Dear Bill, your ex-audience has spoken

28Apr08

Media Hunter has been inundated with mail this week after asking readers to suggest "How would you solve a problem like NEWFM?" The tongue-in-cheek competition offered up a chance to win a stained pair tracksuit pants and circa 1979 knitted Newtown vest to the person with the best suggestions on how to save the struggling station following its woeful results in the latest Newcastle radio survey.

Interestingly, the forum seemed to attract just as many ex-Caralis employees as it did radio listeners, many of whom took the opportunity to take pot-shots at the Supernetwork owner. The Real Bill C also waded into defense of his management tactics, although we suspect the writer of those comments may not actually reside at Pyrmont as suggested in the email address.

Despite numerous witty and catty comments, we did receive a large number of serious contributions, all of whom seemed to be genuinely concerned about the plight of the once dominant station and its effect on radio listening in Newcastle. The common theme of rescue was a return to a narrowly-focussed rock music format reminiscent of the Newcastle’s Best Rock, Fatboys era at the start of this decade. Readers suggested targeting males 18-39 with a rock format and a few good announcers, then being patient and sticking with the format for a few years. Most agreed that a ratings share of around 13.0 would be possible within a few years.

Considering that this was the overwhelmingly dominant recommendation, it seems fair that the prize goes to the first person to post the comment. Congratulations Greg, your tracky dacks and vest can be collected from
Radio 2SM, Level Three 8 Jones Bay Road, Pyrmont NSW 2009 (thats a joke too of course).

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to watch and listen to see if Bill Caralis and his current management take any notice of our suggestions or just continue to ignore the wishes of the market who have voted with their ears in recent years.

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