Orlando and an adult standards on FM.......

[jmtillery]

JMTillery: I can always count on you for a responsible respectful answer. Bingo, you hit it right on the head regarding adult standards.Orlando's radio market is the same thing day in and day out all vying for a sliver of the pie peddling fast and going nowhere and it's been like this for years. Their all afraid to try something new something different.

The last real innovative move in Orlando radio took place in 1993 when Press Broadcasting (WKCF-TV) acquired bottom rated WWNZ-FM 104.1 from Paxson Communications and flipped it to Hot Talk with the present day moniker Real Radio 104.1. Press had nothing to lose by attempting the Hot Talk format; something no one else had ever done in Orlando radio, and many skeptics said it will never work. The station got resistance from some, but the negative publicity backfired and actually worked in Real Radio's favor and eventually made WTKS number one.

If someone took advantage of using the same innovative thinking outside the box strategy that Press Broadcasting used in 1993, it's virtually unlimited as to what another station can do in terms of setting Orlando on fire by bringing fun and excitement back to the Orlando radio air-waves.

Press already had a track record with the format, as they owned "New Jersey 101.5" somewhere in the swamps of Jersey...

But the only reason the station made it is they put Howard Stern on.

That they have survived Stern's move to Sirius is actually the more interesting case study, but Florida has always been receptive to "hot talk" hosts, whether it be Neil Rogers, Ron & Ron, Spongebubba Lovepants or the Monsters....

Although there is no doubt that Stern made vast improvements in Real Radio listening, WTKS shot to number one almost immediately after the flip to Hot Talk in 1993. Stern came on board a few years following the flip and was not a part of the original line-up.

Regarding New Jersey 101.5, I have to agree it is one of the best Talk stations I have heard anywhere.

 

[Parttimer]

Although there is no doubt that Stern made vast improvements in Real Radio listening, WTKS shot to number one almost immediately after the flip to Hot Talk in 1993. Stern came on board a few years following the flip and was not a part of the original line-up.

Regarding New Jersey 101.5, I have to agree it is one of the best Talk stations I have heard anywhere.

My recollection of 104.1's ratings success differs from yours, I don't recall Guy Kemp getting a whole lot of traction in the morning before Stern.

 

[jmtillery]

My recollection of 104.1's ratings success differs from yours, I don't recall Guy Kemp getting a whole lot of traction in the morning before Stern.

ABSOLUTELY!!! Stern has always garnered higher ratings than Guy Kemp or anyone else on morning drive at WTKS. However, I am referring to the overall broadcast day and not simply restricting my "recollection" to morning drive.

 

[raykroc]

Wasn't Kemp dumped to make room for Stern, and did he sue over his dismissal or just make a big stink about it in the media?
I remember an article in the Sentinel in which he claimed that he paved the way in Orlando for Howard Stern.

 

[jmtillery]

Wasn't Kemp dumped to make room for Stern, and did he sue over his dismissal or just make a big stink about it in the media?
I remember an article in the Sentinel in which he claimed that he paved the way in Orlando for Howard Stern.

I believe Bill Cross may have been doing mornings just before Stern came on board, but don't quote me on that as being the absolute "gospel".

 

[japman]

Somewhere in early days "Flounder" was the morning man @ 104.1

 

[jmtillery]

Somewhere in early days "Flounder" was the morning man @ 104.1

I remember Flounder on midnight shift (10PM to 2AM), and, again, I believe on middays (10AM to 3PM). He must have moved to mornings just before he left WTKS.

 

[cflamfm]

Marianne Arneberg of The Sentinel Staff | September 30, 1993
Guy Kemp, the brash, self-proclaimed bad boy of Central Florida radio, was summarily fired Wednesday.Kemp, whose ribald morning show has aired for four months on WTKS-FM (104.1)

Go here for this story:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-09-30/news/9309300438_1_kemp-lass-difference-of-opinion

And here for more:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/radio-guys/recent/3

 

[jmtillery]

According to this article, it would appear Guy Kemp may have been the first morning talk host on the new Real Radio 104.1 back in 1993. Thank you for the link.