Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[DToTheJ]

Columbus' home for Bill Press, Gold Infomercials, Stephanie Miller, Liners from a Chicago station, Dead Air, Colon Ease Infomercials Ed Schultz, Double Audio, Air America and a really lame-o weekend show.

Real, (as opposed to that fake stuff elsewhere) local, issue-oriented talk--"What's What with Mike Cole"--6 p.m.

Local news mornings and afternoons (ya know, rewritten from the dispatch by a guy that interned at WAKR in Akron when Christ was still walking around.)

Your home for Columbus Clippers baseball - Where more people sit in the stands than listen to 1580

Ohio's progressive talk station: 1580 WVKO

Listen live: wvko1580.com, or pull up one of the other streams from say Chicago, like we do, cause we're too cheap to pay for a dish, but we'll say it's location, despite the fact a guy in a mobile home camping in the forest can hook up a dish and get 473 channels of HD TV.

LMAO!

I hear that "Double Audio" gets rave reviews...

 

[KFodor]

GR is right; small AMs in medium cities have to run block programming.

WTPG is not in Chicago and never has been.

Columbus is the 37th largest market.

And if Ed Schultz's listenership is so weak (not assaulting your facts, just the applied logic), the gold shows everyone complains about wouldn't keep renewing to be around or on top of his show.

As to getting a break, Jason may have a point, but when progressive listeners have nowhere else to go, what are they going to do. Sure, WVKO's imaging isn't up to WLW standards. A lot of 2nd-tier talk stations have, IMHO, weak imaging that I could have outdone in my first year in the business. Maybe I just like to waaaay too much talk radio to keep my ear to the ground. But the fact is people don't tune into a station to hear imaging, and if you like the shows, you'll listen. That is likely true for RW stations and certainly when you're the only game in town. At least there's an effort, unlike CC talk stations that, while the automation allows for less dead air than stations like WVKO, sound weak, and you know they could do so much better. You can't accuse WVKO of being run as a throwaway station.

Sorry...it was market 35 when I worked there. Understandable mistake.

 

[gabigley1]

As far as the satellite dish goes, why did it take WVKO-AM over six months
to get it installed and on line?
I see most of the criticism here on this thread as constructive criticisms.

First of all, what business is it of yours? What part of "there are buildings in the way" can't you fathom? Don't you think that it would have been done sooner if that were possible? Did it ever occur to you that there were extenuating circumstances that were beyond WVKO's control, legitimate complications that, frankly, are none of your or anyone else's business?

And constructive criticism my foot. Those who can, do. Those who can't, live with their mothers and spend their countless hours of free time sitting at their computers taking cheap shots at those who are doing things. I see that the cyber-bullies who are taking cheap shots at WVKO are just like any other bullies - stand up to them, call them out, and they back right down. And that includes the other genius who claimed he tried for weeks to contact the station's sales department, but couldn't figure out how to leave a voice mail message.

WVKO isn't being operated by a large chain with deep pockets. It's being run by one person who is sticking his neck way out there, with a little help from a handful of employees, interns and volunteers. Operating on a shoestring? There is no shoestring. Try barefoot.

GR, I'm a fan of Liberal Talk radio. I'm a fan of of Conservative Talk radio and of
BC from WTVN radio. I like Talk radio period.

I complained to WTPG when they took Liberal Talk radio off the
air and was told the clock had run out on the format because of very low ratings.
Even when WTPG was airing Liberal Talk radio, I requested that they place a
local talk host on the program schedule and was told that it wasn't going to happen
because the station was not making enough money to justify a local host.
So, you have again made the format available in Columbus and have made news and LOCAL programing a part of the mix. WVKO alo added a local host on weekdays and didn't use the excuse that the station was not making money like WTPG did.

I think Michael Alwood is good with the local morning news and I enjoy his Saturday talk show. For example, on the Starbucks news item today, Michael
listed the four other Columbus locations that were closed by street location
but BC of WTVN did not have a clue as to street location on his show.
He said, "Starbucks has not yet announced the locations of the four new stores
that have been closed in Columbus".
I would like to see Michel Alwoods do a daily show. He is a neat and refreshing addition to the Columbus radio landscape. Thank You for putting him on the
radio in Columbus!

Also, the station had made very significant improvements to the audio quality
but more work needs to be done. I like GOOD audio quality and can't stand POOR
audio quality. I hope this audio problem/issue can be worked out for the good
of WVKO-AM. I have also complained to 1230 AM about their audio quality not being anywhere as near as good as was before they added IBOC to the station. They
did make improvements to the audio at 1230 but not to my satisfaction.
But other people have even complained about the very poor WVKO-AM audio quality in the past even on the WVKO-AM website.
And a talk show host on WOSU told caller Dave that "You can't hear WVKO because
it sound like its broadcasting from the bottom of a well." I believe he was referring
to the WVKO audio problems/issues.

As far as the satellite dish goes, if it was up and running form day one, WVKO
could have avoided a lot of the problems it suffered in its first few moths of operation. Like people say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression and you will not be given pity points because Columbus is a competitive radio market. After all you are in the divers seat. I STILL admire you for bringing the
format back to Columbus despite all the obstructions you faced.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

After reading the comments over the past week, it's been good to read the comments of those who have had criticisms but applaud Gary Richards for the job he has done so far.

There are a lot of behind-the-scenes people with day jobs (like myself and Mike Cole) who are giving of their time and talents to make WVKO a success. The African-American community which WVKO targeted for decades is now a major part of the much larger progressive community being targeted now. Gary and Michael are determined to provide a lot of local programming, and people like Mike and myself are among those wanting to help make it happen. It began with high school sports almost immediately, local news and talk starting within the first two months, and the return of the Columbus Clippers to radio this season.

And while the first impression wasn't memorable, the first Arbitron numbers are indicating otherwise. Don't expect it to sound perfect every single second, but providing local programming more than makes up for it when compared to a station which was strictly on satellite and which bled constantly.

 

[nmoore6676]

Anybody know if there is a problem with the WVKO stream?

Could not get anything this morning, it just kept on the main screen and the pop up never came up. Had to switch to Chicago, our local station only has the first hour and then goes to Michael Jackson who is local in LA.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

The stream is working tonight.

 

[gabigley1]

Anybody know if there is a problem with the WVKO stream?

Could not get anything this morning, it just kept on the main screen and the pop up never came up. Had to switch to Chicago, our local station only has the first hour and then goes to Michael Jackson who is local in LA.

This WVKO-AM audio link worked for me yesterday afternoon: http://sh3.audio-stream.com/tunein.php/wvko1580/playlist.ram

The WVKO-AM audio quality is still improving. Actually, I now prefer WVKO's
audio over WYTS 1230AM. That is saying a lot because CC Columbus has some
excellent engineers on its staff. WYTS 1230 AM audio has deteriorated ever since they added IBOC or digital to the WYTS 1230 AM signal.
At least WTVN-AM is still one of the best sounding AM radio station in the country.

I heard Bill Press say today that he needs to reschedule his canceled Columbus trip and get it back on the map. This was canceled in early May so why is this
taking so long to get back on the map? Also, I would like to see Big Ed. Schultz.
I hope Big Eddy has not forgotten his Columbus fans.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Plans are in the works to bring Big Eddie to Columbus next month. More details coming soon.

 

[KFodor]

Hey, Sean:

I happened to listen online the other night for a while, and heard your commercials. I just wanted you to know, I thought they were very entertaining, different and sold your product very well.

Believe me, I'd take that kind of an ad over anything Fred Ricart does anytime.

 

[gabigley1]

People are STILL mad that 1230 AM droped Progressive Talk radio a few years ago here in Columbus.

The letter below was published in yesterdays Columbus Dispatch.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...hilders_ART_07-25-08_A10_ACAR325.html?sid=101

Talk-show host lives up to his name
Friday, July 25, 2008 2:58 AM

(QUOTE)
Why isn't Clear Channel putting up billboards promoting radio station WYTS (1230 AM)? This might be why: One of the hosts in the station's all-neocon lineup is Michael Savage, who recently called autism a "racket." Savage claimed on the air that people with autism are "faking it" so they can scam money out of the government. Columbus' Clear Channel management has said that hosts like Savage are "too valuable" to let some other station have, so Clear Channel replaced the station's Air America format with these "valuable neocons" -- and then refused to promote the station.

I could say Clear Channel is not proud of these extremist talk-show hosts, but that would suggest it feels responsible for using the airwaves for the public good. Clear Channel only seems to want to air talk-show hosts who parrot the neocons' talking points. No, I would guess that as long as they can prop up the station and claim "freedom of speech," Clear Channel will continue to air the aptly named Savage.

RUSS CHILDERS
Chairman Ohio Majority Radio Columbus
(QUOTE)

 

[Allfirdup]

People are STILL mad that 1230 AM droped Progressive Talk radio a few years ago here in Columbus.

The letter below was published in yesterdays Columbus Dispatch.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...hilders_ART_07-25-08_A10_ACAR325.html?sid=101

Talk-show host lives up to his name
Friday, July 25, 2008 2:58 AM

(QUOTE)
Why isn't Clear Channel putting up billboards promoting radio station WYTS (1230 AM)? This might be why: One of the hosts in the station's all-neocon lineup is Michael Savage, who recently called autism a "racket." Savage claimed on the air that people with autism are "faking it" so they can scam money out of the government. Columbus' Clear Channel management has said that hosts like Savage are "too valuable" to let some other station have, so Clear Channel replaced the station's Air America format with these "valuable neocons" -- and then refused to promote the station.

I could say Clear Channel is not proud of these extremist talk-show hosts, but that would suggest it feels responsible for using the airwaves for the public good. Clear Channel only seems to want to air talk-show hosts who parrot the neocons' talking points. No, I would guess that as long as they can prop up the station and claim "freedom of speech," Clear Channel will continue to air the aptly named Savage.

RUSS CHILDERS
Chairman Ohio Majority Radio Columbus
(QUOTE)

Russ Childers and Ohio Majority Radio has always been very vocal about 1230 and clear channel. Just read some of his posts both here and on the wvko website. where he is also moderator of the Message board there. so the statement that people are mad, might be kind of a stretch. I think that more people are mad about Michael Savage and his statements than what 1230 is currently airing. I have read that some stations are starting to pull his show. The up side for 1230 is that now people are talking about the station and might actually tune in to see what the fuss is all about since they like all other Clear Channel stations right now have no ad budget,

 

[xianbroadcaster]

Savage is an idiot and should be ignored.

 

[nmoore6676]

Savage is an idiot and should be ignored.

True but most of the people who yelled the loudest did not get what he said right. He was only trying to make a point about over diagnosing and over medicating which has become an issue. There are no solid scientific tests that can accurately diagnose autism and ADD/ADHD.

The problem with Savage is that he makes every criticism and attack on him into a general attack on all of conservative talk radio. It is his abrasive angry I'm right and everyone else is an idiot presentation that offends me and most any other intelligent person. Rush is a bombastic bag of hot air but he can also be amusing, Savage can not.

 

[xianbroadcaster]

Savage is an idiot and should be ignored.

True but most of the people who yelled the loudest did not get what he said right. He was only trying to make a point about over diagnosing and over medicating which has become an issue. There are no solid scientific tests that can accurately diagnose autism and ADD/ADHD.

The problem with Savage is that he makes every criticism and attack on him into a general attack on all of conservative talk radio. It is his abrasive angry I'm right and everyone else is an idiot presentation that offends me and most any other intelligent person. Rush is a bombastic bag of hot air but he can also be amusing, Savage can not.

Undoubtedly...this is the case...Makes me sick that everyone wants to keep their kid doped up just because they get up and run around the room....teach a kid to play and 3/4 of the kids who are diagnosed ADD/ADHD are discovered to be "normal"...yes, I know kids with ADD/ADHD are "normal" too...but in a special way.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Is WVKO AM in trouble??

The answer is NO. In fact, it's starting to breathe down WTVN's neck...

...in terms of most-viewed threads on the Columbus board.

I was impressed by the longevity of this thread, so I decided to sort the topics by number of views to see where it ranks. I never would have guessed the three stations that appear most in the top ten topics: WTVN, WBZX (now WRKZ), and WVKO. They each have two topics in the top ten most-viewed. WTVN takes both #1 and #2.

Now that I've duly reported the results of my laborious research (OK, trivia attack), you may resume serious discussion. Thank you.

 

[gabigley1]

Russ Childers and Ohio Majority Radio has always been very vocal about 1230 and clear channel. Just read some of his posts both here and on the wvko website. where he is also moderator of the Message board there. so the statement that people are mad, might be kind of a stretch. I think that more people are mad about Michael Savage and his statements than what 1230 is currently airing. I have read that some stations are starting to pull his show. The up side for 1230 is that now people are talking about the station and might actually tune in to see what the fuss is all about since they like all other Clear Channel stations right now have no ad budget,

WROC-AM in Rochester, New York is about to loose its progressive talk radio station in a few weeks time. Bill Press is on that that station and is asking his listeners, "To get mad as as hell, fight back, take on the corporate media, and demand that they keep progressive radio on the air."

That tactic did not work so well here in Columbus, Ohio when then WTPG 1230 AM decided to drop the progressive talk format in January of 2006 and go to conservative talk as WYTS-AM
The Ohio Majority Radio people organized a march to the Clear Channel Columbus
offices and demanded that they keep Progressive Talk on 1230 AM radio. According
to one of the marchers that I talked to, CC Columbus threatened to call the police
on them if they did not live their office at once.

At least we can thank the people at WVKO-AM for bringing the format back to Columbus, Ohio. Corporate Media here in town seemed to have little interest
in bringing the format back to Columbus when WTPG-AM dropped the format.

Here is the press release from the http://www.billpressmedia.com website:

Bill’s final thought from his trip to Rochester
By Dan | July 28, 2008
Greetings from Rochester, New York: a great town full of wonderful people.

(QUOTE)
Unfortunately, the people of Rochester are about to get screwed. The big radio network Entercom, owner of WROC, Rochester’s progressive talk station, has announced plans to shut down all progressive talk in Rochester after Labor Day – and switch to sports.

That means no more Bill Press, no more Stephanie Miller, no more Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann or Randi Rhodes.

Instead, the people of Rochester will be bombarded every day with 30 hours of right-wing talk – and zero hours of progressive talk.

And the same thing has happened in San Diego, Akron, Sacramento, New Orleans, and other cities across the land.

Make no mistake about it. This is no accident. These corporate conservatives are shutting down progressive talk now, just before the election, because they don’t want people to hear the truth about John McCain and George W. Bush.

It’s important that people in Rochester and everywhere else in the country get mad as hell, fight back, take on the corporate media, and demand that they keep progressive radio on the air.

Talk radio is too important to leave it all to the right-wingers.
-Bill Press
(QUOTE)

 

[LocalGuy]

WROC-AM in Rochester, New York is about to loose its progressive talk radio station in a few weeks time. Bill Press is on that that station and is asking his listeners, "To get mad as as hell, fight back, take on the corporate media, and demand that they keep progressive radio on the air."

Yeah, that's going to work.

This should tell radio stations desperate enough to program the format one thing: when it has failed and you know you're about to give the shows the contractually-required notice that they're being dumped, you better have at least a dozen shows of each in the can for "best of" play (or other shows, brokered programming, or infomercials) because the angry, hate-driven, cause-above-all, never-have-been-a-radio-professional hosts are going to either try to negotiate on-air or attack you on-air. (Pros, regardless of ideology, simply don't do that. The very day it happens, the show has to go.)

By the way, "negotiate on air" is what these guys are trying to do regarding the supposed desire to make local appearances. If appearances had supposedly been scheduled in the past and then "fell apart due to a scheduling conflict," what really happened is that the "pay in full in advance by" date came and went without full payment being made. The hosts are still looking and hoping for that payday for their own personal gain, using time in the show to try to provoke or continue negotiations.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

But hasn't the organized protest route actually succeeded in helping preserve  "progressive" talk in at least a few instances where CC was going to dump it?  One example I have mind is Madison, Wis.  Of course, I think that station was already doing a lot better than the Rochester station (in 12+ ratings anyway), and Madison is pretty liberal politically. These protests might be more universally successful if the protestors helped round up some commitments from advertisers (or has that already happened in some cases?...I don't know).

 

[smedge2006]

There's also the track record of stations that have dropped progressive talk to consider.

KLSD in San Diego went to sports and disappeared from the ratings. More people listen to an LA sports station than to Xtra Sports 1360.

KSAC in Sacramento dropped liberal talk and went from 1.9 12 plus to... well, out of the book.

And WYTS in Columbus... need we say more?

 

[gr8oldies]

As for "hearing the truth about GWB and John McCain (according to their detractors)" those listening to the other side aren't interested, and everyone will be bombarded by political advertsising on all radio and TV stations soon enough (including Obama commercials on right wing talkers!).