• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WCBS 880 to have early morning simulcast on WCBS- FM

I listened and thought it was a smart use of resources in the same building. Someone probably used the word “synergy”. As a WCBS 880 listener in the morning I approve but I wonder if the FM listeners will enjoy it or what goals it will achieve for either station.
 
100IBU+ said:
I listened and thought it was a smart use of resources in the same building. Someone probably used the word “synergy”. As a WCBS 880 listener in the morning I approve but I wonder if the FM listeners will enjoy it or what goals it will achieve for either station.
Click to expand...
At 5:30-5:45, it probably won't cause as much station-switching as it would at, say, 7:00-7:15, but either way, I can only see it being an unwelcome intrusion for early commuters who, since they listen to WCBS-FM, obviously prefer all music on their way in to work.
 
CTListener said:
At 5:30-5:45, it probably won't cause as much station-switching as it would at, say, 7:00-7:15, but either way, I can only see it being an unwelcome intrusion for early commuters who, since they listen to WCBS-FM, obviously prefer all music on their way in to work.
Click to expand...
Historically, prior to Scott Shannon's arrival at WCBS-FM, Deborah Rodriguez and other WCBS airstaff would host similar length newscasts at the top of every hour in the early morning hours. Note that these were not straight simulcasts, but instead reports designed for WCBS. This was discontinued when Shannon arrived, where Patty Steele started to provide the same newscasts integrated within the show.
 
I remember that top-of-the-hour newscasts were a big part of WCBS-FM during its days as an oldies station. Each newscast would end with a brief public service announcement, after which the newscaster said, "CBS-FM, with you in mind." The newscasts and the PSAs were noticeably absent when I listened to WCBS-FM in December 2022.
 
JeremyAndrews said:
FCC used to be stricter with Public Affairs. There was a lot more of it. More news, more public affairs features
Click to expand...

There was a lot of paperwork associated with this that had to be submitted to the FCC, and the FCC wanted to get out of all that paperwork. So they eliminated a lot of these requirements back in the 80s.

I have a feeling that they'll realize this 15 minute block is too long. It's like running an infomercial. It needs to be shorter. Are the same spots running on AM & FM?
 
Marcos_C said:
I remember that top-of-the-hour newscasts were a big part of WCBS-FM during its days as an oldies station. Each newscast would end with a brief public service announcement, after which the newscaster said, "CBS-FM, with you in mind." The newscasts and the PSAs were noticeably absent when I listened to WCBS-FM in December 2022.
Click to expand...
Such newscasts would be noticeably out of place in 2022 on a music station.
 
>>>I remember that top-of-the-hour newscasts were a big part of WCBS-FM during its days as an oldies station. Each newscast would end with a brief public service announcement, after which the newscaster said, "CBS-FM, with you in mind." The newscasts and the PSAs were noticeably absent when I listened to WCBS-FM in December 2022.<<<

When WCBS-FM was an Oldies station, owned by CBS, it had hourly newscasts all day, everyday until around 2000 I believe? Six or so newscasters, all men, anchored the reports. Then it started eliminating some evening and weekend newscasts. In addition, it carried the CBS Network News overnight, 12 a.m., 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m., 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. (DJs would have to back time to the top of the hour overnight. Some did better than others! Around 2000, the DJs got a break. They'd record the previous hour's CBS news and play it the following hour so they didn't have to back time anymore. If you heard the 11 p.m. network news on WCBS 880, you'd hear that same newscast at midnight on WCBS-FM.)

Around 2000, if I remember correctly, the newscasts were reduced. There were two full time newscasters on weekdays, Deborah Wetzel in morning drive and at noon, with News Director Al Meredith in the afternoon. On weekend mornings, a part time newscaster did the hourly news. There were no newscasts in the evening or after noon on weekends. But there was always network news overnight.

Then in 2005, WCBS-FM switched to Jack-FM and the newscasts were eliminated. Al Meredith was kept on, but only to do the Sunday morning public affairs show. When Classic Hits WCBS-FM returned in 2007, it only had some news briefs on weekday mornings. No more afternoon or weekend news and no network news.
 
One more thing. For a short time in the 1980s, CBS Radio had a young adult news network, to compete with the ABC FM network and NBC's The Source. It was called Radio Radio. Yes, the title of an Elvis Costello song.

So during that time, WCBS-FM ran those Radio Radio newscasts overnight. But when the network folded, WCBS-FM returned to running the regular CBS Radio Network overnight.
 
In the 90s, most morning shows had a news person and a full newscast every 30min, usually beginning with traffic, news and weather. Would go for about 10min.
 
What is this, a bone being thrown at WCBS because WINS is on FM full-time? Plus how is it going to help John Foxx, taking over for a market legend, to have the station completely break format for 15 minutes before his airshift begins?

I know people yearn for news on music-intensive FM stations but there’s a reason why stations no longer engage in the practice and haven’t for over a generation. Especially if you’re listening to FM to escape from the real world as much as you can. A modern-day listener to CBS-FM would switch the dial the second a newscast comes on outside of morning drive because it’s not what they expect to hear. They expect the hits, they expect Race Taylor or Broadway Bill Lee. They don’t expect the news. It’s continuing what Rick Skylar started with the ABC Radio “split” of 1968.

It’s hard not to see this as a fun little gimmick that will be retired in a few weeks.
 
I remember a lot of oldies stations dropped TOH news but brought it back after 9/11. Some Clear Channel stations did for several years, WRDU 100.7 in Raleigh-Durham as an example.

Could this be some kind of sales point so Audacy can say the WCBS newsradio brand is also heard on FM* so WINS doesn’t kill it off in the city (yes, I know it’s suburban focused)?

*for 15 minutes on a music station
 
Here is the three choices:

1. 1010 WINS had simulcast on 92.3 FM on HD1 and Alt 92.3 of Alternative Rock is still available on HD2 since 10/27/2022.

2. If WCBS 880 will simulcast 24/7 full news soon on this 101.1 FM dial, that means that the classic hits WCBS-FM 101.1 on HD1 will come to the end of an era and classic hits will be moving to WCBS-FM 101.1 on HD2, owned by Audacy.

3. If WOR 710 will simulcast 24/7 full talk soon in the future on this 104.3 FM dial. that means that the classic rock Q104.3 on HD1 will come to the end of an era and classic rock will be moving to Q104.3 on HD2, owned by iHeartMedia.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom