Once upon a time – not that long ago actually – KMBZ 980 AM was taking down in excess of $6 million a year in billing…
But you know, times change – listeners get older, advertisers loose interest or boycott – and then whamo – next thing you know you’re KCMO Talk Radio 710. As in, you’ve gone from the penthouse to the outhouse and nobody under 50 even remembers that there was a time when you actually mattered.
which explains in part why the powers that be at Entercom Kansas City opted nearly four years ago to simulcast KMBZ 980 on 98.1 FM instead of making the arguably more obvious choice of moving 610 Sports to the high ground.
At this point however, that’s all water under the bridge.
And a lot has happened the past four years, starting with the fact that 80 percent of KMBZ’s core 25 to 54 listeners have migrated from AM to the FM band.
To that end, KMBZ has (and now is) implementing programming changes to appeal more to younger adults and less to oldsters still enamored with the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Speaking of which, as El Rushbo has continued in recent years to shoot himself in the foot, more and more large advertisers have begun to boycott his show.
For example, the Huffington Post reported last year that according to a high ranking Cumulus official, 48 of the top 50 network advertisers and” every major national ad agency” had orders to exclude Rush and Sean Hannity from their ad buys.
So here’s the deal:
On January 5 Entercom will divide KMBZ into two completely separate stations.
KMBZ on 98.1 FM will lead with five hours of its locally produced, weekday news show, followed by a pair of new news-talk hosts, followed by Dana Wright and Scott Parks, followed by Jonathan Weir. Live and local, baby.
KMBZ 980 AM (no word on a name or call letter change yet) will lead with local yakker Darla Jaye, followed by Glenn Beck, Rush and Hannity – with all four of the latter syndicated shows airing live – enabling local callers to participate in the hate mongering.
There’s more.
A little know fact outside of the radio biz is that talk stations like KMBZ and KCMO AM make a ton of dough selling lucrative, weekend informercials known in the trade as “block programming.” And by splitting KMBZ AM and FM, Entercom will be able to cash in to the tune of nearly seven figures in additional block programming.
On top of which, making KMBZ FM a Rush-Free zone for advertisers, could allow Entercom to make some serious additional bank.
The $64 million question:
Will KMBZ AM be able to post decent enough ratings to attract advertisers to its new, ultra conservative, mostly syndicated format on the lowly AM dial. Remember, they’ll have to overcome the Hannity and Rush boycotts.
So while it’s unlikely 980 AM will pull down anywhere near the ratings or revenue of its pre-simulcast past, at least the station’s overhead will be minimal.
As for the concept of knocking off WHB by moving 610 Sports to the FM dial, that day yet could come.
However for the time being, 610 continues to make inroads and nobody at Entercom seems much worried about WHB buying an FM signal given what industry observers view as its crushing debt load.
For now, Entercom thinks its plan to build on KMBZ AM and FM’s handsome bottom line will work and the game will soon be afoot.
Again, only the weird will listen to the Darla ‘woman.’ She should add Greg Orman and they could have a Minnie Sota Nasal talking contest.
Dana ‘JoCo B’ is not worth the time listening to — she’s just as hateful as you believe Limbaugh and Hannity are hateful. Parks is a drunk — which he’s admitted many times on the show’ and is a wishy washy JoCo Rino.
If only Chris Stigall would come back to KC.
As i said in the other post.
I’m not a Dana and Parks fan. I get the gimmick, but it’s lame. She’s a low-information, liberal ex hottie reporter who has seen better days. He’s a sexist RINO who drinks too much and is a little White Trash. Mix together and hilarity ensues. Zoo Radio for the AM dial.
I agree with you. She’s the most vile hatefilled person on the local airwaves. The more I hear her, I’m convinced she got where she has on her knees.
Not only would Chris Stigall detroy them so would Jerry Agar and hell, I’m starting to think Tom Becka would as well.
Tell us more about WHB’s “crushing debt load”.
How was this incurred? Was this from the original purchase or did they leverage equity to take out cash and they now have this debt?
Remember when they bought The Planet with that other company – if I recall for around $20 million – and after they started broadcasting the Royals on the FM their partner forced them to buy out their half ($10 million).
That’s just one story.
wrong! sorry hearne…you have no clue!
Hearne, did you read the link I posted on debt being the reason broadcast radio is in the pits?
Same tar pit as the newspapers new owners.
Don’t let your teabagger buddies catch you speaking ill of El Rushbo, Sean and Glenn like that!
As far as 610 Sports knocking off WHB…the enormous problem they face is horrible, awful, downright unlistenable on-air personnel. There is no place on the radio dial or Royals post season run that can hide that GLARING fact.
Thanks Madame Secretary, nothing like another sanctimonious Zelig, blown by every wind and wet by every rain to guide us towards the liberal light of the truth. Gawd knows it is easy to find, if you are not listening to Talk Radio then you will be force fed the “Narrative” day and night, 24/7, with very few exceptions, the Gospel of Multiculturalism and the Progressive Nirvana that is possible if we just stop resisting the Borg.
With that singular and significant leader of men, Ben Affleck as my guide from this point forward, it is A Clockwork Orange day for me today, toothpicks under my eye lids, I am binge watching “The West Wing” and “The News Room” until I drool into my tofu and start to believe I can keep my doctor and health plan.
I am moderated. What a shock.
KMBZ used to be great. I listened every day because it kept a good pulse on KC… Then came the conservative shift. Then Darla started doing a very predictable show… Whatever Fox News said… she said. There is no such thing as local content anymore… except on Sports Radio. I listen to Satellite for my non-sports Radio now.
The Royals need to be on FM. They were on an FM broadcast at limited scope years ago, and the sound was so much better.
If purchased as part of an extended contract, BZ charges $1000\hour for weekend time.
I can’t stand Rush or Hannity and I’m all for something that keeps me from having to lock my radio OUT of 98.1 or 980 during the 11-2pm hours. Darla ‘Virginia-Slims for Life’ could use a different shift; indifferent on her talent.
I like Jonathan, but the main reason I tune in is EJ&Ellen and D&P. (Drive-In and Drive-Home).
I agree with many of the comments regarding 610 because I listen to both as the subject or personality ‘talking head’ changes. Bob is okay when talking sports, but I could really do without 610 ‘Sports’ radio Political (obviously very liberal) commentary which is often just the same PC kids talking bout the man keeping them down.
Bottom line: I’ll take local, live and consistent on ONE station vs a confusing station and FM/AM switching circus that just makes it annoying.
Oh, and I saw someone comment about the internet streaming. All of it could use some work and stop changing stuff. Just let me listen and interact easily.
I was really glad when 980 went to FM for the signal quality. Well — its back to 980 for me. I’m tired of the Low information co-host anyway. When Parks leaves for vacation so do I . As for the early show – half the time is used telling us what is coming up. After Jan 5 — So long 98.1
Any word if the FM station will continue with Coast to Coast AM?