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Hood: AM 1090 Programming Comment Board

Fybush: AM 1090 Signal: XEPRS/1090 77,500 watts?

...also found this... Fybush writes that 1090 XEPRS Tijuana, Mexico is 77,500 directional. Oops! If true, that is PART of the AM 1090 Seattle signal problem and ratings problem. FCC web site is 50/50 DAN.

The groundwave for AM 1090 drops after sunset to many of the target demographic areas, rapidly growing middle class suburbs E, SE, and S of Seattle (pop 500,000). *HOWEVER,* 1090 can still be heard in these rapidly growing incrementally left-leaning suburbs *IF* powerdown time is before the peak of the skywave, or if the skywave is absent from solar activity.

The Arbitron survey area for Seattle-Tacoma is about 3,000,000.

****Anyone w/ any info on the current power and pattern of XEPRS 1090???****

http://www.fybush.com/site-030403.html

-------------

Fybush writes:

"I didn't see the current XEPRS on this trip; it's now south of Rosarito with a directional 77,500-watt signal aimed north at San Diego and Los Angeles."

-----------------<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by this Tom: on 09/20/05 01:53 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Fybush: AM 1090 Signal: XEPRS/1090 77,500 watts?

Oops...typo on my part. It's XETRA 690 that's 77.5 kW DA from south of Rosarito. XEPRS, which I *did* see on that trip, is 50/50.

> ...also found this... Fybush writes that 1090 XEPRS Tijuana,
> Mexico is 77,500 directional. Oops! If true, that is PART
> of the AM 1090 Seattle signal problem and ratings problem.
> FCC web site is 50/50 DAN.
>
> The groundwave for AM 1090 drops after sunset to many of the
> target demographic areas, rapidly growing middle class
> suburbs E, SE, and S of Seattle (pop 500,000). *HOWEVER,*
> 1090 can still be heard in these rapidly growing
> incrementally left-leaning suburbs *IF* powerdown time is
> before the peak of the skywave, or if the skywave is absent
> from solar activity.
>
> The Arbitron survey area for Seattle-Tacoma is about
> 3,000,000.
>
> ****Anyone w/ any info on the current power and pattern of
> XEPRS 1090???****
>
> http://www.fybush.com/site-030403.html
>
> -------------
>
> Fybush writes:
>
> "I didn't see the current XEPRS on this trip; it's now south
> of Rosarito with a directional 77,500-watt signal aimed
> north at San Diego and Los Angeles."
>
> -----------------
> <P ID="signature">______________
Tower Site Calendar 2006 JUST RELEASED! - <a target="_blank" href=http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html#calendar>www.fybush.com</a></P>
 
Re: Fybush: AM 1090 Signal: XEPRS/1090 77,500 watts?

> Oops...typo on my part. It's XETRA 690 that's 77.5 kW DA
> from south of Rosarito. XEPRS, which I *did* see on that
> trip, is 50/50.

XEPRS sounds like it's over 50kW...or aimed directly at Seattle...the station is a flamethrower and prevents several hundred thousand people from hearing KPTK-AM 1090 at night in the suburbs...I'll have to look at a map and see where their nightime directional pattern would go...

The main thread from time to time on this site is that Air America and Progressive Talk will have difficulties w/ ratings w/o better signals...

At night, KPTK covers Seattle/Bellevue fine, but once you get to Issaquah/Auburn/Maple Valley/Enumclaw/e. hill Kent/Auburn/Sumner/Puyallup/Orting/Graham, the nightime pattern change results in XEPRS, making the signal unlistenable...but the groundwave *IS* there...

50 years ago these areas were agricultural or forests, and there would not be the signal problem that exists today... Today, people with young families will commute several hours a day in order to get better home and rental prices in SE KING and NE PIERCE counties...
 
This is Not the Seattle board

> ...just found this while looking for something else. I
> guess there are several talk radio webmasters within the
> Seattle/Tacoma market! Maybe Portland too???
>
> Blatherwatch webmaster Jim Hood has opened a comment section
> on the programming changes at KPTK-AM 1090, "Seattle's
> Progressive Talk."
>
http://bl> atherwatch.blogs.com/talk_radio/2005/09/so_whaddya_thin.html
>

Tom, you put up a lot of interesting comments but sometimes (like now) you do posts that are of local interest only to Seattle. And sometimes you make local references and I have no idea what you're talking about. Please remember this is a national format board and most of us live (and listen to radio) someplace else.
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> Tom, you put up a lot of interesting comments but sometimes
> (like now) you do posts that are of local interest only to
> Seattle. And sometimes you make local references and I have
> no idea what you're talking about. Please remember this is
> a national format board and most of us live (and listen to
> radio) someplace else.

Thanks...I understand your position...here's my response:

Programming changes at Air America AM 1090/Seattle are relevant on a national scale, considering that the station *might* be the only Air America affiliate to relegate weekday Air America programming to late afternoons and overnigths, replacing mornings and middays with other progressive programs.

Do you know of any other Air America affiliate that only broadcasts 2 hours of Air America *LIVE* per day (as is the case with 1090...i.e. Morning Sedition, 3a-5a). If so, please post the affiliate(s).

*IF* other Air America affiliates start giving up on Franken and Rhodes and delay them to late afternoons and evenings in favor of Schultz, Miller, and Hartmann, then the network will ultimately fall apart.

The idea of a 24/7 liberal network should be to broadcast all programs live whenever possible to give listeners an alternative to traditional live conservative programming, widely available on other stations. The concept of talk radio in general is live interactive call in programming, not tape delayed.

Nobody wants to see Air America fail as a network. From a programming perspective, tape delaying programming in a major market is a bad sign for Air America and progressive talk in general, hence the posts. I'm surprised that there has not been more discussion of the decisions of 1090. Other stations may follow, and that could be a big problem for AAR. Please reply if you know of other affiliates tape delaying the midday AAR lineup...<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by this Tom: on 09/21/05 06:57 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> Do you know of any other Air America affiliate that only
> broadcasts 2 hours of Air America *LIVE* per day (as is the
> case with 1090...i.e. Morning Sedition, 3a-5a). If so,
> please post the affiliate(s).

WHJJ in Providence has replaced all their daytime AAR hosts (except Franken) with local hosts. And Franken has been cut back to two hours.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by barooos on 09/21/05 07:16 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

Tom, I get your point. Thanks for providing a national perspective.

And yes, I have noticed the beginnings or an erosion of AAR clearances on various stations. It's a good thing they got syndication rights for Springer and Hartmann or the defections would be even more pronounced. Possibly, one motive for signing up Hartmann was to protect Franken's slot.

Outside of the Pacific Time Zone, many stations (including the Clear Channel progressive talk stations)carry Ed Schultz in PM drive and tape delay Randi in the evening. Some had picked up Stephanie Miller before Springer launched and have stayed with her.

Stations often delay conservative talk radio programs. Ideally, talk radio should be live. Sometimes it's not. This can prove embarassing when news breaks between the time a show is recorded and when a station airs it. If people in some markets can't call while they hear the show, no big deal. They are a faction of a percent of all listeners.

I don't care if AAR fails. I think they are starting to realize that the idea of AAR as a "network" has failed and they are starting to think like syndicators. I think progressive talk radio will be stronger if there are multiple programming sources competing for stations and listeners. And setting aside issues of agreement or disagreement with the opinions expressed, I don't think Air America's programs in general come close to the quality of NPR, the leading conservative talk shows or even some top local shows.





>
> Thanks...I understand your position...here's my response:
>
> Programming changes at Air America AM 1090/Seattle are
> relevant on a national scale, considering that the station
> *might* be the only Air America affiliate to relegate
> weekday Air America programming to late afternoons and
> overnigths, replacing mornings and middays with other
> progressive programs.
>
> Do you know of any other Air America affiliate that only
> broadcasts 2 hours of Air America *LIVE* per day (as is the
> case with 1090...i.e. Morning Sedition, 3a-5a). If so,
> please post the affiliate(s).
>
> *IF* other Air America affiliates start giving up on Franken
> and Rhodes and delay them to late afternoons and evenings in
> favor of Schultz, Miller, and Hartmann, then the network
> will ultimately fall apart.
>
> The idea of a 24/7 liberal network should be to broadcast
> all programs live whenever possible to give listeners an
> alternative to traditional live conservative programming,
> widely available on other stations. The concept of talk
> radio in general is live interactive call in programming,
> not tape delayed.
>
> Nobody wants to see Air America fail as a network. From a
> programming perspective, tape delaying programming in a
> major market is a bad sign for Air America and progressive
> talk in general, hence the posts. I'm surprised that there
> has not been more discussion of the decisions of 1090.
> Other stations may follow, and that could be a big problem
> for AAR. Please reply if you know of other affiliates tape
> delaying the midday AAR lineup...
>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

1090's job is to get ratings and revenue, not to be loyal to AIr America. They have to get the best programs available, period. If AAR fails, they fail. That's business.<P ID="signature">______________
Greetings from Ohio-where the governor wants everyone to know he's sorry.</P>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> WHJJ in Providence has replaced all their daytime AAR hosts
> (except Franken) with local hosts. And Franken has been cut
> back to two hours.

Rhode Island is a most peculiar place politically.

Except for the very highest offices it's a wholly-owned subsidiary
of The Democratic National Committee. But they repeatedly elect
Republican governors and (though admittedly RINO), Republican
federal legislators.

Given the generally liberal attitude around most of the state
anyone from "away" (as a manager from somewhere else transplanted)
would easily believe that AAR has a big future there. But
probably NOT a manager who has been around the state for more
than a few years.

I would not base any guesses on the overall future of AAR on
ANYTHING that happens in Rhode Island!
<P ID="signature">______________
Happiness is like beer....you don't really buy it, you just rent it.</P>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> Outside of the Pacific Time Zone, many stations (including
> the Clear Channel progressive talk stations)carry Ed Schultz
> in PM drive and tape delay Randi in the evening.

It's really not that big of deal. Schultz get PM drive time in the East and Central (which accounts for 55% AAR listeners) and Randi gets in the Mountain and Pacific time zones (which accounts for 45% AAR listeners.) Sounds like a push to me.
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> *IF* other Air America affiliates start giving up on Franken
> and Rhodes and delay them to late afternoons and evenings in
> favor of Schultz, Miller, and Hartmann, then the network
> will ultimately fall apart.

I don't see this at all. Rush gets time delayed in several markets (he's on 2-5 here in Rochester) and I don't see him reaching for some more Oxy to dull the pain. Since the only ones that will figure this out are those who call in to the shows (a tiny minority), most people won't know the difference.

> The idea of a 24/7 liberal network should be to broadcast
> all programs live whenever possible to give listeners an
> alternative to traditional live conservative programming,
> widely available on other stations. The concept of talk
> radio in general is live interactive call in programming,
> not tape delayed.

I doubt listeners honestly see this as important. I don't see it as terribly important myself. As long as the shows get aired at a time other than 3:00am....

> Nobody wants to see Air America fail as a network.

There are plenty of people who want to see AAR fail... they are usually the ones who trumpet some minor matter into a major issue, or just plain make stuff up - hence the obsessed Unequalizer and his friends.
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> Outside of the Pacific Time Zone, many stations (including
> the Clear Channel progressive talk stations)carry Ed Schultz
> in PM drive and tape delay Randi in the evening.

This has been the case since day one... no erosion or change here.
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> WHJJ in Providence has replaced all their daytime AAR hosts
> (except Franken) with local hosts. And Franken has been cut
> back to two hours.

"All" their daytime AAR hosts? That would be Jerry Springer. That's the only AAR host whom they've replaced with a local host. They continue to run Imus in the morning, then a new local host, then Franken, then a local host who was there before AAR, then Randi Rhodes at 6 pm, then another local host at 8 pm, and then Mike Malloy from 10 pm to 1 am. So the only change is the replacement of Springer and one hour of Franken with a local host.
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> 1090's job is to get ratings and revenue, not to be loyal to
> AIr America. They have to get the best programs available,
> period. If AAR fails, they fail. That's business.

Indeed, 1090 has to program what they will feel will get the best ratings. I hope I did not leave any impression that I was criticizing 1090 for their decisions. They are increasing in the ratings and are doing what they will feel will bring higher ratings...

Hartmann will do very well in Seattle and will probably increase ratings over Franken. It's always possible that another station (there are two good AM frequencies available) will get Sedition, Franken, Rhodes, Garafallo, and Malloy all live. Several paople in the market are already are complaining about the loss of Randi Rhodes during drive time 3p-7p... Anyway...we'll see what happens...
 
But a good sign for the progressive talk format

Tom, at one time on this board, you seemed to be calling for more diversity, more players and more program providers for progressive talk radio. Now, you seem to be wanting loyalty of AAR. Bottom line: Before the progressive talk format (now less than two years old) becomes established and successful, there will be a shake-out. Some programs/hosts will succeed; some fail. New players will enter the field. Some will last; some won't.

This is what happened in conservative talk. Both ABC and NBC tried to establish talk radio "networks" in the early 80's; both faded. Various hosts came and went well before Rush came along. And then it was years after Rush before the next really successful conservative host came along (Hannity). Every new technology, medium or format needs a "killer app" in order to take off. Progressive talk has not yet found its "killer app" - its Rush.

I think WPTK, Seattle is doing the right thing. If it works, more stations will do more cherry picking of progressive talk programs. Maybe more local stations will develop more local hosts. Maybe some of those "other" progressive talk hosts you listed a while back will get a shot at the national audience. Many are called but few are chosen. You got kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. Sooner or later, progressive talk will find its Rush. In the meantime, don't expect other stations to pick up the Darwinian dead ends. That will only slow down the process.

PS: Re: "1090" There are 34 stations in North America on 1090. The dominant Class A (50kw I-B) stations on 1090 are WBAL, Baltimore and KAAY, Little Rock. Please don't get Puget-centric on us again. (It's bad enough that Windows defaults to Pacific Time. LOL)

>
> Indeed, 1090 has to program what they will feel will get the
> best ratings. I hope I did not leave any impression that I
> was criticizing 1090 for their decisions. They are
> increasing in the ratings and are doing what they will feel
> will bring higher ratings...
>
> Hartmann will do very well in Seattle and will probably
> increase ratings over Franken. It's always possible that
> another station (there are two good AM frequencies
> available) will get Sedition, Franken, Rhodes, Garafallo,
> and Malloy all live. Several paople in the market are
> already are complaining about the loss of Randi Rhodes
> during drive time 3p-7p... Anyway...we'll see what
> happens...
>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

> > Tom, you put up a lot of interesting comments but
> sometimes
> > (like now) you do posts that are of local interest only to
>
> > Seattle. And sometimes you make local references and I
> have
> > no idea what you're talking about. Please remember this
> is
> > a national format board and most of us live (and listen to
>
> > radio) someplace else.
>
> Thanks...I understand your position...here's my response:
>
> Programming changes at Air America AM 1090/Seattle are
> relevant on a national scale, considering that the station
> *might* be the only Air America affiliate to relegate
> weekday Air America programming to late afternoons and
> overnigths, replacing mornings and middays with other
> progressive programs.
>
> Do you know of any other Air America affiliate that only
> broadcasts 2 hours of Air America *LIVE* per day (as is the
> case with 1090...i.e. Morning Sedition, 3a-5a). If so,
> please post the affiliate(s).
>
> *IF* other Air America affiliates start giving up on Franken
> and Rhodes and delay them to late afternoons and evenings in
> favor of Schultz, Miller, and Hartmann, then the network
> will ultimately fall apart.
>
> The idea of a 24/7 liberal network should be to broadcast
> all programs live whenever possible to give listeners an
> alternative to traditional live conservative programming,
> widely available on other stations. The concept of talk
> radio in general is live interactive call in programming,
> not tape delayed.
>
> Nobody wants to see Air America fail as a network. From a
> programming perspective, tape delaying programming in a
> major market is a bad sign for Air America and progressive
> talk in general, hence the posts. I'm surprised that there
> has not been more discussion of the decisions of 1090.
> Other stations may follow, and that could be a big problem
> for AAR. Please reply if you know of other affiliates tape
> delaying the midday AAR lineup...
>


I agree and disagree.

First, I question the idea of time-shifting so many live shows. As one other person mentioned, if breaking news happens, the shows sound ridiculous. I can see delaying one show (like Rhodes), but not so many. Psychologically, it just seems weird.

As far as keeping the network intact on a local affiliate, I disagree with you. I think the best thing for the format is a wide variety of programming from different sources. In addition to AAR, programming is available from Jones, Premiere, WOR and others. If I were programming a progressive talker, I certainly would like to mix it up. Why throw all eggs in one basket? I think the best thing would be to cherry-pick the best shows available in the format, regardless of source, and put them on the station. And I don't think it's an overly wise idea for a station owner to be completely at the mercy of one network. It's merely sound business to have a few sources available.<P ID="signature">______________
The Liberal Talk Radio Update</P>
 
Re: Tape Delaying Air America Programs is a bad sign for Air America

Absolutely. And to add to your point, not all markets are the same. There is a long track record in talk radio (conservative, advice and sports) indicating not all hosts/programs do well in all markets. PD's need to pick what works best IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL MARKETS. Despite all the 24/7 satellite networks and syndication, radio still isn't one size fits all.

I suspect that in some markets don't take to the Noo Yawk sound of Randi Rhodes and go more for the down home approach of Ed Schultz (and vice versa). Ed Schultz is not on in New York (because Air America controls the station there) but I wonder how he would play in Manhattan. (And how Randi would play in Fargo.) I think Hartmann might be a better choice than Franken in Seattle, but maybe not in Boston.

If you all want to donate money for progressive talk, give it to Democracy Radio. They are non-profit (tax-deductible) and their stated mission is to nurture and develop progressive talk radio talent and get more different shows on the air.


>
> As far as keeping the network intact on a local affiliate, I
> disagree with you. I think the best thing for the format is
> a wide variety of programming from different sources. In
> addition to AAR, programming is available from Jones,
> Premiere, WOR and others. If I were programming a
> progressive talker, I certainly would like to mix it up.
> Why throw all eggs in one basket? I think the best thing
> would be to cherry-pick the best shows available in the
> format, regardless of source, and put them on the station.
> And I don't think it's an overly wise idea for a station
> owner to be completely at the mercy of one network. It's
> merely sound business to have a few sources available.
>
 
Re: AAR

> Tom, at one time on this board, you seemed to be calling for
> more diversity, more players and more program providers for
> progressive talk radio. Now, you seem to be wanting loyalty
> of AAR.


...Indeed I was...The issue with 1090 is really at this point whether another affiliate in the Seattle-Tacoma market will soon broadcast Air America programs on live instead of tape delayed. 1090 should program what they feel will bring the best ratings. Hartmann will undoubtedly do better than Franken in this market.

What I should have been more clear about was that Air America is losing affiliates (in posts below) to the midday AAR lineup. Could this be the intro of a downward turn for Air America? Or will they move to other hosts...let's not forget that Hartmann IS now syndicated by Air America in the same time slot as Franken.

Yes, hosts do rise and fall in talk radio, and we'll see who Air America ultimately syndicates, as you wrote:


> (now less than two years old) becomes established and
> successful, there will be a shake-out. Some programs/hosts
> will succeed; some fail. New players will enter the field.
> Some will last; some won't.
>
> This is what happened in conservative talk. Both ABC and
> NBC tried to establish talk radio "networks" in the early
> 80's; both faded. Various hosts came and went well before
> Rush came along. And then it was years after Rush before
> the next really successful conservative host came along
> (Hannity). Every new technology, medium or format needs a
> "killer app" in order to take off. Progressive talk has not
> yet found its "killer app" - its Rush.
>
> I think WPTK, Seattle is doing the right thing. If it
> works, more stations will do more cherry picking of
> progressive talk programs. Maybe more local stations will
> develop more local hosts. Maybe some of those "other"
> progressive talk hosts you listed a while back will get a
> shot at the national audience. Many are called but few are
> chosen. You got kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.
> Sooner or later, progressive talk will find its Rush. In
> the meantime, don't expect other stations to pick up the
> Darwinian dead ends. That will only slow down the process.
>
>
> PS: Re: "1090" There are 34 stations in North America on
> 1090. The dominant Class A (50kw I-B) stations on 1090 are
> WBAL, Baltimore and KAAY, Little Rock. Please don't get
> Puget-centric on us again. (It's bad enough that Windows
> defaults to Pacific Time. LOL)
 
Re: AAR

> What I should have been more clear about was that Air
> America is losing affiliates (in posts below) to the midday
> AAR lineup. Could this be the intro of a downward turn for
> Air America? Or will they move to other hosts...let's not
> forget that Hartmann IS now syndicated by Air America in the
> same time slot as Franken.

You need to clarify that only a small handful of AAR stations are swapping out programs. Most haven't changed their lineup at all. Implying that this is somehow a "downward turn" for AAR at a time when they are still adding new affiliates and maintain an overwhelming majority of stations that have made few, if any changes since launch is questionable.
 
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