700 drops weather coverage in Clermont County

[2ndsout]

[Sarcasm] Gee, have to give great kudos to 700 for that awesome weather coverage last night in Clermont County! [/Sarcasm]

Guess the Reds game was more important than the 3600 people in Clermont County that STILL don't have power this morning. I'm writing this from my work computer and this really ticks me off.

I had 3 inches of marble size hail on my deck and in my front driveway last night; rain so thick and pounding the house that I couldn't even see across the street to my neighbors house. That storm lasted a good solid 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. With a good 20 minutes of marble size hail in the middle of it.

Did 700 break away to talk about it? No. I was listening on my radio plugged into a small power generator big enough to power a radio and a fan; to see if they would have any information on the outage; as there are still quite a few people this morning who STILL don't have power, myself included; as well as our ENTIRE Neighborhood in Clermont County.

Hope that someone from 700 sees this, as they don't have their own forums anymore. Are you reading this 700? If not I will be making a call to their newsroom and or sending an email.

It's just unbelievable that a storm of that magnitude blowing through the area doesn't even get mentioned at all. And all following newscasts didn't report anything either. Yet the people who lost their homes in Colorado and Detroit are more important.

 

[Bat Fastard]

The answer seems obvious. Was there anyone in the News Room? Is there a News Room? Was there anyone above the level of Board Operator in the building?

Given Clear Channel's history of gutting News operations and - my favorite word - "consolidating" operations, my guess is the lights were on but no one was home.

 

[Bengalsfan]

3600 people verses how many who listen to Reds' coverage?

I think you have your answer. You have a local station in Batavia, WOBO. Did they not cover it? Why not be upset with your local station if there was no coverage of the storm?

 

[alans613]

Years ago WLW would have those somewhat annoying-sounding horns going off over their signal during storms. My, how times change...and not for the better. :'(

 

[2ndsout]

3600 people verses how many who listen to Reds' coverage?

I think you have your answer. You have a local station in Batavia, WOBO. Did they not cover it? Why not be upset with your local station if there was no coverage of the storm?

You missed the point Bengalsfan....WOBO is non-profit radio station. WLW is *supposed* to cover news, weather, etc. And Clermont County was the NOT the only county where people had power outages. I was emphasizing Clermont County because there were so many. There were also a large amount of people that didn't have power in Hamilton County as well; which is where 700 is situated.

I don't care how many people listen to the Reds. It was still a weather related storm, and if 700 is going to tout themselves as "Breaking In" with news coverage of news, weather, and sports; why wouldn't they have broken in for a weather report? Didn't have the ability to see any TV news at all last night because obviously the power got knocked out...

You are making it sound like Clermont County is Way out there, when I am 6 miles from I-275, and 20 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

If it was a storm that blew through YOUR area and no one had any coverage about it, how would YOU feel?

 

[2ndsout]

After sending an email to the News Department, I was able to get a reply from the News Director. It makes me feel better that I was able to get a response from someone directly.

I would have called into the newsroom last night to report the storm and outage; but my cell phone was dead from using it earlier in the day; as well as my landlines in my house didn't work because they were cordless phones (which need power to operate).

I feel better knowing that my concerns have been received and addressed, rather than my email being put into a Clear Channel question bin and picked out later.

Just wanted to give you all an update....and I STILL don't have power.

 

[Bengalsfan]

You missed the point Bengalsfan....WOBO is non-profit radio station. WLW is *supposed* to cover news, weather, etc.

I didn't miss the point. Is just because a station is non-profit, does that abrogate them from covering events in their city of license? If severe weather is going on in their back yard and WOBO isn't covering it, they are more responsible than a radio station 40 miles away, correct? Being a non profit does not relieve them of that responsibility. I would be asking their management where their coverage was.

You are making it sound like Clermont County is Way out there, when I am 6 miles from I-275, and 20 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

I know exactly where Clermont county is. I have been to Sporty's at the airport several times. WLW is not licensed to Batavia or anyone else in Clermont county. A radio station is (or used to be) obligated to serve it's city of license, regardless of power or class. In this case, WLW is licensed to Cincinnati.

If it was a storm that blew through YOUR area and no one had any coverage about it, how would YOU feel?

As a matter of fact, that has happened to me. Do you think WHAS in Louisville gives a crap about Oldham county, where I live? Hardly. The first time this happened to me, I was at the local Radio Shack the next day buying a weather radio. WHAS doesn't even have anyone in their newsroom after 9 o'clock or on weekends/holidays. We can't depend on WHAS down here anymore, that's why I, personally, have taken other measures to protect my life and property. Suppose WLW wasn't there anymore. Say their tower in Mason was blown down. What would you do then? To depend on one source of information is asking for trouble.

 

[almaniac27]

This isn't the first time WLW has blown it, remember Hurricane Ike a few years back? There was a Reds game on WLW and a Bengals game on WCKY, and NO coverage of the weather. Radio should take this sort of thing more seriously because when the power's out it's really all we have. Channel 9 broke in with coverage that day, but most people don't have portable TVs, and now with the digital conversion it's completely out the window. The internet may be helpful to people with smartphones, but if their batteries die they're useless as well.

 

[Icangelp]

WLW is only one of many commercial MW & FM outlets. I suggest switching to another station, and don't listen to WLW anymore. I suggest and FM station since AM/MW is significantly affected by storms.

And how many local TV stations with full news and weather departments that cover weather related news well past the need-to-know level is reached?

 

[2ndsout]

You missed the point Bengalsfan....WOBO is non-profit radio station. WLW is *supposed* to cover news, weather, etc.

I didn't miss the point. Is just because a station is non-profit, does that abrogate them from covering events in their city of license? If severe weather is going on in their back yard and WOBO isn't covering it, they are more responsible than a radio station 40 miles away, correct? Being a non profit does not relieve them of that responsibility. I would be asking their management where their coverage was.

I did volunteer work for WOBO back 13 years ago...so I know what their "management" is...it's really not much. Their "management" is an older group of people. In all honesty; I have never heard them do any "extended" type of weather coverage when there has been a storm.

You are making it sound like Clermont County is Way out there, when I am 6 miles from I-275, and 20 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

I know exactly where Clermont county is. I have been to Sporty's at the airport several times. WLW is not licensed to Batavia or anyone else in Clermont county. A radio station is (or used to be) obligated to serve it's city of license, regardless of power or class. In this case, WLW is licensed to Cincinnati.

WLW is the "Nation's station", at least that is how they have touted themselves since they began. Clermont County, while it is one county over; WLW has done more than "Just" cover Cincinnati.

If it was a storm that blew through YOUR area and no one had any coverage about it, how would YOU feel?

As a matter of fact, that has happened to me. Do you think WHAS in Louisville gives a crap about Oldham county, where I live? Hardly. The first time this happened to me, I was at the local Radio Shack the next day buying a weather radio. WHAS doesn't even have anyone in their newsroom after 9 o'clock or on weekends/holidays. We can't depend on WHAS down here anymore, that's why I, personally, have taken other measures to protect my life and property. Suppose WLW wasn't there anymore. Say their tower in Mason was blown down. What would you do then? To depend on one source of information is asking for trouble.

I don't frequent Louisville, so I can't comment on your views about WHAS. To your other comment, "to depend on one source of information"...when the power goes out, no one has TV anymore, because Analog signals are no longer broadcast. So if severe weather moves through an area, what Should I do? Tune into my "favorite" classic rock radio station? Yeah...like 92.5 The Fox or 102.7 WEBN would break into another tired spinning of "Another Brick in the Wall" or "Foreplay/Long Time" to give a weather update? : Surely you must be joking, right? Can you honestly say that one of the FM stations in Louisville would break in to their "normal playlist" to deliver weather breaking news? Not likely. Weather radios work well too, but sometimes weather radios even have bad reception in bad weather.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Surely you must be joking, right? Can you honestly say that one of the FM stations in Louisville would break in to their "normal playlist" to deliver weather breaking news? Not likely. Weather radios work well too, but sometimes weather radios even have bad reception in bad weather.

I have given you several ways to deal with your problem but in the end, it sounds like you are just looking for a reason to be pissed. Good luck getting mad and something you'll never be able to change.

 

[FRR]

C"mon, lets be honest. Clermont County always gets the short end of the stick when it comes to Cincinnati news and weather. For years, the local news assumed that there was only 1 union township and that was in Butler County. We have political scandals in Clermont that never see the light of day on Cincinnati radio or television. When they do report, it is usually some human interest story, unless it's a BIG story like the child that died in a car 2 yrs ago, and that was picked up nationally so the local media would have looked stupid if they hadn't carried it.
Local media has refused to explore why the county can't get highway improvements when every other area seems to. It is just one example of many.


Just my humble opinion.

 

[KyDXIn]

Surely you must be joking, right? Can you honestly say that one of the FM stations in Louisville would break in to their "normal playlist" to deliver weather breaking news? Not likely. Weather radios work well too, but sometimes weather radios even have bad reception in bad weather.

I have given you several ways to deal with your problem but in the end, it sounds like you are just looking for a reason to be pissed. Good luck getting mad and something you'll never be able to change.

The common thread in these posts is clear. Clearchannel, whether in Cincy or Louisville, does not live up to its responsibility to serve the community. Solution? Contact the FCC. Maybe some complaints in their FCC file will make a difference when the license renewal occurs.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

I don't think radio is the only one to have missed this storm. I didn't see anything in the Cincinnati Enquirer about it either Wednesday or today. Usually, news from Clermont County is in the edition of the Enquirer that I receive. While I reside in Hamilton County, I'm approximately five miles from the Clermont County line. I did see quite a bit of lightning in that direction early on Tuesday night which is no doubt when that weather was taking place.

I know that WOBO has a weather monitor connected to its output. Whenever a severe weather alert is transmitted by the National Weather Service in Wilmington, it interupts what is going over the air and airs the report from the N.W.S. I wonder if any such weather alert or warning on this specific storm was done by the N.W.S.?

 

[Bengalsfan]

Clearchannel, whether in Cincy or Louisville, does not live up to its responsibility to serve the community. Solution? Contact the FCC. Maybe some complaints in their FCC file will make a difference when the license renewal occurs.

Unless they are not keeping up the public file or EAS box, the FCC really could care less. Sad but true. The NAB Code is now a relic of the past. Tossed on the trash heap with 45s and carts.

 

[DJJack1]

sounds like WOBO is the station not living up to it's responsibilities, although WLW should have had something on the air too.

Another option is 97.7. Even though they are allegedly in Mason, they've pretty much made up their mind to ignore that and focus on Brown County and the 99.5 frequency. They may give ya more weather information, too. I dunno. I haven't listened since "Dial and Deal" premiered.

 

[stereolane]

After sending an email to the News Department, I was able to get a reply from the News Director. It makes me feel better that I was able to get a response from someone directly.

I would have called into the newsroom last night to report the storm and outage; but my cell phone was dead from using it earlier in the day; as well as my landlines in my house didn't work because they were cordless phones (which need power to operate).

I feel better knowing that my concerns have been received and addressed, rather than my email being put into a Clear Channel question bin and picked out later.

Just wanted to give you all an update....and I STILL don't have power.

Sounds like you have just as many excuses as Clear Channel. Couldn't charge your cell in the car? No hard-wired land-line? Jesus.....

It's just plain FOOLISH these days to not have even 1 phone in your house that doesn't require electricity. Get to a thrift store or flea market, and buy yourself an "old school" style phone, or fall off the cliff with the rest of the sheep...

I believe the severe wx info you were seeking was on 55 WKRC. It's updated periodically through the evening by the TV folks. If that wasn't the case, shame on CC. I have heard them break in to Reds broadcasts on WLW, but only under very dire weather circumstances.

 

[cold_coffee]

A weatherman can predict the path of floodwater or a tornado. But, he cannot predict
where lightning will strike or straight line wind. There is no warning that would have
helped you. Sorry about your luck! But, s### happens and nothing on WLW would
have stopped it. Hope you have insurance for the frozen food in the freezer.

 

[microbob]

Do yourself a favor and purchase a NOAA weather radio with Emergency Alert.

 

[Bengalsfan]

Do yourself a favor and purchase a NOAA weather radio with Emergency Alert.

I have already suggested that to him, bob. But according to him "sometimes weather radios even have bad reception in bad weather".....like AM radio stations (or FM for that matter) doesn't.