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Top Topics Of 2006

R

Radknowski

As 2006 fades into the sunset, what topics were tops on this board through 2006? I'd offer the following:

#1. KB's oldies format and its move to progressive talk

#2. WKSE-Entercom payola woes and the Spitzer investigation of Buffalo and  Rochester clusters

#3. WBEN news department and talk personalities

#4. WHLD's progressive talk format

#5. WECK's format change from standards tpo classic country

#6. The sale of the CBS cluster to Regent

#7. WHTT format evolution

#8. WYSL no show in the Rochester books & power upgrade

#9. WHAM and Clear Channel

#10. WGR sports and talk show hosts

Voice your choice:

?-?-?-?-?
 
Entercom's purchase of CBS Rochester properties and on going speculation of what CBS/Rochester FM's they will keep and what stations they will sell off. And will they still have any need for low power, highly directional WROC AM950?
 
Let's not forget Regent's purchase of the former CBS/Infinity properties in Buffalo. There haven't been many noticeable changes - yet.
 
raymond_shaw said:
Entercom's purchase of CBS Rochester properties and on going speculation of what CBS/Rochester FM's they will keep and what stations they will sell off. And will they still have any need for low power, highly directional WROC AM950?
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Agreed that here in Rochester the anticipation in 2007 will center on what will happen regarding the fallout from the sale of the cluster of CBS radio stations. There are rumors of a possible spin-off of WRMM to another media company to comply with FCC requirements. As for WROC-AM there are a few options left.

1. Sell, or lease it to a religious broadcasting group. With the future of Air America in doubt because of its financial situation, what other format is there?

2. Take the station dark, sell off the transmitter site in Brighton to some builder that would develop the property.

3. Transform WROC-AM into a Spanish language format. There would be no competition and it would tap into the fastest growing population in the city.

The other interesting scenario is what is going to happen to the Clear Channel stations not only here in Rochester, but across the country? As I posted a few weeks ago a very reliable source at CC said that more personnel changes are coming. Those changes may, or may not impact WHAM, but it very well will impact one of the lesser listened to FM stations.

No matter how you look at it 2007 is going to mean some changes; both in formats, ownership, and more importantly jobs.
 
Radknowski said:
As 2006 fades into the sunset, what topics were tops on this board through 2006? I'd offer the following:

#1. KB's oldies format and its move to progressive talk
WWKB is dead. Either give it a decent burial or let Bob Smith buy it and turn it into a 50kw all talk station .

#2. WKSE-Entercom payola woes and the Spitzer investigation of Buffalo and Rochester clusters

Since Mr. Spitzer will soon be Governor Spitzer the follow-up responsibilities falls to Andrew Cuomo. Sorry but I don't have the confidence in Mr. Cuomo has I did in Eliot Spitzer when it comes to investigating and prosecuting companies and individuals.

#3. WBEN news department and talk personalities
All I can say is look what happened at WHAM. More and more radio stations are dropping local news coverage, with some of them linking up with local television. Thus the radio station gets their local news from TV reporters. It's the bottom-line folks. Even though WBEN is ranked # 1 in the book, it's still the bottom-line that counts. As for talk radio, there will always be an audience made up of people who need to have someone tell them what to think.

#4. WHLD's progressive talk format

#5. WECK's format change from standards to classic country

#6. The sale of the CBS cluster to Regent

Regent will bring in their people and there will be changes. Anyone who thinks that won't happen also believes in the old addage " there will be no personnel changes". A quote I've heard many time from new owners just months before they start cleaning house.

#7. WHTT format evolution

#8. WYSL no show in the Rochester books & power upgrade

The increase to 20kw will give WYSL more coverage area during the daytime, however the station's nighttime pattern is still the same. It will be interesting to see if the Laura and Bill talk shows will increase WYSL's audience. As for not showing up in the Arbitrons, I also agree with a number of people that it's almost impossible for a station so close to the Rochester market not to appear in the ratings when stations in Dansville, Warsaw and Geneva showed up in previous books.

# 9 WHAM and Clear Channel

It is too early to determine what impact the recent spate of layoffs will have on WHAM's overall ratings. While the station fired both on-air and support staff, it was advertising for people with sales experience. That right there should give you an indication as to what direction the radio station is heading. But then again that's the nature of the beast in this day and age.
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1. Sell, or lease it to a religious broadcasting group. With the future of Air America in doubt because of its financial situation, what other format is there?
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Actually, they are now only running 6 1/2 hours of AA programming a day. Al Franken, plus Rachel Maddow/Randi Rhodes at night. The late night Lionel show is off the WOR radio network. However, the ratings continue to be bad, so pay for pray programming or spanish might be a viable option. I think just leasing the time to a religious group(like WHLD is now doing) would be most likely to happen...easy money.
 
Radknowsdick said:
[size=10pt]As 2006 fades into the sunset, what topics were tops on this board through 2006? I'd offer the following:

#1. KB's oldies format and its move to progressive talk

It's a cryin' shame to see and hear what's happened to this once proud lady. I say the FCC re-writes the rules requiring the mega-broadcasters to air live and local programming on stations like KB. As it is, too many stations like KB are left to run on life-support.

#2. WKSE-Entercom payola woes and the Spitzer investigation of Buffalo and Rochester clusters

Entercom got off easy. Too easy. But considering the company first said it would fight the payola chargers to their death, paying the fine is a major concession, despite Entercom's insistence of not being guilty. Wink, wink... nudge, nudge. Hey David Field, you're not fooling anybody with your $3 thousand suits. Punk.

#3. WBEN news department and talk personalities

Two separate topics. WBEN news department gets accolades when deserved. Talk personalities, especially the two local gasbags doing midday and p.m. drive deserve the ridicule they get on these boards. The reason they deserve to be upbraided is that they're hypocrites. Enough said. No man is perfect, we're all flawed. Sorry DB.

#4. WHLD's progressive talk format

I'd only add, "WHLD's short-lived progressive talk format." What a debacle. Not that anybody with an ounce of programming savvy couldn't see the end coming within a few weeks of the station's debut as a "news-talker." Ray Marks as morning sidekick? Local news by Metro over a phone line? What a mess! Gospel favorites actually makes more sense.

#5. WECK's format change from standards to classic country
Hope springs eternal. WECK returns to standards by the start of the Spring book. Take it to the bank.

#6. The sale of the CBS cluster to Regent
Welcome to 2007... here's your severence check... take the stairs down to the lobby... buh-bye. Hope it doesn't happen, but everybody's waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can you blame them?

#7. WHTT format evolution
Three A-C stations? Four if you count Jack. Only one Country station? Just think, if KB had held out for another year... nahhh, the final chapter would still be the same. Tell me there isn't a hole in the market for "Oldies," "Classic Hits" or "Timeless Standards."

#8. WYSL no show in the Rochester books & power upgrade
Let's see what Mr. Arbitron has to say now that WYSL is burning up the median grass on the 390 with 20 thousand flame throwin' Watts of... Bill O'Riely?! Sorry... hard not to laugh at that pinhead... "hey baby... I have a louffa...." Another talk radio hypocrite moralizing to the mindless who desperately need to be told what to think.

#9. WHAM and Clear Channel
Doing more with less... the great American way in today's broadcasting companies. Welcome to Wal-Mart on the radio. Only a matter of time before we're all wearing red vests and standing in the entrance door way.

#10. WGR sports and talk show hosts
Getting better... a left-handed compliment if ever there was one. Should get on their knees, face the waterfront and bow to the Sabres five times a day without a prayer mat. Still, not enough duct tape for some of the stations "cub" commentators.

Salutations!

2007... just hours away. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Have a happy, healthy, gainfully employed New Year.

-9-
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