Well, Phil ... I congratulate you on your fine speculation. As a 5-figure investor (a low one at that,) that's the news I needed to hear.
And I hope you're right. The problem is ... you can't use the PPM for anything but bird-cage liner and you know that. The sampling is wrong and the methodology is horrid. But I will, for your kindness, grant you this. If the book is not so good ... because of the warnings that you've received, as I have, about the "credibility" and "reliability" of the New York PPMs, you get a pass, because the numbers are meaningless. Now, if they are "great," over a 3.6 (still down, but moving from "flat," -- then you can't take credit and do back flips, because you know perfectly well that both the cumes and the TSL are out of whack, big time in NYC.
Phil, rightly or wrongly, I've been on this forum three to four times longer than you. I've had disagreements with others, as they have with me. But ... in the end, I've also had a lot of support and kindness from a great number of people here and on other forums ... many now friends. I have, in fact, learned a great deal here on Radio-Info ... and after 38 years in 125 markets, Phil ... I'm glad I didn't stop thinking after 1968.
I was part of the audience of your, then, non-syndicated radio station before you ever heard of Rick Sklar ... who, incidentally, consulted an FM in my market just days before his untimely passing. I have the original tape I recorded of the blackouts of the '60s from WABC ... and still refer to them when Dan Ingram was on the air for 23 hours straight ... mostly from your transmitter.
I have fond memories, sadness and thoughts of the progress of WABC ... even as a talk station, Phil.
However, on that "stalker" charge. We can fix that. First, I kindly wrote to you in a very kind manner several times. You refused to answer or acknowledge this. You kept coming back "for more" to take and to dish it out out of silly pettiness. I raised some real issues about WABC long after the John Rook incident.
Second, I praised you for your move with Mark Simone, who I remember from WIP in Philadelphia, as a listener.
Third, Phil, on stalking ... if you really feel that way, then you need to stay with your good Doctor friend and his controlling interest at the NYRMB. You've long ago made your point once, which was plenty enough, and after you and the posters had already been informed that you were right ... including my posts early on that it's one night a week. Remember that post, Phil? I sent it to you, personally. You didn't reciprocate in kind.
Now, I have an interest in your company because of your comments directed to me and to others on this board who take issue with you. Phil, it's a
PUBLIC message board. No one has forced you to use your "real" name ... just like no one is forced to use their "real" name with your screeners, your hosts or on your air. I acknowledge that you realize that by your admission to the "anonymity" of the Internet, though you know it was just as true at WJR as it is at WABC. You're not being stalked, Phil, you're coming back to the trough ... but now, maybe, just maybe ... as the PD of a station that reaches 38 states and 7 countries.
A corporate manager who is respectful and understanding of both sides of an issue.
This point, Phil ... Dan Mason, says, he is "...probably the only corporate president of a radio group that looks at the message boards to see what people are saying about CBS Radio." I quote that, because I have the quote, in writing.
Further, you are a huge figure in talk radio and in syndication circles, Phil ... The BIA shows your revenues year after year. It's not hard to get ... pricey, but not hard. What I'm saying, Phil, is that many posters have taken Clear Channel's John Hogan to task here, and his station(s) beat WABC hands down in several markets in and out of the metro.
He's been crucified for his moves regarding employees, flips, purchases, sales, etc. You know that. Dan Mason came back twice as president of CBS Radio to undo ... and take heat ... for that which came before his second term and, as you know, it wasn't pretty and it's still not pretty in some markets. And let's not go on about Joel Hollander, who was burnt at the stake by many here, long before he finally got 'nudged' out of CBS after the dust-up with Les Moonves and what had turned out to be a "non-radio" corporation. "Free FM" and Imus still leave a bad taste in many mouths ... especially advertisers.
And there are others, Phil ... Bob Neal at Cox Radio, one of the smartest people radio planet ... and his group has been ripped to shreds here. Lou Dickey at Cumulus has been treated the same. I'll save you the time by telling you that Rick Buckley, the Beasley's, Entercom, Goodman's "GoodRadio LLC" which didn't happen ... a lot of people have been held under the microscope here ... including you. And these are people with the same passion, desire, ability to survive and be successful, as are many others in this business we ALL love ... the business of radio.
It's not just about "Phil."
You and I have radio stations and groups ... yours larger than mine, to take care of and to deal with.
Phil, be with us not above us ... no matter how "stoopid" we may seem to you. Because in the scheme of things, it's not about you. It's about Premier, TRN, ABC Radio, local hosts and local things happening in an 80 station market.
WABC doesn't have a 20, 40 or 60 share anymore, Phil. It has a 3.3 share in diary surveys.
We all stand to learn here ... and maybe, a chance to L-I-S-T-E-N ... that's all.
Now, this way too long post to you is out by email, again.
And if you would, go on the Radio Racket. They're good people. Look 'em up at
www.radioracket.com Drop Kyle an email at
[email protected] or George or Roscoe. Even for just a few minutes. Those who listen are "in the demo" Phil ... and we might become more enamored at what you're trying to do. A p****g with we me or anyone here isn't going to change anything.
Nor ... do we want it to. Best wishes and Happy New Year, Phil. And thanks to all posters here for your time.
