REMANING NASSAU CLUSTER SOLD!

[trixter]

It looks like changes are coming to the Poconos!


http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=2578393&spid=32061#.UKzQ4Ib5UtQ

 

[trixter]

Just in case, see more at http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...isseur-moves-to-assume-debtor-s-bid-to-buy-10 and http://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...uire-nassaus-new-jersey-pennsylvania-stations.

Connoisseur Media also owns stations in Erie and Long Island. There will be changes. This will depend on Connoisseur's plans and their outlook on each given market. If any station is suffering from stagnant ratings, mediocre sales and low morale, these stations would experience the greatest in changes.

 

[brlmedia]

including wpst? interesting.

 

[ty_kleinle]

FINALLY! My guess is that WODE will probably get a real format (I have no idea what they are right now) or that WSBG will flip formats. There's already KRZ, Max 106.3, and B104 playing the same ten hits each hour in the Poconos, SBG is just another brick in the wall (no pun intended). The Bone will probably stay, they have pretty decent ratings.

 

[NXEA]

FINALLY! My guess is that WODE will probably get a real format (I have no idea what they are right now) or that WSBG will flip formats. There's already KRZ, Max 106.3, and B104 playing the same ten hits each hour in the Poconos, SBG is just another brick in the wall (no pun intended). The Bone will probably stay, they have pretty decent ratings.

When you say you WODE will probably get a 'real' format and have no idea what WODE is right now, do you mean you cannot define the station's current format? A radio station should not be defined by a predetermined set of formats, one of which you have to pick. WODE does extremely well in the Lehigh Valley; if it ain't broke why fix it. I think listener's (and let's face it: it is listeners who matter) are tired of cookie cutter formats. You mention KRZ, B104 palying the same 10 songs over and over, but that is no different than every format sounding the same playing the same 350, 500, 700, etc songs over and over. Look at WRRK Pittsburgh, what format are they? Do they care? RRK has never done better in the book. How about KBPA Austin Texas? Does very well yet they play stuff that could be considered all over the road. Radio folks like you and I like 'formats.' Listeners like 'music,' and that is where radio has gone wrong the last 10,15,20,25 years.

 

[trixter]

I was in radio for awhile and what seems to be lacking in the Poconos is a station that caters to local needs; a station with a strong signal, local news, sports and weather.... plus community involvement! Also, a station that mixes the music very well instead of repeating music every 2 or 3 hours and being programmed several hundred miles away. Right now, none exists in the Poconos. WABT has a local signal if you are going backpacking in the mountains north of Stroudsburg. Mornings are good but after the morning show, the station takes a dip professionally. They are the new kid on the block so in time, they may get better.
WSBG claims to be, "The Pocono's Best Variety!" Umm....where and how? Signal is there but there is no excitement with the talent. It's like watching paint dry with the speakers on. They could do so much better!
WWYY, "The Bone"...Well, for a music station catering to that style of audience, it seems to carry itself very well. However, it could do better with more promotion. Aren't there 2 colleges or more in the Poconos? More involvement is the key.
This could all change with the selling of the former Nassau stations (WSBG and WWYY). Hopefully, it will be a smooth transition.

 

[Kent]

WODE used to bill insanely well. I can't see it making significant changes. When Connoisseur took over Barnstable's cluster on Long Island, they only made major changes to one station. Given that most of the Nassau FM's are pretty successful, I'd look for nothing more than minor changes, especially with WPST, WODE, and WSBG.

 

[TheMinimumDose]

I'd like to see them go back to the Feds and get back a little more ERP for those two AMs in the Lehigh Valley that carry ESPN, pro and college football, Lehigh University sports, and the Allentown minor-league baseball team... the one in Allentown got jobbed under the previous owner, and barely covers that rather-large city at night!

 

[chuckhixson]

I guess WPLY is just going to be allowed to stay dark and go into the history books. I don't believe it's included in the sale of the cluster of stations. Oh, well. Another dead AM.

 

[vacuum tube]

Any power increase for 1230 or 1320 is not likely. 1230 is a Class C and limited to a maximum power of 1kw and they are running that non directional at night. In the daytime they are limited to 840 watts with a two tower directional because of adjacent channel protection, Whatever directional antenna system they could use to get to 1kw daytime would make no difference in coverage as you are dealing with a fraction of a db in any direction, in fact the coverage could be slightly worse in areas that are of interest.
1320 is 750 watts non directional daytime and 195 watts directional with two towers at night. They are diplexed on the two tower array of WHOL. To get a daytime power increase would mean going to a directional array that would require construction of another tower and i don't think there is enough room on the property for any more towers.
Same goes for the night pattern, you would need more towers for a power increase and pattern change. The old site on MacArthur Road (Why do you think it is a Best Buy now?)had 5 towers for 5kw day and 1 kw night, no way that array would fit on the WHOL property.
In this day and age there is no ROI on spending millions of dollars in property, engineering and equipment to improve that facility. IMHO not going to happen, sorry, it is what it is.

 

[trixter]

WODE used to bill insanely well.  I can't see it making significant changes.  When Connoisseur took over Barnstable's cluster on Long Island, they only made major changes to one station.  Given that most of the Nassau FM's are pretty successful, I'd look for nothing more than minor changes, especially with WPST, WODE, and WSBG.

WODE and WPST are the "gems" for their markets.  They both bill well and are always in the upper tier in the ratings. WSBG has been slipping dramatically in the ratings for the past 2 years and has seen better days financially.  Connoisseur will do one of two things; keep all three clusters with significant changes at WSBG or keep the "gems" and put WSBG up for sale.  Time will tell but changes will be sooner than later.

 

[chuckhixson]

The old site on MacArthur Road (Why do you think it is a Best Buy now?)had 5 towers for 5kw day and 1 kw night, no way that array would fit on the WHOL property.
In this day and age there is no ROI on spending millions of dollars in property, engineering and equipment to improve that facility. IMHO not going to happen, sorry, it is what it is.

The old site - the towers, transmitter and studios were located there - is now a Best Buy. I had worked at the old 1320 WKAP back in the "Music of Your Life" days (mid-80s). Arthur Holt moved the station to Marcon Blvd, leased the WHOL towers and sold off the property, killing the signal. He made every penny he could out of the station before dumping them off. It's a shame, because the 1320 frequency has a rich history, but it's basically been sold off part-by-part.

 

[Roger]

I think Pamal Broadcasting should buy WWYY 107.1 to air their station WXPK 107.1

 

[kewgardens]

There was a time, back in the 70's when WVPO AM and FM were a simulcast - for the most part. A three person news department covering everything in the Poconos, High School sports, a midday talk show featuring community leaders, Live and local from morning drive through midnight. There was a guy who did the evening shift - Bud Clifford who did a great job on jazz and big band. He sometimes had live performers in the studio. Marv Stuart, Paul Flores and Kim Williams were the news guys. John Munier did mornings. John also owned the local record store in Stroudsburg. Lots of remotes from sponsors. Plenty of community involvement. UPI network news etc. While it wasn't the best sounding station in the world - it sure did serve the community, and made money.