On my way in this morning, I heard Dave Osterburg doing weather on NewsRadio 970. I thought that Channels 10 or 9 did weather for them. Did I miss something?
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Dave Osterburg on NewsRadio 970
- Thread starter BabyStringer
- Start date
WFLA TV, channel 8 had been doing the weather for WFLA radio, but WFLA radio wanted to have the FOX brand for everything (from the way I read it ) and so FOX owned and operated FOX 13 is now doing the weather. It was nothing personal, just a business decision to extend the FOX brand to their weather forecasts.BabyStringer said:
drt
Seems like I remember some kind of agreement between CH 8 and a previous owner of WFLA AM/FM radio. CH 8 could no longer use the WFLA call sign because of different owners of the radio and TV. At that time, CH 8 was known as WXFL. Then the FCC changed their rules and allowed call signs to be used with permission of the original licensee which was WFLA AM. Part of that agreement to let CH 8 use the WFLA call again had something to do with allowing the FM on CH 8's riverview tower and other exchanges including weather. So, apparantly this agreement has run its course. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.
That's more or less correct, with the following information thrown in:sbe1 said:
Way back when, Media General owned 970 WFLA (along with Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune) until the FCC told them sometime in the mid 1980s that they'd have to divest one of the broadcast outlets in order to avoid having a media monopoly in the marketplace. (That's kind of funny, considering today's ownership rules, but I digress.)
MG got rid of the radio station, because it wasn't particularly profitable at the time, and kept the TV station, which up until about two years ago had been a cash cow.
The new owners of 970 WFLA (Sconnix Communications, if memory serves) got to keep the call letters because it held them before Channel 8 even existed. I don't know the FCC rules chapter and verse, but the essence indeed was that Channel 8 couldn't keep its calls because they were assigned to the radio station (and, by extension, its owner). So Channel 8 changed its calls to WXFL ("eXtra FLorida" was used briefly in the branding) and kept them from roughly 1988 to roughly 1991.
That's when the FCC rules changed, allowing similar calls to be assigned to different owners with permission from the rights holder. And I do believe providing weather coverage was part of the deal ... 970 WFLA previously had been an Accuweather affiliate.
To the best of my knowledge, WFLA News Channel 8 is still licensed as WXFL, after the short lived 1980's football league of the same name. Management must have gotten all wrapped up in the hype about "Gayle Sierens first female sportscaster in the NFL".
It's seems sensible since Newsradio 970 WFLA has now severed ties with Channel 8's weather office that station owner Media General is actually paying Clear Channel for the use of its WFLA call letters. Since no barter arrangement now exsists.
As a casual listener of 970 WFLA, the FOX 13 affiliation makes far more sense and is a better broadcast fit anyway. Keep up the good work down there people. Well done.
It's seems sensible since Newsradio 970 WFLA has now severed ties with Channel 8's weather office that station owner Media General is actually paying Clear Channel for the use of its WFLA call letters. Since no barter arrangement now exsists.
As a casual listener of 970 WFLA, the FOX 13 affiliation makes far more sense and is a better broadcast fit anyway. Keep up the good work down there people. Well done.
Incorrect. Documents at FCC.gov show the television station licensed as WFLA.naughtytalker said:
Incorrect again. The XFL played one season in 2001. Are you thinking of the USFL, which played three seasons in the mid-1980s?naughtytalker said:
There might be a financial arrangement involved somehow at this point, but I doubt it. Media General is so cash-poor right now that the executives would change the call letters justlikethat if it meant a financial savings of any kind. The WFLA name is basically worthless to the TV station beyond tradition. Its on-air people rarely use the calls, relying instead on the "Newschannel 8" brand for almost everything but legal IDs. If there is some kind of arrangement currently in place, unless it expires soon, I think we can expect Channel 8 to change its call letters very soon in order to save money. (WTBO, anyone?)naughtytalker said:
You're hardly a casual listener of 970 WFLA.naughtytalker said:
However, you're right ... in terms of branding (both are Fox affiliates) and the overall sound of the reports. The people at Channel 13 seem energetic, where the Channel 8 folks -- what's left of 'em -- sounded like they were just fulfilling an obligation.
H
Horns
Guest
Well the Fox 13 folks sure didn't sound good last night. We were getting blasted by thunderstorms and lightning, I was out after the Rays game, turned my car radio to 970 and heard a recorded weather forecast from Andy Johnson of 13 saying "showers will end after sunset"...ok what's all of this wind and lightning?! I got home and turned on the TV on 9 to get a real live weather report. 970 should do better.
970 was my favorite station throught the late 80s and 90s. Today, it is not even a preset. I remember the excellent coverage of Hurricane Elena, and several others. I was accustomed to immediately turn on my radio to 970 and almost always Jack Harris or another full-time local personality would be on the air reading out information as quickly as possible. He always have all of the people that knew what to do, and so forth, within minutes. Now, you really need to turn on the television. It may get ugly the day another storm comes in and blows out Brighthouse for days. We can't even listen to VHF audio on radio because of HD. Hopefully, we won't experience this.
To this day, I really believe that the FCC should not allow radio stations to call themselves something they are not. 970 is not Newsradio. It is Talkradio. News is events as they are happening while talk is some uneducated guy's opinion over a subject he/she only read a headline about.
To this day, I really believe that the FCC should not allow radio stations to call themselves something they are not. 970 is not Newsradio. It is Talkradio. News is events as they are happening while talk is some uneducated guy's opinion over a subject he/she only read a headline about.
John Waywoods said:
...so that makes you a talker.
naughtytalker said:
Am I wrong? Don't just throw out a little jab so you can tell Todd later what you did and wait for him to give you a half a glance. Back up your shtick.
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