Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[gabigley1]

Well, Here is a podcast of the BlueState Dinner where it's announced that WVKO's last day will be on December 21 and not December 31, 2008. Click here for that:

http://www.wvko1580.com/mp3/bluestate-20081220.mp3

What is of interest is that some of the local show producers on WVKO-AM were not even notified of the format change as of last Friday.
Talk about a short notice!! If they would have read this thread, they would have had few more days of notice instead of a rude awakening!
That's IF they weren't in a state of denial AFTER reading this here thread.

One thing I'm VERY impressed with is the very user friendly WVKO-AM website. A BIG thank you goes to the WVKO-AM webmaster. Please keep up the good work. This IS appreciated.

Sean, I looked your proposed WVKO-FM schedule. I don't think it would be a good idea for WVKO-FM 103.1 to drop Spanish programming all together. There is certainly a need in Columbus for Hispanic formatted radio
station and it would be a crying shame if there is no longer a station here devoted to that format.

As far as St. Gabriel Radio programming on 1580 goes, I did requested that they upgrade their signal on 1270 three years ago. They seem to have some good personal and announcers from what I can tell on their very weak signal in downtown Columbus. I wasn't expecting their upgrade to sacrifice Progressive Talk or/and Spanish programming, two formats I also think Columbus needs. Also, wasn't expecting them to take this long on finding a Columbus radio signal to broadcast on. They planned on having one on the air three years ago. I'm sure they are now very happy to finally have a Columbus radio signal for their network.

 

[gabigley1]

Ohio Media Watch has a update on WVKO-AM here: http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2008/12/wvko-losing-liberal-talk.html

 

[gabigley1]

Will there be another progressive talk protest march like there was three years ago against WTPG AM now WYTS AM?

WTPG droped the progressive talk format in favor of conservative talk back then. Here is photo gallery of that protest march against C.C.'s Columbus WTPG's for dropping the format. Click on a photo for a larger image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/progressohio/sets/72157594467968908/

This protest photo is for the fans(Like Me) of Stephanie Miller, aka MaMa:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/progressohio/350790897/sizes/l/

One of those protesters told me Clear Channel refused entrance to the marchers and told them they would call the Columbus Police Dept. if they didn't leave the property.

 

[del_griffith]

While not a huge fan of progressive talk radio, I am sad to see it leaving. And I did listen periodically.

I think Gary tried a noble effort. He took a risk that many would not take. But there were many winds blowing against his efforts. And without deep pockets, it was probably more a labor of love than a sound business plan.

Plus, those winds blowing against his efforts:

First, progressive talk radio hasn't found its stride. Yes, there are certain credible hosts, but there is no fire in the belly of a large amount of listeners for these hosts.
Second, the economic times made a difficult job of getting advertisers and enough dollars from those advertisers who did come on board for the station to sustain itself. Add to that, it was a station with a 1 share or less. That's makes it virtually improbable for normal agency buys.
Third, despite the stations power, I was driving at the intersection of I-270 and Rt 23 the other day about 4:30 in the afternoon. While listening to the station there was a large amount of ingress running under Kuby's show from other stations on and around the 1580 frequency. The night signal in certain areas of town south of I-70 requires someone to really wants to listen to the station no matter what.
Fourth, and it relates to the second, the current economic situation has even successful stations staggering on the profit side.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Their webstream seems to be down today... was not up earler and now its just dead air...

 

[gabigley1]

This is the very last show from "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM 1580. Click here to download this two hour show:

http://www.wvko1580.com/mp3/fightback-20081222.mp3

Most of the WVKO-AM staff says goodbye to "Progressive Talk" radio and why "Progressive Talk" is leaving the 1580 frequency...

BTY, This Radio-Info thread is given FULL credit for breaking the news of the sale and LMA of the station
to the St. Gabriel Radio.

I'm not sure that I agree with everything that is said... I don't believe St. Gabriel Radio purchased WVKO-AM to silence WVKO-AM... The frequency/station became available for whatever reason and they desperately needed the station... Strictly a business decision because they needed a signal in Columbus and WVKO-AM became avaliable at the right price. What is wrong with that when Cowtown was not interested in LMA the station any more?

 

[SeanMGilbow]

This is the very last show from "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM 1580. Click here to download this two hour show:

http://www.wvko1580.com/mp3/fightback-20081222.mp3

Most of the WVKO-AM staff says goodbye to "Progressive Talk" radio and why "Progressive Talk" is leaving the 1580 frequency...

BTY, This Radio-Info thread is given FULL credit for breaking the news of the sale and LMA of the station
to the St. Gabriel Radio.

I'm not sure that I agree with everything that is said... I don't believe St. Gabriel Radio purchased WVKO-AM to silence WVKO-AM... The frequency/station became available for whatever reason and they desperately needed the station... Strictly a business decision because they needed a signal in Columbus and WVKO-AM became avaliable at the right price. What is wrong with that when Cowtown was not interested in LMA the station any more?

Actually, Cowtown would have continued to broadcast under the LMA as long as there wasn't a buyer. And no, I don't think St. Gabriel was trying to silence WVKO myself. The parties close to the situation were fully aware the station was for sale when Progressive Talk went on the air a year ago.

So what happens now? 103.1 is still up for grabs. The questions is when Gary Richards, his attorney Tony Logan, and Ed Schultz' investor friends can come up with an offer that Bernard will accept. Bernard indeed is operating the FM for lack of an LMA.

Of course, there is also the chance NABCO may end up putting Gary on speed dial. There are some unhappy people on the thread regarding WTDA now that Shark has been reduced to an hour. The schedule is like a carbon copy of WYTS. And with the arrival of Savage, NABCO is about to alienate a percentage of its audience (gays, Muslim, parents of autistic kids--I could go on).

Add the loss of Joel Riley to the equation, and local talk in Columbus is becoming an endangered species.

 

[mikenci]

Once again I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news....Bernard has accepted an offer to sell 103.1 to a religous group comprising of EX-WCVO staffers. They have rasied the necessary funds to purchase the station and will likely start an LMA in mid January 2009. If Progressive talk is to find a home its not going to be 103.1!!!

 

[xmusicmatt]

I listened to WVKO today and I dug out my antenna here and im listening to the ohio u game tonight.

while I dont consider myself liberial, I give Mr Richards priase for what he did in this past year and I listened to Bob's show today and Blue State saturday and I found it a great listen even if I dont agree with the view point 100% I am kinda sad to see the city loose a different voice. I can't say I like what the other stations are putting out too.

one word of note, I thought everyone did well on bob's final show and they really tried not to make it seem like St Gab is the bad guy, I heard more than once that it was clearly a business decision and that everyone knew the folks owning the license had it for sale and that they could loose their outlet at anytime (thats the nature of an LMA on a station that is up for sale, I think it was Gary that said he was really suprised to see he was able to stay on past July 15th which is when the previous LMA that was taken over (spanish format) was up and was very happy to see the programming make it to it's first year and make it though election time. I think everyone knew the last day could been the next day so I have to say kudos to Gary, Mike, Bob, Sean, everyone who did their work day in and out knowing it could be the last day.

I am still listening right now..Singal is not to bad here in NW Columbus, after adjusting the antenna to kill electroic noise I was receiving. It will be interesting to hear how Gary goes out tonight... after the ball game.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Once again I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news....Bernard has accepted an offer to sell 103.1 to a religous group comprising of EX-WCVO staffers. They have rasied the necessary funds to purchase the station and will likely start an LMA in mid January 2009. If Progressive talk is to find a home its not going to be 103.1!!!

Is it any wonder why Columbus radio is experiencing a slow, painful death?

 

[RFdude1]

There are a number of engineering factors which may have figured into St Gabriel's decision to LMA/buy WVKO. Most have already been spelled out here on this board or are shown on the FCC website under an "AM Search" for WUCO radio. Like any other Columbus area station, the main goal of St Gabriel is to get the maximum possible signal over the city where most of the listeners are. The currently licensed antenna parameters for WUCO simply won't get this done. The 500 Watt night pattern barely blankets the city of Dublin, much less any other part of the city due to co-channel interference from night time skip. The licensed day pattern is totally useless to St Gabriel because it puts a pencil thin beam west toward Indianapolis with almost no signal reaching even Dublin. Under the current STA, they are running 125 Watts on the night antennas during the day which puts a reasonable signal into northwest Columbus, but that STA expires in January which requires that they return to their licensed patterns (making them effectively "dark" during daylight hours here in Columbus).

To get a day coverage pattern similar to WVKO, not only would they have to deal with WILE in Cambridge, but there is also a 1270 down in the Cincinnati area that they would have to deal with as well. This is especially true if they wanted any coverage into Circleville/Chillicothe areas. I have no idea what their future plans are for the 1270 operation, but it just makes financial sense for them to get their programming onto the 1580 signal which already meets their needs for Columbus coverage without the expense of upgrading their current 1270 plant.

 

[xmusicmatt]

There are a number of engineering factors which may have figured into St Gabriel's decision to LMA/buy WVKO.

To get a day coverage pattern similar to WVKO, not only would they have to deal with WILE in Cambridge, but there is also a 1270 down in the Cincinnati area that they would have to deal with as well. This is especially true if they wanted any coverage into Circleville/Chillicothe areas. I have no idea what their future plans are for the 1270 operation, but it just makes financial sense for them to get their programming onto the 1580 signal which already meets their needs for Columbus coverage without the expense of upgrading their current 1270 plant.

and if you look at their other station, WFOT in Mansfield,it makes sense to have WVKO's signal while not perfect it helps them cover Columbus, Deleware,etc.. and WUCO can cover to the North West...

I would think if they found the resources to pick up WVKO-AM that they will build out the two FM CP's they have for the station near Washington Court House and the license for the station near South Webster Ohio...this would give them southern ohio coverage..

They also got a application in for Mount Vernon and for Zanesville but those two apps are held up as others are wanting frequencies in those same areas..

WVKO fits into their business plan if they want to cover central ohio and really was the only signal I think they could go after that is currently for sale and with the economy the way it is I am sure for the holders involved with BERNARD OHIO LLC that it made sense to take their offer...

 

[redsfan1966]

I guess the answer to the thread question was "yes". GM Gary Richards spent the final hours after the OU game playing music from his favorite group--"The Verve". The demise of the "progressive" format on VKO is a major loss. The station seemed to be "hitting its stride" and the technical issues were becoming less frequent...but in the end I guess the St. Gabriel money wins out.

 

[xmusicmatt]

I guess the answer to the thread question was "yes". GM Gary Richards spent the final hours after the OU game playing music from his favorite group--"The Verve". The demise of the "progressive" format on VKO is a major loss. The station seemed to be "hitting its stride" and the technical issues were becoming less frequent...but in the end I guess the St. Gabriel money wins out.

I listened till the end, you could tell the sadness in Mr Richards voice.

at 00:00 he played one final legal id then it faded to about 5 minutes of silence before droping carrier briefly... I checked back at 12:30 and St Gabriel was on.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

So we're getting a Catholic station. Let's see...we've already got 14 or 15 mainstream (evangelical?) Christian stations. Anyone care to wager when, and on what signals, the Jewish, Christian Science, Mormon, Muslim and Scientology stations show up?

 

[techie2]

There are a number of engineering factors which may have figured into St Gabriel's decision to LMA/buy WVKO. Most have already been spelled out here on this board or are shown on the FCC website under an "AM Search" for WUCO radio. Like any other Columbus area station, the main goal of St Gabriel is to get the maximum possible signal over the city where most of the listeners are. The currently licensed antenna parameters for WUCO simply won't get this done. The 500 Watt night pattern barely blankets the city of Dublin, much less any other part of the city due to co-channel interference from night time skip. The licensed day pattern is totally useless to St Gabriel because it puts a pencil thin beam west toward Indianapolis with almost no signal reaching even Dublin. Under the current STA, they are running 125 Watts on the night antennas during the day which puts a reasonable signal into northwest Columbus, but that STA expires in January which requires that they return to their licensed patterns (making them effectively "dark" during daylight hours here in Columbus).

To get a day coverage pattern similar to WVKO, not only would they have to deal with WILE in Cambridge, but there is also a 1270 down in the Cincinnati area that they would have to deal with as well. This is especially true if they wanted any coverage into Circleville/Chillicothe areas. I have no idea what their future plans are for the 1270 operation, but it just makes financial sense for them to get their programming onto the 1580 signal which already meets their needs for Columbus coverage without the expense of upgrading their current 1270 plant.

There is also an adjacent on 1260 in Portsmouth that would have to be protected.

 

[willcail]

First I need a link or proof that another party is purchasing 103.1.

 

[gabigley1]

There are a number of engineering factors which may have figured into St Gabriel's decision to LMA/buy WVKO. Most have already been spelled out here on this board or are shown on the FCC website under an "AM Search" for WUCO radio. Like any other Columbus area station, the main goal of St Gabriel is to get the maximum possible signal over the city where most of the listeners are. The currently licensed antenna parameters for WUCO simply won't get this done. The 500 Watt night pattern barely blankets the city of Dublin, much less any other part of the city due to co-channel interference from night time skip. The licensed day pattern is totally useless to St Gabriel because it puts a pencil thin beam west toward Indianapolis with almost no signal reaching even Dublin. Under the current STA, they are running 125 Watts on the night antennas during the day which puts a reasonable signal into northwest Columbus, but that STA expires in January which requires that they return to their licensed patterns (making them effectively "dark" during daylight hours here in Columbus).

To get a day coverage pattern similar to WVKO, not only would they have to deal with WILE in Cambridge, but there is also a 1270 down in the Cincinnati area that they would have to deal with as well. This is especially true if they wanted any coverage into Circleville/Chillicothe areas. I have no idea what their future plans are for the 1270 operation, but it just makes financial sense for them to get their programming onto the 1580 signal which already meets their needs for Columbus coverage without the expense of upgrading their current 1270 plant.

There is also an adjacent on 1260 in Portsmouth that would have to be protected.

RFMan hit the nail on the head. This is the LICENSED Daytime Cover area of WUCO 1270 here:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WUCO&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

As you can see, it is ALL but nonresistance in the Columbus City limits. When they go back to their licensed patten in January, they may just as well close up shop as far as their Columbus listeners are concerned because they AREN'T going to be able to hear then. After all, their goal is to cover/blanket the entire
COLUMBUS DIOCESE with their message and Columbus is the heart of their coverage area goal.

As you can see, WVKO has a pretty good signal into most of Columbus during the Daytime hours. Click here for the WVKO Daytime Coverage:

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WVKO&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

They had plans to upgrade WUCO to cover Columbus but they dropped those plans when WVKO-AM became available to them at the right price. They may have had second thoughts about upgrading WUCO when they realized that the COX owned station in Dayton on 1290 was prepared to fight them over their proposed upgrade plans for WUCO. They JUST couldn't wait any longer because they promised their Columbus supporters a station three years ago. These are some the same ones that donated to their capital fund thinking they were going to get a Columbus area signal.

LIKE THEY SAY ON THEIR IDS ANNOUNCEMENTS, "WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ON A MUCH STRONGER AND EXPANDED SIGNAL, WVKO-AM."

 

[del_griffith]

First I need a link or proof that another party is purchasing 103.1.

Like my breaking of the WVKO information, my guess is the information is from chatter from knowledgeable parties. They themselves may have expressed an interest in 103.1 and the feedback may have been someone else is in line. Details of that acquisition/LMA may not be entirely worked out.

 

[gabigley1]

Once again I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news....Bernard has accepted an offer to sell 103.1 to a religous group comprising of EX-WCVO staffers. They have rasied the necessary funds to purchase the station and will likely start an LMA in mid January 2009. If Progressive talk is to find a home its not going to be 103.1!!!

Well, That is very sad news because I thought that was their only option. So SAD :'(
I'm going through withdraw myself already. I listened to MAMA and BIG EDDIE the very first day they were on
WTPG 1230 only to be dropped by them and picked by WVKO-AM only to be dropped AGAIN.
Will MAMA and BIG EDDIE even fell welcome back to the Columbus radio airways ever again? Has any other
major talk show hots been dropped TWICE in another radio market and returned for a the time?

Also, going back six months ago when Cowtown Commutations asked for donations to keep the station and
"Progressive Talk" radio on the air in Columbus. This is what was posted on their site back then after they said
sales were down and the station was having problems paying its bills("THE BAD NEWS").

(QUOTE)
http://www.wvko1580.com/contributions/

(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)
Now the good news:

"Do you remember how it felt when Air America was pulled from the airwaves a year and a half ago? Air America fans were told that there was nothing they could do to help save that station. Well, this time there is a way for you to keep Air America on the air … through a generous donation to the station. By clicking on your choice of PayPal buttons below, your contribution will go directly toward keeping Air America on WVKO. If you wish to make a contribution by check, please see below."

"This show of support from Progressives like you will keep the station on the air, and will enable WVKO management to pay off current debts. Salespeople will be assured that the station will remain on the air, enabling them to make sales calls with confidence.
Please make your contribution now:"
(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)(QUOTE)

So, The listeners have spoken and they don't want Air America, BIG MAMA an BIG EDDIE on the radio anymore.
WHY, because they didn't show their support through a generous donation to the station. WVKO-AM goes off the air and now "The Good News" also turns out to be the "Bad News" in the end. :'(

I ALSO made a donation to the station but admit it wasn't "generous" so I to am also to blame for this. :-[