The websites for The Shark, Kool 98.7 and Wild 102.7 have not been updated in ages. The stations sound like they're living on automation and the spots are few and far between. Shouldn't the logs be filled by now??? Still no "Listen Live" on Kool. Has the new owner taken over yet? Is anything going on at Green Broadcast Plaza that speaks of recovery??? I do know that Millenium's new owners were in this week at NJ 101.5 and all staff were called into a meeting. I do not know what was said. Probably the usual, "....just keep doing what you all do so well" speech. One usually hears that shortly before the bodies start hitting the floor.
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Is There ANY Life In the Old Green Broadcast Plaza?
- Thread starter VeteranPD
- Start date
When I drove by last week it still had the old 102.7 WJSE sign up outside the building - a few feet from the WILD 102.7 vehicle!
A lot of companies are just too lazy (or cheap) to change or take down their signs. See examples:
In Connecticut the Bernie's Electronic Chain went under in February 2010. Their former store on the corner of Route 69 and Lakewood Road in Waterbury still has the sign up so it looks like they're still open. The only reason the one in Southington was taken down was because the landlord painted the building.
The building on Old Tunrpike Road in Southington, Connecticut that houses WXCT AM 990 still says WNTY on it. They've been WXCT since 2003.
In Connecticut Farmington Savings Bank became Farmington Bank last summer/fall and they didn't begin changing signs until February of this year.
Quiznos in Bristol has been closed since May 2010 and their sign is still up.
In Connecticut the Bernie's Electronic Chain went under in February 2010. Their former store on the corner of Route 69 and Lakewood Road in Waterbury still has the sign up so it looks like they're still open. The only reason the one in Southington was taken down was because the landlord painted the building.
The building on Old Tunrpike Road in Southington, Connecticut that houses WXCT AM 990 still says WNTY on it. They've been WXCT since 2003.
In Connecticut Farmington Savings Bank became Farmington Bank last summer/fall and they didn't begin changing signs until February of this year.
Quiznos in Bristol has been closed since May 2010 and their sign is still up.
What's the hurry? The spring book is almost over and summer buys are done. As long as their plans are in motion by mid July then they should be fine for the fall book. Besides, if they are as smart as I think they are, they shouldn't be thinking short term anyway - they should be figuring out where they should be in five years, and what's the best way to get there. Maybe some of the current formats should be retired in favor of a better long term strategy.
And, I think you're seeing just how messed up things were in the final months of the Atlantic era. It's going to take some time to get this cluster back on the right track.
And, I think you're seeing just how messed up things were in the final months of the Atlantic era. It's going to take some time to get this cluster back on the right track.
a 'veteran' should know they can't do one hell of a lot until the liceneses get transferred. other than change the tower lamps, get everything up to spec, and tweak tunes, i wouldn't expect a bunch of hiring and changes till they "own' it in the eyes of the feds...and that means fcc licenses, not just an LMA. sort of like waiting for settlement on a new house...the new "owner' isn't going to be paining and carpeting and re-whatever until the deed is in hand, right?
My point is that unless they have a warehouse full of money somewhere, things need to be happening now. Five year plans are all well and good and clearly a part of sound management. But this is shore radio..this is money time and if the logs are light now, how do you see next summer, let alone the next 5 years. These stations needed sales YESTERDAY! I don't know what they can do legally, if there is an LMA, but I sure as hell would be doing all I can and I wonder if even that is being done. Perhaps they are willing to take the hit for this summer...but winter is pretty damn long.
Zackster said:
Yes, but billing from Memorial Day to Labor Day in the AC Market is still the big money maker. Those three months plus one week usually bring in as much money as the other nine because listenership (or potential listenership) is through the roof. It's the same thing as December for retail establishments: that's when you make the real money.
Zackster said:
What about Mr. Peanut?
VeteranPD said:
LOL!!
......And an unusually inordinate container of deli mustard.
There was always very little "life" in that building when there was life in that building. I was there for awhile while Howard was still alive. If anyone had a positive word to say, I never heard it. The place just reeked of negativity. Surely there were a couple of people who cared enough, but it was hard to stem that tide of negative. I think Howard was the only positive person in the place, but it never wore off onto anyone else.
That being said, it's time for the new owner to start fresh and new. That takes time and energy. I do think step one is to relocate somewhere else and get out of that environment. If he bought the building with the stations, move 'em, and sell the building to an office leasing specialist. Plow the proceeds back into the stations.
I don't think rushing just to get warm bodies in the studios or on the street and selling will do any good. Step two is to take the time to assemble the RIGHT people, then go at it when the time is right. He needs the breathing room to figure out how to counter all the ill will the previous people had created in the market.
Step three is to take the time to figure out whether any of the stations need wholesale format changes. For instance, with the upswing of Greatest Hits, take Kool's programming, fix it, and put on the flamethowin' 50kw WMGM. With more and more N/T/S formats going to FM, have Kool simulcast WOND.
This is the right time for advance planning. As you say VeteranPD, the logs are light now. What more can he lose but the time to do things the way that cluster hasn't done for years - the right way.
That being said, it's time for the new owner to start fresh and new. That takes time and energy. I do think step one is to relocate somewhere else and get out of that environment. If he bought the building with the stations, move 'em, and sell the building to an office leasing specialist. Plow the proceeds back into the stations.
I don't think rushing just to get warm bodies in the studios or on the street and selling will do any good. Step two is to take the time to assemble the RIGHT people, then go at it when the time is right. He needs the breathing room to figure out how to counter all the ill will the previous people had created in the market.
Step three is to take the time to figure out whether any of the stations need wholesale format changes. For instance, with the upswing of Greatest Hits, take Kool's programming, fix it, and put on the flamethowin' 50kw WMGM. With more and more N/T/S formats going to FM, have Kool simulcast WOND.
This is the right time for advance planning. As you say VeteranPD, the logs are light now. What more can he lose but the time to do things the way that cluster hasn't done for years - the right way.
hal douglas said:
No disrespect, Hal, however have you heard about the real estate market (read: the economy)? They tried to sell the building before the stations went to auction. No takers. Problem with commercial space is you need tenants to justify/offset the cost. If you propose the main "tenant" moves out, then you're now just selling a building hoping that there are some businesses out there looking to pay good rent for office space in this economy. Not likely.
And in this part of Atlantic County there are no real office leasing specialists. It's too small of a market for that. Anyone worth their weight, and you'll need that person for what you propose, is working Philly and the NJ suburbs (Cherry Hill, etc.).
All this is moot, however, if they didn't buy the building, but at the price they paid I'm pretty sure they did.
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