Radio Sales Café

Happy Friday, everyone!

This week's poll question concerns spot rates, specifically:

Did your station's spot rates go up, go down, or stay the same this year?  What's the plan for next year?

Looking forward to reading your replies!

We are just in the process of revamping our rate card and will be doing a small increase to our base spot rate for next year. We have grown in the market in the past year and think we should get closer to the larger stations in the area with the pricing.

We have not raised our rates since July 2009. I dont foresee rate increases for the coming year on most of our stations. Our market has lots of small businesses so we have to keep their budgets in mind if we want to hit ours!

Rates have held for two years. No plans to change at this time.

We have held steady.

Same.

I agree with Joel. The cable bill, the electric bill, etc. go up every year. Newspaper ad rates go up every year like clockwork. People know it's coming and pay it. We raise package rates (sponsorships, promotions, etc.) one year and the spot rate the next. This year we are looking at charging more for "premium" drive time (ex. 7a-9a). I know some markets where the average rate today is the same as it was in 1980. We can't survive like that.

Well now that we are in the political window rates are abysmal. But we are having our strongest month of year even with out the political. Rates will certainly go up next year but probably after 1st quarter.

We are completely demand based...our rates vary monthly and quarterly...even weekly. Overall our rates are basically flat, but revenue is up. In fact total revenue is up a total of just over 12% over 2009 and nearly 20% over 2008 so it seems to be working pretty well for us so far.