WEEU College Radio

[WiFi92]

One of the most sad state of affairs I've heard on AM regly. To hear them whine about the importance of the local advertiser and grovelling to them for support, then putting out a product which includes dead air, missed breaks, back to back spots with the same voicer, stop-sets comprised of station-only promos, the same programs being repeated on successive days...as in Gil Gross, (being passed-off as fresh) and an oft-times, asleep-at-the-switch board op, it's no wonder the sales staff is in a panic to save this stick and sell whatever they can at any price. Forget the past, this station will not exist in it's current form in 10 years. Automation, here they come. Frank Mooney and Jack Gounder are rolling over in their respective graves. We'll be able to thank Jo Painter and Dave Kline for their 'leadership' skills when it came to killing the last outlet for Reading radio.
Too often, WEEU's casual, roll-with-the-punches, 'just be glad we're on the air' attitude reminds one of the good-ol'-days of college radio....Where one one could f-up and not worry about it. Now, it seems, you may pass yourself off as commercial radio and get paid for it, even if the sound is unprofessional and sucks.

 

[Interstate 78]

Brutal analysis. Can't say it's all incorrect, though. I wonder about WEEU's future, as well. No way it can last in its current form 5 years from now. I wouldn't even give it 10 like you did. I think they're owned by the Reading Eagle newspaper. I can see the Eagle selling 'EEU off to a Spanish outlet. That would clean house in Reading, especially since that new construction permit for a Spanish on 870 AM seems to have fallen through.

 

[AZOOTEN]

I actually like WEEU, just the way it is.
I keep it set on my "Grundig" portable radio and listen to it for news and local info.
I fall asleep to it at nights with "Coast to Coast AM"
and will usually snap it on during the day, before going to work.
or have it on during the weekend, while Im working around the house.
It,s true "Local" based radio.
I live in fleetwood and where else would I turn for a local AM affiliate?
Allentown?
And about turning it "Spanish" This is not Mexico.
if your going to live in the United States, Learn English.
also Im not a senior citizen.
everyone has the belief that all WEEU listeners are over 65, well Im 44 and I listen.

 

[mrwattson]

Well, they took away our local AM station WEST and turned it into Spanish, so anything is possible. It still is WEST, but it simulcasts WHOL 1600. My point, anything is possible.

But then again, all of this bashing is not justified in the Arbitron Ratings. Their Spring 09 was a 7.9.

I don't think those numbers translate to any nails in the coffin.

They don't reflect good programming to some, but the ratings are fantastic.

In the end, that is all that counts.

 

[malawichild]

WEEU is wretched, and has been for a very long time. It is tired, and playing down to the senior citizen crowd. The average age of their listener is "been dead 3 days". The only things that are listenable are America in the Morning, and Limbaugh, (who admittedly is hard to listen to sometimes) and it has nothing to do with them. Their local content is horrid, with little or no prep going into the shows, giving them a feel of "lets do whatever comes up next".
Bad station, and I hope a programmer gets in there and does something with it, other than make it Klein and Painter's personal like channel. Of course, Dave did the same thing with WAGO, (I know, I lived through it) so the chances are slim and none.

 

[smartestguyintheroom]

Comparing WEEU to college radio is insulting to college radio everywhere! WEEU is much worse. WEEU's on air product is tragic, at best. Everything they do sounds unprofessional. Promos, spots...live and recorded, live announcers, newsers stumbling every cast, missed cues, dead air, terrible content, etc. If it's on 830, it's embarrassing to amateurs!

Not only are Frank Mooney and Jack Gounder spinning in their graves, WEEU is SO bad, even Professor Schnitzel and Alan Lane are spinning in theirs. Charlie Adams comes across as arrogant, disconnected, egomanicial, unprofessional and a self absorbed person on the air. On top of that, he's AWFUL!!! Perhaps he thinks he's still writing a column at the Berks County Record. Jo, is God awful too. How many more calls will she take without a delay before someone drops the F-bomb?

Ownership needs to hire outside professional help (defined as professional radio people who have worked elsewhere) as employees, not just consultants. The sooner, the better.

I don't know who the GM is (perhaps it's Dave Kline, referred to in other posts), but he/she should be the first to go in what can only be a massive housecleaning. Certainly the buck stops in that office, which is occupied by such an incompetent, even Dick Kreitz is spinning in his grave. The PD (is that Jo? You're kidding, right?) should be next out the door. Both quickly and for cause ('cause they're dummies).

Chances of the Eagle flipping to Spanish are almost zero. Perhaps a Spanish translator talking over the local "talent" would make this a better brand.

Fortunately, Berks Countians have Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley and surrounding stations to enjoy PROFESSIONAL radio. Still, the way WEEU is operated makes it a poster child for consolidation.

 

[Daveradio]

"if your going to live in the United States, Learn English."

Archie Bunker couldn't have said it better with that English and punctuation!

 

[maines]

I agree WEEU could be so much better with some attention. The folks running don't have a clue. There is no plan it's Kline and Painter because NASA had no openings. It could throw off some cash flow for the troubled paper but the paper is going down quickly. Polish it play to the seniors and make some money.

 

[Rinfoguy]

WEEU Radio

Historically speaking East Side Dave Kline has a steller revenue past with WEEU:

"The jury returned a verdict in favor of WAGO in the amount of $300,000 compensatory damages. Punitive damages were assessed against Appellant WEEU in the amount of $5,000 and against Appellant Reading Eagle in the amount of $800,000. The total verdict was $1,105,000"

Here's the link to that failed appeal = Reading Radio/WAGO Wins:
http://www.superior.court.state.pa.us/Opinions/a15038_03.pdf

Yeah, this probably isn't something Mr. Kline aka "WEEU's Million Dollar Liability" kept for his scrapbook.

 

[malawichild]

Re: WEEU Radio

Historically speaking East Side Dave Kline has a steller revenue past with WEEU:

"The jury returned a verdict in favor of WAGO in the amount of $300,000 compensatory damages. Punitive damages were assessed against Appellant WEEU in the amount of $5,000 and against Appellant Reading Eagle in the amount of $800,000. The total verdict was $1,105,000"

Here's the link to that failed appeal = Reading Radio/WAGO Wins:
http://www.superior.court.state.pa.us/Opinions/a15038_03.pdf

Yeah, this probably isn't something Mr. Kline aka "WEEU's Million Dollar Liability" kept for his scrapbook.

Great info. I had no idea this happened. Thank you.

 

[WiFi92]

Forget the past, he can't sell the station today. A first-class liability passing himself off as a pioneer of Reading radio. Get lost, David. My guess is, he produces Mountain Folk on 'company time', too. A complete taker.

 

[Rinfoguy]

Can't really forget the past as you suggest...this guy hasn't changed his stripes in many years.

As newspapers decline in readership & ad lines nationwide and scramble for alternate ways to
stay afloat...& radio stations come and go you've got to wonder why the Eagle & WEEU hasn't
stepped back taken a look at themselves in the mirror & moved into some sort of "today" mode.
Both properties are doing the same thing they've done for the last 10-20 years.

A final note on the one and only Mr. Kline - I'm guessing he's still there paying off the Million he
cost the company. Maybe he should be waxing cars and delivering papers!

 

[TODDMAYOR]

again what is a weeu bear to help kids read. they should employ the weeu Chupacabra or Chupacabras (pronunciation: /tʃupa'kabɾa/, from the Spanish words chupar, meaning "to suck", and cabra, meaning "goat"; literally "goat sucker"), also called El Chupacabras in Spanish, is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico (where these sightings were first reported), Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities.[1] The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock.

from wikepedia...instead of helping kids in reading to read...the weeu chupacabra could scare the number 2 out of kids to read....a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

 

[Interstate 78]

Man, you guys are brutal. This thread has gotten crazy. LOL. Look, I agree with most everything said, but at least look at it this way. At least WEEU is live and local for about 8 hours a day. 3 hours of Charlie. 3 of Mike Faust. 2 of Jo Painter. None of them may get an award for best radio talent of the year, but it's sure better than listening to the same voicetracked 200 songs over and over and over on Y-102.

 

[zap]

is this the Romper Room Board ?

can anyone criticize a Lehigh Valley station without a bunch of crybabies jumping on ?


The WEEU critiques were accurate -plus the station is owned by a newspaper yet have you seen their website ?
are you kidding me? Did a 3rd grader do that for his class project ? WGPA's website is better-

and...

somebody is always yappin' on this board about how great GPA is...why ? cause it has a 1 share ? 'cause it's been here for 60+ years ? There are 3 other talkers beating it in the Valley... ,including 1 from NJ and 1 from NY with some of the same programming that 790 is playing....and if it wasn't for that BeckRushHannity line up who knows what Gunther's numbers would be...or maybe we'd continue to hang on every birthday and dr. joe sobel break ?

It's bad enough there's only 7 live jocks left per market nationwide. Maybe they should WOW somebody.

No wonder the industry is in trouble.

 

[smartestguyintheroom]

I'm not one of those posters who advocates WGPA. Perhaps the reason, beside the obvious self promotion, etc. people on this board are so pro WGPA is that in a radio universe which you describe, the talent at WGPA seem to be trying to entertain. Maybe their schtick isn't everyone's cup of tea, but surely they get an A for effort. Apparently, they're not afraid to take chances, color outside the lines, throw all the crap at the wall and other homilies I'd rather continue to mention. Perhaps....just perhaps, their attempt at being unique and creative generates fans and advocates. Possible?

 

[dustintv]

Well this is kind of depressing to read. Mainly because whenever I go down to Lebanon to see family I always pick up WEEU and I'm always impressed by their being local and had big bad Limbaugh and they seemed decent enough. Guess they need fresh talent.

 

[ernesttbass]

One strength of WEEU, in my opinion, are their local sportscasters. I think the duo of Mitch Gerhart and Paul Roberts do a fine job broadcasting high school football and basketball games. Sometimes the sound quality of the games is poor but their work is excellent. They're knowledgeable and work well together. I will also say the few times that WEEU does play music, the mix is good. I wish there was more time devoted to music on the station and less to the scripted infomercials that are aired these days.

 

[lakeside]

This middle aged guy grew up in Reading listening to WEEU for news, music, the Phillies, Jack Gounder and his bird watching show from 10-11 am (or Noon?), and, yes, the school closings in the winter (even though the Reading School District RARELY called off classes). I think the late Paul Harvey was heard on this great station when it was at 850 AM. I'm so sorry and sad to read how things have changed there...and apparently NOT for the better. It's raised my blood pressure a tad and makes me want to come back home and restart a radio career after 26 years or so of being away from my first REAL job in life (if I can call it that). Worked for eight nice years in Williamsport (late 70s-early 80s) doing a lot of everything at a great AM station that is now a computer in the back of a country station's studio. I know I'd take a huge pay cut from what I'm doing now, but I'd hate to see WEEU go dark or something worse. I might jump at the chance.

 

[malawichild]

This middle aged guy grew up in Reading listening to WEEU for news, music, the Phillies, Jack Gounder and his bird watching show from 10-11 am (or Noon?), and, yes, the school closings in the winter (even though the Reading School District RARELY called off classes). I think the late Paul Harvey was heard on this great station when it was at 850 AM. I'm so sorry and sad to read how things have changed there...and apparently NOT for the better. It's raised my blood pressure a tad and makes me want to come back home and restart a radio career after 26 years or so of being away from my first REAL job in life (if I can call it that). Worked for eight nice years in Williamsport (late 70s-early 80s) doing a lot of everything at a great AM station that is now a computer in the back of a country station's studio. I know I'd take a huge pay cut from what I'm doing now, but I'd hate to see WEEU go dark or something worse. I might jump at the chance.

They're in no danger of going dark. All the old farts are listening, but what kind of audience is that? Who can you sell to?