Why is FM News failing?

[Nick]

It's been over 6 months since FM News 101.9 launched and their ratings are less than stellar. Family Radio 94.7 is beating it despite the fact that the world didn't end. WBAI is on its way to beat it. Several out of market stations beat it.

It ain't doing well in Chicago either. I heard FM News 101.1 on a layover in Chicago last month, and noticed that it's about the exact same style as the New York version.

How long will it take until Merlin realizes that FM News is a failure? I guarantee that when FM News launches in Philly it'll do worse in the ratings than Family Radio 106.9. I'm sure that Merlin is bleeding cash since all news stations are expensive to operate and the advertising revenue must be low since they're the lowest rated commercial station.

[Shoot From Hip]

WTOP-FM was the top billing station in the country in 2010 and is routinely #1 in the market. FM news in San Francisco is either #1 or #2 in the market (KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM and KQED-FM). It's at or near the top in Chicago (WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM). In Seattle, KIRO-FM is doing very well (I do concede it is not a pure all-news product) and was #2 in the market until holiday music overtook it, and KOMO AM-FM is right behind. Perhaps your thread should be about specific stations rather than a broad statement about FM News as a format.

[reelyreal]

I thought it was pretty clear from the title, and this being the New York board, that he meant "FM News 101.9."

It should also be noted that all of the stations you mentioned as successes were successful operations on the AM band that migrated or simulcasted on FM.

Starting from scratch is no easy task, but I think it's safe to say that it's not working.  I'll admit I was wrong.  I was encouraging everyone to give it time, that FM News 101.9 would get better... it hasn't.  In my opinion, the station lacks confidence, it lacks credentials, and it lacks respect.  What's FM News 101.9?  Ask a New Yorker what 1010 WINS is, and they'll know.  Ask a New Yorker what CBS is, and they'll know.  There's no reason to respect or like this station.  It sounds amateurish and lacks confidence.

[recto101]

Look at KGO-AM San Francisco a Cumulus O&O they are basically using the Merlin Tactics of all news and KCBS 106.9/740 is still in the overall top 3 in the San Francisco area

[XCountry285]

Because everyone can find news on AM by just simply pushing a button on their car radios.

[Bugsy]

A bad radio station is just that....a bad radio station!!  Doesn't matter if it's on AM or FM or what format it is.  BLINK-FM....FREE-FM....92.3 NOW...BIG 105....K-ROCK (2x!).....MIX 102.7....Air America....etc, etc.

[recto101]

It's been over 6 months since FM News 101.9 launched and their ratings are less than stellar. Family Radio 94.7 is beating it despite the fact that the world didn't end. WBAI is on its way to beat it. Several out of market stations beat it.

It ain't doing well in Chicago either. I heard FM News 101.1 on a layover in Chicago last month, and noticed that it's about the exact same style as the New York version.

How long will it take until Merlin realizes that FM News is a failure? I guarantee that when FM News launches in Philly it'll do worse in the ratings than Family Radio 106.9. I'm sure that Merlin is bleeding cash since all news stations are expensive to operate and the advertising revenue must be low since they're the lowest rated commercial station.

Look at the San Francisco Boards about Cumulus owned Semi News KGO-AM 810. THe people in San Francisco view  that station the same way you guys view WEMP. But I wish CBS got 94.7 and 101.9 for WINS and WCBS News instead of buying TV-55.

[Nick]

I meant FM News as Merlin's stations in NYC and Chicago and soon to be Philly.

Obviously WTOP in DC is doing great, and they were able to cash in the ratings when Snowmageddon hit 2 years ago. Why didn't FM News 101.9 have a blockbuster month when the earthquake and the hurricane hit in August? The G8 summit will be in Chicago in May, will FM News 101.1 cash in on that?

[DToTheJ]

Perhaps the title of this thread should be, "Why is Merlin failing?"

[calguy]

Perhaps the title of this thread should be, "Why is Merlin failing?"

Randy Michaels has cultivated some really bad Karma, simple as that.

Honestly, news on FM isn't new, I heard it on FM in California's Central Valley years ago, but it was a simulcast with an AM. Starting a news operation without any help from an already established AM signal is a lot harder than people think.  Merlin is ahead of it's time there, but Michaels should have realized that it's very different from starting a music station. News is expensive and even more so at start up because until you get some numbers, you're paying for it out of your own pocket.