If Entercom gets ABC...

[raccoonradio]

R&R reports (see link via Coast to Coast board) that Entercom might be the winner in the ABC Radio sweepstakes.
Radio Disney and ESPN would not be included. Is this just ABC-owned stations
or is the syndication arm involved? If so, would WRKO eventually land Hannity?
(They used to run him at 7 pm after Howie, tape delayed, but decided to go with
Savage partly because Savage was _live_; this was a couple years ago and what with
current events like the D.C. snipers, the war, etc., they figured it would be best to have a live show...Hannity briefly went to 890 when they were talk, IIRC,
then WTKK picked him up)

According to the ABC Radio site, ABC also syndicates Larry Elder and Mark Davis
(currently not heard in Boston). They do John Batchelor, which WRKO runs,
and Paul "...good...day?" Harvey, which WBZ runs.

A list of ABC O&Os are here:
http://abcradio.go.com/channel?id=35

 

[Garrett]

> According to the ABC Radio site, ABC also syndicates Larry
> Elder and Mark Davis
> (currently not heard in Boston).

Mark Davis?
Say... Wasn't he the guy in that famous "Drunk Weatherman" aircheck from WTIC AM Hartford on Chrsitmas day, 1986?

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

If Entercom purchases ABC Radio (all or in part), it could result in changes at three different talk stations in the Boston area during 2006.

Here's what I think may happen:

WRKO-680:

* Howie Carr will be moved-out of afternoon drive to allow sean Sean Hannity to run live. Whether he stays at 'RKO at all will depend on how much syndicated fare WRKO would pick-up from ABC.

* WRKO will probably lose the syndicated shows from Premiere Networks' (see below).

* Larry Elder and Mark Davis will also be heard on 'RKO.

* Paul Harvey's commentaries will move to WRKO from WBZ-1030; and I wouldn't even be surprised if WBZ ends up no longer carrying news feeds from ABC.

WTKK-96.9:

* They will lose Sean Hannity to WRKO.

* They could make a run at Howie Carr if Michael Graham's show doesn't work-out in the ratings or if the station decides he's too controversial.

WKOX-1200:

* Once the finally-about-to-be-built new transmitter in Newton is finished (which may be around the time Entercom's acquisition of the ABC Radio stations is approved by the FCC), they'll drop Air America.

* WKOX would then pick-up all the syndicated shows from Premiere Networks (which like WKOX is A Clear Channel Property). This includes Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Phil Hendrie, George Noory, and even Dr. Laura.

* This would leave mornings open, but CC/Premiere is slowly rolling-out in syndication "Quinn and Rose" as a syndicated morning show. Although the show is at present heard only in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, their website trumpets them as being "America's Morning Show", so I think CC/Premiere would like to roll the show out to other parts of the country. WKOX could be one of the first stations on the East Coast to pick it up. It also would allow CC to fill-up WKOX with Premiere programming pretty much on a 24-hout basis.

And there is also the question as to whether Infinity will bring "Free FM" to Boston or not, and the related question of where Jay Severin's new syndicated show will land.

But if everything mentioned above plays out, WKOX will be the biggest winner (in time) with Rush on the new, improved signal; WRKO may have succes with Sean Hannity in the afternoon (but how much may depend on who replaces Rush and if Howie Carr stays at 'RKO); while WTKK could be the big loser, with the real possibility that they won't be carrying either Severin or Hannity.

Someone who leaves Boston in the next few weeks and doesn't return until next Fall will probably need a scorecard to figure out which talk shows are on which stations. The Boston talk-radio landscape next year at this time will probably be very different than what it is now.

 

[Betagamma]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

Sane analysis. Davis and Elder won't be on RKO, they're syndications are failures and Entercom won't bother. Rush has done poorly on WRKO for a long time, so it makes sense if/when CC and Premiere get on that big stick, Howie will move to middays and Hannity will be cleared live. This puts an increased emphasis on WRKO having a solid morning show. WTKK is the biggest loser here. They blew it with Severin and none of these moves serve to help their sagging ratings.


> If Entercom purchases ABC Radio (all or in part), it could
> result in changes at three different talk stations in the
> Boston area during 2006.
>
> Here's what I think may happen:
>
> WRKO-680:
>
> * Howie Carr will be moved-out of afternoon drive to allow
> sean Sean Hannity to run live. Whether he stays at 'RKO at
> all will depend on how much syndicated fare WRKO would
> pick-up from ABC.
>
> * WRKO will probably lose the syndicated shows from Premiere
> Networks' (see below).
>
> * Larry Elder and Mark Davis will also be heard on 'RKO.
>
> * Paul Harvey's commentaries will move to WRKO from
> WBZ-1030; and I wouldn't even be surprised if WBZ ends up no
> longer carrying news feeds from ABC.
>
> WTKK-96.9:
>
> * They will lose Sean Hannity to WRKO.
>
> * They could make a run at Howie Carr if Michael Graham's
> show doesn't work-out in the ratings or if the station
> decides he's too controversial.
>
> WKOX-1200:
>
> * Once the finally-about-to-be-built new transmitter in
> Newton is finished (which may be around the time Entercom's
> acquisition of the ABC Radio stations is approved by the
> FCC), they'll drop Air America.
>
> * WKOX would then pick-up all the syndicated shows from
> Premiere Networks (which like WKOX is A Clear Channel
> Property). This includes Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Phil
> Hendrie, George Noory, and even Dr. Laura.
>
> * This would leave mornings open, but CC/Premiere is slowly
> rolling-out in syndication "Quinn and Rose" as a syndicated
> morning show. Although the show is at present heard only in
> Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, their website
> trumpets them as being "America's Morning Show", so I think
> CC/Premiere would like to roll the show out to other parts
> of the country. WKOX could be one of the first stations on
> the East Coast to pick it up. It also would allow CC to
> fill-up WKOX with Premiere programming pretty much on a
> 24-hout basis.
>
> And there is also the question as to whether Infinity will
> bring "Free FM" to Boston or not, and the related question
> of where Jay Severin's new syndicated show will land.
>
> But if everything mentioned above plays out, WKOX will be
> the biggest winner (in time) with Rush on the new, improved
> signal; WRKO may have succes with Sean Hannity in the
> afternoon (but how much may depend on who replaces Rush and
> if Howie Carr stays at 'RKO); while WTKK could be the big
> loser, with the real possibility that they won't be carrying
> either Severin or Hannity.
>
> Someone who leaves Boston in the next few weeks and doesn't
> return until next Fall will probably need a scorecard to
> figure out which talk shows are on which stations. The
> Boston talk-radio landscape next year at this time will
> probably be very different than what it is now.
>

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> Howie Carr will be moved-out of afternoon drive

I don't think that would happen; they want live and local aft. drive. Could
do: Hannity tape delayed at 7 (when the Green Team isn't on) and Savage
tape delayed at 10 pm (which I think WPRO is doing!), jettisoning Batchelor,
OR move Hannity to 10 pm; "same time, BETTER station" could be how they
promote it. (A line used by Danny Devito when "Taxi" switched from
ABC to NBC)

> * Howie Carr will be moved-out of afternoon drive to allow
> sean Sean Hannity to run live. Whether he stays at 'RKO at
> all will depend on how much syndicated fare WRKO would
> pick-up from ABC.

> * WRKO will probably lose the syndicated shows from Premiere
> Networks' (see below).

Moving to where, WKOX/WXKS? (Which, as you do mention below, IS
a possibility...There is the Clear Channel connection
there. So what becomes of Air America, then? Rush instead of
Franken at noon? Drudge on Sunday nights? Noory on 1200?)

> * Larry Elder and Mark Davis will also be heard on 'RKO.

have heard both of them guesting on Hannity's show. Elder is
"social liberal, fiscal conservative" acc to his website

> * Paul Harvey's commentaries will move to WRKO from
> WBZ-1030; and I wouldn't even be surprised if WBZ ends up no
> longer carrying news feeds from ABC.

Interesting

> WTKK-96.9:
>
> * They will lose Sean Hannity to WRKO.
>
> * They could make a run at Howie Carr if Michael Graham's
> show doesn't work-out in the ratings or if the station
> decides he's too controversial.

Good Lord, all the changes!

> WKOX-1200:
>
> * Once the finally-about-to-be-built new transmitter in
> Newton is finished (which may be around the time Entercom's
> acquisition of the ABC Radio stations is approved by the
> FCC), they'll drop Air America.

Yikes!

> * WKOX would then pick-up all the syndicated shows from
> Premiere Networks (which like WKOX is A Clear Channel
> Property). This includes Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Phil
> Hendrie, George Noory, and even Dr. Laura.

They won't be happy in Cambridge

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> Sane analysis. Davis and Elder won't be on RKO, they're
> syndications are failures and Entercom won't bother. Rush
> has done poorly on WRKO for a long time, so it makes sense
> if/when CC and Premiere get on that big stick, Howie will
> move to middays and Hannity will be cleared live.

12-3? hmm! But again I can't picture 'RKO doing Hannity live
when Carr, "live and local", is around.
<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

When you guys start figuring the 50 kW WKOX into this situation, just remember this is AM; 1200 is not 680; WKOX's signal from Newton will be about like WWZN's and will be nowhere near as good as WRKO's or even WEEI's. There are four reasons: (1) propagation at the higher frequency is nowhere near as good as it is low on the AM dial; (2) WKOX's new 200' towers will be less efficient than WRKO's (let alone WEEI's, which are unequal in height but average over 1/2 wavelength). Two out of WRKO's three towers are well over a quarter wavelength (and surprisingly, WRKO's short center tower, which is more than 1/4 wavelength at 680, is not the high-power tower in the array, so the effect of its lower efficiency is minimal). (3) At night, the QRM level on 1200 in this area is quite high. (4) WKOX's night pattern will also be highly restricted to the west, and since the site is inside 128 (like WWZN's but unlike WRKO's and WEEI's), you'll hear the same kinds of comments about WKOX's night coverage as you've read on this board for years about WWZN's night coverage. In other words, if you don't consider WWZN's signal to be competitive with the signals of the other 50-kW-fulltime AMs in the market, you won't consider WKOX's new signal to be competitive. Pretty much, WKOX reception will be good in the places where WWZN reception is good--especially at night.

What this means, of course, is that WKOX is not lilely to be the station where you'll find shows such as Limbaugh's, which, despite Rush's nationwide ratings slide in recent years, is still able to corral the best talk signal in most markets.

 

[robbbc]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> Moving to where, WKOX/WXKS? (Which, as you do mention below,
> IS
> a possibility...There is the Clear Channel connection
> there. So what becomes of Air America, then? Rush instead of
>
> Franken at noon? Drudge on Sunday nights? Noory on 1200?)

Seems logical that WKOX at 50kW will want CC connected product. Regardless of some of the functional difficulties mentioned elsewhere in the thread it will be a great signal for greater Boston, and the better talkers (Rush etc.) have coverage throughout the rest of New England anyway- they don't need a "true" clearchannel in Boston. WKOX will be a top of the line AM station, even if it's not the top of the line.

My guess is that WXKS will remain AAR/progressive, providing Cambridge with programming 24/7 and reaching a pretty good distance during the day for everyone else. They are already pullling in a half share- not bad for a class B zero investment station. Also, AAR may want to look at some other AM signals in Boston- maybe to provide an Eddie free listening environment and clear more of their programs with no delay? For example, WBIX isn't setting the world on fire [no 12+ ratings whatsoever at 40kW day, 22kW critical, and 2.5kW nights- much more power at every point than the actual ratings getter 5kW day and 1kW night WXKS]. It has decent coverage of Boston (and Cambridge) at night. On a good day you might pick it up in at least a small portion of every New England state! WBIX-1060: New England's home for Air America Radio...

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> When you guys start figuring the 50 kW WKOX into this
> situation, just remember this is AM; 1200 is not 680

Good point--better signal but not similar in power/reach to a lower
freq.

(1) propagation at the higher frequency is
> nowhere near as good as it is low on the AM dial; (

(4) WKOX's night pattern
> will also be highly restricted to the west


> What this means, of course, is that WKOX is not lilely to be
> the station where you'll find shows such as Limbaugh's,
> which, despite Rush's nationwide ratings slide in recent
> years, is still able to corral the best talk signal in most
> markets.

Good point--just because Clear Channel/Premiere has a relationship
that doesn't mean Rush would necessarily be bumped off Entercom's
(or "Entercom/ABC"'s) WRKO in favor of CC's WKOX.<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[FMRadio1]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

Think about it. Just because Clear Channel owns (or will own) a talk signal in Boston doesn't mean they'll move all Premiere programming to it. Just look at Providence. CC owns talker WHJJ, has for years, but Rush resides on the bigger, clearer signal of Citadel-owned WPRO. My guess is that Rush stays on WRKO for as long as they want to air the program. And again, if Entercom does get ABC, that doesn't mean WRKO will turn into a clearing house for second tier syndicated conservatalkers. 680 won't win that way. They'd rather air Rush & Howie rather than Hannity, Larry Elder and Mark Davis.

Sorry right wingers, but I don't think the progressive talk will get dropped from WKOX when they turn on the juice in Newton. In fact, I could see them picking up a local morning show and making a run at the talk wars. Between WRKO, WTKK and WTTT, the LAST thing this market needs is another mostly syndicated right-wing talk station. That hole is well-filled.

Mike Thomas

> > When you guys start figuring the 50 kW WKOX into this
> > situation, just remember this is AM; 1200 is not 680
>
> Good point--better signal but not similar in power/reach to
> a lower
> freq.
>
> (1) propagation at the higher frequency is
> > nowhere near as good as it is low on the AM dial; (
>
> (4) WKOX's night pattern
> > will also be highly restricted to the west
>
>
> > What this means, of course, is that WKOX is not lilely to
> be
> > the station where you'll find shows such as Limbaugh's,
> > which, despite Rush's nationwide ratings slide in recent
> > years, is still able to corral the best talk signal in
> most
> > markets.
>
> Good point--just because Clear Channel/Premiere has a
> relationship
> that doesn't mean Rush would necessarily be bumped off
> Entercom's
> (or "Entercom/ABC"'s) WRKO in favor of CC's WKOX.
>

 

[robbbc]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

WTTT- I didn't know that existed until today! I wouldn;t put them in with TKK and RKO. They (WTTT) have no ratings- can't be much of a war. Libtalk is already ahead of them totally syndicated.

The real killer is WBZ, which kicks all the other talker's tail ends.
>
> Sorry right wingers, but I don't think the progressive talk
> will get dropped from WKOX when they turn on the juice in
> Newton. In fact, I could see them picking up a local
> morning show and making a run at the talk wars. Between
> WRKO, WTKK and WTTT, the LAST thing this market needs is
> another mostly syndicated right-wing talk station. That
> hole is well-filled.
>
> Mike Thomas
>
> > > When you guys start figuring the 50 kW WKOX into this
> > > situation, just remember this is AM; 1200 is not 680
> >
> > Good point--better signal but not similar in power/reach
> to
> > a lower
> > freq.
> >
> > (1) propagation at the higher frequency is
> > > nowhere near as good as it is low on the AM dial; (
> >
> > (4) WKOX's night pattern
> > > will also be highly restricted to the west
> >
> >
> > > What this means, of course, is that WKOX is not lilely
> to
> > be
> > > the station where you'll find shows such as Limbaugh's,
> > > which, despite Rush's nationwide ratings slide in recent
>
> > > years, is still able to corral the best talk signal in
> > most
> > > markets.
> >
> > Good point--just because Clear Channel/Premiere has a
> > relationship
> > that doesn't mean Rush would necessarily be bumped off
> > Entercom's
> > (or "Entercom/ABC"'s) WRKO in favor of CC's WKOX.
> >
>

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> WTTT- I didn't know that existed until today! I wouldn;t put
> them in with TKK and RKO. They (WTTT) have no ratings- can't
> be much of a war. Libtalk is already ahead of them totally
> syndicated.
>
> The real killer is WBZ, which kicks all the other talker's
> tail ends.

Like WKOXKS on the left, Salem's WTTT on the right is 100% syndicated. They did have a local show in AM drive (Don Feder) for a couple of months when they first started, but dropped him (he was TERRIBLE in my opinion) when Salem's talk network added Bill Bennett. (Bennett is also terrible in my opinion, but he is better than Feder was).

I'd be willing to bet, however, that WTTT bills four or five times what WKOXKS bills. Within the last month or so, CCU has made some token improvements to WKOXKS and I've heard a few local spots besides Jimmy Tingle, who presumably approached the station to buy the time. But WTTT, despite its zero ratings, has a reasonably healthy local spot load. Salem is interested in the ultra-right-wing audience, knows the businesses that want to target that audience, and knows how to sell those businesses. One gets the impression that the rep or reps at CCU Boston who are responsible for selling WKOXKS feel that the job is hopeless and gave up on it before they lifted the phone to make the first sales call. I think that, with the right sales effort, WKOXKS could do as much business as WTTT does. That might not seem impressive, but at least it wouldn't sound so desperately hopeless.

 

[JustinT]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> Moving to where, WKOX/WXKS? (Which, as you do mention below,
> IS
> a possibility...There is the Clear Channel connection
> there. So what becomes of Air America, then? Rush instead of
> Franken at noon? Drudge on Sunday nights? Noory on 1200?)

> > * WKOX would then pick-up all the syndicated shows from
> > Premiere Networks (which like WKOX is A Clear Channel
> > Property). This includes Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Phil
> > Hendrie, George Noory, and even Dr. Laura.

Moving the conservative talk to 1200 is an interesting idea that I'm sure CC is considering, and could easily go with. But what about putting effort into the product at 1200, given the increased signal?

WKOXKS has simply been an outlet for syndicated liberal talkers, some of which are not nearly as good as others. Garbage shows like Jerry Springer and Ed Schultz get airtime, while winners like Randi Rhodes get tape delayed, and Mike Malloy isn't even aired at all. With a signal that blankets the market, getting a local AM drive show, a local afternoon show, and fixing the schedule so that the best AAR shows air live, would easily entice new listeners.

The stations already have a base of loyal listeners, and upping the quality of the product would seem a first move worth considering before junking the mildly-successful product that currently resides on 1200/1430. If this were to flop, then going with conservative talk would easily be the next move.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> For example, WBIX isn't setting the world on fire
> [no 12+ ratings whatsoever at 40kW day, 22kW critical, and
> 2.5kW nights- much more power at every point than the actual
> ratings getter 5kW day and 1kW night WXKS]. It has decent
> coverage of Boston (and Cambridge) at night. On a good day
> you might pick it up in at least a small portion of every
> New England state! WBIX-1060: New England's home for Air
> America Radio...

It doesn't matter that WBIX doesn't get any ratings. The station is at least breaking even based on the hours of brokered-time programming that it airs. Also, the fact that Langer's NRN clears in Boston because he owns the Boston affiliate must mean more money in his pocket. I don't know whether AAR pays to have its programs aired on any station besides WLIB (maybe now also WCPT, the daytimer in Crystal Lake-Chicago). When the network started, they WERE paying Arthur Liu to run the programs on KDAY Santa Monica and WNTD Chicago. That lasted a couple of weeks and ended with a lockout and a lawsuit when the start of operations was delayed and AAR failed to pay the rent. It seems unlikely that the company has the money or the desire to pay for a Boston signal and even if they had both, it seems most unlikely to me that Langer would have any interest. I very much doubt that Air America's politics are to his liking.

 

[JustinT]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> I don't know
> whether AAR pays to have its programs aired on any station
> besides WLIB (maybe now also WCPT, the daytimer in Crystal
> Lake-Chicago).

I believe that Air America pays for WLIB and all stations that they have or are leasing from Inner City; I think there's one in Charleston, and there was one in Philadelphia.

AAR is definately not paying for WCPT. WCPT-850, which as you said, is a rimshot daytimer in Crystal Lake, IL, nearly 50 miles northwest of Chicago. It's owned by Newsweb, which owns the "Nine FM" group of rimshot FMs (WRZA-99.9/WKIE-92.7/WDEK-92.5), a CNN Headline News affiliate in the Kankakee Valley (WKIF-92.7), WCPT, and a few brokered AMs around Chicago. Newsweb is a local group owned by Fred Eychaner, who is one of the largest donors to the Democratic party, who made a great deal of money selling Chicago's UPN affiliate, WPWR-50, to Fox for $425m. Despite the poor signal, WCPT-850 is making a small showing in the Chicago Arbitrons.

> When the network started, they WERE paying
> Arthur Liu to run the programs on KDAY Santa Monica and WNTD
> Chicago.

I hate to nitpick, but the KDAY call letters are no longer on Santa Monica's 1580 (they're on Old School Hip-Hop station KDAY 93.5, licensed to Redondo Beach, CA). 1580 is now KBLA.

> It seems unlikely that the company has the money or the desire
> to pay for a Boston signal and even if they had both, it seems
> most unlikely to me that Langer would have any interest.

They'd originally planned to LMA or buy a Boston signal, and most rumors were around Multicultural's WAZN-1470. It obviously never happened, and seeing how much the business plan has changed, I'd expect that they'll take whatever CC gives them.

 

[doc9464]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> WKOX-1200:
>
> * Once the finally-about-to-be-built new transmitter in
> Newton is finished (which may be around the time Entercom's
> acquisition of the ABC Radio stations is approved by the
> FCC), they'll drop Air America.

In your dreams.....where do you get this crap....show us one quote statement or any leading information outside of your own fantasies that CC would pull liberal radio from Boston...as if another conservative station was needed here.

Calling on logic, Dan Strassberg has made it pretty obvious that the upgrade isn't the best option but 50k is 50k....so why would Rush and others move to lesser signals? As he said, any syndicator that would move to a lesser signal wouldn't be very wise. That sounds reasonable one would think.

However...for progressive radio, its finally a chance to get into the city on a decent signal....and hopefully more listeners. CC isn't that non-committal to Progressive Radio....not sure where you get this idea that Boston will lose AAR.

If ya got something, put it on the table. Otherwise this is just crazy speculation and thank god almighty none of you are PD's.



> Someone who leaves Boston in the next few weeks and doesn't
> return until next Fall will probably need a scorecard to
> figure out which talk shows are on which stations. The
> Boston talk-radio landscape next year at this time will
> probably be very different than what it is now.

With the possible purchase of ABC by Entercomm, the shakeups at WRKO and 'TKK, your above statement might make more sense. This is the only logic in your post so far.

 

[robbbc]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> > For example, WBIX isn't setting the world on fire
> > [no 12+ ratings whatsoever at 40kW day, 22kW critical, and
>
> > 2.5kW nights- much more power at every point than the
> actual
> > ratings getter 5kW day and 1kW night WXKS]. It has decent
> > coverage of Boston (and Cambridge) at night. On a good day
>
> > you might pick it up in at least a small portion of every
> > New England state! WBIX-1060: New England's home for Air
> > America Radio...
>
> It doesn't matter that WBIX doesn't get any ratings. The
> station is at least breaking even based on the hours of
> brokered-time programming that it airs. Also, the fact that
> Langer's NRN clears in Boston because he owns the Boston
> affiliate must mean more money in his pocket. I don't know
> whether AAR pays to have its programs aired on any station
> besides WLIB (maybe now also WCPT, the daytimer in Crystal
> Lake-Chicago). When the network started, they WERE paying
> Arthur Liu to run the programs on KDAY Santa Monica and WNTD
> Chicago. That lasted a couple of weeks and ended with a
> lockout and a lawsuit when the start of operations was
> delayed and AAR failed to pay the rent. It seems unlikely
> that the company has the money or the desire to pay for a
> Boston signal and even if they had both, it seems most
> unlikely to me that Langer would have any interest. I very
> much doubt that Air America's politics are to his liking.
>

My suggestion of WBIX was just an example, I have no inside info and I'll take your statement that it's a no go. There appear to be several other stations that get little or no ratings that might clear more programs in the line-up for AAR. Would the non-existant ratings at WTTT actually go down if they played AAR (5 kW day and night with a decent pattern)? I doubt it. I know there is much more to it, including agendas of station mangers and owners, advertisers, etc. I was not suggesting AAR try to do anything but look at other stations in Boston and Mass in general to play their programming (typical barter operation) once the contract with CC expires, especially if CC drops them from 1200- no buy outs or LMA's.

For full disclosure, I do not care for the way CC has handled 1200/1430. They play Eddie, delay Rhodes, play Springer delayed at night and forget Majority report and Mike Malloy. Even if I could pick them up at night I wouldn't listen and I bet most Boston Liberals feel the same. They have programmed it beautifully for Kansas, not Boston.

 

[robbbc]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> > Moving to where, WKOX/WXKS? (Which, as you do mention
> below,
> > IS
> > a possibility...There is the Clear Channel connection
> > there. So what becomes of Air America, then? Rush instead
> of
> > Franken at noon? Drudge on Sunday nights? Noory on 1200?)
>
> > > * WKOX would then pick-up all the syndicated shows from
> > > Premiere Networks (which like WKOX is A Clear Channel
> > > Property). This includes Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Phil
>
> > > Hendrie, George Noory, and even Dr. Laura.
>
> Moving the conservative talk to 1200 is an interesting idea
> that I'm sure CC is considering, and could easily go with.
> But what about putting effort into the product at 1200,
> given the increased signal?
>
> WKOXKS has simply been an outlet for syndicated liberal
> talkers, some of which are not nearly as good as others.
> Garbage shows like Jerry Springer and Ed Schultz get
> airtime, while winners like Randi Rhodes get tape delayed,
> and Mike Malloy isn't even aired at all. With a signal that
> blankets the market, getting a local AM drive show, a local
> afternoon show, and fixing the schedule so that the best AAR
> shows air live, would easily entice new listeners.
>
> The stations already have a base of loyal listeners, and
> upping the quality of the product would seem a first move
> worth considering before junking the mildly-successful
> product that currently resides on 1200/1430. If this were to
> flop, then going with conservative talk would easily be the
> next move.
>
CC is obviously from Texas and thinks like it too much in my opinion. They like Eddie couse he sounds like Rush- Springer is a name they recognize from the TV set- same too for Franken. Ooh, maybe they will add Lionel to the fold- can't a boy dream! They are supposed to be aware that Boston is left of center, but they really don't understand that Randi Rhodes would be much more poular, along with Majority Report and Mike Malloy. They won't do it, WKOX will flop at 50kW, then CC will put its conservative talkers on WKOX that the rest of the Market won't take for one reason or another. Ratings will triple for the new conservative talk format and AAR is left holding the bag for CC's stupidity. Best thing is for AAR to anticipate the doom and plan for it.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> I believe that Air America pays for WLIB and all stations
> that they have or are leasing from Inner City; I think
> there's one in Charleston, and there was one in
> Philadelphia.
>
The Charleston station (on 730) has dropped AAR. They did so a month or so before WHAT dropped Franken and Rhodes. Schultz (NOT syndicated by AAR) is heard in metro Philly on WCOJ 1420 Coatesville-West Chester. WCOJ is 5 kW-U and has quite a checkered history (huge staff turnover). I think the station is now owned by the Route 81 Group. The former owner, Lloyd Roach, who I believe, still works for or consults for WCOJ, is a regular poster on the Radio-Info Philly board. He always seems to be holding and argument with someone. It is unlikely that WCOJ's signal could be anything besides a rimshot in most of the Philly market--the exception being the western suburbs, where it would appear to be local.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Re: Boston Talk Radio Shake-Up (Was: Re: If Entercom gets ABC...)

> My suggestion of WBIX was just an example, I have no inside
> info and I'll take your statement that it's a no go. There
> appear to be several other stations that get little or no
> ratings that might clear more programs in the line-up for
> AAR. Would the non-existant ratings at WTTT actually go down
> if they played AAR (5 kW day and night with a decent
> pattern)? I doubt it. I know there is much more to it,
> including agendas of station mangers and owners,
> advertisers, etc. I was not suggesting AAR try to do
> anything but look at other stations in Boston and Mass in
> general to play their programming (typical barter operation)
> once the contract with CC expires, especially if CC drops
> them from 1200- no buy outs or LMA's.
>
> For full disclosure, I do not care for the way CC has
> handled 1200/1430. They play Eddie, delay Rhodes, play
> Springer delayed at night and forget Majority report and
> Mike Malloy. Even if I could pick them up at night I
> wouldn't listen and I bet most Boston Liberals feel the
> same. They have programmed it beautifully for Kansas, not
> Boston.
>
You're either kidding about AAR on WTTT or you are a total naif! WTTT (as well as WEZE and WROL in this market and 100 or more other stations nationwide) is owned by Salem, the most ultra-right-wing of all major group owners in the US. (And if you know about the other major groups, you know that that's a VERY strong statement!) Salem's founders and primary principals, Mssrs Epperson and Atsinger, are graduates of Bob Jones University(!) The company's forte is Christian formats--right-wing talk, and the network that distributes all of the programs that WTTT carries are relatively recent additions. Salem is in the talk-format business as an idological thing more than as a means of making a lot of money, but Salem never does ANYTHING that loses money for very long. Financially, the whole company is extremely well run and they appear dedicated to AM. I am convinced that the talk network and WTTT aren't losing money. Despite the idological motivation, the corporate owners wouldn't stand for that.

As for WKOXKS, the DO carry Majority Report--on delay (Tuesday through Saturday mornings from 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM). With Springer as the lead-in, that's gotta be a winner, especially considering the fact that the program can be heard only in MetroWest and the near North Shore ;>(

BTW, Ed Schultz's syndicator, Jones Radio Networks, will NOT place the program on any station that does not air it live in its entirety, which explains why Randi Rhodes is on delay on all CCU stations that carry both her program and Schultz's. What makes no sense to me, though, is why the stations that carry both shows don't carry Rhodes' 6:00 to 7:00 PM (Eastern) hour live. I've got a hunch that this is Randi's preference. If she really believes that more than a few people listen to the entire four hours and would be missing the point if they heard the last hour first, she is a heck of a lot less astute a broadcaster than most of her listeners believe her to be.