Hints to where Free FM will be going??

[actioncentral]

Besides "Free FM," Infinity has registered the following slogans as trademarks.
Although can't be sure if they are related to Free FM, it looks like it:
"most dangerous radio station"
"radio without rules"
"be unpredictable"
"How Far will you go"
"Bugged"
action central

[SirRoxalot]

Clear Channel put a "pirate" on the air for a short time near Cleveland. Their website was pretty interesting, and was pulled once word got out that CC owned the station.

This site managed to grab the "Free Radio Ohio" website before it was taken down. It might be worth a look if you're trying to read CC's tea leaves.

Here's more about the "Free Radio Ohio" stunt, and here's the current Radio Free Ohio website. Can you say "Air America?" The station is WARF in Akron, 1350AM, and is barely a blip on the local radar.

[OldAkronite]

> Here's more about the "Free Radio Ohio"
> stunt, and here's the current Radio Free Ohio website. Can
> you say "Air America?" The station is WARF in Akron, 1350AM,
> and is barely a blip on the local radar.

Any attempt to connect our local liberal talk station with Infinity's "Free FM" push is misguided, IMHO.

Perhaps some of the "buzz generating" talk is the same.  But WARF launched the way it did for a reason.  It was playing on the perception that liberal talk was so out of the "mainstream", that "someone had to start a pirate radio station" to "get the word out" in a conservative-controlled media world.  (Notice my, uh, liberal use of quotes.)

It's just a marketing ploy.  And it doesn't mean that Infinity's rumored push for "Free FM" FM talkers has anything to do with liberal talk...I'd almost bet against it.  If you believe Howard Stern, "Free FM" means that the stations will be promoting against his new home, satellite radio, by reminding listeners that you won't have to pay for their programming.

-OA

______________
Ohio Media Watch - http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com

[actioncentral]

>   If you believe Howard Stern, "Free FM" means that the
> stations will be promoting against his new home, satellite
> radio, by reminding listeners that you won't have to pay for
> their programming.
>
> -OA
>
I think you're right.
action central

[OldAkronite]

> I think you're right.

I think Howard's right.

Keep in mind one very important fact when you hear Howard talk about this whole thing - he has a major, major source for his "Free FM" information.

That's right, newly hired Sirius talk programmer Tim Sabean, who'll be responsible for overseeing Stern's channels on the satellite provider.  Until last week, Sabean was program director of Infinity rocker and Howard Stern affiliate WYSP/94.1 Philadelphia, and active rock format head for the company itself.

You don't think Sabean knows a little about what his now-former company is planning?  Hmm?

-OA

______________
Ohio Media Watch - http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com

[SirRoxalot]

My bad. I knew I'd heard "Radio Free"/"Free Radio" referenced before on Radio-Info, and had to do a little hunting to find it. I didn't pick up on the fact that the new "Free" positioning is being offered by Infinity instead of Clear Channel.

Did the Clear Channel tactic inspire Infinity, or was it inspired by Infinity? I find it interesting that two major players are now pushing "Free" as the centerpiece of a new format labelling.

[OldAkronite]

> Did the Clear Channel tactic inspire Infinity, or was it
> inspired by Infinity? I find it interesting that two major
> players are now pushing "Free" as the centerpiece of a new
> format labelling.

Not really.

For one, "Radio Free Ohio" is a local branding for liberal talk WARF/Akron.  I've seen no evidence that Clear Channel intends to use it - or the pirate stunt - in other markets.  Most of their libtalkers are dubbed "Progressive Talk (frequency)", like 1230 in Columbus, etc. etc.  They probably couldn't use it now, anyway...the stunt here got so much national attention.

From what I've heard out of Howard Stern's show, the "Free" for Infinity's "Free FM" would indicate to listeners that they don't have to pay satellite radio fees for programming similar to Howard, once he jumps to Sirius early next year.  It doesn't appear to have any connection with the "Free Radio Ohio" branding or stunt, but appears to be more "free" as in "doesn't cost anything".

-OA

______________
Ohio Media Watch - http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com

[954]

> Besides "Free FM," Infinity has registered the following
> slogans as trademarks.
> Although can't be sure if they are related to Free FM, it
> looks like it:
> "most dangerous radio station"
> "radio without rules"
> "be unpredictable"
> "How Far will you go"
> "Bugged"
> action central

You let them TM action central?

How could you?

73s from 954, way down yonder in the path of Wilma
 

______________

http://www.univox.com/radio/'>South Florida Radio Pages