To discuss something (anything!) different than WPHT, I noticed that Jerry Blavat's show is back on WBCB (it was there years ago back in the era when he was also on WNJC in the afternoon). The show a few years ago ran 'live' on WVLT & WTKU Ocean City from 5 to 7pm weekdays, then changed to tape-delayed on Kool 98.3 later in the evening as it is now & I assume live on 92.1 because he did live club shows. With the show on WBCB 3- 5pm, WVLT 5-7pm & WTKU 7-9pm does Blavat do the show live for BCB & the others now taped or is BCB taped too? (I'll admit it's unique to be on 3 stations spread out over 6 hours daily plus 3 additional hours on WTKU Fridays and an hour on XPN Saturdays!) The shows are 'generic' enough it's hard to tell.
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Geator Gold Network 3 Stations, 6 Hours A day
- Thread starter John1
- Start date
I'm surprised with his record collection and his vast knowledge of the music that the Geator didn't try to launch a syndicated oldies show years ago. Problem today, as that demo isn't attractive to advertisers he may have missed his chance for such a show nationally. Of course he's a Philly radio legend so the Delaware Valley is where he's able to put together a small regional network. Wish him well.
On my last visit to Center City Philadelphia (I'm from Connecticut), I noticed this sign on Market Street. Is this who we're talking about?
http://imgur.com/xWxBIri
http://imgur.com/xWxBIri
Yes. Blavat is a local 'icon', on local radio since 1962, then on small stations but also he had a popular dance show on local TV in the 1960's. Since then he has bounced around from station to station - he has always bought his own time and makes money promoting and running dance events at clubs and schools. He set up this studio in the 1990's after the radio station where he was working changed formats and he syndicated his show.
Blavat has syndicated his show many times over the years. I think way back in the early days he may have been syndicated to WPAZ Pottstown & maybe Allentown or Scranton. The 'recent' syndication began when WPGR was sold and became WNWR, and he set up his own market St. studio moved his show to WSSJ, WNJC, WBCB buying a few hours each day. At some point these stations one by one changed formats and Blavat moved to WVLT and WTKU. Then he also added a non-syndicated one hour show on WXPN on Saturday evenings. Blavat had tried to buy WPGR in the 1990's but it wasn't permitted by the FCC.
Actually, Jerry was a bit bigger than that in the late 60's. His TV show was not local, but originated at WCAU-TV10, and was carried on many CBS affifliates. He then moved to WFIL-TV6, "Discophinic Scene" was sydicated. He was featured in episodes of The Monkees and Batman. The WPGR debacle was a price and down money change at the last minute. The seller boasted it was worth more because it now had a 24 hour permit. Jerry said no because it was no longer licensed to Philadelphia (now Bala Cynwyd) and night coverage was poor. Jerry and partners felt the seller dealt in poor faith, and walked from the table. There were new RF regulations coming on, daily complaints from neighboring homes in Roxborogh, and neither buyer nor seller now wanted the real estate of the Tower Site. Jerry just wanted the license, and lease the site and Bala Studios. I was there, and to my knowledge, it really was that simple.
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