B
Bankman
Guest
Congrats to Mangement of WSTW for now being 3rd in the Wilmington Market..
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Where are you finding this info. The Fall 07 book 12+ numbers hasn't been posted yet. If I remember correctly, that info comes out in February for Wilmington. WJBR and WSTW have gone back and forth between #1 and #2 for years.
B
Bankman
Guest
info out today via 1/11/07 via Arbitron on arbitron .com and allaccess.com
WJBR 9.0
WDAS 7.7
WSTW 6.5
WJBR 9.0
WDAS 7.7
WSTW 6.5
W
WTUX
Guest
Ironic that you say the numbers were released 1/11/07. Compare Fall 07 and Fall 06. What Mike says is dead on accurate. WJBR gets the Fall book, WSTW gets the Spring book. That's the way it works. Cynics in the industry say its rigged. I've watched it for years and I have to agree there is a disturbing trend. Its like lists of owners are made. Someone in "research" says, well, let's make this CC or Beasley music station go up and we'll make it up to DBC by moving up their N/T station.
The problem this time around is DBC went down across the board. WSTW took the normal Fall hit. So did WXCY. Nothing unusual. But WDEL is continuing its free fall. WILM did not go up by much, but it is up while WDEL is down. Running local medium market talkers against the number one and two talkers in the nation is not getting it done. Even I, as a long time WDEL fan, am only listening from 5am to 5:35am, hearing the half hour of George Noory and some news. I listen to Rush and a few minuters of Hannity on the ride home. Outside of the morning news anchor, the station has become gratting. Please note, I cannot hear the noon news hour, so I cannot grade that, I just know I liked that hour when I could hear it. But bottom line: WDEL is not the great station it was. I am not being critical of any host, the PD or anyone in particular. Simply put, they aren't getting the job done.
I certainly am not a "know it all" who can point out what they need to do. But when Bob Mercer was running it, he had a mixture of talkers from various networks that got the job done. Of course, at times some worked and some did not. But the total mix got resepctable results. The current mix is not. Maybe its time to re-examine the shows available from WOR, Salem and other outlets.
The problem this time around is DBC went down across the board. WSTW took the normal Fall hit. So did WXCY. Nothing unusual. But WDEL is continuing its free fall. WILM did not go up by much, but it is up while WDEL is down. Running local medium market talkers against the number one and two talkers in the nation is not getting it done. Even I, as a long time WDEL fan, am only listening from 5am to 5:35am, hearing the half hour of George Noory and some news. I listen to Rush and a few minuters of Hannity on the ride home. Outside of the morning news anchor, the station has become gratting. Please note, I cannot hear the noon news hour, so I cannot grade that, I just know I liked that hour when I could hear it. But bottom line: WDEL is not the great station it was. I am not being critical of any host, the PD or anyone in particular. Simply put, they aren't getting the job done.
I certainly am not a "know it all" who can point out what they need to do. But when Bob Mercer was running it, he had a mixture of talkers from various networks that got the job done. Of course, at times some worked and some did not. But the total mix got resepctable results. The current mix is not. Maybe its time to re-examine the shows available from WOR, Salem and other outlets.
I'd agree with WTUX that WDEL's programming isn't as strong as it could or should be. Here's how both WDEL and WILM's daytime programming is measured by my ears (here's my spin). WDEL's morning newscast block is fine and well done, other than their weather teases (we've discussed this previously). WILM's morning news block is just as good without the weather tease as they give the actual basic forecast each time they mention the weather adding more detail and the three day outlook at their :15 and :45 weather breaks.
Mark Fowser's 11:30 mid day newscast is well done, but only for a 1/2 hour as WILM airs Rush at noon. WDEL's midday report with Allan Loudell (at 12 noon) is well done also, but one problem I have with his newscast is Allan tries to jam too many interviews in a half hour block so they are rushed and quite often too short where he ends up cutting off the interviewee for traffic on the nines or a spot break of some sort. His newscast would be better, in my opinion with one less interview per half hour allowing more time with the interview he'd be doing.
As far as the day time talk goes. WDEL's local talk, quite often isn't as interesting as the national talkers of Beck, Limbaugh, or Hannity. Al Messitti's show is, for my ear, a more interesting show when he's talking national issues rather than about local yokel stuff. Al seems to be better informed about the news and history, of events, etc, than Rick Jensen and doesn't seem to exagerate as much as Rick. I've caught Rick a couple of times saying something that I knew for a fact to be incorrect. I called him on one this past Friday to correct him on one. Rick doesn't particularly like to be corrected, any time I've done that, I can guarantee it will be a short call. He doesn't get nasty, but the call doesn't last long either as they always seem to have to break for spots, traffic, or news and when I've corrected him I don't get invited to hang on till after the spot break. Rick now has a new liberal co-host( I forget his name), who's ok, but sounds stiff to my ears. The chemistry isn't there between the two hosts. Their show is more interesting when they are discussing national issues versus what's going on in Dover. I've no axe to grind against Rick, but am offering my point of view as a listener/caller to his show and why I don't listen or call often. On the days I want to listen to talk rather than Classical Music on WRTI (107.7 for Wilmington) I go around the dial between WDEL/WILM/WPHT(for Beck)/WHYY-FM and the show that's of the most interest gets my ear. If none then I'll listen to an audio book or go back to WRTI or listen to my music CD's.
Frankly, if I were programming WDEL, I'd move Al (who's a liberal) to the afternoon opposite Rush and Hannity and put on Glenn Beck from 9am-12noon opposite Watson (who's a moderate liberal, in his words) who's local on WILM at that time. I'd have Al spend far less time with local issues. Have Loudell do a longer interview, but not as many in each show. Also, arrange my spot breaks differently during the local talk. It seems that you get 5 minutes of spots/traffic/weather/ and 5-7 minutes of talk. That too might be why they can't hold listeners. It gets tedious with all the interruptions so that there is no real flow to their local talk shows that you get with the national ones. They certainly can drop the PSA's as they seem to have plenty of actual spots to air thus shortening the amount of interruptions.
Again, these are not personal attacks against Al, Rick, or Allan, just what I'd do differently if I were PD at WDEL.
If I were the PD at WILM, I'd move Watson to opposite of Jensen's show and put Glenn Beck on during Al's show.
Mark Fowser's 11:30 mid day newscast is well done, but only for a 1/2 hour as WILM airs Rush at noon. WDEL's midday report with Allan Loudell (at 12 noon) is well done also, but one problem I have with his newscast is Allan tries to jam too many interviews in a half hour block so they are rushed and quite often too short where he ends up cutting off the interviewee for traffic on the nines or a spot break of some sort. His newscast would be better, in my opinion with one less interview per half hour allowing more time with the interview he'd be doing.
As far as the day time talk goes. WDEL's local talk, quite often isn't as interesting as the national talkers of Beck, Limbaugh, or Hannity. Al Messitti's show is, for my ear, a more interesting show when he's talking national issues rather than about local yokel stuff. Al seems to be better informed about the news and history, of events, etc, than Rick Jensen and doesn't seem to exagerate as much as Rick. I've caught Rick a couple of times saying something that I knew for a fact to be incorrect. I called him on one this past Friday to correct him on one. Rick doesn't particularly like to be corrected, any time I've done that, I can guarantee it will be a short call. He doesn't get nasty, but the call doesn't last long either as they always seem to have to break for spots, traffic, or news and when I've corrected him I don't get invited to hang on till after the spot break. Rick now has a new liberal co-host( I forget his name), who's ok, but sounds stiff to my ears. The chemistry isn't there between the two hosts. Their show is more interesting when they are discussing national issues versus what's going on in Dover. I've no axe to grind against Rick, but am offering my point of view as a listener/caller to his show and why I don't listen or call often. On the days I want to listen to talk rather than Classical Music on WRTI (107.7 for Wilmington) I go around the dial between WDEL/WILM/WPHT(for Beck)/WHYY-FM and the show that's of the most interest gets my ear. If none then I'll listen to an audio book or go back to WRTI or listen to my music CD's.
Frankly, if I were programming WDEL, I'd move Al (who's a liberal) to the afternoon opposite Rush and Hannity and put on Glenn Beck from 9am-12noon opposite Watson (who's a moderate liberal, in his words) who's local on WILM at that time. I'd have Al spend far less time with local issues. Have Loudell do a longer interview, but not as many in each show. Also, arrange my spot breaks differently during the local talk. It seems that you get 5 minutes of spots/traffic/weather/ and 5-7 minutes of talk. That too might be why they can't hold listeners. It gets tedious with all the interruptions so that there is no real flow to their local talk shows that you get with the national ones. They certainly can drop the PSA's as they seem to have plenty of actual spots to air thus shortening the amount of interruptions.
Again, these are not personal attacks against Al, Rick, or Allan, just what I'd do differently if I were PD at WDEL.
If I were the PD at WILM, I'd move Watson to opposite of Jensen's show and put Glenn Beck on during Al's show.
W
WTUX
Guest
Mike, I have to comment on Rick's response when you contradict him.
Several years ago, a listener called to question why we in New Castle County mail our property tax payments in the fall to an address in Philadelphia. Couldn't a Delaware firm be found (like, keep the business at home)? Rick's repsonse was the listener did not know what he was talking about. It could not have been his property/school taxes (like the listener did not know what thousand dollar bill he had just paid).
I called to point out that I also had just mailed my payment in the encolsed envelope to an address in Philadelphia. I never got on the air, of course.
Its okay that Rick did not know this fact. Maybe he does not own property in Delaware. Maybe he lives over the border in PA. No problem. But instead of calling the listener stupid, he should have simply said it was an issue we should look into. A call to a county council member would be in order. In Delaware, we expect a host to be more listener-friendly. I realize he is not from Delaware. But if we want nasty hosts from out of state (I don't know how long he has lived here but its not that long) , we already have Hannity!
Several years ago, a listener called to question why we in New Castle County mail our property tax payments in the fall to an address in Philadelphia. Couldn't a Delaware firm be found (like, keep the business at home)? Rick's repsonse was the listener did not know what he was talking about. It could not have been his property/school taxes (like the listener did not know what thousand dollar bill he had just paid).
I called to point out that I also had just mailed my payment in the encolsed envelope to an address in Philadelphia. I never got on the air, of course.
Its okay that Rick did not know this fact. Maybe he does not own property in Delaware. Maybe he lives over the border in PA. No problem. But instead of calling the listener stupid, he should have simply said it was an issue we should look into. A call to a county council member would be in order. In Delaware, we expect a host to be more listener-friendly. I realize he is not from Delaware. But if we want nasty hosts from out of state (I don't know how long he has lived here but its not that long) , we already have Hannity!
Rick seems to be trying to have a cool or "hip" personna on the air which to my ear doesn't work. It's sort of like a 40+ year old woman trying to wear her teen daughter's clothes, it just doesn't work in most cases. WTUX, I agree with you, most local listeners expect a friendlier local talk host, which might also explain why his station's ratings aren't doing as well opposite Rush. I also agree with you that Hannity and Savage are nasty enough for anyone.
WDEL now also seems to be using their call screener to really screen calls. It used to be before Rick was PD, you'd call WDEL and the call screener wanted to know your first name, age, the city you are calling from, and the name of topic you wanted to discuss (WILM did and still does this). Now the WDEL screener's on both Al's and Rick's show wants to hear a mini explaination of what you want to say, and yes, I've had that experience too, where apparently my comments weren't worthy of their attention and I hung on hold (on the speaker phone) for a half hour when I hung up. Now if I don't get on in 10 minutes, I'm gone. There are some callers who Rick will allow to stay on and jabber through a couple of spot breaks. Liz (if you listen to any local talk in Wilmington you'll know who this is) is one of them.
WDEL now seems to think they are a network or major market station with thousands of callers and act like they are doing you the favor to let you on. The reality is, it generally is the same group of folks with the occasional less frequent caller like you or I added to the mix (many of these same callers also call WILM's John Watson's show). As I said in the other post, it's not personal, but for my ear as a listener and caller, it doesn't offer me a reason to tune in. Apparently you and I aren't alone in our reactions to the new WDEL based on the lowering 12+ numbers that have shown in the past two ratings periods. That's good news for WILM, WPHT, and WHYY-FM. I hope WDEL changes a few things that they are doing and again becomes a far more listenable news/talk station. They've got the resources and talent. Now will they have the courage to do some tweeking?
WDEL now also seems to be using their call screener to really screen calls. It used to be before Rick was PD, you'd call WDEL and the call screener wanted to know your first name, age, the city you are calling from, and the name of topic you wanted to discuss (WILM did and still does this). Now the WDEL screener's on both Al's and Rick's show wants to hear a mini explaination of what you want to say, and yes, I've had that experience too, where apparently my comments weren't worthy of their attention and I hung on hold (on the speaker phone) for a half hour when I hung up. Now if I don't get on in 10 minutes, I'm gone. There are some callers who Rick will allow to stay on and jabber through a couple of spot breaks. Liz (if you listen to any local talk in Wilmington you'll know who this is) is one of them.
WDEL now seems to think they are a network or major market station with thousands of callers and act like they are doing you the favor to let you on. The reality is, it generally is the same group of folks with the occasional less frequent caller like you or I added to the mix (many of these same callers also call WILM's John Watson's show). As I said in the other post, it's not personal, but for my ear as a listener and caller, it doesn't offer me a reason to tune in. Apparently you and I aren't alone in our reactions to the new WDEL based on the lowering 12+ numbers that have shown in the past two ratings periods. That's good news for WILM, WPHT, and WHYY-FM. I hope WDEL changes a few things that they are doing and again becomes a far more listenable news/talk station. They've got the resources and talent. Now will they have the courage to do some tweeking?
To start, WDEL should better use their CBS affiliation..run the newscast live instead of the sloppy DB or use their actualities without the network feed at all. On the weekends run the CBS feed. "the only Delaware station that gives you local news on the top of hour"..Who cares! If you want to be first run local at :55 and back time into the TOH CBS bong.
Then you could say "News for the first state comes first from 1150 WDEL Wilmington" They could get out and back into talk before 1450.
I also think they over tease everything. Like a previous post said, just do it, or take a lesson from KYW and produce some good high quality canned promos that point out how damned dependable you are and how damned Delaware you are. They seem to worry about that Chadds Ford-Upper Brandywhine crowd too much and try to be bi-statual. If someone is going to listen to WDEL they are going to be Delaware-centric. They probably work for some big bank here anyway. If they need to be a regional giant push the idea of PA news, Jersey news and Maryland news being featured at a certain time in the hour, much like Sports and Business news is featured now. Also get some better theme-beds and learn how to use them.
Personally, I can't stand to listen to Al..he's a little too much of a commie for me. But what do you expect for a Snoozeurinal alumn. He'd work better against El Rushbo. I did used to listen to Jensen in the late AM, but I guess he couldn't get off the links in time to do that time slot. Jensen should be alone. That Bronx sounding nootnick he's teamed with must have a perfect face for radio because he sure doen't have the voice for it. Rick can sound pretty smooth, but as a previous post said, talk out of your mouth, not your backside.
And as for the syndie shows...pew. I think they'd be better off covering bowling tournaments and interviewing the bystanders. Laura Ingraham id fine live but her Db doesn't cut it. I really don't have much of a clue as to what else is carried because most of it is an instant tune-out. For weekends do a swap shop or an "Ask the Mechanic" or a "Waterman's Wonderland" type show. Talk about huntin' and fishin'. Talk about playing golf. Do more with UD. Get an AA show and a Latino show. Do a local garden hotline show with the state extension. Do a horsey show . Get an RC priest to do a show with some Presby minister. Just keep the real basic news format elements going around the clock.
The sports effort is pretty good.. However, Wilmington or Wesley "University" Football? WTF.. There was zero coverage that I could find of the Newark-William Penn game on local radio. High school football is big in DE. Carry the big games. Make heroes out of these kids. With no GM, Chrysler or DuPont jobs to look forward to, let them have at least a small moment of glory. Pro wise I think it's covered with the Phils and the Egirls and the WW1 championship and Sunday and Monday night football stuff.
Basically, concentrate on being a radio station, not an internet TV show. I realize everything costs money, but there are a lot of resources in Delaware that aren't being utilized.
Is this story true..1150 was offered 50kw back during the re-allocation of '41 and passed on it?
Then you could say "News for the first state comes first from 1150 WDEL Wilmington" They could get out and back into talk before 1450.
I also think they over tease everything. Like a previous post said, just do it, or take a lesson from KYW and produce some good high quality canned promos that point out how damned dependable you are and how damned Delaware you are. They seem to worry about that Chadds Ford-Upper Brandywhine crowd too much and try to be bi-statual. If someone is going to listen to WDEL they are going to be Delaware-centric. They probably work for some big bank here anyway. If they need to be a regional giant push the idea of PA news, Jersey news and Maryland news being featured at a certain time in the hour, much like Sports and Business news is featured now. Also get some better theme-beds and learn how to use them.
Personally, I can't stand to listen to Al..he's a little too much of a commie for me. But what do you expect for a Snoozeurinal alumn. He'd work better against El Rushbo. I did used to listen to Jensen in the late AM, but I guess he couldn't get off the links in time to do that time slot. Jensen should be alone. That Bronx sounding nootnick he's teamed with must have a perfect face for radio because he sure doen't have the voice for it. Rick can sound pretty smooth, but as a previous post said, talk out of your mouth, not your backside.
And as for the syndie shows...pew. I think they'd be better off covering bowling tournaments and interviewing the bystanders. Laura Ingraham id fine live but her Db doesn't cut it. I really don't have much of a clue as to what else is carried because most of it is an instant tune-out. For weekends do a swap shop or an "Ask the Mechanic" or a "Waterman's Wonderland" type show. Talk about huntin' and fishin'. Talk about playing golf. Do more with UD. Get an AA show and a Latino show. Do a local garden hotline show with the state extension. Do a horsey show . Get an RC priest to do a show with some Presby minister. Just keep the real basic news format elements going around the clock.
The sports effort is pretty good.. However, Wilmington or Wesley "University" Football? WTF.. There was zero coverage that I could find of the Newark-William Penn game on local radio. High school football is big in DE. Carry the big games. Make heroes out of these kids. With no GM, Chrysler or DuPont jobs to look forward to, let them have at least a small moment of glory. Pro wise I think it's covered with the Phils and the Egirls and the WW1 championship and Sunday and Monday night football stuff.
Basically, concentrate on being a radio station, not an internet TV show. I realize everything costs money, but there are a lot of resources in Delaware that aren't being utilized.
Is this story true..1150 was offered 50kw back during the re-allocation of '41 and passed on it?
W
WTUX
Guest
Apparently, you are truthful when you say you don't listen. On weekends, there is a swap shop type sow, garden show in the season, a Latino show, both priests and rabbi's.
Since the UofD shafted them several years ago, coverage of the Blue Hens sports is about where it should be. And why not carry Wesley? It earns them money.
Since the UofD shafted them several years ago, coverage of the Blue Hens sports is about where it should be. And why not carry Wesley? It earns them money.
You are right..I don't listen as much as I could (or should). There is a lot of competition for my ear and my wife freaks out if I have more than 2 radio stations playing at the same time. One thing I do wish they had is an entertaining "Lost Dog Radio Program...a program for perplexed pet parents who've been parted from their pooches." Run it 2x a day and promote it. It could be amusing and it'll help them get closer to the street. Sounds like a natural for Concord Pet Supply. Talk about the road situation more too. It seems we First Staters spend half our lives sitting in traffic. People can relate to that. On the whole, WDEL just needs to be a little more whimsical in their approach.
Is this story true..1150 was offered 50kw back during the re-allocation of '41 and passed on it?
My guess would be that 50Kw wasn't ever offered to Wilmington's 1150 so they'd not over ride Richmond's 1150, but back in 1941 it might not have been an issue. I believe that is why WDEL has, I believe a 3 tower array, so as to not interfere with the Richmond station.
My guess would be that 50Kw wasn't ever offered to Wilmington's 1150 so they'd not over ride Richmond's 1150, but back in 1941 it might not have been an issue. I believe that is why WDEL has, I believe a 3 tower array, so as to not interfere with the Richmond station.
To start, WDEL should better use their CBS affiliation..run the newscast live instead of the sloppy DB or use their actualities without the network feed at all. On the weekends run the CBS feed. "the only Delaware station that gives you local news on the top of hour"..Who cares!
I agree wholeheartedly with that one, New Castle. Although that is the dumbest promo line, WDEL has been using it for years. I want to hear network news at the top of the hour, and if it is from CBS, all the better.
WDEL & Delmarva also really need to recover the contract to cover UD sports. Clear Channel really sucks it up for the UD, and the UD should realize that. In recent years, WDEL has provided better UD football coverage than Clear Channel despite lacking the play-by-play rights.
I agree wholeheartedly with that one, New Castle. Although that is the dumbest promo line, WDEL has been using it for years. I want to hear network news at the top of the hour, and if it is from CBS, all the better.
WDEL & Delmarva also really need to recover the contract to cover UD sports. Clear Channel really sucks it up for the UD, and the UD should realize that. In recent years, WDEL has provided better UD football coverage than Clear Channel despite lacking the play-by-play rights.
I agree that the hourly news slogan is dumb, and I'd prefer to hear the network news on the hour, CBS, ABC, NPR all better than Fox. The UD football issue is a bit tougher. The UD has this attitude of wanting their football game to be on FM not AM, even though WDEL's signal covers 2/3'rds of the state. Of course WDSD's 94.7 signal as WJBR's 99.5, or WSTW's 93.7 all cover the entire state. Also young people don't even know AM exists. However, my guess is it's an adult audience that tunes in to listen to the football games on radio so being on AM shouldn't really make any difference, but the powers to be at WDEL would have to "sell" the Uof D folks on that. I believe Delmarva lost the UofD contract, because they weren't willing to put the games on WSTW. My guess is WJBR isn't interested either so that leaves Clear Channel's WDSD as the only FM available to blanket the entire state with UD football.
The problem with the UD football/sports rights issue is that Clear Channel has very deep "national" pockets and uses them to over- and out-bid Delmarva for the rights each time they come up for renewal.
Perhaps Delmarva has justifiably concluded that they no matter how attractive it would be for it to regain the UD sports contract, it could never earn the $$ to pay for it via selling air time.
I would think that if Delmarva ever won the rights back, it would not oppose putting the football games on 93.7. It would be foolish not to.
Delmarva could also broadcast the games downstate on 97.7.
As it stands now, I prefer listing to the WVUD staffers broadcast the football games over the crew that CC puts on the air.
Perhaps Delmarva has justifiably concluded that they no matter how attractive it would be for it to regain the UD sports contract, it could never earn the $$ to pay for it via selling air time.
I would think that if Delmarva ever won the rights back, it would not oppose putting the football games on 93.7. It would be foolish not to.
Delmarva could also broadcast the games downstate on 97.7.
As it stands now, I prefer listing to the WVUD staffers broadcast the football games over the crew that CC puts on the air.
From what I understand, Delmarva is not interested in putting UofD Football on WSTW as they are a music station and don't want to have their audience tune out to a Philly station for college football. When CC Delaware acquired the rights to air UofD football, The River WRDX then at 94.7 wasn't doing much ratings wise so getting the spot revenue and some actual listeners would make sense. WSTW has been #2 or #1 depending on the season fo 12+ so why would they want to gamble losing listeners. WRDX had everything to gain and WSTW had everything to lose. That is my guess why WJBR isn't interested as they are in the top position when WSTW isn't there so again why gamble on losing listeners.
Radio has changed much during the past 30 years where a full service station (which AM stations like WDEL and WILM were then) could do all sorts of programing. Today, radio is so targeted, especially FM, so no I can understand why Delmarva said no to putting the UofD games on WSTW, but would gladly continue to put them on WDEL. From what I hear, WDEL is doing just fine, ratings wise and spot wise carrying Wesley College football. My guess is WDEL may not be interested in going back to the UofD. CC may be "stuck" with it. That would be ironic, CC paying out big time bucks to carry games that no other radio station in Wilmington is competing to air.
I guess the one question left is, next fall will the UofD games air on both WRDX (92.9) and WDSD (94.7) or will WDSD have to air the games and Nascar. My guess is, when UofD football is on WDSD, WXCY and WXTU pick up listeners.
Radio has changed much during the past 30 years where a full service station (which AM stations like WDEL and WILM were then) could do all sorts of programing. Today, radio is so targeted, especially FM, so no I can understand why Delmarva said no to putting the UofD games on WSTW, but would gladly continue to put them on WDEL. From what I hear, WDEL is doing just fine, ratings wise and spot wise carrying Wesley College football. My guess is WDEL may not be interested in going back to the UofD. CC may be "stuck" with it. That would be ironic, CC paying out big time bucks to carry games that no other radio station in Wilmington is competing to air.
I guess the one question left is, next fall will the UofD games air on both WRDX (92.9) and WDSD (94.7) or will WDSD have to air the games and Nascar. My guess is, when UofD football is on WDSD, WXCY and WXTU pick up listeners.
W
WTUX
Guest
The primary focus for both WJBR and WSTW is young women. They may like pro football on tv, but more are turned off to college ball on the radio. It would hurt either station to add Blue Hen sports. For a classic rock FMer, with more emphasis on the male audience, adding the UofD made sense. They had few listeners anyway, so airing football made sense as it could increasing the listener base. For a country station, I am a little doubtful of how it will work for an entire season. The country fan wants music on weekends. NASCAR may work, but that AND football may be too much. And just having the Blue Hens on the low power job will have the University officals fuming.
One thing that might happen, if UofD football doesn't work for 94.7 WDSD Country and really costs them listeners and spot revenue, when contract renewal times comes I could envision CC Delaware telling the UofD to air the games on 92.9 WRDX for Lower Del and 1290 WWTX for the Wilmington metro area or 1290 WWTX and 1410 WDOV or forget it. Of course then the Uof D might try to go after WDEL again, which would put WDEL back in the saddle again, assuming they'd want to go back to airing live coverage of UofD football. But from what I've heard WDEL is pretty happy with their situation with Wesley College and might not want to bother with whatever hassle was involved with the UofD.
What I'd suggest for the UofD is to get more than one station to air the games. As I suggested above seems like one plan that would give them statewide coverage.
Maybe what the UofD should try to do is to somehow work out a deal with WHYY-TV channel 12 to televise the games. Of course the Uof D would have to pay for that rather than charging for the priledge of airing the games (unless Channel 12 was able to "sell" corporate sponsorships, or whatever it's called for non-comms) to pay for the coverage, etc. Channel 12 did air that one play off game this past fall, when ESPN provided the feed, but didn't air it on either of their 2 cable stations so who knows. If the UofD would make channel 12 a good enough deal then the Uof D could have TV coverage statewide on both Channel 12 and Seaford's simulcast on channel 64 and then the radio coverage wouldn't be as important to the fans or the UofD.
Of course the UofD could work it out with CC for radio and Channel 12 for TV and we'd get the best of both worlds. The one drawback to the Channel 12 plan might be that WHYY may not have the equipment to do a live football game (they had picked up the ESPN feed during the playoffs) so the TV option might not be an option.
What I'd suggest for the UofD is to get more than one station to air the games. As I suggested above seems like one plan that would give them statewide coverage.
Maybe what the UofD should try to do is to somehow work out a deal with WHYY-TV channel 12 to televise the games. Of course the Uof D would have to pay for that rather than charging for the priledge of airing the games (unless Channel 12 was able to "sell" corporate sponsorships, or whatever it's called for non-comms) to pay for the coverage, etc. Channel 12 did air that one play off game this past fall, when ESPN provided the feed, but didn't air it on either of their 2 cable stations so who knows. If the UofD would make channel 12 a good enough deal then the Uof D could have TV coverage statewide on both Channel 12 and Seaford's simulcast on channel 64 and then the radio coverage wouldn't be as important to the fans or the UofD.
Of course the UofD could work it out with CC for radio and Channel 12 for TV and we'd get the best of both worlds. The one drawback to the Channel 12 plan might be that WHYY may not have the equipment to do a live football game (they had picked up the ESPN feed during the playoffs) so the TV option might not be an option.
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WTUX
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WDEL's contract with the UofD required them to have an affiliate in each county. Back when I recorded the news break for half-time, I had to be sure and mention the Blue Hen Network and not WDEL specifically.
The netowrk was a hard sell. First off, WDEL did not make money on the games. It was break-even at best. The added exposure for the station and prestege was what kept them in there. Selling other stations on joining the network was not easy. Then UD officals made the decision they wanted to be on FM, not AM, thus knocking WDEL and now WWTX out of the running.
If CC would go with WWTX and the UD would allow it, they would have to use the low power FM for Kent and what about Sussex? A Sussex station is going to be paying for the rights to the games without being able to generate revenue to cover it. ALso, what would they do about Penn State, which they want on 1290 (and earns them some money)?
In any of the possible scenarios, the games are also on WVUD. I am not sure thow that factors into anyone's plans.
The netowrk was a hard sell. First off, WDEL did not make money on the games. It was break-even at best. The added exposure for the station and prestege was what kept them in there. Selling other stations on joining the network was not easy. Then UD officals made the decision they wanted to be on FM, not AM, thus knocking WDEL and now WWTX out of the running.
If CC would go with WWTX and the UD would allow it, they would have to use the low power FM for Kent and what about Sussex? A Sussex station is going to be paying for the rights to the games without being able to generate revenue to cover it. ALso, what would they do about Penn State, which they want on 1290 (and earns them some money)?
In any of the possible scenarios, the games are also on WVUD. I am not sure thow that factors into anyone's plans.
The UofD likes to push their weight around and it may be that the UofD may have over played their hand. They act like they are the only game in town. Apparently WDEL has found success with Wesley College football, and who knows Del State Univ has come along ways up in their football program meaning that the UofD might find itself on the outside (radio wise) looking in, possibly in the future. Now it would appear that only CC Delaware is even interested, at least for Northern and Central Delaware (from what WTUX was saying about Delmarva's experience and difficulty in finding a Sussex County station to pick up the games). If CC figures out that they don't have any competition for the UD football games from Delmarva or WJBR specifically, they just might then tell UD, at contract renewal time, that the games will be on AM1290 in New Castle County and AM1410 for Kent or forget it altogether leaving the UofD to air their games on their 91.3 FM alone. Especially if CC Delaware isn't making any money, as it appeared was the case for WDEL, airing the games and then also if it is hurting their FM stations in the process. After all, there isn't a FCC law requiring any radio station in Delaware to carry the UofD football games. So if it isn't a financial benefit for a station or stations to air the games, I could see WVUD being the lone station as they don't have to make a profit as you and I as tax payers support the UofD with some tax dollars, which would include WVUD. It will be interesting to see how this plays out when CC has to renegoitiate their contract with the UofD.
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WTUX
Guest
One thing I just remembered is that the Blue Hens were originally on WILM. That was when Dan Casey and Bob Kelly did the play-by-play. THAT is another option, if Penn State needs to stay on WWTX.
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