Is WVKO AM in trouble??

[Elephant]

Dale...You've become the latest victim of Sean's inability to understand that while radio may be a hobby for him, for those whose livelihoods are at stake, it's more than a part time afternoon joyride. He'll continue to bring up non sequitur personal attacks (such as his comment about you and Cumulus) that make him feel like he's getting a dig in on "the man" who is taking his toy away.

Don't feel bad. When I look back on the long thread in which he and I "discussed" talk radio, I laugh out loud at his naivete and total lack of understanding of this business. I'm laughing now, in fact.

By the way Sean, Cumulus just bought two more FMs in Cincinnati. I think they're doing fine. And WVNN has been a strong performer in Huntsville for years.

Love these threads....

 

[del_griffith]

Anyone see the ad in the other paper this morning for WVKO and progressive talk?

Ironic.

 

[gabigley1]

Anyone see the ad in the other paper this morning for WVKO and progressive talk?

Ironic.

THE OTHER PAPER published this article in last weeks edition on the demise of "Progressive Talk"
http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2008/12/31/front/doc4952a10411f03936023001.txt

So, They ran that WVKO-AM ad again is this weeks edition of THE OTHER PAPER. I guess the people at the former "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM are still in denial that the format had left the building. That ad could have
been canceled over two weeks ago.

As far as Sean talents go, I actually liked hearing his newscasts on the old WVKO-AM. Listening to his newscasts, I could tell he was great at multitasking and was impressed.

fair enough... let me rephrase that...

The failure to deliver for advertisers such as Sean Gilbow should give other operators pause when considering this dog of a format.

I will update everyone on what Sean accomplishes when he sicks his dogs on me.

My guess will be 5 emails.

I was under the impression that Sean was doing the evening news on WVKO-AM in exchange for Cowtown
Commutations running his business ads on WVKO-AM. Then, as I recall, Sean was to return the profits of
his business over to Cowtown Commutations as a show of support for the "progressive talk" format. So, assuming Sean sold any of his product, some profit would go over to Cowtown Commutations for the support
of the format.

thump
thump
thump

 

[DaleGriffin]

You are incorrect he had purchased time and traded time. He went on WVKO's website and talked about how he did not get a return on his investment.

Even though Sean is easily worked into a snip over everything negative, you gotta respect his passion even if it blinds him sometimes.

Even this week we keep hearing about Portland's rating "success," so I am suprised some are delusional about the failure of WVKO.

How many .8! .9! Proclamations did we get? But the reality is pretty simple to see, the format was not financial viable. Nothing wrong with that, but it seems pretty clear.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

As far as Sean talents go, I actually liked hearing his newscasts on the old WVKO-AM. Listening to his newscasts, I could tell he was great at multitasking and was impressed.

Thank you.

And Dale gets a thank you as well for the "passion" comment.

However, it has to be made clear the station was for sale before Gary Richards was given the green light to program it a year ago.

And it should also be mentioned that Gary Richards got more sponsors for the progressive talk format in one year than Clear Channel got in the life of WTPG.

Having said that...As you may have guessed from my passionate commentary, finding a middle ground between those in the radio expert camp and the Ohio Majority Radio camp has been next to impossible. And I'm confident Gary will find the right formula should he resurface elsewhere in the Columbus market.

Which leaves only one question which I will leave open (realizing the risk of doing so):

If you read the comments by Elephant Man, why is it that some of the "experts" in this business seem to act like total jerks?

 

[Elephant]

Yes. I'm a jerk. Another non-sequitur from Sean.

I'm a jerk who has spent decades in radio as my livelihood.

I'm a jerk who has seen several "Seans" come and go.

I'm a jerk who has signed on different formats and knows what goes into them.

I'm a jerk who gets it.

I'm a jerk who gets frustrated when crybabies can't see the reality of the situation, and decide to name call and "call out" people. (I think Jon Crenshaw is somehwere hurting from the mean things Sean said about him!)

I'm a jerk who would like to see the proof of everything Sean posts, but he doesn't prove it.

I'm a jerk who wanted verification of the "we're beating them!" chants on this thread, but Sean didn't even know what cume and AQH meant.

I really am a jerk and I love it.

Happy New Year!

 

[SeanMGilbow]

If you read the comments by Elephant Man, why is it that some of the "experts" in this business seem to act like total jerks?

If you will note the wording of the question, in no way did I call anyone a jerk.

So what do I get in response from Elephant Man? "I'm a jerk...I'm a jerk...I'm a jerk...I'm a jerk...I'm a jerk." :

Well, aside from thanking Elephant Man for leaving no room for doubt, I will rephrase the question. This is not strictly about WVKO because the whole subject on the quality of radio in Columbus has permeated several threads--from the one on apathy to the firing of Mo to the changes at 103.9:

Why is it that some in the radio business, and in the Columbus market in particular, treat the listenership in general as stupid?

 

[GR]

I think you will find that I am a creditable source. It would be a far streach that Bernard would do a deal with Gary or Cowtown anyway. He was not paying the LMA payments since July and was hanging on by a thread. Why in the world would you think that Bernard would give the station to an organization that could not even come up with the cash to rent it!

What an unbelieveable load of BS. I don't know who you are, but you haven't a clue what you are talking about. Cowtown was not paying LMA payments since July? That is an absolute lie. Cowtown made every payment on time every month and in fact made them early, more often than not.

As for some of the other outrageous stupidity that has been posted here:

St. Gabe was able to do in a few hours what Cowtown never could? The station was being leased as is. The programming and sales operations were the province of Cowtown, not the engineering. And it wasn't so bad for an internet STL. Maybe you just need a better radio.

Regarding the Other Paper ad, "the people at the former "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM are still in denial that the format had left the building. That ad could have been canceled over two weeks ago."

It was. Just what would you know about it, anyway? Maybe you should make your way to TOP's site and ridicule them for not following up on things.

And as for Ed Schultz buying one of the WVKO's, that's more utter nonsense. Someone doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

[DaleGriffin]

NOOOOOO!

You can't die!

Clear!

rubs paddles

shocks thread

thump
thump
thump

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

And as for Ed Schultz buying one of the WVKO's, that's more utter nonsense. Someone doesn't know what they are talking about.

Gary, this scenario was brought up by your station's supporters here and elsewhere more than once - along the lines of "investors linked to Ed Schultz" supposedly interested in buying the station, or the FM station, to preserve the format.

No one has yet shown me who these nebulous Big Eddie-linked investors are, or any evidence that they're actually involved or doing anything, with WVKO-FM or anything in Columbus that would restart the liberal talk format. We've mentioned the rumors on OMW, but waved them off because we're skeptical of them.

I realize that your station had a very, well, active core of passionate supporters. Just look back at this thread to see it!

But you really needed to do a better job of keeping them from spreading inaccurate stuff they associated with the station. Some of these folks actually ended up working for you, or are part of the Ohio Majority Radio group that's closely been associated with your now-former WVKO LMA. You needed to make sure accurate information about the station was coming out from those associated with your station, either the OMR group or those who were actually heard on the station.

Anyway, though I realize you've not been thrilled with the Mighty Blog from time to time, I honestly do wish you the best in the future, and in any attempts to return to the Columbus airwaves.

-OMW

 

[gabigley1]

And as for Ed Schultz buying one of the WVKO's, that's more utter nonsense. Someone doesn't know what they are talking about.

Gary, this scenario was brought up by your station's supporters here and elsewhere more than once - along the lines of "investors linked to Ed Schultz" supposedly interested in buying the station, or the FM station, to preserve the format.

No one has yet shown me who these nebulous Big Eddie-linked investors are, or any evidence that they're actually involved or doing anything, with WVKO-FM or anything in Columbus that would restart the liberal talk format. We've mentioned the rumors on OMW, but waved them off because we're skeptical of them.

I realize that your station had a very, well, active core of passionate supporters. Just look back at this thread to see it!

But you really needed to do a better job of keeping them from spreading inaccurate stuff they associated with the station. Some of these folks actually ended up working for you, or are part of the Ohio Majority Radio group that's closely been associated with your now-former WVKO LMA. You needed to make sure accurate information about the station was coming out from those associated with your station, either the OMR group or those who were actually heard on the station.

Anyway, though I realize you've not been thrilled with the Mighty Blog from time to time, I honestly do wish you the best in the future, and in any attempts to return to the Columbus airwaves.

-OMW

I also heard that announcement on the very last Blue State Diner for December 20, 2008. Also, one of the WVKO-AM Progressive Talk supporters wrote about that in her newspaper, "THE LIBERTY VOICE".
Why would WVKO-AM "Progressive Talk" radio leave the air with such, "enormous support". Didn't they even
try to go over the hall to sister station WVKO-FM? It is also available for rent. I'm now left to stream the
the audio from WCPT AM 830 on a public computer.

Click here for the rest of the article:

http://www.thelibertyvoice.com/?p=207

(QUOTE)(QUOTE)
THE LIBERTY VOICE
WVKO Farewell?
Dec 20th, 2008 • Category: Web-Only Content ShareThis

The marketplace of ideas is being strangled.

After one year of service to the progressive community of Central Ohio with virtually no warning, and despite enormous support, Monday, December 22 will be the last day of progressive broadcasts at WVKO.

After a local Lawyer, Tony called describing other options which would continue the progressive broadcasts of WVKO, another said, “Let’s do it.”
(QUOTE)(QUOTE)

 

[gabigley1]

This should shed some light on Ed Schultz buying WVKO-FM. Sean said that Gary Richards of Cowtown Commutations is in negotiations to buy sister station WVKO-FM for the resumptions of the "Progressive Talk"
format on ex P.T. WVKO-AM. It looks like Sean is hoping Ed. Schultz investors will come up with the cash to
buy WVKO-FM. Click here to see what Sean has to say about Ed. Schultz hopefully buying WVKO-FM:

http://edschultz.invisionzone.com/i...&showtopic=46961&pid=691978&st=0&#entry691978

Also, Mr. Richards attorney said on the December 20, 2008 Blue State Diner that negotiations are underway with Bernard Ohio to purchase WVKO-FM. Click here to hear that audio:
http://www.archive.org/download/Blue_State_Diner_WVKO/bluestate-20081220.mp3
and that part starts one hour and 20 minutes into the show.

It looks like this is wishful thinking on Seans part... Like I said before, I believe Cowtown Commutations is history. Besides, WVKO-FM will go for more then WVKO-AM and will be more then 1.5M. Some people refuse to let go of ex "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM but I believe it won't happen again.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Ed Schultz had a group of investors who were planning to purchase a station in Salem, Oregon, last summer. The deal fell through. On his show, Big Eddie has said he is looking to purchase stations with the help of the same group of investors.

Upon hearing Tony Logan's comments on the Blue State Diner, I made a call to Ed's producer, Vern Thompson, and gave him Gary's number. I also gave Tony Vern's phone number.

It appears nobody has been in contact with each other.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Just a small side note... On my pc, Gabigley's link to Schultz's site opened just below Sean's post, to a post by "ColumbusBuckeye" that asserted, "were it not for OSU and all of the intellectuals associated with it, Franklin County would have gone Red."  That assertion is ridiculous and doesn't jibe with the facts, since Obama's Franklin County margin over McCain was 100,000, which is roughly 20% of total votes. The OSU community is huge, but they are by no means all voters, and by no means 100% Obama supporters, so there is no way it could have directly swung the outcome (even if you add in the influence of OSU-affiliated Obama campaigners on non-OSU folks).

 

[gabigley1]

Here is the CORRECT link to Sean's post... Sorry about that.

http://edschultz.invisionzone.com/i...=690963&mode=threaded&show=&st=0&#entry690963

 

[gabigley1]

I think you will find that I am a creditable source. It would be a far streach that Bernard would do a deal with Gary or Cowtown anyway. He was not paying the LMA payments since July and was hanging on by a thread. Why in the world would you think that Bernard would give the station to an organization that could not even come up with the cash to rent it!

What an unbelieveable load of BS. I don't know who you are, but you haven't a clue what you are talking about. Cowtown was not paying LMA payments since July? That is an absolute lie. Cowtown made every payment on time every month and in fact made them early, more often than not.

As for some of the other outrageous stupidity that has been posted here:

St. Gabe was able to do in a few hours what Cowtown never could? The station was being leased as is. The programming and sales operations were the province of Cowtown, not the engineering. And it wasn't so bad for an internet STL. Maybe you just need a better radio.

Regarding the Other Paper ad, "the people at the former "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM are still in denial that the format had left the building. That ad could have been canceled over two weeks ago."

It was. Just what would you know about it, anyway? Maybe you should make your way to TOP's site and ridicule them for not following up on things.

And as for Ed Schultz buying one of the WVKO's, that's more utter nonsense. Someone doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

[gabigley1]

I hope the board editor will delete the above mistake/post. I hit the send button by mistake.

I think you will find that I am a creditable source. It would be a far streach that Bernard would do a deal with Gary or Cowtown anyway. He was not paying the LMA payments since July and was hanging on by a thread. Why in the world would you think that Bernard would give the station to an organization that could not even come up with the cash to rent it!

As for some of the other outrageous stupidity that has been posted here:

St. Gabe was able to do in a few hours what Cowtown never could? The station was being leased as is. The programming and sales operations were the province of Cowtown, not the engineering. And it wasn't so bad for an internet STL. Maybe you just need a better radio.

Regarding the Other Paper ad, "the people at the former "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM are still in denial that the format had left the building. That ad could have been canceled over two weeks ago."

It was. Just what would you know about it, anyway? Maybe you should make your way to TOP's site and ridicule them for not following up on things.

GR, I have some very good things to say about the old WVKO-AM. For example, the two news people and the imagining person. The WVKO-AM imaging person did a great job for the station in my opinion. I'll get that in here because I can tell that you thrive on and love and praise. I find it admirable WVKO-AM was on the air for
one year in this bad economy. That was no easy accomplishment.

I'm the one that said that the Catholic group improved the audio in just a few short hours on WVKO-AM. I was quoted out of context because I said they cleaned up the bad audio withing a few hours of them taking
to the airways. Now, WVKO-AM has excellent audio quality. The Catholic group tells me they have Greg of
CC Columbus working on their audio chain. Greg is one of the top audio engineers in the country. Other people
have praised his work on this board and I'm very impressed with his work.

I'm not the only one to complain about the OLD WVKO-AM audio problems. There is still a thread on the old WVKO-AM board on that topic here: http://www.ohiomajorityradio.com/forums/topic.php?id=9
I didn't realize you have no control over the WVKO-AM audio but if that is so, why is it that the Catholic group
has excellent audio now??

 

[talkers]

I hope the board editor will delete the above mistake/post. I hit the send button by mistake.

I think you will find that I am a creditable source. It would be a far streach that Bernard would do a deal with Gary or Cowtown anyway. He was not paying the LMA payments since July and was hanging on by a thread. Why in the world would you think that Bernard would give the station to an organization that could not even come up with the cash to rent it!

As for some of the other outrageous stupidity that has been posted here:

St. Gabe was able to do in a few hours what Cowtown never could? The station was being leased as is. The programming and sales operations were the province of Cowtown, not the engineering. And it wasn't so bad for an internet STL. Maybe you just need a better radio.

Regarding the Other Paper ad, "the people at the former "Progressive Talk" WVKO-AM are still in denial that the format had left the building. That ad could have been canceled over two weeks ago."

It was. Just what would you know about it, anyway? Maybe you should make your way to TOP's site and ridicule them for not following up on things.

GR, I have some very good things to say about the old WVKO-AM. For example, the two news people and the imagining person. The WVKO-AM imaging person did a great job for the station in my opinion. I'll get that in here because I can tell that you thrive on and love and praise. I find it admirable WVKO-AM was on the air for
one year in this bad economy. That was no easy accomplishment.

I'm the one that said that the Catholic group improved the audio in just a few short hours on WVKO-AM. I was quoted out of context because I said they cleaned up the bad audio withing a few hours of them taking
to the airways. Now, WVKO-AM has excellent audio quality. The Catholic group tells me they have Greg of
CC Columbus working on their audio chain. Greg is one of the top audio engineers in the country. Other people
have praised his work on this board and I'm very impressed with his work.

I'm not the only one to complain about the OLD WVKO-AM audio problems. There is still a thread on the old WVKO-AM board on that topic here: http://www.ohiomajorityradio.com/forums/topic.php?id=9
I didn't realize you have no control over the WVKO-AM audio but if that is so, why is it that the Catholic group
has excellent audio now??

You said it yourself gabigley1...Greg Savoldi! Obviously Cowtown didn't have Greg as an engineer.

 

[RF Man]

You said it yourself gabigley1...Greg Savoldi! Obviously Cowtown didn't have Greg as an engineer.

It doesn't always take Greg Savoldi to solve a problem. I happen to know that Cowtown had a fine engineer but not much funding to do it right. The link Cowtown used was running off of DSL which was shared with an apartment community next door to the transmitter. Was was really required was an ISDN line but no one put forth the funds to do this. ISDN was also suggested to them by the previous engineer at the very start of Cowtown's reign.

 

[techie2]

You said it yourself gabigley1...Greg Savoldi! Obviously Cowtown didn't have Greg as an engineer.

It doesn't always take Greg Savoldi to solve a problem. I happen to know that Cowtown had a fine engineer but not much funding to do it right. The link Cowtown used was running off of DSL which was shared with an apartment community next door to the transmitter. Was was really required was an ISDN line but no one put forth the funds to do this. ISDN was also suggested to them by the previous engineer at the very start of Cowtown's reign.

Franklin County is AT&T territory. I assume that one can still get ISDN there. I have heard in the engineering community that Verizon is refusing to do new ISDN installs.

Using a non-dedicated link like the public internet for something mission critical like STL links gives me the heebie-jeebies. I'm willing to try audio over IP for sports or other remotes but only if I can have some sort of backup in place (i.e. cellular).