Remember the great old WFTL on 1400....

[954]

Does anyone remember WFTL on 1400?

when it was M-O-R music? when it was local talk? when it was Hot Talk?

when it was owned by King Paul? when it was owned by Joe Amaturo?

when ex-mayor Lomelo had a Sunday night talk show?

Whon John Lupton and Bob Roberts and Earl Nightingale were on?

Look at http://www.cafepress.com/sflradiopages.7959305

73s

 

[Faraway]

I guess the crowd on this board is too young to remember the glory days of (the real) WFTL or too ambivalent to remember its "Hot Talk" incarnation. Here's what I say - about 20 years ago the Sun-Sentinel had a "best radio morning show" contest. Even though the station had long before become a ratings non-factor (at least according to A**itron), the winner was WFTL's Bob Gordon. I think that says something about impact. I'll bet 954 has more details somewhere on HIS site.

 

[954]

I guess the crowd on this board is too young to remember the glory days of (the real) WFTL or too ambivalent to remember its "Hot Talk" incarnation.

Here's what I say - about 20 years ago the Sun-Sentinel had a "best radio morning show" contest. Even though the station had long before become a ratings non-factor (at least according to A**itron), the winner was WFTL's Bob Gordon. I think that says something about impact. I'll bet 954 has more details somewhere on HIS site.

You bet I do. Good ol' Bob told me about it.

I have a chapter from his book (about WQAM) and a few anecdotes (about WFUN, WINZ, and WFTL) in South Florida Radio History.

Unfortunately, I haven't updated and moved those files to the new site yet. When they're up, I'll post the links.

I don't think it was 20 years ago, though. I thought it was just before Andrew, in the early 90s. I could be wrong.

73s

 

[WolfOnTheAir]

WFTL was better BEFORE Steve Kane Days....

Bob Gordon, Mike Roberts, Paul Lyle, Al Rantell, G Michael Mckay, Craig Worthing, Al Knight, Jeff Alan Wolf

When Kane took over it became contrived Radio. All the shows were set up to argue with each other and do mock Topics and anger to get the phones to ring. I miss FTL of old.

 

[John FL]

I can't recall dates as to when I listened to WFTL, but I enjoyed Craig Worthing and Al Knight. Most of the time the program was devoid of rehashing the news of the day and sometimes that was refreshing and welcome to hear.

I guess some people can't get enough of hearing some topics over and over or the bashing of one political party over another constantly. It's proven to be a recipe for success for most but it's a format that bores me quickly. I prefer hearing all sides to the issues but it seems that's not what generates big numbers so there it goes.

Actually I liked Steve Kane when he was on 79 WNWS. Talk about a great lineup. Al Rantel, Shirley Peters, Steve Kane, Bobby Groves, Neil Rogers and Jerry Witchner. South Florida gets kudos for cultivating some really great talk talent.

But Steve, even back then was known for contrived controversy. Looking back it seemed to work because that was kept to a minimum really with just one host engaging in that. Again, I don't remember dates but when WNWS was sold to Jefferson Pilot, the changes that were made were not correct ones. By then Neil was long gone and Tom Lykus (sp) didn't even stick around. Alan Burke was the replacement and the ratings slid pretty bad as I recall.

I guess I may have a reputation for being anti-management but here's another case where management can't resist messing with success to save a few bucks. Apologies for the digression to WNWS but I just remember how great talk radio was in South Florida when I lived there and this board just seems to be waxing nostalgic lately so I thought it appropriate.

 

[954]

WFTL was better BEFORE Steve Kane Days....

Bob Gordon, Mike Roberts, Paul Lyle, Al Rantell, G Michael Mckay, Craig Worthing, Al Knight, Jeff Alan Wolf

When Kane took over it became contrived Radio. All the shows were set up to argue with each other and do mock Topics and anger to get the phones to ring. I miss FTL of old.

Yeah, WFTL was better under Paxson, when it was still local talk.

But Joe Amaturo's M-O-R WFTL in the 60s & 70s was best of all. (Between the 70s and 90s, I didn't listen as much, beacsue WTMI was my fave... until I started listening to talk again.)

73s

 

[The-Major]

I've been looking for a way to get in on this discussion, and I think I found my 'in':

Actually I liked Steve Kane when he was on 79 WNWS. Talk about a great lineup. Al Rantel, Shirley Peters, Steve Kane, Bobby Groves, Neil Rogers and Jerry Witchner. South Florida gets kudos for cultivating some really great talk talent.
But Steve, even back then was known for contrived controversy. Looking back it seemed to work because that was kept to a minimum really with just one host engaging in that. Again, I don't remember dates but when WNWS was sold to Jefferson Pilot, the changes that were made were not correct ones. By then Neil was long gone and Tom Lykus (sp) didn't even stick around. Alan Burke was the replacement and the ratings slid pretty bad as I recall.

I remember '79-WNWS'. The 'NWS' stood for News-Weather-Sports (I'm logically guessing). I heard it was very influential back in the day. Nowadays WNWS is located in Jackson Tennessee. It's an FM News-Talk station at 101.5. And that brings me to my 'in' that I referred to at the top of this post. It's the trend that appears to be sweeping the nation. News-Talk radio is abandoning the AM format in many urban areas and moving to the rich crystal clear sounds of FM. In my old hometown of Washington D.C. the legendary all-news WTOP recently moved from the 50,000 watt (day and night) blowtorch AM 1500 to the strong-signaled (and clear) 103.5 FM. In fact it knocked the heritage classical station there - WGMS - over to two much weaker fringe signals at 103.9 & 104.1.

So I was wondering ... Would News-Talk radio do well on FM here in South Florida ?

For example if WIOD (or WINZ for that matter) moved on up to an FM frequency - such as Clear Channel's underperforming 94.9 (former home of WINZ-FM) - would they skyrocket in the ratings and increase in the younger demographics ? You know the ones that don't even know (or care) that AM radio still exists today but still like to watch or listen to the news occasionally to stay informed as to what is going on in the rapidly-changing world around them ?

Apologies for the digression to WNWS but I just remember how great talk radio was in South Florida when I lived there and this board just seems to be waxing nostalgic lately so I thought it appropriate.

No need to apologize. You gave me my 'in' for this budding discussion !

THE MAJOR

 

[top4odj]

I've been looking for a way to get in on this discussion, and I think I found my 'in':

So I was wondering ... Would News-Talk radio do well on FM here in South Florida ?

For example if WIOD (or WINZ for that matter) moved on up to an FM frequency - such as Clear Channel's underperforming 94.9 (former home of WINZ-FM) - would they skyrocket in the ratings and increase in the younger demographics ? You know the ones that don't even know (or care) that AM radio still exists today but still like to watch or listen to the news occasionally to stay informed as to what is going on in the rapidly-changing world around them ?

THE MAJOR

Adding one of my many opinions....<lol>...Unless they really put full guns into the programming, I don't think it would work. As a 24/7 news station in the past WINZ-AM or 940 News as they called themselves, did well, but like CNN did as well, eventually split from the round the clock news, and added filler programming. With that being said, they should just keep news stations on the AM dial. Most companies I believe wouldn't (and don't take this in the wrong way), waste a good FM signal on a News station that may also play programming like Rush or Air America or programs of that nature.

For a News station on the FM to succeed, it would have to be nothing less than spectacular, offering the type of format/programming that hasn't been done yet.....something to keep the listener tuned in.

 

[954]

I've been looking for a way to get in on this discussion, and I think I found my 'in':

So I was wondering ... Would News-Talk radio do well on FM here in South Florida ?

For example if WIOD (or WINZ for that matter) moved on up to an FM frequency - such as Clear Channel's underperforming 94.9 (former home of WINZ-FM) - would they skyrocket in the ratings and increase in the younger demographics ? You know the ones that don't even know (or care) that AM radio still exists today but still like to watch or listen to the news occasionally to stay informed as to what is going on in the rapidly-changing world around them ?

THE MAJOR

Adding one of my many opinions....<lol>...Unless they really put full guns into the programming, I don't think it would work. As a 24/7 news station in the past WINZ-AM or 940 News as they called themselves, did well, but like CNN did as well, eventually split from the round the clock news, and added filler programming. With that being said, they should just keep news stations on the AM dial. Most companies I believe wouldn't (and don't take this in the wrong way), waste a good FM signal on a News station that may also play programming like Rush or Air America or programs of that nature.

For a News station on the FM to succeed, it would have to be nothing less than spectacular, offering the type of format/programming that hasn't been done yet.....something to keep the listener tuned in.

Watch those quote tags, you guys.

WIOD and WINZ, the best prospects for doing that, have much more far-reaching signals than most FMs, don't they? I'm sure lots of people listen to Rush and Randi on those stations who could never pick 94.9 or 105.9.

One of the WPB FMs has what they call "hot talk."

But conventional AM talk, no way.

73s

 

[Faraway]

Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Minneapolis, New Orleans and Salt Lake City are markets where you will find (or soon find) conventional FM talk. CC's FM station in Pittsburgh has Rush, Beck, Sean and Savage and is doing great. On Jan 1, CC flipped a smooth jazz station in Minneapolis - it features Rush and Hannity - it's still a work in progress. I think CC signs on an FM news/talk in the Big Easy on September 1st. Bonneville is buying FM stations to simulcast their AM new/talks (KSL and KTAR, and both of these stations have great signals) so I would imagine that down the line, they have alternative plans for their AM's. Possibly keep the AM's as some sort of news talk but leave the sports on the AM's keeping the FM talk stations pure. Bonneville also moved their classical music station in DC to a weaker signal - so they could put their all news WTOP on a powerful FM signal.

These moves were all made for differing reasons, but it says to me that news/talk is moving to FM. Not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

 

[The-Major]

Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Minneapolis, New Orleans and Salt Lake City are markets where you will find (or soon find) conventional FM talk. CC's FM station in Pittsburgh has Rush, Beck, Sean and Savage and is doing great. On Jan 1, CC flipped a smooth jazz station in Minneapolis - it features Rush and Hannity - it's still a work in progress. I think CC signs on an FM news/talk in the Big Easy on September 1st. Bonneville is buying FM stations to simulcast their AM new/talks (KSL and KTAR, and both of these stations have great signals) so I would imagine that down the line, they have alternative plans for their AM's. Possibly keep the AM's as some sort of news talk but leave the sports on the AM's keeping the FM talk stations pure. Bonneville also moved their classical music station in DC to a weaker signal - so they could put their all news WTOP on a powerful FM signal.
These moves were all made for differing reasons, but it says to me that news/talk is moving to FM. Not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

I totally agree with you. The mass exodus from AM to FM among news-talk stations is not only occurring in the big cities, but it is also occurring in the mid-sized cities and even the smaller markets. I read somewhere that virtually all of these moves have been wildly successful with stations doubling (and even more) their overall audience from when they were on AM. Also the average age of their listening audience has been plummetting with the moves to FM, so the advertisers love that ! That is why I used the phrase 'sweeping the nation'.

South Florida becomes a heavy news and information market every Summer and (especially) Autumn during the peak of the hurricane season ... Witness WIOD's MASSIVE overall ratings last Autumn. During Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma WIOD pretty much took over all of the Clear Channel FM stations with continuous storm updates. South Floridians wanted to know what was going on, and WIOD delivered the goods. To be fair and balanced WINZ also scored their best ratings in recent memory last Autumn as well.

I believe that within the next 6 to 12 months WIOD (or possibly WINZ) will move to FM, and I'm a betting man that 94.9 FM will be our new source for news and information.

THE MAJOR

 

[top4odj]

I would have quoted the Major on his last line about WMGE 94.9 being the victim of the format flip, but...we were asked to watch the "quotes" <snikkah>

Clear Channel has 2 potential FMers to get the chopping block. WMGE and WMIB. Both started out good, but have leveled off in the upper 1's - bottom 2's in the latest trends. It's a tough choice. CC wanted to have a latin station in this market for years. I don't think they'd throw the towel in on it so quick. WMIB..well...you have WEDR, which has been a pretty consistant station since they upgraded their power to 100kw in the early 80's, and WHQT, tho more towards the more adult ended format of the two, has been nothing short of a powerhouse. If I had to pick, i'd lean more toward WMIB as the most likely to draw the short straw.

 

[954]

what FM should become talk?

I would have quoted the Major on his last line about WMGE 94.9 being the victim of the format flip, but...we were asked to watch the "quotes" <snikkah>

Clear Channel has 2 potential FMers to get the chopping block. WMGE and WMIB. Both started out good, but have leveled off in the upper 1's - bottom 2's in the latest trends. It's a tough choice. CC wanted to have a latin station in this market for years. I don't think they'd throw the towel in on it so quick. WMIB..well...you have WEDR, which has been a pretty consistant station since they upgraded their power to 100kw in the early 80's, and WHQT, tho more towards the more adult ended format of the two, has been nothing short of a powerhouse. If I had to pick, i'd lean more toward WMIB as the most likely to draw the short straw.

I'd go along with that. I listen to WEDR and WHQT at times. Don't care for WMIB at all. I can think of lots of formats that could make better use of that signal, from Caribbean or Classical or Country to Oldies.

But we especially need LOCAL TALK! Why not on FM.

73s

 

[gumbo]

The Miami market was once a mecca of talk, but local talk needs to be supported and sustained.. The heavy influx of residents who prefer to hear programming in their native language plus the laid-back local attitudes have contributed to the current state of affairs.

Moving talk to FM would be beneficial, giving younger folks who never sample AM a chance.

Steve Kane's WFTL had a terrific staff, but the 'Battle of the Talk Show Hosts' format was stifling and almost unintelligible when everyone was talking at once. WIOD and WINZ have also spawned some great talent over the years. It'd be nice to hear some of them on a prime station again.

 

[954]

The Miami market was once a mecca of talk, but local talk needs to be supported and sustained.. The heavy influx of residents who prefer to hear programming in their native language plus the laid-back local attitudes have contributed to the current state of affairs.

Moving talk to FM would be beneficial, giving younger folks who never sample AM a chance.

[snicker]

Puh-leez. They already have the opportunity to flick the AM/FM switch if they are interested [snicker]. No one is hiding it from them. If they're interested in talk, they'll go to where it is, not wait 'til it comes to them.

When talk comes to FM, it'll be overwhelmed with talk of what celebrity is diddling who or what. You think we elect idiots now, wait 'til celebrity talk replaces issue-oriented talk and cuts off that source of info.

Steve Kane's WFTL had a terrific staff, but the 'Battle of the Talk Show Hosts' format was stifling and almost unintelligible when everyone was talking at once. WIOD and WINZ have also spawned some great talent over the years. It'd be nice to hear some of them on a prime station again.

Yeah, but the segments when WFTL's talkers spent so much time being catty about each other really sucked. That's when I changed the station.

But when the crossovers had some decent talk, they were WFTL at its best. But I may be thinking of the Paxson era. I started listening to WFTL regularly again in probably '94. When did Paxson take over?

73s

 

[The-Major]

I would have quoted the Major on his last line about WMGE 94.9 being the victim of the format flip, but...we were asked to watch the "quotes" <snikkah>

I think 954 meant to not quote your own quote when you quote a quote. In other words if you wrote it then you probably shouldn't quote it.

Clear Channel has 2 potential FMers to get the chopping block. WMGE and WMIB. Both started out good, but have leveled off in the upper 1's - bottom 2's in the latest trends. It's a tough choice. CC wanted to have a latin station in this market for years. I don't think they'd throw the towel in on it so quick. WMIB..well...you have WEDR, which has been a pretty consistant station since they upgraded their power to 100kw in the early 80's, and WHQT, tho more towards the more adult ended format of the two, has been nothing short of a powerhouse. If I had to pick, i'd lean more toward WMIB as the most likely to draw the short straw.

WMIB is not getting ratings in the upper-1s and lower-2s. They have consistently been in the lower-3s. In fact they have beaten Y-100 in every book since they flipped to their current format. I do agree with you though about 99-JAMZ being consistently strong and HOT-105 being a powerhouse. Cox has the Urban market here in Miami down pat. They own it ! But Clear Channel wants a piece of the pie too, so WMIB is not going anywhere anytime soon.

THE MAJOR

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Yeah, WFTL was better under Paxson, when it was still local talk.

But Joe Amaturo's M-O-R WFTL in the 60s & 70s was best of all. (Between the 70s and 90s, I didn't listen as much, beacsue WTMI was my fave... until I started listening to talk again.)

73s

I was on the inside at "Goldcoast 14 WFTL" from 1974-1978 mostly doing overnights. Michael O'Shea was PD a fantastic motivator with lots of energy and fun!!! The lineup changed very little and this is what we had during my time there:

Morning Drive: John Lupton (great guy had been at the station since 1962 came from WGAR Cleveland)
10-Noon: Michael O'Shea (from KLIF Dallas a personality powerhouse top 40 Mike was long time jock and PD there)
Noon-3pm Chuck Parmalee (great production voice came from WSPD Toledo where he did mornings)
3-7pm Charlie Warren (very creative personality now production at WMAL Washington)
7-mid Terry Gross (later a talk show with John Stupak took his place and Terry went to mornngs with John)
Mid-6am Me, the new kid.

News Department
Joe Barbarette (news director)
Lee Garen (reporter now anchor at CNN Radio)
Mike Bradly (reporter anchor)
Ted Agnew (anchor)
Jack Zeman (sports director)
Paul Harvey News and Commentary
ABC Information Radio

 

[WolfOnTheAir]

Yeah, but the segments when WFTL's talkers spent so much time being catty about each other really sucked. That's when I changed the station.

But when the crossovers had some decent talk, they were WFTL at its best. But I may be thinking of the Paxson era. I started listening to WFTL regularly again in probably '94. When did Paxson take over?

73s

_________________________________________________________________

You really do An injustice to the FTL days BEFORE Kane.

They had some great talents there and the Talk was fun. I am curious why no one seems to talk about that era of FTL?

I used to work with Chuck Parmalee..great guy! Nice voice.

 

[954]

You really do An injustice to the FTL days BEFORE Kane.

They had some great talents there and the Talk was fun. I am curious why no one seems to talk about that era of FTL?

I can't write about what I don't remember. I was mostly listening to WTMI in that era. (Before Dee Silvers dumbed down that station and started to alienate classical fans.)

That's what I depend upon you guys for. Anyone want to write about WFTL under Kane and/or King Paul?

I used to work with Chuck Parmalee..great guy! Nice voice.

I remember his name, but that's all.

73s

 

[954]

add another quote and make a gallon

I think 954 meant to not quote your own quote when you quote a quote. In other words if you wrote it then you probably shouldn't quote it.

Exactly. Quote all you want (within reason) but then after posting, make sure it is being displayed properly, with the right attribution. If you inadvertently deleted a qupote tag, it'll be screwed up. Figure out what's wrong and go back to fix it. It's just like debugging a program, except much easier.

73s

PS... For extra credit, the subject line is a paraphrase of a line by who? (Les, I know you must know.)