Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[gabigley1]

My point I wanted to make is that Mr. Percy Squire/Stop 26 tried to keep control
of his stations and even asked people to send letters into the FCC asking them
to keep Stop 26 as the licensee of his stations and to deny D.B. Zwirn as the new
FCC license holder of the stations.

This article was published the first week of June, 2005, before D.B. Zwirn/Bernard of Ohio legally gained control of the Stop 26 stations, including WVKO-AM-FM.
Note, the publication date is not stated in this one and that may have caused some
confusion but it is JUNE of 2005:

http://www.columbuspost.com/news/headlines183.html

This one was published on May 11, 2006 after D.B. Zwirn/Bernard of Ohio managed
to gain control of the Stop 26 stations from Squire:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1086780341.html

Mr. Percy Squire may find this of interest because D.B. Zwirn is being probed by the
FCC. Squire did not see them fit to hold a FCC license and that is one of the reason
he did battle for those stations with the FCC. D.B. Zwirn is in the news these days in Tampa Florida:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08312008/business/fcc_probing_d_b__zwirn_over_radio_licens_126913.htm

This one was published on May 11, 2006 after D.B. Zwirn/Bernard of Ohio managed
to gain control of the Stop 26 stations from Squire. I QUOTE a paragraph from that
article not included on this link as it may be of interest to some:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1086780341.html

Fighting for our voice
Anonymous. Call & Post. Cleveland, Ohio: May 11-May 17, 2006. Vol. 90, Iss. 19; pg. 4A, 1 pgs

(QUOTE)
Squire is urging those concerned about the future of WVKO to file their concerns with the Federal Communications Commission. One of the responsibilities of the FCC, in addition to monitoring the content on the airwaves, is to assure that the voices of various communities of interest are heard.
(QUOTE)

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'm not sure what all of that means now, today, re: the Bernard Ohio stations.

Percy did indeed rather loudly put up a fit. In the end, DB Zwirn had a successful bankruptcy court judgment giving them control of the station through the money Stop 26 owned Zwirn. They took that judgment to the FCC, and were granted assignment of WVKO, WVKO-FM, and WRBP/WASN/WGFT in Youngstown, to what's now known as Bernard Ohio.

I haven't looked into the Florida stations, but it appears that Tama is still the licensee as far as the FCC is concerned, with Zwirn's unit down there running it.

I suspect the only effect in Bernard Ohio's stations will be if Zwirn and its entities are somehow found to be overall unfit licensees, which is not exactly easy to show as far as existing licenses are concernsd.

 

[smedge2006]

In the latest trend, WVKO-AM 12-plus is now even with WVKO-FM, and its share no longer begins with a "zero"...

 

[redsfan1966]

Figured I would add another chapter to the ongoing WVKO saga....apparently local talk host Michael Cole ("Whats what with Mike Cole") has left VKO in a dispute with Gary Richards.....Cole wasnt happy with Richards "suggestions" for his show....Dr. Bob Fitzrakis (noted professor and Free Press columnist in Columbus) has taken over the 5pm slot....

 

[SeanMGilbow]

While the return of Bob Fitrakis to WVKO is both beneficial and timely, I hope any dispute between Gary and Mike can be resolved.

As for me...the overtime I've been working at the BMV has become MAJOR overtime. Listeners who peruse the Ohio Majority Radio and WVKO message boards are aware that it may be several weeks--if not months--before I get back behind the mike again.

Of course, there will be some around here who would love it if the local conservative talkers (if any are still left) would use me for ammunition for making the top ten state employees for overtime in 2008.

Wishful thinking.

 

[gabigley1]

While the return of Bob Fitrakis to WVKO is both beneficial and timely, I hope any dispute between Gary and Mike can be resolved.

As for me...the overtime I've been working at the BMV has become MAJOR overtime. Listeners who peruse the Ohio Majority Radio and WVKO message boards are aware that it may be several weeks--if not months--before I get back behind the mike again.

Of course, there will be some around here who would love it if the local conservative talkers (if any are still left) would use me for ammunition for making the top ten state employees for overtime in 2008.

Wishful thinking.

SEAN,

I see why you have to work all those overtime hours at ODOT and can't spend more time doing afternoon news at WVKO-AM.... Also, I agree with you when you say WVKO managenment desperately wants you back as soon as possible.
After all, WVKO-AM clams they are a "FULL SERVICE" radio station but how can WVKO-AM make such a claim when they don't provide any local news coverage after 12 Noon.

Here is an article on all the problems at ODOT:

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-10-16-0013.html

 

[SeanMGilbow]

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is a branch of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, not ODOT.

To fill you in on the situation in more detail, we are caught between a rock and hard place in that we still have thousands of rejected applications to process. Complicating matters is limitations on overtime due to the state budget constraints. At this rate, I've informed listeners via the station and Ohio Majority Radio message boards that it may not be until Obama is inaugurated before we get caught up.

Some days I work overtime, some days I don't. It depends on what days management allows overtime to be worked. To come into the studio on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then not come in on Thursday and Friday due to overtime only serves to create for programming inconsistency.

Having said that...I anticipate increased numbers with the ratings about to be released.

Consider this as well: While my job is safe (ODPS has never had a layoff), our union will soon begin contract negotiations. With layoffs pending in other agencies, it doesn't look promising. When you're making close to $21 an hour ($31 an hour with overtime--public record), it's a no-brainer that I am working whatever overtime becomes available. I just hope I won't need to spend the overtime pay on increased health care costs.

Any wonder why I'm thankful my radio career was so brief?

As for the ODOT story, and the one about a BMV co-worker who may face criminal charges, I'm not so concerned. But I will leave you with one thought about another story in the news:

The Ohio Republican Party is making me and my co-workers at the BMV scapegoats in its zeal to find what it feels are fraudulent voter registrations. BMV registrations and Social Security information are used to verify voter registration records. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner met with BMV officials today on how to get mismatching voter information out to local boards of elections for purposes of verification. This is while she filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the ruling by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals requiring her to supply this information to the local boards by Friday.

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/16/brunnerappeal.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

The number of rejection letters I am sending out for registration errors is now averaging 1,000 a week. Something as simple as a change in a woman's last name due to marriage or divorce is enough to cause a red flag on registrations I process. Another example is a misspelled name or middle initial. These are the same errors that draw red flags with the Secretary of State's office.

At the BMV, the process to deal with rejections is taking longer because we no longer can check information via Social Security number like we used to. But the Secretary of State does verify voter records with Social Security records, a process which even the Social Security Administration told the Columbus Dispatch was excessive.

Regardless of how anyone reading this feels about Jennifer Brunner, you should be very concerned about the Ohio Republican Party opening the door to potential identity theft--one which, after the intern incident last year, State employees from Governor Strickland on down are determined to keep closed.

My advice: Vote early. And if you have a license plate to renew...If you do it by mail, sign the back of the form and make sure your check is made out completely, for the right amount, and signed. You can also renew online at oplates.com.

While the return of Bob Fitrakis to WVKO is both beneficial and timely, I hope any dispute between Gary and Mike can be resolved.

As for me...the overtime I've been working at the BMV has become MAJOR overtime. Listeners who peruse the Ohio Majority Radio and WVKO message boards are aware that it may be several weeks--if not months--before I get back behind the mike again.

Of course, there will be some around here who would love it if the local conservative talkers (if any are still left) would use me for ammunition for making the top ten state employees for overtime in 2008.

Wishful thinking.

SEAN,

I see why you have to work all those overtime hours at ODOT and can't spend more time doing afternoon news at WVKO-AM.... Also, I agree with you when you say WVKO managenment desperately wants you back as soon as possible.
After all, WVKO-AM clams they are a "FULL SERVICE" radio station but how can WVKO-AM make such a claim when they don't provide any local news coverage after 12 Noon.

Here is an article on all the problems at ODOT:

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-10-16-0013.html

 

[SeanMGilbow]

The climb continues--0.8 in the Summer book, up another tenth of a point.

And the station which used to offer progressive talk is stuck at 0.6.

 

[KFodor]

The climb continues--0.8 in the Summer book, up another tenth of a point.

And the station which used to offer progressive talk is stuck at 0.6.

Sean:

The station continues to climb, granted. But "up another tenth of a point" is within the book's "margin of error".

Be happy the station's continuing to uptrend. I'll be interested in seeiing what might happen in the fall.

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

The climb continues--0.8 in the Summer book, up another tenth of a point.

And the station which used to offer progressive talk is stuck at 0.6.

Persons 25-54 - WVKO: 0.4 WYTS: 0.6. I know you like those p12+ numbers Sean, but 25-54 is a little more in your target demo. Don't hate the messenger, hate the message.

 

[gabigley1]

The climb continues--0.8 in the Summer book, up another tenth of a point.
And the station which used to offer progressive talk is stuck at 0.6.

Persons 25-54 - WVKO: 0.4 WYTS: 0.6. I know you like those p12+ numbers Sean, but 25-54 is a little more in your target demo. Don't hate the messenger, hate the message.

Why can't we just settle for the 12 Plus rating/numbers as far as argument goes for this thread.
Some of the other numbers/demographics are of interest to just radio sales professionals and I for one know
little/nothing about radio sales.

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

Yeah, I was just kinda bustin' chops. 0.4, 0.8. It's all good. I wasn't gonna chime in until Sean used those smarmy little emotocons ???.. after the respective numbers. I thought we were all done with this thread when it left the first page for a couple of days anyways. I even found myself checking this site more often to see if this stupid thread was off the first page yet as it matriculated down the page. This thread has become a growth Insert your own smarmy emotocon here___.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

The emoticons I used are not smarmy.

This is smarmy. :-* ;D

 

[gabigley1]

The climb continues--0.8 in the Summer book, up another tenth of a point.

And the station which used to offer progressive talk is stuck at 0.6.

Sean,
Once WVKO-AM overtakes WTDA in the 12+ ratings, dose this mean WTVN will be VKO's next target?

http://www.wvko1580.com/forums/topic.php?id=322

SeanGilbow
Member
WVKO's audience grew another tenth of a point to 0.8.WYTS remains at 0.6.Next target: WTDA at 1.2, also up a tenth of a point.WTVN still remains on top, though it took a dip in audience share. Posted 3 days ago #

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Let's take things one step at a time, shall we?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Let's take things one step at a time, shall we?

Yes...I don't think even the most diehard WVKO fan would believe that the station has any chance of unseating 'TVN.

Even you.

Before all the 'VKO types come out of the woodwork and accuse me of being a rabid right-winger who wants them to fail, I'll note that it'd be ludicrous to believe that even WTVN sister station WYTS, the former WTPG, could dethrone 610 for the news/talk crown. Even if CC wasn't running it. And for that matter, the same applies to WTDA, an FM talk station with a modest class A signal...and that station even carries a former WTVN staple, Glenn Beck.

WVKO is and wlll always be a niche station - a high-band modestly powered AM station. Can the station have some success and even make a few bucks off of that? Sure. But "targetting" WTVN means no more than shaving a little off of its share, that's all...nothing more.

 

[kevinkelly]

Maybe this has been covered already, but what is up with the 1580 signal? I know the tower moved from Upper Arlington to Morse Road, and since I live in Dublin that reduces my signal... but it seems like you lose the station when you cross outside the 270 loop on the west or north side. Some other station mixes with them, and makes it unlistenable. And I enjoy Ed Schultz and company, but find myself wishing Air America was on a bigger signal.

 

[adamcarrington]

It's the frequency itself.

1580khz is on the "right side" of the AM band plan. They require more power for the coverage equivalency of the stations on the opposite side of the dial. On top of that, AM has all sorts of nasty interference problems anyway.

Long story short, you're not imaging things.

 

[Elephant]

You guys DO realize that a 0.8 and a 0.6 are basically tied, right? Until someone can give me a breakdown of cume and TSL in certain dayparts, I wouldn't declare a victory over anybody. Even worse, with shares that low, the sample is really even too small to be reliable. Something to think about when boasting about ratings under a 1.0 share.

 

[gabigley1]

There is no doubt VKO's staff/management and its most loyal listeners have already declared victory over WFRD, WLW and especially WYTS. WYTS, ex WTPG, dropped the progressive talk format a couple of years so it must be some sort of moral victory for them to declare then self's as successful because they were able
to beat WYTS in the ratings game. CC owns WYTS and WTVN so they no doubt would like to make WTVN a target also. That is their opinion and not mine.


Speaking of WVKO-AM, they do not believe in giving traffic reports. The reason VKO management gives for this is because if you find yourself in a traffic jam, you don't need a radio station to tell about the traffic jam
you are already in because you are already in that traffic jam. Are there any other legitimate reasons why VKO
would not carry traffic reports? WVKO must be one of just a few radio stations that calls them self's a NEWS/TALK and SPORTS station but refuses to carry traffic reports. They said from the start that they wanted to become a "FULL SERVICE" radio station but "FULL SERVICE" dose not include traffic reports.
Yes, I'm a fan of the station.