Thanks. It sounds like it's an interesting competition. You say they're both neck and neck in ratings -- does that go for the morning show 25-54 as well? If WLAC is looking for a new morning show, does that mean that Gill is doing better? Or, is WLAC simulcasting with the TV station? How did the ABC news flip from WLAC to WTN impact things, if at all?
> It's a case of what you define as "Better".
>
> In the ratings the two stations are neck and neck.
>
> WLAC has the better nighttime signal (reaching 28 states)
> while TN's signal generally covers all of the city more
> clearly.
>
> On the subject of local talent TN has their live shows in
> the morning/afternoon (GOP Talkers Steve Gill & Phil
> Valentine) followed by Dave Ramsey (whose show started at TN
> so they're the flagship) but from there it's all syndication
> (Liddy, Savage, and O'Reilly).
>
> WLAC's morning show is in a state of flux (they've
> advertised for a new morning host to replace an ill-fated tv
> partnership with Fox 17). Then it's syndicated talkers
> Beck, Rush, and Hannity, but then the local talent comes on
> with a sports show 6-9 pm (including area sports legend
> Duncan Stewart as host) then Mark Christopher 9-midnight
> (he's half-conservative, half libertarian, which is an
> interesting mix.
>
> On the news side WLAC has 11 full-time employees covering
> news and anchoring local casts 24 hours a day weeknights
> plus saturday mornings. WTN has multi award winning anchor
> Jerry Minschall but they don't have reporters who are at the
> Capitol or in the field gathering sound or doing live
> reports.
>
> Both stations have their strengths and weaknesses. It all
> depends on what you want to hear.
>