BBC And the Tri Cities Ratings

[rtetro]

It took me a few days to get around to it, but I finally got a look that the Tri-Cities spring book 12+ numbers toady. All I can say is that Pete Nininger must be crapping bricks with WXBQ dropping down to an 18 while WQUT is up to a ten! Not that it will probably happen for the foreseeable future, but if the Q takes a couple of more nose dives like tha, how's Pete gonna support those other stations with their mediocre ratings.

This is not an indictment against Bristol; I enjoyed working there for four years. I like Pete. He just needs to listen to some different people if he wants to keep things solvent and growing. Right now, despite the drop in Q's numbers, Hagy is probably the only programming type in the building who has a clue. Time to give Gary Blake some guidance, and get Bruce Clark the heck out of there. Electric and WTZR could be doing so much better under the right guidance. Also, they need to change the lineup dramatically on WFHG. Keep Imus, Savage and O-Reilly. Bring in some more credible national talk hosts like Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck, Jerry Doyle, and Rollye James Steal Mike Gallagher away from WJCW.

 

[Boogie Man]

All this would have a point if it was from anyone other R. Tetro! When do you come up with this on your 14th or 15th two hour crap during the workday? I can't stand any of the idiots you were talking about, but I am sure you're the laziest indivdual I have ever seen trying to give anyone else advice. Go back to the throne big boy!

 

[Pratte4Life]

WPWT has most of the guys you speak of who could go to Super Talk.

I wonder, if you want to lift a host- why not Limbaugh from WJCW?

Another thing- why not go after a "true" local talk show?

Mark Bernier is doing the show from Florida. John Quaintance is living in the area but lives in this little intellectual world that sometimes makes it hard for him to relate to the audience.

One of the things I think that made Bill Meade so successful is that he was a native of the area and so people could look at him as a regional representative. Super Talk probably has the better programming than WJCW now, but I think Limbaugh and Meade keep WJCW competitive.

I know no one on earth who listens to Mike Gallagher.

 

[rtetro]

Note to BB.....
You're post shows your ignorance. My regard for Pete aside, I never said anything positive about anyone else in my previous post. Do I think Pete has has gone way past his sell-by date? Of course: if he hadn't he wouldn't be making the decisions and listening to idiots like Roger and Bruce whose combined abilitie should, by all rights, keep them working below market 254, rather than 99. Gary isn't much better, but I do think that with the proper guidance, he's young enough to learn -- from the right people. Name one thing Bruce Clark has done of note in the past 15 years? There are, on the other hand, many people at BBC (or were at BBC During my tenure) of whom I have the highest respect and regard...incluing several people in sales, on-air, and of course, my former supervisor - who is one of the best engineers I've worked with.

In response to your attck on me, I will say four things. 1) those long visits to the little room lasted for about two months after a surgery. In other words there was a reason. 2) Did I do my job or was I lazy? Most of the time the studio equipment ran smoothly -- that shows I was doing my job. I will admit that there was a good portion of my time in Bristol that I was burnt out, or bored, so I make no excuses one way or the other. 3) At least I have the guts to use my real name and not hide behind a fake screen-name like you do. If you have the guts why not tell us who you really are? 4) I will stack the sum 38 years of my career up against anybody. Come back when you can say that you've spent 20+ years in management positions in markets 1 and 6, as I have. Not bragging here, just stating facts.

NOTE TO PRATTEE4LIFE RE: Gallagher. He is rated as the #8 most listened to talk host in the US. He would be easier to steal than Rush. I still listen to Bernier and despite his being in Florida, he does a good job of doing local talk for the Tri-Cities. He's been doing it long enough to know the market and the people. (You're probably right about Quaintance, however). As much as I like Imus (I've been listening to him since 1971), WFHG would benefit from a local morning show. And Laura beats the crap out of Boortz.

 

[Pratte4Life]

It would have been cheaper for the New York Yankees to have brought in a second-string outfielder instead of Reggie Jackson in 1977- but if you want to be the best you try to acquire the best.

I don't think WFHG needs to trade Imus and Bernier for Gallagher. I've been listening to the news-talk morning shows in the Tri-Cities for awhile and they just don't get it. I've never heard any other market attempt call-in radio- usually with poor results- as much as it is done here.

I think Bernier leaves a lot to be desired. He's not that intelligent and while he does do his homework to step it up locally it just isn't the same as having a local host.

I would not get rid of Imus and I don't think Gallagher presents any kind of a drawing card.

As for Laura- no- I like Boortz more. But it makes no sense to have Boortz on for his full show and limit Sean Hannity to just two hours.

Hannity is the No. 2 show in America behind Limbaugh.

Cut Boortz off at three and go with Hannity live and a lot of problems will be solved.

 

[Boogie Man]

Exactly which proves once again why Tetro should not be on a programming bench, but instead a throne.

Tetro you know exactly who this is and thanks for not even mentioning me at Bristol.

 

[radioveronica]

Actually, Boogie Man, I really don't know who you are! I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete. After considering during the past 24 hours your lack of knowledge of me, my philosophy of engineering (and life, for that matter), my work ethic, and a lot else, all I can say is you must be someone who did not know me and my personal situation very well, while I was living in Virginia. Or perhaps thought you knew me well, but really didn't. Your messages lack a basic understanding of what was going on; that is, what I was up against personally while living there.

I'm not saying I was a perfect employee; but under the circumstances I held my own the best I could. No excuses. But the facts are what they are. What we seem to differ on is the interpretation of those facts. In any event, I am not interested in carrying on a public feud about BBC, the pros or the cons, nor about my work. The bottom line concerning BBC is that there are worse places I've worked, and better. There are places where I did better work, and places where I didn't. In so far as not mentioning you at Bristol, I didn't mention a lot of people: both good and bad. (Of course, it would help if I knew who you are). There's no point. It's history.

Concering my programming opinions are concerned, they are just that: opinions -- just like we all have. We are all composites of our experiences, our likes and dislikes, and what we have seen work and fail. Would I program some of the Bristol stations differently? Yes. With the exception of Bill Hagy, has anyone in a programming capacity among the current administration shown any great strengths? Look at the numbers. I don't claim that I could do better with Electric or ZRock -- those formats are admittedly not my area of interest. There are people that could, however. But I do know talk. WFHG could do much better, and definitely needs a stronger line up, and a more visible and exciting local identity.

If you would wish to contact me off-list, and identify yourself, I would be glad to talk things over with you, but I see no reason to continue a public feud over such silliness. I am sure if we would actually converse one on one, you might come to some different conclusions about me, and visa versa. We may even find some points of strong agreement. My email is public, so shoot of an email.

 

[spindoctor1]

Great response and handled in a very classy way. Any chance you could teach some of the
yea hoos on this board the proper way to address your fellow radio people?
Well done,
The Spindoctor

 

[radioveronica]

I would not get rid of Imus and I don't think Gallagher presents any kind of a drawing card. But it makes no sense to have Boortz on for his full show and limit Sean Hannity to just two hours. Hannity is the No. 2 show in America behind Limbaugh.

Cut Boortz off at three and go with Hannity live and a lot of problems will be solved.

I totally agree. Running Hannity, which is one of their best players (to continue your baseball analogy), for two hours is ridiculous. He's a big draw.

As much as I like Imus, I just don't know. If they are really trying to use the conservative talk trump card, it's self-defeating. He tends to lean to left on many issues, which I would think can drive away listeners who want the straight conservative talk. If they have to run a national in morning drive, at least go with a known conservative like Bill Bennett. Not the best, better at least he has the strong conservative credentials. I still think a strong local talk show would be the way to go....if they could produce one. Of course, that means spending the money to bring someone in who can pull it off. Here would be my ideal sked for Supertalk:

6-9AM Local Host
9-12PM Laura Ingraham
12-3PM Neil Boortz
3-6PM Sean Hannity
6-9PM Michael Savage
9PM-12AM Mike Gallagher (Tape Delay)
12-3AM Jerry Doyle (Tape Delay)
3-6AM Hugh Hewitt (Tape Delay)

 

[Pratte4Life]

I like Imus.

I think he's the best show they have on there.

The I-Man's no liberal. He's a moderate and very in touch with the general consensus of the public.

Yes, he backed John Kerry.

He also backed Bob Dole, Rick Santorum, called for Bill Clinton to resign, is very much into things like NASCAR and country music, etc.

I'm a conservative. I am to the right of John McCain and look at McCain as a sellout.

But while McCain is to the left of, say, Bill Frist, if you are running a station that is so far to the right that McCain can't have a voice then you might as well change your call letters to WJBS- for JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY.