How would you handle ABC if you were in his shoes?

[youthinkyouknowradio]

I think ABC should trash the idea that 104.9 FM is ever going to pull any type of ratings. The station can't compete with Q103. Dawes is doing a great job with the music, and image of the station. It also continues to climb in the ratings. I've said it before and i'll say it again. WROW can take on these other talk stations in the market... if it's done right. WGY again, is the lazy talk station with a big signal. Talk 1300 is doing well because of Vandenburg. I think the station is too negative and is driven with just politics. The Capital Region needs a LOCAL foused talk radio station. I think Morrell should get rid of the rock format on 104.9 and replace it with a simulcast of WROW. A FM talk station in this market is missing in action. A two signal AM/FM news talk station that is on the scene when news is breaking...would that pull in ratings and in return pull in advertising dollars. I think so!!!

 

[Johnny_45]

I agree: 104.9 FM should have been allowed to find its niche as a proper JAZZ station. It was well on the way, until Morrell got stingy with the jock's pay. Same for MAGIC. Aside from the fact that the sales dept. didn't know what to do with it, it was pulling high ratings. So Morrell cut two valuable employees, and MAGIC became "The Jay and Ben" station.

WROW can't take on anything with the current staff. They had their "firecracker" or thought they did in Jackie Donovan. The Firecracker was a dud. YES - WGY IS LAZY! And the bigger and lazier they get it is more that we can appreciate Paul Vandenburgh's jump into the market. In it's glory days, WQBK at 1300 was right up in the top 5, and I think PV will get 1300 up ther once again. Among them, Bob Mason. I disagree that Talk1300 is too political. It's too "info-mercial" ;;;;; the entire roster of live-programming is one big fat "live read" for whatever / whoever. But remember, it's Paul, and as the Albany Eye once said in not so many words, that's what draws listeners.

Paul has MANY more tricks up his sleeve.

That "power increase" is just one. Paul is trying to close a deal to get Talk1300 simulcast on FM. He might get KISS-FM as they are tanking ratings-wise, and by the way besides DJ Thomas does KISS have anyone left???

FYI: WROW is NOT on "low power" 24/7, butt he old transmitter equipment is dying and that would cost---- MONEY! Just what Morrell doesn't have until maybe a few more employees are let go.

NOW THIS REMARK KILLS ME:
"A two signal AM/FM news talk station that is on the scene when news is breaking...would that pull in ratings and in return pull in advertising dollars. I think so!!!"

THINK AGAIN - with a two-person news staff that Morrell may soon cut to one-and-a-half, how do you suppose THAT will ever happen? And what advertiser would be attracted to the present product? Those bucks are going to WGY! Talk1300 has news sponsors thanks to Pat Ryan's hard work and Paul V's sweet-talking the advertisers. Sherman Baldwin has much too much on his plate to go that route.

 

[cowboyup8]

Johnny 45.......... Great post, but I guess I would wonder in your first paragraph, Not sure if Jazz was ever going to work although Pat & Laura, made a great morning team. Also what do you mean, by Magic cutting two valuable employees? Are Jay & Ben not doing their jobs properly? It seems as though along with Bob Green in the afternoon, Richie Norris on Sunday and Bob Johnson, now at night, it seems like they're more than a 2-person radio station.
Talk 1300 seems like it's well on it's way to ratings success, even more so than they are experiencing right now. They have good people there and the increase in power can only help the situation. The AM/FM talk station is a cool option seeing as they already have an FM sports station and it seems to be working. Brian Sinkoff (sp?) seems to be bringing in quite a few listeners and is quite opinionated.
AM 590 needs to find their own way and it may take a bit, but you have to give Sherman and his staff a chance to get it rolling.

 

[Orator1]

On Sunday evening 6p-7p I was flipping through the channels, and WROW was offering Dead Air. At least an hour of it.
Maybe that should be their new format.
Or maybe they could get a person who knows how to flip the switch to "ON".
Is that too much to ask?