Noticed an ad in the Buffalo Snooze ..WECK's new owner Dick Green...is looking for staff including sales, engineering and talent. Dust off the resumes. Anybody got an inkling where the new studios might be located? Do you think the old NIA ranch house will be resurrected?
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WECK hangs out "Help Wanted" sign
- Thread starter VoiceGuyJack
- Start date
That wouldn't surprise me a bit.
aL
aL
Hmmm. While I wish Dick the best of luck, I'm still pretty sceptical. KB brought back Danny(and so many other well known ex-KB talents) and still couldn't draw much of an audience. If Dick is going through with his plan to do a Buffalo version of his WLVL formula of a mix of talk, music and sports, I don't think it's going to get much attention(except on this message board). Bringing back the older oldies is the only thing that will get WECK above a 1 share. Of course, a couple local talents doing this format would be a good idea.
I hope he does resurrect the old NIA ranch house - that would be cool, if only for old time's sake.
Is he looking for a good newsperson? I know someone who might be interested.
In selling the station, one would assume that part of the assets would include the real estate. Considering the tower is sitting on Genesee Street. It would make logical sense to use what you already have. Of course, the building is in dire need of updating both inside and out. I don't know about the xmitter, tower, etc.
As far as format (here we go again) If Dick went with an oldies or MOR format which has been bantered about numerous times, there is enough "old talent" still around out there to make it work. The key is promoting it...I don't think KB did a very good job of promoting when it switched back to oldies.
I don't think an LVL format would work here. Trade-e-o, high school sports and the obits of the air don't cut it in the Metro Buffalo market.
As far as format (here we go again) If Dick went with an oldies or MOR format which has been bantered about numerous times, there is enough "old talent" still around out there to make it work. The key is promoting it...I don't think KB did a very good job of promoting when it switched back to oldies.
I don't think an LVL format would work here. Trade-e-o, high school sports and the obits of the air don't cut it in the Metro Buffalo market.
I'm hearing that WECK wants to go after WBEN. That's a tall order. But Dick Greene does have an ace in the hole -- Doug Young. Some might think I'm his publicist because of the way I have lauded Doug for his work at WGR and WNSA. But I speak the truth! Remember back to the high profile guests he brought to Tom Bauerle at WGR and then Howard Simon at WNSA. With his rolodex, he could put together an interesting morning show. I mean, I'd rather hear a nationally-recognized expert talk about an issue in the news than the 49th interview this month that WBEN has done with District Attorney Frank Clark.
Plus, I've been tuning in Doug's 9:00 news this week. Yes, it's Niagara County content. But the cast sounds as good as anything you'd hear in Buffalo. Will WECK topple WBEN off its news perch? Of course not! But they could make things interesting if it's done right. I would agree with Jack, though, that the standards are different for covering big city news and small town news.
Also, I've been told that CBS renovated the Genesee Street studios to use as an auxiliary location if disaster struck the Rand Building. Now, I haven't been there to confirm that. But if it's true, Dick Greene might have a ready-made facility to move into.
Plus, I've been tuning in Doug's 9:00 news this week. Yes, it's Niagara County content. But the cast sounds as good as anything you'd hear in Buffalo. Will WECK topple WBEN off its news perch? Of course not! But they could make things interesting if it's done right. I would agree with Jack, though, that the standards are different for covering big city news and small town news.
Also, I've been told that CBS renovated the Genesee Street studios to use as an auxiliary location if disaster struck the Rand Building. Now, I haven't been there to confirm that. But if it's true, Dick Greene might have a ready-made facility to move into.
Jack: How do I get in touch with Dick? I can make him a GREAT deal on imaging and outsourced production..a full package that would include LVL. Can somebody get me a contact e-mail?
You should go do middays...
JL
You should go do middays...
JL
The Real Question
Does this mean that I'll finally get a chance to become Mike Melody?
Does this mean that I'll finally get a chance to become Mike Melody?
VoiceGuyJack said:
How do you know? Has anyone tried?
I hear what you are saying, but the new WECK might not be EXACTLY like WLVL. We'll see.
You don't "go after WBEN" unless you commit the techinical resources, money, personnel and programming that are necessary to get the job done. Anything less is a fool's mission. Doing news-talk properly and successfully is NOT cheap. It's a 24-7 commitment and anything less won't do. So it would seem that rather than taking on WBEN, WECK would be better off charting its own course, being fully aware of it's potential strengths and inherent weaknesses. WBEN isn't the only station with which WECK will be competiting, there's WNED-AM, WBFO, WGR and WWKB, as well as every music station in Buffalo. A previous post offered some hard advice, "This isn't Lockport." Very true.
There's a nich for localism, including Tradio and Swap Shop and all the "hokey" small town things that make small town radio unique, entertaining and in many cases, profitable. This said, there's no excuse for half-assed programming or running as many colon blow infomercials as possible, just to fill time and pad the bottom line. Jack's right, "Obits" won't cut it. No doubt, there will be colon-blow shows, but if the PD is smart, those shows will air in dayparts where they won't blemish the station.
The key to running a well-programmed, localized news-talk-community station is having a purpose and defining the target audience. Ask the questions, "Who's going to listen to this? Who are we aiming for? Why does this programming have (or lack) merit?" In this capacity, you're not in the game to "beat" WBEN. You're in the game to fill a void doing things WBEN wouldn't and couldn't do... and make money.
Differentiation with a purpose and the utmost professionalism are absolutes. There are at least two guys who would be "automatic first hires" (I'm not one of 'em) that could define and execute the mission and put this station and the proposed localized news-talk format on the map.
WECK won't get a "10 share." If it gets a 2 and offers good programming, it can make money and serve the community. They won't be selling ratings, they'll be selling listener response. If they hire the right people in sufficient numbers, define the mission and execute the plan, they'll be off to a good start.
There's a nich for localism, including Tradio and Swap Shop and all the "hokey" small town things that make small town radio unique, entertaining and in many cases, profitable. This said, there's no excuse for half-assed programming or running as many colon blow infomercials as possible, just to fill time and pad the bottom line. Jack's right, "Obits" won't cut it. No doubt, there will be colon-blow shows, but if the PD is smart, those shows will air in dayparts where they won't blemish the station.
The key to running a well-programmed, localized news-talk-community station is having a purpose and defining the target audience. Ask the questions, "Who's going to listen to this? Who are we aiming for? Why does this programming have (or lack) merit?" In this capacity, you're not in the game to "beat" WBEN. You're in the game to fill a void doing things WBEN wouldn't and couldn't do... and make money.
Differentiation with a purpose and the utmost professionalism are absolutes. There are at least two guys who would be "automatic first hires" (I'm not one of 'em) that could define and execute the mission and put this station and the proposed localized news-talk format on the map.
WECK won't get a "10 share." If it gets a 2 and offers good programming, it can make money and serve the community. They won't be selling ratings, they'll be selling listener response. If they hire the right people in sufficient numbers, define the mission and execute the plan, they'll be off to a good start.
Jim could you be thinking of Danny and Stan? Those two come to my mind since I always enjoyed their work.
Mike
Mike
JimPastrick said:
Excellent point Jim. A station like WECK isn't going to "dethrone" any of the big guns, but it can make money for it's owner if it is run right. That's the idea.
..................and I would love to know Dick Green's reaction to all of this analysis...........................
I would think Dick wouldn't or couldn't afford to hire Stan or Danny, if he were to do music. He would probably settle for second tier names to keep expenses low.
MediaBoy4Radio said:
That's easy...Probably glad the station is creating a little buzz but other than that I'm sure he couldn't care less. He will do what he wants.
Mike Sheridan said:
While those two guys are certainly well known and "automatics," I think they're very comfortable doing what they're doing and not inclined to change their lifestyles.
The "two guys" reference was rhetorical, even though a few names came to mind; frankly, more than two names. But it would be wise if I refrained from offering up names as conjecture, lest somebody get the idea that I know what's going on behind the scenes at WECK. I don't. So you guys can conjure up some scenarios. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard. We all know there are guys who would sound great and do an outstanding job.
Even though I consulted WLVL a few years ago (but no longer) and spoke to Dick Greene at a concert at Art Park in Lewiston this past summer, I have no idea what his plans are for WECK, other than what's been offered on these boards. I do however, wish him all the best.
P
Peter Z
Guest
Anyone have an email address for Dick? I'd love to drop him a note of congratulations for having some faith in "the little station that could".
Remember in '83 when it had an 8.1 share 12+ and was the #1 AM in the market (and #3 overall)? The Music of Your Life...with Bob Kobernuss mornings and Tim White in PM drive!
Of course, that's only 12+...but it sure scared the hell out of the PD's at WGR and WBEN.
Remember in '83 when it had an 8.1 share 12+ and was the #1 AM in the market (and #3 overall)? The Music of Your Life...with Bob Kobernuss mornings and Tim White in PM drive!
Of course, that's only 12+...but it sure scared the hell out of the PD's at WGR and WBEN.
Re-thinking WECK
While driving home listening to WBEN for weather and traffic, I heard the news and talk shows discussing the Lynn DeJac court case.
I wondered what WECK would be doing on a day like today? If WECK is going to be live and local, it would HAVE to cover this story wall-to-wall, which means it would have to have the resources (news cruiser, Marti or good cell phones, recording-editing devices, studio and computers) and personnel to properly cover the story.
As local stories go, this is another big one up there with the Al Sanchez case. It's a story that makes or breaks a news-talk station. I wondered if WECK would be running some satellite show like Hannity or O'Reilly while WBEN was doing live, local issues-oriented talk. You don't have to be a consultant to know which station wins THAT match-up and by what margin.
In one of the earlier threads about the WECK sale, someone offered that programming WECK news-talk wouldn't be like programming a station in Lockport. This point seems even more significant on a day like today.
Why not do the sensible thing and take the station Oldies? It's a format that has a wide open berth and would be welcomed and listened to by thousand more than would listen to another news-talk station.
While driving home listening to WBEN for weather and traffic, I heard the news and talk shows discussing the Lynn DeJac court case.
I wondered what WECK would be doing on a day like today? If WECK is going to be live and local, it would HAVE to cover this story wall-to-wall, which means it would have to have the resources (news cruiser, Marti or good cell phones, recording-editing devices, studio and computers) and personnel to properly cover the story.
As local stories go, this is another big one up there with the Al Sanchez case. It's a story that makes or breaks a news-talk station. I wondered if WECK would be running some satellite show like Hannity or O'Reilly while WBEN was doing live, local issues-oriented talk. You don't have to be a consultant to know which station wins THAT match-up and by what margin.
In one of the earlier threads about the WECK sale, someone offered that programming WECK news-talk wouldn't be like programming a station in Lockport. This point seems even more significant on a day like today.
Why not do the sensible thing and take the station Oldies? It's a format that has a wide open berth and would be welcomed and listened to by thousand more than would listen to another news-talk station.
Re: Re-thinking WECK
While I agree that would be easier (ie: less costly) and the need for the format is out there, I'm starting to be convinced that for the most part oldies on AM might be a lost cause. If another station ever decided to re-position themselves as classic hits or oldies (WLKK would be a perfect spoiler) WECK would be dead. Plus, the KB experiment didn't even do nearly as well 12+ as our friends north of the border are doing in Buffalo with AM 740.
I could see a full-service, MOR/Soft AC like the days of old working pretty well though. And if they are determined to do news/talk as a format, if it were me I would do mostly music on weekends outside of early mornings. I feel that the syndicated talk lineups of many stations on weekends is a wasteland. It just doesn't work.
Radknowski said:
While I agree that would be easier (ie: less costly) and the need for the format is out there, I'm starting to be convinced that for the most part oldies on AM might be a lost cause. If another station ever decided to re-position themselves as classic hits or oldies (WLKK would be a perfect spoiler) WECK would be dead. Plus, the KB experiment didn't even do nearly as well 12+ as our friends north of the border are doing in Buffalo with AM 740.
I could see a full-service, MOR/Soft AC like the days of old working pretty well though. And if they are determined to do news/talk as a format, if it were me I would do mostly music on weekends outside of early mornings. I feel that the syndicated talk lineups of many stations on weekends is a wasteland. It just doesn't work.
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