1330 WRCA

[WFNERBSHX]

I've listened to WRCA several times over the last few days and I've noticed an increased amount of English language programming. For example, something called "The Electric Comedy Hour" in the 7PM hour last evening followed by a standards show (Danny Stiles, perhaps?).

This morning, there were two newsmagazine shows dealing with health issues. Currently, there's a program from the NIH airing.

It does seem as though there's a format change in the works (though the Friday evening programs seem somewhat reminiscent of the shortlived Showbiz Radio format back in the early 90s) but I know there was some board discussion recently about the Stiles program filling unsold gaps in the station's schedule. Is it possible they're having trouble selling weekend airtime?

 

[Laurence Glavin]

I've listened to WRCA several times over the last few days and I've noticed an increased amount of English language programming. For example, something called "The Electric Comedy Hour" in the 7PM hour last evening followed by a standards show (Danny Stiles, perhaps?).

This morning, there were two newsmagazine shows dealing with health issues. Currently, there's a program from the NIH airing.

It does seem as though there's a format change in the works (though the Friday evening programs seem somewhat reminiscent of the shortlived Showbiz Radio format back in the early 90s) but I know there was some board discussion recently about the Stiles program filling unsold gaps in the station's schedule. Is it possible they're having trouble selling weekend airtime?

Don't forget...WRCA is slated to be one of the tenants of the new AM array on Sawmill Brook Parkway with increased power. Maybe they're searching for a new format that will help pay their increased electric bill.

 

[DanStrassberg]

It does seem as though there's a format change in the works (though the Friday evening programs seem somewhat reminiscent of the shortlived Showbiz Radio format back in the early 90s) but I know there was some board discussion recently about the Stiles program filling unsold gaps in the station's schedule. Is it possible they're having trouble selling weekend airtime?

I think you've added two and two and gotten five or seven or some other incorrect number. When he can't sell a slot, WRCA GM Stu Fink inserts material that is available to him and, if possible, is something he likes. My guess is that what you heard is nothing more and nothing less than what I have just described and is almost certainly unrelated to WRCA's upcoming Tx move to Newton. Unless, Stu has already raised WRCA's rates in expectation of the move. With the new facilities not yet on the air and the general uneasy state of the economy, a rate increase could make the time more difficult to sell. I don't believe that explanation, however, because I don't think Stu or his bosses at Beasley will change WRCA's rate card until the stronger signal is on the air. And remember, the Tx move will make the signal considerably WEAKER in areas northwest of Boston. The FCC's ratchet rule strikes agaon--gotta reduce interference to first-adjacent WDER, which did not even exist when WRCA's current Waltham facilities were built 30+ years ago.

 

[WFNERBSHX]

This is an example of where proofreading and the preview function come in handy as I intended to write that I did not think the programming suggested a format change!

Thanks for the clarification, Dan. It'll be interesting to see what happens when WRCA starts operating from the new facilities.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

the Tx move will make the signal considerably WEAKER in areas northwest of Boston. The FCC's ratchet rule strikes agaon--gotta reduce interference to first-adjacent WDER, which did not even exist when WRCA's current Waltham facilities were built 30+ years ago.

Speaking of first adjacents, how much protection will the rachet rule be giving to WRCA's brokered time counterpart in the Providence market......1320 WARL?

 

[JIBGUY]

DanStrassberg is correct in his observations...... no reason to think of any format change for 1330. What they do makes money. In-English programming producers pay $$ too, just like the other-language programming. There may be gaps of unsold time... a logical thought since there is an onslaught of brokered-time available on the Boston dial. SINCE 1330 went to brokered-time (about 15 years ago?), look how many MORE stations are doing brokered time SINCE THEN: 650, 1060, 1200, 1230, 1300, 1470... and to some extent a few others. THEN add the stations whose entire day consists of programming that would otherwise be on 1330 or any other brokered time station, again SINCE 1330 went brokered: 800 and 1430 and 1200. About 5 years ago, 1330 was the leading Spanish station (with only 1600 as a weaker competitor and the 890/1400 combo that came and went). Now, most Spanish listeneing is on 800, 1600 and 1430/1200.