WDEL says no to ABC Radio demand and drops Hannity for local talk/news

[SecretSquirrel]

Gee, sorry Phil, I didn't get here on your timetable.

I haven't been here in a while and am surprised by Mr. Boyce's protestations and accusations.

Took me some time to read all the posts and catch up.

I asked a question -- and I think it's a legitimate one. Are you in some manner gaining financially by promoting Mr. Levin's program to radio stations -- ABC/Disney and otherwise? What about Hannity? And are you trying to have affiliates run both? Do you personally benefit?

BTW, isn't it possible -- just possible -- that in today's radio climate, "cajoling" (your words) managers to run Hannity/Levin is tantamount to corporate consolidated radio, with a VP telling PD's in smaller (albeit major) markets what to do?

In the interest of slander/libel -- I hardly believe my question "harms your reputation or standing in the community." Definition of slander/libel. I cited "credible sources" and stand behind my sources. Is it not true that radio stations are being told the must carry Levin if they want to carry Hannity? If not, then why did the controversy over WDEL happen in the first place... hence this thread???

 

[Scott in DE]

Gee, sorry Phil, I didn't get here on your timetable.

I haven't been here in a while and am surprised by Mr. Boyce's protestations and accusations.

Took me some time to read all the posts and catch up.

I asked a question -- and I think it's a legitimate one. Are you in some manner gaining financially by promoting Mr. Levin's program to radio stations -- ABC/Disney and otherwise? What about Hannity? And are you trying to have affiliates run both? Do you personally benefit?

BTW, isn't it possible -- just possible -- that in today's radio climate, "cajoling" (your words) managers to run Hannity/Levin is tantamount to corporate consolidated radio, with a VP telling PD's in smaller (albeit major) markets what to do?

In the interest of slander/libel -- I hardly believe my question "harms your reputation or standing in the community." Definition of slander/libel. I cited "credible sources" and stand behind my sources. Is it not true that radio stations are being told the must carry Levin if they want to carry Hannity? If not, then why did the controversy over WDEL happen in the first place... hence this thread???

Squirrel, while you were off gathering nuts, everything you just reiterated was answered several times. I don’t see any need for Mr. Boyce to address this again. Are you sure you read all the posts in this thread? To save him some time, I'll see if I can answer for him. No, no & no! How's that?

 

[ajhenderson]

KJCB says:

If Phil is still around, I would say (in response to my comments about Levin being "unlistenable") that while I surely admire your skills as a programmer and an industry leader, certainly your statement that Levin's success is a testament to his talent is not necessarily true. While I can understand that others may have different taste than I, there are folks that only have one or two options of conservative talk in their market and want to listen to conservative talk. Whoever's on wins by default. Also, there is a rule that people keep forgetting - that on big stations, cume belongs largely to the station, not to the host. If Mark Levin went to FreeFM, he'd lose listeners. WABC would lose very few listeners, short of you putting on something absolutely atrocious. Wasn't it a Musicradio 77 jocks who coined the phrase, "The station is the star"?

One or two options of conservative talk? Try New York City where Mark goes Head to Head with Savage and beat him Fall of 06 in every demo, and is the #1 show on the AM band against News, Talks and Sports stations. As I tried to say before but you must have missed it. There are 47 radio stations in New York City. On the AM band there are two damn good all-news stations, another talk station with Savage, two damn good sports stations, an Air America outlet...and NPR. Mark beat them ALL in the last book. So for you to say he is unlistenable is simply ludicrous. Admit it...you never liked Levin and kept predicting he would fail. Now that he has succeeded beyond YOUR limited expectation, you have to find some OTHER reason for his success. It can't be that he does a good show, because you already ruled him unlistenable. Let me say it to you clearly....you do not know what you are talking about.

Well, again, "unlistenable" is a matter of opinion on my part. I wouldn't call Hannity unlistenable, but it's not my cup of tea. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want Hannity on my station or I begrudge the 12 or 13 million people who cume his show. My personal opinions don't cloud business decisions. As to the competition, I am well aware that there is plenty of it, in NYC or anywhere. Correct me if I'm wrong, but cume duplication between NPR/1600, and WABC is relatively low. The bottom line is that it is complimentary of your work at WABC in a holistic sense, in that you revived it from the Bob Grant era, that makes it such an attractive station that you could put anybody on and still get numbers. Better numbers with Hannity than someone else... yes. Better numbers with Levin than someone else... yes. Why it is ludicrous for me to personally not like one or both of these shows I don't understand.

 

[fred flintstone]

Fred Flintstone:

One has to ask why someone like Boyce seemingly prefers to hire people without experience?
And why he thinks people who do work in radio - who went to school to study it, who worked as part-timers and interns, worked long hours in small markets for lousy pay - should "thank" him for "giving a chance" to people who never bothered with any of that?

Fred, just when I thought you were sounding intelligent you start to drift into moments of unconcsiousness. Use the quote box and quote me where I said I prefered to hire people without experience. Did I say that? Go ahead...find the quote and stick it in right here in this box below. I will leave a nice hole for ya:

Unfortunately, small market radio has stopped grooming new talent. I have no problem with using somebody who has small market experience if they have talent...but I also give people a chance who have never worked in radio because there is no Farm System anymore. I have to develop my OWN talent. Unlike some PD's I have a track record of doing it. You should be thanking me for giving people a chance who have never worked in radio, but wake up everyday with a talk show inside that is screaming to get out.

Fred rambles on:

As you point out, there's no farm system because companies like ABC have destroyed it.
But there still are a few places doing local programming and giving people with talent the chance to hone it.
But Boyce seemingly would rather take lumps of clay and mold them.

Companies like ABC destroyed the farm system? Come on dude, smell the coffee. ABC created our OWN farm systrem...and built our OWN talent. Just because we found some guys that developed into superstars is no reason to accuse ABC of destroying the farm system. It is not my fault that local stations want MY talent over their own. Am I to run into traffic and get myself killed over this? I found these hosts by building my OWN farm team. Hannity - Levin - Drudge - Curtis and Kuby - Andrew Wilkow (now doing great radio on Sirius) I found ALL of these guys. If I can do it, why can't somebody else? Do I have to find ALL the talent in talk radio? Don't get me wrong, there are other PD's out there doing a great job developing talent as well...but don't blame ME because small market radio doesn't want to give local hosts a chance anymore. I am a businessman here, running a very successful business. Now you want to blame ME for being too successful. Do you blame MacDonalds for running off the local hamburger joint? Oh wait...you probably do!

Thank you for providing a nice hole for me to fill. Talk like that really turns me on.
I filled the hole you provided with the quote to which I responded. We should be thanking you for giving a chance to people who never worked in radio?

I am not singling you or ABC Radio out here. But the opportunities you had when you started out are mostly not there any more. You got in. Now the door is closed. And we should thank you? And again, not just you. There has been a good deal of discussion on this board about Air America Radio and how they went for people with zero radio experience in their most prominent spots. Lawyers, political staffers, stand-up comedians, actors. Anybody but people with a track record in radio. Most local talk is gone. You sign a station for one of your shows and that's one less job for local talent - people who are in the same place now that you were starting out in Pueblo. Except then you had the opportunity; now they don't. And people are supposed to thank you?

I say you prefer to hire people without radio experience because that what you've done (the only exception that comes to mind is Gambling, who is not in syndication). OK, it's business. Nothing personal. But we are supposed to thank you for it? The actions you've taken may have been good for you and the people you hired. Please understand if others don't think they were good for them. I also assert that in long-term, they are not good for radio.

Just be thankful that you are not back in college and looking for your first job in radio today.

PS: I've urged Kyle from The Radio Racket show to contact you about appearing on their program to talk about this (and other things). I hope you'll do it. I think it would be great radio. I think you'd enjoy it. I think we would, too. Maybe I'll even call in.
http://www.radioracket.com/Front.html

 

[SecretSquirrel]

Okay Fred, Phil answered. It was late when I started trying to catch up on five pages of comments.

But the headline of this thread includes the words "ABC Radio demand". That must be a misrepresentation.

Shouldn't it be changed as well? I suppose it should say "ABC Radio cajole".

I'll go back and read every little detail -- frankly, when posts become so lengthy, it tends to look like people are disecting things a bit too long and hard.

Is it correct to say Mr. Boyce "wears two hats" for ABC? One involving network programming, the other involving local programming? Could there be any consideration of a conflict of interest there? While it probably was covered earlier, it's a simple question with an easy answer.

 

[fred flintstone]

Okay Fred, Phil answered. It was late when I started trying to catch up on five pages of comments.

But the headline of this thread includes the words "ABC Radio demand". That must be a misrepresentation.

Shouldn't it be changed as well? I suppose it should say "ABC Radio cajole".

I'll go back and read every little detail -- frankly, when posts become so lengthy, it tends to look like people are disecting things a bit too long and hard.

Is it correct to say Mr. Boyce "wears two hats" for ABC? One involving network programming, the other involving local programming? Could there be any consideration of a conflict of interest there? While it probably was covered earlier, it's a simple question with an easy answer.

Lengthy? Try reading a book sometime.
If you want to know the details and discuss the details, you've got to read the details.
Here is how I summarized things (and Phil agreed with the summary):

In all fairness, the name of the game is Let's Make A Deal.
Wilmington had two stations which wanted Hannity.
ABC Radio had leverage to ask for a better deal (i.e., clear two more hours daily).
It was a classic bidding war and a seller's market.
It doesn't always happen that way.
Some stations carry Rush but not Edell.
Some carry Hannity but not Levin.
If there is not a second strong competitive talk station, then it's a buyer's market.
If a company wants their show cleared in a market with one-talker, they don't have the same kind of leverage and the station has more ability to set its own deal.

DEMAND: v. To ask for urgently or peremptorily
CAJOLE: v. To urge with gentle and repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery; wheedle.
Take your pick.

In answer to your question: Hannity and Levin began as local shows on WABC and then were picked up for syndication. Phil is program director of WABC and functions of executive producer (whether or not that's the title he uses) of both shows. Theoretically, a conflict of interest could occur if at some point Phil, as PD, has to make a decision on whether to replace one of "his" shows on the local WABC schedule. Given the local performance of the two shows this does not appear to be an issue so far.

 

[Holland Cooke]

For the record...

Good evening from Block Island.

As I was largely offline for about a week while @ CES, I'm just-now reading several pages in-the-middle-of this thread, the-beginning-of-which I had seen before my trip.

When when I first weighed-in here, I disclosed my relationship with WDEL. Seeing now that the situation in Madison has been cited, I felt it appropriate to also note that I consult WTDY Madison1670 The Pulse.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com (updated last hour, with CES notes/audio/video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FonOwlry9I

 

[Phil Boyce]

Great...glad to see Secret Squirrel comes out to play. Let's play whack a squirrell:

I haven't been here in a while and am surprised by Mr. Boyce's protestations and accusations.

Huh??? MY protestations and accusations? I was answering YOUR accusations, and everyone of them I already answered. You accused me of having a financial interest in Levin's show...and then forcing the other ABC stations I supervise to take him. (Is this deju vu...or didn't I already answer this one many posts ago?) Strike one...I have no financial interest in Mark Levin's show. Strike Two...I did not force the ABC newstalkers to take him.

I asked a question -- and I think it's a legitimate one. Are you in some manner gaining financially by promoting Mr. Levin's program to radio stations -- ABC/Disney and otherwise?

Nice trick. Now I know why they call you SECRET squirrel. Do you play these games at your current place of employment, assuming you have one? You switched questions here. You say "I asked a question" past tense "and I think it's a legitimate one" then you ask me a NEW question that is different. Look, moron, stop playing games here. If you want to ask a NEW question, be my guest. I will answer your question the same way I did before. No, I am not gaining financially promoting Mr. Levin's program to radio stations, either ABC/Disney, or otherwise. Happy now? Have a hard time reading? I should add that I also said I should gain financially and there is nothing unethical about that. I work for ABC. If I help create another multi-million dollar show for ABC, I should be rewarded financially. That is how the business works. But now...as of this moment, I do not gain financially. I said before, "call it a labor of love." Nice try though.

Now would you like to know my annual salary, my ring size, my waste size, whether I wear boxers or briefs? Go ahead...I am in a giving mood tonight. I do get paid a nice annual salary for programming WABC, I do get paid a rating bonus if WABC scores in the ratings and in 12 years I have never missed my bonus, and I do get paid a small annual bonus of the Hannity show hits their sales quotas...I say small because it is worth about as much as one good rating book on WABC.

What about Hannity? And are you trying to have affiliates run both? Do you personally benefit?

I answered that above, but since I did not become VP of News/Talk programming till March of 2005, and Hannity was already ON the air on all of the ABC newstalkers at that point, I was not in a position of authority over any of the ABC newstalk stations and therefore your little theory about me benefiting while doing a cram down is full of more holes than swiss cheese.

Am I trying to have affiliates run BOTH? What kind of weed do you smoke out there...it must be good stuff. OF COURSE I want affiliates to run both! DUH! Do you have the tiniest notion of how this business works? I started a successful show...Sean Hannity. I then placed a local show on after him in NYC that holds 100% of the Hannity lead-in. I see other affiliates with a drop off after Hannity and decide to give them Levin also and see if he can do the same for them. Absolutely I do.

BTW, isn't it possible -- just possible -- that in today's radio climate, "cajoling" (your words) managers to run Hannity/Levin is tantamount to corporate consolidated radio, with a VP telling PD's in smaller (albeit major) markets what to do?

Oh My God NOOOOOO. Not corporate consolidated radio!!!!! What is the world coming too? Do you even know what that word means, or did you just see somebody else use it on this message board and thought you would be cute? ABC is not a party to the massive consolidated that has been going on. But I tried to explain to you before how ABC works and you just cover your ears and sing LA-LA-LA-LA. The ABC pd's report to their GM's. I adivise and sometimes cajole...with an idea of doing the best I can to use my knowledge and experience to HELP them. That is a GOOD thing...not a bad thing. But do I force them to pick up shows? No I do not.

In the interest of slander/libel -- I hardly believe my question "harms your reputation or standing in the community." Definition of slander/libel. I cited "credible sources" and stand behind my sources.

Let me get this straight....you accuse me of benefitting financially by placing Levin on the ABC owned stations...forcing them to carry him...and you don't see how that harms my reputation or standing in the community? Hey dufus, you said this lie specifically to harm my reputation and standing in this community, the radio community where I make my living. Not only is it libelous, it is actionable by me. And if I decided to sue you, I would have the right to discover your sources and sue them too. Go talk to a lawyer dude before you go out on a limb and attack somebody like this.

And let's remember, you did this anonymously as Secret Squirrel....but you attacked me by name and named my company. Do you not understand that this is not only illegal but unethical? And where are the other members of this board to come out against you for doing this? Or is this commonplace on this board?

Is it not true that radio stations are being told the must carry Levin if they want to carry Hannity? If not, then why did the controversy over WDEL happen in the first place... hence this thread???

I have explained the WDEL situation till I am sick of writing about it. Go read the other threads.

But the headline of this thread includes the words "ABC Radio demand". That must be a misrepresentation. Shouldn't it be changed as well? I suppose it should say "ABC Radio cajole".

This is what happens when somebody who actually HAS a job with some success comes on this board to try and explain what really happens. I used the word cajole to describe how I work with the other ABC newstalk PD's. I did not use it to describe how I deal with NON ABC owned PD's. Please...get your metaphors straight.

Is it correct to say Mr. Boyce "wears two hats" for ABC? One involving network programming, the other involving local programming? Could there be any consideration of a conflict of interest there? While it probably was covered earlier, it's a simple question with an easy answer.

Hey road kill...I wear a lot more than TWO hats for ABC. If I started to run down the list of stuff I am responsible for you would get bleary eyed. But how is it a conflict of interest if my company gives me these areas of responsiblity, and I perform them to the complete satisfaction of my company. How can I have a conflict of interest, when all those interests are not only approved by my company, but encouraged. ABC is really HAPPY that I have created shows that make the company millions of dollars. Where is the conflict? Do you really have this little of an understanding of how a radio company works? Yes, it is a simple question with an easy answer. No...there is no conflict of interest....real or imagined. Who HAS the "interest" in this situation? My employer does, and it is up to them to decide if I have a conflict of interrest...not some morons posting anonymously on a message board.

pb

 

[Scott in DE]

My already high opinion of Phil Boyce has risen even higher! Nice smack down of Secret Squirrel! LOL!

No, I don't want a job! LOL!

Hey, maybe you should hire YOUSELF to do a talk show! No wait! That might be a conflict of interest! LOL!

 

[Phil Boyce]

Oh man Holland...these people are relentless. But so far I see only THREE of them. I think I am wasting my time on these people. They refuse to listen.

Let me start again with poor Fred:

I am not singling you or ABC Radio out here. But the opportunities you had when you started out are mostly not there any more. You got in. Now the door is closed. And we should thank you? And again, not just you.

There are great opportunities in radio. People should thank me because I am still willing to give people a chance. I don't care if they have radio experience, because I can teach people radio. What I can't teach is smarts...brains...aggressiveness...drive...initiative....and an insatiable appetite for current events. When I find that kind of person...no matter where they are....inside radio or out...I can give them a chance. Yes, thank me for still being willing to do that.

There has been a good deal of discussion on this board about Air America Radio and how they went for people with zero radio experience in their most prominent spots. Lawyers, political staffers, stand-up comedians, actors. Anybody but people with a track record in radio.

There is no comparison between them and me. NONE. Air America's problem was not just a lack of radio experience, but a lack of entertainment value, and a lack of good intelligent radio 101 programming expertise. When I put somebody on the air with no radio experience, they are always surrounded by people that DO have it....so they can learn. If they refuse to learn, then they have to leave.

Most local talk is gone. You sign a station for one of your shows and that's one less job for local talent - people who are in the same place now that you were starting out in Pueblo. Except then you had the opportunity; now they don't. And people are supposed to thank you?

I believe the truly great talk stations...big or small, must have a mix of local and syndicated talent. I believe every PD in America should have spots on the weekend or at night when he or she is grooming the next great talent. In my case...I had to start doing it myself, because you are right, sadly many small market radio opportunities have been lost. Do not blame ME for that. I had nothing to do with that. It is not my fault that I found great talent that is so good hundreds of stations around the country want to carry them.

I say you prefer to hire people without radio experience because that what you've done

No, look back on wxhat you said. You claimed I said I prefered to hire people without radio experience and I never said that.

(the only exception that comes to mind is Gambling, who is not in syndication). OK, it's business. Nothing personal. But we are supposed to thank you for it?

You don't KNOW everybody I have hired...but you do know the name Sean Hannity, who was at WGST in Atlanta before I hired him. I found Andrew Wilkow on an FM rocker in Hartford and turned him into a talk radio sensation (now on Sirius). Mike Gallagher was doing afternoons on WGY. Mark Simone was legendary in NYC radio. Jerry Agar was on KMBZ in Kansas City. Paul W. Smith was doing mornings on WWDB in Philly. Mitch Albom was on WLLZ in Detroit. I moved Curtis Sliwa back into mornings with Kuby. Curtis had radio experience and he helped teach the ropes to Kuby. You don't need to thank me, but those people do...all the time.

The actions you've taken may have been good for you and the people you hired. Please understand if others don't think they were good for them.

I can't hire EVERYBODY...I can't save everybody from their own demise. I know tons of people who started with me in radio who had to leave the profession, and I am sure it was not always their fault...but I can't save them all. It is my belief that the strong survive...and those who are really talented make it to the top. Sadly that did not happen in your case...and I am sorry about that...but it is not my fault.

I also assert that in long-term, they are not good for radio.

There is nothing I have done that has damaged radio. Now you are getting morbid.

Just be thankful that you are not back in college and looking for your first job in radio today.

Holy cow I think I am gonna slit my wrists. Are you people always this negative? I have never seen a bigger pity party in all my freakin life. There are huge opportunies for young people today in spoken word formats. There is a huge demand for content. People like me who are content providers are in much demand. It may not be radio as we know it...but spoken word talk is big and getting bigger. As long as there are great personalities, who wake up everyday with a show screaming to get out of their chest...there will be people like me who find them...and give them an opportunity to succeed. It is not as bad as you think.

Excuse me while I hide my cyanide pills.

pb

 

[board_manager]

This thread has proven to be an interesting exchange of ideas. That's why it was restored as a response to all sides. The flamebaiting, namecalling and other TOS violations need to cease. Radio-Info doesn't ask that you agree. We ask that you keep things reasonably civil and let the conversation truly reflect the professional backgrounds of everyone involved.

You can disagree without being disagreeable. Let's stop the cheap shots and get back to the subject that we all love (and ocassionally don't)...RADIO!

 

[Cromwell]

Phil Boyce is extremely informative and I've learned a lot reading his posts. I have listened to Talk Radio for nearly 20 years, but I never understood much about the process. I do know this however....

If a popular Talk Radio Show Host is removed from a station, the listeners with hunt for him elsewhere, and having found him on another station, or resorted to the radio stream on the Internet, his fans will rejoice and life goes on.

That happened to Rush about two years ago in my area. The Owners of an AM/FM company decided to move him from the AM station, LIVE, 12 Noon till 3 PM. as the only conservative biggie to the FM station, and one hour late 1-4 PM. It took his local fans and a lack of listeners to get him back onto the AM station and LIVE but by that time we had all moved onto another station. The arrogant station, run by "progressives" learned that their listeners were there for Rush.

I would like to have Mark in my area, but I have to listen to him on the Internet stream. I used to listen to him at 11 PM at night on a station in Detroit, but it was worth it to hear him.People are going to find him somewhere.

People listen to Mark Levin because he respects his "beloved audience" and is careful to tell them the truth about the news and does not insult their intelligence with a lot of empty rhetoric and untruths.

Thank you

 

[fred flintstone]

Phil rants about "Secret Squirrel" not responding to his posts. Well, I posed a question for him in another thread, to which he has been non-responsive. Apparently his only interest is "defending" himself - i.e., talking about himself, promoting himself, and calling those who challenge him names. He may not want to hire a radio guy but he is one himself, showing a classic radio guy personality.

In an alternative universe, Rush never met Ed McLaughlin and stayed in Sacramento. A few years later, he sent a tape to the new PD at WABC, which immediately was thrown into the round file. Radio experience. Fired from a bunch of stations, including one owned by ABC. Probably doesn't do what PDs tell him. Knows the score. Forget it. Better to hire Clifford C. Clavin.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

A question for Phil Boyce

A question for Phil Boyce. WDEL has a 5k signal and covers two thirds of Delaware, where as WILM has a 1K signal and only covers to Smyrna just a bit into Kent County a bit more than then 1/3 of the state. Why would ABC prefer WILM over WDEL? Wouldn't it make more sense to have kept Hannity on WDEL even without Levin's program as the signal is better thus reaching far more listeners?

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been, for the past 7 years, a part time weekender at WILM. I just ended my time at WILM last week (I had given them notice back on December 1st that I'd be leaving. I had been doing a local talk show on Saturday nights and wanted to give them a reasonable amount of notice so that they could get someone to take over the show.) So I'm not involved at present in any way at either station, but am interested in why you'd seem go to the weaker signal for what appears to be simply so that the Levin show would be aired at 10pm when WILM's signal gets out less far (only to the Bear/Newark area which is far less than their daytime signal to Smyrna) when the stronger station seemed happy with Hannity minus Levin? I do not have a strong knowledge of the business side of radio, as I'm more into the creative side of radio, so I'm asking this to better understand the thought process of such a decision.

Thanks for your willingness to share your inside knowledge with all of us here.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: A question for Phil Boyce

A question for Phil Boyce. WDEL has a 5k signal and covers two thirds of Delaware, where as WILM has a 1K signal and only covers to Smyrna just a bit into Kent County a bit more than then 1/3 of the state. Why would ABC prefer WILM over WDEL? Wouldn't it make more sense to have kept Hannity on WDEL even without Levin's program as the signal is better thus reaching far more listeners?

You're right, MFD. Looking at coverage, or audience numbers, WDEL v WILM would seem to be an easy choice for a syndicator. Maybe they are not that familiar with the ins and outs of each local market up there in New York. Maybe, and more likely, the choice for ABC Radio is not WDEL v WILM, it's little and locally-owned Delmarva v big-time Clear Channel. Except for LA (maybe a few others), where both companies have talk stations, in a lot of markets Clear Channel clears ABC Radio syndicated shows and ABC stations clear CC's Premiere Radio Network shows. And even though Clear Channel flipped some 100 stations to Fox Radio (in which the company has an interest), they are still own the biggest ownership block of ABC Newsradio affiliates. There are all sorts of ties between the two companies.

 

[Holland Cooke]

"Oh man Holland...these people are relentless."

Phil,

I warned ya!

But as you'll see from the Views "cume," more are "lurking" than posting.
I'm sure that your durable wit is appreciated.
I KNOW how-busy-a-guy you are, and I suspect others here appreciate how generous you've been with your time.

Anonymous Fred is just the price of admission.

If you feel unloved on THIS thread, drop into the Providence board and throw-some-gas-on-the-flames RE John DePetro.
They LOVE a good rumor over there.
You'll get a standing ovation just for walking-in-the-room.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: "Oh man Holland...these people are relentless."

Phil,

I warned ya!

But as you'll see from the Views "cume," more are "lurking" than posting.
I'm sure that your durable wit is appreciated.
I KNOW how-busy-a-guy you are, and I suspect others here appreciate how generous you've been with your time.

Anonymous Fred is just the price of admission.

If you feel unloved on THIS thread, drop into the Providence board and throw-some-gas-on-the-flames RE John DePetro.
They LOVE a good rumor over there.
You'll get a standing ovation just for walking-in-the-room.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com

Geez, Holland. The guy screws over one of your clients and here you are sucking up.
Lest we forget, I was on the side of - not one - but two - of your clients.
And stop this "anonymous crap". You know who I am. It's not secret to anyone paying attention.
I adopted a handle after an employee of one of your clients took information about me from confidential station personnel files and posted it on another message board because he did not like something I had posted.
And you and Phil wonder why people don't use their real names!

WDEL is to be commended for not giving air time to Levin, a shill for Zionists and the Israel Lobby who promoted genocide of Palestinian and his other favorite cause, destroying the separation of powers and concentrating absolute power in the executive branch.

People like you and Phil have to convince people you know something in order to make a living. The truth is radio is a crap shoot. Success or failure is determined by things nobody can predict or control. But you guys can't admit that. Then you'd have to work for a living. And you know what I post is true, so you have to resort to cheap shots and name calling.

PS: Looks like the J*A*P is still sinking in the Nielsen numbers.

 

[Holland Cooke]

Watch this...

stop this "anonymous crap". You know who I am. It's not secret to anyone paying attention.

Anonymous Fred,

For the record: I do NOT know your name.
But since, as you offer, SOME here do, why can't we all?
Go ahead, cue the tympani roll...UNMASK.
I can't wait.

And for those here of the Jewish faith who may have missed your rude comments elsewhere @ radio-info.com, here's more rope. Re-run the back-story on this:

Looks like the J*A*P is still sinking in the Nielsen numbers.

(Turning to the camera) A.F.'s reply will be instructive as to the point I made a-page-or-so-back about anyonymous snipers diluting the value of more-thoughtful dialogue here...

 

[MikefromDelaware]

If Phil Boyce isn't available, how about Holland Cooke

I posed this question originally for Phil Boyce of ABC radio who's been posting some informative replies. But if he isn't available, how about Holland Cooke, who'd also probably could shed some light on my question. Fred offered his view, which I gather that Mr. Cooke doesn't agree with, so I'd like to hear either Phil or Holland's point of view as it just seems to my limited knowledge of the business side or radio to not make sense. Thanks !

WDEL has a 5k signal and covers two thirds of Delaware, where as WILM has a 1K signal and only covers to Smyrna just a bit into Kent County a bit more than then 1/3 of the state. Why would ABC prefer WILM over WDEL? Wouldn't it make more sense to have kept Hannity on WDEL even without Levin's program as the signal is better thus reaching far more listeners?

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been, for the past 7 years, a part time weekender at WILM. I just ended my time at WILM last week (I had given them notice back on December 1st that I'd be leaving. I had been doing a local talk show on Saturday nights and wanted to give them a reasonable amount of notice so that they could get someone to take over the show.) So I'm not involved at present in any way at either station, but am interested in why you'd seem go to the weaker signal for what appears to be simply so that the Levin show would be aired at 10pm when WILM's signal gets out less far (only to the Bear/Newark area which is far less than their daytime signal to Smyrna) when the stronger station seemed happy with Hannity minus Levin? I do not have a strong knowledge of the business side of radio, as I'm more into the creative side of radio, so I'm asking this to better understand the thought process of such a decision.

Thanks for either or both of you for your willingness to share your inside knowledge with all of us here.

 

[Holland Cooke]

Re: If Phil Boyce isn't available, how about Holland Cooke

WDEL has a 5k signal and covers two thirds of Delaware, where as WILM has a 1K signal and only covers to Smyrna just a bit into Kent County a bit more than then 1/3 of the state. Why would ABC prefer WILM over WDEL? Wouldn't it make more sense to have kept Hannity on WDEL even without Levin's program as the signal is better thus reaching far more listeners?

I should defer to Phil on this, beyond offering two points that may-be-obvious:

1. The Limbaugh-to-Hannity segue can be a powerful one-two punch, by affiliates who make the transition seamless. You'll hear Phil's station do this deftly; and when we had both shows on WDEL, our "RUSH...THEN SEAN" promos sought to accomplish the same.

PERSONALLY, I think Limbaugh's a buffoon, who bites-the-hand-that-feeds-him, with all the Dittocam plugs which seek to hijack listeners from the affiliate's signal. And Sean risks becoming a one-topic-act. But I have -- and have-PUT -- both shows on client stations. Why? Ask 100 people at the mall "Who are the two biggest stars in Talk radio?" Never forget that Arbitron is A MEMORY TEST.

2. From the network's perspective, as Phil has alluded to, having one-more-pin-in-the-map for Levin is a plus. Networks offer affiliates what-the-computer-software-industry-calls "a suite" of programming. Placing shows like Hannity and Levin begins what-can-become-a-deeper-relationship with the network.

Perhaps Anonymous Fred will disagree...