No Storm Coverage

[scottwmro]

come on guys...i know this is a bash-radio message board...but hard to get upset about no wall-to-wall coverage of an inch of snow on the grass.

the worst thing that the media does in general is blow stuff way out of proportion. Our listeners or viewers -- those we are here to serve -- see right through it and they tune it out. Then, when it's really important, they don't listen.

radio is not like it used to be -- thats the truth -- but not everything that happens in the business is a sign of doomsday or people that dont care. there are a lot of good radio people who would do just what shadow b said in the case of real emergencies.

this snow event is not an emergency.

it's sad that the discussion has been reduced to commentary on a 1 inch 6-hour snow and ice event and who's having a christmas party.

let's talk about real exciting weather coverage...like lisa patton taking you through every temperature in every city in the midstate. because...43 in camden does feel a lot different from 44 in mcminnville. the directors finally have started cutting her off.

Builder,

In all due respect, my comments have nothing to do about snow. I can drive in it, and & I love snow! Even after Christmas Time.

My original comments were about threating thunderstorms that cause tornados, like the past two that have hit Gallatin. It was a good thing that WHIN & WMRO worked together to get info out to the community. The first bad tornado that hit Gallatin, both stations were off for four hours due to no AC. When both stations got back on, I called Jack over at WHIN and he did a report that I recorded and played over WMRO through the night. I didn't care if he said WHIN over WMRO, that was the last thing on my mind. All I cared about was that Jack was o.k. at WHIN and we were all alive!

When these storms come through that are deadly to our community, local radio like WHIN & WMRO forgets about all this silly competition stuff and we work to together. In my eyes, we just might have save a life! Now that is my view of real local service!

All the board bashers can make laugh at my comments, but a community should (including small AM stations) come together in a time where spring & summer's bad storms that put our citizens in harms way.

Best Regards,
Scott

 

[Journeyman]

One would think Gaylord, (since I guess they are still the licensee of WSM-AM) would take pride in this 8 county/community, put together a 24/7 (including holidays), full news, weather, & sports staff and be a service to Nashville with thier great 50 KW signal, with the biggest AM tower in the U.S. (or that I know of, the mighty blaw knox). It just appers to me that they are more interested in putting money into Opry Mills, which is not a service to the community, just another place for all the teen age gangs to hang out and attack the adult, buying customers.

As I'm sure the CEO of Gaylord would tell you: "WSM does NOTHING to get people to stay at the Hotel. We can run shuttle busses to Opry Mills. As a compliment to the Hotel the radio station is worthless." That's pretty much a direct quote as far as I can recall

 

[firepoint525]

When a threatening storm rolled through here about four years ago, Oldies 96.3 (as they were known at the time) simulcast with their then-TV partner, channel 2, for WKRN's audio coverage of the storms. I'm sure this was great for folks who had lost their electricity! And I recall that this was Memorial Day weekend!

When the infamous ice storm of '94 hit us, supposedly only WIZO in Franklin bothered to have any serious local coverage of it. I only know this from seeing a letter to the editor of the Tennessean about it. (And the Tennessean itself got criticism for too much Nancy-Tonya coverage, and not enough about the ice storm! :) Of course, WIZO has itself gone all-Spanish since then (thanks, Alice! :), so that really leaves WAKM without any real "local" competition on the AM dial there, especially since the Fairview station (WPFD) has also gone all-Spanish! So "local" is about all WAKM has left, and it's about the only "local" option they still have in Franklin!

 

[Journeyman]

When the infamous ice storm of '94 hit us, supposedly only WIZO in Franklin bothered to have any serious local coverage of it.

Lots I could say about that, but Buddy will probably say it better. Must have been a dream I had about being inmy car, on Hillsboro road, waiting for my turn on to go on the air on the two way, with tree branches falling down all around me. Wow! Vivid Dream. Almost as if it really happened!

 

[scottwmro]

When a threatening storm rolled through here about four years ago, Oldies 96.3 (as they were known at the time) simulcast with their then-TV partner, channel 2, for WKRN's audio coverage of the storms. I'm sure this was great for folks who had lost their electricity! And I recall that this was Memorial Day weekend!

When the infamous ice storm of '94 hit us, supposedly only WIZO in Franklin bothered to have any serious local coverage of it. I only know this from seeing a letter to the editor of the Tennessean about it. (And the Tennessean itself got criticism for too much Nancy-Tonya coverage, and not enough about the ice storm! :) Of course, WIZO has itself gone all-Spanish since then (thanks, Alice! :), so that really leaves WAKM without any real "local" competition on the AM dial there, especially since the Fairview station (WPFD) has also gone all-Spanish! So "local" is about all WAKM has left, and it's about the only "local" option they still have in Franklin!

Firepoint,

You have brought up some very good points. I wasn't aware that WIZO did do local coverage of the 1994 Ice Strom. The storm hit one month before I signed on 1560 in Gallatin, so all there was, WHIN. I'm sure (even thought I didn't get a chance to listen) that WHIN did a very good job in covering the Ice Storm of "94" very well.
I had just got the construction permit to build WMRO and we were not ready to go on yet, and besides my building didn't have power for 2 weeks, and since it was so cold, I could get any work done.
Back to WIZO/WHEW, Alice had to sell the station, due to her health. As I recall, she had a disease (M.S.) that was getting the best of her and she had to have her daughters start taking care of her. I'm sure a broker handle the deal in the sale of WHEW, so that's why the hispanic gentleman that owns the station today got a good deal on it, due to Alice was forced to give it up for health reasons.
Jim and the gang, the last time I listened to WAKM, was very local, and doing a good job for Franklin and Williamson County. Really, Franklin is a small town, and there is really just room (economic wise) for 1 local station, and that's WAKM.
Up here in Gallatin, WYXE (the former "Wixie in Dixie") was sold to a hispanic church in east nashville for $600,000, by a broker. WYXE really had to go because there was 3 local AM's in Gallatin, and not enough local businesses to make it. With thier 2,500 watt signal, in the middle of the dial, getting in to east & south nashville very well during the dayime hours, this was the best thing that happened to WYXE.
Now it's just WHIN & WMRO. As I said in an previous post, there really is only room for one station in Gallatin, and that's WHIN. They do a wonderful job in local news, and as oldbud said, they do more local news than any other of the other Nashville AM stations.
WMRO really shouldn't be in Gallatin, but for now, I can not move it, so I'm just stuck where I'm at. We stopped doing local news because WHIN was doing a good job at that. Instead, I'm working on ways to be local on a budget, with a different twist. One is that the station is local all day long on Sunday with local preachers, churches, and a live jock from 12:30 PM to 5 PM playing Southern Gopsel and Bluegrass Gospel.
Sunday, all day, is when you will catch WMRO all local and Gospel.

Merry Christmas,

Scott

 

[Nomoreradionews]

I guess with the internet, IPODS, etc, we don't need news on the radio anymore. Probably don't need stations playing music. So, if you own a radio station, my advice is to sell the thing and go make money elsewhere.

 

[scottwmro]

I guess with the internet, IPODS, etc, we don't need news on the radio anymore. Probably don't need stations playing music. So, if you own a radio station, my advice is to sell the thing and go make money elsewhere.

Well, I hate to say this, but I play music on my AM station, and yes, it still makes money. Not as much as in the golden days of "Music AM Radio, (50's, thru mid 80's") but it's still going. The one thing that Ipods & ISP can't do is give you instant weather alerts, especially if your in the car, out at malls or stores shopping, and other activities people engage in. Radio is still the only form for instant severe storm coverage and looking out for the public. XM claims they can to it with the technology they have, and they I suppose they can, but the NAB has gone to the FCC and Congress to fight for it not to happen. It would be the death of radio as we know it today.

My station is "never" for sale to anybody, period! If it starts to fail doing what I do now, I find something else to program to get some money in. Believe it or not, when Teddy Bart and his partner owned the old 1240 WKDA (now hispanic WNVL), after thier morning round table talk show, they aired CNN Headline News, all day, and all night, except for local ballgames from time to time. You would not believe how many people listen to 1240 WKDA in the 90's when all that was on was a simulcast of CNN. I loved it! Now there's an idea that should come back to a "almost dead" AM station to make it alive again!

My advice (for what it's worth), use your head, not your heart, when making business decisions like you suggest.

Best Regards,
Scott

 

[firepoint525]

Everything I knew about Alice Jackson is that she is/was more of a journalist (print media) than a broadcaster, so it's possible that she might not have known what she was doing, getting into radio.

As for small towns with multiple AMs, doesn't Springfield have several? At least, they used to, but I live too far from there to know for sure. They also have the one FM that Tuned-In Broadcasting (Lightning 100) owned for a while.

 

[scottwmro]

Everything I knew about Alice Jackson is that she is/was more of a journalist (print media) than a broadcaster, so it's possible that she might not have known what she was doing, getting into radio.

As for small towns with multiple AMs, doesn't Springfield have several? At least, they used to, but I live too far from there to know for sure. They also have the one FM that Tuned-In Broadcasting (Lightning 100) owned for a while.

I had several conversations with Alice, and you're probably right. When she changed the calls from WIZO to WHEW, what little I listen to the station, it sounded like that's what she was into, than being a broadcaster. She had big plans for WIZO, but she told me her health was taking her down. I had to borrow some tubes from her to keep my old transmitter running until my new ones came in. This is back when I had to use a 2500 watt, CCA Transmitter, cut back to 1000 watts. This was about 1995. We had a good hour chat and I could tell her health was getting the best of her.

Springfield now has only two AM's. One is a daytime only station, 1100 WSGI, fully staff, with announcers and is at 1000 watts, daytime only. WSGI plays oldies. The other is 1590 WDBL, which is satellite talk and no local announcers. WDBL has about 850 watts or so, daytime, & 30 watts at night. The stations are own by Neil Peterson & his wife (Lightning Broadcasting) and are located in the original WDBL building. I haven't kept up what Neil is doing over there, but the last time I listen to both WSGI & WDBL, that was what was being programmed.

The FM you're thinking of 94.3, was sold told Saga from Tuned In Broadcasting. Saga changed the city of license from Springfiled to some little town in Kentucky, near Ft. Campbell, to cover the Clarksville/Hopkinsville Market. The FM tower/antenna site was move out of Robertson County as well. I forget what the call letters are, and the format is now. I've not listen to it that much at all. If my memory is correct, it was called 94.3, "The Eagle", and was playing 70's Rock at the last time I got the chance to listen to it. That all may have changed by now.

The old 94.3 bays are still on the WDBL-AM tower, but not being used. Dale Howard, who is my engineer, is also the engineer of WSGI and WDBL. Dale was thinking that if since the FM bays are no longer in use, he may have a crew take them down and this would give WDBL-AM a better signal.

Sorry for some of my mis-spelling on words, I'm getting sleepy and it's almost midnight as I post this.

Scott

 

[PaulO]

Everything I knew about Alice Jackson is that she is/was more of a journalist (print media) than a broadcaster, so it's possible that she might not have known what she was doing, getting into radio.

As for small towns with multiple AMs, doesn't Springfield have several? At least, they used to, but I live too far from there to know for sure. They also have the one FM that Tuned-In Broadcasting (Lightning 100) owned for a while.

I had several conversations with Alice, and you're probably right. When she changed the calls from WIZO to WHEW, what little I listen to the station, it sounded like that's what she was into, than being a broadcaster. She had big plans for WIZO, but she told me her health was taking her down. I had to borrow some tubes from her to keep my old transmitter running until my new ones came in. This is back when I had to use a 2500 watt, CCA Transmitter, cut back to 1000 watts. This was about 1995. We had a good hour chat and I could tell her health was getting the best of her.

Springfield now has only two AM's. One is a daytime only station, 1100 WSGI, fully staff, with announcers and is at 1000 watts, daytime only. WSGI plays oldies. The other is
1590 WDBL, which is satellite talk and no local announcers. WDBL has about 850 watts or so, daytime, & 30 watts at night. The stations are own by Neil Peterson & his wife (Lightning Broadcasting) and are located in the original WDBL building. I haven't kept up what Neil is doing over there, but the last time I listen to both WSGI & WDBL, that was what was being programmed.

The FM you're thinking of 94.3, was sold told Saga from Tuned In Broadcasting. Saga changed the city of license from Springfiled to some little town in Kentucky, near Ft. Campbell, to cover the Clarksville/Hopkinsville Market. The FM tower/antenna site was move out of Robertson County as well. I forget what the call letters are, and the format is now. I've not listen to it that much at all. If my memory is correct, it was called 94.3, "The Eagle", and was playing 70's Rock at the last time I got the chance to listen to it. That all may have changed by now.

The old 94.3 bays are still on the WDBL-AM tower, but not being used. Dale Howard, who is my engineer, is also the engineer of WSGI and WDBL. Dale was thinking that if since the FM bays are no longer in use, he may have a crew take them down and this would give WDBL-AM a better signal.

Sorry for some of my mis-spelling on words, I'm getting sleepy and it's almost midnight as I post this.

Scott


WIZO was a Franklin license. Did they change it to Springfield? I have always known it to be a Franklin station. What is now Lightning 100 was WIZO until 1982 when it became WJKZ (the FM to 1430-AM.)

 

[NashRadio]

I'm not Scott, and never coudl pretend to be, but

those are 2 completely separate (and unequal) topics of discussion. WDBL AM and FM in Springfield go back at least to the '60s.

 

[scottwmro]

Re: I'm not Scott, and never coudl pretend to be, but

those are 2 completely separate (and unequal) topics of discussion. WDBL AM and FM in Springfield go back at least to the '60s.

1380 WIZO started in Franklin, TN & has always been in Franklin. It was never in Springfield. In 1996, Alice Jackson changed the call letters of AM 1380 from WIZO to WHEW. I wished that Salvador Guzman (owner of WHEW) would change the call letters back to WIZO, just for "ole times sake", and keep it hispanic. Only think is that the call letters "WIZO" must be available for him to change it back.

Today WHEW operates with 2,800 watts, daytime only, with pre-sunrise and some post-sunset.

 

[deltas69]

back when wizo was an oldies station..wasn't there someone named mike hight involved with it ? he allegdingly had something to do with wamg back in 88 when i did mornings..never understood his position..showed up everyday with a smelly little cigar thing,,and tried to look important..didn't understand radio at all..wasn't long after that when ernie ashworth aquired it if i remember the timeline correctly..

 

[firepoint525]

Everything I knew about Alice Jackson is that she is/was more of a journalist (print media) than a broadcaster, so it's possible that she might not have known what she was doing, getting into radio.

I had several conversations with Alice, and you're probably right. When she changed the calls from WIZO to WHEW, what little I listen to the station, it sounded like that's what she was into, than being a broadcaster. She had big plans for WIZO, but she told me her health was taking her down. I had to borrow some tubes from her to keep my old transmitter running until my new ones came in. This is back when I had to use a 2500 watt, CCA Transmitter, cut back to 1000 watts. This was about 1995. We had a good hour chat and I could tell her health was getting the best of her.

I recall (also back around 1995) seeing the WPFD property (apparently the station and its license, too) being listed in one of those real estate magazines that you can find in front of almost any convenience store, or on almost any street corner.

At any rate, apparently Alice considered acquiring the WPFD property back about that time, but either decided that it was not a good investment, or thought the better of it.

 

[oldies5161]

back when wizo was an oldies station..wasn't there someone named mike hight involved with it ? he allegdingly had something to do with wamg back in 88 when i did mornings..never understood his position..showed up everyday with a smelly little cigar thing,,and tried to look important..didn't understand radio at all..wasn't long after that when ernie ashworth aquired it if i remember the timeline correctly..

Mike Hight was the last owner of WAMG, if memory serves me correctly. You're right....he knew nothing about radio.

 

[w9wi]

The FM you're thinking of 94.3, was sold told Saga from Tuned In Broadcasting. Saga changed the city of license from Springfiled to some little town in Kentucky, near Ft. Campbell, to cover the Clarksville/Hopkinsville Market. The FM tower/antenna site was move out of Robertson County as well. I forget what the call letters are, and the format is now. I've not listen to it that much at all. If my memory is correct, it was called 94.3, "The Eagle", and was playing 70's Rock at the last time I got the chance to listen to it. That all may have changed by now.

Oak Grove, Kentucky. The transmitter is dead on the state line (I mean, your 6-year-old could stand under the tower & lob a softball into Tennessee) and IIRC within eyesight of one of the gates of the military base. I want to say there's another FM on that tower but can't for the life of me remember which one. Maybe a backup for Q108. It is in fact "The Eagle" (WEGI) with classic hits.

 

[courier37027]

To w9wi: Q108 studios were on State Line Road. Tower was about fifty feet into Kentucky, as you described. When standing at studio sound board and mic, you had one foot in each state (or one state and one commonwealth as Kentuckians would correct me). Gate 4 was the nearest Ft. Campbell base entrance. Woe to Q108 when we had a storm or power outage. If the tower went out, we called the Kentucky electric authority (Pennyrile?) and a studio electrical outage called Clarksville Electric. I can't recall a second FM on the tower in the 80's, although there could have been. WABD-AM 1370 was Q's sister station and was likely on same tower.

To Firepoint: WPFD was owned by Rev. Paul Durham, former owner of Nashville Radnor Towers and pastor at Radnor Baptist, around 1986-7. Durham also owned 96.7 FM and 1570 (or -80?) AM in Centerville. I left before Centerville stations were sold to Steve Turner. Sometime in the 90's I drove by Fairview station. Signal was distorted and poor quality.