Had a chance to hear their Christmas special on my way in to the Valley on Xmas eve...I thought it sounded great!
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A
AZOOTEN
Guest
Malawichild: Hey I listen to WEEU and Im NOT an Old Fart, Im 44 with the mind of a 20yr old, to bad my body can't keep up 
P
I like pretty much all they do EXCEPT they should replace "RUSH BIMBO" in the afternoon, I Mean like every friggin station has him on, allentown, harrisburg, Philly and Reading, we need diversity.
Somebody should carry Neal Boortz, or Ed Schultz or Alex Jones. Anything to hear something different.
ED ARMSTRONG: WEEU was not the only station in the East Penn Valley doing Christmas Music ;o)
hehehe
PI like pretty much all they do EXCEPT they should replace "RUSH BIMBO" in the afternoon, I Mean like every friggin station has him on, allentown, harrisburg, Philly and Reading, we need diversity.
Somebody should carry Neal Boortz, or Ed Schultz or Alex Jones. Anything to hear something different.
ED ARMSTRONG: WEEU was not the only station in the East Penn Valley doing Christmas Music ;o)
hehehe
W
WiFi92
Guest
They do the same holiday crap every year. Stuck in a rut, they are. The holiday festival of sound is as sorry a retread (oops, they call it tradition) as the 'beat Zeke' promo. Gawd awful. And that's only the surface. Complete lack of originality and creativity. Their struggle to sell airtime should surprise no one, but advertisers should be asking 'why am I here'? This kind of product has me going out of my way to not support the sponsors. Reading Eagle needs to grow a pair and clean house.
AZOOTEN said:
They were not playing music when I tuned in...they were playing back calls from listeners who used to sled on Rutchies in the city of Reading. It's a PA Dutch thing...
Boy we must have been having so much fun at Y-102 in the 90's that I never even knew this happened. Hmmmm.
As for WEEU programming, people in and out of the biz have been bashing it as long as I can remember (1976) yet it still fills a void, a need and continues to provide entertainment and info to a significant segment of Berks County. Unprepared "winging it" was the way we did radio in the 70's and 80's and the models from the 60's we emulated.
Who has more fun and job security in the business? The gang at WEEU or those card reading, tone ranged voices that are so prevalent in radio today?
Mike
As for WEEU programming, people in and out of the biz have been bashing it as long as I can remember (1976) yet it still fills a void, a need and continues to provide entertainment and info to a significant segment of Berks County. Unprepared "winging it" was the way we did radio in the 70's and 80's and the models from the 60's we emulated.
Who has more fun and job security in the business? The gang at WEEU or those card reading, tone ranged voices that are so prevalent in radio today?
Mike
WEEU is a great local station and in my opinion has wonderful personalities that don't talk down to you, other than Rush at 12 PM.
I live in South Jersey & own an FM in the area but I love the positive, free spirit offered by the personalities on WEEU. That station would be a great buy, if they ever decide to sell.
The only thing I would change is to have a local personality do 12 PM - 3 PM. Actually, I'm surprised Limbaugh is on that station considering he's already on 1210 and I believe another station in DE. josh
I live in South Jersey & own an FM in the area but I love the positive, free spirit offered by the personalities on WEEU. That station would be a great buy, if they ever decide to sell.
The only thing I would change is to have a local personality do 12 PM - 3 PM. Actually, I'm surprised Limbaugh is on that station considering he's already on 1210 and I believe another station in DE. josh
W
WiFi92
Guest
"That station would be a great buy, if they ever decide to sell."
There has been quiet talk of parent company Reading Eagle going bankrupt, so someone may get a chance to do just that.
Agree with 12 to 3. They carry so much right-wing chatter they've alienated half of the county as listeners. The area is predominantly Dem. (49% to 37%). Is it no wonder they struggle to sell ads and stop-sets are top heavy with PSA's and station promos?
There has been quiet talk of parent company Reading Eagle going bankrupt, so someone may get a chance to do just that.
Agree with 12 to 3. They carry so much right-wing chatter they've alienated half of the county as listeners. The area is predominantly Dem. (49% to 37%). Is it no wonder they struggle to sell ads and stop-sets are top heavy with PSA's and station promos?
josh said:
Yeah, but 1210's signal in Berks County is shaky at half best. So is 790's out of Allentown. I'm no Limbaugh fan either, but he serves his purpose being on WEEU.
M_Shannon said:
You know Mike, I too remember when "winging it" was the way it was done and how we all emulated the talents who did that in the 60s. You're right in that they fill a void, etc. My biggest problem is how dramatically the level of professionalism has declined at WEEU. Whether you were or were not a fan of Gounder, Runkle, Holcomb, Baldinger, Mooney, Brosy, House of Dreams, Dick Kreitz etc. those people at all levels were pros. WEEU was an MOR station with their own quirks. But it was professional! Compare that to the sludge coming from the speakers today. I don't know their GM Dave Kline personally, but apparently this lack of professionalism starts at the top with him and filters down to Adams, Painter, etc. Now with Mr. Rohn recently deceased and Mrs. Quier passing a few years ago, we wonder who at the Eagle is watching the radio station. Surely they're not letting Kline operate on his own!?!?
Surely someone like yourself, with your track record, could bring WEEU back to a 21st century level of professionalism. The current crew can not. And probably doesn't care about that. They are working jobs. Radio was, and still should be, a passion and a career. I don't think the current crop of WEEU folks get that..and I think that starts at the top. Certainly they do enjoy security. If they're having fun, that never translates on air.
WEEU can provide better entertainment, better information and fill that void you speak of (and you're right) much better. Reading is a captive market. With CC owning RFY/RAW and HUM an ESPN station, WEEU should step up and BE Berks County. They, unlike most AM stations, have an excellent opportunity to bring down the demos...gradually.
WiFi92 said:
Truth be told, how many commercial stations in a Reading-size market feature a local half-hour at 5 PM with its own reporters?
If I put WAEB AM and WEEU side by side I think I'd pick WEEU as the station worth stuffing between my ears.
I'll agree that Gunther is more of a radio professional than Charlie Adams, but I personally find Gunther's right-wing whine to be tiresomely predictable... I think I'd rather hear Charlie's occasional interviews with local notables than Gunther's sycophantic interviews with conservative LV politicans.
But, hey, this is just my opinion...in the end, it's station profitability that matters, anyway; the FCC decided public service wasn't necessary years ago.
Richard in Allentown
WEEU WAS an great MOR station...albeit behind the times a bit when the lineup of Gounder etc etc was there....
i still remember the days when they were on the second floor on penn ave.......
the MCR operator had a sign to remind him "NO SUPREMES" music........what a laffer....
they did do some interesting things.....
however.......it is obvious nobody is watching the store anymore.....hell they don't even stream ( at least i can't find it"
they have an invaluable asset as they are grandfathered into co-ownership with the reading eagle times....
and they have NEVER worked it....
with no REAL TV in that market they could be a killer.......i'd be milking it for al it's worth,
which reminds me....is lew still alive/around....Frank Mooney and I were in the same parish...i aunderstand he passed on some time ago...
i still remember the days when they were on the second floor on penn ave.......
the MCR operator had a sign to remind him "NO SUPREMES" music........what a laffer....
they did do some interesting things.....
however.......it is obvious nobody is watching the store anymore.....hell they don't even stream ( at least i can't find it"
they have an invaluable asset as they are grandfathered into co-ownership with the reading eagle times....
and they have NEVER worked it....
with no REAL TV in that market they could be a killer.......i'd be milking it for al it's worth,
which reminds me....is lew still alive/around....Frank Mooney and I were in the same parish...i aunderstand he passed on some time ago...
Yea WEEU could be so much more. They don't have anyone leading it. They have no structure or direction they just float along. It's a shame because so much could be done with it. Think about it's the manager's ego is out of control and is fouced on his likes and interests. I think he now over sees the sales of the internet at the radio and paper. There lies two more problems. Get somebody to pay attention to the station and the revenue will go up.
trouble is......there was once a great AM battle there....
WEEU...WRAW....and WHUM
now....it's Clear Channel at WRFY/WRAW and them.......
the family ownership will figure it out......OR NOT...
WEEU...WRAW....and WHUM
now....it's Clear Channel at WRFY/WRAW and them.......
the family ownership will figure it out......OR NOT...
W
WiFi92
Guest
Perhaps they need to start by going back to an MCR operator. Too many times it's obvious the announcers can't even run their own board smoothly. That includes all the full-timers, as well as. It just sounds bad.
I like WEEU and I am not old. They have very informative early evening local information call in shows. If you want to know about vitamins and health check in Monday nights. If you want to know about finances and investing tune in Tuesdays. If you have a medical question tune in Wednesday. Thursday and Friday you can talk sports. These shows are all local.
arminius said:
And the good part (for those who care about the respective topics) about 'EEU's health food, finance, and medical shows is that they start right at 6:00p - 5 extra minutes! - no ABC news preceding them, unlike the Thu/Fri sports talk show which is preceded by ABC news. I believe they are brokered and, if preempted by pxp sports, WEEU has to preempt the sports talk show on Thurs. or Fri. to make good.
BTW on Fridays during past HSFB seasons the sports talk show has been preempted by music filler leading up to the start of the pregame show preceding that night's Berks Co. HSFB game of the week, pxp'd by Paul Roberts, host of The Sports Democracy, as that show is called. Is WEEU going to air HSFB again this fall?
ixnay
I've read with great interest the most recent posts about WEEU--the Reading radio station I grew up with as a kid in the late 60s to mid 70s. It seems there IS great potential there to return this station to the greatly trusted info/entertainment outlet of so long ago. Apparently they are offering some good listening choices but it's obvious there is ALWAYS more that could be done. I'm happy to see there is a "local" flavor to the programming. It's unfortunate the apparent lack of leadership and creativity at the top with management and lack of revenue (just a guess) stifles the operation. I find it so sad to see AM radio seemingly a wasteland for one who's always been a radio junkie. That includes major markets as well. I can recall when "beautiful music" (like the old WRFY-FM) became a big deal on FM radio. Heck, even old stalwart WEEU played similar music from 10 pm to midnight in the 60s.
Is there anything new to report about WEEU's future? New ownership? (Station ownership turnover seems to be a constant, negative occurrence in the present day: New owners; no cash or no wish to spend it; no direction. It's disheartening.)
Can anyone recall why WEEU switched from 850AM to 830AM? Signal conflict with another station on the dial? On a night when the heavens co-operate I can pick up WEEU at my elevated location where I live in State College. I know I've got WEEU when I hear the Phillies game, Jim Bohannon, or local high school football game instead of WCCO in Minneapolis.
Now that I think about it, Albright College's WXAC-FM had some real good on air personnel and a good mix of music back in the early 1970s. They inspired me to get into the broadcasting business after high school for eight years (WWPA AM, Williamsport, PA). I left it all behind when I admitted to myself I had no talent to move to a better gig; living on minimum wage pay didn't inspire me enough either. But those eight years were worth it. I got a chance to do what I had always wanted to try and worked with some great people much more talented than I. A good time...
I enjoy the posts. Thanks.
Is there anything new to report about WEEU's future? New ownership? (Station ownership turnover seems to be a constant, negative occurrence in the present day: New owners; no cash or no wish to spend it; no direction. It's disheartening.)
Can anyone recall why WEEU switched from 850AM to 830AM? Signal conflict with another station on the dial? On a night when the heavens co-operate I can pick up WEEU at my elevated location where I live in State College. I know I've got WEEU when I hear the Phillies game, Jim Bohannon, or local high school football game instead of WCCO in Minneapolis.
Now that I think about it, Albright College's WXAC-FM had some real good on air personnel and a good mix of music back in the early 1970s. They inspired me to get into the broadcasting business after high school for eight years (WWPA AM, Williamsport, PA). I left it all behind when I admitted to myself I had no talent to move to a better gig; living on minimum wage pay didn't inspire me enough either. But those eight years were worth it. I got a chance to do what I had always wanted to try and worked with some great people much more talented than I. A good time...
I enjoy the posts. Thanks.
What happened to Dave Langley? He's been AWOL from 'EEU's 5:00 hour news update for the past month or so. It seems so... weird hearing Scott Fry (sp) in there.
ixnay
P.S. I've visited Roadside America, across I-78 from WEEU's antenna farm, and bought a book about the Pennsylvania RR at Barnes & Noble in Broadcasting Square (where WEEU had its sticks when it was on 850). Your guess is as good as mine as to why WEEU went back to 830, which IIRC it vacated circa 1941)
ixnay
P.S. I've visited Roadside America, across I-78 from WEEU's antenna farm, and bought a book about the Pennsylvania RR at Barnes & Noble in Broadcasting Square (where WEEU had its sticks when it was on 850). Your guess is as good as mine as to why WEEU went back to 830, which IIRC it vacated circa 1941)
ixnay said:
WEEU moved from 830 to 850 in 1941 because it had to. The entire AM band was being realigned to conform to the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), which created clear-channel assignments for Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Everyone who was on 830 at the time moved up two notches to 850: not just WEEU, but also WHDH in Boston (then also a daytimer) and the dominant clear-channel occupant, KOA Denver.
The stations that had been on 810 - WCCO in Minneapolis as the dominant clear and WNYC New York as a daytimer with some early-evening privileges - moved to 830.
It was only much, much later, after WCCO's clear channel on 830 had been nibbled away by changes to the rules that allowed other full-timers on the frequency in places such as Worcester, MA and Greensboro, NC, that it became possible for WEEU to move "back" to 830 with greater power - and it was possible only then because WNYC was shifted from 830 to 820 to permit full-time operation.
ixnay said:
The first event was the land sale for the Broadcasting Square shopping center, I'd think.
Not sure which came next, but the land being available in Shartlesville probably had something to do with the frequency change. There might not have been enough land available near town to enable use of 850 kHz with the same power without interfering with, say, WKGE / Johnstown.
Or did the frequency assignment to 830 happen first, thus requiring them to find suitable land NNW of Reading?
Which makes it interesting that they can be heard in State College given their nighttime directionality.
Richard in Allentown
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