Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[redsfan1966]

No real news here...just wanted to post reply #200 to the thread I started.... :-\

I want to say that the original topic of this thread no longer applies...other than the annoying sound quality, VKO has stabilized itself into a viable AM station....just noticed the yard signs last week VKO has placed out there (going over 670 on Fourth St.)...hopefully the election helps VKO increase its awareness amongst the listening public.

 

[gabigley1]

(QUOTE) redsfan1966
No real news here...just wanted to post reply #200 to the thread I started.... :-\
other than the annoying sound quality, VKO has stabilized itself into a viable AM station....
(QUOTE)

I find VKO's sound quality acceptable but there is still a lot more room for improvement on that front. As a listener that appreciates and expects good sound quality, this is about all we can expect from VKO and
must live with it. I do wish VKO would get rid of that bad mike they use during interviews on their live and local radio shows. I find that pretty annoying.

One of the biggest controversy now with WVKO-AM is their insistence of airing a college football game during
election night. WVKO-AM refuses to tape delay that football game to the dismay of its listener. Progressive talk is a niche format and VKO's listeners will have no where else to go next Tuesday night. Conservative radio
stations can get away with this and not ruffle the feathers of their listener became there are other options out there but that dose not apply to the Progressive talk format. I was looking froward to election night coverage on WVKO-AM.

What is even more annoying is WVKO is censoring there own blog. People have suggested on there that the
Football game be taped delayed. Those posts WHERE REMOVED from this thread... I guess they don't want their anti-football listeners to give other listeners any ideas about tape delaying the game on Tuesday night.

Here is what people are saying about that on the WVKO1580 thread. I find this post of interest:

http://www.wvko1580.com/forums/topic.php?id=325

(QUOTE)
redsfan1966
Post Count: 24 Member
RussC---I understand Miami of Ohio has an agreement with VKO to air games---but there is no way that on the most important night of the year in our country, 1580 can not air election coverage...that would be a horrific travesty. WVKO's format and programming are all based on what is going to happen in this upcoming election. This would be akin to playing a Super Bowl to a tie and cancelling the overtime.....dont "drop the ball" VKO, air election coverage on Nov. 4!
(Quote)

 

[xmusicmatt]

I would think beyond their contract to air the game live, they likely are making money off airing the miami games and thus need that to stay on air. Much as one would like election coverage instead, I am sure the football helps keep the progressive talk on air in Columbus.

 

[DToTheJ]

It's possible the football game could end early enough before the next President is decided.

And furthermore:

A) Isn't WVKO's signal spotty after sunset, and
B) Who plays football on a Tuesday, anyways?

Is it possible WVKO can stream Air America election coverage as an alternative? Unless the Miami-Ohio contract actually includes streaming of their games?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I was listening to VKO-AM a few days ago and couldn't hear Sean Gilbow's news, or the weather-person's forecast, because there was a loud music bed drowning out most of it. I was able to make out a few bits and pieces, such as Sean calling the weather icky.

Since I don't listen to the station much (or any other talk radio except some NPR), I don't know if this was an atypical occurence. I'm guessing it was. But if not, they have some work to do.

 

[GR]

As Mark Twain said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." In trouble or not, WVKO is nearing the first anniversary of its flip to Prog Talk.

As for the football game, it's a Miami U. tradition. Apparently, someone there thought it was a brilliant idea some years ago to play on election night :. The station is contractually obligated to carry the game. WVKO FM had the same issue in 2004. The polls will likely be closing late, and the game should be over with before anything is decided. The station will have election updates during the game and at halftime, and of course after the game. Also, WVKO will stream Air America's election night coverage on www.wvko.com.

 

[gabigley1]

GR,

Thanks for the state of WVKO-AM radio address. As far as your wife wanting you to drop WVKO-AM and get a real 'J.O.B.', she may not really understand radio and your love for the medium. You said that the station is
a serious risk for you because you took out a second mortgage on your home. I can see her fears from that standpoint. The Columbus economy is not good now and that doesn't help matters with any mom and pop
radio station. So yes, VKO seems like a serious risk for you. There are some people that are glad you put
Progressive Talk radio back on the air in Columbus but didn't realize the risks you were taking.

Sean Gilbow,

Why are you saying on the air that Johnboy Crenshaw would like too see WVKO-AM fail?? I hope Johnnyboy C. will address this thread. They dropped the Progressive Talk format because of the problems
they faced with that station. At least that is what the old WTPG program director said on the air but he didn't elaborate what the problems were. No doubt they had problems selling air time on the station. I
don't think CC is looking to get back into Progressive Talk radio so why would Johnnyboy C care about VKO?

For those who are interested, GR gives at state of the station address here at about 1:02 into the show here:

http://www.wvko1580.com/mp3/bluestate-20081101.mp3

 

[JohnboyCrenshaw]

Friends and Countrymen:

We are all entitled to our opinion, I am sure we can agree, and I shall defend to the death your right to express it.

Mr. Gilbow has never asked me for my opinion, so I think he would be in a difficult position to communicate my opinion.

Listening to the lengthy podcast referenced above, it sounds to me like Mr. Richards is experiencing some of the same financial disappointment my company had with the Progressive format.

I don't wish to see Mr. Richards fail, nor his leased radio station. I do think history is repeating itself, however, relative to the Progressive community's support.

The End,
JbC

 

[smedge2006]

I do think history is repeating itself, however, relative to the Progressive community's support.

It isn't, and shouldn't, really be about "the progressive community's support." It should be about businesses seeking to use the station to reach the progressive community. If a business doesn't advertise on WVKO, then its listeners shouldn't hesitate to conclude (and its management shouldn't hesitate to lead them to think)that said firm does not want the business of Democrats, liberals or progressives.

 

[redsfan1966]

I do not wish GR or WVKO ill will--however, maybe some of the advertising problems could be solved if those on VKO werent such cheerleaders for the "left". Yes, I know that the station is "Ohio's Progressive Talk"; but when those who deliver the news on 1580 say things like "Good news, (insert Democratic candidate) is winning their race", potential advertisers could be turned off....

I am not a right winger---I am an independent and voted for the Presidential winner, but even on WTVN (which everyone knows is a right wing station) you dont hear those reporting news or results cheering for a candidate....and no, I am not including shows like Stephanie Miller or the Blue State Diner, those are shows and opinions are expected---but at least couldnt the news be objective...

 

[SeanMGilbow]

I do not wish GR or WVKO ill will--however, maybe some of the advertising problems could be solved if those on VKO werent such cheerleaders for the "left". Yes, I know that the station is "Ohio's Progressive Talk"; but when those who deliver the news on 1580 say things like "Good news, (insert Democratic candidate) is winning their race", potential advertisers could be turned off....

I am not a right winger---I am an independent and voted for the Presidential winner, but even on WTVN (which everyone knows is a right wing station) you dont hear those reporting news or results cheering for a candidate....and no, I am not including shows like Stephanie Miller or the Blue State Diner, those are shows and opinions are expected---but at least couldnt the news be objective...

1. While I may have my moments during the afternoon newscasts I do, I try to keep commentary minimal. And during the election recap on Tuesday night, the most opinionated comment I had was on how Fox News projected Obama to win Ohio before CNN did.

2. As I have had my exchanges with some people here in defense of the station, I've had similar exchanges with listeners who want the format but don't do their part by patronizing the advertisers. My association with WVKO began as an advertiser.

3. My comments regarding Mr. Crenshaw still stand.

 

[xianbroadcaster]

I do think history is repeating itself, however, relative to the Progressive community's support.

It isn't, and shouldn't, really be about "the progressive community's support." It should be about businesses seeking to use the station to reach the progressive community. If a business doesn't advertise on WVKO, then its listeners shouldn't hesitate to conclude (and its management shouldn't hesitate to lead them to think)that said firm does not want the business of Democrats, liberals or progressives.

I don't think you all that far off the mark with this but I disagree with the conclusion of "does not want the business of Democrats, liberals or progressives."

Progressive talk is pulling under a 2 share in the Columbus market, you can survive on that but only with the local business buys because national and regional accounts are not going to put money into stations that have such a small audience, there's just too many other stations they can go to, not for the progressive listener but for the masses here in Central-Ohio.

I think the progressive market is irrelevant, not because progressives are but because most people don't label themselves as progressives. Conservatives labeled themselves conservatives only a few years after Rush and other built the format...which also lends itself to another problem with "Progressive Radio"...there is ZERO progressive talk (as far as consistent impact) over the last 5-10 years and all of the sudden, people think there needs to be a station devoted to it?

Talk radio is a conservative bastion but it wasn't always, it used to be a lot of MOR, Lifestyle, community talk type stations that would flavor their programming with a conservative talk show here and there...this is the same trek taken by several formats...start as "specialty programming" and grow the audience from there, while this is harder to do nowadays because of deregulation and all the syndicated shows being created and used by those deregulated properties...I see it as a viable format, just not yet.

 

[willcail]

First WVKO is a Class B station it powers down at night to 290 watts. Daytime is 3200 watts. The station is doing good and they are getting ad buys from 3C Body Shop Org. Mattress Factory. This is true that the WVKO message board is censor to a point that it is pointless to post there. The moderator Russ doesn't like your post or doesn't agree with the post it would be taken down.

 

[gabigley1]

WVKO-AM 1580 has moved up to a 0.9 share in the brand new Fa'08 P1 ratings. Also, WYTS-AM 1230 is down to a 0.5 share.

Also, I noticed WVKO-AM has a new ad running in today's "The Other Paper".

 

[willcail]

There is radio spots for the other paper on WVKO AM. I'm guessing it is some sort of deal. Free advertising for both.

Now how does Bill O justified that progressive talk is failing when his affiliate in Columbus is dead last. Right now Steph Ed, Bill and the others are beating Bill-O, Laura, and Savage in the ratings.

To be fair that any radio station can beat WYTS and WRFD in Columbus.

 

[xianbroadcaster]

There is radio spots for the other paper on WVKO AM. I'm guessing it is some sort of deal. Free advertising for both.

Now how does Bill O justified that progressive talk is failing when his affiliate in Columbus is dead last. Right now Steph Ed, Bill and the others are beating Bill-O, Laura, and Savage in the ratings.

To be fair that any radio station can beat WYTS and WRFD in Columbus.

Sad truth, there.

I guess WRFD doesn't see a need to gain ratings because they sell every minute of every broadcast day with those crappy shows...And WYTS is an ignored frequency owned by a company that has so many stations they just don't know what to do with it.

Sad.

 

[gabigley1]

As Mark Twain said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." In trouble or not, WVKO is nearing the first anniversary of its flip to Prog Talk.

As I recall, the first anniversary of WVKO-AM will be on December 2nd and not December 9th. I was there for
that December 2nd 6:00 AM sign on of progressive talk WVKO-AM. So, why not December 2nd?

In any case, congratulations on on your first year anniversary and all the best in 2009!

This is what is listed on the http://www.wvko1580.com web site:

WVKO Listener Appreciation Night at Studio 35

Come celebrate Progressive Talk’s 1-year anniversary on the air in Central Ohio on Tuesday, December 9th, at the Studio 35 movie theater, 3055 Indianola Avenue in Columbus.

Showing together on December 9th only will be Bill Maher’s Religulous at 7 PM. Oliver Stone’s “W.” follows at 9 PM.

Join fellow Progressives for drinks and food from Studio 35’s cash bar before, during, and after the movies. Doors open at 6 PM. Admission for the event T.B.A.

 

[gabigley1]

Friends and Countrymen:

We are all entitled to our opinion, I am sure we can agree, and I shall defend to the death your right to express it.

Mr. Gilbow has never asked me for my opinion, so I think he would be in a difficult position to communicate my opinion.

Listening to the lengthy podcast referenced above, it sounds to me like Mr. Richards is experiencing some of the same financial disappointment my company had with the Progressive format.

I don't wish to see Mr. Richards fail, nor his leased radio station. I do think history is repeating itself, however, relative to the Progressive community's support.

The End,
JbC

 

[gabigley1]

Friends and Countrymen:

We are all entitled to our opinion, I am sure we can agree, and I shall defend to the death your right to express it.

Mr. Gilbow has never asked me for my opinion, so I think he would be in a difficult position to communicate my opinion.

Listening to the lengthy podcast referenced above, it sounds to me like Mr. Richards is experiencing some of the same financial disappointment my company had with the Progressive format.

I don't wish to see Mr. Richards fail, nor his leased radio station. I do think history is repeating itself, however, relative to the Progressive community's support.

The End,
JbC

Johnboy Crenshaw,

You were listed in the ending credits of the Crew game yesterday on WTVN radio. You were listed as the Program
Director. Is this correct?? Your credit on the radio-info page has you as the WCOL-FM PD, NOT the WTVN
Program Director.

In any case, I think WTVN-AM did an excellent job yesterday with the Crew game! I was especially impressed with
the engineering work.

 

[willcail]

This is the problem with media consolidation. They need to sell the station and let someone else to own the station. They don't want the competition. Heck I don't listen to the Reds on 1230 since I can pick up WLW just fine. On some nights with my amplified AM external antenna can pick up WTAM 1100 AM HD on my HD100 radio.