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Let's Conitnue this WPGB Discussion

S

Shadow

I started a new thread because although I wish to discuss WPGB, it is in a different light then the thread below. The question is WPGB really that good or is it that the News/Talk situation in Pittsburgh is that bad?

Let's analyze a little. Two years ago we had KDKA running ridiculous amounts of commercials, horrible imaging, hosts that took 6 to 7 weeks vacation per year, a newer and slightly weak morning show, the Pirates who although well listened to suck, etc. In other words, KDKA could have easily been beaten by just about anything new.

We also had 1360 WPTT which is really quite a good mostly local talk station. They execute well, have good local hosts from both sides of the aisle, etc. However they have serious signal problems.

We have WPIT and WORD. Yes talk info and talk formats, yes very Christian oriented and niche, yes crappy signal on the AM.

Quinn was on WRRK getting good numbers but a strange format for classic rock.

You have some black oriented talk programming on WAMO 860 at night.

The sports talk scene was pretty much wrapped up between 1250 ESPN and Fox Sports.

Then we have the All News 1410 KQV. They do a phenominal job doing the all news format. They lack in good delivery (those hosts/announcers are BOOOORING) and they have maybe the worst signal ever.

So based on this situation is it a big surprise that WPGB did well? All they did was take some of the people who tuned to Quinn on WRRK in the AM, tuned to Rush on KDKA, tuned to Honz 3p-6p and funneled them into one station. They offered some new programs like Hannity and Savage during an election year. They did do some marketing and promotions to get people on board. Their numbers went up dramatically.

The real test will be over the next year. In the Spring book Quinn and Rush did well as expected. But Hannity and Savage were down. Basically NO ONE listens on the weekends. The two shows that are basically new to Pittsburgh are down. Are they losing their appeal already?

Just posing some points on whether WPGB is a legitimate good station or if they have won so far by default. Second, can they keep up the numbers of success in the next 12 to 18 months?
 
I have to disagree with your assessment of WPTT- because it is NOT a really good station. They have lost one local host (Bowyer)- the rest are recycled from a station that couldn't make them work 10 years ago- and the ratings are dreadful.

Clark Howard makes Rob Pratte look like Larry King. I have never heard anyone so uninteresting in my life. And what's with the overuse of the "Fine Young Cannibals"- or actually the same three second cut of "She Drives Me Crazy" over and over and over again- ANNOYING!!!!!

Their morning show consists of simulcasting WTAE-TV and a show on tape delay from the day before.

It is awful.

One thing you have forgotten to mention is Ellis Cannon- who I feel is overrated- but still presents a welcome alternative.

If you can put the hip-hop references from a white 40 something guy aside- he presents a much livlier show than Alexander and is a sane yet still quickly paced alternative to MadMan. WBGG isn't even trying to compete in this time slot, for whatever reason. So it's a natural Cannon will win that time slot in the race for sports gabbers.

104.7 still has a bit of a ways to go if you ask me. It's gone a bit down in the ratings but still has such an overall strong lineup I think it will continue to prove to be successful.

You're right about the weekends- Rocco Pendola is just awful- and there doesn't seem to be a clean break in the evenings. Savage's first hour from 7-8 actually runs- what- from 10-11? Then they re-run Glenn Beck- GLENN BECK!- for two hours before going to Coast to Coast or whatever it is.

Let me ask- when is the Pirates contract up? It would seem to me that if they could snag them from KDKA they'd have the perfect flow- a little pregame- ballgame and then a post-game show going from 6-1 or so.

By the way- they get no ratings- but "The Edge" on 1550 actually has a strong programming lineup with Imus, Liddy, Don and Mike, and Veykis. The Comedy Hour and Sporting News Radio isn't too bad either.






> I started a new thread because although I wish to discuss
> WPGB, it is in a different light then the thread below. The
> question is WPGB really that good or is it that the
> News/Talk situation in Pittsburgh is that bad?
>
> Let's analyze a little. Two years ago we had KDKA running
> ridiculous amounts of commercials, horrible imaging, hosts
> that took 6 to 7 weeks vacation per year, a newer and
> slightly weak morning show, the Pirates who although well
> listened to suck, etc. In other words, KDKA could have
> easily been beaten by just about anything new.
>
> We also had 1360 WPTT which is really quite a good mostly
> local talk station. They execute well, have good local hosts
> from both sides of the aisle, etc. However they have serious
> signal problems.
>
> We have WPIT and WORD. Yes talk info and talk formats, yes
> very Christian oriented and niche, yes crappy signal on the
> AM.
>
> Quinn was on WRRK getting good numbers but a strange format
> for classic rock.
>
> You have some black oriented talk programming on WAMO 860 at
> night.
>
> The sports talk scene was pretty much wrapped up between
> 1250 ESPN and Fox Sports.
>
> Then we have the All News 1410 KQV. They do a phenominal job
> doing the all news format. They lack in good delivery (those
> hosts/announcers are BOOOORING) and they have maybe the
> worst signal ever.
>
> So based on this situation is it a big surprise that WPGB
> did well? All they did was take some of the people who tuned
> to Quinn on WRRK in the AM, tuned to Rush on KDKA, tuned to
> Honz 3p-6p and funneled them into one station. They offered
> some new programs like Hannity and Savage during an election
> year. They did do some marketing and promotions to get
> people on board. Their numbers went up dramatically.
>
> The real test will be over the next year. In the Spring book
> Quinn and Rush did well as expected. But Hannity and Savage
> were down. Basically NO ONE listens on the weekends. The two
> shows that are basically new to Pittsburgh are down. Are
> they losing their appeal already?
>
> Just posing some points on whether WPGB is a legitimate good
> station or if they have won so far by default. Second, can
> they keep up the numbers of success in the next 12 to 18
> months?
>
 
Before everyone else goes into the wayback machine along with me, Rocco Demarco is who Pratte4Life is referring to, not Rocco Pendola...

Could Ed Tyll be far behind <g>.
 
It's 1:37 in the morning, and I'm assessing WPGB? Oh, well ... point-by-point:

> I have to disagree with your assessment of WPTT- because it
> is NOT a really good station. They have lost one local host
> (Bowyer)- the rest are recycled from a station that couldn't
> make them work 10 years ago- and the ratings are dreadful.

Add the fact that they just dumped Boortz ... whose ad agency was promoting how well he did ... on WPGB ... before he was dumped there for Rush.

>
> Clark Howard makes Rob Pratte look like Larry King. I have
> never heard anyone so uninteresting in my life. And what's
> with the overuse of the "Fine Young Cannibals"- or actually
> the same three second cut of "She Drives Me Crazy" over and
> over and over again- ANNOYING!!!!!

I don't know if Rob Pratte deserves such an insult (then again, King ought to have retired long ago), but Howard actually brings something to the market that isn't found anywhere else ... someone who seems to know what he's doing about something other than the politics of the day.

Then again, after picking up some good advice, I was switching to some other station, too.


>
> Their morning show consists of simulcasting WTAE-TV and a
> show on tape delay from the day before.
>
> It is awful.

Running TV news audio from 5 to 7 a.m. actually isn't a bad idea. Running a topical talk show on a 22-hour delay is.


>
> One thing you have forgotten to mention is Ellis Cannon- who
> I feel is overrated- but still presents a welcome
> alternative.
>
> If you can put the hip-hop references from a white 40
> something guy aside- he presents a much livlier show than
> Alexander and is a sane yet still quickly paced alternative
> to MadMan. WBGG isn't even trying to compete in this time
> slot, for whatever reason. So it's a natural Cannon will win
> that time slot in the race for sports gabbers.

WBGG doesn't try to compete in any time slot, unless you count Savran's radio side and all the play-by-play it does (simulcasting Clear Channel FMs for the most part, but also getting an MSA high school football feed and simulcasting WJPA-FM's Wildthings coverage).

>
> 104.7 still has a bit of a ways to go if you ask me. It's
> gone a bit down in the ratings but still has such an overall
> strong lineup I think it will continue to prove to be
> successful.
>
> You're right about the weekends- Rocco Pendola is just
> awful- and there doesn't seem to be a clean break in the
> evenings. Savage's first hour from 7-8 actually runs- what-
> from 10-11? Then they re-run Glenn Beck- GLENN BECK!- for
> two hours before going to Coast to Coast or whatever it is.


Beck is rerun because Clear Channel feels it needs to clear more of him than what it can do on WPGB (less than two hours live). They tout it as "between Quinn and Rush." Between Quinn and Paul Harvey is more accurate.

>
>
> Let me ask- when is the Pirates contract up? It would seem
> to me that if they could snag them from KDKA they'd have the
> perfect flow- a little pregame- ballgame and then a
> post-game show going from 6-1 or so.

If the Pirates won a few games once in a while, I'd agree.


>
> By the way- they get no ratings- but "The Edge" on 1550
> actually has a strong programming lineup with Imus, Liddy,
> Don and Mike, and Veykis. The Comedy Hour and Sporting News
> Radio isn't too bad either.
>
>

WURP also has no signal (1,000 day, 40 at night) and an ownership that does little more than tout its other businesses. (More accurately, a tenant that does little more than tout its other businesses. It is still owned by Inner City Broadcasting.)

>
>
>
>
> > I started a new thread because although I wish to discuss
> > WPGB, it is in a different light then the thread below.
> The
> > question is WPGB really that good or is it that the
> > News/Talk situation in Pittsburgh is that bad?
> >
> > Let's analyze a little. Two years ago we had KDKA running
> > ridiculous amounts of commercials, horrible imaging, hosts
>
> > that took 6 to 7 weeks vacation per year, a newer and
> > slightly weak morning show, the Pirates who although well
> > listened to suck, etc. In other words, KDKA could have
> > easily been beaten by just about anything new.

Still can be. Nothing has changed.

> >
> > We also had 1360 WPTT which is really quite a good mostly
> > local talk station. They execute well, have good local
> hosts
> > from both sides of the aisle, etc. However they have
> serious
> > signal problems.
> >
> > We have WPIT and WORD. Yes talk info and talk formats, yes
>
> > very Christian oriented and niche, yes crappy signal on
> the
> > AM.

Amen on most counts. WPIT's day signal is possibly the best in the market, reaching from Erie to West Virginia on most days, and reaching most of Allegheny County even with 24 watts at night.

> >
> > Quinn was on WRRK getting good numbers but a strange
> format
> > for classic rock.
> >
> > You have some black oriented talk programming on WAMO 860
> at
> > night.
> >
> > The sports talk scene was pretty much wrapped up between
> > 1250 ESPN and Fox Sports.
> >
> > Then we have the All News 1410 KQV. They do a phenominal
> job
> > doing the all news format. They lack in good delivery
> (those
> > hosts/announcers are BOOOORING) and they have maybe the
> > worst signal ever.
> >
> > So based on this situation is it a big surprise that WPGB
> > did well? All they did was take some of the people who
> tuned
> > to Quinn on WRRK in the AM, tuned to Rush on KDKA, tuned
> to
> > Honz 3p-6p and funneled them into one station. They
> offered
> > some new programs like Hannity and Savage during an
> election
> > year. They did do some marketing and promotions to get
> > people on board. Their numbers went up dramatically.
> >
> > The real test will be over the next year. In the Spring
> book
> > Quinn and Rush did well as expected. But Hannity and
> Savage
> > were down. Basically NO ONE listens on the weekends. The
> two
> > shows that are basically new to Pittsburgh are down. Are
> > they losing their appeal already?
> >
> > Just posing some points on whether WPGB is a legitimate
> good
> > station or if they have won so far by default. Second, can
>
> > they keep up the numbers of success in the next 12 to 18
> > months?
> >
>

Believe this or not, there are listeners out there who still don't know WPGB exists. I get asked why Rush isn't heard in Pittsburgh any more. (And these are intelligent people who ask.)

But I digress ... WPGB runs a decent newscast for a Cleveland-based operation claiming to provide news-talk for Pittsburgh. But I suspect it will have to spend a few bucks for long-form coverage of events other than what they can pull off Clear Channel or ABC feeds, even if it's simulcasting TV partner Channel 11 during breaking news. (Real breaking news, not that slide thrown on the screen to raise blood pressures.)

Now I can go to bed. Good night.
 
> I have to disagree with your assessment of WPTT- because it
> is NOT a really good station. They have lost one local host
> (Bowyer)- the rest are recycled from a station that couldn't
> make them work 10 years ago- and the ratings are dreadful.
>
> Clark Howard makes Rob Pratte look like Larry King. I have
> never heard anyone so uninteresting in my life. And what's
> with the overuse of the "Fine Young Cannibals"- or actually
> the same three second cut of "She Drives Me Crazy" over and
> over and over again- ANNOYING!!!!!

I am trying not to assess WPTT's shows based on my personal tastes, but on what they are doing. They do TV news in the mornings which is unique. Then to Laura Ingraham, a die-hard syndicated conservative with some edge. Then onto local and well-known Lynn Cullen (who has had the best numbers on the station in the past.), to syndicated liberal Thom Hartmann, back to local Doug Hoerth and then onto Clark Howard as consumer talk.

In other words, WPTT offers a mighty different offering then any of the other talk stations. They stay unique enough to stay a player.


> Their morning show consists of simulcasting WTAE-TV and a
> show on tape delay from the day before.
>
> It is awful.
>
> One thing you have forgotten to mention is Ellis Cannon- who
> I feel is overrated- but still presents a welcome
> alternative.
>
> If you can put the hip-hop references from a white 40
> something guy aside- he presents a much livlier show than
> Alexander and is a sane yet still quickly paced alternative
> to MadMan. WBGG isn't even trying to compete in this time
> slot, for whatever reason. So it's a natural Cannon will win
> that time slot in the race for sports gabbers.
>
> 104.7 still has a bit of a ways to go if you ask me. It's
> gone a bit down in the ratings but still has such an overall
> strong lineup I think it will continue to prove to be
> successful.
>
> You're right about the weekends- Rocco Pendola is just
> awful- and there doesn't seem to be a clean break in the
> evenings. Savage's first hour from 7-8 actually runs- what-
> from 10-11? Then they re-run Glenn Beck- GLENN BECK!- for
> two hours before going to Coast to Coast or whatever it is.
>
>
> Let me ask- when is the Pirates contract up? It would seem
> to me that if they could snag them from KDKA they'd have the
> perfect flow- a little pregame- ballgame and then a
> post-game show going from 6-1 or so.
>
> By the way- they get no ratings- but "The Edge" on 1550
> actually has a strong programming lineup with Imus, Liddy,
> Don and Mike, and Veykis. The Comedy Hour and Sporting News
> Radio isn't too bad either.
 
WPIT's day signal is possibly the best
> in the market, reaching from Erie to West Virginia on most
> days, and reaching most of Allegheny County even with 24
> watts at night.

I didn't realize they had suck a good day signal. I had been told they didn't. Thanks for the correction.
>
 
Thanks!

Well, I knew it wasn't Mediate . . .

But seriously- the show isn't even high school radio quality.

I think you can tell a lot about the various hosts by what they say on the station websites.

Demarco has some sort of unfunny joke with an old man playing the xylaphone (am I spelling that right) on his site. I realize he's young- which should really be a positive- but maybe a bit of bio on where he's from- on what he did in student radio- and the promotion of what he wants to do on his current show would be more appropriate and appeal to the audience better.

With Demarco- where there should be energy there is instead stupidity.



On to WPTT. Doug Hoerth writes on his bio that "I never had the fire in my belly."

If you don't have the energy to succeed- and you amazingly readily admit it- why should I have the energy to listen?

On the rest of the lineup- Clark Howard is no Dave Ramsey. It simply is a VERY boring show.

They are playing the same show 104.7 is overnight- and a recorded program that will give you no lead-in to your top gun is an embarassment (as is- I believe- running the TV sound of WTAE in the morning- but we've been through that).

If you're a Cullen fan- fine. Say so. But they have totally tried to build around her show and the results aren't there.

I feel Jerry Bowyer had the right idea.






> Before everyone else goes into the wayback machine along
> with me, Rocco Demarco is who Pratte4Life is referring to,
> not Rocco Pendola...
>
> Could Ed Tyll be far behind .
>
 
> I am trying not to assess WPTT's shows based on my personal
> tastes, but on what they are doing. They do TV news in the
> mornings which is unique. Then to Laura Ingraham, a die-hard
> syndicated conservative with some edge. Then onto local and
> well-known Lynn Cullen (who has had the best numbers on the
> station in the past.), to syndicated liberal Thom Hartmann,
> back to local Doug Hoerth and then onto Clark Howard as
> consumer talk.
>
> In other words, WPTT offers a mighty different offering then
> any of the other talk stations. They stay unique enough to
> stay a player.

No, what they offer is such a hodge-podge that one never knows what to expect when one tunes in, unless one is such an intense listener that one pays attention to the time of day for each show. Most listeners simply hit a selector button on their car radio for the programming that they want. If they want a certain kind of music, they hit button #1. For a certain kind of talk, they hit button #2, etc. But when you hit the button for WPTT, you only know what to expect if you memorize their schedule and consult your wrist watch. Most listeners aren't motivated enough to do that.

Then, most radio progamming executives don't have a clue about the tastes or habits of the typical radio listener, and they get all pissy when a listener tries to tell them anything.
 
> Just posing some points on whether WPGB is a legitimate good
> station or if they have won so far by default.

Of course they're only winning by default. That's how all Pittsburgh radio stations succeed. The best rated stations in Pittsburgh are where they are because their competition is even worse.

> Second, can
> they keep up the numbers of success in the next 12 to 18
> months?

Sure, they can. As weak as their programming is, their competition's programming will continue to be even weaker.
 
Re: Thanks!

Do you ever get anything right? The "fire in my belly" quote refers to his not moving to another market and staying in Pittsburgh for over 20 years.

Here's how it appears on the site:


Two decades in one radio market is a pretty amazing feat. What kept him here?

"When you want to go, nobody wants you. When you're happy, then you get job offers," Hoerth says. "My game plan was to move on. But the truth of the matter is, I never had the fire in my belly - to use a Hubert Humphrey political term - like guys like Stern have to make zillions of dollars. I enjoy what I do. I also got very comfortable here."





> On to WPTT. Doug Hoerth writes on his bio that "I never had
> the fire in my belly."
>
> If you don't have the energy to succeed- and you amazingly
> readily admit it- why should I have the energy to listen?
 
> > I am trying not to assess WPTT's shows based on my
> personal
> > tastes, but on what they are doing. They do TV news in the
>
> > mornings which is unique. Then to Laura Ingraham, a
> die-hard
> > syndicated conservative with some edge. Then onto local
> and
> > well-known Lynn Cullen (who has had the best numbers on
> the
> > station in the past.), to syndicated liberal Thom
> Hartmann,
> > back to local Doug Hoerth and then onto Clark Howard as
> > consumer talk.
> >
> > In other words, WPTT offers a mighty different offering
> then
> > any of the other talk stations. They stay unique enough to
>
> > stay a player.
>
> No, what they offer is such a hodge-podge that one never
> knows what to expect when one tunes in, unless one is such
> an intense listener that one pays attention to the time of
> day for each show. Most listeners simply hit a selector
> button on their car radio for the programming that they
> want. If they want a certain kind of music, they hit button
> #1. For a certain kind of talk, they hit button #2, etc. But
> when you hit the button for WPTT, you only know what to
> expect if you memorize their schedule and consult your wrist
> watch. Most listeners aren't motivated enough to do that.
>
> Then, most radio progamming executives don't have a clue
> about the tastes or habits of the typical radio listener,
> and they get all pissy when a listener tries to tell them
> anything.
>
Man you are an angry person. What's your beef?

Your argument is that people cannot figure out what time their program is on? Gee, that hasn't worked for TV for 60 years. I know that the show Numbers is on CBS at 10PM on Friday evenings. It is not a very popular show, but one I enjoy. I don't get the newspaper so I don't have a channels guide. I just found it, liked it and remembered when it was on.

WPTT offers a variety of programs. Some better then others. But of course people's tastes are different. What is wrong with offering a hodgepodge? Of course the whole Top 40 format is a hodgepodge of songs that are top of the chart.
 
> No, what they offer is such a hodge-podge that one never
> knows what to expect when one tunes in, unless one is such
> an intense listener that one pays attention to the time of
> day for each show. Most listeners simply hit a selector
> button on their car radio for the programming that they
> want. If they want a certain kind of music, they hit button
> #1. For a certain kind of talk, they hit button #2, etc. But
> when you hit the button for WPTT, you only know what to
> expect if you memorize their schedule and consult your wrist
> watch. Most listeners aren't motivated enough to do that.
>
> Then, most radio progamming executives don't have a clue
> about the tastes or habits of the typical radio listener,
> and they get all pissy when a listener tries to tell them
> anything.

OK, just so we get this straight:

You have just condoned HOMOGENOUS RADIO PROGRAMMING, where every listener knows what to expect when one tunes in.

You may now turn in your badge--you have just defeated the reasoning of every post you have written previously...including those about limited playlists.

Sit down now, and take a breath, Realist. Even I can't save you now.
 
> You have just condoned HOMOGENOUS RADIO PROGRAMMING, where
> every listener knows what to expect when one tunes in.
>
> You may now turn in your badge--you have just defeated the
> reasoning of every post you have written
> previously...including those about limited playlists.
>
> Sit down now, and take a breath, Realist. Even I can't save
> you now.

Yes, to a degree, I have. Homgenous to the extent that when you tune in WRRK, you know you'll hear classic rock, not polkas. When you tune in WBGG, you'll hear sports talk, not discussions of gardening or needlepoint. And when you tune in WPGB, you know you'll hear conservative political talk.

But those homogenous formats are really big tents, that cover a wide, wide amount of stuff. For example, when WRRK did their A to Z stunt a year ago, they went for over a week without repeating a single song. Any other music format station that plays any vintage format should be able to do the same thing. Therefore, there's no excuse for a station playing the same few songs every single day.

As for political talk radio, it's not that much different. Within the confines of one political alignment or another, there's still room for a fresh day of content every day.

It's one thing to expect to hear a good pop song from the 70's when one tunes into a particular station. There must be several thousand such songs in any oldies station's music library. It's another to know that the song will ALWAYS be Terry Jack's "Seasons in the Sun".

To put it another way, it's one thing to know that you'll hear a song by Led Zepplin at least once a day. It's another to know that you'll hear "Stairway to Heaven" once every hour.
 
> Man you are an angry person. What's your beef?

I like to listen to radio, but lately it really, really sucks.

> Your argument is that people cannot figure out what time
> their program is on? Gee, that hasn't worked for TV for 60
> years. I know that the show Numbers is on CBS at 10PM on
> Friday evenings. It is not a very popular show, but one I
> enjoy. I don't get the newspaper so I don't have a channels
> guide. I just found it, liked it and remembered when it was
> on.

The thing is, on television you watch PROGRAMS, while on radio you listen to PROGRAMMING. There's a difference. TV shows are usually stories, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. When you want to watch a story, you want to see the entire thing. Radio is something you turn on when you get into your car, or to serve as background noise in your home or office. There aren't any real "programs" left on radio, except NPR or PRI offerings like "Prairie Home Companion", "Fresh Aire", or "Car Talk".

> WPTT offers a variety of programs. Some better then others.
> But of course people's tastes are different. What is wrong
> with offering a hodgepodge? Of course the whole Top 40
> format is a hodgepodge of songs that are top of the chart.

What's wrong with offering a hodgepodge is that it doesn't work with listeners in the third millenium. That's why Top 40 died, and why it's lame step-child, CHR, is also dying. Radio broadcasters successfully being all things to all listeners ended around the time radio stopped using vacuum tubes.
 
> > Just posing some points on whether WPGB is a legitimate
> good
> > station or if they have won so far by default.
>
> Of course they're only winning by default. That's how all
> Pittsburgh radio stations succeed. The best rated stations
> in Pittsburgh are where they are because their competition
> is even worse.

WHAT????

I think that when your competition is worse than you, that means you WIN.

I think, and I'd have to check now...yep, correct--the same in PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

And it's not default. There is no default in Pittsburgh radio, except maybe for standards. Even BROKERED ALTERNTIVE MEDICINE PROGRAMS have competition (620 vs. 660).

> > Second, can
> > they keep up the numbers of success in the next 12 to 18
> > months?
>
> Sure, they can. As weak as their programming is, their
> competition's programming will continue to be even weaker.

Not necessarily. We've seen WPGB off its highs; and KDKA remains strong in whatever its demo is (maybe they really do play to 12+, who knows).

Gloomy Gus, why do you think that every station has weak programming--and the ratings "success" is all based on a matter of degree of weakness?
 
> WHAT????
>
> I think that when your competition is worse than you, that
> means you WIN.
>
> I think, and I'd have to check now...yep, correct--the same
> in PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
>
> And it's not default. There is no default in Pittsburgh
> radio, except maybe for standards. Even BROKERED ALTERNTIVE
> MEDICINE PROGRAMS have competition (620 vs. 660).

If you are content to win because even though your station really sucks, but the other stations suck even worse, then be content. Being content is good.

Someday (maybe) a radio station in Pittsburgh will start being actually good, and will blow all the other stations off the air. Then again, someday Pittsburgh might also get a winning baseball team. I'm not holding my breath waiting for either event.

> Gloomy Gus, why do you think that every station has weak
> programming--and the ratings "success" is all based on a
> matter of degree of weakness?

Because I LISTEN to Pittsburgh radio. I HEAR the crap broadcast in Pittsburgh. It sucks, but the radio broadcast in Pittsburgh is the only radio available to listen to in Pittsburgh.

Radio in Pittsburgh is like the MRE's they gave to the evacuees in the Lousiana Superdome. When they're the only thing available to eat, you eat them.
 
Re: Thanks!

Mad- the fact of the matter is you like grating, sarcastic hosts and I do not.

And certainly anyone listening to his show now would agree he does not have "the fire in his belly"- just as he did not have the "fire in his belly" to fully recognize his career goals.
 
Re: Thanks!

> Mad- the fact of the matter is you like grating, sarcastic
> hosts and I do not.
>
> And certainly anyone listening to his show now would agree
> he does not have "the fire in his belly"- just as he did not
> have the "fire in his belly" to fully recognize his career
> goals.

On the other hand, he does do a lame imitation of Dean Martin from the old "Dean Martin Show", circa 1968. Not many broadcasters rip off such obscure schtick.
 
Sigh...

RR, it's a shame you're so bitter -- consistently -- regarding every observation you put forth. It would help, though, if you went beyond "radio sucks"...there is no credibility if this is the total argument.

Regarding program schedules, uh, this is what we call dayparts. And people who listen to the radio are creatures of habit (as are people in general). People learn who is on when and, as another pointed out, television has long since proven that "destination" programming is possible. If you do not believe radio listeners know what comes on when, answer my phones sometime when a feature is preempted.

You simply cannot have it both ways -- radio that is homogenous as well as engaging/delightful. You're asking for this, and it is not achievable via mass media.

What *is* achievable is radio so well-executed, so over-the-top, and professional enough that it transcends the petty complaints I'm hearing from you over and over again. Few on this board, including me, can describe this very specifically, but it reminds me of a book about quality called "I Know It When I See It". It also reminds me of art, a field in which brilliance can transcend closed minds with respect to taste. And reach all demographics regardless of the times we're living in and the medium. Think "Mona Lisa"; think the Louvre; think a digital image of it at the end of this post; think Nat King Cole fading up as you read this.

Please respect my medium. For radio to succeed, it must again become art. Anything else is a jukebox, Ipod or CD changer. Celebrate *any* radio station that is allowing its on-air talent to create. The best will emerge. And -- whether you personally like them or not -- the talent is still there. Look for the art; avoid what you do not like. But if the world is full of things you do not like, please -- and I mean this with all due respect and out of kindness -- look in the mirror. Perhaps "Mona Lisa" would not move you either.
 
Re: Thanks!

Ah, you're leaping to incorrect conclusions (again). I'm not a Hoerth listener at all. But I was familiar with the website note and immediately recognized your failure to put it in the proper context.





> Mad- the fact of the matter is you like grating, sarcastic
> hosts and I do not.
>
> And certainly anyone listening to his show now would agree
> he does not have "the fire in his belly"- just as he did not
> have the "fire in his belly" to fully recognize his career
> goals.
>
 
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