If CBS Radio is going to challenge Clear Channel in the top two markets, then we’ve also heard this will start a major format war in these and other markets. Specifically, CC Radio may flip an FM in NYC to News/Talk in NYC; Put another AC back on in Dallas; and lean Alternative KYSR-FM LA further into CBS Radio’s heritage KROQ-FM. But the bottom line is will there be big name talent on these CHR stations? For CHR, they really have to have talent. You can’t just get on there and play music. You have to have a high entertainment value talent. If it’s not an entertaining radio station, they aren’t going to move the listeners away from KIIS or Z-100.
RBR/TVBR observation: We see a great opportunity in LA—Take 98.7 Star FM and make it “Indie 98.7,” picking up where Indie 103.1 left off—but this time with a full market signal. How about Indie 104.3 in NYC? Use Clear Channel’s eRockster HD format as a starter, perhaps.
