Word is that longtime Buffalo favorite, Dave Gillen resigned Monday as GM/PD of Bill Yuhnke's WEBR 1440. Should be interesting to learn who's going to fill those shoes and where Dave's headed next.
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Dave "DG" Gillen is gone
- Thread starter Tall Thin One
- Start date
Possibly related to Yuhnke's soon to close take-over of WLVL?
I hope that doesn't mean any kind of format change at WEBR. I stream the station and like what they're doing.
R
Roch989
Guest
You may be the only one who listens. Dave Gillen had the station mixing up songs from the 1940s and 1950s from Frank Sinatra with songs like “I’m never gonna break my stride.” The worst station I’ve ever heard. No good PD would ever do that. But at least Barry Lillis is back now.
WEBR is never going to do well in Buffalo.
Put the WJJL call-letters back on it and focus on Niagara Falls, where you can actually hear the station.
Concur! Especially as it regards 1440 being a Niagara Falls radio frequency.
At one time, WJJL had a strong presence in the Falls. If residents do know and remember the 1440 frequency, if they consume AM radio at all, it certainly isn't as WEBR which has no relationship to 1440. None. Zero. Stop trying to be a Buffalo-centered radio station.
The station's format as is, is irrelevant, a sad waste of Amplitude Modulated radio frequency energy that could reach far more listeners than it does today.
The logical move would be to change the calls back to WJJL, drop the talk shows, play the hits from 55-78 in a disciplined manner, with properly scheduled specialty features, such as B-sides, turntable hits, rarities (see the "stiffs" thread on this board.) But these types of features must be set up with proper staging that would make them special. Program the station for a demographic that will actually be inclined to check it out, listen to it, and talk about it in favorable terms. The now-exiled-from-this-board owner of the station on Genesee street understands how this concept works, especially as it applies to revenue.
WBTA Batavia might be a good template to study, too ... not so much for its AC format, but for what it does when the music stops. The heart of the station is the news department and its localism. WBTA caters to Batavia (midway between Buffalo and Rochester) and Genesee county.
Regarding the presentation of music, 1440 might study 97 Rock's playbook as to how specialty features (modified for WJJL to fit a 58-78 format) are staged and programmed. There are a number of features that are Oldies-centric: "My Three Songs," (thematic); "Lunch Fit For A King" (featuring four ...1440 ... songs from Elvis); or Vinyl Delights (a 45 actually played on a turntable). There are many more.
Hire the guy who had Oldies 104 in double digits in the 90s as a consultant or PD. WJJL might get a 2+ share, which is a helluva lot better than anything the station has done in the last few years, and it would certainly sound better, more cohesive than the flotsam now washing up on the frequency.
Or... WEBR could continue to keep doing what it's doing and languish in the under-one-share zone... the station posters here spend too much time writing about and snickering at.
That's my radio rant regarding Orphan 1440. Been a while since I posted. My work is done here.
If they focused on Niagara County they could share news, public affairs, and sales staff with WLVL. It's too bad that they can't wedge a translator into the Niagara Falls market so they'd cover both sides of Niagara county on an FM signal. Niagara Falls and Lockport are quite different demographically, so the main focus of the programming should be different, but news and issues-type programming could be carried in both markets successfully.
Hmmmmmmm....
You have a very thoughtful commentary on WEBR.
At this point however, I don’t believe it’s about picking a music format that no one will listen to. Who would listen to an AM basically daytime only station for music?
The simple solution is to bring back the call-letters WJJL snd make it a news and talk station for Niagara. A live and local morning show, perhaps some syndicated news shows as needed and Tom Darro in the afternoons.
WECK works with music because it’s essentially a Buffalo station and it’s on FM, where I’d assume most would listen.
1440 has little in common with WECK and a music format won’t make it better. It will never get a 2.0 share in Buffalo and I don’t believe it ever has, and that was when people listened to AM radio.
It is not a ratings play. It is a local station play for Niagara. The ratings never could have been a selling factor for WJJL. It’s a Niagara station only, and now, it’s not even that.
Program to Niagara and sell to local businesses in Niagara.
It’s not at all, complicated.
But ... but ... VARIETY!
Buffalo favourite? What makes him that?
I’m not sure what the solution is for WEBR. There has been discussion that the station should revert to the WJJL call letters and focus on serving Niagara County. WLVL super serves Lockport. Yet, its 12+ ratings remain stagnant at .4. And in reality, WLVL is super serving only during the morning hours. The rest of the time is taken up by tired syndicated right-wing programming. Tom Darro targets Niagara Falls for two hours each morning on WEBR. Perhaps someone who has knowledge of hourly numbers can enlighten us on whether Darro’s numbers are higher. But what we do know is WEBR’s 12+ numbers were an abysmal .2 in the last book. So, I’m not sure focusing on Niagara County is necessarily an answer. I will say WEBR is no longer mixing standards with its ‘70s and ‘80s music. It’s strictly the latter now, Monday through Friday. But again, it’s AM radio. It’s a daytimer. The signal is awful. I would argue the station will never exceed a one share.
The point is that you're never going to sell it as a player in Buffalo, so you'll never get big numbers in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls book that's dominated by Buffalo and its suburbs. Focus on Niagara Falls and western Niagara County and super-serve that audience and its advertisers. Part of that means covering the Niagara County government that's based in Lockport, and covering Niagara Falls city government because it's the largest population center in the county. News and public affairs programming could be broadcast on both WEBR and WLVL, saving some dollars by sharing staffs and raising some rates for the combo buy. Sell on results, not ratings, because it's not easy or advantageous to break Niagara County ratings out of a Buffalo book.
Mark1981's comments regarding WLVL, especially after 10 a.m., are ... on the mark. SirRoxalot is equally on point regarding local Niagara county news coverage on 1340 and 1440; and Tower590 makes a relevant point arguing the viability of spoken word vs. music formats for 1440.
The Oldies format was suggested because it's the only format that might ... might ... attract consistent listening (cume more than TSL) to AM 1440 (and a potential low-power FM translator.) Admittedly, Oldies itself is a stretch because that demographic has already tasted the format on a full power FM signal.
The salient point however, is the fact that Standards/Great American song book is, at best, a fading niche format. Even Zoomer 740 Toronto has evolved from it. And the 80s format on 1440 isn't viable because it puts the low power, essentially daytime only 1440 in the same deep pool as Buffalo and Toronto full power FMs. A minnow in the midst of sharks.
The counter to an Oldies format is all news-talk, but this is territory on which WBEN and WBFO already have a strong claim. Local Niagara county talk as heard on WEBR is a tiresome coffee klotch, attracting the same 12 callers who grind the same saw. The same song was played on WLVL when it offered a daily local talk show, and third tier conservative talk which beats the same tired drum, taking up most of WLVL's broadcast day, cannot compete with WBEN and WBFO.
The suggestion that a shared newsroom serving WLVL and WJJL is keenly valid for many reasons. Local news is the heart of the matter as relates to programming and fiscal viability and survival. WBTA Batavia and WDOE Dunkirk are good examples. Add to this proposal coverage of local, Niagara county high schools' sports programs, including play-by-play of basketball and football.
A newsroom staffed by a few seasoned radio news professionals who know the workings of Niagara Falls and Lockport, augmented by students or graduates from Niagara County Community College, Niagara University, Buffalo State, St. Bonaventure or Brockport State could generate listenership and revenue.
A certified credit-bearing internship program could be established among colleges and the management of the stations. This would require commitment to a detailed operating plan, an academic syllabus, oversight, technological awareness, money ... and patience. By extension, WLVL and WJJL would establish an on-line news presence. This is where youth would especially be served.
WLVL-WJJL might also benefit by establishing a relationship with Niagara County "newspapers," Lockport's Union Sun & Journal (ironically, which once owned 1340) and Niagara Gazette, although such an arrangement might be viewed by the US&J and NG as an infringement on their turf.
There are possibilities for success with these stations, but success will require considerable, consistent effort, attention to detail, and vision by all parties and participants.
The Oldies format was suggested because it's the only format that might ... might ... attract consistent listening (cume more than TSL) to AM 1440 (and a potential low-power FM translator.) Admittedly, Oldies itself is a stretch because that demographic has already tasted the format on a full power FM signal.
The salient point however, is the fact that Standards/Great American song book is, at best, a fading niche format. Even Zoomer 740 Toronto has evolved from it. And the 80s format on 1440 isn't viable because it puts the low power, essentially daytime only 1440 in the same deep pool as Buffalo and Toronto full power FMs. A minnow in the midst of sharks.
The counter to an Oldies format is all news-talk, but this is territory on which WBEN and WBFO already have a strong claim. Local Niagara county talk as heard on WEBR is a tiresome coffee klotch, attracting the same 12 callers who grind the same saw. The same song was played on WLVL when it offered a daily local talk show, and third tier conservative talk which beats the same tired drum, taking up most of WLVL's broadcast day, cannot compete with WBEN and WBFO.
The suggestion that a shared newsroom serving WLVL and WJJL is keenly valid for many reasons. Local news is the heart of the matter as relates to programming and fiscal viability and survival. WBTA Batavia and WDOE Dunkirk are good examples. Add to this proposal coverage of local, Niagara county high schools' sports programs, including play-by-play of basketball and football.
A newsroom staffed by a few seasoned radio news professionals who know the workings of Niagara Falls and Lockport, augmented by students or graduates from Niagara County Community College, Niagara University, Buffalo State, St. Bonaventure or Brockport State could generate listenership and revenue.
A certified credit-bearing internship program could be established among colleges and the management of the stations. This would require commitment to a detailed operating plan, an academic syllabus, oversight, technological awareness, money ... and patience. By extension, WLVL and WJJL would establish an on-line news presence. This is where youth would especially be served.
WLVL-WJJL might also benefit by establishing a relationship with Niagara County "newspapers," Lockport's Union Sun & Journal (ironically, which once owned 1340) and Niagara Gazette, although such an arrangement might be viewed by the US&J and NG as an infringement on their turf.
There are possibilities for success with these stations, but success will require considerable, consistent effort, attention to detail, and vision by all parties and participants.
Ratings should never be a factor on a small town station such as WLVL.
They actually should also not be a factor on WEBR.
They should treat them like any other radio stations in an unrated market.
WLVL probably has very good ratings in Lockport.
Why would either of these stations rely on ratings or actually pay for them when they don’t even cover Buffalo, let alone the Metro.
When someone buys and actually pays for Nielsen ratings in a situation like that, they truly are mistaken in the believe that they are a Buffalo station.
Program locally and sold locally. It’s about retail. The same holds two for WJJL/WEBR.
They actually should also not be a factor on WEBR.
They should treat them like any other radio stations in an unrated market.
WLVL probably has very good ratings in Lockport.
Why would either of these stations rely on ratings or actually pay for them when they don’t even cover Buffalo, let alone the Metro.
When someone buys and actually pays for Nielsen ratings in a situation like that, they truly are mistaken in the believe that they are a Buffalo station.
Program locally and sold locally. It’s about retail. The same holds two for WJJL/WEBR.
Just listened to WEBR for a few minutes. Congrats format has been trashed! WEBR app deleted. It was nice while it lasted!
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