WFNZ Ratings

Nobody will listen to that crap.

 

I think you underestimate how many Fox News people are in the area.

 

And god-willing WBT steps up with a sister station of their own and finally gives Charlotte a choice in sports-talk. That's a fantastic idea, DJ Stout.

 

I imagine as news spreads WBT is going to have to make some moves. I see that Jason Lewis, one of Charlotte's most popular former hosts is going to be on from 6 to 9 pm. According to wiki he is doing well in syndication and one of the common guest hosts of the Limbaugh show. Is Charlotte going to listen to John Hancock over him? If I were running the station I'd move Lewis to the 3 - 6 slot and take on Tara Sorvecious or whomever. The hold from Rush might be too strong to take on initially though. I think there's definitely room in this market for another talk radio station. It certainly will do better than the former 1660 ratings.

 

Yeah, but it's just going to be another conservative clone like 1110.
Glenn Beck, Hannity ? God, just shoot me now.

How difficult can it be to have a 24/7 national sports radio channel like ESPN ? If we had this option, I'd never listen to 610. Ever.

 

At some point, Radio One, General Media, Clear Channel, ___________, or some other media outlet will set up another sportstalk station in this market. Why is it taking so long? A kid out of college should be able to program a station that would knock WFNZ out of the ring. A decent mix of local/nationl shows with flagship programming (Bobcats & Panthers are available) is all that's needed. Aren't we a top 25 media market now?

 

bump

 

SDS...

At this point none of those broadcasters are going to make a change to sports talk. Radio One is near bankrupt. Greater Media makes the most money in the market with WBT and WLNK. Clear Channel might make a change, but...

Running a news/talk or sports/talk station with local talent is extremely expensive. Behind WBT and WLNK, WFNZ costs the most to operate. No station in this economy is going to make a change that they can not guarantee makes more than what they are doing now.

In less than a year Charlotte will be a PPM market. PPM is a device that Arbitron will use to measure audience. It is a pager looking gadget that listens to whatever you are listening to and records it. At night you put the gadget in a cradle that calls Arbitron to tell them what you listened to.

Programmers are learning from other PPM markets. I would say 5 years from now the Charlotte market will be a lot different. You are already seeing some changes. WBCN's change to news/talk is one of them. WBT's lack of afternoon drive sports in another.

I would not be surprised if Clear Channel did not make some fairly big changes. 96.1 and 106.5 are not safe in the PPM world. CC has a new GM as of a couple of weeks ago. They did not blow out a fellow who has been there a long time just to keep things the same.

The Panthers have this year left on their contract with WBT. I would be shocked if they went anywhere else. Bobcats are rumored to be going to 610/1660. They shopped around to every station in the market and everybody said no. They had to bring a bigger sack of cash to CBS to be on 610 sometimes and 1660 sometimes. Not sure what happens when the Tar Heals, 49ers and Bobcats are playing at the same time. One thing for sure somebody gets bumped.

Only other variable is the possible 94.1 move in. They have applied to change their city of license to Faith and to move their transmitter to rowan county. Current owner is been trying to sell it for years. He thinks he will make more if it is a Charlotte station. The only Charlotte operator that has the where with all and is not full of FMs is Greater Media and Norsan. We'll have to wait and see...

t123

 

How much would it cost to go to a Fox Sports or ESPN feed then? Less same... It would be nice if one channel played the Panthers/Bobcats/Heels/Niners....

 

Like I've said. Charleston has 3. I think two of them have a local evening show and the other is all national. I see no reason why Charlotte cant support similar.