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Salem Debuts Two News/Talkers On Florida's Gulf Coast

P

PassDutch

Guest
From R&R:

Salem Communications has closed on its $9.5 million purchase of WNTR/Tampa (formerly WGUL-AM) and WLSS/Sarasota from WGUL FM Inc., and both stations will begin simulcasting with "temporary programming" at 5pm that consists of continuous classic speeches by some of America's conservative leaders, including President Bush, former President George H.W. Bush and the late Ronald Reagan. On Aug. 15, WLSS will split from WNTR by debuting a new lineup that includes Salem Radio Network talk hosts Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt. Talk Radio Network's syndicated Michael Savage will also be heard on WLSS. On Aug. 22, WNTR will debut its new programming, featuring the Salem Radio Network Talk lineup and Talk Radio Network's syndicated Laura Ingraham Show. Both stations will also carry Bloomberg Business News and be overseen by Salem/Tampa Market Manager Christopher Gould. WGUL has been airing a traditional Oldies format, while WLSS has been talk as "930 WLS" since March 2002.

WGUL-AM was doing quite well.
 
Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business sense?? Let's have some more consolidation.
I knew something was up today on WLSS because there are no commercials, jingles, ID's just the network programming. Music is filling in the other times.

It sucks to have another local station gone.....



> From R&R:
>
> Salem Communications has closed on its $9.5 million purchase
> of WNTR/Tampa (formerly WGUL-AM) and WLSS/Sarasota from WGUL
> FM Inc., and both stations will begin simulcasting with
> "temporary programming" at 5pm that consists of continuous
> classic speeches by some of America's conservative leaders,
> including President Bush, former President George H.W. Bush
> and the late Ronald Reagan. On Aug. 15, WLSS will split from
> WNTR by debuting a new lineup that includes Salem Radio
> Network talk hosts Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis
> Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt. Talk Radio Network's
> syndicated Michael Savage will also be heard on WLSS. On
> Aug. 22, WNTR will debut its new programming, featuring the
> Salem Radio Network Talk lineup and Talk Radio Network's
> syndicated Laura Ingraham Show. Both stations will also
> carry Bloomberg Business News and be overseen by Salem/Tampa
> Market Manager Christopher Gould. WGUL has been airing a
> traditional Oldies format, while WLSS has been talk as "930
> WLS" since March 2002.
>
> WGUL-AM was doing quite well.
>
 
> Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business sense??

That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good Business Sense"

I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of the flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54 audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand of programming?<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
Here's my advance advice to the account execs selling old farts music radio. MOYL or even pre Beatles oldies... This is what you can sell. Hey I heard depends was sponsoring the new Rolling Stones tour.

1. Mobile homes
2. Buicks
3. Depends
4. Poli Grip
5. Funeral Home services
6. Cremations
7. The Early bird special at the local greasy spoon. (Works for Canadians too)
8. Chiropractors
9. The local Seminole indian casino gambling house.

This gets you started..... I'm sure you can think up more.




> > Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business
> sense??
>
> That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good
> Business Sense"
>
> I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of the
> flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming
> standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54
> audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a
> sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand
> of programming?
>
 
> > Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business
> sense??
>
> That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good
> Business Sense"
>
> I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of the
> flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming
> standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54
> audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a
> sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand
> of programming?
>
Really an end of something that once was the main fare in radio. A locally owned and programmed station. Mr. Marcocci could be the last of the breed. Heard The Four Freshmen, Mathis, and a few others today possibly for the last time on a commercial radio station. A tip of the hat to ownership, management, and staff at WGUL for a job well done for a very long time.
 
Theres a great tribute show going on today on 860 before they turn it over to Salem.... Listening to Jeff Miller as I type this. I think Jeff lurks on this list...

Sorry to see this go....



> > > Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business
> > sense??
> >
> > That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good
> > Business Sense"
> >
> > I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of
> the
> > flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming
> > standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54
> > audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a
> > sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand
>
> > of programming?
> >
> Really an end of something that once was the main fare in
> radio. A locally owned and programmed station. Mr.
> Marcocci could be the last of the breed. Heard The Four
> Freshmen, Mathis, and a few others today possibly for the
> last time on a commercial radio station. A tip of the hat
> to ownership, management, and staff at WGUL for a job well
> done for a very long time.
>
 
> Theres a great tribute show going on today on 860 before
> they turn it over to Salem.... Listening to Jeff Miller as I
> type this. I think Jeff lurks on this list...
>
> Sorry to see this go....
>

Sad to hear this as well. Nice to hear for a change that a station gets to say goodbye... Nice to hear from the owner and the fact that at least on the air, he held no ill will towards Cox and 105.5 WDUV.... although you know down deep that's gotta really hurt after all those years trying to upgrade that frequency only to have it put WGUL-AM outta business (so to speak).
 
Well... from a Sales (BLEEP) standpoint, money is green, be if out of the pocket of someone 80-years-old, or 26. Some day we all will be old (if some of us aren't already). Though WGUL was not my format, I'm sorry to see yet another mostly local vanish for more sat-fed talk vomitosis nevrovis. I really can't imagine anyone with a big stick and wattage picking a MOYL format. After all, in another 25 years, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Fly Like An Eagle," "What's The New Mary Jane" (look that one up -- it didn't get any radio play after being nixxed beyond 45 promo level) etc. will be facing the same fate.


> Here's my advance advice to the account execs selling old
> farts music radio. MOYL or even pre Beatles oldies... This
> is what you can sell. Hey I heard depends was sponsoring
> the new Rolling Stones tour.
>
> 1. Mobile homes
> 2. Buicks
> 3. Depends
> 4. Poli Grip
> 5. Funeral Home services
> 6. Cremations
> 7. The Early bird special at the local greasy spoon. (Works
> for Canadians too)
> 8. Chiropractors
> 9. The local Seminole indian casino gambling house.
>
> This gets you started..... I'm sure you can think up more.
>
>
>
>
> > > Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business
> > sense??
> >
> > That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good
> > Business Sense"
> >
> > I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of
> the
> > flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming
> > standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54
> > audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a
> > sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand
>
> > of programming?
> >
>
 
I worked at WGUL in the 1980s, back when it was 1500 AM and 105.5 FM in New Port Richey. I have a web page about the history of the station at

http://fivay.org/wgul.html

I recorded the final hour that ended at 5 p.m. It was nicely done. I might put an MP3 file of some of it on my site, but my recording was made off the air, recorded in New Port Richey with static from lightning, so perhaps someone else has a better recording.

Jeff Miller, out of lurk mode
 
> I worked at WGUL in the 1980s, back when it was 1500 AM and
> 105.5 FM in New Port Richey. I have a web page about the
> history of the station at
>
> http://fivay.org/wgul.html
>
> I recorded the final hour that ended at 5 p.m. It was
> nicely done. I might put an MP3 file of some of it on my
> site, but my recording was made off the air, recorded in New
> Port Richey with static from lightning, so perhaps someone
> else has a better recording.
>
> Jeff Miller, out of lurk mode
>
Hi Jeff! Yes, the guys did a very nice job.
 
Re: BRAVO!

BRAVO to the WGUL staff for years of doing it right and doing it local. The last thing Tampa Bay needs are two more conservative talkers. Hey Salem, just because you're broadcasting that tripe doesn't mean I have to listen to it. Thank GOD for XM & Sirius. They may not be local but at least they offer variety.
 
> Here's my advance advice to the account execs selling old
> farts music radio. MOYL or even pre Beatles oldies... This
> is what you can sell. Hey I heard depends was sponsoring
> the new Rolling Stones tour.
>
> 1. Mobile homes
> 2. Buicks
> 3. Depends
> 4. Poli Grip
> 5. Funeral Home services
> 6. Cremations
> 7. The Early bird special at the local greasy spoon. (Works
> for Canadians too)
> 8. Chiropractors
> 9. The local Seminole indian casino gambling house.
>
> This gets you started..... I'm sure you can think up more.
>
>
>
>
> > > Dont ya just hate when ideology trumps good business
> > sense??
> >
> > That should be Salem's motto: "Where Ideology Trumps Good
> > Business Sense"
> >
> > I wonder if any of the AM Spanish stations, in light of
> the
> > flip of 92.5 to La Nueva, are looking at the forthcoming
> > standards hole, or if they don't see enough of a P25-54
> > audience there to make it worth the effort of obtaining a
> > sales staff that can land local advertisers for that brand
>
> > of programming?

I get slammed for implying a lack of Spanish language radio on FM could be caused by lack of repect for that population and now my slammers are portaying the former WGUL audience as "old farts". How do you spell "ageism" WDUV and WGUL sounded as much alike as MIX and WRBQ. Sure there were overlaps, but also big differences. Seemed like the market supported both. Why this market needs more talk radio is totally mystifying. If Salem wanted to something really cool, they could have assumed ownership and left WGUL as it was.

>
 
> Theres a great tribute show going on today on 860 before
> they turn it over to Salem.... Listening to Jeff Miller as I
> type this. I think Jeff lurks on this list...
>
> Sorry to see this go....

Yeah, I rolled tape on the last 15 minutes or so of the final broadcast. It was clear that the guys on the air legit cared about the station and were sad to see it go, but they didn't seem spiteful or angry about it.

If the station purchase/change by Salem wasn't enough of a kick in the junk, Salem is calling their temporary Presidential Speech format "860 WGUL" until their new talk format debuts (with new calls).<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>
 
> I recorded the final hour that ended at 5 p.m. It was
> nicely done. I might put an MP3 file of some of it on my
> site, but my recording was made off the air, recorded in New
> Port Richey with static from lightning, so perhaps someone
> else has a better recording.

I, for one, would be grateful if someone can make a file available. I had to turn it off at 4:30 to start work, and did not have a working tape deck to record it.

I'll miss WGUL, both for the big bands and the great local format...one of the last of its kind. My thanks and best wishes go out to the WGUL staff.
 
They probably have to work over the weekend to get the STL and other equipment changed over. What you are hearing is probably coming direct from the transmitter site. The new call probably doesnt take effect until monday. In Sarasota, WLSS is carrying the syndicated talk programming but no local ads or any local content including no legal ID... shame shame. They did carry the locally produced program at 6:00 PM though....




> > Theres a great tribute show going on today on 860 before
> > they turn it over to Salem.... Listening to Jeff Miller as
> I
> > type this. I think Jeff lurks on this list...
> >
> > Sorry to see this go....
>
> Yeah, I rolled tape on the last 15 minutes or so of the
> final broadcast. It was clear that the guys on the air
> legit cared about the station and were sad to see it go, but
> they didn't seem spiteful or angry about it.
>
> If the station purchase/change by Salem wasn't enough of a
> kick in the junk, Salem is calling their temporary
> Presidential Speech format "860 WGUL" until their new talk
> format debuts (with new calls).
>
 
Classic Music Still Alive In Central Florida

Hall Communications' WONN (1230) has been running the Stardust format for a number of years now. Music from the 40s through the 70s including Sinatra, Como, Williams, Diamond, Murray, and Streisand.

And they recently added Jim Hendrick as their AM drive host. He is probably best known as the voice of powerboat racing for around forty years and whose voice (and brief face time) is featured in the movie "Madison" (which stars Jim Caviezel of "Passion of the Christ" fame and Jake Lloyd, better known as Anakin Skywalker of "Star Wars"). It was filmed 2001 but has only recently received limited release. It's Florida premiere was last evening at the Polk Theatre in Lakeland.

Here is the link to the Lakeland Ledger feature on his role in the sport and film:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050812/NEWS/508120331/1245/last14days<P ID="signature">______________
Robert Charles Pickering
Lakeland, Florida</P>
 
put up the aircheck!

> I recorded the final hour that ended at 5 p.m. It was
> nicely done. I might put an MP3 file of some of it on my
> site, but my recording was made off the air, recorded in New
> Port Richey with static from lightning, so perhaps someone
> else has a better recording.

I don't care...Put whatever you have up, unscoped is fine, static is fine, too....My iPod is hungry.
 
Re: BRAVO!

> Hey Salem, just because you're
> broadcasting that tripe doesn't mean I have to listen to it.
> Thank GOD for XM & Sirius. They may not be local but at
> least they offer variety.
>

AMEN to that! :)
 
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