How Many Stations And Formats Is PPM Going To Kill Off?

An 18-34 ranker in one of the PPM markets ARB released last week is six pages long. Almost three of those pages have next to no numbers at all on them.

Prediction: we will see more WDTW's giving up trying to be the #2 player in PPM, which will be a boon to the one which lasts.

Ironically, WYCD outlasted its previous competition (WWWW) nine years ago too and now the CBS/Detroit team is once again celebrating the glow of being a format dominator, so there's a lesson in this as well. Don't pull the plug too soon, if you think the other guys may do it first.

Being the only country station in a PPM market may be as powerful as being one of two or three - fighting for metered time spent exposed in this format with geographic hot and cold spots - is difficult.

"New GM" Dollars Are Flowing To Radio, In Spite Of What You May Read

A GM spokeswoman told Advertising Age yesterday.

"We felt that some TV and print ads were necessary to communicate, in mass, to our customers, in a quick and timely manner," the spokeswoman said.

It's easy to critique, but heck since we all now own a big part of the company, why NOT? Click on that Ad Age article link and read down to the by and large very savvy comments, like:

"Strangely this spot looks to the past rather than the future...long on American imagery, quick cuts and big boxcar concepts. Short on smarts and economy...starting with the length of the spot."

PS to MAB President/CEO Karole White: I have a hot topic for Michigan Broadcasters to add to your list of concerns. How do we get them to add the word RADIO to press releases like this?

The automaker is also directly contacting all GM vehicle owners throughout the month of June.

The campaign is a sign that the troubled car maker is taking pains to educate customers about its reorganization. Radio's REACH and efficiency makes it the perfect medium to do just that!

Detroit Radio Makes Me Proud

This is the extra special time of year when radio and TV stations across North America (and the world) stuff buses with food, operate toy drives, support food banks, raise cash, “adopt” families for Christmas and employ other ingenious methods of raising millions of dollars for their communities.

For example Canada's Broadcast Dialogue reports this week that private broadcasters north of the 49th - according to the CAB - were responsible for pledges and PSAs valued at $314.5 million over the past year while time donated by station employees was more than 230,000 hours.

.. which no doubt means that the promotional calendars of the CBS Radio Cluster were already full, when in the last few weeks the future of America's big three hung in the balance, Detroit newspapers announced that they will cut back the number of print publications, research emerged that auto advertisers should cut back on TV and ramp up radio, Detroit Radio stepped up. Click on WYCD's web page and watch the video "Stand Up And Be Proud."

.. and, be proud.