenues also were the main criterion when CBS-FM was flipped to Jack back in 2005.  It was the negative backlash that did Jack in and led to the return of CBS-FM.  And while it was no runaway success, Jack FM did a lot better than NOW-FM is doing now...and probably at least as well as a country station would do, but likely with better demos and, of course, far far lower operating costs.

[BossJock1947]

Just for the record, David, it is Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

David is obviously one smart radio guy, but probably won't be consulting WSM anytime soon

You are correct! That's a job for SUUUUUUPER DUPER CONSULTANT/PROGRAMMER: (drum roll): JAN JEFFRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yossefgershon]

Some formats  just do not count anymore---'qew standards and  now 'qxr ----so why even contemplate a return of country.Even the shruburbs are going hispanic, just walk into walmart in central jersey!!!!!Soon even places where y107 did well will not be as country friendly as they once were---look at 540 in long island and its hispanic format.