Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[gr8oldies]

Course we're in a state that voted away 16000 jobs last November. We could put the payday loan biz out of business and in Nohio there will be no casinos 'round here!

 

[hdtvnewbie]

While locally programmed HOURS may be less than ideal to many, think about the number of local PEOPLE on 610.

Maybe Tuesday will bring changes but as of now and aside from my little fill-in contributions we have (as best as my memory can do):

Point taken. I understand money dictates and really take no issue with voice-tracking/syndication on The Brew, 106.7 or WYTS. But the big signals, especially WNCI, WCOL and WTVN, should be mostly local -- just like WLW.

You forgot to mention Chuck Douglas on your list, by the way.

 

[hdtvnewbie]

Course we're in a state that voted away 16000 jobs last November. We could put the payday loan biz out of business and in Nohio there will be no casinos 'round here!

Don't worry, the Democrats are working to change that .... there are some constituents in Youngstown that need to get the payoff Marc Dann wasn't able to deliver for them. Not that I'm against gambling, per se, mind you. I just get a certain Chicago-feeling about that Cleveland crowd.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

OMW: Not once have I ever said anything about progressive talk playing any particular role in this past election. Further, I have made clear the station was on the sales block while Gary was given the opportunity to program the station. It was also Gary's intention from the outset to have a news/talk/sports format, and sports was a major part of the format. To be honest, I would not have expected progressive talk to have been on the station a year if Gary did not have the sports programming, which helped provide revenue to finance the rest of the operation.

Yes, Sean...I'm aware you have at least some radio knowledge/background, and may have been more practical about it than some of the "activists" drawn to the station because of the nature of its primary format.

But I've heard you and others (on the station itself, via podcasts/streaming, etc.) talk about how important an "alternative voice" is. Really, that is no consideration in this.

The only consideration is if the number of listeners looking for whatever voice WVKO had is large enough to make it commercially viable. And I know you understand this, and the balance between Gary's other programming needs for those reasons.

But you're still part of the "preaching to the choir" group. If the "talk" part of the equation was right-wing talk, using whatever third-tier/fourth-tier (see my other thread) conservative hosts are out there, would you have even advertised or been in the building? No, of course not.

You were there, first as an advertiser and then as basically a volunteer afternoon news person (your only "pay" being in more free ad time/trade), because you agreed with the mission of the programming.m Your considerations weren't radio - and you're probably wisely out of the business full-time for very good personal and financial reasons. (And considering the state of the business in 2009, not many could blame you.)

You were there because you're "on the team"...of a format on a commercial talk radio station.

Nothing wrong with that...but admit it, you wanted to join in because you wanted to help "spread the message".

BTW, what WAS the story with the "Big Eddie investors" anyway? Who are they? Did they even dial one phone digit trying to help Gary or anyone else "buy" the FM side of WVKO? That last part was blown out of the water by, well, Gary himself in this very thread. Were you trying to "drum up hope"?

I need to again make clear I have no affiliation with Ohio Majority Radio, many of whose members have been critical of things said on the OMW blog.

I further agree with the sentiments of some here that Dial Global's Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz have proven themselves as commercially viable progressive talkers. And they are the only two with which I can say that with confidence. Of the other four progressive talkers which made the Talkers Magazine Top Talk Radio audiences:

Air America's Thom Hartmann has to fight for live clearance with Ed Schultz. The hardcore progressives love him, but Big Eddie appeals to the rest of the population. Interestingly, Ed Schultz is heard on Air America's New York station, not Thom. And what many in the Ohio Majority Radio Group seem to forget is we live in a blue county surrounded by red counties. Advantage Big Eddie.

Same for Air America's Lionel vs. Stephanie Miller. It still baffles me that Lionel would leave WOR and an extensive list of affiliates to go to AAR in 2007. Again, Lionel was heard live on both progressive and conservative talk stations in his late-night time slot. He is also not heard in New York, and hardcore progressives have described him as too libertarian.

When Randi Rhodes left AAR, she was dropped from WVKO for AAR's Ron Kuby, who previously worked at WABC in New York until Don Imus was brought in. One listener described Randi as "an acquired taste," and one person who was not enjoying her show was Gary Richards. Thus, you heard Ron Kuby (when not pre-empted by infomercials), as well as local talk from 5 to 6.

And I won't even get into how hardcore progressives feel about Fox News' Alan Colmes.

While all of these hosts have been heard on both liberal and conservative talk stations, Momma and Big Eddie have been most adept at cracking the glass ceiling as far as getting on non-progressive stations. I do see them returning to Columbus radio, though not necessarily in a totally progressive talk format.

As for the return of progressive talk as a format, I will repeat what I mentioned more than a week ago:

Ed Schultz had a group of investors looking to buy stations starting with one in Salem, Oregon. The deal fell through.

I provided Gary Richards' attorney, Tony Logan, with the phone number to Ed Schultz' producer, Vern Thompson. I was in touch with both Tony and Vern the day Tony announced there were negotiaions to buy 103.1 FM. What conversations, or lack thereof, have taken place I cannot say.

However, I will say that if progressive talk were to return to Columbus, Gary Richards would be the man to make it happen.

P.S. to Mark Bohach: Thanks for the kind words.

 

[AugC]

Isn't "progressive talk" an oxymoron?

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Isn't "progressive talk" an oxymoron?

I don't know why you think it's an oxymoron, but regardless it sure is a weird name for a format.  Makes even less sense than calling album rock "progressive rock" did.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I need to again make clear I have no affiliation with Ohio Majority Radio, many of whose members have been critical of things said on the OMW blog.

And as author of that blog, I still feel unfairly attacked by the OMR folks, including the guy who put OMR together, Russ Childers.

I made light of the station's early technical problems, including the inability to use satellite-fed programming and the fact that Internet radio feed problems forced them to not be able to air their scheduled morning drive show, Jones (now Dial Global) syndicated host Bill Press.

From that moment on, Russ and others associated with OMR played the "political" card. I was some sort of right-wing "whackjob" reveling in WVKO's early troubles. He even took to channeling what I "would have written" had the situation been different, after I'd suggested putting a satellite dish out at the Morse Road transmitter site.

Me? A "right-winger happy with WVKO's troubles"? I subscribe to the StephCast, for crying out loud! I pay actual money to have the show of one of America's leading liberal talk radio hosts delivered via iTunes!

My writings were radio-based, not politically-based, but that fact didn't matter to the OMR folks.

Sorry, I just had to get that out.

You may have made a break with the OMR folks, but you're still firmly in the "fan of the format/station" category, and made some business and personal decisions based on that. I'm not sure how that matters anymore.

As for the return of progressive talk as a format, I will repeat what I mentioned more than a week ago:

Ed Schultz had a group of investors looking to buy stations starting with one in Salem, Oregon. The deal fell through.

I provided Gary Richards' attorney, Tony Logan, with the phone number to Ed Schultz' producer, Vern Thompson. I was in touch with both Tony and Vern the day Tony announced there were negotiaions to buy 103.1 FM. What conversations, or lack thereof, have taken place I cannot say.

However, I will say that if progressive talk were to return to Columbus, Gary Richards would be the man to make it happen.

Assuming "GR" here is indeed Cowtown Communications/former WVKO LMA operator Gary Richards, he seemed rather surprised about this - in a message just a few above this one. One assumes if he had even a minor role in resurrecting the AM format on 103.1, he'd know about it.

The "Ed Schultz's investors" is still nebulous. I haven't heard about this from anyone but you, and I keep a pretty decent eye on talk radio news. If you can provide any proof that Mr. Schultz is indeed financially involved with ANY effort to keep liberal talk radio stations on the air, I'd love to see it. It's an interesting angle, if true.

 

[willcail]

One thing I don't listen to people who are drug addicts or racist. (I.E Rush) If you want to listen to somebody with a substance abuse problems then go right ahead.

Now I have no love for Air America Radio they fired Randi Rhodes for making a comment about Hillary Clinton in a private affiliate function and Mike Malloy was up and fired after filling in for Randi. ARR makes many mistakes.

My biggest gripe with Thom is he claims that he is the most listened to Lib talker. In fact he is not according to the recent Talkers Magazine figures. It is the same with Randi Rhodes.

I find it odd when I criticized Air America on the Ohio Majority Radio I get my messages deleted because the moderator didn't like that I'm telling like it is about Air America. Heck Thom Hartmann show feed is delivered using Dial Global Satellite system. He knows in the back of his mind that AAR won't last and got a secondary system set up for going with Dial Global or back self syndicated.

Now it shown that Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz are the only Lib Talkers that pulled in a profit last year. I would have like to see Peter B. Collins and Leslie Marshall to be on more Lib Talk stations. Those two shows are better than Clout, This is America. I give a pass on Ron Reagan he is half way decent.

It would be nice that 103.1 be purchase by Ed Schultz investors.

 

[gabigley1]

The person( redsfan1966) that started this thread had this to say about WVKO-AM and the "Ohio Media Watch" last year on the WVKO-AM 1580 Message board.

(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)
Post Count: 25 redsfan1966 Member
ohiomediawatch has an article about WVKO...unfortunately it isnt very flattering...the
author of the article is still astonished that WVKO is still getting
shows on the air with the use of the internet...I must admit the
article brings up questions I wonder about as well...
Posted 1 year ago #
(Quote)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)

It would have been nice to be hear the "Progressive Talk" shows during the inauguration. Also, you lose the scene of community when you don't hear local callers into to the Stephanie Miller's and Big Eddie's talk show and the Columbus WVKO-AM callers were WELL represented on these talks shows when VKO was "Progressive Talk".

I agree with this person:

(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)
http://stubbornliberal.blogspot.com/2009/01/missing-liberal-talk-radio.html
Stubborn Liberal
These
are the rants and raves of a stubborn-headed midwestern liberal. My
goals are to speak my mind and educate others about some of the events
Sunday, January 18, 2009

Missing Liberal Talk Radio

Here in Columbus, Ohio, we lost liberal talk radio a few weeks ago.
WVKO has become an affiliate of Catholic radio. Their gain is our loss.
Now, those of us in central Ohio, are forced to listen to Stephanie
Miller and Ed Schultz on the internet. We also lost our sense of
community. Events, meetings, and special announcements kept us aware of
what was going on here. However, it is gone.

I find it very sad. At a time when we could be celebrating the
inauguration of the President that many of us worked for, we find
ourselves unable to share our joy with each other on the radio dial.
Hopefully, liberal talk radio will return to Columbus in the near
future.
(QUOTE)(QUOTE(QUOTE)(QUOTE)

NOTE: WVKO-AM is up to a 1.0 12 Plus share in the new Arbitron Book released yesterday. WYTS has a 0.5.
WVKO-AM tied WMNI-AM, also with a 1.0. To bad GR didn't make an effort to hang onto WVKO-AM. He has
left thousands of people sad because they lost their one and only "Progressive Talk" voice. I doubt he even
cares about the "Progressive Talk" audience because he made no effort to keep the format on WVKO-AM.
I doubt he is even interested in LMAing another frequency despite what Sean says. So, the "Progressive Talk"
format appears to be history in the Columbus market, at least for the next year or two.

On a side note, The Ohio University Bobcats basketball team has a new home on WYTS-AM. Their contract was terminated when GR's "Progressive Talk" radio format was evicted from the 1580-AM frequency. They found a new home on WYTS.

 

[gr8oldies]

All you had to do was watch TV, the networks were fawning so much over the Big O. I can imagine there will be exactly zero criticism of Obama except for conservative talk radio.

 

[gabigley1]

More on the ratings from Russ C. I believe they would have been alot higher if WVKO-AM had all of it's ducks in a row from the very start. Becase of that, I'm impressed.

(Quote)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)
http://www.ohiomajorityradio.com/forums/topic.php?id=362

WVKO hits 1.0 in Arbitrons(1 post)
Started 50 minutes ago by RussC
RussC
Post Count: 132 Moderator
In the latest Arbitron ranking (January 20, 1009), WVKO AM hits the magic 1.0 share in the Columbus market:

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRa...CM&BPER=14.6&HPER=2.5&OPER=&NSD=3/4/2009&CE=0

Here is the roundup of rankings for the past year:

0.0 Oct-Dec 2007 (Autumn 2007) - Mexican Pop format
0.5 Jan-Mar 2008 (Winter 2008) - Progressive Talk format
0.7 Apr-Jun 2008 (Spring 2008) - Progressive Talk format
0.8 Jul-Sep 2008 (Summer 2008) - Progressive Talk format
1.0 Oct-Dec 2008 (Autumn 2008) - Progressive Talk format

I think the jump to 1.0 was facilitated by the Presidential Election and ads in The Other Paper.
(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)

 

[SeanMGilbow]

To bad GR didn't make an effort to hang onto WVKO-AM. He has
left thousands of people sad because they lost their one and only "Progressive Talk" voice. I doubt he even
cares about the "Progressive Talk" audience because he made no effort to keep the format on WVKO-AM.

To repeat...the station was on the sales block during the entire time progressive talk aired. Bernard Media got a "rent to own" offer from St. Gabriel Radio. Bernard gave Gary the opportunity to program the station in the interim while a buyer was sought. Bernard struck a deal with St. Gabriel. Gary can't be blamed for a situation which was not his to control.

So, who wants to takes this thread another 40 pages?

 

[gr8oldies]

MAKE IT STOP!!!!

 

[xmusicmatt]

Bernard struck a deal with St. Gabriel. Gary can't be blamed for a situation which was not his to control.

So, who wants to takes this thread another 40 pages?

Just like no one can really blame St Gabriel for striking a deal since we know they have wanted a fuller market signal for a long time... like they always say, It's Just business.

Dispite the techincal issues at first, I give Gary kudos for what he did with what little he had.

 

[redsfan1966]

I for one, would be honored if this thread continues forever.... 8) gabigley---you took my last post waaaaaay too seriously, man. I said my "tongue was planted in cheek". (Also, just curious, who is this local icon you spoke of?). Gary Richards and his crew did a decent job given their obvious limitations...yes, the audio at times was unbearable---but for the most of the time it was at least acceptable.....say what you will, they did serve a market that definitely desired the programming....I still am amazed that within weeks of hosting a packed house at a local movie theatre (in addition to being in a market with a large university) for its one year anniversary, the format died...but hey I guess when youre renting the landlord can evict you if he wants.

I also want to give Gary props for his commitment to local sports---obviously he was committed to the high school scene...and on a personal note; I also would like to thank him for giving ad time for a local neighborhood festival I helped organize.

 

[smedge2006]

If a format that pulls a one share on a dog of a signal isn't revived somewhere... something's rotten in Cowtown.

 

[gabigley1]

If a format that pulls a one share on a dog of a signal isn't revived somewhere... something's rotten in Cowtown.

Someone answer this, did Gary Richards make money.

We know Sean Gilbow took a hit financially for his fan boy fanaticism and he was OK with that, did the station lose money? That is your only indicator of success. A 1.0 is not.

I had a very short chance meeting with Mr. Gary Richards today and the last words out of his months where,
"I would have made made more money working at Wendy's." I told Mr. Richards that I post on the Radio-Info board
under the name gabigley1 so I think he won't mind if I quote him here. GR, if you are reading this, nice meeting you.
I hope I had all my facts straight in regard to the ex "Progressive Talk" format on WVKO-AM now and in the past and best of luck in finding a new radio station in Columbus.

 

[Board Editor 3]

MOVED: Re: Is WVKO AM in trouble??

Some posts have been moved to Take It Outside.

[iurl]http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=118944.0[/iurl]

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

All you had to do was watch TV, the networks were fawning so much over the Big O. I can imagine there will be exactly zero criticism of Obama except for conservative talk radio.

Wrong already.  Many in the press are already complaining about what they view as insufficient access within the Obama administration.  You didn't really expect the honeymoon to last, did you?  Besides, a prediction of *zero*  criticism is absurd.  It's the kind of thing you'd hear from pandering "entertainers" like Limbaugh and friends: Us-vs-them...always-vs-never...100% free-market vs. socialism...you're either fir us or agin us, etc...

 

[gabigley1]

Since "The Fan" 1460 AM is moving over to 97.1 FM, dose this mean "Progressive Talk" will appear on the 1460 AM frequency in the near future? Sean and Gary, are you listening?

At the very least, 1460 will probably drop Sports programing on the 1460 AM frequency in the near future. There
is no need to keep the format on 1460 AM because 97.1 FM has excellent coverage of the market and the AM frequency is to valuable of a signal to be wasted on a simulcast effort of 97.1 FM. Besides, "1460 The Fan" is going to be renamed "97.1 The Fan" and that makes no scene to me for them to stay on 1460 AM.