Enough of the FM..what about AM?

[Mr. Marbles]

I here alot of talk about the FM...but where is at in the market for AM? WSYB,whnv,wnbx...who's got it up there? which station defines local radio? ??? and is entertaining?

 

[nhradiochild]

I've got to say this question seems fishy to me. :-\

I've got a couple of my own to ask, if you don't mind. Where are you from (regionally speaking)? And when might you have been in the area last to know of these stations?

I'm trying to figure out how you knew that calls WNBX were repeatedly used in the upper valley, but did not know they are no longer in use now. I also find it interesting how you've referenced two clearly Upper Valley radio stations, and one Rutland one, and using all-caps for that.

So I'm going to answer this question inconclusively partly because I have no idea who you are or why this information would be useful to you, and partly because it's been a long time since I've been in that area.

WNBX for a while was talk-radio WNTK's Lebanon FM (and later used temporarily as WCFR-AM calls until its originals could be restored), both stations owned/leased by Koor Communications. WNTK is a talk-station and it sort of has a dual-personality. Bob strives to put local people on, but is also a big fan of syndicated programming also.

I've never heard WSYB, and know only that it's a sister to WZRT and from the boards sounds like a fairly big favorite in Central Vermont, but I don't endorse it because I've never heard it.

And WNHV, lol (note the transposition of call letters), last I knew was simulcasting with WTSV as "The Score" and/or perhaps ESPN radio. I'm not much of a sports guy so I can't give you an honest evaluation there either.

My impression is that when Vox Radio Group owned The Score, very little of it was local except for high school games. Since Nassau took it over, I couldn't tell you anything about it.

My advice is: if you're in the broadcast area, then sample these stations for yourself and be your own judge. You will get many a varied opinion on these stations by various posters here. Your best bet to scoping out which stations are available in your listening area is to research it on www.radio-locator.com .

 

[Mr. Marbles]

I was simply opening up the conversation. I program an AM (a new kinda self appointed gig for me)and I was wondering what worked...I like your thoughts on syndication, I was told by a great consultant to go as local as possible. Not to play to many "Rush" programs

 

[radiotony]

Congratulations Mr. Marble on the gig.

I would bet that everyone here would suggest that you go as local as possible. All I would suggest is that if you do go local, don't micromanage things. If you are going to bring creative people into the org., make sure you let them do their thing. And, obviously, make sure these people are in-tune with what you want to program.

Local sports is a big thing and can yield decent revenue, especially with football. Basketball and hockey can do well too, but there tends to be more games so there are more costs involved. If you can't afford two voices, you can always hire one pro voice and then find co-hosts to intern the games from the local high schools.

I don't know the market size, competition, or what your budget is, but I've always thought that it is good to have at least local morning and afternoon broadcasts, weekdays. I would find syndication for middays, which tend to be a dead zone in AM, and evenings. You could also open up evenings to amateurs. You could mix in news headlines too, either by the local hosts or another staffer. Then, open up your weekends to others who might have interesting topics to talk about but may not have the ability to be able to perform a daily show. You could also open the station up to a lease-time opportunity for a local investment person or real estate person.

Just my two cents worth.

I was simply opening up the conversation. I program an AM (a new kinda self appointed gig for me)and I was wondering what worked...I like your thoughts on syndication, I was told by a great consultant to go as local as possible. Not to play to many "Rush" programs

 

[Dudeman2000]

I was simply opening up the conversation. I program an AM (a new kinda self appointed gig for me)

Hmm...Mr. Marbles...perhaps Jo Jo is right about you...interesting clues....as for you question...

As many on this board, I believe that local shows are definately better than syndicated shows. The problem is, GOOD local shows, especially in a smaller market, are hard to find...especially after the morning shift. Thats why many stations continue on with syndicated shows right before and after Rush. After all, the conservatives have great shows...Glen Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly and now Dennis Miller...would you put on a weak local talk show that NO ONE will listen to? Or maybe just run Hannity...at least if Hannity is sick, the show will still air.

The key is to find out what market wants AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, what will sell! Remember profit? Thats what keeps you employed as you program your "self appointed gig"...also remember this...small market listeners want to be treated like big market listeners...Just like the big markets, most of them want a Home Depot, a Price Chopper, Walmart AND they want to listen to good radio. No one wants to hear a constantly nervous host talk about local issues for 3 hours...the local newspapers aren't that big to lift material from! The truth is, good local talent is hard to find at 6 bucks an hour.

For me, I'll take top notch syndicated shows over crappy local shows.

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Thanks for the feed back dudeman2000. it is very appreciated! you seem to have a great grasp on the local am market! are you for hire?

 

[NO DAG]

Well stated, Dudeman.

 

[vtradioguy]

There is not much local AM radio left in the Burlington Plattsburgh Market area. WIRY 1340 AM in Plattsburgh is
the only one that I know of that broadcast 24 hours a day with local DJ's They are a 1,000 watt non directional
signal and have their classic 1940 tower next to their studios on Corniela Street. They strictly keep their
news and information to the New York side of the lake and I have never heard them mention the Vermont
side at all. The other AM stations in the market area mostly are satillite, WVMT 620 AM have a morning
2 DJ talk show, WJOY 1230 AM a morning DJ with the music of your life format and the rest of the 24 hours
is satillite. WRSA 1420 AM St. Albans morning DJ with an hour of talk rest of the 24 hours ESPN. 1390 AM
Burlington has change their format so much in the last 2 years I can not keep track of their call letters, they
orginally came on the air in the 1950's as the famous WDOT and play the rock and roll sounds or that era
well into the 60's and 70's. They had their studios in downtown Burlington on College street and you could
see them broadcast in the big store front window.

 

[raccoonradio]

Legendary Red Sox broadcaster Ken Coleman got his start on WSYB* (and Ch 4 in Boston's Bob Lobel
started at WJOY)
Rutland used to have WHWB 970 (owned by the guy who built Wilson Castle) which I remember
as being country...

*--if I remember right, that is. Years ago I read his "So You Want to Be A Sportscaster". Actually I
didn't necessarily want to be a sportscaster but back in the 70s when I was a young lad I'd listen
to Red Sox (still do), Bruins, etc. and got book as a gift..I think he mentioned starting out at WSYB.

There's a CP for an AM 670 to be built in Essex Jct.

1390 is now WCAT

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Well jo jo its good to see that we can agree on this one subject Thanks again dudeman2000 for your much needed eloquient feed back

 

[NO DAG]

I wonder which will be built first.. AM 670 in Essex or AM 720 in Claremont.. I'll bet the 670 in Essex will be quite the zoning and environmental battle with the construction of 3 or 4 tall, 200 foot plus, lighted towers. The real estate for that array alone, whether a purchase or lease, I bet would be very expensive..

 

[NO DAG]

Even to follow up with Raccoonradio's thread.. Former NBC News reporter Robert Hager, as well as former WBZ Radio news anchor Don Batten (he's the one who had this real, and I mean real awesome booming voice) both worked at WHWB.. Even though the WHWB self-supporting tower is long gone, I understand the old WHWB transmitter is still alive and well and living on the West Proctor Road with the Cat Country equipment.. Perhaps Mr. Marbles may be able to provide some info on that.. Very curious.

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Sorry JoJo when it comes to overhead costs and technical questions, i'm not the guy. I'm a programer...a radio philosopher if I may? great insight though JOJO. what if WSYB went to a stronger signal? coverage through half the state and more on a 50 watt stick.

 

[NO DAG]

Well Mr. M, WSYB which is very near and dear to Jo Jo's heart could improve the signal just by cleaning up the grounding system under those towers.. Perhaps that if Pamal actually decides to bring the fleet of bulldozers down on Dorr Drive, (Jo Jo likes the idea of imploding the building, perhaps a live broadcast, and sponsors galore to this historic occasion, lot of sizzle, not a lot of building pieces to recycle unless someone is in dire need of woodpaneling and very outdated light fixtures !!) Perhaps Pamal can do some much needed surgury on the ground system. Most likely WSYB would have to take a short vacation for a while the transmitter is re-located to a different shelter.

Would love to see WSYB get more night power, (at least 5kw) and a wider nighttime pattern to cover / serve the entire county at least. I don't think any of the Canadien stations that WSYB had to protect are still on the air, or they may still treated like they are on the air.. The 1380 in Naugutuck CT, seems to shoot it's small night time signal to the north.. Si..

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Near and dear Jo JO? former ties with the news, sports and talk leader? Please tell me do you think local sports should come before pro teams? what do you feel will sell best in the market?
p.s.
you have a great point about the bulldozers..

 

[NO DAG]

My two cent take, WSYB, for now, has arguably the best on-air local sports talent in the state, even Northern New England, or even points well beyond that. With Hall of Famer, Jack Healey, Vince Allo, and John Lawrence.. Name me three talented people like this on any radio station staff.

Local sports is the bread and butter of WSYB, for example. The Red Sox used to sell very well, not exactly sure what Pamal has done to that (yet.) The Yankees don;t seem to have a lot of local sponsors on the sister 50kw FM station.

Your answer may depend on the season of the sport.. A Red Sox in a hotly contested pennant race, may impact more than an early season Rutland or MSJ football game.. Those are about the only collisions that may appear in that scenerio. Certainly there's no reason a local high school football game, or Red Sox could not be aired on WJEN, for example, whose signal roughly parallels WSYB and stays mostly in Rutland County.
A Jack Healey High School football game could sound good in Frequency Modulation.

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Jo Jo, do you think a tape delay on the High School sports end, so money could made from the pro sports end as well? ???

 

[NO DAG]

No, I wouldn't think so. Folks in the stands like to hear the real deal on the radio for a home game. A High School game on WJEN, for example, in a rare occurance on a Friday or Saturday would be acceptable. Think of MRN or Nascar, there. Easier to air High School Sports, then to put an non-contracted Red Sox game on that frequency. You can probaly charge more money if some of the games were on WJEN, especially with schools (if any) that play Rutland or MSJ in the Western or northern part of Rutland County where WSYB's night time signal is tough.

 

[Mr. Marbles]

I think that tape delay is perfectly fine.

 

[vtradioguy]

There is actually going to be another AM station in the Burlington Area, where is this so called 670 AM
Essex Jct going to have their studios and transmitter or tranmitters, power etc ? I hope it is not
going to be another Christian station like the block of them below 91.9 from the white house on
Route 15 just east of the village.