90's

[xiradiodotcom]

In fact, that's why I wasn't expecting to hear something like "if other formats worked (read profitable) we would have them" from you How do we know with certainty what "won't work" if it hasn't even been tried; or wasn't on a TRULY viable signal? (I could take that idea even further, but I've already hogged enough bandwidth )

Through my own frustration with the Columbus radio market, I've come to the realization that radio owners here have and will play it relatively safe with formats. Our market is a follower, not a leader. Hell, even our ABC affiliate WSYX was broadcasting in MONO until the mid 90s... talk about behind the times.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

In fact, that's why I wasn't expecting to hear something like "if other formats worked (read profitable) we would have them" from you How do we know with certainty what "won't work" if it hasn't even been tried; or wasn't on a TRULY viable signal? (I could take that idea even further, but I've already hogged enough bandwidth )

Through my own frustration with the Columbus radio market, I've come to the realization that radio owners here have and will play it relatively safe with formats. Our market is a follower, not a leader. Hell, even our ABC affiliate WSYX was broadcasting in MONO until the mid 90s... talk about behind the times.

That sure hits the nail on the head. Not only are Columbus broadcasters followers instead of leaders, but they're not even good at following, choosing instead to remain stagnant as long as possible. Your Channel 6 example is a great illustration, with plenty of parallels in radio.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Can someone please explain why Mr. Meyer left WNCI in the first place?

Leaving a successful CHR with consistent double-digit shares during what was a phenomenal year and decade for the format to launch Mediabase was certainly a gutsy move, but it certainly turned out to be a very successful one.

What, if any, were Billboard's shortcomings at that time which convinced Mr. Meyer that he could launch a service that would be so attractive for broadcasters?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Can someone please explain why Mr. Meyer left WNCI in the first place?

Leaving a successful CHR with consistent double-digit shares during what was a phenomenal year and decade for the format to launch Mediabase was certainly a gutsy move, but it certainly turned out to be a very successful one.

What, if any, were Billboard's shortcomings at that time which convinced Mr. Meyer that he could launch a service that would be so attractive for broadcasters?

WNCI was not as high-flying during the first half of the 80's, and Meyer was there for only one book -- one which turned out low even compared to their typical performance at the time.  The parting was *not* amicable.  Meyer was replaced by Bill Richards, who quickly led the station to a surge which was sustained for the three years he was there. 

As for BDS vs. Mediabase, one selling point I recall for Mediabase is that it used "human ears," which supposedly provided greater accuracy than BDS did at the time, and also allowed for a better record of the non-music elements.  As I recall, Mediabase's human-transcription method also allowed it to track a much larger number of stations than BDS could at the time. I don't recall exactly how soon after the split from NCI Meyer fired up Mediabase.

 

[Nightpattern]

Nu Roo is a good student of Columbus media history and he's right about the signal issue. That has lead to the long, long history of vanilla programming. Now, there have been flashes...the NCI/92X battle in the 80's comes to mind. But with the lack of strong signals (and real competitive ownership) came a lack of programming and promotional aggressiveness. It was easier for Wolfe, Taft, NABCO and Great Trails to just stake out a format and make their money. Anyone who showed any real spark of programming genius was quickly wisked off to Cleveland, Detroit or Chicago. Heck, Dayton had better programmed stations with bigger signals too....WING, WONE and WHIO were all considered regional powerhouse stations for their respective formats.

Those technical issues that Columbus radio faced are a big part of why you have such dull programming today. Columbus was such a late bloomer in population and was so close to too many real radio markets to ever get it's fair share of signal. With only 4 decent AM signals (all hampered with lousy nighttime facilities) for most of it's formative years...it never became a radio market that people aspired to work in. Even in TV....Channels 4 & 6 were both hamstrung with short towers and smaller coverage because they had bigger sister stations in Cincy and the FCC frowned on signal overlap. That's why you have an NBC station in Zanesville and why Channel 10 ruled the roost for so long. Too bad that the creativity and cash 10TV had never ever crossed the hall to their radio properities. That could of been a real broadcast dynasty story....like KDKA or even WHIO.

Yes, Columbus has some excellent (even superior) FM signals but they too suffered from the AM signal issues. Early on, operators didn't want the FMs to overtake the AMs so they were never allowed to really develop till the late 70's. Then for the next 10 years, you had some real fun radio in Columbus. WNCI was at it's zenith. The WTVN/QFM combo was very formidable. But that was about it. Great Trails never let WCOL-FM develop into the AOR powerhouse (because of 1230) but they did have a run as 92X during that period. Like I said before..the BNS combo never got their act together. WMNI jacked around with their FM and never made that into the Country monster it should of been. WVKO wasted that signal till SAGA made it into Sunny and brought some solid AC programming tactics to town.

Even the 80-90 move ins were cursed with the same lousy coverage issues.

But the lack of a strong programming history (because of the lack of great signals) is what lead to a complacency that rules the market to this day.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Wow! I don't think I've ever seen a more insightful, realistic and well-expressed analysis of the key (and largely unfortunate) factors that have shaped Columbus radio. (And yes, I would say that even without the complement at the beginning .)

 

[alans613]

Nu Roo is a good student of Columbus media history and he's right about the signal issue. That has lead to the long, long history of vanilla programming. Now, there have been flashes...the NCI/92X battle in the 80's comes to mind. But with the lack of strong signals (and real competitive ownership) came a lack of programming and promotional aggressiveness. It was easier for Wolfe, Taft, NABCO and Great Trails to just stake out a format and make their money. Anyone who showed any real spark of programming genius was quickly wisked off to Cleveland, Detroit or Chicago. Heck, Dayton had better programmed stations with bigger signals too....WING, WONE and WHIO were all considered regional powerhouse stations for their respective formats.

Those technical issues that Columbus radio faced are a big part of why you have such dull programming today. Columbus was such a late bloomer in population and was so close to too many real radio markets to ever get it's fair share of signal. With only 4 decent AM signals (all hampered with lousy nighttime facilities) for most of it's formative years...it never became a radio market that people aspired to work in. Even in TV....Channels 4 & 6 were both hamstrung with short towers and smaller coverage because they had bigger sister stations in Cincy and the FCC frowned on signal overlap. That's why you have an NBC station in Zanesville and why Channel 10 ruled the roost for so long. Too bad that the creativity and cash 10TV had never ever crossed the hall to their radio properities. That could of been a real broadcast dynasty story....like KDKA or even WHIO.

Yes, Columbus has some excellent (even superior) FM signals but they too suffered from the AM signal issues. Early on, operators didn't want the FMs to overtake the AMs so they were never allowed to really develop till the late 70's. Then for the next 10 years, you had some real fun radio in Columbus. WNCI was at it's zenith. The WTVN/QFM combo was very formidable. But that was about it. Great Trails never let WCOL-FM develop into the AOR powerhouse (because of 1230) but they did have a run as 92X during that period. Like I said before..the BNS combo never got their act together. WMNI jacked around with their FM and never made that into the Country monster it should of been. WVKO wasted that signal till SAGA made it into Sunny and brought some solid AC programming tactics to town.

Even the 80-90 move ins were cursed with the same lousy coverage issues.

But the lack of a strong programming history (because of the lack of great signals) is what lead to a complacency that rules the market to this day.

When talking about Dayton radio, don't forget to mention Top 40 WGTZ/Z-93, which was a ratings powerhouse for many years before its ratings freefall that began right around 1996. I remember in the Spring of 1990 they did a 13 share 12+ under PD Jeff Ballentine.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

I've always wondered why a city as large as Columbus doesn't have either a Hot AC or a Classic Hits station a la KRTH/LA, which recently hit #1 in the ratings here.

I have no idea why this website continues to categorize 'NCI as a Hot AC station, since neither Billboard nor the much-missed R&R never did, as far as I know.

The history lesson regarding move-ins and assorted signal issues was wonderful; thanks to all of you.

 

[dawg4life]

I have no idea why this website continues to categorize 'NCI as a Hot AC station, since neither Billboard nor the much-missed R&R never did, as far as I know.

There was a time when they leaned heavy on the Hot AC (too long if you ask me) but WNCI has always been a Top 40/CHR station for as long as I can remember.

Radio-Info calling WNCI a Hot AC station instead of a CHR kind of sums up how f'd up Columbus' radio market is. Nobody outside of this city gives two sh*ts about Columbus radio and I'm not too sure that many people in Columbus give a sh*t either.

 

[datfireman]

90's rap and RnB is what my black #@$ want!

 

[Marv-L.A.]

Which other stations besides WNCI have a top-notch, full-market signal?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

The commercial FM full-market signals for Columbus are:

92.3 WCOL
93.3 WLZT
94.7 WSNY
96.3 WLVQ
97.1 WBNS
97.9 WNCI
99.7 WRKZ

Believe it or not, THAT'S IT for market 36! Pretty sad... In fact, this list of frequencies been the same for over 40 years with the sole exception of WLZT, which moved in in the early 2000's. A couple of other stations on the list used to have signal deficiencies (e.g., WLVQ in the Ohio State University area), but those were addressed long ago.

Fyi, the following three Class A's cover Columbus' densest population areas well (Franklin County and its immediately-adjacent suburbs):

98.9 WXMG
105.7 WBWR
107.5 WCKX
(Perhaps 104.9 WCVO should also go on the Class A list. I'll let others comment on that one.)