It's OFFICIAL, 1230 drops Air America

[columbusradiogirl]

Actually, I'm not sure. I heard she was let go with her husband while she was in the hospital. Then again, isn't illegal to fire someone while they are on maternity leave?

 

[Frogger1]

Anna was only part-time so she wouldn't have had company paid disability or been eligable for FMLA.

She was let go along with her husband in November.

 

[gcotton]

That's too bad. I thought she was a really good talent and was real good to listen to.

 

[gabigley1]

Found this on the ohiomajorityradio.com web site.

http://www.ohiomajorityradio.com/

"We Are Holding A Rally Near The Statehouse On Monday, January 8th At 11:00am To Noon To Mark The Passing Of Progressive Radio In Columbus."

"Click Here To: http://www.ohiomajorityradio.com/WTPGRallyPoster.pdf View, Download And Print A Flyer About This Rally (PDF File - 1.8MB). Please Pass The Word About This Rally. The More People We Have The More Likely It Will Be They Will Respond."

 

[gabigley1]

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

WTPG Stay of Execution
Created by Progress Ohio.

Photos from the Statehouse gathering and funeral procession at Clear Channel offices on 1/8/07.

26 photos | Detail view

 

[FreddyE1977]

Actually, I'm not sure. I heard she was let go with her husband while she was in the hospital. Then again, isn't illegal to fire someone while they are on maternity leave?

There are some loopholes in FMLA that would allow an employee on leave to be terminated if the move were part of a "company wide elimination" of the position. This happened to a friend of mine about 10 yrs. ago. She was 8 months along when her employer eliminated her job title across the entire company. They called her and made her come in, only to be sat down and told that her job was gone.

 

[gabigley1]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

The petition supporting progressive radio in Central Ohio has been closed, having garnered 2,799 signatures in 29 days.

We presented the petition to Clear Channel but we were unable to persuade them to keep WTPG. However we are already preparing to take the petition to radio stations in Central Ohio to show the support they will receive if they add progressive and moderate programs to their schedules.

If you want to help in this effort, please join the Yahoo Group below, or use the feedback button at the bottom of this page.

Also we ask that you visit the link to save Progressive Radio across the country to learn how you can help elsewhere.

Ohio Majority Radio
P.O. Box 14117
Columbus, OH 43214

http://www.freepress.org/doit.php?strFunc=display&strID=278&strYear=2007

Advertising on Progressive Talk Radio
by Volunteers on the Advertising Committee
February 1, 2007

Know any progressive business owners? Dentists, travel agents or service organizations who might be interested in advertising during Progressive Talk radio shows?

Our group, OhioMajorityRadio, is approaching Central Ohio radio broadcasters to propose that they include Progressive Talk in their programming. We would like to show local broadcasters that there is support for Progressive Talk in the Central Ohio business community.

 

[Dirty_Harry]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

The petition supporting progressive radio in Central Ohio has been closed, having garnered 2,799 signatures in 29 days.

2,799 signatures out of 1.8 million people! WOW! That's pretty impressive!

 

[Radioboy989]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

Our group, OhioMajorityRadio, is approaching Central Ohio radio broadcasters to propose that they include Progressive Talk in their programming. We would like to show local broadcasters that there is support for Progressive Talk in the Central Ohio business community.

I mean this with all due respect and I absolutely don't mean to start a fight or be insulting.

It seems to me that IF there was support for this format to any great extent, and if that support came from a substantial group of people with the financial ability and desire to support advertisers on a station carrying this format, the money grubbing corporations that compose the radio ownership pool would be broadcasting this format. Show me an audience study that says 80% of all 25-54 year old females love to dance the polka and I will put a stopwatch on ClearChannel for the launch of the Bobby Vinton radio network. It's all about the money.

I have no problem with your want for a particular kind of entertainment, but the words "progressive" and "majority" and the claims of some immense listener pool that is starving for left-wing, liberal talk radio just don't coincide with what I see and hear in this market. You seem to be operating on the "If you build it, they will come" philosophy. If that thought process worked in every situation, there would be Burger King drive thrus across India. The fact is, there is a less than minimal chance that a hamburger joint would work in a place where the cow is sacred. There is not an audience for the product.

I would also suggest, again with all due respect that you (meaing those with your political leaning) consider positioning your efforts in a more forthright way. I don't see the format as progressing past anything, I don't believe your organization composes a majority of anything.
Not only - again, just my opinion- would you be more accurate, but frankly I think you may be more successful at rallying your troops if you were called "Ohio Liberal Radio" or something more pointed.

We disagree politically, but I welcome diverse opinions, an argumentative government and airwaves filled with a rainbow of ideas. I wish you luck in your quest.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

The petition supporting progressive radio in Central Ohio has been closed, having garnered 2,799 signatures in 29 days.

2,799 signatures out of 1.8 million people! WOW! That's pretty impressive!

I know you're being sarcastic, but a comparison to the Columbus metro population of 1.8 million people doesn't make any sense. A lot of those people can't even pick up the station. And a lot of them can't even talk yet. The weekly cume for TPG was maybe 400,000 at best. If you assume 20% of these were loyal P1's, you've got about 80,000 people. 2800 people "signed," which is about 3.5%. This % is probably understated a bit, since I'm sure not all of the 130,000 were aware of the petition. Considering typical response rates to various types of research, promotion, and "calls to action," the 2800 was actually somewhat higher than I expected.

 

[DaytonRadio]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

The petition supporting progressive radio in Central Ohio has been closed, having garnered 2,799 signatures in 29 days.

2,799 signatures out of 1.8 million people! WOW! That's pretty impressive!

I know you're being sarcastic, but a comparison to the Columbus metro population of 1.8 million people doesn't make any sense. A lot of those people can't even pick up the station. And a lot of them can't even talk yet. The weekly cume for TPG was maybe 400,000 at best. If you assume 20% of these were loyal P1's, you've got about 80,000 people. 2800 people "signed," which is about 3.5%. This % is probably understated a bit, since I'm sure not all of the 130,000 were aware of the petition. Considering typical response rates to various types of research, promotion, and "calls to action," the 2800 was actually somewhat higher than I expected.

well, it is quite possible that some of those signatures came from out of the area and from people who never actually listened to the station.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

The petition supporting progressive radio in Central Ohio has been closed, having garnered 2,799 signatures in 29 days.

2,799 signatures out of 1.8 million people! WOW! That's pretty impressive!

I know you're being sarcastic, but a comparison to the Columbus metro population of 1.8 million people doesn't make any sense. A lot of those people can't even pick up the station. And a lot of them can't even talk yet. The weekly cume for TPG was maybe 400,000 at best. If you assume 20% of these were loyal P1's, you've got about 80,000 people. 2800 people "signed," which is about 3.5%. This % is probably understated a bit, since I'm sure not all of the 130,000 were aware of the petition. Considering typical response rates to various types of research, promotion, and "calls to action," the 2800 was actually somewhat higher than I expected.

well, it is quite possible that some of those signatures came from out of the area and from people who never actually listened to the station.

Actually, I really screwed up...For the cume estimate I meant 40,000, not 400,000!! If TPG actually had a cume of 400,000, you can bet they'd still be on the air!! Anyway, using the corrected cume estimate means maybe a full one-third of core listeners signed, which is pretty darn good even you do ascribe a hefty portion of the signatures to out-of-market folks or duplicate signatures.

Please note that my post was just a reaction to the "2,799 signatures out of 1.8 million people" statement, NOT an opinion on whether or not the station should have flipped.

 

[gabigley1]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

Our group, OhioMajorityRadio, is approaching Central Ohio radio broadcasters to propose that they include Progressive Talk in their programming. We would like to show local broadcasters that there is support for Progressive Talk in the Central Ohio business community.

I mean this with all due respect and I absolutely don't mean to start a fight or be insulting.

It seems to me that IF there was support for this format to any great extent, and if that support came from a substantial group of people with the financial ability and desire to support advertisers on a station carrying this format, the money grubbing corporations that compose the radio ownership pool would be broadcasting this format. Show me an audience study that says 80% of all 25-54 year old females love to dance the polka and I will put a stopwatch on ClearChannel for the launch of the Bobby Vinton radio network. It's all about the money.

I have no problem with your want for a particular kind of entertainment, but the words "progressive" and "majority" and the claims of some immense listener pool that is starving for left-wing, liberal talk radio just don't coincide with what I see and hear in this market. You seem to be operating on the "If you build it, they will come" philosophy. If that thought process worked in every situation, there would be Burger King drive thrus across India. The fact is, there is a less than minimal chance that a hamburger joint would work in a place where the cow is sacred. There is not an audience for the product.

I would also suggest, again with all due respect that you (meaing those with your political leaning) consider positioning your efforts in a more forthright way. I don't see the format as progressing past anything, I don't believe your organization composes a majority of anything.
Not only - again, just my opinion- would you be more accurate, but frankly I think you may be more successful at rallying your troops if you were called "Ohio Liberal Radio" or something more pointed.

We disagree politically, but I welcome diverse opinions, an argumentative government and airwaves filled with a rainbow of ideas. I wish you luck in your quest.

I quoted what was said on the OHIOMAJORITY website as an update for this thread. I'm in no way affiliated with the OhioMajorityRadio.com website nor do I necessary share their views.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

http://ohiomajorityradio.com/

Our group, OhioMajorityRadio, is approaching Central Ohio radio broadcasters to propose that they include Progressive Talk in their programming. We would like to show local broadcasters that there is support for Progressive Talk in the Central Ohio business community.

I mean this with all due respect and I absolutely don't mean to start a fight or be insulting.

It seems to me that IF there was support for this format to any great extent, and if that support came from a substantial group of people with the financial ability and desire to support advertisers on a station carrying this format, the money grubbing corporations that compose the radio ownership pool would be broadcasting this format. Show me an audience study that says 80% of all 25-54 year old females love to dance the polka and I will put a stopwatch on ClearChannel for the launch of the Bobby Vinton radio network. It's all about the money.

I have no problem with your want for a particular kind of entertainment, but the words "progressive" and "majority" and the claims of some immense listener pool that is starving for left-wing, liberal talk radio just don't coincide with what I see and hear in this market. You seem to be operating on the "If you build it, they will come" philosophy. If that thought process worked in every situation, there would be Burger King drive thrus across India. The fact is, there is a less than minimal chance that a hamburger joint would work in a place where the cow is sacred. There is not an audience for the product.

I would also suggest, again with all due respect that you (meaing those with your political leaning) consider positioning your efforts in a more forthright way. I don't see the format as progressing past anything, I don't believe your organization composes a majority of anything.
Not only - again, just my opinion- would you be more accurate, but frankly I think you may be more successful at rallying your troops if you were called "Ohio Liberal Radio" or something more pointed.

We disagree politically, but I welcome diverse opinions, an argumentative government and airwaves filled with a rainbow of ideas. I wish you luck in your quest.

I quoted what was said on the OHIOMAJORITY website as an update for this thread. I'm in no way affiliated with the OhioMajorityRadio.com website nor do I necessary share their views.

For the record, neither am I. In fact, some of their members have been as much disdain toward my business strategy as some posters on this board.

I have been running commercials on Radio Free Ohio's web stream over the past two weeks. They have been running roughly every two hours.

Was I anticipating immediate results? NO. But I am aware of how saturation and repetition help in getting customers. And since my business is a website, advertising on the web stream is a no brainer.

The commitment is through the end of the year--90 spots a week.

To expand on RadioBoy's comments...While I believe in the progressive talk format, I also believe some talkers are good at it and some talkers aren't.

Just like conservative talkers.

While AM 1230 jumped on the Air America banner, it was Jones Radio's Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller that got listener attention.

The same Jones Radio that syndicates the likes of Neil Boortz.

When Radio Free Ohio started, they relied on Big Eddie, Steph, Bill Press (also Jones) and Lionel (WOR). It did not become an Air America affiliate until Clear Channel struck a deal taking the station's previous Fox Sports Radio format and swapping it with the daytimer carrying Franken and company.

Do I see Air America returning any time soon to Columbus radio? No.

But within the year, I believe some Columbus station will once again be airing a failed late-night TV talk host who was "abandoned by wolves and raised by Republicans" and a sportsman from the Heartland whose gun collection increased during the Clinton years and supports the working folk who take a shower after work.

The listener wants less ideology and more entertainment, and Steph and Big Eddie supply the proper balance of both. Even the staunchest conservatives will only be able to digest so much of AM 1230's current format before they start begging Clear Channel Columbus to bring back the lefty with the fart jokes.

 

[gabigley1]

The latest ratings, Spring 2007, have 1230-AM down to a 0.4 12+ share, down from a 1.4 12+ from a year ago.

 

[CBusDave]

The latest ratings, Spring 2007, have 1230-AM down to a 0.4 12+ share, down from a 1.4 12+ from a year ago.

But remember, it wasn't politically motivated... mwah haa haa haa... Actually I don't think it was entirely politically motivated, Air America was in a state of limbo and WTPG was just one of the many rats jumping off that sinking ship. So do they lose Air America and stick with liberal talk with Jones radio? In my opinion they should have but I can see where a radio exec might think, "We are not getting the ratings we want with a 'strong' brand such as Air America, if we lose them, ratings will dive with only the Jones Radio shows." Besides that, I used to listen to Ed Schultz and it was painfully bad radio. Content aside, it was just painful to listen to.

Liberal talk was in a state of evolving and 1230 decided not to stick with it through the growing pains. I don't blame them. Someone will probably pick up liberal talk again once it's a more mature product. They are getting there.

 

[kirkiefan]

I don't connsider myself far liberal or far right. Although I was not a fan or listener of Air America..I thought it was somewhat a good idea to air "the other side" of the story without the far right extremes of Rush,O Reilly and Liddy. What upset me to the max is how it was introduced as:
"Elvis has left the building..for good We're now WTPG Columbus." Total arrogance on Clear Channel's part to abruptly ax Real Oldies although that format was haphazardly put together using a repetitive playlist with voice tracking by Cool Bobby B and jockless automation the rest of the day. (no offense "B"..not your fault.) WSAI's Real Oldies was by comparison much better since it was all air personalities from 1360's Top 40 heyday..something that should have been done as well for the former WCOL-AM. Haven't been a fan of CC ever since Real Oldies were dumped by both stations. I will never listen to Clear Channel stations ever again! Total disregard for the average listener in the name of profits.

"Live from the Autozone studios......" on "Homer" is a total joke...and a total turnoff!

 

[KevinFodor]

One of the problems with 1230 as a "real oldies station"...

Is that most of the veteran WCOL jocks that anyone would want to listen to are either retired, in some other lucrative line of business, or have passed on. I'd doubt any of them would want to work part-time, by the hour as voice trackers. And, many of them are also no longer in the Columbus area.

Cincinnati was fortunate in that Dusty was still around to be the anchor, and enough of the somewhat younger talent they had could carry the more intricately executed format there.

For those reasons, plus the fact that 1530 in Cincinnati covers some huge ground with their 50K signal, while Columbus is a peashooter, signal-wise at best these days, I doubt it was ever considered to make 1230 more than it was.