• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WECK Report Card

B

Buehly

How does everyone think WECK sounds after its first couple of months on the air?

I think it is another good alternative and keeps the AM band more interesting. I just have two thoughts:

1. Some work needs to be done to ensure more smooth transitions to the satellite syndicated programming. I still hear lots of dead air on the station.

2. The weekend news anchor, Joe Major, needs some serious work, or they should just run network news. On two separate occasions this weekend, he referred to the mayor of Buffalo as "Brian" Brown. His writing needs some critiquing as well. No need to use the words "officials" and "authorities" 3 times in a story. In fact, those words mean nothing. He also sounds very uncomfortable reading the news and makes many mistakes. Strange emphasis on words and an overall awkward sound. It might take someone 5 minutes to go over a newscast with him to help him smooth out and to start by teaching him how to write radio news. Also help him to do weather that doesn't sound like it was written by a meteorologist. Just tell me what the weather is going to be in "humaneze." Radio news is a simple formula, which involves setting the scene in the first sentence (telling the story) and using another sentence or two to fill in the details.

For example (hypothetical):

Instead of "State officials are meeting on Monday to review legislation to impose an additional one percent on the gas tax" could be changed to "If you thought gas prices were high, they may go up again. State Senator Joe Blow wants to add another one percent to the price of gas in New York State..."

or

"Authorities say that a Lackawanna man was fatally injured when his car failed stalled on the CSX railroad tracks and was hit by a train in Angola...." could be changed to "A Lackawanna man was killed when his car was hit by a train in Angola..."

etc.

Just some thoughts to start feedback on making WECK a better station. The good news is that it is not heavily staffed and the programming is decent, so it wouldn't take a lot of work to make the station sound much more professional. Good luck to WECK as it is nice to see us have a locally-owned and somewhat locally programmed radio station! Overall, the station sounds pretty good.
 
I love Riter.

I like Scott Leffler’s self-deprecating sense of humor.

I like the voiceover guy – but I’d like to hear more production around him. The stuff just kind of lays there.

I love the idea of the local musicians doing bumper music. I hope WECK management made the most of this promotionally.

Love the fact that they have a commitment to local news in the afternoon and on the weekends. (yeah, I know that BEN and others may kick their ass and have a reputation for having done it for a long time but I give 'em credit for doing it. They could be like every other fringe market station - just run whatever comes off of the net)

The one thing I hate beyond words: A simulcast of a television newscast. (But if they have somehow gained promotional value from this: ie: trading TV commercial time for running the newscast content, then bravo!) At least they follow up with local stuff.

And I’m sorry to say this – but, the morning show... I’m not in town often so I only get to hear bits and pieces when I’m in on business. While the show has improved from the first week, (the last time I heard it) I still don’t think it is comfortable.

Maybe they should think about staying away from state or national issues (a lot of people already have that covered) and possibly swing even more local to super serve Erie County… or completely forget about issues all together and just do fun, entertaining stuff. I know that both of the morning talents are capable of that.

Just my .02 cents!
 
Thanks for the comments, pro and con. I was hoping that a thread like this would materialize. All serious posts will be taken seriously - please keep them coming.

Schuh
 
There are so many local stories and issues that could be discussed... town specific sports, debates, problems... even with just one newsperson, even a newbie can wander around with a recorder and pen.

At the least the morning show could then incorporate this stuff. Listeners might latch onto tuning in for something consistently local... an issue in one suburb can still be of interest to someone listening from/living in another suburb.

So many things that could be discussed, rather than incessant re-hashing of a 190 standoff for instance. I'd tune away from BEN for this, something diversely, mainly, truly local.
 
WECK is a very unusual radio station. It's good to have a station as quirky as this on the air in Buffalo for those moments when you might be looking for some quirky programming, even though I personally don't listen as often as I did when it first went on. When I tune in now, I sometimes wonder, "just who listens to this besides me?" Leffler going up against Bowerly and Stephanie Miller? Dennis Miller seems like the sacrificial lamb going up against Rush and Ed Schultz. Bill O'Reilly going up against Beach and Schopp and Parker? Especially after O'Reilly aired in Lockport earlier in the afternoon... phew. You know more than I do about all this stuff. I wish you folks well... but I just don't know.
 
I do like WECK when it's local. Hate it when it isn't!

It's all a bit like having 2 stations. Local, AM drive through 1 ... a separate station with Miller and O'Reilly, local again with Brad and then after Brad ... BORING! (Note to Brad: NICE JOB! Love your work at WECK ... much better then at that 'other' station. )

The syndicated programming will never really relate to a Buffalo audience and it's not all that much cheaper than hiring a good afternoon talker or two. Maybe you should do a few hours of talk, Schuh? You're an interesting guy! LOL

I don't see the logic in throwing away your local audience to blowhards like Miller and O'Reilly, who don't relate and then going local again with Brad and then tossing it all again to national noise overnight.

But then... you asked! LOL

Kal
 
I'm listening with great enthusiasm to the new WECK. There's loads of potential there.I do think that I've got a couple of music programs on their sister station WLVL that might sound good on weekend afternoons at WECK, perhaps as a simulcast or at WECK alone. Mike Melody
 
I think WECK has improved greatly since it went on the air, especially the morning show. I'm hearing more interviews so Harv is not left to having to read from magazine articles for minutes at a time. In fact, I remember one morning when I switched from WBEN's weekly SPCA visit to WECK, only to hear an interview with Carl Paladino. One point for WECK. (I'm not a pet owner, so the SPCA "thing" bores me, though I know it is probably one of 'BEN's more popular segments because there ARE a lot of pet owners out there.)

I know some of you don't like the simulcast of Channel 2's noon news. I have never been a big fan of such simulcasts either. But I took some time off the other day. After a couple of hours of yard work, I jumped into the shower and put on WECK. You can't take a TV in there. But a shower radio works great. And you know what, I enjoyed the simulcast. That was followed at 12:30 by an excellent summary of the news with Tom Schuh. For those of us who are growing tired of Rush's act, the 12noon news on WECK and NPR's "Day to Day" are great alternatives.

WECK will never be a primary source of news and information. It is what it is. And I think some great strides have been made since early March. Whether it's enough to attract an audience, we'll get our first indication when the Spring book is released in July.
 
Philip_Airtime said:
WECK will never be a primary source of news and information. It is what it is.
Click to expand...
Damning with faint praise.

Philip_Airtime said:
And I think some great strides have been made since early March. Whether it's enough to attract an audience, we'll get our first indication when the Spring book is released in July.
Click to expand...
Phil, it's clear you intended to be complimentary, but your assessment may hold more truth than you'd intended. To make sure your quote was taken in context, the remainder of the paragraph is included.

To be successful, a news-talk radio station must strive to be the primary source of local and national information, the station that residents instinctively go to when the power goes out, bad weather hits or they need the results of the school board election. If the station cannot consistently provide these services, especially at critical moments, the station will not be anything but "that other radio station."

WBEN is no great shakes. It gets half its massive share because it's the only game in town and it's there when the spit hits the fan. To be fair, it's good, but it's far from great. Imagine if WNED-AM and WBFO had news departments staffed 24-7 with producers, board-ops, anchors and reporters.
 
I take your point, Niner. Your assessment is right on. WECK will never be a "go to" radio station. Not unless it hires the personnel to take on WBEN. And I don't see that happening. That's why the station liner (I don't listen enough to know if it's still running) proclaiming WECK as the first choice for news is so silly.

The question is whether the home town approach which works in small cities will work in Buffalo. For the personnel it has, I do think WECK is much better than it was when it first went on. Tom Schuh should be given credit for doing what he's done with what he has. But again, WECK would need to hire more news anchors, street reporters and a morning show producer to provide any challenge to the dominance of WBEN.
 
"That's why the station liner proclaiming WECK as the first choice for news is so silly."

Correct.... Liners and positioning statements should ALWAYS be CREDIBLE and also point out UNIQUE benefits or key differences. Saying that WECK is the first choice for news is NOT credible. Anyone can tell you that, just by listening. It is also not a difference or unique benefit.

WECK does not need the typical "radio liner crap" that's simply noise and means nothing...


Time for the real strategy..... What is the Marketing Model for WECK?

TARGET?:
PRODUCT?
POSITION (POSITIONING STATEMENT)?
PROMOTION/MARKETING STRATEGY?

How is it DIFFERENT?

What is the DIFFERENCE between WECK and WBEN and any other station, for that matter? Decide what that difference is and make sure that the difference is, in fact, IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE...

THEN REMIND them of of the DIFFERENCE in your positioning, liners and promotions!

It's called having a clear strategy!
 
Well Jack, considering there were dozens of Jerry Jacks, Tom Thomases and Mike Melodies... you never know. Perhaps an audio DNA test is in order: Clear throat and with best announcer voice say, "Be big, be a builder!" The gentleman's photo can be viewed on the WLVL website, scroll down the page. Tre Retro Chic.

-9-
 
Re: Mike Melody

VoiceGuyJack said:
To Melody:

I knew Mike Melody...and you sir are not Mike Melody .

Jerry Jack ::)
Click to expand...

Well, I knew Mike Melody and I was Mike Melody and I knew VoiceGuyJack who was Jerry Jack (and Tommy Thomas) but sadly he doesn't remember me. And I knew several Mac McGuires (and was one myself). I also knew a rarely seen Bob Bell who was also Mac McGuire on several occasions. Whew! I loved the "Ranch House that Rocks".

aL
 
Whew! I loved the "Ranch House that Rocks".
Click to expand...

I heard that when Quid Me Broadcasting took over in '80, the Ranch House at 2900 Genesee Street was in serious need of repair - walls needed painting, floor tiles totally wore out, etc.

BTW, in the WNIA days, who cut the front/back lawn? Staff members were required to? Or is that just an urban legend?
 
cee said:
Whew! I loved the "Ranch House that Rocks".
Click to expand...

I heard that when Quid Me Broadcasting took over in '80, the Ranch House at 2900 Genesee Street was in serious need of repair - walls needed painting, floor tiles totally wore out, etc.

BTW, in the WNIA days, who cut the front/back lawn? Staff members were required to? Or is that just an urban legend?
Click to expand...

I visited there once in the early 80's and it looked no different that it was in the late 60's.

When I was working there they had some local kids mow the lawn.

aL
 
When I did mornings there I was not responsible for lawn care......I was, however, the guy in charge of getting the garbage to the curb by 7am every Thursday.

"How did you manage that task in the time it took to play a single record?",
you ask.

I say, "Thank God for MacArthur Park"! (7min-15secs)

Later "American Pie", "Hill Where The Lord Hides" and anything by Zappa came in pretty handy when nature called.

Once I started playing Jazz records.....anything went.


-Tommy Thomas #511-
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom