• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Monadnock Region Radio Stations

S

sgtpepper9999

Hi,

I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.

I would like to know what people think of each station that broadcasts in the Keene listening area.

I am trying to listen to each one and formulate my own opinion....but I would like your input as well.

I guess I am looking for your thoughts on the format, dj's (if any), are they pre-recorded or not, equipment issues, signal issues, etc...

I would like to get as much of a detailed scope as possible on each station...

Thanks!

Bryan
 
Turn the calendar back 30 years and that would be me in the same place! WKNH at KSC was an exciting place in a growth mode that doesn't seem to have sustained that growth lately. The story of Keene commercial radio these days is basically the saga of Saga. They own everything in town, so a lot rides on the reputation of this company that also owns a string of stations from Brattleboro (WKVT AM & FM) down through Springfield (WAQY & more).

The number of local stations in town alone has doubled since the 70s, but that doesn't mean the openings have. It was possible back then to land a minimally paid airshift with NO experience, but internships weren't that plentiful even with more live and local content. My advice would be to cast your net as wide as possible to learn every aspect of radio, and don't hesitate to check into other towns. WTSA in Brattleboro is still locally owned. Maybe Tim there could use a Keene correspondent. Gas was climbing back in 1974, too, but I made the trips to Springfield & Brattleboro, VT as long as I had a set of wheels.

Get to know why they do what they do and then how they do it. The performance end will come with time. Many newcomers fail to get an understanding of radio as a business. Even at this later stage of the game, it's great for me when it all works well, whether it's big or small market, my programming or someone else's. It's both science (not rocket) and art to reach out to those listeners who are there but may never let you know it. I thought I had all the answers then, but don't now. Don't worry about signal, format or equipment issues. It's all a learning experience in a less than perfect world. Go get 'em!


> Hi,
>
> I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to
> get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.
>
> I would like to know what people think of each station that
> broadcasts in the Keene listening area.
>
> I am trying to listen to each one and formulate my own
> opinion....but I would like your input as well.
>
> I guess I am looking for your thoughts on the format, dj's
> (if any), are they pre-recorded or not, equipment issues,
> signal issues, etc...
>
> I would like to get as much of a detailed scope as possible
> on each station...
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bryan
>
 
You may not realize that KNE gets FAR more requests/applicants for internships/jobs than we have openings, like most stations. If you truly want a gig in radio, I wish you the best of luck, but remember rejection is a big part of every performing arts career.
If you didn't get in in Keene, what about Brat, Lebanon, Claremont, Greenfield or Concord?
A lot of getting that first gig is being in the right place at the right time.
Again, best of luck, and keep trying.

> Hi,
>
> I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to
> get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.
>
 
> The story of Keene commercial radio these days is basically
> the saga of Saga. They own everything in town, so a lot
> rides on the reputation of this company that also owns a
> string of stations from Brattleboro (WKVT AM & FM) down
> through Springfield (WAQY & more).

> WTSA in Brattleboro is still locally owned. Maybe Tim there could
> use a Keene correspondent. Gas was climbing back in 1974,
> too, but I made the trips to Springfield & Brattleboro, VT
> as long as I had a set of wheels.

Don't forget WYRY which is also locally owned.

> > Get to know why they do what they do and then how they do
> it. The performance end will come with time. Many newcomers
> fail to get an understanding of radio as a business. Even
> at this later stage of the game, it's great for me when it
> all works well, whether it's big or small market, my
> programming or someone else's. It's both science (not
> rocket) and art to reach out to those listeners who are
> there but may never let you know it. I thought I had all
> the answers then, but don't now. Don't worry about signal,
> format or equipment issues. It's all a learning experience
> in a less than perfect world. Go get 'em!

One thing about the SAGA group in Keene, is that they are probably just as advanced techincally as the much larger markets. If I am not mistaken, the SAGA group in Keene is all new studios, I do know that WKNE and WOQL both have new transmitter facilities. But you're right, sometimes you start in a studio with carts and turntables still, being held together with masking tape and duracell batteries on pots to keep them working.
 
Your're right, Saga's cluster in Keene is as advanced as any I've ever been in, regardless of market size in both xmtr and studio facilities. I don't know what they spent, but I bet it had to be a million plus between the studios, the 4 or 5 new transmitters, and some new processing in the past year or 2.
WOQL (97.7 Winchendon) also got a new antenna when they moved the site from Winchendon to Fitzwilliam, NH in a deal that allowed WBOT (97.7 Brockton) to upgrade closer to Boston-I think Scott Fybush covered that story on NERW recently.
>
> One thing about the SAGA group in Keene, is that they are
> probably just as advanced techincally as the much larger
> markets. If I am not mistaken, the SAGA group in Keene is
> all new studios, I do know that WKNE and WOQL both have new
> transmitter facilities. But you're right, sometimes you
> start in a studio with carts and turntables still, being
> held together with masking tape and duracell batteries on
> pots to keep them working.


>
 
I'm surprised that any station would turn down potential interns. There is so much to do in the radio business that I can't imagine any station turning down free labor. Good luck Bryan in finding something.

> Hi,
>
> I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to
> get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.
>
> I would like to know what people think of each station that
> broadcasts in the Keene listening area.
>
> I am trying to listen to each one and formulate my own
> opinion....but I would like your input as well.
>
> I guess I am looking for your thoughts on the format, dj's
> (if any), are they pre-recorded or not, equipment issues,
> signal issues, etc...
>
> I would like to get as much of a detailed scope as possible
> on each station...
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bryan
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Best,
Anthony Schinella
CEO/PD/A&E
WKXL 1450 AM/Concord, NH
http://www.wkxl1450.com
http://politizine.blogspot.com</P>
 
If you're looking for more of an academic discussion of local radio as opposed to picking out good places to intern, the subject of signal begins and ends with WKNE. While a signal nightmare west of Concord with WPKQ, nobody blankets Cheshire & Windham Counties - their home market - like 103.7. You'd have to mess up pretty big to lose the advantage of signal alone. Judging by the positioning of four of Saga's five formats, they seem to be doing something right.

98.7 WINQ is second in signal, and it made sense to put country there since it's stronger than oldies these days. They obviously want to crowd out WYRY in that arena, which has serious problems in Keene itself coming from between Hinsdale & Winchester near the Mass line.

A 105.5 translator doesn't hurt WYRY's Keene coverage, but it doesn't go far. Being the first country FM is about the best point in their favor.

Give 97.7 WOQL credit for moving in closer to Keene to upgrade their signal. At least it gives oldies a continued presence in the market. That wouldn't have been the case coming from Winchendon, Mass.

On AM, the WKBK move to 1290 was smart, even if the towns south of Keene got a bit less day signal than at 1220. If 1290 were situated south of Keene beamed north, 1220 never would have had a chance to prevail for years, but 1220's programming won out. I don't know why they shelved the Imus, sports & male-leaning talk on what's now WZBK-1220 for standards. Keene isn't exactly a retirement community, and there is certainly room for two types of talk formats.

The out-of-towners such as Brattleboro or Claremont offer some alternatives like classic rock and compete for advertisers, but Keene will be more of a secondary source of their listeners in a very divided up pie. The choices are greater than the 70s when WKBK-1220 signed off at sunset, WKNE-1290 said goodnight after the 11:00PM news and WNBX-103.7 was an automated beautiful music carousel out of a closet with its potential yet to be unleashed.


> Hi,
>
> I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to
> get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.
>
> I would like to know what people think of each station that
> broadcasts in the Keene listening area.
>
> I am trying to listen to each one and formulate my own
> opinion....but I would like your input as well.
>
> I guess I am looking for your thoughts on the format, dj's
> (if any), are they pre-recorded or not, equipment issues,
> signal issues, etc...
>
> I would like to get as much of a detailed scope as possible
> on each station...
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bryan
>
 
Thanks to all who gave me some ideas. I have set my sights for Boston stations.


> Hi,
>
> I am a student at Keene State College in Keene. I tried to
> get an internship at WKNE but wasnt successful.
>
> I would like to know what people think of each station that
> broadcasts in the Keene listening area.
>
> I am trying to listen to each one and formulate my own
> opinion....but I would like your input as well.
>
> I guess I am looking for your thoughts on the format, dj's
> (if any), are they pre-recorded or not, equipment issues,
> signal issues, etc...
>
> I would like to get as much of a detailed scope as possible
> on each station...
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bryan
>
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom