Broward may cancel deal with radio station because it airs Rush Limbaugh

[evnlee]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/lo...3jun13,0,4183214.story?coll=sfla-news-broward


"Rush Limbaugh has long been a thorn in the side of liberals, but now, because of him, some Democratic politicians don't even want to join with a local radio station to broadcast hurricane information.

Radio station WIOD, AM 610, has been the official channel for emergency information from Broward County government for the past year. The County Commission, all Democrats, balked at renewing the deal Tuesday, unable to stomach the station also being home to Limbaugh's talk show."

 

[Don62]

Radio station WIOD, AM 610, has been the official channel for emergency information from Broward County government for the past year. The County Commission, all Democrats, balked at renewing the deal Tuesday, unable to stomach the station also being home to Limbaugh's talk show."

I'd think that would be only one reason.

Sure the station has a stellar news department, but look at its schedule. Totally syndicated outside of a.m. drive. All syndication, all the time. All conservative Bush mouthpieces, all the time.

The cheap wall-to-wall syndicated programming belongs on lesser signals.

What a waste of a major city grade signal.

 

[gr8oldies]

So WIOD should take the popular shows it airs that people want to listen to, give them to a competitor and start over? It could be five years before a new lineup is in place and pulling any kind of ratings.

 

[Don62]

So WIOD should take the popular shows it airs that people want to listen to, give them to a competitor and start over? It could be five years before a new lineup is in place and pulling any kind of ratings.

Nope. I didn't say that.

How did Clear Channel or WIOD's previous owners get rid of every single daily local talk show?

Of the many stations CC owns in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the poor impoverished media giant can't find one way to pay for even one lowly local talk show. All their stations are filled with satellite programming during the week except for morning drive.

I'd say WIOD's lousy schedule - one that any monkey could PD - is a reflection of Crap Channel's "one size fits all" cheapskate business model: get rid of nearly all local shows, cut staff and program the stations as cheaply as possible.

When was the last time IOD had a local show?

 

[buster2]

Sure the station has a stellar news department, but look at its schedule. What a waste of a major city grade signal.
[/quote]

The stellar news department is all the more reason to keep WIOD as the emergency station. Obviously, in times of an emergency such as a hurricane, the station would blow out (pardon the pun) all regular programming to cover the story. And since you acknowledge it's a major city grade signal: that and the commitment to news coverage, are the reasons WIOD shoud retain the emergency designation.

 

[Don62]

Sure the station has a stellar news department, but look at its schedule. What a waste of a major city grade signal.

The stellar news department is all the more reason to keep WIOD as the emergency station. Obviously, in times of an emergency such as a hurricane, the station would blow out (pardon the pun) all regular programming to cover the story. And since you acknowledge it's a major city grade signal: that and the commitment to news coverage, are the reasons WIOD shoud retain the emergency designation.

[/quote]
Good points. The news department does sound good, as does the station's morning host.

Good point from the other poster about losing the syndicated shows.

That's what apparently happens when a station goes to all-syndicated. It seems to be a race to the bottom that takes a long time or a lot of work to get out of if and when a station would ever revive some local talk programming.

Look at the Joyce Haupman (spell?), who hosts a show on WFTL 2-4 p.m. . She's described, on the station's web page, as a liberal, but her show, with its focus on illegal immigration, makes a lot of sense. I hope that's gather good ratings, though the timeslot doesn't appear to be good. The show should air in afternoon drive, 3-6 p.m.

BTW, I don't really have any opinion on the Rush issue.

 

[CapeFish]

As someone who has lived in that market, I can tell you that talk of this move angers even the largest Broward Liberals.

WIOD is THE radio station for emergencies and if you are tuning in for their coverage, you will get local all the time.

I remember during Andrew, WIOD was the EBS station out of Miami and Graveline was assigned the responsibility of voicing those EBS broadcasts.

WIOD during the Floyd scare was wall-to-wall almost 2 days before the storm was supposed to hit. Nothing more comforting than running around town preparing and being able to hear all the press conferences, latest advisories, and getting traffic reports.

When it comes to hurricanes, no one on radio covers it better than WIOD. No one!

This move has backfired for Broward County's Commissioners because WIOD is a Broward-based business and they also run WINZ (a progressive news/talk station....think WIOD-left) that does well in the ratings and would simulcast anything WIOD has from any local or state news source.

WIOD doesn't just pass through TV audio. Sure they may for period of time to give rests to the anchors on air, but most of the time the TV partner creates special things for WIOD to air. Currently, WPLG Channel 10 is WIOD's partner. So WIOD has access to Don Noe and Max Mayfield, which is huge for someone wanting comfort as a storm roll through.

The only complaint WIOD has had is that after Irene came through in 1999, the Miami HEAT played a game and their contract required it to be aired. So WIOD left the hurricane coverage for the game, WINZ kept the hurricane coverage as did the FMs, and people didn't like having to switch the dial.

However, WIOD is the place (from Key West to Boca Raton) to get your hurricane news on the radio.

TV is a different story....during Andrew only WTVJ was competent enough to last. Now every station on TV has excellent coverage records and plans.

BTW, Broward County has retained WIOD: http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_170125334.html

Now, let me go listen to Rush.

 

[kaufcom]

As someone who has lived in that market, I can tell you that talk of this move angers even the largest Broward Liberals.

WIOD is THE radio station for emergencies and if you are tuning in for their coverage, you will get local all the time.

When it comes to hurricanes, no one on radio covers it better than WIOD. No one!

This move has backfired for Broward County's Commissioners because WIOD is a Broward-based business and they also run WINZ (a progressive news/talk station....think WIOD-left) that does well in the ratings and would simulcast anything WIOD has from any local or state news source.

Don't get your panties in a wad.

This is a typical reaction by right wing radio fans every time someone takes a shot at their virtual monopoly of talk radio.

Fact is, only one of the Supervisors mentioned the idea of replacing WIOD at lightly attended meeting a few weeks ago. When the rest of the Sups (all Dems) got wind of this they immediately indicated that there were no plans to dump WIOD. Of course there were hours of haranguing by Limbaugh and others on the subject and thousands of angry emails including death threats. You guys are so insecure.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

How did Clear Channel or WIOD's previous owners get rid of every single daily local talk show?

the poor impoverished media giant can't find one way to pay for even one lowly local talk show.

All their stations are filled with satellite programming during the week except for morning drive.

When was the last time IOD had a local show?

You keep criticizing their lack of local shows while in-between acknowledging their local morning show, then ask when the last time was that they had a local show. You just SAID they have a local show, in the mornings!

 

[Don62]

How did Clear Channel or WIOD's previous owners get rid of every single daily local talk show?

the poor impoverished media giant can't find one way to pay for even one lowly local talk show.

All their stations are filled with satellite programming during the week except for morning drive.

When was the last time IOD had a local show?

You keep criticizing their lack of local shows while in-between acknowledging their local morning show, then ask when the last time was that they had a local show. You just SAID they have a local show, in the mornings!

It's not a major call-in show. It's more information and news.

One tiny show. 4 hours of 24, so 80-90% of the day comes in nearly automated. Yup. Real radio.

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

Was it a Crap Ch. mandate?

And don't go crying crocodile tears because the small station is being "picked on."
This, after all, is/was the market's major NT leader and is owned by the world's largest radio owner, so don't go pulling that poverty crap.

This also isn't Ocala, Fla., where a radio owner would be expected to fill the day with syndicated programming.

 

[CapeFish]

As someone who has lived in that market, I can tell you that talk of this move angers even the largest Broward Liberals.

WIOD is THE radio station for emergencies and if you are tuning in for their coverage, you will get local all the time.

When it comes to hurricanes, no one on radio covers it better than WIOD. No one!

This move has backfired for Broward County's Commissioners because WIOD is a Broward-based business and they also run WINZ (a progressive news/talk station....think WIOD-left) that does well in the ratings and would simulcast anything WIOD has from any local or state news source.

Don't get your panties in a wad.

This is a typical reaction by right wing radio fans every time someone takes a shot at their virtual monopoly of talk radio.

Fact is, only one of the Supervisors mentioned the idea of replacing WIOD at lightly attended meeting a few weeks ago. When the rest of the Sups (all Dems) got wind of this they immediately indicated that there were no plans to dump WIOD. Of course there were hours of haranguing by Limbaugh and others on the subject and thousands of angry emails including death threats. You guys are so insecure.

How about you read what I posted? My first line had the statement about even the largest liberals in Broward being angered by this.

We don't have supervisors in Florida, we have commissioners.

You assume I am a conservative. :

 

[CapeFish]

It's not a major call-in show. It's more information and news.

One tiny show. 4 hours of 24, so 80-90% of the day comes in nearly automated. Yup. Real radio.

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

Was it a Crap Ch. mandate?

And don't go crying crocodile tears because the small station is being "picked on."
This, after all, is/was the market's major NT leader and is owned by the world's largest radio owner, so don't go pulling that poverty crap.

This also isn't Ocala, Fla., where a radio owner would be expected to fill the day with syndicated programming.

Lamont's show is local and does take calls from time-to-time. It is a very well done show and I do enjoy it. WINZ has DeFede on mornings with a similar formula and both work very well.

WIOD was a legendary talker mostly with a deep emphasis on sports. Larry King, Hank Goldberg, Neil Rogers....all moved on to other stations. Is it WIOD's fault that their talkers grew up to better jobs?

When WIOD had Phil Hendrie locally and then had him nationally.....what difference was their to the listener?

BTW, if you want to call....check WIOD after Rush's show. Schnitt gets good amounts of callers from SoFla and the sparring between Tampans and Miamians over statewide issues is nice to hear.

It is clear to me you are not a Floridian or else you would understand WIOD (or WFLA for that matter).

 

[smedge2006]

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

WIOD's decline actually began before Clear Channel. Bud Paxson, who acquired the station in the mid-90's, had an undeniably conservative agenda, and couldn't stand success -- at least, when it came in the form of gay liberal atheist Neil Rogers. Paxson forced him off 610, even if it meant destroying the station to do it. I know people who can attest that Paxson had a visceral disgust for Rogers years before he acquired WIOD. Once he drove Rogers off the station, it began to spiral downward, and the only way to revive was to kill its talk payroll and news department, replace it with the former news department of WINZ, and try to recast it as a conservative talker. WIOD was a one-of-a-kind station in the early 90's -- now it's a cookie-cutter station with a shadow of its former presence. WIOD syndicated local shows to Tampa a dozen or so years ago -- now it's the reverse. Paxson also killed the one-of-a-kind local operation on the original WFTL.

Paxson's behavior is a refutation to those who say that the "marketplace" will always ensure the kind of talk that draws listeners. Not if the owner is bullheaded enough.

When it comes to hurricanes, no one on radio covers it better than WIOD. No one!

Because there's no one left to cover them. (See above.)

Remember, during Andrew SoFla had two functioning radio news departments at 610 and 940. Those were scrunched into one. WIOD's current news operation is basically the whittled-down remnants of the former WINZ news staff.

 

[Don62]

BTW, if you want to call....check WIOD after Rush's show. Schnitt gets good amounts of callers from SoFla and the sparring between Tampans and Miamians over statewide issues is nice to hear.

It is clear to me you are not a Floridian or else you would understand WIOD (or WFLA for that matter).

No, I'm not from Florida. I never said I was.

And you don't have to be from the state or a particular city to realize a station has become mediocre.

I never hear Schnitt discussing primarily Florida issues nor having Tampa or Miami callers spar. It's a national show with national topics.

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

WIOD's decline actually began before Clear Channel. Bud Paxson, who acquired the station in the mid-90's, had an undeniably conservative agenda, and couldn't stand success -- at least, when it came in the form of gay liberal atheist Neil Rogers. Paxson forced him off 610, even if it meant destroying the station to do it. I know people who can attest that Paxson had a visceral disgust for Rogers years before he acquired WIOD. Once he drove Rogers off the station, it began to spiral downward, and the only way to revive was to kill its talk payroll and news department, replace it with the former news department of WINZ, and try to recast it as a conservative talker. WIOD was a one-of-a-kind station in the early 90's -- now it's a cookie-cutter station with a shadow of its former presence. WIOD syndicated local shows to Tampa a dozen or so years ago -- now it's the reverse. Paxson also killed the one-of-a-kind local operation on the original WFTL.

Paxson's behavior is a refutation to those who say that the "marketplace" will always ensure the kind of talk that draws listeners. Not if the owner is bullheaded enough.

Wow. Good points.
Thanks for the history there.

I suspected things were much better in the past.

I also agree with your "free marketplace" idea.

 

[Radio_Realist]

And you don't have to be from the state or a particular city to realize a station has become mediocre.

But you do have to listen to a station for more than a few sampled minutes a week, or even a day. If you can't listen to a talk station for a few days, you really can't form an accurate opinion on its program content.

It's different for a music format station. Just look at their playlist on yes.com, and listen to one or two stop sets and you've got a fair idea of what they're about.

 

[Faraway]

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

WIOD's decline actually began before Clear Channel. Bud Paxson, who acquired the station in the mid-90's, had an undeniably conservative agenda, and couldn't stand success -- at least, when it came in the form of gay liberal atheist Neil Rogers. Paxson forced him off 610, even if it meant destroying the station to do it. I know people who can attest that Paxson had a visceral disgust for Rogers years before he acquired WIOD. Once he drove Rogers off the station, it began to spiral downward, and the only way to revive was to kill its talk payroll and news department, replace it with the former news department of WINZ, and try to recast it as a conservative talker.

Just a couple of fact checks....

By the time Paxson purchased WIOD, Cox had already dismantled their news department. Preparing for their sale, they cut their expenses massively, and the only one around from WIOD's news team on closing day was Juan Mendieta.

As was played out live on air, Paxson had offered Neil a generous extension which Neil had verbaly agreed to - Neil said as much on air - but taking advantage of an existing contract (which he most certainly had every right to do), WQAM was able to make an offer, they did, with an amazing amount of money, and the rest his history. This is not opinion. While there's no doubt there was huge animosity between Neil and Bud this version is not an opinion - it is fact which you can probably check in the archives of the SunSentinel.

As has also been discussed previously - and mentioned by Neil many times after the sale - he had been told that during the ten years he was there, the station only made money for one of them - probabably that last year under Cox, after they had cut the expenses.

Finally, Schnitt may be live in Tampa but remember, he started his afternoon show for WIOD only. It was so successful, Tampa added the show thre months later. To say he is a "national show" with "national topics" is not really totally accurate. It's regional and anyone who listens to him knows he is likely to discuss a Miami based story as he is DC/Int'l stories.

To follow up on an earlier post, regarding WFTL - what are you talking about? Steve Kane, Joyce Kaufman, Craig Worthing, et al were performing their form of contrived radio up to the day the sale closed to James-Crystal. J-C decided they wanted to go cheap biz news and as is customary in these situations, the selling station does the dirty work. Whewn Paxson purchased the station, the rumor in town it was going to simulcast WINZ at night, helping WINZ's night time signal in Broward. I think everyone, including the FTL staff was suprised when Paxson tried to make a go of it.

Now some opinion - to accuse Paxson of killing the payroll is laughable...Cox moved Hendrie to KFI, Neil decided to leave on his own, the Fins and the sports department went to QAM on their own, the "I Got Ya Down" was gone before Paxson purchased the station. Paxson and Clear Channel kept

Hope this clears things up.

 

[country24]

Other than the steller news departmen, what does any of this have to do with who should be the official emergency station for the county? Don't these stations make the emergency information available for all other stations to broadcast simutaniously. People who are listening to any station in the market can hear the same information at the same time, as long as they're listening to a station that has enough sense to broadcast emergency information.

 

[evnlee]

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

WIOD's decline actually began before Clear Channel. Bud Paxson, who acquired the station in the mid-90's, had an undeniably conservative agenda, and couldn't stand success -- at least, when it came in the form of gay liberal atheist Neil Rogers. Paxson forced him off 610, even if it meant destroying the station to do it. I know people who can attest that Paxson had a visceral disgust for Rogers years before he acquired WIOD. Once he drove Rogers off the station, it began to spiral downward, and the only way to revive was to kill its talk payroll and news department, replace it with the former news department of WINZ, and try to recast it as a conservative talker.

Just a couple of fact checks....

By the time Paxson purchased WIOD, Cox had already dismantled their news department. Preparing for their sale, they cut their expenses massively, and the only one around from WIOD's news team on closing day was Juan Mendieta.

As was played out live on air, Paxson had offered Neil a generous extension which Neil had verbaly agreed to - Neil said as much on air - but taking advantage of an existing contract (which he most certainly had every right to do), WQAM was able to make an offer, they did, with an amazing amount of money, and the rest his history. This is not opinion. While there's no doubt there was huge animosity between Neil and Bud this version is not an opinion - it is fact which you can probably check in the archives of the SunSentinel.

As has also been discussed previously - and mentioned by Neil many times after the sale - he had been told that during the ten years he was there, the station only made money for one of them - probabably that last year under Cox, after they had cut the expenses.

Finally, Schnitt may be live in Tampa but remember, he started his afternoon show for WIOD only. It was so successful, Tampa added the show thre months later. To say he is a "national show" with "national topics" is not really totally accurate. It's regional and anyone who listens to him knows he is likely to discuss a Miami based story as he is DC/Int'l stories.

To follow up on an earlier post, regarding WFTL - what are you talking about? Steve Kane, Joyce Kaufman, Craig Worthing, et al were performing their form of contrived radio up to the day the sale closed to James-Crystal. J-C decided they wanted to go cheap biz news and as is customary in these situations, the selling station does the dirty work. Whewn Paxson purchased the station, the rumor in town it was going to simulcast WINZ at night, helping WINZ's night time signal in Broward. I think everyone, including the FTL staff was suprised when Paxson tried to make a go of it.

Now some opinion - to accuse Paxson of killing the payroll is laughable...Cox moved Hendrie to KFI, Neil decided to leave on his own, the Fins and the sports department went to QAM on their own, the "I Got Ya Down" was gone before Paxson purchased the station. Paxson and Clear Channel kept

Hope this clears things up.

what a schock. Smedge got it wrong again!

 

[livingfruitvirus]

It's not a major call-in show. It's more information and news.

One tiny show. 4 hours of 24, so 80-90% of the day comes in nearly automated. Yup. Real radio.

Still, the question must be asked: when did this once legendary station begin to go downhill with running only pipe-in programming?

Was it a Crap Ch. mandate?

And don't go crying crocodile tears because the small station is being "picked on."
This, after all, is/was the market's major NT leader and is owned by the world's largest radio owner, so don't go pulling that poverty crap.

This also isn't Ocala, Fla., where a radio owner would be expected to fill the day with syndicated programming.

Well gee. You didn't say it had to be a call-in show before to count.

Regardless, it's the most listened to English speaking talk station in the market, so the audience most likely doesn't care if the show is local or not. It's certainly not the local driven station it once was, but....what can you do? It's Clear Channel. They're not going to reverse that when they're trying to squeeze every dime out of their stations before going private.

Other than the steller news departmen, what does any of this have to do with who should be the official emergency station for the county? Don't these stations make the emergency information available for all other stations to broadcast simutaniously. People who are listening to any station in the market can hear the same information at the same time, as long as they're listening to a station that has enough sense to broadcast emergency information.

They make it available for all other stations in their cluster. The competition? Forget it.

 

[Faraway]

Other than the steller news departmen, what does any of this have to do with who should be the official emergency station for the county? Don't these stations make the emergency information available for all other stations to broadcast simutaniously. People who are listening to any station in the market can hear the same information at the same time, as long as they're listening to a station that has enough sense to broadcast emergency information.

Okay..let's explain the deal again...

Yes, the information is available to all stations...radio and TV in market. The problem is, some stations carried the info live, some of the time. Broward County wanted to tell residents "Okay...in the event of an emergency, here's where you'll ALWAYS here the information LIVE." The chose WIOD because a) it's RADIO - in the event of a big storm, people are morelikely to have access to battey powered radios than TV's, b) they had been the most reliable in recent post hurricane situations, c) they actually have an experienced news department, d) it's got a great full market day and night signal, e) it's got the best back-up infrasstructure and other stations in the their cluster can//will simulcast.

This doesn't stop other stations from broadcasing the info but based on passed experience, they usually don't.