Hmmmm....

[Spackler1]

The strongest signal in the market is WGMR. I don't have the equipment to measure it but I feel pretty confident that it is. That isn't to say that strength should be confused with quality. They don't have line-of-sight from the studio to the tower site so there is a double jump, that might have something to do with it. There are flaws that could be fixed by throwing some money at it, but don't be fooled, the signal is very strong.

 

[Ani WaHya]

The strongest signal in the market is WGMR. I don't have the equipment to measure it but I feel pretty confident that it is. That isn't to say that strength should be confused with quality. They don't have line-of-sight from the studio to the tower site so there is a double jump, that might have something to do with it. There are flaws that could be fixed by throwing some money at it, but don't be fooled, the signal is very strong.

I agree that it is not a question of signal strength but of signal distortion.

 

[Ani WaHya]

[EDIT] Let's get back to the signal. There is no question that a 50 thousand watt station has strength but what good does it do when you can't listen to at least a good signal in State College?

[EDIT--inflammatory.]

 

[tsimpson]

A very wise poster on this board mentioned that it might be better to take the high road when people just make no sense. I tried but cant on this. Some recent posters on this thread are "brand new" and its fairly obvious to all who they both are and that they had worked together at one time but don't now.

WGMR has changed format 4 times in 45 or so years. WGMR has never changed ownership. The average employee has been there almost a decade. I am proud of my people. We dont have a big bank payment so it does not cost a great deal to run. There is no "spiral" here. The same old BS about signal dated and frankly untrue. The music was day parted and Steve did not like it.

I like Steve. I dont like whats going on here. Steve is outspoken and has taken hits on this board for it. Steve and I did not agree on the music. Steve has a passion for the more Urban sound and a delivery that works for that format.

AJ has been a talent that grew up right here. He cut his teeth then worked all over. Clear Channel gave him opportunities to learn so much and now he is back here and in charge. There can be only one PD. The buck stopped with him and I supported his calls.

 

[lash]

Ted-it was good to see your post here, setting the record straight from the rumor mongers.

Now get that station sounding the best it can be. You've always had one of the strongest signals in that part of the state.

Your new approach musically WAS the way to go. Now allow the rest of the station's sound to catch up with the correct musical approach.

 

[shilton]

Wow...the tought that rumors of me switching stations could get everyone this worked up....That's funny

Since Ted Simpson himself posted and cut through the "crap"...I'll finally put my own 2 cents in here. Yes I am heading to B94.5 and no...up until now, I had not told anyone on this board (other than the folks at the station itself). So whoever thinks I have been feeding into rumors about format switches, or my exit, etc. is just dead wrong.

When the name G101 was created by Ted Simpson, I had a very distinct vision as to what that product should sound like. At various times, I had more input than others at the station and I can honestly say that the station never hit that final image of what I expected. When AJ left to go to Clearchannel, I had hoped I'd have the opportunity to tweak the format to mold it into what I had planned, but due to some internal things going on with staffing and people who were not totally devoted to doing a hard day's work, once again the vision never fully took root. Since then, AJ came back and has reclaimed his seat in the PD chair, which he deserves; as he has worked very hard for Allegheny Mountain and the Simpsons over the years. But AJ's vision and my own are very different indeed. As its apparent that I'll never have the opportunity to move the station in the direction I had hoped, I felt it was time to move-on and let AJ do his job.

Too many cooks spoil the soup and as Ted said...there can only be One PD and that PD is AJ. Will his ideas work...who knows? Only time will tell. I had mine...he has his...that's why they are called ideas and there is no right and wrong answer here. Point is, we had different ideas that did not necessarily mesh well together, so it was only fitting that I step aside and get out of the way.

I have also been having a difficult time maintaining my schedule at the station, being on-air 7 days a week. For those of you who have followed my posts for some time, I do have a REAL full-time job and I was finding that having the time to devote to G101 what was needed from me each week was becomming an issue. I would rather cut back my hours and do my best than try and keep at it and end up sounding like crap on the air, so I decided it was time for me to look for other options where I could work fewer hours each week, or perhaps even give it up totally.

I will say that I take personal offense to the claims on this board that my "consultancy" single handedly brought down WGMR's numbers, as the fact is from the beginning, other than the imaging package I set up, very few of my ideas were fully implemented for the same reaons I mentioned above. It was always someone tweaking this, or changing that, or we'd try dayparting for a while, then not dayparting, etc. If I had control and was responsible for the sound of the station at any given time, i'd happily assume the blame, but the fact is....a lot of people played a part in the station's sound, so its not really fair for those of you who read this forum to pin the station's successes or failures on any one person.

As for B94.5, I believe when the station was new, I commented on my initial reactions to it, but I also pointed out that the station was NEW and I was giving them time to see how they shaped up. Overall, I like the sound of the station and the mix they play. As for the no talk mid-days...can't say I am real crazy about that...but why would I be?...I am a DJ...I like talking on the air. Nick and the crew at B94.5 explained to me their philosophies about the reasoning for the no talk workday and it makes sense to me. Will be it an adjustment?...sure...but I see why they do it and it seems to be working well for them so far. Besides, B94.5 seems to be a natural fit. I worked for Nick Galli at the old B103. He knows my abilities and he knows what to expect from me, just as I know what to expect from him and his outfit as well.

I spent quite a bit of time talking with the staff at B94.5 before making the decision to jump-frequencies and I felt that what they could offer me at this juncture more closely matched what I was looking for in an on-air experience. I am not involved in programming in any aspects and I am not "consulting"...just doing air shifts and hopefully enjoying my days behind the mic like I used to. I leave G101 behind with no animosities toward anyone. Ted, AJ, Dave, Cary & the crew are my friends and will be no matter where I am on the air at. With their format tweaks, I wish them well. Its just that with the changes they were making, I did not feel like I fit into the puzzle any longer and it was time for me to move along.

I am happy about ending up at B94.5 for what I hope will be great time....at least so far, the crew has made me feel very, very welcome.

Also....the jury's out concerning the nickname...been thinking of shedding it in the swtich. Comments??? Hitman...or no Hitman??? Let's have a vote. LOL

Steve

 

[Duke of Radio]

He replied, he replied!!! Yeeeesssssss!!!

Next time though, please reply sooner so we can read the Cliff's notes version instead of the whole novel. Sheeeesh.

DUKE

Good luck at B94

 

[shilton]

He replied, he replied!!! Yeeeesssssss!!!

Next time though, please reply sooner so we can read the Cliff's notes version instead of the whole novel. Sheeeesh.

DUKE

Good luck at B94

Cliff's Notes version...come-on...you know us consultant types...pages and pages of worthless dribble to read though so you can get to the meat and potatoes sentence somewhere on page 23

I think G101 will fare well with their refocusing as long as the sales team stands behind whatever they are pushing through our radio speakers. I know they didn't like many of today's younger, hipper artists. They seem very eager to buy into the idea that just because a woman has kids, she does not like hearing anything with a beat that you can dance to....But seriously....Selling CHR in this market is a tough racket. Forever tried with Hot 103 and it did not go so well. Before that, Hot 107.9 suffered the same fate...lack of sales!

With 2 CHR's in the markts (B94.5 and G101) the pie gets sliced up pretty small. Makes sense for one of the two to back off a little and lean more adult.

In the end, I think both stations will see the tweaking of G101 help them out to meet their own individual sales goals and targets...and if not, Ted, Cary and AJ are smart persons with years in the biz and they'll move on to whatever business plan they need to make sure things are moving along properly and the bills are getting paid.

Happy Valley still has not seen Jack...there's all 80's and 90's (very much a niche format...but doing well in some areas of the planet) and probably a million other ones I have not even thought of. All would be very viable for any of the local broadcasters looking to put a quick "spark in their sticks".

The market's always in flux...who knows what the future will hold for any of us??? I just hope something new breaks so people can forget about me swapping frequencies...its really no big deal folks. Just doing what I've been doing for about the past year in a different spot on the dial.

I was not even planning on posting anything about it in here...wanted to see how long it would take for anyone to notice. You all surprised me...I would have at least thought I would have hit the air across town before anyone gave a hoot. You guys are too darn good LOL!


Steve

 

[Harlow]

I am staying out of this.

Good luck Steve. Good luck Ted.

In my opinion the best programmer in State College isn't programming.

Harlow

 

[shilton]

I am staying out of this.

Good luck Steve. Good luck Ted.

In my opinion the best programmer in State College isn't programming.

Harlow

Nothing to "stay out of" really John...its all Good. Ted and I have shook hands and we are parting as friends. Heck, I'd never rule out the possibility of banging on his door again one day and asking for my gig back and he has left the door open for that too (provided there was room on the staff at the time of course)

Its a good thing for them...its a good thing for me. We all get along, but we've just grown apart. They have their ideas, I have mine and sometimes when people don't necessarily have the same goals in mind, its best for them to step back and walk away before it hurts their relationships. In me leaving this way, we are all still friends. I have a great admiration and respect for Ted and Cary and AJ really has a handle on what he is after as far as the sound of the station goes and he is pulling out all the stops to ensure that his goals are met.

Right now with where I am at, B94.5 seems to be a better fit for this old CHR boy. I've done my routine for far too long and its worked for me well over the years...can't go changing my spots now.

I sincerely do wish the crew at G101 well and I am sure they will roll on just great without me as if I were never there.

Many have come and gone before me and many will come and go after as well. I am just happy to have had the chance to work with them. They are a fine bunch of people.

 

[clangham]

I have always known for WGMR to be a very "desirable" station to other owner groups looking to buy, so with that being said, it must be a winner, correct?

If it wasn't, why do many competitors want it?

Hopefully Ted and Cary keep it in the family as I would sure hate to see the one "competitor" end up with any more than they already have. Ted and Cary have been around for a lot longer and know how to do things right, the honest and legal way.

 

[fwdmo]

I have always known for WGMR to be a very "desirable" station to other owner groups looking to buy, so with that being said, it must be a winner, correct?

If it wasn't, why do many competitors want it?

Hopefully Ted and Cary keep it in the family as I would sure hate to see the one "competitor" end up with any more than they already have. Ted and Cary have been around for a lot longer and know how to do things right, the honest and legal way.

You're right, it is a desirable station...but not because it's a winner. Competitors want it for it's potential, not for what it's doing now.

 

[ameyer]

Enlighten me, what should we be doing now? Country? Remember we have to look at several different markets when we make a choice as to what we will do. Unlike other stations in the State College market we have listeners from as far away as Mifflintown to as far north as Wellsboro, to as far east as Williamsport, to as far west as Indiana and everywhere in between. We can't just focus on State College, otherwise we would abandon all of loyal listeners in other areas as well. For instance there is not another station in the Altoona market that leans Hot AC during the day except for GMR, but there is 3WZ and Lite in State College. With a 50,000 watt stick we have a mass appeal in other markets just not State College. So whether the numbers be low in State College or not, we have numbers in other markets as well that we look at. So enlighten me what should we be doing?

 

[fwdmo]

Enlighten me, what should we be doing now? Country? Remember we have to look at several different markets when we make a choice as to what we will do. Unlike other stations in the State College market we have listeners from as far away as Mifflintown to as far north as Wellsboro, to as far east as Williamsport, to as far west as Indiana and everywhere in between. We can't just focus on State College, otherwise we would abandon all of loyal listeners in other areas as well. For instance there is not another station in the Altoona market that leans Hot AC during the day except for GMR, but there is 3WZ and Lite in State College. With a 50,000 watt stick we have a mass appeal in other markets just not State College. So whether the numbers be low in State College or not, we have numbers in other markets as well that we look at. So enlighten me what should we be doing?

So how are those numbers in those other markets you speak of?? Thought so.

AJ, I like you and this is not a reflection of you as a person, but as a PD of a stick that size, you have to ask, "where is our strongest sales effort going to come from?" Looking at a bunch of different markets to decide what you are going to do is what's killing you. The perception is that The Revolution/G101 is a State College radio station. Are those listeners in Mifflintown or Williamsport or even Altoona going to go DP Dough just because it's two for one night? Probably not. Are you making enough money in Altoona to go against what you are trying to accomplish in State College or vice versa? Are you making ANY money in Wellsboro? You may very well be, but I doubt it.

If you feel that your station is going to benefit more (dollars and ratings) catering to the competitive situation in Altoona than maybe a move to Hot AC may work but you then need to make Altoona realize that you exist becuase if you look at the ratings there, you don't. You also have to kiss your revenue in State College goodbye because by your own admission, Lite and 3WZ are covering the AC/Hot AC thing.

For as much as I'd hate to admit it, Forever has the "regional" thing down with Froggy, granted country is also a more mass appeal format in Central PA than Hot AC/CHR - I heard they were even going to split inventory between Altoona and State College. They also had the benefit of being the only game in town (until JOE-FM) and building a sh!tload of heritage.

If you make the move to Hot AC, you need to stick with it...you have tweaked you format more than a poll dancer at the End Zone tweaks her n!pples during "Girls, Girls, Girls" and with all the other options available today, consistancy and focus are essential.

 

[ameyer]

I agree but with our new combined sales efforts we will be doing good sales wise and I agree on the Altoona numbers. We can only get better and there is no more tweaking, I will be making sure of that.

 

[fwdmo]

I agree but with our new combined sales efforts we will be doing good sales wise and I agree on the Altoona numbers. We can only get better and there is no more tweaking, I will be making sure of that.

Then I wish you the best of luck!! Although the the fight may be tough with out your consultant...LOL...sorry Steve, just playing...good luck to you too @ B94.5!!

 

[Ani WaHya]

We can only get better and there is no more tweaking, I will be making sure of that.
[/quote]


What!? No more tweaking? How can you even get your engine running if you don't tweak?
If a submarine hit the bottom with no oxygen left what would you do? I really want to know...