Sean Gilbow said:
I have a feeling most in Columbus still think of WTDA as "Ted FM," no? :
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Is WVKO AM in trouble??
- Thread starter redsfan1966
- Start date
I have a feeling most in Columbus still think of WTDA as "Ted FM," no? :
OhioMediaWatch said:Go back in this very thread, back in time, back a few hundred messages, and I'm pretty sure you'll see former 1580 LMA operator Gary Richards himself ("GR") pooh-pooh the 103.1 rumors quite vehemently. I'm pretty suire he never publicly stated that he was "hoping" to buy 103.1 - in fact, he was more than willing to continue the 1580 LMA as is, until someone came in (St. Gabriel) LMAing to actually buy the signal.
Why would he first rent, not to buy, 1580, and decide to buy 103.1 when the 1580 LMA was overcome by the new offer? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I've never seen any evidence that was more than just message board chatter, or had any foundation outside of the head of one of our regular posters here during the last days of liberal talk on 1580.
Now, the question...
"Is WVKO AM in trouble??"
Found this NEW article on WVKO-FM :http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/06/22/story10.html?b=1245643200^1847573
It looks like Cowtown Commutations own Gary Richard, aka GR ,isn't going to purchase WVKO-FM after all. There is still a possibility that progressive
talk may wind back up on 1580 WVKO-AM if St. Gabriel Catholic radio can't purchase the station from Bernard Ohio in the next two weeks or so.
gabigley1 said:
To save people the trouble of going to the link - your last statement is not at all covered by the Cincinnati business paper's article. They don't mention the AM side, at all.
Where did you get this "possibility"? Has there been any reporting or even unconfirmed chatter that St. Gabriel won't be able to complete the LMA-to-purchase deal for 1580? Or that progressive talk would return in any form, if that would happen? I've heard nothing, but if you have a source, share it.
It does look like a potentially more stable move for 103.1 - vs. the various time broker deals previously delivering the Spanish-language music format. If I recall correctly, until this new deal, Bernard Radio was running the format itself - after the last deal ended.
So, in effect, if this TSJ deal works out...we can possibly say that
WVKO FM is not in trouble(!!)
(No, I'm not starting a separate thread for that!)
gabigley1 said:
I don't know how you got that from the article. The station is still for sale. TSJ didn't buy it - they are just running it and taking over the sales department. As for the AM, I doubt Bernard will kick St. Gabriel out and run the station themselves when the July 15 deadline passes. As long as St. Gabriel is making the monthly LMA payments, they will probably get an extension.
On the last day of progressive talk on WVKO-AM, Gary said he was trying to purchase WVKO-FM from Bernard Ohio radio. My point is that isn't going to happen so
progressive talk won't appear on WVKO-FM.
I don't know why Bernard radio took the station away from Gary when he said he was making his monthly lease payments. If Bernard actually wanted to SELL the station like they said they did, then why did they turn it over to St. Gab. Catholic radio when they can't purchase the station anyway, for lack of funds. It would have made more sense to have let Gary continue to LMA WVKO-AM until someone actually had the money in hand. That way, Gary could have been able to continue to LMA the station with a progressive talk format like he wanted to do in the first place, not to mention his H.S.S broadcasts,
That also SEEMS fair to Gary because he always said he wanted to keep the progressive talk format on the air in Columbus if he could help it.
If St. Gabe can't purchase WVKO-AM on July 15, then Gary may Still want to bring the format back to 1580 AM if Bernard radio will let him LMA the station
again. He would at least want to bring H.S.S. broadcasts back to Columbus, a fine service he was providing to Columbus.
progressive talk won't appear on WVKO-FM.
I don't know why Bernard radio took the station away from Gary when he said he was making his monthly lease payments. If Bernard actually wanted to SELL the station like they said they did, then why did they turn it over to St. Gab. Catholic radio when they can't purchase the station anyway, for lack of funds. It would have made more sense to have let Gary continue to LMA WVKO-AM until someone actually had the money in hand. That way, Gary could have been able to continue to LMA the station with a progressive talk format like he wanted to do in the first place, not to mention his H.S.S broadcasts,
That also SEEMS fair to Gary because he always said he wanted to keep the progressive talk format on the air in Columbus if he could help it.
If St. Gabe can't purchase WVKO-AM on July 15, then Gary may Still want to bring the format back to 1580 AM if Bernard radio will let him LMA the station
again. He would at least want to bring H.S.S. broadcasts back to Columbus, a fine service he was providing to Columbus.
You're pulling roughly half of this out of your...well, the back of your own mind. And what you don't remember or think you remember or don't know, you're speculating based on not much.
I'll leave it to Gary, if he is around or cares, to take your message apart point by point.
And what you don't remember or think you remember or don't know, you're speculating based on not much.I'll leave it to Gary, if he is around or cares, to take your message apart point by point.
OMW aka OHIO MEDIA WATCH,
It's a fact: Gary Richards announced on the air last December on WVKO-AM that he was trying to purchase WVKO-FM from Barnard Radio Ohio to replace the Progressive Talk format he was about to lose on WVKO-AM. Yes, I agree this makes little scene because one would THINK he would have wanted to purchase
WVKO-AM radio and keep the Progressive Talk format on the air in Columbus. Not to mention he could probably buy WVKO-AM for LESS money then the FM.
I was only speculating that Bernard Radio Ohio may programing WVKO-AM as a Progressive Talker if St. Gabriel Catholic Radio loses it's Lease Purchase agreement on July 15 with Bernard Radio Ohio.
I also speculated that Gary Richards may also bring back Progressive Talk to WVKO-AM if he is willing and able to sign a Lease Purchase agreement with Barnard Radio Ohio AND S.G.C.R. loses it Lease purchase agreement with Barnald Radio Ohio on July 15, 2009 for lack of financing to purchase VKO-AM.
This thread is STILL appropriate because St. Gabriel Catholic Radio has been making announcements for the last few months that if they can't secure the bank
financing buy July 15, 2009, they MAY lose the WVKO-AM 1580 signal on July 16, 2009, at which time you may hear some strange programing on the frequency.
Hope this answers your question. I think the Ohio Media Watch is a great service to the Radio community and keep up the good work but we all are human
and make mistakes.
It's a fact: Gary Richards announced on the air last December on WVKO-AM that he was trying to purchase WVKO-FM from Barnard Radio Ohio to replace the Progressive Talk format he was about to lose on WVKO-AM. Yes, I agree this makes little scene because one would THINK he would have wanted to purchase
WVKO-AM radio and keep the Progressive Talk format on the air in Columbus. Not to mention he could probably buy WVKO-AM for LESS money then the FM.
I was only speculating that Bernard Radio Ohio may programing WVKO-AM as a Progressive Talker if St. Gabriel Catholic Radio loses it's Lease Purchase agreement on July 15 with Bernard Radio Ohio.
I also speculated that Gary Richards may also bring back Progressive Talk to WVKO-AM if he is willing and able to sign a Lease Purchase agreement with Barnard Radio Ohio AND S.G.C.R. loses it Lease purchase agreement with Barnald Radio Ohio on July 15, 2009 for lack of financing to purchase VKO-AM.
This thread is STILL appropriate because St. Gabriel Catholic Radio has been making announcements for the last few months that if they can't secure the bank
financing buy July 15, 2009, they MAY lose the WVKO-AM 1580 signal on July 16, 2009, at which time you may hear some strange programing on the frequency.
Hope this answers your question. I think the Ohio Media Watch is a great service to the Radio community and keep up the good work but we all are human
and make mistakes.
OK, Artie, I see where you're coming from.
But in the history of THIS very thread, back when the liberal talk format was on 1580, a lot of speculation was picked up as near fact, and much of it was history to Mr. Richards...who fired back at it (and at me, even), with people taking pieces of facts heard on the air and turned those pieces into a whole of would-be reality. Again, I wasn't immune to that, either here or on the blog.
I was unaware of whatever St. Gabriel Radio has said on the air about the July 15th date, and I don't see why Bernard Radio would pull its programming and return to the liberal talk format once LMAed by Gary. Heck, maybe they'd put the TSJ-programming from 103.1 on 1580!
My gut tells me that like many stations that rely on listener donations, St. Gabriel Radio is being a bit vocal about an impending deadline that may or may not turn out to be the end of their reality on the frequency.
But in the history of THIS very thread, back when the liberal talk format was on 1580, a lot of speculation was picked up as near fact, and much of it was history to Mr. Richards...who fired back at it (and at me, even), with people taking pieces of facts heard on the air and turned those pieces into a whole of would-be reality. Again, I wasn't immune to that, either here or on the blog.
I was unaware of whatever St. Gabriel Radio has said on the air about the July 15th date, and I don't see why Bernard Radio would pull its programming and return to the liberal talk format once LMAed by Gary. Heck, maybe they'd put the TSJ-programming from 103.1 on 1580!
My gut tells me that like many stations that rely on listener donations, St. Gabriel Radio is being a bit vocal about an impending deadline that may or may not turn out to be the end of their reality on the frequency.
OhioMediaWatch said:
St Gabe may had a goal of purchasing WVKO-AM by Jul 15th..but I got a feeling as the long as the LMA checks are clearing the bank, they will not be kicked off air. Bernard Radio rather have money coming in steady than having to program the station themselves.
xmusicmatt said:
And there's even precedence for this across the hall at Bernard/Columbus.
After the previous LMA group could apparently no longer afford to run the Spanish-language music format on 103.1, Bernard kept the frequency warm with similar music for a while...but eventually struck the deal with the TSJ folks.
If I'm reading everything right, TSJ is not intending on a purchase of 103.1, and is running a simple LMA, much like a certain Mr. Richards was doing on 1580.
Bernard Radio's ultimate goal for each and every one of its stations, including its cluster up here in Northeast Ohio (Youngstown), is to sell them. Period. At some point, there will be no more Bernard Radio, and its stations will all land under new ownership. (Assuming radio stations can be sold again at any point in the future, give or take buyers like EMF/K-Love.
)And that's why Gary lost 1580. He was an LMA operator, not a potential buyer. They took his checks until St. Gabriel came along and said they'd buy the place.
If a potential new owner comes along for 103.1, TSJ will presumably have to bow out per whatever contract they've signed. Bernard Radio wants someone else to own its stations, but will be more than happy to take the LMA money until that happens.
I found one of the last days of progressive talk WVVK on the net where Gary Richards and his attorney friend said they were actually negotiating with Bernard Media of Ohio to purchase WVKO-FM. So, Ohio Media Watch, here is your proof. Click the link and go to 1:19:00 into this last Saturday show for December 20, 2008 where they talk about why progressive talk WVKO-AM is changing to Catholic radio and the chances for progressive talk returning to the Columbus, Ohio airways. Here is the link to the audio of their show for December 20:
http://www.archive.org/download/Blue_State_Diner_WVKO/bluestate-20081220.mp3
Note, during the first few minutes of that show, they say that the station license was SOLD to St. Gab. Catholic Radio but as of last Friday, it was announced
on WVKO-AM that St. Gabe unable to raise the funds to secure the bank loan to purchase the station by the July 15 deadline. The Director of the Board of Directors for St Gabe. Catholic radio said that Bernard was STILL willing to lease the station on a month to month bases even though they failed to get
the bank financing by the July 15 deadline.
This was part of the Lease to own Agreement they had with Bernard signed last December 15, 2008 and final on July 15, 2009. He went on to say the new
new agreement is in it's final draft stage, for twelve months with the stipulation if Bernard finds a buyer for the station they will loose the frequencies... St. Gabe. made it VERY clear that their intention in to purchase the station and not lease it on a month to month bases. They said that Bernard Ohio wants to SELL it's radio stations.
So, WHY didn't they let Gary Richards keep the station when he wanted to keep it and was(as he claimed here) in good standing with Bernard Media of Ohio??
I still don't understand why the Cowtown Comm. LMA was terminated by Bernard Media Ohio when they were paying the month to month lease.
As was mentioned here last December, St. Gabe has not been doing a good job of fundraiser to purchase radio stations. So, it looks like Gary Richards got a
raw deal and you still have mad/upset progressive talk listeners out in Columbus became they lost their one and only talk format here in Columbus.
http://www.archive.org/download/Blue_State_Diner_WVKO/bluestate-20081220.mp3
Note, during the first few minutes of that show, they say that the station license was SOLD to St. Gab. Catholic Radio but as of last Friday, it was announced
on WVKO-AM that St. Gabe unable to raise the funds to secure the bank loan to purchase the station by the July 15 deadline. The Director of the Board of Directors for St Gabe. Catholic radio said that Bernard was STILL willing to lease the station on a month to month bases even though they failed to get
the bank financing by the July 15 deadline.
This was part of the Lease to own Agreement they had with Bernard signed last December 15, 2008 and final on July 15, 2009. He went on to say the new
new agreement is in it's final draft stage, for twelve months with the stipulation if Bernard finds a buyer for the station they will loose the frequencies... St. Gabe. made it VERY clear that their intention in to purchase the station and not lease it on a month to month bases. They said that Bernard Ohio wants to SELL it's radio stations.
So, WHY didn't they let Gary Richards keep the station when he wanted to keep it and was(as he claimed here) in good standing with Bernard Media of Ohio??
I still don't understand why the Cowtown Comm. LMA was terminated by Bernard Media Ohio when they were paying the month to month lease.
As was mentioned here last December, St. Gabe has not been doing a good job of fundraiser to purchase radio stations. So, it looks like Gary Richards got a
raw deal and you still have mad/upset progressive talk listeners out in Columbus became they lost their one and only talk format here in Columbus.
OhioMediaWatch said:
You're not. There is no LMA. TSJ is not running WVKO FM. What they have is a JSA, or Joint Sales Agreement. They are supplimenting their print advertising by selling radio time on 103.1.
gabigley1 said:
I've heard that file. You've posted it before
I'll be happy to go in there again, but I'm pretty sure Gary himself never said that he was negotiating to purchase 103.1. Others may have. If I remember right, he could well have said he was hoping to save the format, but I'm pretty sure he never specifically said he was officially negotiating for 103.1.But, I'll listen again.
Moving to the current 1580 situation:
gabigley1 said:
Which is exactly what I said, without hearing this, above. Bernard will keep taking St. Gabriel Radio's money until someone comes along and buys 1580. If St. Gabriel raises the money to actually buy, and no one else comes in with solid buy offer, they'd have it, but it doesn't sound like they think they can do it.
In any event, as I said a few times in this thread, I didn't think there was imminent danger of St. Gabriel losing the frequency this week. If there's no other buyer, Bernard would have been stupid to kick them off, as long as they were willing to keep spending money on the LMA.
gabigley1 said:
Because St. Gabriel's initial offer was not just an LMA, but an LMA-to-eventual-purchase. Gary said on this very thread, way back, that he was just LMAing/renting 1580. St. Gabriel said "we'll buy it", signed a contract to that effect...which it sounds like ran through this week. Bernard let them take over LMAing 1580 because they intended to buy it. Now, they'll keep LMAing it under this new deal, according to what you say above.
If Gary had a similar offer (eventual purchase), they'd have kept him on. He knew all along that a buyer would take precedence, and has said so right here.
Again, as I said, as you quote the St. Gabriel people as saying, Bernard wants to sell everything.
Rusty Blades said:
Interesting clarification. Since I'm not in the market, and don't speak Spanish, I was apparently misreading what had been put up about this.
Either way, though, they do not intend to purchase 103.1.
D
del_griffith
Guest
So with the lease to ICS of WUCO and potential for sale, does that make things better for WVKO or is it still in trouble?
xmusicmatt said:
The original LMA deal with Saint Gabriel was signed on December 15 of 2008 and was affective as of December 24, 2008. Gary Richard of Cowtown said on the WVKO airwaves that the stations license for WVKO AM was sold which is not the case. One year later, BERNARD OHIO LLC is still LMAing the frequiency out to Saint Gabriel Catholic Radio with no application on the table with the FCC to sell WVKO AM to St. Gabriel Catholic Radio.
That has left Columbus without a Progressive Talk voice for the last year. Gary Richard of Cowtown also said
last year that he was going to try to bring back Progressive Talk on another radio station but that hasn't materialized as of yet. Is Gary Richards STILL trying to bring back the format to Columbus or has he given
up trying? ??? At least Cowtown was willing to bring back the format back to Columbus in December of 2007
but that attempt failed after only one year on the air.
Saint Gabriel Catholic Radio said In November of 2008 that they were going to purchase WVKO AM for 1.5
Million but apparently they haven't been able to raise the funds to do so. WVKO AM probably won't be sold
for that amount of money because other similar AM stations in major Ohio markets are going for less money then that. But will BERNARD OHIO LLC be willing to sell for less?
D
del_griffith
Guest
So with the current technical issues, the questions remains, is WVKO AM in trouble?
Sorry couldn't resist waking up this zombie thread since it seemed appropriate to the current situation.
And I hope, really hope they are able to make a run of it.
Sorry couldn't resist waking up this zombie thread since it seemed appropriate to the current situation.
And I hope, really hope they are able to make a run of it.
del_griffith said:So with the current technical issues, the questions remains, is WVKO AM in trouble?
Sorry couldn't resist waking up this zombie thread since it seemed appropriate to the current situation.
And I hope, really hope they are able to make a run of it.
Well one thing -- their not running it any better than the last go around -- I wonder the excuse this time? "Oh we have no place to put a satellite dish so we're bootlegging WCPT's stream" -- Last time they sited "no line of site downtown so they had to bootleg the internet stream" to get audio.
Someone in another thread mentioned "Short term LMA" .. My guess with how its being done again.. the "103.1 La Mega" simlucast that was heard yesterday evening and overnight will become perm come after election time.
xmusicmatt said:
I'm the one who mentioned that, and to me, that phrase screams "we're gonna throw this thing on for the runup to the 2012 election". It puzzles me. Gary is apparently a diehard liberal and believes in the cause, but he's been a radio pro for decades. He can't wait a week or two until all the pieces are in place?
I also wonder if WCPT is aware that the reincarnated WKVO progressive talk LMA is using their stream to power on-air programming.
Heck, there are plenty of Internet-based solutions Gary could probably use without directly feeding off of WCPT's public Internet feed. Couldn't Dial Global send up a clean Internet feed of Ed/Steph/etc.? They're probably used to stations having satellite dishes.
If Gary is around, he's probably calling me a rightwinger who wants the station to fail. Heck no, I want it to succeed. I am also an admitted Stephanie Miller fan, or at least I was when she was on here in NE Ohio (not counting 1460's operation, which I can't hear because I'm not on Cleveland's east side).
I'll fall back to my original stance...I'll give Gary a couple of weeks to work out the bugs. But he should have waited...instead, listeners are treated to more Spanish-language music than progressive talk, and are certainly wondering why, even not counting the "WCPT" mentions when they are in format.
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