Changes coming Monday: Oldies off 1390 WFBL, move to 1050.

[theradiokid]

Starting Monday, there will be some changes at the new Leatherstocking Media AM stations in Syracuse. On Monday, the oldies that are on WFBL Syracuse (1390) will move to WSEN (1050 Baldwinsville) as “Oldies 1050 WSEN.” WFBL will take on a new, unknown format.

As a radio observer, I can see why James V Johnson is doing this. He is trying to breathe new life into a signal that has been in simulcast mode for 6 years now. The signal can be heard in Syracuse by day, so he figures he can bring in enough advertising to the 55 plus crowd in Syracuse to make oldies work on 1050. Also, I suspect that 1390 will become a Business Talk station, as Judy Kelly told the press earlier that the new format would be unique, and I believe that Business Talk has never been tried here in Syracuse.

Now, however, I feel I must take off my radio watcher costume, and speak soley as a fan of the oldies on “Solid Gold Radio WFBL.” Frankly, as a huge fan, I am outraged by this move. I live in Oswego, where the 1050 signal has no chance of reaching because of interference with CHUM, and with WEPN at night. The 250 watt signal doesn’t make it here at all, compared to the 5000 watt ‘round the clock WFBL 1390 signal. Also, there are no plans to webcast the new station on 1050. As a result, I, and many listeners in outlying areas like myself will no longer be able to hear the great RockNRoll oldies we love sooooo much. Personally speaking, WFBL was a station I’d turn on whenever I needed to hear something happy, or upbeat. Also, I very, very, very much enjoyed Dave “Smilin’ Smitty wit’ yooooou!!!” smith in the afternoon from 3-7 PM. His timing, jokes, and always overly excited personality were a joy for me to listen to. Almost every day, I would listen to him, and at least once, laugh at something he said. Now, because MR. James V (bonehead) Johnson only cares about Syracuse, and all the so-called money there, “Smilin’ Smitty,” and the oldies, at least for me, are gone.

Now, granted, I don’t like MR. Johnson at all. I think he is a greedy, corporate manipulator who only wants to cut costs, and who goes after the audiences where he thinks he’ll make money. But, I think that he should consider this. If the oldies stayed on 1390, he could bring in more listeners with a more local approach than what Buckley had been doing. More listeners means that more people hear your advertisements. Plus, with the wider signal, he could advertise in more places than just Syracuse.

However, for me, it doesn’t matter anymore, since I will no longer listen to any station owned by James V. (bonehead)) Johnson. Also, I will no longer support any advertiser that advertises with any Leatherstocking property.

When James V. Johnson bought WMCR, I was against him getting back into ownership because I didn’t believe he had really changed his ways from when he owned BanJoe. I didn’t think he was being honest when he said that he didn’t like running BanJoe because it felt like a corporation, and that he would now be an owner who brought radio back to it’s local roots. Almost everyone on these boards, at the time, said, “give the guy a chance.” Since then, MR. Johnson lyed to us about not wanting to be a corporate owner, ruined WMCR upon taking it over, lyed when he said that WMCR would be his only property, acted like the corporate radio man he really is and bought the Syracuse stations, and has now taken oldies off WFBL. Does anyone besides myself now see what kind of an owner James V. Johnson really is?

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[TheBigA]

Funny...I keep reading how great it would be for all the big radio corporations to go away, and get replaced by local ownership. So here's a situation where that's happened, and the local guy is the "greedy, corporate, manipulator."

People seem to think some benevolent owner will come in, spend lots of money, and do nice things with these radio stations. And it simply never happens. Sam Newhouse didn't get his name on all those buildings at SU by being a benevolent operator. He was the dictionary definition of "greedy corporate manipulator." And he did it long before consolidation. If you're going to spend millions of dollars on buying radio stations, you're going to want that money back. How would you like it if I told you how I want you to spend your money. You wouldn't like it. You'd be offended. He spent his money. He's got the license. So now he can do what he wants, regardless of the names people call him. That's how the game is played. Someday, he'll donate a lot of money to SU, and people will change their opinions, as they did with Newhouse. But for now, this is how the game is played.

Here's the reality: He already has the Oldies format covered with WSEN-FM. For all of its uniqueness, WFBL is duplication, and it's expensive. He has to replace Floyd Wright under the terms of the sale. So this solves some of his problems, and opens the other AM for something different. You don't own three stations in a town to have three flavors of the same format. Especially when that one format reaches an older demo. I don't know that all of the FBL personalities will make the transition to 1050. Probably not.

I think you're going to see a lot more of this, not only in Central NY, but around the country. Stations will become available, and people will see an opportunity to make money. And in doing so, they'll piss people off. That's the nature of the beast.

 

[Brian Ocean Fan Club]

I think he is a greedy, corporate manipulator who only wants to cut costs, and who goes after the audiences where he thinks he’ll make money.

Um, that's everyone in the radio business. Hell, that's what all businesses do. It's all about making and saving money.

However, for me, it doesn’t matter anymore, since I will no longer listen to any station owned by James V. (bonehead)) Johnson. Also, I will no longer support any advertiser that advertises with any Leatherstocking property.

Did he run over your cat or something?

 

[BobRoss]

Starting Monday, there will be some changes at the new Leatherstocking Media AM stations in Syracuse. On Monday, the oldies that are on WFBL Syracuse (1390) will move to WSEN (1050 Baldwinsville) as “Oldies 1050 WSEN.” WFBL will take on a new, unknown format.

You wanna site your source on this? Otherwise, how do we know you aren't just making it up?

Also, I agree with the others. There's no such thing as a charitable radio owner who's going to spend millions of dollars for one local cluster, and then pay the talent above-average salaries just because he's got bottomless pockets and cares more about feelings than profit. It's easy for you, just a listener and observer, to complain.

Put yourself in the owner's shoes. You just spent six or seven figures to buy a cluster of stations. Chances are good you've borrowed some or all of that money and the banks will be demanding their payments soon. Don't tell me you wouldn't be looking for ways to increase profits and reduce expenses. Would you keep paying an overnight jock $20,000 a year plus benefits to manually run a shift that has very few listeners and no chances of that audience growing? Not when you can pay $10,000 one-time, without any additional benefits, to install an automation system. Or in this case, the system's already in place. Buckley had computers installed a few years ago, and already laid off a few people well before Leatherstocking came into the picture.

Really, when you think about it, this cluster's in a position where almost any shift could be automated because WSEN and WFBL have no competition. As TheBigA stated, these stations target the upper-end age demos, which advertisers don't particularly go crazy for. It's doubtful any other station in town is going to flip formats just to compete with WSEN or WFBL. There's not much money in it.

Personally, I don't see why there's a problem with ending any of the simulcasting that's going on in that cluster. Unless the two stations cover two distinctly different areas (like K-Rock being in North Syracuse and Minetto, or Movin' being in Sylvan Beach and Oswego), simulcasting is a waste of bandwidth. When you offer different programming options, you also open up additional revenue streams. If the new format is business talk, or really anything else that's NOT oldies, the sales staff will have the chance to branch out to new, different clients who otherwise may not have been interested in buying time on WFBL.

Put it another way, think of WSEN(AM) and WFBL as two competing airlines, both flying between Syracuse and New York. They both fly identical planes, identical schedules, the in-flight snacks and entertainment are the same, and the tickets are the same price. If someone wants to fly from Syracuse to New York, they MUST fly WSEN or WFBL... there are no other choices for flights to New York. Yet, both planes are always flying with half the seats empty, while the airport currently has no carrier available to serve the hundreds of people who'd rather fly to Chicago.

If you owned WSEN and WFBL, would you keep running things that way? No, you'd be stupid to do that. You'd consolidate everyone for New York onto one plane, so it's running full... and then open up the other plane to accommodate all those previously-unserved passengers who want to go to Chicago. Maybe a bit of a stretch for an analogy, but I think it gets the point across.

 

[DaCritic]

And that right there is the problem with radio. It's an industry built on debt. We assume from the get-go that an owner will owe the banks as soon as he acquires a station or cluster. And the owner then decides it's more important to make money than to focus on creating a product that will make him money. So the air staff gets slowly replaced by automation as a vicious circle plays out-- DJ gets laid off in favor of syndicated or voice-tracked show, station loses listeners, sales staff can't sell ratings, revenues drop, owner responds by laying off another DJ, and it continues. Unfortunately, radio is working with a bad business model that says the point of the industry is to make money instead of to entertain/inform with compelling content that connects with your audience, thus making it possible for you to make money.

 

[TheBigA]

And that right there is the problem with radio. It's an industry built on debt.

Tell me an industry that isn't. Tell me the biggest problem facing the US gov't right now. Tell me the biggest problem facing more than half of the people in this country. If you own a house, you're probably in debt for more than you earn.

He has three stations basically with the exact same format, appealing to the same aging demo. How is that a good idea?

No matter what he does, it will be better than the status quo.

 

[theradiokid]

To address some points made here:

First, BigA, I must disagree with you when you say that WFBL and WSEN-FM are the same. WSEN-FM plays music from the late 1960s to the 1980s, while WFBL plays music from the 1950s and 1960s. How is that duplication?

Next, @Bob Ross: Anouncements have been running on WFBL this week, telling listeners to move down the dial to 1050. Then, yesterday, they announced that starting Monday, the oldies would exclusively be on 1050.

Regarding your question about how I would run a radio station if I owned one, and about the automation, the answer is that I would gladly pay that overnight jock. Why? Because I may be able to get more listeners from having a live person on the mic. Plus, automation may be cheaper, but it doesn’t give you weather forecasts, or give people timely info during emergency situations. Plus, I know that, with a live jock overnight, my station will have a better reputation in the community, and with my listeners, than all those other stations that just automate over night. So, yeah, if I owned a station, for me, it would be worth the extra penny pinch.

Now, Bob Ross, you’re probably saying: “But Radio Kid. By spending that extra money, you may not be able to pay back your lenders. You need to cut costs.” Well, I’ve got a solution for that. As owner and CEO of this station, I want no money. None. Zilch. Nada. Zippo. Let my salary, or earnings go to pay my staff, my station costs, and my lenders. If I buy a station, I’ll do it because I love the business – not because I want to make any money.

Lastly, Bob Ross’s analogy about the airlines make sence here. Bob, I understand what you are trying to say. But, follow me for a moment here. So, this airline is the only 1 in the airport that flies to New York. Because the planes are half empty, they consolidate. Fair enough. But, now, let’s just say that, after the consolidation, the airline says to certain people: “We’ve just consolidated, and we’ve decided that we’re not going to let you fly to New York on our airline because you don’t belong to a certain class of people. We’ll let you fly to Chicago, but not New York.” That’s essentially what Johnson is doing here. I love the 50’s and 60’s oldies. But because the 1050 signal doesn’t reach my location, come Monday, I know longer have that option. Remember, those signals are not comparable. So while he is consolidating his signals to better streamline costs, and to better serve Syracuse, for some of us, he is taking 50’s and 60’s oldies off the dial completely.

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected]

 

[TheBigA]

First, BigA, I must disagree with you when you say that WFBL and WSEN-FM are the same. WSEN-FM plays music from the late 1960s to the 1980s, while WFBL plays music from the 1950s and 1960s. How is that duplication?

It's considered the same format. The demo for 50s and early 60s music (excluding Beatles and Elvis) is unsellable. So you have two stations and only one is worth anything.

Don't take this personally. This is business. You don't pay anything for the station, the music's demo doesn't allow him to get any money for what he does, so he has to make a change. If there was a way for you to pay for the station, that's one thing. But you can't.

If I buy a station, I’ll do it because I love the business – not because I want to make any money.

A lot of people I've worked with over the years have said the exact same thing...right up to the moment when they took control and started paying the bills. Some of them own LPFM stations, and they have to be run as a non-profit. They're ALL looking for ways to attract money so they can buy the nice house or give their wife and children some presents. In other words, it's a nice idea if you're already wealthy. But if you're not, it's hard to maintain idealism when you have obligations. The thing I've noticed is that the people with the love of radio can't raise the money to buy stations. Those who can have that ability because they can make tough decisions.

 

[oaktree]

While having some thoughts and opinions on both sides of the antenna farm on this thread, I must say, in all honesty: Some of the most intelligent, insightful and factual understanding of radio and it's operation is, and has been, the Syracuse/Utica board of Radio-Info. To each poster, even those who go elsewhere with their thoughts and opinions -- for some reason, it all comes together on this board.

Well done. Especially on this thread. Very civil, very insightful and very very correct.

Now -- for that, it would be easy to disagree with some of the Radio Kid's opinions on this topic. The facts, however, are that 1) entire communities don't care that your favorite radio station is live, automated, or off the air all night. The 20% (and that's more than liberal,) who listen all night to radio are either listening to your favorite station - or they aren't. That means that you have a 50-50 chance at best of having half of that 20% of the available audience listening to you. The more stations available, the less the chance. The more FM popularity, the less of that whole you'll get for a low powered AM station. Chances of recouping any cost in that scenario is very very small - and like it or not, all owners DO want to make money, in any area they have to SPEND money. The don't do it just because they have deep pockets.

Radio doesn't work that way. It can provide "service," but it must pay its way. And every area where it pays, it must earn -- or there will be cuts in service, period. That means less live jocks, less service for news, less service for weather --- and, unfortunately, no one hires in radio for "emergency service." For the few times an emergency arises (and there are services provided now by federal law that eliminates the need of individual stations even needing to push a button, as EAS monitors automatically interrupt programming and takes over transmitters for emergency announcements. There is no "security" factor -- especially in a "non-news" station setting.

It's been proven that "human interaction" at many stations is still less than stellar. Today, it's done automatically. Not every station is geared to be a "news or emergency service station."

Want "in case of emergency" service? Buy a police/fire scanner with a weather radio. Broadcasters don't get paid to do that. Advertisers pay for when people are listening, not in case of emergency.

As for moving "oldies" of the 50s, 60s to a station that has a license for 19 watts at night on 1050 - and a 2500 watt daytime signal, both directional, don't get your hopes up for great success. First of all, I hate to say it, but no one in Syrcasue gives a rat's pa-toot for anyone hearing them in Oswego. They don't sell advertising there, nor have any reason to. You are known as "bonus listening." The move was made to enhance the potential of Syracuse listening levels with something that will make more of an impact to an unserved mass of people inside the metro, not outside of it.

Buckley didn't do such a hot job of it and had bigger fish to fry with WOR, so, they did the right thing - they sold to a motivated buyer, who now thinks he has an idea on how to better serve his investors, his advertisers and ... in this order, his listeners. Then come the employees. Then comes management. Then comes ownership. Some want and demand money quicker. You can guess which ones. Nobody does this because they have money to toss away. It must be paid back and the facilities must stand on their own as investments to make money while paying its obligations. That's called "business."

The difference between "oldies" and "oldies of the 80s" is that today's 50+ audience doesn't want to be considered as "oldies" anything. They might like some 50s and 60s music, but the people of interest to advertisers is those who like 70s and 80s music more -- the so called "Classic Hits" crowd which grew up with FM, not AM. 50s & 60s is, unfortunately, becoming the "adult standards" format of today. It is timeless, classic music -- but is now replacing Sinatra, Mathis, Martin, Clooney and others with the likes of the Beatles, Motown, Pop "Rock" and more. It's rapidly leaning for 55+ audiences day by day ... and will not be a long lasting draw -- to be dominated by 70s and 80s music sooner than later. Never has AM regained listeners who grew up with FM.

12+ numbers don't count (WCBS-FM fans, sorry) -- only the prime demos for $ales count. More of them listen to FM.

Never was there a time in business than today, is there a necessity to encourage and engage in digital integration through extensive use of the Internet, podcasting and on-demand content, not just streaming of an on-air signal. WSEN will not hurt without streaming its on-line presence, except maybe at night. But its content that counts. That integraion through the Internet IS important to them.

All that takes time and money -- as well as a more-than-perceived ability to make money from doing so. That's what pays people to do it and attracts people to invest in it. How long does that take? Until the ownership invests, give it time and says "we can/can't do this anymore."

Then, you have to consider the "music on AM" problem. That's when it becomes important to not take it personally that we in radio geekdom don't make up the critical mass needed to be successful in the business of "radio." Radio stations make no money based on listeners who can or can't "hear" them -- only those who DO and for how long and for how often.

 

[TheBigA]

Some of the most intelligent, insightful and factual understanding of radio and it's operation is, and has been, the Syracuse/Utica board of Radio-Info.

I agree. It's one reason why I post here (and Buffalo) so much. Great topics, great writing, great passion. I'm proud of my time in the Salt City.

Never was there a time in business than today, is there a necessity to encourage and engage in digital integration through extensive use of the Internet, podcasting and on-demand content, not just streaming of an on-air signal.

Exactly. I'm surprised that the stations have such a terrible internet presence. That has to change for those stations to go anywhere. Boomers are amazingly internet-savvy, and a stronger internet presence will pay off if it's done well. That will open WSEN-AM to the world, not just Baldwinsville, and give people who seek this music a place to go.

 

[CNYRadio.com]

Starting Monday, there will be some changes at the new Leatherstocking Media AM stations in Syracuse. On Monday, the oldies that are on WFBL Syracuse (1390) will move to WSEN (1050 Baldwinsville) as “Oldies 1050 WSEN.” WFBL will take on a new, unknown format.

Confirmed by GM Judy Kelly. And the new format is going to be talk radio.
http://www.cnyradio.com/2009/10/11/wfbl-flipping-to-talk-wsen-drops-bombardo/

Exactly. I'm surprised that the stations have such a terrible internet presence. That has to change for those stations to go anywhere.

I hate to bash stations, but you guys have a point. Just one simple example. CNYRadio.com's Picture of the Week feature is often a challenge because I'll go checking out station websites and you'd be surprised how many stations I have to go through before I find photos that are new. Granted, I am a little picky -- I try my best to avoid lame "talent + client" pictures from remotes. But it's amazing how many stations haven't posted any photos in months... sometimes several months. (There's one Syracuse station -- I won't name names -- when you click on their Photos page, the top 2 featured items are from 2007.)

You'd think it would be simple to mandate a sales or promotions person bring a camera to all station events, take some pictures, and then have "someone" take 10 minutes uploading them to the station website. Even if there's a lull without any outside events, just "wacky stuff" happening in-studio on a morning show can still do a lot to draw listeners to a website, and to strengthen the station/listener connection. I've even seen some stations that page air talent up to the lobby to pose for a quick snapshot when listeners stop in to claim prizes (usually larger prizes, but still... good idea).

 

[theradiokid]

The oldies ended at Midnight tonight, just as planned. WFBL was playing a 50’s song, whose title escapes me now, when the song faded (with no Top Of Hour ID), and CNN news was heard. After the news (and a few commercials), the next thing I heard was a Gary Dunes voiced liner, saying: “This is Joey Rennalds on Oldies 1050 WSEN.”

So, “CNY Talk Radio,” huh? This has been tried before. If it didn’t work on 1390 the first time, what’s gonna make it work this time ‘round? Frankly, I hope it fails.

Goodbye “Solid Gold Radio, Oldies 1390 WFBL,” and especially, Dave “Smilin’ Smitty wit’ yoooooou!” Smith. James V. Johnson might not care about this, but I will miss you.
*sniff* *wipes eyes* *sniff* *cry*

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[TheBigA]

You'd think it would be simple to mandate a sales or promotions person bring a camera to all station events, take some pictures, and then have "someone" take 10 minutes uploading them to the station website.

You shouldn't have to mandate it. It should be matter of course. But a lot of radio people don't think visually. That's a mistake. Radio can be visual if you let it. Radio people need some imagination. I see some DJs who attend fun local events, and immediately upload photos of them on their blog or TwitPic. You don't need any technical knowledge to do this. Just desire to communicate. It's the 21st century. People take photos and videos from their phone, and immediately upload them or send them to their friends. Where is radio in this equation?

 

[oaktree]

Radio is "out of the loop" in that matter. At a time when major broadcast networks, including CNN, have a (promotional) "reliability" on so-called "citizen journalists" -- it's now more than pictures. It's now video -- on radio web sites, just as it is increasingly on newspaper sites.

Radio, especially news/talk stations or just news or talk stations, as well as creative "local" (not cookie cutter) music radio web sites need to get with the program. Be it local news, weather, traffic (get those web cams on that radio site) and community events - update them - and you, as mentioned, have at least a foundation of service to the community.

"Emergency" listening does not constitute a passing severe thunderstorm or an overnight snow storm or blizzard, unless it affects a lot of people. Today, "seeing is believing" as much or more so than "hearing it" -- and there are simple ways to cure that problem with audio as only radio can - on demand. From school closings to storm updates, it's now as important online as it is hearing (and not missing) those very things on the air.

The internet has a relatively long based fascination and integration into our daily lives that radio has passed by on the local market level in a lot of ways. Again, it's "time to get with the program." One less Beatles song or a "Vogues" song (good grief ...) won't matter if the constant flow of what a station really offers the "inner" listener is not present online. We've heard the songs before.

Content - on and off the air -- is King.

 

[theradiokid]

“CNY Talk Radio” has launched on WFBL.

The first show that WFBL tried to run was Michael Savage (ug!) but I only heard the first 10 seconds of it, before the automation cut out. The format got off to a rocky start, with the automation cutting out twice. There is now a dead carrier on the air.

All I can say to that is: Good. Keep the dead air comin’. Hahahahahahaha…

Now, there is some kind of morning show on the air. Hmmm. WalStreet morning, perhaps? 10 seconds into this format, and I’m already bored to death.
*turns off radio*

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[BobRoss]

So, “CNY Talk Radio,” huh? This has been tried before. If it didn’t work on 1390 the first time, what’s gonna make it work this time ‘round? Frankly, I hope it fails.

Scott Fybush had a plausible prediction on his Northeast Radio Watch column today... by branding it "CNY Talk Radio," rather than anything involving call letters or a frequency, it leaves the door open for Leatherstocking to eventually simulcast this lineup on WMCR 1600 Oneida.

Aside from that, I think Leatherstocking is rectifying a few of the problems from the previous incarnation of talk on 1390.

1) They're not "obligated" to stick to the Buckley/WOR network lineup. There are several names on the new lineup that were not (and probably never would have) showed up on WFBL under Buckley ownership.

2) They're not doing a half-baked attempt at local news via someone else's newsroom. The previous format had national news from a network, followed by local news from WTVH. From day one, you could tell WFBL was at the bottom of the priority list at channel 5... the pre-recorded newscasts often sounded terrible, and were often outdated because they weren't refreshed often enough. I'd rather hear ABC take up the entire news window, and have no local news rather than crappy local news.

3) Local programming at noon? This could be interesting, depending on who it is. WSYR did "okay" with a local news hour at noon for many years, but eventually gave into the pressure to carry Rush live, rather than on delay. WFBL could do well with local content at noon, but it'll have to be hosted by someone who can perform well enough to lure people away from Rush.

4) Outside promotion. Buckley didn't do a whole lot of it. Will Leatherstocking? I think this is perhaps one of the biggest factors that could make or break the station, or any new station for that matter. You can't expect people to tune in if they don't know the station exists. Thanks to preset buttons, "surfing" the dial is rare to begin with (talking about regular listeners here, not us radio geeks), especially on the AM dial. People aren't going to just "find" the station at random; gotta hit the streets hard to get the word out. It can be expensive, but the investment can be worth it. Sadly, with almost no local content, WFBL doesn't really have any "personalities" who would be a draw at local appearances... so it's basically gotta be TV, billboards and print.

 

[JakeLongwell]

Regarding the possibility of a 1390/1600 simulcast, would there be issues with two stations in the same market carrying the same syndicated programming? Also, can 1390 already be heard well in 1600's limited coverage area?

I hope that if a "local" talk show is launched, they would offer separate programs on both stations. Yes, while there are many issues that affect central NY as a whole, I am sure people in Madison county would still want a forum to discuss "hometown" issues rather than be constantly bombarded with discussions of Syracuse-centric topics.

 

[BobRoss]

Regarding the possibility of a 1390/1600 simulcast, would there be issues with two stations in the same market carrying the same syndicated programming? Also, can 1390 already be heard well in 1600's limited coverage area?

I don't think there would be a problem with both stations carrying the same programming, since they are operated by the same owner. Look at how many other stations out there are simulcasting various syndicated programs. A potential WFBL/WMCR simulcast would be no different than WTKW/WTKV, or WMVN/WMVU, and so on.

As for the overlap... here's WFBL's Daytime coverage map and Nighttime map. In both cases, the "local" contour grazes the western border of Canastota, with only a "distant" quality signal covering Oneida.

By comparison, WMCR's nighttime pattern provides city-grade service to Oneida and Canastota. During the daytime, the perfect circle pattern does overlap WFBL more, offering city-grade service west to Chittenango, but also farther east into Oneida County than WFBL.

Despite any overlap west of Oneida, a simulcast with WMCR-A would help the talk format reach farther east and south of Oneida, still within the Syracuse market, but outside of WFBL's reach. It could also help increase overall revenue for WMCR's sales staff. Right now, Leatherstocking in Oneida is essentially making money on just one station, even though they're paying to operate two. Very doubtful that anyone in listening range "has" to listen to the AM because they can't pick up the FM. They could open up the potential for more revenue by ditching the simulcast and putting the talk format on the AM side.

Yes, I realize it's a matter of going from one simulcast to another, but we're talking a simulcast between 2 AM stations that are far enough away from each other that it's not a true duplication of services as WMCR AM/FM are right now.

Ideally, from a revenue standpoint, WMCR would carry the same programming as WFBL, but the Oneida studio would be set up to run its own legal IDs and commercials. And, as JakeLongwell suggested, yes, I would hope that the "local programming" hour on WMCR originates from Oneida, rather than WFBL. Even though Oneida is still technically part of the Syracuse market, the two areas definitely don't share the same public issues and concerns.

Another point to consider... if the two stations meet Arbitron's simulcasting requirements, the ratings from WFBL and WMCR get combined. Hard to say how much of a difference that would make since I would bet WMCR has almost no ratings of its own while still simulcasting WMCR-FM, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Interesting discussion regarding WMCR and WFBL, especially as it applies to news and talk programming for two distinctly different markets in one geographic area. Having programmed a news-talk station and consulted a few others, I see benefit to a (pardon the radio b-s word) "synergy" between the two stations that allows them to simulcast and go their separate ways when it benefits each station.

I also agree that not being tethered to the WOR Network gives WFBL more flexibility to provide its own (local) programming, but it also gives WFBL the option to fail. I hope Central New York listeners don't begin hearing colon blow infomercials on WFBL at 10 a.m. That's easy money, but it's a deathknell for AM talk. The colon blow cash is like crack. Sure, it helps pay the bills, but it's an outright sign of desperation.

Some very prudent decisions will have to be made (understatement of the day) especially if WFBL is to remain respectable in the programming arena. This may come down to selling programming performance as much as it comes down to ratings performance.

Those posters and radio geeks (guilty as charged) who might be itching for a WSYR v WFBL news-talk brawl may be disappointed. WFBL can make a comfortable living by offering a consistency of talk and news without getting into an outright pissing contest with the market's established news-talk leader. This should not be taken as a concession. I agree with many of the fine posts here regarding "news" product. Better to have a solid and consistent national news presence than a half-baked local effort that sounds inconsistent and unreliable.

If a consistency of quality programming on WFBL can be shared with WMCR, all the better. It allows WMCR to remain "Hometown" and gives WFBL the opportunity to sound "Large Market" while sharing resources and simulcasting when warranted. I'm not justifying "cheaping out." Hire talented, experienced radio professionals on the air and in sales who are dedicated to peak performance. Pay them a respectable wage, make the environment conducive to creativity and productivity. Money can be made and (moderate) debt can be serviced.

 

[W2JUV_AL]

""By comparison, WMCR's nighttime pattern provides city-grade service to Oneida and Canastota.""


The nighttime pattern for WMCR-AM as shown by Radiolocator.com is somewhat misleading. There are nights when
you can stand at the tower base and throw a stone farther than the signal goes.