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93.9

A

Apollo7979

Since I'm in Lafayette and we can't get the station, tell me...what's the name of the new talk station on 93.9 in Indianapolis?

What's the current line-up?
 
Generic Brand Name of FM Talk 93.9 with the tag line of the New revolution of Talk Radio

6-10 is Mancow Mueller
10-noon is Laura Ingram sp?
noon-3 is Dave Ramsey
3-6 will be Sean Hannity as of 2-5-07 but right now is Sporting NEws Radio
dunno bout the nite yet since they dont have a fully functional website but they are streaming on the Song's old Webstream as of right now which is linked on the front page of the new website

fmtalk939.com
 
I don't think Cumulus had their stuff together on this one. They should have waited to flip until all of the shows were out of Best Of. I had to chuckle when I tuned in and Mancow was talking about spiritualism, and then later offered to teach a woman about the Kama Sutra. I imagined all the Chik-fil-a employees FREAKING OUT. I couldn't be less interested in listening to him over Bob & Tom, Abdul or even Smiley. Sporting Snooze Radio? The whole line-up is just flat. My handle is TalkRadioGeek, and I think the only show I'd want to listen to is Savage. The others I can listen to when Rush or WXNT is out of range or on commercial.

I know it's the first day out, but they really had a bad showing. Here are some of the problems I head on WTF:
All Morning long, I heard the same weather report repeat all morning long... I've heard 2 audio streams
playing at the same time at least 4 times... I've heard the commercials
get cut off and other commercials start randomly... I've heard them get
back into the Laura Ingraham show in the middle of a segment... I heard
Mancow when it was supposed to be Laura Ingraham... I heard a Laura
Ingraham promo play during a break in the Laura Ingraham show... I've
heard spots for the WISG EEO file, even though there is no WISG
anymore...

People have known about this flip for months now. Are you telling me
they were THIS unprepared?

I figured it would be bad, but between all the mess-ups and Sporting Snooze, it just feels too soon. Like they left their house after a shower without pants on.

I began listening to WXNT a few months after their flip, and they had a hard time getting bugs and mistakes worked out, but you don't hear BIG screw ups anymore. So if it took them three years to get experience with a Talk Station, their line-up and the differences of running a talk-board as opposed to running a music station, Will Cumulus stick with it? 93.9 gets flipped every couple of years.

Mike, How do you know that Hannity will leave WXNT for sure?
 
They didn't even get a decent website up in time for readers in their press to go to. It smacks of a lack of pre-planning, or a lack of time-management, or a lack of talented management.
 
I think the new calls are awful - WWFT, and that is only used during the TOH legal. The rest of the time, they either ID as "FM Talk 93.9" or "93.9WFT". It is perhaps the most generic station I've heard in a while.

Also, this may have only been on the stream, but it sounded disjointed at best to hear Focus On The Family syndicated commentary spots running during Mancow this AM. I wonder, maybe they have a contract with FOTF that has to run out? Also, they still had some very Christian-esque ads running, including one for a realtor, who if she is as Christian as she claims to be, will probably not be very happy with her ad running on the new FM Talk format.

I simply can't believe that the existing format was that bad. Had they left the station alone, it would be a solid niche moneymaker.
 
While listening this afternoon (12-3pm), I noticed that Cumulus is try to copy WWTN in Nashville. Dave Ramsey's flagship is there, but I was in Music City last week listening to it. While WTN (as it is called..any similarities are coincentidental ::)) is a monster blowtorch, they are local talk on the station. Something that is missing right now on 939.

As far as there signal, they are boarderline in Southport, and weak in Avon. WXNT's daytime is stronger on the westside. I did notice that Bruce Kopp was opening the news blurb with "Good Morning..." at 12, 1,2 and 3PM. This switch sounds as bad as when Susqi flipped 104.5 to Jack!!
 
I also listened on the stream. I'll make a few points worthy of discussion: The "93.9 WFT" slogan is mean to convey a three letter call, as if that matters to anyone but us. Another example of this is KOH (KKOH) in Reno. I think the outdated weather forecast was a first day flub.

I'll open a new can of worms by saying that the lack of planning and what seems to be carelessness is simply an attempt to put something profitable on the air in short order. The good-bye letter on The Song website declared that the station wasn't making (enough) money. I could believe that, as there is other religious competition in the Indianapolis market.

Remember, Entercom is for-profit and answers to many shareholders. Other religious operators are non-profit and answer to a higher power.

cheers,
AS
 
when i was listening to 93.9 this afternoon they were airing Promos saying the New Home of Hannity coming febuary 5th. that is a sign saying hannity is gone from WXNT and if you read in another post a while back on 93.9 when the talk format was speculated someone mentioned that Hannity was going to WWFT
 
Just to clear up some confusion...93.9 (both the FM Talk and "The Song" format) are Cumulus properties, they are not owned by or affiliated with Entercom.

I would say that 93.9 WFT had more than its fair share of first day mistakes. There were numerous examples of double audio or commercials and other elements cutting off. On two occasions I noticed they actually cut from one show to another mid segment.

Now...having said that...eventually we know the technical bugs will be worked. It is sad though to see such a lack of preparedness and such an absence of effort surrounding this station.

The high level of errors Tuesday indicates that Cumulus intends to automate 93.9 which is fine, but is it too much to ask to put a human in the studio the first couple of days?

The recorded news and weather reports from WTHR left much to be desired. Weak writing, no actualities and heavy reuse of stories, and for heaven's sake if you're going to record newscasts make sure the anchor isn't saying "Good Morning" at 3pm and as much as weather changes in Indiana it might be a good idea to record more than one weather forecast for the entire day.

The imaging liners lack punch and creativity which I find particularly odd. The biggest advantage to doing talk on the FM is the ability to use highly produced, complex imaging. Every WFT liner I've heard has been dry and have used very few effects...seems like a waste of the FM signal.

Sorry to be so involved, but I think these examples make the point that while its easy to assume the tech glitches will be fixed in time, but the lack effort and the lack of caring that has been displayed at least to this point may or may not be fixed.
 
WXNT sounds great compared to 93.9. The line-up is disjointed. Laura Ingrham show sounded much better on AM. The audio quality of it on 93.9 is terrible. If the bumper music is sent down in stereo, it isn't making it over their airwaves since they are in mono. I guess this is what you'd call a "soft start".
 
bigtime said:
WXNT sounds great compared to 93.9. The line-up is disjointed. Laura Ingrham show sounded much better on AM. The audio quality of it on 93.9 is terrible. If the bumper music is sent down in stereo, it isn't making it over their airwaves since they are in mono. I guess this is what you'd call a "soft start".
Click to expand...

WIBC, at night, north of Noblesville, sounds better than 93.9 does this week. My guess is; the local Cumulus folks are just witnessing some corporate implemented formula. The locals have no affinity toward the product, and it shows.
 
There are subtle differences between running a talk station board and a music-based board. My guess is they didn't have anyone who has any experience running these satellite shows on the board. That is their first mistake. The monkey pushing the buttons ultimately controls your company, so treat them right.
 
I really think someone from Cumulus should come on this thread and explain/defend themselves.
 
Another Family Minute this morning...coming out of Mancow...then back to
Mancow. This makes no sense at all. What a mess!
 
Signal?

I've also noticed that the signal doesn't seem to be as strong as it was
before with "The Song" ... what would have caused this drop?
 
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