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BT backstabs B&B
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Sorry to hear that. I found their show to be very entertaining when they were in afternoon drive. But honestly, haven't listened once since they were pushed back to early evenings and replaced by the stumbling, bumbling "Charlotte's most beloved".
It's being reported that WBT's ratings are the lowest ever (around a 3 share). In many markets, there's one AM station that remains with significant ratings and usually, it's the longtime AM leader from an earlier era. Often, those stations are now a talk or news/talk station. Sadly and surprisingly, that's not the case with 50,000 watt WBT in Charlotte.
Maybe the weekend programming that consists largely of paid programming featuring local real estate agents, financial advisors and even infomercials has something to do with the ratings plunge. Now they've replaced Accu-weather, (after decades as the Accu-weather station) with the Weather Channel forecasts. Looks like another decision based on dollars instead of what makes programming sense.
It's being reported that WBT's ratings are the lowest ever (around a 3 share). In many markets, there's one AM station that remains with significant ratings and usually, it's the longtime AM leader from an earlier era. Often, those stations are now a talk or news/talk station. Sadly and surprisingly, that's not the case with 50,000 watt WBT in Charlotte.
Maybe the weekend programming that consists largely of paid programming featuring local real estate agents, financial advisors and even infomercials has something to do with the ratings plunge. Now they've replaced Accu-weather, (after decades as the Accu-weather station) with the Weather Channel forecasts. Looks like another decision based on dollars instead of what makes programming sense.
"Here's your check, best of luck in your future endeavors." Very few air talent get to say goodbye. It seems most stations are on life support after 7 pm. It's a sad commentary about radio in general and AM in particular, which more than ever seems to rely on satellite squawk from the usual offenders. Shedding local talent, cutting the news room and benchmark features such as Accu-Weather, aren't good signs for a news-talk station, especially one with the legacy of WBT. The Portly Plumbers and Merry Mechanics weekend shows may bring in revenue, but in most cases these programs sound woefully small market, the hosts often sound like they should be on a directional daytimer in Tarboro. As the old adage goes, "trip over a quarter to pick up a penny." It appears WBT has become the Harlot in Charlotte.
Radio used to be my life for many years. Now other that Sirius/XM I can't tell you the last time I listened to the radio. Too many commercials, not enough programming that I'm interested in, etc. I hate paying for Sirius/XM but when you look at the alternative it's an easy sell. Greater Media having just bought the stations can't be very happy about the current ratings situation.
Hey I could see CBS buying WBT, then it would all come full circle since they owned the station before selling to Jefferson Standard (Pilot).
Oh and for the record, I thought B&B was the best thing they had going when they did afternoons. They were entertaining.
Looking at their web page I see WBT at least got Skyshow back downtown. Thanks to the new Knights Stadium no doubt.
Hey I could see CBS buying WBT, then it would all come full circle since they owned the station before selling to Jefferson Standard (Pilot).
Oh and for the record, I thought B&B was the best thing they had going when they did afternoons. They were entertaining.
Looking at their web page I see WBT at least got Skyshow back downtown. Thanks to the new Knights Stadium no doubt.
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Actually it would have been a very bad idea to let them on the air with the knowledge they were being let go. They would have trashed the place on the air to be sure.
It's just not a good situation for anyone. In 1985 I worked at WSOC-AM, the ratings were less than stellar but compared to some of the ratings you see today we were doing okay. They had just hired a new morning guy so I thought they would keep trying so the family bought a new car....Wrong! I was told on a Friday that the station would start a simulcast with it's FM sister and my services would no longer be needed...oh and by the way can you work Noon to 6 on Sunday? I consented to it but I shouldn't have. All I could think of the entire afternoon was I'd soon be out of work. It was a miserable few hours on the air and I'm sure anyone who heard me could tell. Going on the air to say goodbye is over rated.
Do you know them personally? Is that why you feel you can make such an accusation?
I've never met Brad but I worked with Brit years ago at a place where we were all being replaced by a robot and we knew in advance when our last day was. His exit was mature and gracious.
You could have used your last shift to express your appreciation to your audience for having listened to you for however long you were there.
No I don't know them but from what I have seen on the internet they have done a good amount of trashing WBT for the way they were treated. You're right though I could see that my statement might have been a bit unfair, point taken.
I probably thanked the listeners on that last show, I don't remember. What I do remember is it was a difficult show to do knowing I would not be there on Monday.
I probably thanked the listeners on that last show, I don't remember. What I do remember is it was a difficult show to do knowing I would not be there on Monday.
Some of what was said in Mark Washburn's column was unprintable.
And Brad was once on Rock 92, which isn't a Charlotte station but can be heard in parts of the area. As a rock station it was kind of wimpy but the DJs had attitude.
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Terrible ratings
Obviously, they were fired for awful ratings.
Doc Washburn got better ratings when he had a show for 3 months or so....from 9pm-1am
Obviously, they were fired for awful ratings.
Doc Washburn got better ratings when he had a show for 3 months or so....from 9pm-1am
But wasn't what you saw on the internet all posted *after* they had been told that on Thursday that they weren't going to be on those last 2 days after all?
In other words, wasn't it only after they'd been lied to that they called them liars?
If I'd been in your shoes I'm sure I'd have had a hard time with that last Sunday shift as well ('though except for that time when Brit and I got laid off with about 1 day's notice which we were sort of expecting to happen whenever the sale finally went through, I was never told in advance that I was being fired), but your situation wasn't really analogous to what happened to B&B.
But was it said/released for publication before or after they'd been taken off the air?
Are those ratings available for review online somewhere and can you provide a link?
Were Washburn's numbers better in number of people listening, or just in percentage what audience was still available for radio at that time of night?
I forget. I don't even remember what I did with the paper.
It was after they were pulled the article ran.
That said, I would love to see the numbers. I have a feeling B&B were misrepresenting them, knowing it's information that's never released.
Also, as a regular listener, I'm very disappointed in how Brad in particular decided to go out in a vulgar and vindictive way.
I kept thinking to myself, if they were so loved in this market, why did they have to go to Greensboro to throw themselves a goodbye party?
That said, I would love to see the numbers. I have a feeling B&B were misrepresenting them, knowing it's information that's never released.
Also, as a regular listener, I'm very disappointed in how Brad in particular decided to go out in a vulgar and vindictive way.
I kept thinking to myself, if they were so loved in this market, why did they have to go to Greensboro to throw themselves a goodbye party?
I wonder if they'd come back to Rock 92?
On a related note, I haven't read it yet, but there was a great article on Chris Demm recently.
Congrats to Chris and Chris of Rock 92
on their nomination for a Marconi for Best Medium Market morning show. I know them both well, and of course worked in the morning with the the Chris named Demm from '91-'96. I'd love to see them win it.... they're terrific guys and deserve the recognition.
I will not get into a point-by-point smackdown with the fountains of speculative misinformation above about Whitmire's and my exit from WBT, especially the 100% false assertions about our ratings! We had a get together with listeners a few weeks ago in Greensboro BECAUSE WE LIVE IN GREENSBORO and always have. See how assuming you know ANYTHING about people and situations may reveal you know NOTHING! Heck, the last 8 months we did the show from GSO... we stopped commuting to Charlotte. Pretty neat, huh?
on their nomination for a Marconi for Best Medium Market morning show. I know them both well, and of course worked in the morning with the the Chris named Demm from '91-'96. I'd love to see them win it.... they're terrific guys and deserve the recognition.
I will not get into a point-by-point smackdown with the fountains of speculative misinformation above about Whitmire's and my exit from WBT, especially the 100% false assertions about our ratings! We had a get together with listeners a few weeks ago in Greensboro BECAUSE WE LIVE IN GREENSBORO and always have. See how assuming you know ANYTHING about people and situations may reveal you know NOTHING! Heck, the last 8 months we did the show from GSO... we stopped commuting to Charlotte. Pretty neat, huh?
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