Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
Extenuating Circumstances
Friday
June 20, 2003
This has been a great week for everyone at the Bubba the Love Sponge show. On Wednesday we made our official debut for Fly 92.7 in Wichita, Kansas. Then on Thursday the word came down that we had landed Real Rock 101.1 in Orlando, FL. Additionally, a couple of new opportunities came to the forefront for us, and as Spring book comes to a close things are looking up.
The following is a response that I originally was going to put on the
radio-info.com Florida message board. But instead of doing that (and riling up the Stern and
Lex & Terry marks) I decided to put it on here, instead...
>> I know I'm gonna' hear it but, here's a stupid question. WHY is cheap channel putting Todd Clem up against Howard Stern which is on WJRR's sister station WTKS?
Simple, it will allow Clear Channel to dominate the male audience in Orlando. It's a powerful counter to
O-Rock bringing in Kramer & Twitch (who will apparently be watered down from their past incarnations to appeal more to females). With Stern and Bubba, you have the two best morning shows in the U.S., bottom line. Bubba is a known entity to Orlando, his show is successful, and it prevents O-Rock from bringing Bubba in to fight Stern. Moreover, it allows Pat & Taco Bob to move back to their successful afternoon slot.
Clearly, the JRR re-imaging last year was made as a declaration of war against O-Rock. And in a fight for M18-34 and P18-34, I don't know who would be a better fit for Real Rock 101-1 than Bubba. Say what you will about him and his content, but his numbers have been tremendous. It will be interesting to see if O-Rock still exists as a modern rocker in June 2004. Infinity faces a tough fight on that one... They may end up becoming more Modern ACish to try drawing in more female numbers (though not too much so to upset WOMX)...
>>> It is a bad idea to put up the same kind of morning show on two stations owned by the same company in the same city.
Isn't this the reason that people like to bash corporate ownership and multiple stations owned in the same market? Give Clear Channel credit for doing the best thing for the listeners in Orlando.
Bubba and Stern are two very different morning shows. They're the two most talented people in morning radio today, but to lump the two shows together is to overlook the distinct, unique talents that both hosts have. It was a smart move by Clear Channel to sign Bubba with Real Rock 101-1 and deprive O-Rock 105.9 of the opportunity to use Bubba as its morning show.
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