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WATS Sayre

J

JakeLongwell

Now here's a station that never gets talked about on this board. With good reason, I suppose. After all, what is there to say about AM 960?

But listening to it on a recent visit to the southern tier, I coulnd't help but think "what a waste of 5kw". I am surprised no one has thought to split the longtime simulcast with WAVR and try something different on the AM.

So, just for the sake of a new discussion, I pose this question to all of you. What could be done with the 960 frequency? News/Talk is probably not an option, due to the station's close proximity to Elmira and Binghamton. So all the "big names" in the format are already spoken for. Could a music format work? Such as classic country, or even standards?

Does anyone know if there has ever been any thought given to separate programming on AM?

Thanks in advance for your insight.
 
First off, I have to wonder WHY do anything to it at all? WATS/WAVR has done a reasonable job of being a local station catering to an extremely loyal audience. Maybe it's not big and flashy, but they don't hurt for business and Chuck Carver and his crew have been doing this for a long time. In many ways they are similar to the WCDO operation in Sidney run by Craig Stevens. They run a good, solid, local operation that has a good reputation in their community. In my opinion that equals a winner. One problem right away is that WATS has the same problem that other 960 stations like WHYL in Carlisle, PA have. Yep, they've got a great daytime signal, and virtually nothing at night.
WATS is one of the old 5K "true" daytimers. When the FCC got around to awarding nighttime and pre-sun authorizations to stations like these the band was so crowded that what they wound up with is power so low that the light bulb in your refrigerator has more wattage. So why change it? There are operators all over the country who can't figure out what to do with AM stations, so they try format after format with no noticable success. They would be better off to do an AM/FM simulcast with one of their FM properties. Take a look at the 1360 frequency in Binghamton. For years it was Binghamton's only country station. Now The Hawk owns that format. Citadel has put probably 5 different formats on 1360 since they've owned it. They would be far better off to simulcast The Hawk on 1360. You mentioned a News/Talk format. OK..so who do they get? Their signal overlaps both the Binghamton and E-C markets. So there's no chance for Rush or Hannity or O'Reilly or any of the big names. Anyone knows that if you're going to do any sort of successful talk you need at leat 2 of those names. They'd have to settle for the 3rd string talkers on the USA network. No, I think that WATS/WAVR needs no help. They've done a great job and they ought to keep on keeping on.
 
There is no doubt in my mind that they do a great job. I am glad they have kept the station locally owned and community focused. I think they rely a little too much on the bird for programming, but that's true of a lot of small town radio stations.

Getting back to the topic at hand, I imagine most people in Waverly and Sayre listen to the programming on 102.1, not 960. I just think that a separate program service would give folks a reason to listen to the AM frequency. It wouldn't have to be a talk format, either. I suggested a couple of music formats that are still "AM friendly", and would fill at least one of the holes in the E-C market.

But if they feel there is still a sufficient audience for 960, then, yes, they should keep the simulcast. Hey, I think it's neat to still hear a contemporary music format on the AM dial in 2008.
 
Steve says it well... "hats" off to Chuck, Todd & the crew... I grew up in the Valley and worked at WATS/WAVR in the early 90's... the passion that Chuck & Peg had for the radio station has been very influential in my career. There are days when I wish I was still there... and still in my 20's... :)

In regards to splitting the AM/FM simulcast, there aren't enough people in the Valley to justify the expense... best to focus on making one product the best it can be...
 
Michael McCoy said:
Steve says it well... "hats" off to Chuck, Todd & the crew... I grew up in the Valley and worked at WATS/WAVR in the early 90's... the passion that Chuck & Peg had for the radio station has been very influential in my career. There are days when I wish I was still there... and still in my 20's... :)
Click to expand...

I was on one of the WATS/WAVR "Knowledge Bowl" competitions in the early 90's... Do they still do those?
 
What happened to Joel Carson who was hosting the morning show with Chuck Carver? Last time I listened he wasn't on the morning show. Is he still with the station? Anybody know the story?
 
yeah Scappy, last I knew Chuck was still doing the Scholarship Challenge... it was always fun to engineer...
 
Now put a 250w FM translator on WATS to shore up the nightime than maybe you've got something. Otherwise, its fine the way it is.

KF
 
yugoidar said:
What happened to Joel Carson who was hosting the morning show with Chuck Carver? Last time I listened he wasn't on the morning show. Is he still with the station? Anybody know the story?
Click to expand...

Joel C. is still there at WATS, and the station seems to be doing quite well.
 
This station is on in everrrrry business in the area, and NEVER changes. It's been the same for literally decades. Mostly because people in the valley don't like change, but hey, gotta happen right? This isn't going to happen- but an idea of mine, would be to launch on 102.1 a GOOD Hot AC station like WMRV in Binghamton. There isn't on in Ithaca and Elmira? The only actual Hot AC staion in this part of NY is WMRV. They launch a Hot AC on 102.1 with live personalities, a morning show, etc. And [young] people would like it. The top stations young people listen to in the Valley are 94.3 (WLVY-CHR), 106.1 (WNKI-CHR), and 105.7 (WMRV-Hot AC). This could be successful? Keep the Adult Standards on AM.
 
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