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I can't imagine Howie is making $800 large in this new gig. How is he paid? Do affiliates pay him to air his show? Does he get a cut of advertising money? Who is his "employer"?
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Fybush:WMEX 1510...Howie
- Thread starter raccoonradio
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Yeah, reception is not good here.
Probably not.....but is he making more than what WRKO was offering him for a new deal? Probably!
He is paid by a combination of fees from the affiliates....and the 4 minutes of commercial content that he retains (Affiliate stations can sell the remaining time each hour.)
His employer...is himself! He IS the company now and retains all the rights.
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Thanks for the info. I remember when Michael Graham left for Atlanta, he advised that having your own radio network was NOT easy, and that's why he bolted.
Howie and VB hilarious together.
Def. some reception holes including southern NH. Here in Beverly-Danvers area, WMEX comes in well day and night with only occasional splashover
from 1500 or 1520. I can hear a distant station on 1510 faintly..WLAC? Same as RKO on 680; Balt. or Binghamton faint in background after dark.
1510 has always done well along the coast. Reg. caller Patrice from Arlington called in and Howie said he bet the new signal was better
for her but who knows. RKO out of Burlington; MEX from Waltham (SW of Arlington)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/4...278,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en
Def. some reception holes including southern NH. Here in Beverly-Danvers area, WMEX comes in well day and night with only occasional splashover
from 1500 or 1520. I can hear a distant station on 1510 faintly..WLAC? Same as RKO on 680; Balt. or Binghamton faint in background after dark.
1510 has always done well along the coast. Reg. caller Patrice from Arlington called in and Howie said he bet the new signal was better
for her but who knows. RKO out of Burlington; MEX from Waltham (SW of Arlington)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/4...278,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en
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680 and 1510 are both very strong in Arlington. I'd think 680 might have a slight edge mainly due to the lower dial position, but 1510 is slightly geographically closer. It's a favorable direction for both stations signal patterns, day and night. 1510 is on the closest end of Waltham to Arlington, with only Belmont between the two towns. 680 has to only travel through Lexington to get from Burlington to Arlington. Any difference should be effectively negligible because both signals are strong there and should have no reception issues in Arlington.
I was looking at the map link via radio-locator and could see Waltham wasn't far from Arlington. Yes, would also think 680 would be strong. (For a few yrs my postal facility was
in Woburn and you could see 680's towers in Burl from the parking lot). I also remember late 86, early 87, listening to what was then WMRE 1510 when we were in Woburn
(Morgan White Jr, Bob Katzen etc). "Stay on top, 1510, WMRE". My home was in Nahant at the time (incl Morgan's last show there, early 87) and Nahant got good recep of 1510.
in Woburn and you could see 680's towers in Burl from the parking lot). I also remember late 86, early 87, listening to what was then WMRE 1510 when we were in Woburn
(Morgan White Jr, Bob Katzen etc). "Stay on top, 1510, WMRE". My home was in Nahant at the time (incl Morgan's last show there, early 87) and Nahant got good recep of 1510.
One of the few times I've checked out the "new" 1510 WMEX today, the transmitter just suddenly dropped off the air in mid-program at about 2:10 PM. Still off the air now a half-hour later.
No announcement this past week, as was hinted, of new affiliates for Howie but supposedly Howie hinted they were trying to fill some holes in New England. Southern NH, Prov.,
much of Conn., for example. More and more people are prob listening online.
much of Conn., for example. More and more people are prob listening online.
from Herald Inside Track (file under that line in Joe Jackson's "Sunday Papers": "They wouldn't print it if it wasn't true" (sarcasm)
--Pete Sheppard says he has taken a job outside broadcasting and he "hasn't been happier in his life"
--Phil Zachary at WRKO was saying they are casting a new PM drive personality, a fresh take, though it's said according to industry insiders, they may go syndie.
...._right_...
(though again, you...never...know)
--Pete Sheppard says he has taken a job outside broadcasting and he "hasn't been happier in his life"
--Phil Zachary at WRKO was saying they are casting a new PM drive personality, a fresh take, though it's said according to industry insiders, they may go syndie.
...._right_...
(though again, you...never...know)
Can I ask a serious question? I'm really curious... Why are you so in love with Howie Carr? What is it about him or his show that really draws you in? I'm outside his target demographic (a 30 year old social liberal and fiscal conservative who lives somewhere in the middle) so I honestly don't see it. What, in 2014, makes Howie Carr an entertaining and useful broadcaster? What sets him apart?
You apparently are pointing this question at Raccoon....and I'll let him answer this first part. I'd be interested in why he is such a fan as well
While I am not "in love" with Howie Carr, and am aware of his many negatives...I will answer this for myself.
1.) He is real and authentic....what you hear is the real Howie....warts and all. Sarcastic, sardonic, pessimistic and a bit self-centered.
2.) He is relevant. He talks about things going on now...even if they are silly. Christmas Shopping, Traffic, State House, Whitey, Television, etc., etc. Things that bug people. Things that people talk about at work.
3.) What else was there to listen to in PM drive that's hits home? No real competition. (Now he has competition with his replacement Seigal? at WRKO.)
4.) He is a Bostonian....and his knowledge of Mass politics is unmatched. He remembers every politician. He know the parliamentary moves government. Where else on the dial would I hear about what is happening at the State House? Where else would I hear about the pay raises being pondered in the legislature? Where else would I hear about tax increases?
5.) he can be lighthearted and humorous. He doesn't take himself ( or anything) too seriously.
...that's just off the top of my head.
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Thanks for the defense; I enjoy Howie because he is entertaining, in his columns, books, TV appearances and radio show. Yeah not everyone agrees with his politics. But he
has fun putting together a show that blends politics, gangster lore, and off-politics topics. I have read him for years in the Herald and while I did _like_ Jerry Williams on
WRKO, I found I _loved_ Howie when he did fill ins. It was a treat to hear him fill in, and he got his own show of course.
Real and authentic? Yes. I have met him at a gas station remote and a couple book signings. Nice guy (sorry to spoil any negative connotations some may have of him).
Relevant? Yes. And yes what else is there to listen to, though some may enjoy Siegel...and of course there's sports talk etc.
A Bostonian who sees all and knows all. Funny and indeed doesn't take himself seriously.
Someone I know from past experience and who is on my facebook, a previous Boston radio personality (we'll call him "Tai") told me once that he didn't like Howie
because he "made (expletive) up". Yup. Yeah, that's why he is such a failure, why people have pointed out his inaccuracies, why he can't seem to hold a job
in the newspapers, why he only has a couple affiliates (not 15 or so), why his books flopped, why people don't bother to talk about him on radio boards like this.
(Sarcasm)
>>a 30 year old social liberal and fiscal conservative who lives somewhere in the middle
Why, I'm not like you at all. I'm a social liberal and a fiscal conservative who lives somewhere in the middle...
...
...
...only I'm almost 53
has fun putting together a show that blends politics, gangster lore, and off-politics topics. I have read him for years in the Herald and while I did _like_ Jerry Williams on
WRKO, I found I _loved_ Howie when he did fill ins. It was a treat to hear him fill in, and he got his own show of course.
Real and authentic? Yes. I have met him at a gas station remote and a couple book signings. Nice guy (sorry to spoil any negative connotations some may have of him).
Relevant? Yes. And yes what else is there to listen to, though some may enjoy Siegel...and of course there's sports talk etc.
A Bostonian who sees all and knows all. Funny and indeed doesn't take himself seriously.
Someone I know from past experience and who is on my facebook, a previous Boston radio personality (we'll call him "Tai") told me once that he didn't like Howie
because he "made (expletive) up". Yup. Yeah, that's why he is such a failure, why people have pointed out his inaccuracies, why he can't seem to hold a job
in the newspapers, why he only has a couple affiliates (not 15 or so), why his books flopped, why people don't bother to talk about him on radio boards like this.
(Sarcasm)
>>a 30 year old social liberal and fiscal conservative who lives somewhere in the middle
Why, I'm not like you at all. I'm a social liberal and a fiscal conservative who lives somewhere in the middle...
...
...
...only I'm almost 53
Someone mentioned on a conservative board the trouble he has getting WMEX etc and how Howie, supposedly doing a national show focuses mostly on MA and NH.
I replied:
Agreed tho some are closer to the antenna or listen on smartphones.
He could do some national topics and has in some ways but you’re right about his MA/NH focus. “Joining us now is state rep Shauna O’Connell”...”ok, from what state?” a listener in Texas or Ohio wonders. “I’ll be appearing in Winchester tonight...” etc Not relevant to someone in Seattle...or
Burlington VT for that matter.
He does have one tiny station in Shell Lake WI—think they have to shut off at sunset—and in the past was on stations in Salt Lake City, Maryland, and an Entercom station, KIRO AM or was it FM in Seattle and for a time he did shows for KFI in LA via ISDN. He’s filled in for Dennis Miller and Mark Levin. He could truly do national but it sure sounds regional.
I will add about 7 of his 16 or so stations are on FM though and don’t have AM problems; including Cape Cod, Bangor,
Augusta, Upper Valley NH and some small repeaters in Upper Valley, Keene, and Portland. WCRN 830 covers a lot of ground but if it were only in Boston, not Worcester...
I replied:
Agreed tho some are closer to the antenna or listen on smartphones.
He could do some national topics and has in some ways but you’re right about his MA/NH focus. “Joining us now is state rep Shauna O’Connell”...”ok, from what state?” a listener in Texas or Ohio wonders. “I’ll be appearing in Winchester tonight...” etc Not relevant to someone in Seattle...or
Burlington VT for that matter.
He does have one tiny station in Shell Lake WI—think they have to shut off at sunset—and in the past was on stations in Salt Lake City, Maryland, and an Entercom station, KIRO AM or was it FM in Seattle and for a time he did shows for KFI in LA via ISDN. He’s filled in for Dennis Miller and Mark Levin. He could truly do national but it sure sounds regional.
I will add about 7 of his 16 or so stations are on FM though and don’t have AM problems; including Cape Cod, Bangor,
Augusta, Upper Valley NH and some small repeaters in Upper Valley, Keene, and Portland. WCRN 830 covers a lot of ground but if it were only in Boston, not Worcester...
Just my two cents, but I don't think someone who was born and raised in Maine, went to school at Deerfield Academy and the University of North Carolina and who now lives in Wellsley can be considered a "Bostonian".
Somerville too...I don't exactly when he started in the Boston area, maybe in the 70s? If Howie ever writes an autobio maybe he can explain.
He's owned property in Cambridge for awhile,not sure if he still does.
Wiki:
>>From 1980 to 1981, Carr was the Boston City Hall bureau chief of the Boston Herald American, and he later worked as the paper's State House bureau chief. As a political reporter for WNEV (now WHDH) in 1982, his coverage of then-mayor Kevin White was so relentless that after the mayor announced he wasn't running again, he told the Boston Globe that one of the things he enjoyed most about his impending retirement was not having Carr chase him around the city.
He's owned property in Cambridge for awhile,not sure if he still does.
Wiki:
>>From 1980 to 1981, Carr was the Boston City Hall bureau chief of the Boston Herald American, and he later worked as the paper's State House bureau chief. As a political reporter for WNEV (now WHDH) in 1982, his coverage of then-mayor Kevin White was so relentless that after the mayor announced he wasn't running again, he told the Boston Globe that one of the things he enjoyed most about his impending retirement was not having Carr chase him around the city.
noun
2.
a native or inhabitant of Boston, Mass.
...but certainly not a Proper Bostonian. ;-)
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If you look at the V-Soft signal strength page for the zip code 02482 (Wellesley). http://zipsignal.v-soft.com//
You can see that WRKO's daytime signal in Howie's hometown is one of the strongest with a Field strength(mV/m) of 12.53.
And, yes, Howie complained about their nighttime signal...which drops to a field strength of 6.58.
Now...what is 1510AM nighttime signal in Wellesley? A whopping 0.62!
You can see that 1510 pulls in further from the Western Suburbs
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WMEX&service=AM&status=L&hours=N
...than WRKO's nighttime signal...
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WRKO&service=AM&status=L&hours=N
WRKO's signal wasn't that bad...except maybe at Howie's house....
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Sorry, but Howie Carr violates the cardinal rule of talk radio. He is boring and more than that predictable. Pick any issue and I can with great accuracy predict what Carr will say. Howie hasn't had an original thought in a generation. The only thing new about him is his hair and his teeth.....;-)
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