Watch out Fishheads!, Atsinger says sell underperformers

[rbrucecarter5]

Remember, Catholic radio is at least 20 years behind their Christian radio brethren in the evolution of getting on radio and creating a better radio product - so it is but a youngster in comparison to its' older siblings.

Here is an idea - Catholics can listen to CHRISTIAN radio. My - what a revelation!

Seriously - we had such a problem attracting an audience - the station was basically DEAD in the ratings except for our show - we had to make it generic enough, musically, so everybody could listen. We had Catholics, Protestants, Charismatics, non-Charismatics, even SECULAR listeners. Our reach was so broad, we had Mormans and Jehovah Witness listeners. In fact, one of my DJ's was a Mormon. I let her on the air with the clear understanding that she would not promote her religion - a promise she kept.

 

[War Of Attrition]

I readily admit that I regularly listen to Catholic talk radio (in my area it is Relevant Radio) - and, yes, I'm Catholic.

I readily admit that I listen to Relevant on occasion and that it is better than some evangelical Christian stations in terms of professional standards. You can tell that they are making an effort to improve.

Also, everyone reading this should borrow a Sirius radio (or listen online with a free trial) to The Catholic Channel. It is terrific. Entertaining. Compelling. Relevant.

And no, I am not a Catholic.

 

[War Of Attrition]

Seriously - we had such a problem attracting an audience - the station was basically DEAD in the ratings except for our show - we had to make it generic enough, musically, so everybody could listen. We had Catholics, Protestants, Charismatics, non-Charismatics, even SECULAR listeners. Our reach was so broad, we had Mormans and Jehovah Witness listeners. In fact, one of my DJ's was a Mormon. I let her on the air with the clear understanding that she would not promote her religion - a promise she kept.

Whoa. That sounds like a disaster. This station sounds almost as useless as a so-called inter-faith service.

"If you try to be everything to everybody, you wind up being nothing to anybody."

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Whoa. That sounds like a disaster. This station sounds almost as useless as a so-called inter-faith service.

"If you try to be everything to everybody, you wind up being nothing to anybody."

We programmed Hot-AC to Christian rock, and the phones rang off the walls with listeners calling in requests, prayer needs, etc. We didn't have to worry about docrinal issues, except in the lyrics - which were Christian or dealt with a scriptural issue. The Mormon DJ did ask us if we would consider Mormon artists - NONE fit the format - so problem solved. We would NOT have played anything with heresy, new age, Mormon, or JW stuff in it.

No disaster. Good ratings - and people reached for Christ. The disaster was when we left and put the place back on slow, boring praise and worship that nobody listened to. Or their brokered preaching by preachers who were good, for the most part. But who also included: chain smokers. Drunks. Spouse abusers. The owners - as long as the preacher included their check with the tape - didn't check on the backgrounds of the individuals. We, however, were assaulted by toxic smoke when one of the nicotine heads dropped off his stuff. Yeah, his preaching was good, but I have no respect for a Christian who rationalizes smoking at that intensity and goes around smelling like a toxic waste dump, all the time saying Christianese. Or a guy that buys a 24 pack of beer, has it on his front seat when he delivers his tape. Or a guy that beats the ____ out of his wife, terrorizes his kids, then comes in with his tape of preaching about repentance. Then there was the preaching show that stole OUR time by repeated running OVER their allotted time. They were praying, and you know where the owner's sympathy was. To us, they were thieves who stole our time. Horrendous witness. And - they almost caused a fire THREE TIMES by not tending the coffee maker. And they left trash all over the console. And enough crumbs on the floor they attracted rats. When they did play music - they didn't file it back and the station's music library looked like it had been ransacked when we got their. OUR volunteers cleaned up their mess. Of course, their prayers were more important than being good stewards of the facility.

You want a disaster? That was the station when we weren't there.

 

[radiotower40]

I saw a mention during this thread about AM 560 WIND in Chicago. I listen frequently but I find most of my favorite hosts
on the station are not Salem network hosts. For instance we have a great local morning show with two well known hosts
from other popular stations here they also air Dennis Miller,Laura Ingrham and Michael Savage. The station does not really
do to well in the ratings usually between 0.8 and 1.0 shares. Does it seem likely Salem will sell 560 AM? They swapped
the AM station with another company for there FM FISH station about 2 years ago. I would like to see it stick around.
They also own 50,000 watt WYLL AM 1160 which is all brokered and I don't know of anyone that listens to it. It would be
sad to see them sell the news/talk and keep the signal nobody listens too. I know business is about money but for a true
Christian company shouldn't it be about more than that. Take for instance all the listeners who have no ez listening-nostalgia
format (that at one time aired on AM 1160 with the heritage calls WJJD) Would it not be the Christian thing to do to give the
senior citizens (and younger people like me who miss the format) a station for them to enjoy?

 

[neutralobserver]

Take for instance all the listeners who have no ez listening-nostalgia format (that at one time aired on AM 1160 with the heritage calls WJJD) Would it not be the Christian thing to do to give the senior citizens (and younger people like me who miss the format) a station for them to enjoy?

No, why?

 

[radiotower40]

The reason why is because some of the 55+ crowd that does not really care for mainstream rock oldies have no station to call their
own. I know several people in my family and friends parents in the 40-65 age group that have to settle for the smooth jazz station,
because they have no alternative. I know radio is a business but is not also about the people? With all the stations out there especially
in a market like Chicago they could not program one station that would play a true lite/ez hits format? I believe they could and if done
correctly make some money from it,and they would have a very loyal audience. If you would like some examples I would be glad to
provide some.

 

[neutralobserver]

Fine, but you didn't answer the question, "why?" You said that programming a nostalgia staion would be the "Christian thing to do." How would that advance the kingdom of God?

The "Christian thing to do" is very rarely simply the "oh, that would be nice of you" thing to do. That's a frequent, though horrible, misconception.

 

[radiotower40]

The reason I would say it would be the Christian thing to do is that most of the people without a radio station to call there own
are senior citizens, they don't have access or knowledge of computers like we do to find the music that us younger people do.
I believe when ever you can bring some joy into the life of those who need it, that is why GOD put us here. I hope that I answered
your question. However, I do understand the point you are trying to make between the feel good thing and the Christian thing. I
guess that line can get a little blurred sometimes.

 

[ddybas]

Re: Something blowing in the WIND

Re: WIND 560 and WYLL 1160..it's kinda like this....WYLL 1160 makes it's money from the programs that pay to be on the air. Yes, D. James Kennedy and the rest have to pay to be heard on the radio. Those programs pay good money in spite of the fact that no one is listening to the station. I guess if you save one soul the money is worth it...

Of the two, WIND or WYLL, it's WYLL that is bringing in the most money...and that's what Salem is all about. WIND has a few listeners but their morning show is costing them an arm and leg...so I expect changes there...The radio business is a business....if you can't pay the bills then you don't stay on the air...so the programming is tailored to make money...

As far as programming to the 55+ crowd goes...well... the coveted age group is the 25-54 year olds, anyone outside that doesn't spend enough money to be significant to radio advertisers...that's what all the radio research groups keep telling the radio stations.


I still think there is room for a smooth easy listening, maybe even beautiful music type format here in Chicago...but I'd have to create it myself because the research groups don't agree.

Happy New Year

 

[gr8oldies]

If the Catholic broadcasters want to approach the audience and influence of their evangelical/fundamentalist/charasmatic counterparts, they need some compelling public speakers, maybe a little guilt and in-your-face "we are right, we're the original church and you protestants area all going to hell..or at least purgatory." "And send money!" Most Catholic programming I've heard and seen is duller than NPR's worst day.