NEWFM relaunch: have your say

15Jun08

Same shit different smell.

Instead of being proactive and completely retooling the station they have just snipped bits of KO and bits of NX and patched it together.

But then a leopard doesn’t change its spots, does it Caralis?

So far after one week I think the NEWFM music is better than it was a month or two ago. The question is will they lose the small audience they had who liked the old music, before they begin building audience with the new music?

Secondly, it sounds pretty similar to the other stations, especially KOFM, so I don’t see how this is going to give the a big lift. I would have gone a for a gap in the market rather than copy the opposition.

Thirdly, while the music sounds better, the announcers are no great shakes. St John and Don aren’t very energetic or even funny. The rest just sound like they always did.

While its been an improvement, I don’t think it will translate into a ratings winner.

I am with Mark. They have missed the boat here. Needed a serious relaunch. New name, ID, slogan and sound. A totally new identity is needed to distance themselves from the stench of failure that has been lingering around for so long.

I don’t particularly agree…..I think if NEW made a big song and dance about another change it only gets peoples expectations up. At least they are playing familiar music now and I wouldn’t be suprised if the next survey or 2 reflects it. NX did the same thing years ago when it rated a lot lower than NEW does now…..!!!!

I like the music. Don’t know what that means as far as ratings go but so far so good for me. The Harley gotcha call was funny.

At this stage they are only preaching to the converted. They need to do two basic things:
1. get listeners to listen longer with better music and better announcers and some incentives.
2. Get more listeners with promotions and activity. Right now the only people who even know there has been a change is their small audience and perhaps some of their staff (but I wouldn’t even bank on that).

Open up the piggy bank Bill and do some marketing.

I was expecting to see a promo or some sort of ad in The Newcastle Herald. Did they do that at all? or did i miss that?
i have noticed more new hits but not a whole lot has changed with the music that i can really tell. It’s just like the other two stations. Could they not try something totally different.And now Blind Melon calls himself John – what is that?

I can’t spot the difference. The 3 FM stations in Newcastle all sound the same. More and more people will be joining me listening to great music online unless someone here actually tries to create some stimulating radio.

Blind Melon was fun to listen too and always had a joke/story to tell but now that he is John. things are a little too serious at the station. Is it that to many big egos have moved into the station and i would only remind them that this is New FM the station that sits at the bottom of the list so pull your heads out of your butts. or is it that if John stayed as Blind Melon he would out do the new breakfast team???

Hey Hey the NEW breckie crew is the best progran in NEWcastle, you’s are fantastic & who cares if he’s John or Blind Melon ( hes real name is John )
It’s just the music it’s ugly an wont improve anything. if the stations ratings improve it’s only because of the breckie team.
The night slot needs something?? maybe doing the decades… 70′s at 7 followed by 80′s at 8 & 90′s at 9.. it would be worth a try..
ROCK music will devide you from the other stations. ko is playing the same as you’s but with a little more of the classics an none of their listeners are gunna swich because your playing the same music, You’s need to have a LOUD relaunch with rock music.
What im trying to say is that NEW sounds like KO an ko sounds alot like NX..
Im just a listener willing to help inprove NEW, but im not making the swich till i here you guys playing ROCK….
An again the breckie team is GREAT now just change the music Steve….

it deams to me NEWFM are getting the music, onair team,marketing,& are working on website ect before there relaunch
to you to say NEW FM has done a relaunch your wrong.
all newfm seam to be doing is fixing up all the small things first and then i think we will seee a big relaunch later in year.
Must say it is sounding better now than it has in 5 years.

I agree totally.

lets hope so. cause the music that their playing is up to $%I^. i dont know about the 5 years thingthey were playing some pretty good rock back 5 years ago..
well we can only hope that their will be a big relaunch??? well i spose it makes sence that’s probley why this relaunch was kept on the quite.. RELAUNCH DOES ANYONE KNOW???

i thought the big relaunch was going to happen when the breakfast crew started????
wouldn’t one think

HAHA I think it did but oviously not noticed. It happened a week before the NEW crew started.. but the talk is that it was only a stage relaunch (fake we hope) someone has stated that their will be a big relaunch later this year.
Can anyone from NEWFM confirm this to set the record straight??? or will we have to wait in suspence hoping that their will be one????