Is Buddy the Superbowl of Providence radio?

[Runrigger]

Even before future Arbys tell any stories about how well Buddy is doing, I'm wondering if any sponsors have climbed on board simply because his show is an event. Frankly, I can't really listen but I was free to tune to the noon news on WPRO the other day & caught him doing a testimonial type spot for some restaurant. I forgot the name, but it's the one he goes to when he's in the mood for Italian food. Wednesday is his night there. Does anyone listen consistently enough to know if the station is running any spots that weren't there before? How about testimonials? Is he doing many?

 

[Skynet74]

Buddy was purely curiosity listening for me from day 1. He has a name in this town and he created public interest. For a time there was a BUDDY BUZZ. To be honest, I think that buzz has already died down. The numbers will be proof in the pudding. But I have listened and I have stopped. I can't listen to someone purely because of their past popularity. They need to keep me entertained TODAY! Well I wasn't hearing anything entertaining at all. So I bailed. I love Buddy and I love the good things he did for Providence. But his current stint isn't exactly groundbreaking radio. I listened, I got bored and I changed the station. If the rest of the public does the same thing that I did, WPRO is going to be in for a major disappointment when the ratings come out.

 

[TopOfThePops]

I heard Buddy today. And he was doing a testimonial for a restaurant in North Providence. He also said that he is gonna be doing a remote on Federal Hill (in honor of Columbus Day) at an establishment that makes various types of pasta. He also mentioned that he would like to see/meet the City Of Providence newest hire " The Director Of Protocal". Which is something new. Because he did not have one. When he was mayor.

 

[Ill alert the media]

Columbus discovered America.Buddy discovered the hill.
Let's just say we've gone from Free Buddy to Buddy Eats Free.
The artist colony at the Prov Place Mall parking garage should have invited him in for an espresso.They'd still be there.
Like Superbowl attracts people who don't like football Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio.
I just hope he gets a Bullfrog Spa out of this.

 

[Skynet74]

Like Superbowl attracts people who don't like football Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio.

You think that Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio? hmmmmm..... I think it's a bit to early to make that call. Afterall what evidence do you have that Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio? It's to early to tell who he is attracting. The guy just started two weeks ago. Maybe you are just playing guessing games. That's OK. That can be fun. I'm guessing that you are wrong. I think that the only people tuning into Buddy are the same ones who tuned into WPRO before he was even there. I also think it's a good bet most of them followed Limbaugh over to HJJ. From the way I see it WPRO may end up with a deficit when ratings are released.

I know that a lot of you think Buddy is going to be some kind of ratings magnet, but I disagree. I've heard the show and there is nothing going on. There is a lot of reminiscing about the past, and not much else. To be honest it sounds kind of boring. That's Ok. They don't need to worry about me anyway unless I get a ratings book in my hand.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Like Superbowl attracts people who don't like football Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio.

You think that Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio? hmmmmm..... I think it's a bit to early to make that call. Afterall what evidence do you have that Buddy is attracting listeners who don't listen to talk radio? It's to early to tell who he is attracting. The guy just started two weeks ago. Maybe you are just playing guessing games. That's OK. That can be fun. I'm guessing that you are wrong. I think that the only people tuning into Buddy are the same ones who tuned into WPRO before he was even there. I also think it's a good bet most of them followed Limbaugh over to HJJ. From the way I see it WPRO may end up with a deficit when ratings are released.

I know that a lot of you think Buddy is going to be some kind of ratings magnet, but I disagree. I've heard the show and there is nothing going on. There is a lot of reminiscing about the past, and not much else. To be honest it sounds kind of boring. That's Ok. They don't need to worry about me anyway unless I get a ratings book in my hand.

THANK YOU,

Finally someone else who see's what's going on.

I listened briefly the other day and George Nee called in.Normally he don't talk to Talkshow hosts on the radio.Dan played a part of the interview and said Finnaly these union guys are talking to someone (meaning Buddy).
While Buddy can get the low-lifes in state politics to call him. I heard him complaining the other day that people also won't return his calls to go on the air.

Look at the Providence Fire Fighter situation last week. He started the mess when he was in office. How can he disscuss it in a cival manner when John Depetro is blatenly putting the blame on him an hour before he(Buddy) takes over.
I think this is going to backfire.
Bring back Imus 6-10 and put John on 10-2 and eat your loses.

 

[Moonstruck]

There are no losses to eat right now. Some of you need a GPS to keep things on topic so I'll do it. From the point of view of sponsors I think yes it's a prestige thing right now. Superbowl attracts viewers so sponsors do know beforehand their commercials will be seen but if you remember a few years ago there was a glut of dot com companies running ads and in some cases you couldn't even figure out what they were selling. Those were prestige things. Look at me. I'm on Superbowl. Look at them. They're all out of business now. Right now that might be happening with Buddy's show. Don't discount his connections either when someone decides to be a sponsor. He's welcomed Tasca as the first sponsor to come on board his show but Tasca is everywhere anyway. The 903 is running spots but that's a given. How many listeners does WPRO have that patronize high-end places anyway? It's all "look at me I'm on Buddy's show". He's attracting a audience that skews older. Isn't that the group that marketers has buying habits that are difficult to change? Let's wait and see. The first book will be good. I don't think he'll nosedive later but will he still be worth the money they're paying him when things level off and how long before "look at me I'm on Buddy's how" means less. Let's wait and see.

Now tossing the GPS out the window I heard Buddy and Ron the consigliore today broadcasting live at Venda Ravioli on Federal Hill saying they were told they were in violation of some ordinance by being there. They laughed about it and Buddy said something to the effect of would anyone be stupid enough to enforce it? What does that mean? I'm Buddy and I'm still in charge of the city? Dangerous way of thinking there. Also bad for WPRO even if this was an attempt at humor. He paid his debt but he's still on the air calling out crooks and people he thinks are doing something wrong. I doubt he feels self conscious about it but WPRO had better start looking at themselves as his employer and not his posse. When the numbers level off in the future the station will still be beating WHJJ but will he still be worth 300K plus Ron's salary not to mention any trades?

 

[wknd92]

Now tossing the GPS out the window I heard Buddy and Ron the consigliore today broadcasting live at Venda Ravioli on Federal Hill saying they were told they were in violation of some ordinance by being there. They laughed about it and Buddy said something to the effect of would anyone be stupid enough to enforce it? What does that mean? I'm Buddy and I'm still in charge of the city? Dangerous way of thinking there. Also bad for WPRO even if this was an attempt at humor. He paid his debt but he's still on the air calling out crooks and people he thinks are doing something wrong. I doubt he feels self conscious about it but WPRO had better start looking at themselves as his employer and not his posse. When the numbers level off in the future the station will still be beating WHJJ but will he still be worth 300K plus Ron's salary not to mention any trades?

Oh good lord! Are we going to be sitting here picking apart EVERY little sentence he utters? My experience with Buddy would let me believe he is joking about the violation and enforcing it and there is nothing wrong with that.
Trades only occur if there is a buy behind it...I want to say more; but I am afraid of having the moderator send me to the corner for a time out.

 

[alfieradioguy]

Venda Raviloi, owner Alan Costintino . His brother is Steven Costintino, Chairman House Finance Committee. One of the 13 openly gay members. Buddy is very close to the Costintinos. David Cicilline has done alot of rotten things to Alan C. One of the first thigs Cicilline did was 'can' A.C. from the Liquior Board and put in Gordon Fox. When Cicilline goes after Venda and a former Mayor , he better have his ducks all in a row. Buddy dropped a series of inside bombs about Cicilline today. That Buddy radio, is the first time I was actually happy about listening. Buddy has to do more of that.

 

[Moonstruck]

What I am saying wknd92 is that no one really believes Buddy is innocent of anything. His fans just don't care what he's done. I do believe hiring him was a good decision. Now even though he'll be most effective when digging in the dirt I thought he made it clear that wasn't what he intended to do. Right now he's coming across as someone of privilege and he has to avoid that considering WPRO's ads promote him as somebuddy to talk to, somebuddy to turn to, somebuddy to love. Fine, dig in the dirt because no one needs him to talk about light hearted stuff. Just don't come across as one of the "haves" bragging to the "have-nots" and don't act like he owns Providence and always will. His rabid fans won't turn on him but the marginal ones who listen out of curiosity will and also consider Providence isn't the only city WPRO is playing to. Yorke may bellow and get dramatic about things to the point of sounding ridiculous but at least when he complains about something it sounds like he has to deal with the every day problems of life along with his listeners. He sounds like an outraged citizen. Buddy doesn't sound like he has the same problems as Joe Blow. Time will tell if anyone other than his fan base even cares what he has to say and also consider in Providence itself over the last 5 years the population has changed and much fewer people even understand what he's saying because he's speaking English and they're not. That means the AVAILABLE audience isn't there like it was. Again, good decision to hire. Bad idea if the station lets him carry on too much about where he eats, where he lives, and the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed again. And I do know how trades work.

 

[wknd92]

Moonstruck...the people you describe as the available listeners are those that wouldn't normally listen to WPRO in the first place...never have, never will. What he is going for is the former WPRO/WHJJ listeners that may have strayed away and are coming back for a listen into Buddy. His show has not changed at all from the days at HJJ and prior to his NJ vaca. What he made clear was that he wasn't intent in going into politics any time soon (can't until his commutal time is done, I think in 5 years if I remember correctly from the Pro Jo Articles when he was released). He never said he wasn't going to dig in the dirt. And he does own Providence, which in turn means RI usually because that is RI's main identity-like it or not.
One of Buddy's main endearing attributes is that he IS one of the haves...the people like or hate it-always have, always will. No gray there, we know where you stand in the argument; but it is the reason he always has been liked/dispised and he is still playing to that role. It is what has always made him Buddy.

 

[Moonstruck]

We don't disagree that much. He's flamboyant and will be forever. Granted the non-English bunch in Providence isn't going to listen anyway but now there's a combination of present WPRO listeners (some of whom were probably irked by his being hired) and a bunch of curiosity seekers. Short term prognosis: good. Long term: not so good although he'll never tank. I just don't think lifestyles of the rich and famous is going to work right now and again WPRO needs to make sure they don't come across as Buddy's army especially considering even the other talkers there aren't exactly Buddy supporters. My question about him being worth $300K is still out there. He's worth hiring. Is he worth the money?

 

[wknd92]

We don't disagree that much. He's flamboyant and will be forever. Granted the non-English bunch in Providence isn't going to listen anyway but now there's a combination of present WPRO listeners (some of whom were probably irked by his being hired) and a bunch of curiosity seekers. Short term prognosis: good. Long term: not so good although he'll never tank. I just don't think lifestyles of the rich and famous is going to work right now and again WPRO needs to make sure they don't come across as Buddy's army especially considering even the other talkers there aren't exactly Buddy supporters. My question about him being worth $300K is still out there. He's worth hiring. Is he worth the money?

Where else have you heard a Venda ad (other than Bruce Newberry, humping his a$$ off on the streets, kicking in doors to get the ads for Dining Out himself!), The 903-granted, they are advertising because of Buddy living/working there; but they weren't prior to him arriving), Camille's-Buddy's fave (again, maybe on Dining Out). That is 3 new sponsors/clients (and I did not have the ability to listen at all this week or else I would have been able to rattle off some others) because of Buddy and I heard a couple of new ones on Yorke in the PM...so it seems to be spreading across dayparts

 

[wc3434]

Venda was a Steve Kass thing, but Venda LOVES Buddy! 92 , you are right and Buddy is bringing BIG bucks to WPRO. TASCA, is sponcering the show. I wonder if that means Tasca , just Tasca, pays for the show and the rest is gravey?
All the Cianci fans who are upset with the Cicilline government will be feeding Buddy everything Buddy needs for a lively show. If Buddy uses 'EDGE' an 'edgy show', he'll then do very well.

 

[Skynet74]

I don't picture Buddy doing an edgy show. You usually get edgy from a person who is hungry to survive. A starving DJ who needs to prove himself. Someone highly motivated by ratings. That is when you usually get edgy. But when you get a guy who is pushing 70 years old and already has more money than he needs, the word edgy is usually Moot. Even Howard Stern is no longer edgy. A huge bank account takes the edge away. You end up showing up for work thinking about how much you don't need to be there.

 

[wknd92]

Tasca is just paying extra for the sponsorship role (not a cheap thing, either). I'll tune in tomorrow to see what other new spots I hear....

As far as Cicilline, there has already been overt shots across the bow towards his family as i have heard 2 different points where Buddy has questioned why the Cicilline law office is still running after the 2 different situations involving his brother in the last 18 months (one I think is still ongoing investigation). David wants to be govenor in the next election....the situation in Providence really needs to improve for him to have a viable chance. Playing nice with Buddy, Yorke & JD will be in the cards as well and his current relationship with 2 out of 3 of those hosts isn't good.

 

[Runrigger]

I heard a little today, having the day off. Mainly talk about the weekend traffic problems at Waterfire. Both he & Ron sound good, but it's just not a format I'll spend a lot of time with. I just can't get into the heads of talk show listeners & callers to have a valid enough opinion. I found it interesting that while he's doing a spot for an Italian restaurant in North Providence, he's also giving mentions to other restaurants he goes to for steak, seafood, etc. WPRO needed to hire him to keep him away from WHJJ. Buddy needs the exposure. It's a symbiotic relationship right now. Geoff Charles remains the only voice of reason anyway.

 

[xtreme11678]

ive been listining alot lately and do like his show.... but i nwanna know why the keep saying hes on from 10/2 but im pritty sure sence day one he has not been on past 1 with ron doing the last hr. solo??? so is buddy 10/2 or 10/1????????? someone from citadel should explain