Channel 106.7 ?

[Seltzer]

I heard from one of my sources today that Rick Sten will be back on the airwaves tomorrow....he's the new morning host for WCAT RED 102.3. Congratulations to Rick. Hopefully Diane and John will find something soon.

 

[danwxman]

I like the new format, but it has major burn-out potential. They need to make sure they continually mix up the playlist or else it will get old very fast. I'm already really tired of hearing Blues Traveler.

Does anybody think FM Talk would be an option for this station if the current format fails? It's got a great signal that covers a huge chunk of south central PA.

 

[Seltzer]

Actually FM talk would be a great choice for Cumulus to put on WARM 103 once they throw in the towel on A/C. The company has some FM talkers in other parts of the country so the idea isn't totally without merit.

 

[bl40modulimiter2]

FM Talk is not an option in Harrisburg for anyone but Clear Channel because they have the contracts for Rush, Hannity, and Savage--the big 3. BUT in York---Cumulus has those. So yes, for one of Cumulus's York properties, that could be very interesting. But then--what do you do w/WSBA? I think it still bills enough that they can't just write it off....

 

[pdgreatness]

The big ones, Beck, Rush, Hannity, etc. are all running on the AM stations. There are a whole other slew of talk hosts on both sides of the political world. Few if any are can be heard in this area. A talk format on FM could be developed using the best of the second tier hosts, again using both sides.

 

[sprtschick]

Ahh but PDGreatness....is there an audience for the second tier talk hosts or is that audience "programmed" to follow the big three exclusively?

 

[pdgreatness]

Are listeners only programmed to tune to the top 3 radio stations in the market, or the top 3 TV networks, or is there enough audience to support a variety of TV broadcast and cable channels and a whole host of radio stations in a market, even down to a little AM station? The big 3 you mention are all of the conservative nature. Last I checked there were at least a couple of liberal minded people in Central PA.

 

[RockofHBG]

I'm still not precisely sure why, but ONLY conservative talk works. This has been proven from market to market and time and time again. Air America, the only liberal talk provider went belly-up. You'd think there would be room for liberal talk, but no there is not. This statement is not political, only observational.

 

[pdgreatness]

Agreed. However Air America failed because they started on making the network and the talk shows from a purely political standpoint, forgetting it was a business. They missed the fact that the successful shows are run on a business model, with the politcal as the programming. While none of the AA talks shows did great, there are still a few out there that could be combined with the second tier conservative shows to fill the program day and cause both persuasions to be annoyed and entertained in one hour or another. You could do that Monday-Friday and then even do some niche music format on the weekends. WTKS in Orlando does something on that order with local shows during the week and is quite succesful. Success not being defined as purely ratings but income and the bottom line.

 

[bl40modulimiter2]

Run a slate of second and third string hosts? Great Idea! WHYL pulled a 0.4 doing just that against WHP. Route 81 mgmt took the place from a 2.6 w/standards to a 0.4 with Schultz/Ingraham/Leykis in just months. Brilliant move.

 

[pdgreatness]

Try it with a powerhouse signal that could be heard in all of central PA. Not some little piss ant AM that barely radiates off its own property.

 

[RockofHBG]

There's just not enough compelling talent to go around. Plus, a decent talk station needs at least one solid local talent (AM Drive), preferably two. You just can't slap together a bunch of syndication and expect it to work. It would be like playing stiffs as a music station to compete with someone playing hits just because it's different.Talk ain't cheap, but done right, it's a goldmine.You can run twice as much inventory as a music station because it's not as much of an intrusion. Lots of endorsements, too if you have local talent.

 

[Seltzer]

I agree. To be successful, you'd need to have at least two live dayparts. Talent on the level that you find at New Jersey 101.5. I'm not sure any of the current staff at WSBA would cut the mustard so to speak. But there could be some out of work folks in the Mid Atlantic that could be the right fit.

On a big FM signal like 103.3, you'd find interest.

 

[bossjock 56]

If talk were to thrive on FM in Harrisburg or York, it would happen when Clear Channel in Harrisburg or Cumulus in York were to move it to one of their big stick FM's. Since Clear Channel has decent numbers on their FMs as well as WHP....I don't see that happening there. York is a different story. WSBA's line-up on 103.3 or 96.1 would do very well. I can't help but wonder what Clear Channel would do if that would happen. Harrisburg and York are considered seperate markets.....but suddenly you would have an FM in the York market covering Harrisburg with a static free line up of WHP's top talk hosts. They probably wouldn't have a leg to stand on. What would they then do with WSBA 910. Why not just simulcast. That's what's happening in the big markets. It would save money all around.

 

[Seltzer]

An idea for WSBA------ESPN. Move it off the weaker 1440 frequency.

Then either do Progressive Talk, Urban, or paid religious on 1440.

 

[danwxman]

I agree. To be successful, you'd need to have at least two live dayparts. Talent on the level that you find at New Jersey 101.5. I'm not sure any of the current staff at WSBA would cut the mustard so to speak. But there could be some out of work folks in the Mid Atlantic that could be the right fit.

On a big FM signal like 103.3, you'd find interest.

That's a good point. Either 103.3 or 106.7 would be a winner with that format, IMO. Whoever jumps on it first, Citadel or Cumulus, will make out well. Citadel is clearly going to see if 106.7 generates any interest, however.