The BIG 3's Next Chess Move...

[RK]

Shamrock - With Oldies 92 & 100 floundering and WNAK sucking up lots of older demo revenue will something happen here?

Entercom - EZ103 is clearly a BUST, whether your a fan of the format or not. After going through moving the tower and all the other hard work, more has to be expected out of this signal. What happens here?


Citadel - JR 93.7 does not appear to have taken NEPA by force, or even made a mild dent for that matter. Therefore does Citadel do something here?

Given 104.9 has changed formats, where do the BIG 3 go from here? Does this cause a chain reaction? All 3 companies have a few under-performing stations.

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?

 

[scmidlapp]

> Shamrock - With Oldies 92 & 100 floundering and WNAK sucking
> up lots of older demo revenue will something happen here?
>
This format could still work if, during the hours they aren't on the bird, they throw in older songs. It's always driven me crazy that so-called "oldies" stations program as though no music existed before 1966. Come on, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Coasters, Drifters, Four Seasons, Bill Haley, ELVIS PRESLEY???? Anybody heard of him???? And the satellite station is playing songs from the late '70's. I realize I'm way in the upper demo, but to me, those AIN'T oldies.

> Entercom - EZ103 is clearly a BUST, whether your a fan of
> the format or not. After going through moving the tower and
> all the other hard work, more has to be expected out of this
> signal. What happens here?
>
Good question...is it working as a nuisance?? Maybe that's all they want.
I used to be an opponent of the smooth jazz format until I actually heard a well-programmed smooth jazz station. In fact EZ HAS a smooth jazz show on Sunday morning. I've changed my mind. A smooth jazz MAY ACTUALLY WORK on this frequency.

> Citadel - JR 93.7 does not appear to have taken NEPA by
> force, or even made a mild dent for that matter. Therefore
> does Citadel do something here?
>
They started out real strong. What happened? It's like it was never meant to be a contender. The signal was a problem, but WDLS did okay for a while with the same one. They had a high-profile morning show and dumped it for a NO-profile morning show. Yeah, Jude & Keith had some problems that seemed to be a simple lack of direction, but I could always count on them for a laugh. The music? It seemed they could have been playing a lot more "Legends"...what do you say about a station that has Hank Jr. for the voice and never plays any Hank Jr???? I never heard any Hank Jr. outside of the station voicers!!!
Who knows what they had in mind?????

> Given 104.9 has changed formats, where do the BIG 3 go from
> here? Does this cause a chain reaction? All 3 companies have
> a few under-performing stations.
>

 

[dmer]

I have a feeling EZ 103 may see its last Christmas this coming year. They clearly are not doing well. I like it personally mainly because they play a lot of 70's amd 80's AC songs that other stations do not. But they keep changing their hosts around and keep playing with their playlist. Perhaps it may be smooth jazz since they play it on Sundays and it would not affect the mighty KRZ in any way.

I can't really say much about JR since I am not a country fan and do not listen to them or Froggy. But I always like alternatives. Maybe Citadel needs to give this station more time and resources. This would also work as smooth jazz possibly and they can even keep the calls (WSJR-Smooth Jazz 93.7?). There's still the question too about 95.7 and its future. Citadel has indicated they would like to spin it off to another format some time in the future.

Oldies 92/100 will probably not change, but perhaps it could use some tweaking. Again, not an oldies listener so I can't really comment here either.

The River just started so I would give them at least a year before you see any other major changes, with the exception of the addition of on-air hosts, maybe news/traffic/weather at some point.

I would not expect any other major changes.

 

[NigelWick]

> I have a feeling EZ 103 may see its last Christmas this
> coming year. They clearly are not doing well. I like it
> personally mainly because they play a lot of 70's amd 80's
> AC songs that other stations do not. But they keep changing
> their hosts around and keep playing with their playlist.
> Perhaps it may be smooth jazz since they play it on Sundays
> and it would not affect the mighty KRZ in any way.
>
> I can't really say much about JR since I am not a country
> fan and do not listen to them or Froggy. But I always like
> alternatives. Maybe Citadel needs to give this station more
> time and resources. This would also work as smooth jazz
> possibly and they can even keep the calls (WSJR-Smooth Jazz
> 93.7?). There's still the question too about 95.7 and its
> future. Citadel has indicated they would like to spin it off
> to another format some time in the future.
>
> Oldies 92/100 will probably not change, but perhaps it could
> use some tweaking. Again, not an oldies listener so I can't
> really comment here either.
>
> The River just started so I would give them at least a year
> before you see any other major changes, with the exception
> of the addition of on-air hosts, maybe news/traffic/weather
> at some point.
>
> I would not expect any other major changes.

Jeez!!! Would you all stop it with the "smooth jazz" stuff. That format is for a market with upper socio economic groups, and that crowd doesn't exist in decent numbers in NEPA.

EZ 103 is a nuisance format, and not much of a nuisance.

Oldies 92 can't play even older stuff. The group that likes that music isn't listening to the radio, and if they are, the dial is stuck on 730/94.3.

If JR gets its act together, it can take a nibble out of Froggy.

What do JR and EZ have in common? A lack of promotion. JR has a board at Lackawanna County Stadium, a lot of good in January. I think I saw an EZ ID on WNEP. Where's the rest? You can't program a station and expect people to find it. Promote! It's where KRZ, Magic, Rock 107 and Froggy excel.
>

 

[yonkstur]

I think that Shamrock might do well in tweaking
Oldies 92. The nine year old format does decent billing
without a lot of expense. So you might see them stand
pat for lack of something better to do.

Entercom just needs to promote its smaller entities a
bit more. Not so they would overshadow KRZ or Froggy
but just to make people aware of the fact that they
exist.

Citadel could do something truly exciting with its
frequencies. From a financial standpoint, they won't
because of the bottom line factor. But with the sheer
number of frequencies they have, they could cover
everyone. They could do a Jazz format, a Music of Your
Life format that would remain true to form, (WNAK is
bouncing toward more light rock) an FM talker, and
even an ethnic station. (We do have a huge influx
of Hispanics.) Or what about an All Stereo Polka
Station?????? I'm serious.
They could build nice little, half decent billing, loyal
listener outlets if they took a risk, quit worrying about
the bottom line and did something really unpredictable
with the frequencies they have. Right now, the way they
are set up, they aren't doing anyone a lot of good.
No guts.............no glory.
Yonkstur

 

[JudeMorgan]

All Ramones! All the time! Audio drops from "Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space"
and quotes from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War",read by my good buddy Sammy Wong from the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. He always keeps my ice water nice and full. Gabba Gabba Hey! Oh yeah and "Old Time Rock N'Roll" ,"Maggie May" and "Wonderful Tonight" three times a week each.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JudeMorgan on 09/29/05 08:28 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[NigelWick]

> I think that Shamrock might do well in tweaking
> Oldies 92. The nine year old format does decent billing
> without a lot of expense. So you might see them stand
> pat for lack of something better to do.
>
> Entercom just needs to promote its smaller entities a
> bit more. Not so they would overshadow KRZ or Froggy
> but just to make people aware of the fact that they
> exist.
>
> Citadel could do something truly exciting with its
> frequencies. From a financial standpoint, they won't
> because of the bottom line factor. But with the sheer
> number of frequencies they have, they could cover
> everyone. They could do a Jazz format, a Music of Your
> Life format that would remain true to form, (WNAK is
> bouncing toward more light rock) an FM talker, and
> even an ethnic station. (We do have a huge influx
> of Hispanics.) Or what about an All Stereo Polka
> Station?????? I'm serious.
> They could build nice little, half decent billing, loyal
> listener outlets if they took a risk, quit worrying about
> the bottom line and did something really unpredictable
> with the frequencies they have. Right now, the way they
> are set up, they aren't doing anyone a lot of good.
> No guts.............no glory.
> Yonkstur
>

Why doesn't someone try news? Yes, it may cost a few dollars. Considering the "news" station in town, WILK, has a news department of one... this is an audience ripe for the picking.

 

[ScottSanfilippo]

> Why doesn't someone try news? Yes, it may cost a few
> dollars. Considering the "news" station in town, WILK, has
> a news department of one... this is an audience ripe for the
> picking.

News would be good, but I doubt anyone in this market would be willing to put the bucks towards it. An all news operation is expensive with the number of live bodies you would need to hire to be in studio anchors and field reporters - assuming you're talking local.

Local news in this area had it's funeral years ago. WARM had a great news product when Jerry Heller was news director. WILK had a solid morning news product and had people out in the field until the latest round of cutbacks. I don't consider any station being a "news" station with 3 minutes national and 2 minutes local news once an hour, so yes, this are is ripe for the picking. But again, there is not one entity here willing to spend the money.

Another thing to consider, this area isn't really a newsperson's heaven. So we have a shooting once a month, the occasional rape, the daily turkey hill robbery and the monthly big drug bust. Other than that, news here is pretty non-existant. THat's something to consider. Just listen in to any of the traffic reports you hear locally. We report ambulance activity in an alley!

Just some other comments....

Oldies 92 - the format is stale. Same jocks, same jingles, same play list since day 1. I agree - drop the satellite and bring it local. Cool 94 (WSGD) had a great oldies format, Shamrock should take a lesson.

EZ103 - costs next to nothing to run, but there is never the chance that they can compete with Magic, so play the Christmas music and surprise us on Xmas day with a new format.

And then there's Citadel. With the exception of Magic, they should just turn the lights off and go home. Then take the individuals responsible for the massacre of WARM and lock them in a room and force them to listen to Dave Yonki's new 24 hour, all polka, all stereo station until their freakin' ears bleed.

"In today's news, Airport officials forgot to include sidewalks in the contracts for the construction of the new terminal building at Avoca." On second thought, maybe an all NEPA news station would be entertaining!

scott

 

[Aramondo]

> All Ramones! All the time! Audio drops from "Ed Wood's Plan
> 9 from Outer Space"

Perhaps Jude, on your way home, someone will pass you in the dark, and you will never know it...for they will be from outer space.

 

[radioboss]

Let's take a look at the possibilities:

CITADEL -
92.9 FM / WMGS (Magic 93) --- Leave it alone!
93.7 FM / WSJR (JR 93.7) --- Simulcast the format onto 95.7 FM as well.
95.7 FM / WBHD (97 BHT) --- Can help 93.7 more than they are on 97.1.
97.1 FM / WBHT (97 BHT) --- Prime for a new format! News Talk 97
97.9 FM / WBSX (97.9 The X)-- Who listens to Alternative? Move BHT to 97.9.
590 AM / WARM (WARM 590) --- Change to Oldies 590, with personalities!

ENTERCOM -
98.5 FM / WKRZ (98.5 KRZ) --- Leave it alone!
101.3FM / WGGY (Froggy 101)-- Leave it alone!
102.3FM / WDMT (102.3 The Mountain) Promote it more!
103.1FM / WFEZ (EZ 103) --- Same as The Mountain. Promote it more.
910 AM / WGBI (WILK Network) Add more personalities.
980 AM / WILK (WILK Network) Add more local elements.
1300 AM / WKZN (WILK Network) Obviously banking these calls.

SHAMROCK -
92.1 FM / WQFM (Oldies 92) -- Tweak the format & become local
100.1FM / WQFN (Oldies 100)-- Same as above.
105.9FM / WPZX (Rock 107) --- Could be separated; but, they won't
106.9FM / WEZX (Rock 107) --- Is old and has a bunch of retread jocks.
630 AM / WEJL (ESPN RADIO) - Should change to Adult Standards
1240 AM / WBAX (ESPN RADIO) - Continue running ESPN

The rest of the field will always play second or even third fiddle to these stations.

However, now Bold Gold is now a semi-player with the stations in Scranton and Honesdale.

 

[JudeMorgan]

Perhaps Jude, on your way home, someone will pass you in the
> dark, and you will never know it...for they will be from
> outer space.
>
We are all interested in the future. For that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

 

[Aramondo]

> We are all interested in the future. For that is where you
> and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

That's true Jude. But one thing's sure. Inspector Clay is dead, murdered, and somebody's responsible.

 

[JudeMorgan]

But one thing's sure. Inspector Clay is
> dead, murdered, and somebody's responsible.


"Home? I have no home. Despised. Hunted. Like an animal. But I vill show the vorld that I can be it's Master! I will perfect my own race. A race of atomic supermen! And one day take over the whole vorld! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JudeMorgan on 09/30/05 03:51 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[snowman101]

Well Lets see......
>
> CITADEL -
> 92.9 FM / WMGS (Magic 93) --- Leave it alone! (Agree)
> 93.7 FM / WSJR (JR 93.7) --- Simulcast the format onto 95.7
> FM as well.(Agree)
> 95.7 FM / WBHD (97 BHT) --- Can help 93.7 more than they
> are on 97.1.(Agree)
> 97.1 FM / WBHT (97 BHT) --- Prime for a new format! News
> Talk 97 ( TAlK ??????? Remember Z- Talk Folks, no way)
> 97.9 FM / WBSX (97.9 The X)-- Who listens to Alternative? ( This where BHT Should Be, nobody would notice if it was gone! It has changed formats and names so many times people are expecting it, plus isn't it strange they blew up the Bear....put on several different stations, moved them around, and now they do the same format as the Bear did????)
> Move BHT to 97.9.
> 590 AM / WARM (WARM 590) --- Change to Oldies 590, with
> personalities!
>
> ENTERCOM -
> 98.5 FM / WKRZ (98.5 KRZ) --- Leave it alone! (Tweek please they are #4...remember when they where unbeatable...needs alot of refreshing)
> 101.3FM / WGGY (Froggy 101)-- Leave it alone!(Agree)
> 102.3FM / WDMT (102.3 The Mountain) Promote it more!(Dump it)
> 103.1FM / WFEZ (EZ 103) --- Same as The Mountain. Promote
> it more.(Agree, promote this sstation, get on Magics Heal)
> 910 AM / WGBI (WILK Network) Add more personalities. (Oh I forgot about AM)
> 980 AM / WILK (WILK Network) Add more local elements.
> 1300 AM / WKZN (WILK Network) Obviously banking these calls.
>
>
> SHAMROCK -
> 92.1 FM / WQFM (Oldies 92) -- Tweak the format & become
> local (Play Oldies.....55-68) that is Oldies, not Elton John, Doobie Brothers or Bee-Gees. 1955-1968 OLDIES!!!!!! Drop the penguins, play the Music 1955-1968
> 100.1FM / WQFN (Oldies 100)-- Same as above.
> 105.9FM / WPZX (Rock 107) --- Could be separated; but, they
> won't ( this is not a stand alone station....it is necessary to compete with the Class b's in the market who only need one signal to cover the market)
> 106.9FM / WEZX (Rock 107) --- Is old and has a bunch of
> retread jocks.( Maybe the same jocks but it works, #1 last I checked, I guess they are doing something right)
> 630 AM / WEJL (ESPN RADIO) - Should change to Adult
> Standards (What?????? they were there already, it doesn't make money, tune your radio to 94.3)
> 1240 AM / WBAX (ESPN RADIO) - Continue running ESPN (Promote it more, TV TV TV and billboards)
>

 

[dmer]

I would like to see Citadel use 95.7 for a new station as opposed to another simulcast. As far as 97.9X I am not a modern rock listener, but there are plenty who are and they should have a station available to them. I thought they pulled in respectable numbers (aren't they in the Top 10). I would leave the Mountain as is. Weren't they number 6 or 7 in the arbitrons? I think these are great numbers, especially considering the small geographic area they cover. They lost little ground when 103.1 was split. The Mountain also has a very loyal core of listeners. People who listen to the Mountain regularly listen to nothing else.

I like EZ 103 personally but if they are kept (which I tend to doubt) they need some work. Some mentioned smooth jazz. Maybe they should consider smooth jazz/soft AC fusion. Maybe we cannot support a smooth jazz station in the area but maybe we could support a station that plays smooth jazz and easy listening AC together. They would need to advertise heavily as an at work listening station.

The key to Citadel/Entercom is they have their mighty stations (MAGIC, KRZ, FROGGY) that will always vie for number 1 along with ROCK 107. However they could still work with their other stations to make them respectable in ratings and content. They need to stop creating new formats just to try to knock off the competition. They should create new formats to cover a format that is lacking. What's amazing is that the media conglomerates have enough resources at their disposal to create some great stations with great playlists and talent, but they are so concerned with squeezing every last penny that they cut their nose to spite their face. They'd probably make more if they invested more in what they have.

 

[yonkstur]

>
> Why doesn't someone try news? Yes, it may cost a few
> dollars. Considering the "news" station in town, WILK, has
> a news department of one... this is an audience ripe for the
> picking.
>
Here's how I would approach an all news format for a local
station. First, anchor the news with CBS Radio. There is a
great deal of feature material that could be mined during the
week.
Second, hire 3 news grunts who are capable of running their own
board.
Third, get 4 anchor sports. Baseball, Football, College football
and NCAA hoops.
Fourth, The Line up.
6am to 10AM....The Morning Marathon, News, sports, traffic, local
opinion perspectives.
10AM to 3Pm....The Northeastern News Forum. (call in show).
3PM to 7PM.....The Sports Soap Box of the Airwaves. (call in show)
or a Tony Kornheiser type personality.)
7pm to midnight..Sports Live.
Midnight to 6AM..The Night Owl. (local call in).
Weekends, Sports, CBS Radio features.
Canned radio documentaries.
News coverage: Work out an arrangement with the local newspapers
that if there is breaking news, one of their staff reporters does a
call in from the scene. I'd have working relationships with
newspapers in Wilkes Barre, Scranton, Hazleton and Pittston.
Weather: Grew up with Kristopher but gotta have Snedeker.
Traffic: Rusty Fender, or his country cousin, Bump E. Rhodes.
News Clock: CBS News on the hour, followed by local traffic, weather
and spot sports.
Ground Zero News: Local news report starting on the 0. 10 after, 20
after, 30 after, 40 after, 50 after. In between, spots, weather and
sports.
Obviously, during the 10am to 7PM blocks, the news coverage on the 0s
would be limited. "At 10 minutes after 1, we are following this
story..................,you just heard about it here, now let's hear
your take on it. Call --- ---- to voice your opinion.
It will take bucks, dedication but it might be fun. Hey, I know it'll
be fun!!!
yonkstur

 

[TomCarten]

The best "Bart Sommers" radio-tv columnist the Citizens' Voice ever had (ahem) posited a setup something like that many years ago when WILK's then-current format was tanking. I think the response was along the lines of, "Don't tell us how to run a radio station." Well, somebody had to as they didn't seem to know.<P ID="signature">______________
Use "Radio-Info" in e-mail subject line.</P>

 

[yonkstur]

> The best "Bart Sommers" radio-tv columnist the Citizens'
> Voice ever had (ahem) posited a setup something like that
> many years ago when WILK's then-current format was tanking.
> I think the response was along the lines of, "Don't tell us
> how to run a radio station." Well, somebody had to as they
> didn't seem to know.
>
We should do into the consulting business.
yonkstur

 

[yonkstur]

> The best "Bart Sommers" radio-tv columnist the Citizens'
> Voice ever had (ahem) posited a setup something like that
> many years ago when WILK's then-current format was tanking.
> I think the response was along the lines of, "Don't tell us
> how to run a radio station." Well, somebody had to as they
> didn't seem to know.
>
We should GO into the consulting business. (see what happens
when you don't edit!!)
yonkstur