More changes coming at The River

[speakup]

Hey Skipper. What's your definition of "pure Christian AC?" Seems to me, an effective Christian AC is about real-life stories, mixed with the Uplifting Music.

 

[xianbroadcaster]

First, Tesh is a top notch winning show that scores well with women.

WCVO long ago made a real effort to impact the general masses and I see that this does nothing but improve their chances of doing so.

For those of you arguing about a pure Christian AC...I am not sure I understand what you are talking about...Generally the framework of a Christian AC is to serve the same audience of mainstream AC stations only from a Christian world view, right? How does Tesh interrupt or interfere with that? As I understand it, Tesh falling to CVO is nothing more than a real win for them.

 

[speakup]

ditto

 

[Collision]

...but the AC/CHR side is needed in a market of that size and culture.... :'(

Amen, Skipper T.

Speakup, to me the station has been declining overall with their on-air presence ever since Dan and Tracy ended in the morning. Jake has always done well and continues to do so because of the consistency in the afternoon slot. My heart is for radio done by local personalities (like Jake) not syndicated shows like Scott and Sam and John Tesh. It's sad that a station probably bringing in $3-4M in revenue doesn't have a local morning show. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Sunny is live all day except for Delilah. If they want to compete with Sunny, then they need to be more local with their DJ's. It gives the station local personality, which I believe keeps the listener tuning in for more than just the music.

 

[xianbroadcaster]

...but the AC/CHR side is needed in a market of that size and culture.... :'(

Amen, Skipper T.

Speakup, to me the station has been declining overall with their on-air presence ever since Dan and Tracy ended in the morning. Jake has always done well and continues to do so because of the consistency in the afternoon slot. My heart is for radio done by local personalities (like Jake) not syndicated shows like Scott and Sam and John Tesh. It's sad that a station probably bringing in $3-4M in revenue doesn't have a local morning show. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Sunny is live all day except for Delilah. If they want to compete with Sunny, then they need to be more local with their DJ's. It gives the station local personality, which I believe keeps the listener tuning in for more than just the music.

Well, maybe, maybe not...I mean at some point in this you start arguing against yourself.

I understand having a heart for local radio but with that as a priority you start offing K-Love, Way, etc from the landscape who are establishing and broadening the reach of the market.

I am not an apologist for WCVO as I do not listen to them at all and have not for years simply because I find their approach stomach turning and sappy. I am too old for RadioU so the screamfest they put on isn't my cup of tea either.

The key to good radio, live, local or tracked and syndicated is to stay out of the way of the product which on music stations is the music.

 

[speakup]

Collision. Without the benefit of having heard Dan and Tracy, I'll take your word that they had a good show. Fact is, the ratings are about the same as when they were on the air. I doubt seriously that The River is bringing in 3 to 4 million.

 

[pbf1]

My heart is for radio done by local personalities (like Jake) not syndicated shows like Scott and Sam and John Tesh.

Maybe, but the average listener wants a GOOD show, and cares little about whether it's happening in Cowtown or near the Space Needle.

 

[skippertthomas]

I guess I need to clarifyl.. I like Tesh and have no problems with him.. But, his show rubs many CCM people to scratch heads... I think he does a great job sharing and proding folks about what he lives and believes, without preaching, but to many from the middle and on to the right of scale, it's a commercial show aimed at standard AC and not CCM-AC... I don't mind and we've come along way, but alot of our pew goers we target feel the local is fading away and now a show that is someone in the spiritual litmus test between heaven and hell..... And, yet, I don't promote a format that inists on a set minimum number of JPM's (Jesus name mentioned, per minute)......"Skip"

 

[ScottyPitBull]

John Tesh has TWO versions of his program. One is heard on mix-type to hot AC/CHR radio stations like WHBC94.1 in Canton, Ohio. THe other is designed specifically for CCM/Christian owned/formated stations like 955The Fish in Cleveland. Both are similar in their conversational style about daily topics and newsucanuse. My wife enjoys listening to Tesh on The FISH, as does my 14 yr old daughter. Even my 12 yr old son enjoys Tesh.--David9396, formerly David5258

Addendum--used to listen to Todd on Cleveland's FISH when he took over middays from RadioElizabeth. If he takes on the PD responsibilities, I'd like to hear him return to morning drive. BTW Todd, why does the schedule have a hole in it from 0845 to 1030?

OK... just a little bit of clarification.... and trust me, I know the Tesh show very well.

Actually, the above posting is "sorta" right, but sorta wrong. CONTENT-Wise.... there is only one version of the DAILY Tesh show. It is offered either via Satellite (with Mainstream AC music programmed), or via voicetrack, whereby local stations can put in their own music, have Tesh do custom back announces, localizations, even time-checks and temp/weather checks. The voicetrack version is what about 70% of the Tesh affiliates use (and yes, that is an accurate % number). All of the affiliates that run Tesh during the daytime (ie: the market where pbf1 is in, where Tesh pulls a 33 share), use the voicetrack version. Additionally, most of the larger markets (whether AC or not) use the voicetrack version (ie-KFSH/Los Angeles, KPLZ/Seattle, WMTX/Tampa, WKTI/Milwaukee, etc.). Thru the voicetrack version, the show is on multiple formats, including AC, Christian AC, Hot AC, Oldies, Adult Standards, Smooth Jazz, etc.

The Fish in Cleveland (as well as The Fish/Los Angeles, The Fish/Sacramento) AND WHBC/Canton all use the same voicetrack version of the program. The imaging, specific copy localization and customization (which Tesh does for affiliates), and of course the MUSIC differentiate it station to station and market to market.

As far as being scientific.... look at the arb numbers. Heck, anyone can nay-say, but Tesh pulls in RATINGS.

Just my 2¢

>>Scotty

 

[david9396]

fascinating analysis of Tesh. i've heard him on both 955FISH and 941WHBC. my impression of the program was that i was hearing 2 specifically tailored formats and content of the program. as a CHristian, Tesh lives out his testimony and provides salt to his radio communities. as a host, Tesh is entertaining, knowledgeable and frequently offers some food to chew on. TOdd is making a great programming decision to offer Tesh to his listeners. --david9396 formerly known as david5258

 

[BehindTheLines]

fascinating analysis of Tesh. i've heard him on both 955FISH and 941WHBC. my impression of the program was that i was hearing 2 specifically tailored formats and content of the program. as a CHristian, Tesh lives out his testimony and provides salt to his radio communities. as a host, Tesh is entertaining, knowledgeable and frequently offers some food to chew on. TOdd is making a great programming decision to offer Tesh to his listeners. --david9396 formerly known as david5258

Todd had nothing to do with the Tesh decision.

 

[NotMe]

Speakup: Actually, the ratings were about a point to a point and a half higher when Dan and Tracy were doing the morning show.

 

[ToddStach]

Actually, the ratings were at their highest when Greg and Laura Lee filled-in for Dan & Tracy in Fall 2005 (Dan was out with heart surgery and Tracy had a baby). Plus, there were billboards and TV commercials everywhere, and The River was new and still in a "honeymoon period" in Columbus.

I'm not justifying lower ratings now, but I've noticed a "honeymoon period" play out in most of the Fish markets as well.

How do you know that I had NOTHING to do with John Tesh coming to the River? What cereal did I have for breakfast today (I can't wait to read the answers since many of those who post seem to know everyone at the River so intimately).

Todd

 

[neutralobserver]

For whatever reason, "there must be money problems" and "it was better when" posts are made everytime any event happens at this station. That's just sad and pathetic.

Regarding Kurt, let me offer a couple of hypotheticals that are much more interesting and logical:

-- Kurt's old stomping ground of 93.9 in Indianapolis signs on a new format this week; when the station was killed and Kurt left, it and he were #1 W35-44 and #2 or 3 W25-54. Isn't that worth getting back? The format wasn't picked back up in the market, AND the station should go from a class A to a B1 this year, making it much easier to hear and even more likely to be able to be listened to through the whole day. Wouldn't that opportunity make a return of "The Song" a slam dunk and, combined with the market's legendary country leader and a leaning-more-female-friendly-every-day classic hits station, that cluster the far-and-away choice for women in Indy?

-- "The Fish" in Kurt's old stomping ground of Atlanta has been looking for a PD for a good while.

Now, aren't those much better than the usual automatic replies in any thread involving this station?

 

[BehindTheLines]

Actually, the ratings were at their highest when Greg and Laura Lee filled-in for Dan & Tracy in Fall 2005 (Dan was out with heart surgery and Tracy had a baby). Plus, there were billboards and TV commercials everywhere, and The River was new and still in a "honeymoon period" in Columbus.

I'm not justifying lower ratings now, but I've noticed a "honeymoon period" play out in most of the Fish markets as well.

How do you know that I had NOTHING to do with John Tesh coming to the River? What cereal did I have for breakfast today (I can't wait to read the answers since many of those who post seem to know everyone at the River so intimately).

Todd

You had frosted flakes. And you left your socks on the floor.

-Your wife

 

[BehindTheLines]

By the way,

I have no way of knowing whether or not you had any imput with the Tesh decision. I was just shooting my mouth off. Sorry. I guess I was kind of inconsiderate. You have my apologies.

 

[ToddStach]

By the way,

I have no way of knowing whether or not you had any imput with the Tesh decision. I was just shooting my mouth off. Sorry. I guess I was kind of inconsiderate. You have my apologies.

Apology accepted.

todd

 

[KountryBill]

So are you going to get to keep the PD stripes? It makes sense. Either you or Mike Russel would both make good PD's. You've both got the experience. Mike's been there a thousand years and isn't going anywhere. So he'd be great for stability. But you've held the PD stripes and even Station manager stripes before. So either one, really.

Here's hoping they make the right decision, whatever that is.

 

[speakup]

Wow! Someone actually uses their real name on this board? Way to go Todd Stach!

 

[Collision]

Regarding Kurt, let me offer a couple of hypotheticals that are much more interesting and logical:

-- Kurt's old stomping ground of 93.9 in Indianapolis signs on a new format this week; when the station was killed and Kurt left, it and he were #1 W35-44 and #2 or 3 W25-54. Isn't that worth getting back? The format wasn't picked back up in the market, AND the station should go from a class A to a B1 this year, making it much easier to hear and even more likely to be able to be listened to through the whole day. Wouldn't that opportunity make a return of "The Song" a slam dunk and, combined with the market's legendary country leader and a leaning-more-female-friendly-every-day classic hits station, that cluster the far-and-away choice for women in Indy?





I heard that also. Hopefully, Kurt will be back to pickup where he left off. Looks like we will have a better idea on Wednesday morning.