It's NEVER been about the numbers or the dollars for me, David. And it NEVER will be.
It's a hobby, then. That makes a world of difference.
Can KTWV or BA make that claim? I think not.
They certainly can. They talk to their listeners, albeit in a more organized manner, and implement what the listeners indicate they want to hear. Same thing, just a lot more expensive and precise.
Jones failed???
Yep, the format did not make money, and was not showing any growth that would indicate it might... so the new owners killed it.
If anything, Jones affiliates, in relative terms, were doing MUCH better than the KTWVs and WNUAs of the world because their overhead was much lower and their programming was FAR better.
The ratings, indexed against viable station average share in each market, were not better. And the expenses of all smaller market stations are lower... they have to be. An LA station can bill $50 million a year, while all the stations in Tucson, market # 50 in revenue, don't bill that together.
Jones had the blueprint, the vision, the realistic expectations, and sharp programming which translated into steady listenership and VIABILITY.
Were the format profitable and salable (the revenue comes from inventory, not fees from the station for the most part) it would not have been dropped.