Well the report card is out and Country remains king! The Crossroads folks are way behind the 8 ball and not showing any signs of winning anything. Terre Haure at one time was an aggressive market and there was a battle between THI and Power 103 and that seems to have fallen way off the radar screen. I hear there is a struggle to keep Crossroads on the air. Those poor stations have been dark a number of times in the past. Is it management or is the market just that screwed up>
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Terre Haute
- Thread starter nuffsaid
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Who would have thought that Crock had 5x the listeners of ESPN Sports Radio?
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I would say in the case of Crossroads it starts with ownership. They change direction a lot, and they change management a lot. 4 or 5 GM's in the last 5 or 6 years... about a dozen PDs or Ops Managers or whatever they are calling it... formats don't stay consistent on WBOW it's changed 4 or 5 times in the past half dozen years it seems... and now they took one AM dark, and have flipped WAXI to a classic rock format? Are they really gonna compete with Emmis' rocker?
If anything they are consistent. Consistently inconsistent and consistently bad. I think an ownership change or an LMA might be all that saves those stations.
If anything they are consistent. Consistently inconsistent and consistently bad. I think an ownership change or an LMA might be all that saves those stations.
You have to wonder just how long it will take for Crossroads to go dark. They want too much money to sell from what I hear. There isn't anyone left in that building that knows how to turn on the radio in their car if it wasn't for the dealer showing them. They can't seem to shake the idea that you can't compete with a 6k signal in Rockville or Brazil when you can't cover but about 1/3 of the market. BOW has a good signal but as was mentioned, they keep changing the format around so you never really know what you are getting; they can't afford any talent so it continues to suck.
As for Midwest, the do an ok job with out having allot to work with, but they at least have some radio people in control so it's not a train wreck.
Emmis has it pretty well made, just don't suck and keep doing what they are doing when it comes to serving the listener and they don't have much to worry about.
Who ever mentioned that PFR really challenged THI needs to go back and look at the ARB books from that era, not that close really.
Things won't really change until Crossroads changes hands and that won't happen until the economy nationally and locally turns around.
Just some thoughts.
As for Midwest, the do an ok job with out having allot to work with, but they at least have some radio people in control so it's not a train wreck.
Emmis has it pretty well made, just don't suck and keep doing what they are doing when it comes to serving the listener and they don't have much to worry about.
Who ever mentioned that PFR really challenged THI needs to go back and look at the ARB books from that era, not that close really.
Things won't really change until Crossroads changes hands and that won't happen until the economy nationally and locally turns around.
Just some thoughts.
Crossroads is like so many smaller market owner mentalities. Put some music on the air and pepople will listen and advertisers will buy air time! NOT TRUE. There is room for the CR stations in the Terre Haute market but to be even marginaly successful they will need to put some professionalism into the stations. From what I hear there is little or no broadcasters in the building and what staff they have have little to no broadcast experieince. They would do well to hire somebody (even a consultant) to put them on track and do some fast track training in all departments. CR also needs to stablize the formats and do something that somebody wants to hear. Whatever that choice may be they need to stick with it and give the format a chance to develop. I hear they are not billing enough to pay the bills much less attract a buyer; however, there is always a person out there that has that huge ego that says "I can do better" and that may be true. If a new buyer comes to the table they will need to have some deeper pockets than Dan and Mike so they can stablize the stations bleeding and start to rebuild.
For the last two days I noticed that am 1300 has been off the air. As far as experienced air personalities, they fired them. The ship appears to be sinking @ 13th & Ohio. Also while listening to Midwest's 95.9 the other day the young man after playing "Love Hurts" by Nazareth said that that song was also done by the Everly Brothers. :-(
Just heard Doc Long's replacement this evening on HI-99 and he sounds so much like Doc it's scarey. And I hear Doc will be starting soon on morning drive on WAXI.. Good Luck Doc. Wish you well.
Milo Miller said:
I suppose he does sound like Doc, if you were deaf like Rush and had your head in a drum. Last time I heard Doc you were lucky to hear time and temp.
This new guy did sound like he had some personality. It will be interesting to see how he does. It's nice to see a new person wants to come to Terre Haute. New people actually coming to town and not being imported by voice track is strange these days.
Not sure how many times Doc gave the time and temp. However that's an advantage of being live as to vioce tracking. That's one of the many big pluses at 918 Ohio. I hope Jeff Reynolds does well and I feel he will, plus he's luckey to work for one of the good guys in radio, Barry Kent. By the way it's 2pm and 78 degress under cloudy skies.
Hoosierky said:
Umm.. you may wanna double check that... Song was originally recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1960!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Hurts
Terre Haute radio has been boring ever since WZZQ signed off a decade ago. Let's examine some of the players:
1. WTHI- They dominate the market so much, they don't even really have to try anymore.
2. WMGI- Even with how much less they are involved with the community now compared to 10 years ago, the station seems to still be doing well. Their music seems to get all the hits for the most part, but there are some "stiffs" that seem to hang around for a long time, and the station musically could sound better if some dayparting was in place. How obvious is it their midday guy is piped in from Green Bay (puke much?)? I guess most of that stuff is minor to the average listener, but pretty noticeable to someone who has worked in the biz.
3. WWVR- Looks like their step back from the edgier rock had no real effect on their 12+ numbers. Station is still obviously carried by Bob & Tom, but for a 3k stick, I'm sure they are very happy.
4. WBOW- Anyone heard their afternoon guy? Oh my. Sounds like a really nice kid, but somebody has to work with him. I know Terre Haute is a small market, but he sounds like he is on a college station. Musically, I think the playlist might be a little large, but probably better than it has been in some time.
5. WWSY- How long is Midwest going to stick with this Valley crap? Talk about a boring station. The Tom Kent show is a complete opposite of how the station is presented the rest of the day. At one time before Midwest bought the station it was making traction in the community and in ratings. Now, it's a station that could disappear tomorrow and nobody would miss (including Midwest).
6. WIBQ- I was really excited when I heard Terre Haute was getting an FM News Talker. However a lack of local presence, and a terrible morning show (Don Imus) has made this a real disappointment. Their "local" news is piped in. Their only local show is at 8am on a Saturday. Take a listen to the station, do you hear any local spots that are not outside of Rush? Yeah, I don't either. It's been a weak attempt at a News Talker, IMO.
7. Rest of Crossroads (WAXI, ESPN Radio) - I thought ESPN would do a little better in the area than it has. Their local sports talk show in the afternoon went from pretty good, to awful, so maybe that is why it hasn't taken it off. As far as WAXI, all of their changes have taken a station regularly in the top 6 to dead last. Just awful. Now they are trying classic rock? Good luck.
I'd like to see someone at Crossroads or Midwest to pull off a true "rock" station. Rock ruled Terre Haute back in the 90's. If I was Crossroads, I would transition WAXI to AC and take WBOW and attack WTHI with a hot country or WMGI with a rally hot CHR, or maybe even a 90's& Now CHR-type of station.
1. WTHI- They dominate the market so much, they don't even really have to try anymore.
2. WMGI- Even with how much less they are involved with the community now compared to 10 years ago, the station seems to still be doing well. Their music seems to get all the hits for the most part, but there are some "stiffs" that seem to hang around for a long time, and the station musically could sound better if some dayparting was in place. How obvious is it their midday guy is piped in from Green Bay (puke much?)? I guess most of that stuff is minor to the average listener, but pretty noticeable to someone who has worked in the biz.
3. WWVR- Looks like their step back from the edgier rock had no real effect on their 12+ numbers. Station is still obviously carried by Bob & Tom, but for a 3k stick, I'm sure they are very happy.
4. WBOW- Anyone heard their afternoon guy? Oh my. Sounds like a really nice kid, but somebody has to work with him. I know Terre Haute is a small market, but he sounds like he is on a college station. Musically, I think the playlist might be a little large, but probably better than it has been in some time.
5. WWSY- How long is Midwest going to stick with this Valley crap? Talk about a boring station. The Tom Kent show is a complete opposite of how the station is presented the rest of the day. At one time before Midwest bought the station it was making traction in the community and in ratings. Now, it's a station that could disappear tomorrow and nobody would miss (including Midwest).
6. WIBQ- I was really excited when I heard Terre Haute was getting an FM News Talker. However a lack of local presence, and a terrible morning show (Don Imus) has made this a real disappointment. Their "local" news is piped in. Their only local show is at 8am on a Saturday. Take a listen to the station, do you hear any local spots that are not outside of Rush? Yeah, I don't either. It's been a weak attempt at a News Talker, IMO.
7. Rest of Crossroads (WAXI, ESPN Radio) - I thought ESPN would do a little better in the area than it has. Their local sports talk show in the afternoon went from pretty good, to awful, so maybe that is why it hasn't taken it off. As far as WAXI, all of their changes have taken a station regularly in the top 6 to dead last. Just awful. Now they are trying classic rock? Good luck.
I'd like to see someone at Crossroads or Midwest to pull off a true "rock" station. Rock ruled Terre Haute back in the 90's. If I was Crossroads, I would transition WAXI to AC and take WBOW and attack WTHI with a hot country or WMGI with a rally hot CHR, or maybe even a 90's& Now CHR-type of station.
The new night guy on WTHI is as good as the afternoon guy on WBOW-FM is bad.
I listened to WIBQ for a full hour during "Handel on the Law" a few weeks ago and heard about 9 minutes of Ad Council, and a newscast by Mix FM's Kyle West (probably 24 hours old by 5pm on Saturday ... a new definition of a "24 hour newsroom")
I listened to WIBQ for a full hour during "Handel on the Law" a few weeks ago and heard about 9 minutes of Ad Council, and a newscast by Mix FM's Kyle West (probably 24 hours old by 5pm on Saturday ... a new definition of a "24 hour newsroom")
Ok you may have me on that one, but you can't always depend on Wikipedia. Guess I would've mention Roy Orbison who's version wasn't a top 40 hit but is more familiar on oldies stations.
Listened to the new WAXI for the last two days and I have to say that I do like the music selection. However their apears to be a branding problem, your hear the best rock n roll, your favorite hits of the 60's 70's and 80's and the last taken from WTTS, World Class Rock. Which is it?? Also if you see the web page www.waxifm.com There's a Bud-Wiser logo with Party Marty name in it's place. Isn't that copy written?
Kyle West is still with Mix-FM.ToddD said:
Milo Miller said:
more fine branding from the text book example of how to not do radio, on a station that can only be heard in about a third of the market at best. the reason its all screwed up is because they don't know what they are or want to be. it really sounds like a bunch of high school kids getting together to play radio, except they are not "kids" but a bunch of old farts trying to get their GED's.
The music mix I heard wasn't bad but there were several songs that weren't hits or easily identifiable which is deadly in a classic format. but I guess (when you look at the numbers) they know what they are doing.
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