Merlin Media sold news-talk 106.9

[MikefromDelaware]

I was on the cusp of the end of local broadcasting, getting into the business in early 1987. I'm still an advocate for it, and wrote extensively on how to save music radio back when WYSP died. (The essay can be found at http://cnx.com/?p=1504 for the curious.) Local is key.

Rush Limbaugh became successful not because of his ideology but because his show was entertaining and he gave it away for barter, which made it an attractive option for stations looking to cut costs. Neither of the two things that put him on top is true any longer, so it's not surprising that the show is in decline.

Some people try to cite the backlash and "boycotts" of sponsors as the reason the show is declining, but that's not true. I did traffic for a local Rush affiliate in the mid 1990's, and can tell you that those "no Limbaugh" orders from most national accounts were in existence even then. It's not pressure that's making the show harder to sell, it's the lack of quality in the program and the desires of most advertisers to avoid a show that has become radioactive. The same thing is killing the Glenn Beck show, and it's fallout from those two that are taking down Hannity.

Talk radio, even political talk, existed before Rush Limbaugh and will outlive his show if innovative programmers act to salvage the format. That means local shows, local hosts, and local issues. Nowadays they can be done cheaper than the syndicated shows and provide more compelling listening than more of the same.

Merlin's best option for WWIQ would have been FM News taking on KYW. More of an audience to split than the already-saturated conservative talk format, and one they probably could have done cheaper. But they learned the wrong lessons from New York and Chicago, abandoning the concept instead of fine-tuning it.

Pat brings up a good point. Interestingly, WDEL in Wilmington dropped Rush a number of years ago and went Live and Local in all day parts. AM Drive - news block, 9am-12n Liberal local talk [he discusses both national and local issues, plus some non-political things too], Noon-1pm newsblock with news analysis and commentary, 1pm -4pm Conservative local talk [he discusses both national and local issues, plus some non-political things too], 4pm-6pm PM Drive News block. WDEL also airs Phillies and Eagles. So they resemble WPHT in a number of ways.

The other news talker in Wilmington WILM, owned by CC, AM Drive live and local newstalk, very political, 9am for rest of day/night from the Premiere Bird with the usual gang : Beck/Rush/Hannity/Savage, Levine, etc,. The only local news after AM drive is a 60 second news headline capsule each half hour.


I have no access to real numbers, but in terms of 6+ numbers, WDEL beats WILM. Listen to either station for any length of time and its obvious which station is billing more local spots vs PSA's, its WDEL hands down.

The only difference I see between WDEL and WPHT is WDEL has a large news department, and covers Delaware news very well, plus has a great web site with Podcasts of their programming, plus CBS Radio, their affiliate. Whereas WPHT seems to air the local news almost as an after thought [of course their sister station is KYW, but am surprised they don't use their news department more on WPHT to make 1210 a more full service spoken word format station]. Also WDEL reminds folks they can listen to WDEL online at WDEL.com or their HD-2 WSTW location. I listen to WDEL.com at work, it sounds like FM, a far better listening experience for their talk shows. WDEL also airs the first two minute segment of CBS Radio Hourly News before going local with their Delaware News each hour, plus they air the other various CBS Radio feeds. They are the radio place in Wilmington to go to hear the state of union, etc, type programming [the only other radio source I can get here in Wilmington is WHYY-FM which also airs such programming via NPR]. So WDEL has made it a key part of who they are to be Delaware's real radio news and sports source.

You can check out both WDEL and WILM on line to hear the differences and why I believe WDEL has figured out a way to make live and local work. Could work in Philly. Both are Blue regions. We support the same sports teams, etc. I listen to WPHT sometimes, and like Dom up to a point, miss Smirconish though he offered a more varied show got you thinking, can't stand Dick Morris [dry, boring].

Also in Baltimore, WBAL is a live and local news/talker and it too beats out WCBM.

So if done right, a it would seem that a live and local news/talker should work in Philly. I agree that Rush lost his "magic" years ago when he was entertaining, now he's just a "secular" preacher, just as Hannity and Beck are. All predictable. Rant, rant, rant, day in day out. Boring. Every once in a while I'll tune in WILM to hear what Rush is saying, and its kind of like a soap opera, the plot on those shows is so slow, so predictable, I remember as a kid being home sick from school one day and hearing the TV and my mom watching that crap, a year later being home from school for sickness, and it seemed like I hadn't missed a thing in a year's time, same story, same plot. THAT's Rush/Beck/Hannity for my ears. NOT compelling radio.

Surly with Philly being a top 10 major market someone there at CBS radio [WPHT] can make a compelling talk station that's at least as good as market #78 Wilmington did [WDEL], or #21 Baltimore [WBAL] did. WPHT doesn't need Rush and Company to be successful.

 

[joshzz]

MikefromDel, you wrote>> "I agree that Rush lost his "magic" years ago when he was entertaining, now he's just a "secular" preacher, just as Hannity and Beck are. All predictable. Rant, rant, rant, day in day out. Boring."

I agree!!!!

You would think that with the money these nationally syndicated people make they would do something positive. The people they blast like former President Carter do more do in one day working at Habitat for Humanity than all of these talk show hosts have done in their lifetime, collectively speaking.

I believe Limbaugh has well over three hundred million dollars. The state he lives in, Florida has more homeless than just about every state in the US. He could open a food bank and start really making a difference for those in need. He's not going to be able to take the money with him when he dies, so why not do good and store up treasures in heaven.

 

[Small Market Guy]

MikefromDel, you wrote>> "I agree that Rush lost his "magic" years ago when he was entertaining, now he's just a "secular" preacher, just as Hannity and Beck are. All predictable. Rant, rant, rant, day in day out. Boring."

I agree!!!!

You would think that with the money these nationally syndicated people make they would do something positive. The people they blast like former President Carter do more do in one day working at Habitat for Humanity than all of these talk show hosts have done in their lifetime, collectively speaking.

I believe Limbaugh has well over three hundred million dollars. The state he lives in, Florida has more homeless than just about every state in the US. He could open a food bank and start really making a difference for those in need. He's not going to be able to take the money with him when he dies, so why not do good and store up treasures in heaven.

Hey, look! More unfounded nonsense. I guess you forget the annual leukemia telethon he does every year for the past 20 years of so. He even set up a company to sell tea run by his wife, in order to raise money for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.

What have YOU done?

 

[FredLeonard]

And before that, he set up another company for another wife to sell ties she designed. This was the "aerobics instructor" he met in an online chatroom. It's easy to set up a hobby business for your wife with the money he has. Is the tea business making any money?

I never seen his telethon. Rush's kids? Does he sing Walk Through A Storm and then collapse on camera at the end, too.

 

[Small Market Guy]

And before that, he set up another company for another wife to sell ties she designed. This was the "aerobics instructor" he met in an online chatroom. It's easy to set up a hobby business for your wife with the money he has. Is the tea business making any money?

I never seen his telethon. Rush's kids? Does he sing Walk Through A Storm and then collapse on camera at the end, too.

The bitterness is showing here. So what did big bad Rush do to you? Displace some local guy you used to listen to?

The fact is that Rush has raised more for charity than either of us will make in a lifetime.

 

[FredLeonard]

The bitterness is showing here. So what did big bad Rush do to you? Displace some local guy you used to listen to?

The fact is that Rush has raised more for charity than either of us will make in a lifetime.

I have no use for charities. Even less for people who give money to them because some personality participates in stunt.

Rush claims to be so damn concerned about leukemia but opposes health care reform. That's sick.

Broadcasters getting involved in fund-raising events is the grossest form of hypocrisy. It's all about promotion for the station, nobody else. And far too often the so-called charities spend most of the money on themselves, and on raising even more money.

So, why are you so in love with El Rushbo. Liking a show is one thing. Hero worship is another. Lots of engaging personalities are real SOBs if you get to know them. If you become a Big Market Guy you'll find that out. In the meantime watch A Face In The Crowd.

 

[Small Market Guy]

So, why are you so in love with El Rushbo. Liking a show is one thing.

I don't even like his show. I just don't like when people who think they know about this business go around spreading lies.

 

[wprt949]

im gonna say K-love either signs on this week or September 1st

 

[deepstblu]

im gonna say K-love either signs on this week or September 1st

The last sale of 106.9 took three months to close. The sale of 950 took three months to close. Does anybody have any good reason to think that this sale won't take about three months to close?

 

[FredLeonard]

im gonna say K-love either signs on this week or September 1st

The last sale of 106.9 took three months to close. The sale of 950 took three months to close. Does anybody have any good reason to think that this sale won't take about three months to close?

Gee, that means they'd close just in time to start stunting with all Christmas music. ;D

 

[wprt949]

K-love does not go all Christmas Like salem fish stations do