On a day when WGR was live, WBFO was on NPR life support in morning drive. When news broke out, they slept in. Kudos with a K to WGR for wall to wall coverage of the Bills coaching change, taking the 12 noon press conference announcing Russ Brandon's appointment as president of team and all-hands-on-deck talk shows throughout the day.
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Breaking News 1-1-13
- Thread starter Element9
- Start date
Wow, the "sports station", and Bills official affiliate, covered a major news story generated by the Bills. And they were even staffed? It's almost like they may have known something was coming.
Element9 said:On a day when WGR was live, WBFO was on NPR life support in morning drive. When news broke out, they slept in. Kudos with a K to WGR for wall to wall coverage of the Bills coaching change, taking the 12 noon press conference announcing Russ Brandon's appointment as president of team and all-hands-on-deck talk shows throughout the day.
Usually, Niner, I find your postings to be quite insightful. But today, I think you're being quite insulting to the hard working news staff at WBFO. On three days a year -- Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years -- the staff is given a break, allowing the computer to "run the board." The fact is WBFO has a local presence the other 362 days of the year and is staffed each week night with live local newscasts and traffic and weather updates until 10pm, a time when many stations in Buffalo are automated. The station's nightside reporter works past midnight most days, preparing late-breaking reports for morning newscasts. Its news managers are putting in ten to 12 hours today. So, pardon me for taking offense to your snarky remark that "they slept in" on New Year's Day while a sports story was breaking.
Here's the thing. Even if WBFO mobilized its news team to cover the New Years Day developments involving the Bills, most of its audience could have cared less. I've seen the qualitative data. Sports ranks last -- yes, last -- in the topics the public radio audience is interested in. Frankly, by being so NPR-intensive on New Years, WBFO was super-serving its audience because of the breaking national news about the fiscal cliff.
The fact is no radio station in Buffalo can compete with WGR when it comes to breaking sports news. Even I had WGR all afternoon while watching the Outback Bowl with the TV sound down. So, I concur with your on this fact, Niner. I commend WGR for its live and local presence today. And when Mike Schopp wrapped up the coverage at 5pm, I switched back to WBFO for the very latest on the fiscal cliff situation. Both stations met my needs on this newsworthy New Years Day!
Finally, I will point out that WBFO was the only Buffalo radio station airing the President of the United States addressing the nation following the House passage of the fiscal cliff bill on Tuesday night. And had there been a local event similar to what happened in Rochester on Christmas Eve, it would have been "all hands on deck" at WBFO. So, respectfully, faulting WBFO for not being there for a sports story is rather unfair.
Usually Phil, I find your postings to be quite insightful. But today, I think you're being rather defensive. It appears the (normally) hard working WBFO news staff had the day off. The record will show that have I have often praised WBFO for its news coverage and dedication, which is exactly why I was surprised that there was no local news on News Year's Day. Coincidentally, WBEN offered local news during the same daypart. The comment wasn't snarky, but a twist of an all too often used news alliteration.
As to WGR having "known something was coming;" whether trusting their news instincts or the email blast that the Bills sent out regarding the 12 noon press conference, they capitalized on it. The point is, WGR management brought in their front line players and had their tech troops route audio back to Corporate Parkway on New Year's Day, traditionally a holiday when full time employees receive double time or comp days as compensation for working. Having at times criticized WGR in this forum, I thought mine was an objective observation and the station deserved commendation. If a few feathers were ruffled, well, we're off to a good start this new year, aren't we. Cheers!
As to WGR having "known something was coming;" whether trusting their news instincts or the email blast that the Bills sent out regarding the 12 noon press conference, they capitalized on it. The point is, WGR management brought in their front line players and had their tech troops route audio back to Corporate Parkway on New Year's Day, traditionally a holiday when full time employees receive double time or comp days as compensation for working. Having at times criticized WGR in this forum, I thought mine was an objective observation and the station deserved commendation. If a few feathers were ruffled, well, we're off to a good start this new year, aren't we. Cheers!
There actually is an underlying theme here that bears discussion. Now that WNYPB has acquired a full-service FM signal, do they intend to really compete in the news/talk game, or will they essentially coast along as an NPR outlet?
WBEN and WGR both had live bodies on staff on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. OK, the fix must have been in for 'GR to have front-line staffers on NYD, but they weren't the only station with live personnel. If WNYPB really intends to serve the rest of the audience, they simply need to up their game. The cost of putting capable part-timers on for those 3 days a year that formerly went uncovered is a pittance compared to what's spent on executive bonuses.
WBEN and WGR both had live bodies on staff on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. OK, the fix must have been in for 'GR to have front-line staffers on NYD, but they weren't the only station with live personnel. If WNYPB really intends to serve the rest of the audience, they simply need to up their game. The cost of putting capable part-timers on for those 3 days a year that formerly went uncovered is a pittance compared to what's spent on executive bonuses.
M
makeradiowaves
Guest
It is no surprise that WGR covered this like a glove. They are the sports station in Buffalo, that is what they do. For anyone bitter enough to believe that WGR got "lucky" or "knew something" in advance, really needs to examine some things. Entercom puts a ton of effort into WGR, and it shows on the air, in the revenue, and in the ratings.
Puh-lease. The only reason that regular staff was on the air on NYD was that they knew an announcement was coming, and it was big.
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