1550 AM

[MCNDRWS]

When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton Catholic Radio?

Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?

Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother Angelica!

 

[NEPA_RadioGuy]

> When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton Catholic
> Radio?
>
> Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?
>
> Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother Angelica!
>
The station was leased from Robert C. Cordaro Inc. It was an LMA with the option of purchase which was underway last year. This Catholic Radio is the same as what was currently on 750. They were running the station out of Cordaro's Drinker Street Law office/Radio studios. The network is actually Catholic radio run from out of Buffalo. I am personally very upset by this. The quality of the air signal was superb when Lane took over. And I know that many in Pittston enjoyed listening to it again. It is a shame to hear that quality 10,000 watt AM air signal now running a simulcast of 750. We warned others about making him a commissioner because we ALL knew so well how he operated in radio. Now Lackawanna County and radio both come up losers thanks to "Boxing Radio Bob"

 

[PA_Radio]

Who's surprised by this anyway?

> > When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton
> Catholic
> > Radio?
> >
> > Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?
> >
> > Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother Angelica!
> >
> The station was leased from Robert C. Cordaro Inc. It was
> an LMA with the option of purchase which was underway last
> year. This Catholic Radio is the same as what was currently
> on 750. They were running the station out of Cordaro's
> Drinker Street Law office/Radio studios. The network is
> actually Catholic radio run from out of Buffalo. I am
> personally very upset by this. The quality of the air
> signal was superb when Lane took over. And I know that many
> in Pittston enjoyed listening to it again. It is a shame to
> hear that quality 10,000 watt AM air signal now running a
> simulcast of 750. We warned others about making him a
> commissioner because we ALL knew so well how he operated in
> radio. Now Lackawanna County and radio both come up losers
> thanks to "Boxing Radio Bob"
>
Why should this surprise anyone? The station was leased to Lane by Cordaro. Think about it. Today is June 1st. Lane was put in prison on March 31st. They probably didn't pay the April lease, didn't pay May, and the station reverted back to Cordaro as of 6/1 due to default.
You can't blame Cordaro here. He probably had to get something {anything!} on the air quickly. He has no studio and no staff. Just a transmitter and license. The only alternative would have been to go dark and you can't blame the guy for not wanting to do that.
Anybody want to take a guess at what happens next and to which one of the remaining Lane properties? Listen to them. There is no revenue. The noose is tightening and it's only a matter of time before they are all under new control. This shouldn't be shocking to anybody here.

 

[yonkstur]

Re: Who's surprised by this anyway?

> > > When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton
> > Catholic
> > > Radio?
> > >
> > > Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?
> > >
> > > Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother Angelica!
> > >
> > The station was leased from Robert C. Cordaro Inc. It was
>
> > an LMA with the option of purchase which was underway last
>
> > year. This Catholic Radio is the same as what was
> currently
> > on 750. They were running the station out of Cordaro's
> > Drinker Street Law office/Radio studios. The network is
> > actually Catholic radio run from out of Buffalo. I am
> > personally very upset by this. The quality of the air
> > signal was superb when Lane took over. And I know that
> many
> > in Pittston enjoyed listening to it again. It is a shame
> to
> > hear that quality 10,000 watt AM air signal now running a
> > simulcast of 750. We warned others about making him a
> > commissioner because we ALL knew so well how he operated
> in
> > radio. Now Lackawanna County and radio both come up
> losers
> > thanks to "Boxing Radio Bob"
> >
> Why should this surprise anyone? The station was leased to
> Lane by Cordaro. Think about it. Today is June 1st. Lane was
> put in prison on March 31st. They probably didn't pay the
> April lease, didn't pay May, and the station reverted back
> to Cordaro as of 6/1 due to default.
> You can't blame Cordaro here. He probably had to get
> something {anything!} on the air quickly. He has no studio
> and no staff. Just a transmitter and license. The only
> alternative would have been to go dark and you can't blame
> the guy for not wanting to do that.
> Anybody want to take a guess at what happens next and to
> which one of the remaining Lane properties? Listen to them.
> There is no revenue. The noose is tightening and it's only a
> matter of time before they are all under new control. This
> shouldn't be shocking to anybody here.
>
Two points here, the first about 1550 formerly 1540. What a history this frequency has in this market. When you look back through the years, you can be impressed by the number of talented people who passed through that broadcast facility under various owners. And the formats!! It had almost everything.
The other point is about the remaining properties. While I never listen to WWDL, (the last time I did they were still on that STAIRR--EEE-ARIOOOOOO ISLAND), I do listen frequently to WICK in both Wilkes Barre and Scranton. The station is tight sounding, the music is good and they seem to have a plan with the format. BUT as you say, there are no spots. I heard Able Break Service on the other day and that was about it. A friend of mine tried to work there in sales late last summer but met a great deal of resistance outside when he tried to sell before the trial and from the inside when he tried to come up with some novel ideas to generate some cash. I only hope that when the new people take it over, it does something worthwhile with it on the AM band.
yonkstur
p.s. it will be interesting to see what type of night WICK has at the Stadium. I'm thinking it might be this week or next but they were giving Barons tickets away to their WICK night last week.

 

[NigelWick]

Re: Who's surprised by this anyway?

> > > > When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton
> > > Catholic
> > > > Radio?
> > > >
> > > > Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?
> > > >
> > > > Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother
> Angelica!
> > > >
> > > The station was leased from Robert C. Cordaro Inc. It
> was
> >
> > > an LMA with the option of purchase which was underway
> last
> >
> > > year. This Catholic Radio is the same as what was
> > currently
> > > on 750. They were running the station out of Cordaro's
> > > Drinker Street Law office/Radio studios. The network is
>
> > > actually Catholic radio run from out of Buffalo. I am
> > > personally very upset by this. The quality of the air
> > > signal was superb when Lane took over. And I know that
> > many
> > > in Pittston enjoyed listening to it again. It is a
> shame
> > to
> > > hear that quality 10,000 watt AM air signal now running
> a
> > > simulcast of 750. We warned others about making him a
> > > commissioner because we ALL knew so well how he operated
>
> > in
> > > radio. Now Lackawanna County and radio both come up
> > losers
> > > thanks to "Boxing Radio Bob"
> > >
> > Why should this surprise anyone? The station was leased to
>
> > Lane by Cordaro. Think about it. Today is June 1st. Lane
> was
> > put in prison on March 31st. They probably didn't pay the
> > April lease, didn't pay May, and the station reverted back
>
> > to Cordaro as of 6/1 due to default.
> > You can't blame Cordaro here. He probably had to get
> > something {anything!} on the air quickly. He has no studio
>
> > and no staff. Just a transmitter and license. The only
> > alternative would have been to go dark and you can't blame
>
> > the guy for not wanting to do that.
> > Anybody want to take a guess at what happens next and to
> > which one of the remaining Lane properties? Listen to
> them.
> > There is no revenue. The noose is tightening and it's only
> a
> > matter of time before they are all under new control. This
>
> > shouldn't be shocking to anybody here.
> >
> Two points here, the first about 1550 formerly 1540. What a
> history this frequency has in this market. When you look
> back through the years, you can be impressed by the number
> of talented people who passed through that broadcast
> facility under various owners. And the formats!! It had
> almost everything.
> The other point is about the remaining properties. While I
> never listen to WWDL, (the last time I did they were still
> on that STAIRR--EEE-ARIOOOOOO ISLAND), I do listen
> frequently to WICK in both Wilkes Barre and Scranton. The
> station is tight sounding, the music is good and they seem
> to have a plan with the format. BUT as you say, there are no
> spots. I heard Able Break Service on the other day and that
> was about it. A friend of mine tried to work there in sales
> late last summer but met a great deal of resistance outside
> when he tried to sell before the trial and from the inside
> when he tried to come up with some novel ideas to generate
> some cash. I only hope that when the new people take it
> over, it does something worthwhile with it on the AM band.
> yonkstur
> p.s. it will be interesting to see what type of night WICK
> has at the Stadium. I'm thinking it might be this week or
> next but they were giving Barons tickets away to their WICK
> night last week.
>

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a lot of good things happening at 1550. Pick a format, and there are already at least three other stations doing it. The signal may not be as great as people thing. Yes, it's 10,000 watts... but it's up there at 1550, up there near the police calls as Imus would say. The pattern runs east-west while the population in the market runs north-south. Night time? Forget it. It's tough for a stand alone AM to make a go of it these days. I wish the new care takers of the frequency well.

As for WICK, it's a station I actually like, but the shadow of Doug and his crimes is a big one. If i were an advertiser or an agency, I'd have to steer clear.

 

[yonkstur]

Re: Who's surprised by this anyway?

> > > > > When Did WITK 1550 Am Flip To Dioceses Of Scranton
> > > > Catholic
> > > > > Radio?
> > > > >
> > > > > Does Bob Cordaro Still Own That Frequency?
> > > > >
> > > > > Quite A Change From WICK's Oldies To Mother
> > Angelica!
> > > > >
> > > > The station was leased from Robert C. Cordaro Inc. It
>
> > was
> > >
> > > > an LMA with the option of purchase which was underway
> > last
> > >
> > > > year. This Catholic Radio is the same as what was
> > > currently
> > > > on 750. They were running the station out of
> Cordaro's
> > > > Drinker Street Law office/Radio studios. The network
> is
> >
> > > > actually Catholic radio run from out of Buffalo. I am
>
> > > > personally very upset by this. The quality of the air
>
> > > > signal was superb when Lane took over. And I know
> that
> > > many
> > > > in Pittston enjoyed listening to it again. It is a
> > shame
> > > to
> > > > hear that quality 10,000 watt AM air signal now
> running
> > a
> > > > simulcast of 750. We warned others about making him a
>
> > > > commissioner because we ALL knew so well how he
> operated
> >
> > > in
> > > > radio. Now Lackawanna County and radio both come up
> > > losers
> > > > thanks to "Boxing Radio Bob"
> > > >
> > > Why should this surprise anyone? The station was leased
> to
> >
> > > Lane by Cordaro. Think about it. Today is June 1st. Lane
>
> > was
> > > put in prison on March 31st. They probably didn't pay
> the
> > > April lease, didn't pay May, and the station reverted
> back
> >
> > > to Cordaro as of 6/1 due to default.
> > > You can't blame Cordaro here. He probably had to get
> > > something {anything!} on the air quickly. He has no
> studio
> >
> > > and no staff. Just a transmitter and license. The only
> > > alternative would have been to go dark and you can't
> blame
> >
> > > the guy for not wanting to do that.
> > > Anybody want to take a guess at what happens next and to
>
> > > which one of the remaining Lane properties? Listen to
> > them.
> > > There is no revenue. The noose is tightening and it's
> only
> > a
> > > matter of time before they are all under new control.
> This
> >
> > > shouldn't be shocking to anybody here.
> > >
> > Two points here, the first about 1550 formerly 1540. What
> a
> > history this frequency has in this market. When you look
> > back through the years, you can be impressed by the number
>
> > of talented people who passed through that broadcast
> > facility under various owners. And the formats!! It had
> > almost everything.
> > The other point is about the remaining properties. While I
>
> > never listen to WWDL, (the last time I did they were still
>
> > on that STAIRR--EEE-ARIOOOOOO ISLAND), I do listen
> > frequently to WICK in both Wilkes Barre and Scranton. The
> > station is tight sounding, the music is good and they seem
>
> > to have a plan with the format. BUT as you say, there are
> no
> > spots. I heard Able Break Service on the other day and
> that
> > was about it. A friend of mine tried to work there in
> sales
> > late last summer but met a great deal of resistance
> outside
> > when he tried to sell before the trial and from the inside
>
> > when he tried to come up with some novel ideas to generate
>
> > some cash. I only hope that when the new people take it
> > over, it does something worthwhile with it on the AM band.
>
> > yonkstur
> > p.s. it will be interesting to see what type of night WICK
>
> > has at the Stadium. I'm thinking it might be this week or
> > next but they were giving Barons tickets away to their
> WICK
> > night last week.
> >
>
> I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a lot of good things
> happening at 1550. Pick a format, and there are already at
> least three other stations doing it. The signal may not be
> as great as people thing. Yes, it's 10,000 watts... but
> it's up there at 1550, up there near the police calls as
> Imus would say. The pattern runs east-west while the
> population in the market runs north-south. Night time?
> Forget it. It's tough for a stand alone AM to make a go of
> it these days. I wish the new care takers of the frequency
> well.
>
> As for WICK, it's a station I actually like, but the shadow
> of Doug and his crimes is a big one. If i were an
> advertiser or an agency, I'd have to steer clear.
>
On 1550's wattage and pattern, I'd like to share a story on that. Dave Stroud and I (I think Dave is selling for WNAK now after a very successful run at Cable Rep) were the last two guys Jim Ward hired before he died. Buzz Boback was the sales manager. In a meeting, Jim was expounding on how big the signal was on 1550 during the day time. We were impressed. Since it was our first day, Jim and Buzz took Dave and I out to lunch. As we were driving down that bumpy road from the WARD studios to Foote Avenue in Duryea, Stroud asked how far the station reached at night. Buzz was stopped at the end of the driveway and was poised to make a left onto Foote Avenue. Jim Ward, in the passenger seat turned around to us and said, "As far as the night time signal goes boys, right here is as good as it's gonna get! Don't sell past 6pm".
yonkstur

 

[fennessy]

Re: Who's surprised by this anyway?

Although I sold 750 to Holy Family Communications, I haven't been in contact with them...and guessed that they would try to upgrade their coverage in the Scranton-Wilkes Barre market via whatever happens to the Lane properties. Having WQOR on 1550 gives them full market coverage in the daytime. Bob Cordaro can certainly cast a spell:

1) I negotiated a tower site move would have dramatically improved the station's coverage, and given superior access to the site in bad weather..but WQOR opted to stay on Mt. Cordaro.

2) WQOR is located in a building owned by Mr. Cordaro.

3) The simulcast could mean that WQOR is the successor to the LMA/Purchase option on 1550, owned by Cordaro.

WQOR is owned and operated by a non profit organization...and the tax benefits possibly involved in doing these deals could make anybody walk on water.

 

[NigelWick]

Re: Who's surprised by this anyway?

> Although I sold 750 to Holy Family Communications, I haven't
> been in contact with them...and guessed that they would try
> to upgrade their coverage in the Scranton-Wilkes Barre
> market via whatever happens to the Lane properties. Having
> WQOR on 1550 gives them full market coverage in the daytime.
> Bob Cordaro can certainly cast a spell:
>
> 1) I negotiated a tower site move would have dramatically
> improved the station's coverage, and given superior access
> to the site in bad weather..but WQOR opted to stay on Mt.
> Cordaro.
>
> 2) WQOR is located in a building owned by Mr. Cordaro.
>
> 3) The simulcast could mean that WQOR is the successor to
> the LMA/Purchase option on 1550, owned by Cordaro.
>
> WQOR is owned and operated by a non profit
> organization...and the tax benefits possibly involved in
> doing these deals could make anybody walk on water.

You can have the best programming in the world, but unless you can get it in to homes and cars, it's worthless. Why do some operators have a problem with that concept?
>