AM syndication and network changes

[Bill-in-CT]

WLIS/WMRD is running CNN's Lou Dobbs nightly between 7 and 10.

WDRC and its three affiliated stations are airing Steve Malzberg from the WOR Radio Network each night between 9 and 11.

WATR in Waterbury is now airing Fox News hourly. Both WATR and WWCO in the same market had been running AP Radio News.

 

[FlatTop]

AP Radio News is the WORST! One of their lead stories at 6 PM tonight was - "Want Jenny's number? 867-5309 being auctioned on eBay". I could not believe it. With all of the important events going on in the news, there is no excuse for that.

 

[mikedow]

Why did WATR drop CBS? I was listening to an AM station in South Florida last week, and CBS Radio News is still a solid product. ???

 

[MarcB]

Why did WATR drop CBS? I was listening to an AM station in South Florida last week, and CBS Radio News is still a solid product. ???

Mike, WATR dropped CBS 4 or 5 years ago. They had switched to AP because of the affiliation with Music of Your Life and then The Good Time Oldies Channel. The other reason is cost. All 3 networks came from JONES Radio Network (now Dial Global). They switched to FOX News because they will be carrying Alan Colmes Radio Show weeknights at 10PM. Not sure when Alan Colmes starts, but I heard the promo a couple weeks ago saying Coming Soon. My sources say WATR will continue airing Dial Global's Oldies Service in all the time-slots it currently air in except for the 10PM-1AM when Alan Colmes will air.

 

[DToTheJ]

WLIS/WMRD is running CNN's Lou Dobbs nightly between 7 and 10.

Great. Now he gets to compete against his own TV show. Brilliant!

 

[Bill-in-CT]

Mike, WATR dropped CBS 4 or 5 years ago. They had switched to AP because of the affiliation with Music of Your Life and then The Good Time Oldies Channel. The other reason is cost. All 3 networks came from JONES Radio Network (now Dial Global). They switched to FOX News because they will be carrying Alan Colmes Radio Show weeknights at 10PM.

Glad to see that someone in CT is going to carry Alan Colmes.

WATR was able to grab the CBS affiliation away from WQQW in the mid 70s. 1590 (as WBRY, WTBY and WQQW) had been a CBS affil since the 30s.

 

[mikedow]

I remember that well. Through many sets of call letters (W1XBS, WBRY, WTBY, WQQW), 1590 managed to keep CBS. They dropped in for ABC Direction (whatever happened top that?) by the time I worked there in 1982. I think CBS is the best choice for a full service station. Why did WATR drop it?

 

[bub]

I think CBS is the best choice for a full service station. Why did WATR drop it?

Rights fees too cost prohibitive, perhaps?

 

[MarcB]

Glad to see that someone in CT is going to carry Alan Colmes.

In addition to picking up Alan Colmes WATR also just picked up John Gibson from Fox News Radio. More talk less music is apparently their new strategy.

 

[Bill-in-CT]

In addition to picking up Alan Colmes WATR also just picked up John Gibson from Fox News Radio. More talk less music is apparently their new strategy.

Smart move for an AM station. People tune to AM for information and opinions.

 

[CTListener]

AP Radio News is the WORST! One of their lead stories at 6 PM tonight was - "Want Jenny's number? 867-5309 being auctioned on eBay". I could not believe it. With all of the important events going on in the news, there is no excuse for that.

There can be only one lead story. I seriously doubt that story actually led off the newscast. More likely, it was a throwaway "light" item tossed in just before the commercial break.