KOKC Automation

[OKCRadioGuy]

Yeah. They already tried to sort of go the expensive route early in the game and have at this point abandoned that approach.  Plenty of money was spent on the station's launch and first year, but a couple of very important expenditures was missed.  The most important of those was a PD.  Somone with about 20 years experience in this size and style of market would have made a huge difference. Instead they hired a guy from the local traffic service.  Sadly that's one of the driving forces that drove the thing into the ground.  When the FM properties stopped printing money the brakes were put on AM costs.  They are at a point where it's going to be at due to lack of what will be spent on it.

[NightAire]

That sounds similar to what appears to have happened at 1170 / KFAQ in Tulsa.  They came on the air gang-busters, and for a while looked like they might make a solid run at KRMG.

Eventually, however, the lack of ratings caught up with them, and they have been cut to the bone.  They have one, maybe two people to cover all the news 24/7.  The morning show is still live, but the live noon hour and live afternoons are both long gone.

1170 is another "can't fail" signal that, at least from the outside, looks like it's failing.

[OKCRadioGuy]

It's sad that heritage powerhouse AMs can't find something to hack out decent ratings and revenue these days.  It's certainly an uphill battle.

[stacker]

OKC, I think is has much to do about an "heritage" station moving away from it's heritage being forced to reinvent itself.

Why fool around with something that has worked for 75 years or so?

Bottom line is that the "cluster" mentality has trickled down.  One station in the cluster performing like gangbusters?  Pay less attention to the others.  That usually means the AM in the cluster will get the short end of the stick.  Not only the AM, the the less profitable FM's in the cluster.

There is no way that a 50 kW signal in OKC can't prosper, unless management has bought into the idea that "no one listens to AM".

That's bogus.  You can look at the Aribtrons in other major markets.  In many cases, an AM is still the dominant station. 

If I owned KOKC, I would be asking myself "how did I manage to f**k this up?

[ionosphere]

If Renda wants to seriously make KOKC work as a talk station, I think they need to do everything they can to secure the broadcast rights to Rush and/or Hannity. Then, once the ad dollars start moving again, expand...or, in their case, create...a local presence.

[billyg]

If Renda wants to seriously make KOKC work as a talk station, I think they need to do everything they can to secure the broadcast rights to Rush and/or Hannity. Then, once the ad dollars start moving again, expand...or, in their case, create...a local presence.

That's not going to happen because Clear Channel owns Premiere Radio Networks, the home of Rush, Hannity, Beck and also George Noory's Coast-To-Coast.  Fat chance of KOKC getting any of them unless CC gets in huge trouble.

What I think KOKC needs to do is put together a strong local morning show to battle KTOK's morning show and promote the heck out of it.

[ionosphere]

If Renda wants to seriously make KOKC work as a talk station, I think they need to do everything they can to secure the broadcast rights to Rush and/or Hannity. Then, once the ad dollars start moving again, expand...or, in their case, create...a local presence.

That's not going to happen because Clear Channel owns Premiere Radio Networks, the home of Rush, Hannity, Beck and also George Noory's Coast-To-Coast.  Fat chance of KOKC getting any of them unless CC gets in huge trouble.

I guess that shows how little interest I have in what passes for talk radio these days.

[NightAire]

Didn't KFAQ put together a morning show and promote the heck out of it?  They still seem in trouble today...  then again, I suppose it could be argued as to whether or not it was "strong..."

I'm wondering if there is ANY market where the second conservative talk station does any decent numbers.  It seems there's plenty of programming available...  but POPULAR programming is a different story...

[ionosphere]

Didn't KFAQ put together a morning show and promote the heck out of it?  They still seem in trouble today...  then again, I suppose it could be argued as to whether or not it was "strong..."

I'm wondering if there is ANY market where the second conservative talk station does any decent numbers.  It seems there's plenty of programming available...  but POPULAR programming is a different story...

I think any conservative talk station that doesn't have Rush or Hannity as an anchor is fighting an uphill battle. Conservatives I've talked to about KFAQ say they don't listen because the shows on 1170 aren't delving into issues, they're just rattling sabers.

Interestingly, I think Michael Savage gets into true issues more than any other conservative host, but he just comes off as a wacko to alot of people.

[billyg]

Didn't KFAQ put together a morning show and promote the heck out of it?  They still seem in trouble today...  then again, I suppose it could be argued as to whether or not it was "strong..."

I'm wondering if there is ANY market where the second conservative talk station does any decent numbers.  It seems there's plenty of programming available...  but POPULAR programming is a different story...

The only other conservative talk AM stations I seen that beat the AM talker with Rush, Hannity, Beck are the stations with a huge emphasis on local news-traffic-weather along with local talk hosts who know their city and it's politics, and a local sports team like how the Cardinals help KMOX or The Cubs help WGN. Hummm...If KOKC could snag the Thunder's broadcasts from WWLS that might be a huge boost.

There's just a glut of way too many AM stations like KOKC (and KSKY and KLIF in Dallas) that are satisfied with a lineup of crap second-string syndicated talkers, a few local weekend shows and taking in whatever ratings and network or local cash they can bring in.

And I think KFAQ just might have worn out it's welcome in Tulsa with it's hardcore conservative approach.