Like if CBS threaded the waters with a "Roq of the 80's" format in select markets around the country, using the HD2 from KROQ for reference. Like on stations that either rimshot the market, or have failed in other formats. Heck even a translator relayed from an HD2.
Like Tampa for instance with sports on 98.7, what dismal ratings the station has had are now even worse. Last time the 98.7 signal had any success was when it was Hip-Hop prior to 2009. A niche format were people would deal with the poor signal. I'm sure a music format like Classic Alternative would be cheaper to run than Sports. No stations in the area play much New Wave/ Pre-Grunge music. The stations in the area that do play music from the 80's only play the most mainstream, well-tested hits.
Since Tampa's heritage Alternative is mostly new music it wouldn't affect that stations bottom-line. Other than pulling in people from the upper-end of the demo, or people who gave up on radio entirely. Or people who listen to Classic Hits radio because its the least worst thing on the dial. The closest thing to a "Roq of the 80's" format in Tampa was an all-80's jukebox that leaned Classic Alternative. Even then the playlist was super short and only played the most mainstream, well-tested music that was still considered alternative. Think "People are People", "Rock the Casbah", "Bed's are Burning". Not to mention mixing the works of Depeche Mode with Def Leppard sounds awful together.
I'm not taking about prime real-estate here. Just a rimshot to supplement better billing flagship stations in the cluster. 98.7 with its signal will always be the weakest link of the CBS Tampa cluster. However offering a unique niche format on a rimshot could bring in money to the cluster. Look at translators that have beaten Class C FM's with the same format, like Jacksonville with 106.1. I fully understand how a format like this would have issues though.
Like Tampa for instance with sports on 98.7, what dismal ratings the station has had are now even worse. Last time the 98.7 signal had any success was when it was Hip-Hop prior to 2009. A niche format were people would deal with the poor signal. I'm sure a music format like Classic Alternative would be cheaper to run than Sports. No stations in the area play much New Wave/ Pre-Grunge music. The stations in the area that do play music from the 80's only play the most mainstream, well-tested hits.
Since Tampa's heritage Alternative is mostly new music it wouldn't affect that stations bottom-line. Other than pulling in people from the upper-end of the demo, or people who gave up on radio entirely. Or people who listen to Classic Hits radio because its the least worst thing on the dial. The closest thing to a "Roq of the 80's" format in Tampa was an all-80's jukebox that leaned Classic Alternative. Even then the playlist was super short and only played the most mainstream, well-tested music that was still considered alternative. Think "People are People", "Rock the Casbah", "Bed's are Burning". Not to mention mixing the works of Depeche Mode with Def Leppard sounds awful together.
I'm not taking about prime real-estate here. Just a rimshot to supplement better billing flagship stations in the cluster. 98.7 with its signal will always be the weakest link of the CBS Tampa cluster. However offering a unique niche format on a rimshot could bring in money to the cluster. Look at translators that have beaten Class C FM's with the same format, like Jacksonville with 106.1. I fully understand how a format like this would have issues though.