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2 years ago today: WIP finally gets competition, WPEN launches sports format

J

Jul

Guest
On this date 2 years ago, WPEN 950 AM launched its sports format to compete with WIP. I would like the posters thoughts on the station as a whole, the programming and the talent and what does it have to do to get ratings and beat WIP? I would like to congratulate all the staff and talent on WPEN especially the ones that have been on the station since the format started. They are really great.
 
The only time I listen to WPEN is in the afternoon.Jody Macdonald is 100% better than Andy Reid`s boot licking lackey Howard Eskin.It is nice to hear a host treat his callers like adults
 
I have to tell you I like both, but WPEN has definitely gotten better over the last 6 months. Their baseball coverage is outstanding and their guests are very solid. The Brian Dawkins Show at 7 p.m. on Mondays is better than the Runyan Show by a long shot. The biggest thing to me is WIP does the same crap every day they are very predictable and boring. WPEN has some good talent, who are fun to listen to and mix it up with great guests and callers.
 
Gotta agree...I now have Harry and Jamie on in the car going to work and Jody on when coming home.PEN is much more interview driven, and isn't afraid to mix it up a bit on the air. Freewheeling hosts make it a fun listen.
 
I would agree that WIP has gotten a bit stale, but WPEN still has a minor league sound to it.
The ratings tell the tale and it appears that no one is really listening to their product.
They just don't have any major market talent except for Jodie.
Even Jodie sounds a bit underenthused many days.
The mid-day show has some energy which is a good thing compared to what WIP offers mid-days, but the hosts should not be rounding into major market talents in a top market.
WIP and WPEN both need to invest in some new blood, except for Eskin and Cataldi who drive dollars and ratings.
 
atlsportsnut said:
I would agree that WIP has gotten a bit stale, but WPEN still has a minor league sound to it.
The ratings tell the tale and it appears that no one is really listening to their product.
They just don't have any major market talent except for Jodie.
Even Jodie sounds a bit under enthused many days.
The mid-day show has some energy which is a good thing compared to what WIP offers mid-days, but the hosts should not be rounding into major market talents in a top market.
WIP and WPEN both need to invest in some new blood, except for Eskin and Cataldi who drive dollars and ratings.
Click to expand...
WPEN should do billboard and newspaper and SEPTA bus and trolley ads to promote the station.
 
Julius-

I saw 3 billboards traveling up 95 this week, one was for Brian Dawkins, the other two were basic I think. They must be listening to you. I also heard a caller tell Jodey he saw a billboard on 76 promoting his show.
 
950 is going to need all the help it can get. As soon as they show up in the PPM's for the first time, they can break out the champagne.
 
The fact is they can't win with unproven talents in a major market. Except for Jodie, all of their on-air guys have never been in their positions trying to get ratings (or getting ratings) in a market that would have dictated them getting to a market like Philly. Top 10 markets are where the top 10 talents go to get paid and raise their career stature.
Until 950 spends the cash on talent, they will get nowhere.
 
This is 2007, the days of the big radio name coming in and getting you ratings is over. Look at the TV side, same thing. The TV stations are bringing in some young, no track-record fresh faces...I think thats what radio is starting to do. They are taking a shot that one of these new fresh faces can become the next name in this business. Is it a risk...sure. But its radsio in 2007.

The ratings might not suggest it right now, but PEN is starting to do it right, with local AM Drive (that show needs to be MUCH better), local middays, Jody and local nights...plus they have reporters doing the beats daily, a la WFAN. If they can remain patient until the numbers start to move...and they will, there might be a radio war in Philly again, much like YSP V MMR in the 80's.

I grew up on WIP...But I have to be honest, the more I listen, the more I am glad I have an alternative. I like the interviews, I like the beat reporters, I see them at every game and asI get older, I see being at the game gives you some sort of credibility more then some cranky guy telling me what I think I think.

I for one, am glad for the choice.
 
HarveyBrowning said:
They are taking a shot that one of these new fresh faces can become the next name in this business. Is it a risk...sure. But its radsio in 2007.
Click to expand...

Not to mention it's a less expensive risk for them to take. It probably costs them just a fraction of what it would cost to bring in a proven guy like Mike Missinelli - but if these new guys can get the same job done and eventually start to take a bigger bite out of the pie that WIP's been hogging for years, it has a higher reward margin.
 
If these guys can do the same job as a proven guy they would actually move the ratings needle! They don't even register in the important Male 25-54 demo in this market! They can't put on a mornign show like that and expect to make any kind of dent in 610. That mid-day show MAY evolve into something down the road, I am willing to give them a shot when in town.
The mid-day option at 610 is their weakest link. Jodie does not even come close to genrating dollars or ratings that Eskin does by sleepwalking through his day at times.
Don't talk about these cheaper options working like a Missinelli when they don't even appear to be ojn the air according to the ratings!
 
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