WABC..another new low

[TimeIsTight]

Not true at all,

Not to split hairs, but while the old definition of "clear channels" across the entire country no longer means anything. The fact that you have a low frequency 50-kw station that has a non-directional signal is a significant advantage in the top market, and that station also still reaches somewhere around 18-states at night.

New York has only two other similar stations, WFAN, and WCBS, and there are some others like them scattered around the country but they are rare when compared to the total number of AM licenses. The Philly market has no non-directional 50-kw stations.

Yes, there even is an upstate AM on 770, but it is a three tower directional daytimer aimed almost exclusively at a Canadian audience, with its transmitter very close to Lake Ontario. It offers ethnic programming and identifies itself unofficially as "WTOR Toronto." It is no threat at all to any reasonable WABC daytime groundwave audience, and it is likely relatively few Americans could even listen to the signal if they wanted to. And the 770 in New Mexico, never threatened WABC's primary audience. That's not true on a lot of other frequencies where there are massive night-time co-channel problems, and compared to those stations WABC does have a "clear channel" frequency, whether the old full country definition still stands or not.

As far as all the new electrical interference problems go, there is no doubt that they are discouraging AM listening, but they have an equal impact on all AM stations, and a 50-kw non-directional low frequency signal has a whole lot better chance of overcoming the local interference than a lower power directional at the high end of the dial. It's just physics. And those are the reasons why I said "WABC (is) something special compared to the rest of the AM pack." It is rare beach front property, and that is the objective truth.

 

[KFodor]

The problem with ignoring the listening interests of the regular audience on weekends is that they look for alternatives and change the channel to a spot it may stay tuned to on Monday.

Horse hockey. The people who listen to WABC listen for one reason: Conservative talk by people they agree with. If they tune away on Saturday, they will be back to listen to Rush on Monday because he has commanded them to. It's like church. You won't go there during the week, but that doesn't mean you won't go there Sunday morning.

Some of your hard core P-1 types are like that, Big A. But people generally listen to talk stations for information...and this may be where they're dropping the ball. Yes, listening levels on talk stations are generally lower on the weekend, regardless of programmin.

 

[KFodor]

Why is there so much hanging on to the legacy of WABC? At this point they have been talking longer than they were music. Cumulus probably doesnt care what happened at 770 in the 60's and 70's. Most of their employees have probably never heard musicradio77. Times have changed- things evolve. Z100 is probably the true descendent of WABC- not the stale talk on 770. As much as I am not a big fan of Clear Channel, if they pay some attention to WOR they have a reasonable chance to show up Cumulus and their mess on WABC.

This is true. The people who grew up on Harry Harrison and Cousin Brucie are dying weekly. Can't change that, even though it breaks some people's hearts.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm not against infomercials (they can help pay the bills), but in a weather emergency such as that snowstorm, local coverage IS warranted...

As I said, had this happened on Friday instead of Saturday, I'd agree.

 

[benale]

Getting back to my original post, the infomercials should not have been airing last Saturday morning. In Connecticut and Long Island, the blizzard was still in progress and even in the city, a clean up was on the way. Whoever scheduled those infomercials to run that day used very poor judgement.

If WABC has to run those tune out shows, they should be run between Midnight and 6AM. Nobody listens to them, so it really doesn't matter when they air.

This past Saturday morning, WABC really made a huge error in judgement. A local talk show should have been on with information on the storm, along with listener calls.

 

[taylorengineer]

I would argue that if programming is his "specialty" then maybe he should try a different line of work.

So you admit you don't know anything about him, yet you feel qualified to judge him?

I did not say that. How did you come to that conclusion??!!
I can read his bio online. What are his "rocket scientist" qualifications? Had you read, and understood my post you would have seen in the next sentence I agree he is probably good at the mechanics of programming. He can read and interpret a mechanical, can evaluate auditorium testing, and knows the nuts and bolts of putting music and voice on the air.
But does he have "the vision?"
Not that I can see DIRECTLY THROUGH HIS EFFORTS AT CUMULUS. A true visionary would not put up with the dickie brothers and their "vision." The dickie vision is "radio = real estate." From a business standpoint it is and that's the difference I'm talking about. Business people should set the business goals - revenue targets - and deal with fuducial matters, etc. Programming should offer "the vision" and create the showbiz necessary to attract listeners and grow profits.
What we can all evaluate is his leadership IN REAL TIME at Cumulus. I'm sorry.....if you're of the opinion he is doing a great job with Cumulus programming then we will have to agree to disagree.
The news launch in Atlanta is the only Cumulus effort I can think of that was impressive.....and they've already fired the Ops manager responsible for that launch. I do expect WNSH to be profitable in NYC - I think Cumulus made a good call - but I think they could have done a better job with the launch.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm sorry.....if you're of the opinion he is doing a great job with Cumulus programming then we will have to agree to disagree.

This is a discussion for another thread.

However, if you're going to judge someone, it might help to know more than an online bio. Perhaps even find out if he was even involved at all with the Nash launch.

 

[taylorengineer]

I'm sorry.....if you're of the opinion he is doing a great job with Cumulus programming then we will have to agree to disagree.

This is a discussion for another thread.

However, if you're going to judge someone, it might help to know more than an online bio. Perhaps even find out if he was even involved at all with the Nash launch.

If he has/had a vision then we would see the result(s.) Simple as that! I don't have to play a round of golf with him to "correctly" interpret his efforts.
I do not know his function in the Cumulus food chain so you are correct in pointing that out. But isn't he Lew's "personal radio Jesus?"

 

[taylorengineer]

And it's just not the WNSH launch. And it's not just Cumulus that does lame station launches. It seems to be the industry standard now.....play 10 gillion in a row and then maybe hire a jock or two after a few months....when they hear the listeners start to yawn from boredom.
Does anyone remember "The Power Pig?" That's the way I think you should come out of the box......swingin' hard and taking no prisoners!

 

[TheBigA]

I do not know his function in the Cumulus food chain so you are correct in pointing that out.

Thank you. Now let's leave this thread to its original topic.

 

[TheBigA]

This past Saturday morning, WABC really made a huge error in judgement. A local talk show should have been on with information on the storm, along with listener calls.

Here's an interesting question: Who at WABC would you suggest should have hosted it?

 

[benale]

How about Noam(sp) Laden? Look, this is a 50,000 watt station in New York City. On the day of a huge blizzard WABC should not have been airing infomercials. I know they were running the "Best of Imus" after Simone left. I'm sure there must have been someone doing news who could have filled in that morning.

 

[taylorengineer]

I do not know his function in the Cumulus food chain so you are correct in pointing that out.

Thank you. Now let's leave this thread to its original topic.

This directly relates to Cumulus programming decisions - specifically storm coverage and infomercials.
I only mentioned McVay because you offered him as an example in another thread of Cumulus' "top notch" programming minds. I ask you for examples of his "brilliance" and you never give any. Not then....not now. Show me where I am wrong about ANY/ALL programming honchos (not just Cumulus) currently running the show. Give me an example of innovation in ANY of the larger media companies.....
Just as I thought.....

 

[ChuckTiller]

Getting back to my original post, the infomercials should not have been airing last Saturday morning. In Connecticut and Long Island, the blizzard was still in progress and even in the city, a clean up was on the way. Whoever scheduled those infomercials to run that day used very poor judgement.

If WABC has to run those tune out shows, they should be run between Midnight and 6AM. Nobody listens to them, so it really doesn't matter when they air.

I understand, what you are saying. I think they should have provided coverage, too. However, your feelings and my feelings are subjective and only opinions. These infomercials air because they are part of the revenue stream. Obviously, a station can charge more for an infomercial in day parts during the day as opposed the night time. It's a matter of survival for the almost century old AM band.

 

[alok]

The sad part for WABC is they are owned by Cumulus. But then if Cumulus didn't own them to ruin them ( is it their station !!!! ) ,some other big present day corporate broadcast company would fill the "own to ruin" shoes.

Cumulus has KGO in SF ,it suppose to be news/info ,but they resigned the only mid-week talk show host they have because I think his show is what is holding up the KGO sinking ship.
Maybe the "rough 2.5 " rating that KGO is getting is good enough for Cumulus but I don't think so.

I also know that the ratings WABC get are terrible no matter how you slice it.

Al

 

[TheBigA]

I'm sure there must have been someone doing news who could have filled in that morning.

I agree with what the dentist said on his board. This isn't a news station. It's a political talk station. That's what they do. It's what they've done for a long time. There are other stations in NYC that handle the news, and do it well. No need to do something just for the sake of doing it. There's another thread talking about how dumb Francessa sounded talking about the weather. I agree. Stick with what you know, and it's not the weather.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Here in Boston, WBZ-1030 usually runs paid programming on Saturday evenings.

But this past Saturday (February 9th), in the aftermath of the blizzard, WBZ dumped the paid programming and instead, brought-in weeknight talk-show host Dan Rea broadcast a special six-hour Saturday edition of his weeknight "Nightside" show, where callers could discuss their storm experiences and Rea (along with the news staff on-duty) could provide the latest news updates as regards the storm.

 

[OC3]

Put it to bed folks. All your ideas are great but unless you have about 50 mil to buy WABC from Cumulus IT MEANS NOTHING!! They program from Atlanta and the bottom line is the bottom line for these bottom feeders! Money talks and they want (and probably need) money at all costs. Are they killing the radio station and indeed the whole business?? Probably but thank the folks in DC who said one company could own a ton of radio stations. Remember when there were airlines too?? Same crap brought to you by the same politicians who did all this for US! Ha!! Dream on folks, but the clock ain't going backwards!!!

 

[TheBigA]

Interesting thing to consider is that on the Philly board, they're talking about the collapse of talker WPHT. This is a 50KW CBS-owned AM station, the first station Bill Paley bought for the empire that became CBS. The station was once a market leading talk station, built aorund a mix of local and syndicated talk. Then a few months ago, Merlin came to town, bought an FM from Family Radio, and took all the syndicated shows away. So no more Rush or Hannity. So CBS did exactly what a lot of people here suggest, and went 100% local talk. No syndication. They now have a 1.4 in the last book. So local talk is not the panacea you might think it would be. By the way, Philly is another market that, like NY, has only one AM station in the Top 10, and it's CBS all news KYW.

 

[ka2xuk]

The Philly market has no non-directional 50-kw stations.

I guess you've never heard of WPHT (formerly WCAU) on 1210. It runs 50 kW into a single stick at its transmitter site in Moorestown, NJ.