On The Brink

[Radknowski]

As if WHLD doesn't have enough of problems, the potential for the bottom falling out looms on the horizon:

From Inside Radio 11-28-06 Air America's future may well be decided by Friday.
Last week the New York-based libtalker got approval from the court to continue talking with potential investors - but it's due back in front of the judge to report on its progress in the next several days. It had filed for Chapter 11 protection while it searched for new funding, and we wonder if this is the week that finally determines where it's going. Are some other talk personalities looking at their own situations, in light of Air America's predicament?

Air America is on the ropes. WHLD doesn't appear to be any stronger. This isn't about politics. It's about economics. The right wing nuts will be giddy with joy, but the fact is Air America is/was it's own worst enemy. A shaky start with poorly selected talent that was more suitable to theatre and movies, a lack of broadcasting acumen, lousy presntation and poor production were too much for AA to overcome. Some of the same demons apply to WHLD. You wonder how many stations will get taken down as a result of AA's potential demise.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Brinksmanship

If I were running WHLD, I'd be cranking up "Music of Your Life" ASAP - before 'KB or WECK jump on that bandwagon.

 

[raymond_shaw]

If I were running WHLD, I'd be cranking up "Music of Your Life" ASAP - before 'KB or WECK jump on that bandwagon.

I don't think that will happen. Brian Cashdollar and his group originally got involved with WHLD as a non profit group purchasing daily time to run Democracy Now! I think they are interested in radio as a means of alternative news/talk programming. I salute them on this, but feel their best bet, assuming they still have an option to buy WHLD, would be to become non commercial. In fact this might be a good route for a lot of low rated AMs in the future.

As for Air America, yes they have shot themselves in the foot with bad programming decisions many times. Why are the two top libtalk shows, Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz, on Jones Radio? If/when AA goes under, I'd wouldn't be surprised if a few of the more popular AA hosts go there. Time will tell.

 

[Element9]

If I were running WHLD, I'd be cranking up "Music of Your Life" ASAP - before 'KB or WECK jump on that bandwagon.

I don't think that will happen. Brian Cashdollar and his group originally got involved with WHLD as a non profit group purchasing daily time to run Democracy Now! I think they are interested in radio as a means of alternative news/talk programming. I salute them on this, but feel their best bet, assuming they still have an option to buy WHLD, would be to become non commercial.

Another non-com, pleading for funds from the community isn't what Buffalo radio needs at this time. WNED-AM and WBFO already serve as the source(s) of objective news and feature reporting as well as well-thought and well-reasoned opinion pieces not prone to left or right wing rants.

As noted, Air America and WHLD were flawed from the start. The damage may be irreparable. Unfortunately, the powers that be at WHLD likely will refuse to see the handwriting on the wall. As such, they'll likely continue to pour money down the drain. It's their cash, but you'd think they'd have a better grip on reality.

-9-

 

[raymond_shaw]

Another non-com, pleading for funds from the community isn't what Buffalo radio needs at this time. WNED-AM and WBFO already serve as the source(s) of objective news and feature reporting as well as well-thought and well-reasoned opinion pieces not prone to left or right wing rants.

Oh that's not true at all. Actually WHLD already is taking funds from the community, indirectly. The currently leasees/possible future owners of WHLD, Niagara Independent Media, started as a non profit group that purchased time on WHLD to purchase time to run Democracy Now, which they did through on-air solicitations. The reaction was so good they purchased time for more Pacifica shows. After they signed the lease to purchase agreement with Citadel, Niagara Independment Media became management. A new non profit group - Radio Free Buffalo - was formed to solicit money for their leased time shows.

You would be surprised how many people there are out there willing to give money to a station uncensored news programming from a progressive point of view. If WHLD's fund raising efforts cut in to WBFO and WNED, tough luck for them.

 

[rdcuffpa1]

In fact this might be a good route for a lot of low rated AMs in the future.

Wouldn't brokered religious programming be another likely outcome? That seems always to be the default programming for AMs bailing out.

Richard in Allentown, PA (ex-East Aurora)

 

[Element9]

Another non-com, pleading for funds from the community isn't what Buffalo radio needs at this time. WNED-AM and WBFO already serve as the source(s) of objective news and feature reporting as well as well-thought and well-reasoned opinion pieces not prone to left or right wing rants.

Oh that's not true at all. Actually WHLD already is taking funds from the community, indirectly. The currently leasees/possible future owners of WHLD, Niagara Independent Media, started as a non profit group that purchased time on WHLD to purchase time to run Democracy Now, which they did through on-air solicitations. The reaction was so good they purchased time for more Pacifica shows. After they signed the lease to purchase agreement with Citadel, Niagara Independment Media became management. A new non profit group - Radio Free Buffalo - was formed to solicit money for their leased time shows.

You would be surprised how many people there are out there willing to give money to a station uncensored news programming from a progressive point of view. If WHLD's fund raising efforts cut in to WBFO and WNED, tough luck for them.

I appreciate your civilized rebuff and response, but if WHLD goes non-com and solicits funds, the LAST stations I'd want them impinging upon are WBFO and WNED-AM, which offer solid local news, something WHLD does not.

Frankly, our little debate is rather moot, as WHLD is barely a nub on the Buffalo radio landscape. While driving home this evening, I couldn't hear the station at Camp Road and Southwestern Blvd. I could however, see the station's tower (shared with WNED-AM) lights.

-9-

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Frankly, our little debate is rather moot, as WHLD is barely a nub on the Buffalo radio landscape. While driving home this evening, I couldn't hear the station at Camp Road and Southwestern Blvd. I could however, see the station's tower (shared with WNED-AM) lights.
-9-

How Ironic.

 

[rdcuffpa1]

Frankly, our little debate is rather moot, as WHLD is barely a nub on the Buffalo radio landscape. While driving home this evening, I couldn't hear the station at Camp Road and Southwestern Blvd. I could however, see the station's tower (shared with WNED-AM) lights.

According to Radio-Locator, WHLD's tower is on Staley Road, Grand Island, not at Cloverbank Road.

Richard in Allentown, PA (ex-East Aurora)

 

[Bob1370]

WHLD some time ago moved its TL to diplex on the WNED site, with a very tight pattern running 5000 watts day and 1000 watts night, firing north-northwest through the city of Buffalo toward the Falls. (It's tight basically to protect WXYT in Detroit, a 50,000 watt CBS-owned sports-talk blowtorch on the same channel.)

As to its programming, Air America apparently has some interested buyers willing to take the struggling network on. It has a loyal audience of true believers--which would probably be a lot larger if it were a more thoroughly professional operation. I never could figure out why they didn't surround Randi Rhodes, the one genuine radio pro on the roster, with people like Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Jay Marvin and Jay Diamond, who would have been good fits with the net's philosophy as well as proven radio professionals with the ability to attract listeners. Franken got them some immediate buzz, and I know first-hand that he's a good interview GUEST, but hosting is very different from guesting. He's clearly a TV performer and writer who's still learning a very different and more extemporaneous/spontaneous medium. The rest of the initial crew were out of their depth and those who've followed haven't been able to give the net much traction.