Renda Rumors

[FightingIrishman]

On PBRTV this morning, there is an article about a rumor that says WJAS is going to shuffle hosts while there also may be a flip of WPTT.

Is Jason Togyer of PBRTV delusional or is old man Renda really going to surprise everyone and stir things up over on Parish Street?

What would all of you do to help the ailing WPTT if you had a say so?

 

[PBRTV]

I do not believe you read the article correctly - Mr. Togyer made certain that he said that the RUMOR MILL was in operation. Therefore there is no delusion on his part - there may be a delusional side to those who have started the rumors though. (Check out the Voy Forums page for one example...http://www.voy.com/187343/

 

[FightingIrishman]

It's a figure of speech Mr. O'Brien. I was being sarcastic. I did not imply he has mental health issues, I meant it as a crafty way of saying that the rumor may be incorrect.

 

[radiogeek07]

WPTT, the point of Pittsburgh Polka!

 

[kenhawk1160]

All I know is that the FCC has OK'd the frequency swap of McKeesport's 1360 for Apollo's 910. I believe the only thing that's holding things up at this point is construction of the antenna site for WAVL in Washington Township (Westmoreland County), as well as the one in the South Hills for Renda. Renda has to build a six-tower directional array to keep 1360 from bumping into 1380 in Kittanning. Once the channels swap, whether the format is going to remain the same is anyone's guess.

Having worked for the man for almost five years, the only thing I can say about Tony Renda is that he is NOT predictable. He is very committed to the philosophy of making his stations the best they can be, and if that involves a format flip, then so be it. It's a philosophy that has served him well for the past three decades that he's been a station owner.

 

[PBRTV]

It's a figure of speech Mr. O'Brien. I was being sarcastic. I did not imply he has mental health issues, I meant it as a crafty way of saying that the rumor may be incorrect.

Then I must have read you wrong, I'm sorry. I just wanted to cover both of our tracks in saying that we realize these are all rumors. I hope to have them quelled sometime this week!

 

[Whiplash]

The 1360 and 910 is dead I'm told. Something to do with the nightime signal for 910 not being what Mr. Renda wanted.

I understand the older demos on WJAS, but why mess with those ratings. Continue to figure out a way to sell the format, like they have been.

 

[thefalcon]

could he not have done the same thing with 1360?

I heard years ago that canada had opened up and he could have hit pittsbugh at night with 10,000 watts on 1360. multiple towers in finleyville was that true?. to the person suggesting that the 940/ 1360 deal is off.. I noted on radio-locator that that license to make the change is good for a long time. I know it's not over in december as i had heard.

 

[Boss Radio]

I understand the older demos on WJAS, but why mess with those ratings. Continue to figure out a way to sell the format, like they have been.

There's also the issue of what you do with AM signals that would be more demographically appealing. The usual format choices -- news, sports, talk -- are pretty much taken in this market.

I think someone suggested changes in the WJAS lineup rather than a format change. Bogut is 71 and Cardille is a few years beyond that, but I'm not aware that either wants to retire.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Maybe since WPTT has a history of rehiring old talk show hosts from failed local talk stations, we can see Paulsen, McIntire (toned down) and Steigy on the station.

Along with, I don't know, Perry Marshall, Bob Louge, Mike Romine, Mike Pintak, Phil Musick, Dmitri, Mike Fox, Wendy King, Myron Cope, Bruce Keidan, John Phillips, Jim Penna, John Cigna, Tom McMillan, Ray Walker, Jonas Salty (spelling?), Stan Savran, Henry Cannon, Ron Cook, Goose Goslin, and whoever it was that came on KDKA immediately after the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup with a show on gardening.

 

[FCR]

Maybe since WPTT has a history of rehiring old talk show hosts from failed local talk stations, we can see Paulsen, McIntire (toned down) and Steigy on the station.

Haha, maybe. McIntire would be better if he goes the way of his old show on KDKA, and sans Gab since she's apparently still at CBS. But, would Renda be able to afford Paulsen?

 

[Parttimer]

I understand the older demos on WJAS, but why mess with those ratings. Continue to figure out a way to sell the format, like they have been.

There's also the issue of what you do with AM signals that would be more demographically appealing. The usual format choices -- news, sports, talk -- are pretty much taken in this market.

I think someone suggested changes in the WJAS lineup rather than a format change. Bogut is 71 and Cardille is a few years beyond that, but I'm not aware that either wants to retire.

But have we reached the point where maybe there's more upside to doing talk on the better 1320 signal.

Dress up or overhaul the current WPTT array (is there any decent syndicated host available?), maybe add someone like Pintek... if you were going to add someone like McIntyre you'd need to more fully change direction.

Cut the overhead for the WJAS format to zero, maybe satellite the whole thing.

And I think it's safe to say that Scott Paulsen's radio career in Pittsburgh is over (which does not make me happy, but I just don't see any other fit for him).

 

[Boss Radio]

I don't know what they bill with WJAS. Bogut and Cardille both used to bring in business because they had long-standing clients who liked them to voice their spots.

Even with the demo problems, the WJAS format is unique to the market. If you try talk on 1320, you're bumping up against two existing talk stations, both of which have better signals and more traction. Would someone like Pintek be enough of a difference maker to draw some numbers?

They could easily pull the WJAS format off satellite 24/7 and still get a decent number. I just don't know what they could sell without the local personalities. Obviously, though, they're headed for the day when Bogut and Cardille won't be working and there really is no next generation of personality for that format. Several years ago they approached John Garry, but he wasn't interested.

I agree that Paulsen seems to have hit a dead end. The only remaining possibility, and it's probably a long shot, is KDKA.

 

[Pratte4Life]

If Paulsen were willing to do mornings again I could see a station hiring him.

And I'd love to hear him on KDKA. He'd be a breath of fresh air.

 

[kenhawk1160]

The 1360 and 910 is dead I'm told. Something to do with the nightime signal for 910 not being what Mr. Renda wanted.

That doesn't surprise me. If you look at the proposed signal propagation for 1360 in Washington Township, it's a very pinched pattern. They have to protect the soon-to-be-rebuilt 1350 in Geistown, 1340 in Connellsville, AND 1380 in Kittanning. WAVL's owners would be in essence, losing what little Pittsburgh audience they have now. I don't see it as being a smart move, other than getting a free transmitter site donated to them. It's more powerful, but the signal is going the wrong way. They won't be able to monitor their on-air signal at all in Sarver, let alone at night, as is the case now.

As for 910, I'll take your word for it.

 

[FightingIrishman]

I am sorry to say this but I think WJAS will have a big problem within ten years. Unfortunately, the people that listen to that station are older and within ten years or so there won't be as many of them around. I think what will happen is if WJAS stays the course, they will see a slow decline in listenership. My best advice for WJAS is start gearing a little more to the younger generation, maybe with younger hosts or younger music that isn't being played on 3WS. You could keep the same format but tailor it to a younger audience.

As for WPTT I don't know what to say. I love Doug and Lynn but lets be honest, as many used to say on this board, " they are pass their sell by date.' I don't think simply getting fresh, younger hosts would be enough to save that station. Perhaps re tailoring it somehow as a different type of talk station.

Let's face it, satellite radio will hurt AM even more because if you want to listen to the music that have on WJAS, you can hear it clearer on satellite. The only way, in my opinion from a radio amateur, for these local radio stations to survive it tailor to the local community, if you can tailor 1360 to a local younger audience and give them something KDKA doesn't have, then you might have something there.

 

[Boss Radio]

Renda knew 10 years ago that the WJAS audience was fading away. That isn't news. But as long as you can still sell the spots, stay the course with a format that's unique to the market.

Satellite isn't a factor among the WJAS demo.

One thing they might do is emphasize the amount of '60s music they play now that 3WS has dumped a lot of it.

I'm sure a lot of people in their 40s and 50s still perceive WJAS as the "Music of Your Life" station that played Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. It's really morphed into what a traditional "oldies" station used to be, minus the really hard stuff.

 

[Pratte4Life]

I know a couple of years back WJAS started playing more modern songs that wouldn't alienate an older audience. Stuff like Celine Dion.

It was lauded by many radio insiders as a way to keep the station fresh and perhaps alive a bit longer.

 

[Snafu]

Old Man Renda brought in a new consultant whose main purpose in life at this moment is to just anger everyone in the building for no apparent reason except Old Tony himself. There has been more than one phone call from Tony Jr. to keep someone from walking.

The consultant has no previous ties to the market and no understanding of it. He apparently wants to blow up the morning show and automate mid-days. He doesn't get Bogut and Cardille at all.

There will be no changes at WPTT unless the signal swap goes ahead. Old Tony is still counting his pennies and trying to decide if he still wants to do it.

You couldn't get Paulsen back in a radio station right now at gunpoint. Of course he did that once before and Geno begged, pleaded and wrote a big enough check. Maybe he'll do it again and maybe he'll pull a Rege Cordic.

 

[Whiplash]

And hire who for mornings? Fire two Pittsburgh legends who bring in money, and fit the format. What a dumb idea!

Out of town consultants. What a waste of time and money!