Brokering may not be the business it used to be

[Link]

I noticed on the front page of RI today that the owner of Chicago's 1080 maybe having some issues with its DC station WDMV. R-I says today that "National Radio Corporation, owned by Twin Star and the parent company of WDMV-AM (700), whose slogan is “Washington’s Business Radio,” has business problems bad enough to declare Chapter 11 reorganization"

I assume the "parent company" is Birach the owner of 1080 in Chicago which is also a brokered station. I also see that according to fcc silent list WXLQ which Birach bought last year is still silent. Could the brokering business be declining at a faster rate? Or is this still a golden turnkey business that is just suffering in the economic downturn like all of us?

 

[dinosaur]

May be both. Business is down for a number of these guys, and it could be a side effect of the economy it could just be "shelf life"...a concept that has run its course.

 

[b344077]

Brokering running out of steam? That would be hard to believe. Every new group of immigrants or underserved minority group (ethnic, religious, lifestyle, political) seeks to be heard in one fashion of another. There are sufficient low power, rim shot stations that will fill that void. ???

In each generation, the groups are different but they are there. As an example, right now, sadly, the polka shows are seeing their last days. They will be replaced by another group.

 

[monkman]

Wow..this leads me back to my early days at the old WEAW AM and FM when they were on Main Street, near the Evanston-Skokie border(and this means I am REALLY dating myself). I did board opping in the "Greek" days,"Always On Sunday", John and Antigone Lambros, Bobby Papadolis, and a smattering of Serbs, even a French show.I agree,every immigrant group gets its form of communication woven together, WEAW became WJOI and the rest is history there. I guess the shared time 1240 kHz stations are still around? Seems to me one would be on for a few hours, then a second and third.I can't imagine how the owners survived, save that this was a sideline.
Actually, the period from 8am to 7pm M-F and 8am-12 noon on Saturday was brokered on WEAW FM to Chicagoland Broadcasters, who peddled time all over the place,and had one guy cutting all their spots on cart in some little room.He came by on Friday afternoon with his box of carts and change them out on the rack while I was on the air-pretty wild. This was in the days when WEAW FM was broadcast in Jewel stores all over the area.We'd play LPs and do some news, and station IDs and these spots that were sold to some sap who was convinced everyone from Wilmette would drive down to Dolton to buy something from him.
Ah, yes, brokering....

 

[b344077]

I'm long in tooth also.

When I think in terms of Brokered stations, I'm thinking of stations like WSBC, WCEV, WNWI, WPNA etc.

Mentioning WEAW brought back memories of stations like WOPA, WEDC and WHFC (I'm that old.)

I guess one could include WAIT and WNDZ for today.

My guess is their is still a market. The one market that seems to have shrunk is the radio evangelist. They seem to have moved to TV and satellite.

 

[w9wi]

I guess the shared time 1240 kHz stations are still around? Seems to me one would be on for a few hours, then a second and third.I can't imagine how the owners survived, save that this was a sideline.

They finally merged a few years ago. (<5?) WSBC bought out the other two. To my knowledge it's still brokered.

Seems to me the 1450 pair is still sharing. According to the NRC Log it's WRLL (ex-WVON) 11pm-2pm weekdays & 9:30 Sat. night to 6:00 Sun. morning, WCEV the rest of the time.

 

[Prais]

I think WCRW has been gone since the late 80's.

I worked for both wcrw and wedc in the 70's and also for 1 day at weaw-am (they needed an octopus) before I bought my own stations (16 years later I sold 4).

The then shared time 1240 stations were all "gold mines." NEVER a lack of business. Ed Jacker and Mrs. Pucinski were very shrewd business people. It was a great place to work.

The polka shows in Chicago may go because the Polish immigrants don't want the US invention of "polkas." The generation who listened to that is dying off They are being replaced by "Polish immigrants" who want to learn English faster than the older group of listeners, who wanted to "hang on" to their heritage longer.

Also, these folks (like the previous generaton) are industrious, independent, quite healthy in the pocketbook and would probably much more benefit from a "Polish Wally Phillips" type show with Polish versions of American songs (lots of those around).

Both Foreign Language and Religion brokered time stations around Chicago are a LONG WAY from folding up. I'd say they are ow maintenance, easy sales, and high profit. They can always seek the group "for whom their native language comes easier than English" and serve them as well as the wcrw/wedc/wsbc/weaw/wopa generation did.

Not your busia

 

[b344077]

Prais:

I have noticed some use of brokering by "personalities" looking to buy into the market.

Mike North is one example of brokering an hour on WSBC that led to a career. I have noticed a couple of Brokered shows on WCPT. ONe show is an example of what shouldn't be on the air (Family Values).

I'm wondering if this might be a trend in brokering.

 

[rkchgo]

Wow..this leads me back to my early days at the old WEAW AM and FM when they were on Main Street, near the Evanston-Skokie border(and this means I am REALLY dating myself). I did board opping in the "Greek" days,"Always On Sunday", John and Antigone Lambros, Bobby Papadolis, and a smattering of Serbs, even a French show.I agree,every immigrant group gets its form of communication woven together, WEAW became WJOI and the rest is history there. I guess the shared time 1240 kHz stations are still around? Seems to me one would be on for a few hours, then a second and third.I can't imagine how the owners survived, save that this was a sideline.
Actually, the period from 8am to 7pm M-F and 8am-12 noon on Saturday was brokered on WEAW FM to Chicagoland Broadcasters, who peddled time all over the place,and had one guy cutting all their spots on cart in some little room.He came by on Friday afternoon with his box of carts and change them out on the rack while I was on the air-pretty wild. This was in the days when WEAW FM was broadcast in Jewel stores all over the area.We'd play LPs and do some news, and station IDs and these spots that were sold to some sap who was convinced everyone from Wilmette would drive down to Dolton to buy something from him.
Ah, yes, brokering....

Hm. Worked for about 6 weekend mornings at WEAW somewhere around 1980 or so...board-op'ed the brokered religious shows.

They called themselves "Your Inspiration Station" at the time.

PD who hired me said "You'll be on your own mostly, I am not reachable on the weekends". Turned out she spent weekends in a mental health facility (I found that out from the guy who relieved me at noon - and by tracking down the phone number she DID leave in case of dire emergency).

Came to find out this heavily Christian station was owned by....two Jewish fellas! Just floored me!

I finally quit when I thought the hypocrisy had gotten too much for me to take. I forget the issue, but in talking with the station manager, I questioned why a Christian station would do whatever it was that I took offense at. His response? "I'm a businessman first and a Christian second". <sigh>

 

[317C50KW]

Here in the slightly warmer south we're seeing an influx of brokered stations serving the Indian population, along with Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese. It may already be there in Chicago on FM SCA's or now HD-3 channels. Some of these formats, particularly the Indian ones use a lot of English and are well executed.

 

[JKBurger]

Wow..this leads me back to my early days at the old WEAW AM and FM when they were on Main Street, near the Evanston-Skokie border(and this means I am REALLY dating myself). I did board opping in the "Greek" days,"Always On Sunday", John and Antigone Lambros, Bobby Papadolis, and a smattering of Serbs, even a French show.I agree,every immigrant group gets its form of communication woven together, WEAW became WJOI and the rest is history there. I guess the shared time 1240 kHz stations are still around? Seems to me one would be on for a few hours, then a second and third.I can't imagine how the owners survived, save that this was a sideline.
Actually, the period from 8am to 7pm M-F and 8am-12 noon on Saturday was brokered on WEAW FM to Chicagoland Broadcasters, who peddled time all over the place,and had one guy cutting all their spots on cart in some little room.He came by on Friday afternoon with his box of carts and change them out on the rack while I was on the air-pretty wild. This was in the days when WEAW FM was broadcast in Jewel stores all over the area.We'd play LPs and do some news, and station IDs and these spots that were sold to some sap who was convinced everyone from Wilmette would drive down to Dolton to buy something from him.
Ah, yes, brokering....

I was at WEAW-AM / WOJO-FM from 1973-1987. That should be Bobby Papademus. The other ethnic shows on WOJO were all replace by Spanish 24/7 after Ed Wheeler died in '77 (I think). Chicagoland Broadcasters, and Jewel casting pre-dates me. WEAW went dark in 1980 because Jim and Jane Hall (Wheeler's partners) were idiots. After a year or two the license was sold for way less than it should have been. Like I said...idiots.
John

 

[JKBurger]

<snip>
Ah, yes, brokering....

Hm. Worked for about 6 weekend mornings at WEAW somewhere around 1980 or so...board-op'ed the brokered religious shows.

They called themselves "Your Inspiration Station" at the time.

PD who hired me said "You'll be on your own mostly, I am not reachable on the weekends". Turned out she spent weekends in a mental health facility (I found that out from the guy who relieved me at noon - and by tracking down the phone number she DID leave in case of dire emergency).

Came to find out this heavily Christian station was owned by....two Jewish fellas! Just floored me!

I finally quit when I thought the hypocrisy had gotten too much for me to take. I forget the issue, but in talking with the station manager, I questioned why a Christian station would do whatever it was that I took offense at. His response? "I'm a businessman first and a Christian second". <sigh>

The "inspirational" programming gave way to a music format targeting housewives. It didn't work either. Then WEAW went dark. The PD who hired you at WEAW was not a woman, nor was that person in any way associated with a mental facility (no matter what we thought of him). Jim and Jane Hall were Christians, definitely not Jewish, and only one of them was a fella. You can get up off the floor now. Your last sentence has a ring of truth and accuracy to it. Can't take altruism to the bank.
John

 

[Prais]

I had a 1 day experience at weaw. They were nuts. They actually need an octopus in about 1972. They were building wojo and mostly simulcasting weaw on both freqs, except 3 or 4 morning hours. Them, the am and the fm were seperately brokered programmed and 1 board op had to run BOTH at the same time. Greek here, religion there. I didn't have time to scatch an itch.

Also, the am was abc information, a few newscasts - but LOTS of ads in between the shows. In fact the SAME ad.

After that day, I went to wcrw and became a friend of Ed Jacker (quite eccentric - but a GREAT teacher).

Also rk, what is wrong with an owner who is of a partivular ethnic group owning/programming a station for another group? All the 1240 statins, wopa, wtaq, and plenty others were like that. Everyone pays with green money with a presidents picture on it, right? Personally, I don't see hypocricy in programming for a different religion, either. It's SERVING that group. So what?

Chicago is GREAT because that is done in every business. Without that, it would be LOTS of ghettos. Without that, this would be an all(one group) board and maybe people whose names have abbreviated Chicago - or start with P would not be welcomed, here. It's 2009, and we are about to welcome a BLACK guy as President. I'm not Black, but I feel that is GREAT!

 

[rkchgo]

<snip>
Ah, yes, brokering....

Hm. Worked for about 6 weekend mornings at WEAW somewhere around 1980 or so...board-op'ed the brokered religious shows.

They called themselves "Your Inspiration Station" at the time.

PD who hired me said "You'll be on your own mostly, I am not reachable on the weekends". Turned out she spent weekends in a mental health facility (I found that out from the guy who relieved me at noon - and by tracking down the phone number she DID leave in case of dire emergency).

Came to find out this heavily Christian station was owned by....two Jewish fellas! Just floored me!

I finally quit when I thought the hypocrisy had gotten too much for me to take. I forget the issue, but in talking with the station manager, I questioned why a Christian station would do whatever it was that I took offense at. His response? "I'm a businessman first and a Christian second". <sigh>

The "inspirational" programming gave way to a music format targeting housewives. It didn't work either. Then WEAW went dark. The PD who hired you at WEAW was not a woman, nor was that person in any way associated with a mental facility (no matter what we thought of him). Jim and Jane Hall were Christians, definitely not Jewish, and only one of them was a fella. You can get up off the floor now. Your last sentence has a ring of truth and accuracy to it. Can't take altruism to the bank.
John

As I said, I worked 6 shifts, on weekends. I repeated what I was told. Perhaps she wasn't a PD, but an OM or APD or some such. Sorry I don't know everything there is to know about this tiny little ridiculous station. I defer, of course, to your incredible fount of knowledge.

 

[rkchgo]

Also rk, what is wrong with an owner who is of a partivular ethnic group owning/programming a station for another group? All the 1240 statins, wopa, wtaq, and plenty others were like that. Everyone pays with green money with a presidents picture on it, right? Personally, I don't see hypocricy in programming for a different religion, either. It's SERVING that group. So what?

Wow. Nice to get completely jumped on for relating a story.

1. If you pontificate, you probably should be of the religion in which you pontificate. But hey, that's just my opinion. The "floored" and "hypocrisy" part wasn't so much the Jewish fellas owning it, but things they did that rubbed me the wrong way. It's years and years since, and I apologize for not having written down specifics at the time (I'm sure I'll get lambasted for not recalling everything there in minute detail...but instead, I chose to move on and leave it behind me, yaknow?).

2. I didn't have a problem with the brokered part, but the NON-brokered portions (I guess they weren't able to sell every minute at the time) were I guess what one would call Christian Contemporary. I believe that format is supposed to have a "message"...and if so, *I* sure as hell (then AND now) shouldn't be working there, get it? Not being a "true believer", it seems pretty damned hypocritical to me.

Sorry I offended you. I obviously don't have the incredible amount of radio experience and knowledge that you (and the poster before you) do. But you see, I never claimed to. I recalled something that happened to me. I didn't pass myself off as an expert. I didn't claim to be a "radio professional". In fact, my ENTIRE commercial radio experience is comprised of those 6 saturdays (and one of them was a half-shift, as I overslept!).

So, I guess I shouldn't post anymore, since (a) I'm completely wrong and don't know what I'm talking about and (b) am quite obviously not qualified to have an opinion.

I'll just sit over here and read, I guess. Oh, and of course kowtow to you experts five times a day.

 

[Prais]

rk,
Ha! Your bogus apology and insincere modesty are accepted.

I agree with you that you obviously do have an incredible lack of knowledge that you do.

Go ahead and read. Not posting? Suit yourself. I'm not stopping you, just agreeing. I hope you find work if you want it. With all due respect, answering you without getting this moved to tio is giving me a headache.

Thanks? Note; managing board editor - I'm trying to behave.

 

[Prais]

PS "Completely jumped on" is also quite an exaggeration.

 

[rkchgo]

rk,
Ha! Your bogus apology and insincere modesty are accepted.

The apology was bogus; it wasn't necessary, and was intended to be sarcastic. As for the "insincere modesty" - each person has to interpret each post their own way. <shrug> Your opinion is yours.

I agree with you that you obviously do have an incredible lack of knowledge that you do.

As opposed to others here who have egos higher than the Hancock. Again, I never said I was a radio professional, and never intimated that I have incredible knowledge in that field. Frankly, if you comments are representative of the types of people I'd have to deal with, I'm glad I never pursued it.

Go ahead and read. Not posting? Suit yourself. I'm not stopping you, just agreeing. I hope you find work if you want it. With all due respect, answering you without getting this moved to tio is giving me a headache.

Thanks? Note; managing board editor - I'm trying to behave.

I don't want to work in that industry. Never said I did. I do quite well in the industry I *do* work in. Sorry that I considered this a bit of a hobby. Apparently that offends you.

 

[Prais]

Certainly, no offense taken.

 

[Link]

from www.insideradio.com today

"Birach: My ID's Been Stolen.
More than a year of mistaken identities has the 20-year owner of Birach Broadcasting speaking out. Sima Birach Sr. alleges his son created a similarly-named company without his knowledge and raised capital, hired staff and built a company with people who thought they were doing business with the elder Birach."