New Format at WVTL 1570. Can someone Please Confirm?

[JakeLongwell]

I read something interesting in the news section of Info today. I was wondering if any of the Utica posters could confirm it.

It said that WVTL had flipped from Talk to "Beautiful Music". I could hardly beleive what I was reading. Coud it be that in 2009 someone still has confidence in this all but dead format?

After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that it was probably nothing more than a simulcast of the existing standards format on 1480 and 1550.

If info got it right, though, it will be interesting to see how long this novelty lasts.

I must admit at this point that I rather liked the format when it was still on stations like WRHP (107.9). I'm sorry it's pretty much gone save for a handful of non-comm stations down south. Though I know most folks were glad to see it go.

 

[W2JUV_AL]

You might try posting on the Albany/Hudson Valley board. WVTL in Amsterdam is much closer to Albany.

 

[therealjm12]

I just checked Ken Roser's website and he owns WVTL, as well as WUTQ & WADR. So a simulcast of the three would make sense.
The term "beautiful music" is misleading. To an old timer like me it would mean the music of Mantovani and maybe a little upbeat music from the Hollyridge Strings. I have only heard the stations a few times but I would classify them to be "adult standards/oldies". They play the likes of Bobby Vinton, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and some more current soft rock. The music that the huge population of 55+ in the Mohawk Valley enjoy. Now I know most advertisers will avoid such music and AM, but it is sellable to any Mom & Pop operations ( if any are left) that just "like" the stations. There's always a market for Buicks & early bird specials.

 

[CNYRadio.com]

It's a little bit outside of our coverage area, but yes, the WVTL website has been changed from "The Valley's Talk Leader" to "Beautiful Music."
http://www.1570wvtl.com/
(The old "talk" logo is still on Roser's main website -- for now.)

Note, however, that the two local talk shows are still on the schedule.

We once received an e-mail from an employee at Roser's Utica studios telling us all music for WADR and WUTQ is locally programmed, not fed in via satellite. If that's true, we would guess WVTL isn't necessarily a simulcast, but it could be using the same music logs and a similar program clock. With WVTL's studios being in Amsterdam, it's probably easier and cheaper for Utica to upload daily logs into Amsterdam's automation system, than it would be to set up the necessary fiber or microwave link for a full-time program feed. After all, the stations have different morning hosts, and different sales clients.

There's no real pressing need for a simulcast -- Utica and Remsen are close enough for a simulcast, but Amsterdam is far-enough away that there's no overlap. Keeping it separate (even if they use the same music logs) means one station has the ability to run longer (or shorter) spot breaks as needed. They can each also run their own local imaging and IDs. Yes, these things could also probably be done even if there were a simulcast, but it would probably create more hassles and limitations than benefits. (That's probably one reason why Roser programs the music locally in the first place, rather than using a national 24/7 syndicated feed.)

 

[JakeLongwell]

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the info and the clarifications. Yes,it does appear to be more of an adult standards/music of your life station from everyone's descriptions. I'm glad to know that at least one radio company is making a commitment to this format. Too bad I can't hear the stations where I live.

 

[musicbox]

I just checked Ken Roser's website and he owns WVTL, as well as WUTQ & WADR. So a simulcast of the three would make sense.
The term "beautiful music" is misleading. To an old timer like me it would mean the music of Mantovani and maybe a little upbeat music from the Hollyridge Strings. I have only heard the stations a few times but I would classify them to be "adult standards/oldies". They play the likes of Bobby Vinton, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and some more current soft rock. The music that the huge population of 55+ in the Mohawk Valley enjoy. Now I know most advertisers will avoid such music and AM, but it is sellable to any Mom & Pop operations ( if any are left) that just "like" the stations. There's always a market for Buicks & early bird specials.

The three station's format is Adult Standards. There are a few stations in the country that still play "Beautiful Music/Easy Listening" and promoting themselves as "Beautiful Music" does a disservice to those remaining stations. There is nothing wrong with Adult Standards, but Beautiful Music is Beautiful Music and Adult Standards are Adult Standards even though they can be a part of the Beautiful Music format but are not the Beautiful Music format if you don't include the instrumentals. There is a book available telling some of the history of Beautiful Music and an article on the Wikipedia site. The Roser stations are not Beautiful Music, but I give them credit for programming to an older demographic which is usually poorly served by commercial radio. I do wish there was truth in advertising in regards to their stations and that they would remove "Beautiful Music" from their promotion of their station if they are not airing the format.