If Susquehanna acquired 570 to accommodate the Mavericks it was a big mistake. KLIF has no opportunity to pickup audience cume from other stations simply because there is no reason to go to that end of the dial. If the car radio has a scan feature it will reset to 520 move to 540 then to 570 and on up the dial. Programming or signal for whatever reasons will cause that listener core to turnover. When a station becomes predictable it is in danger of losing audience.
Stations can be consistent without being totally predictable.
If listeners feel they can turn away and come back without missing anything, they will turn away. Lessen the opportunity to turn away and you will win the ratings game. The talk jocks and their opinions have become more important and less entertaining. Local discussion and participation are an integral part of talk radio but should never be the only focus of the radio station. Titillation and seventh grade toilet humor is not entertaining and for the most part is not even funny.