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WEMJ semi-reverse flip? Rush and Howie back ?

U

UncleAL

I'm not around the Lakes Region at the moment but I understand that WEMJ Laconia has done a bit of a reverse flip.

Abandoning their Talk Radio format and going Tourist Radio in the fall.
Now the word is that Rush and Howie Carr are back weekdays with Tourist info on weekends.

Anyone know what is happening at WEMJ and why? What made them flip, and flip back? What can we expect this summer? No one knows radio better than some of you on this forum, so what's the scoop folks?

Uncle AL
 
Well having been in New Hampshire for a while...I can definitely say Visitor Info Radio is LAZY broadcasting.

An example. Anyone ever driven through Boston and seen "Traffic/Airport info on 1610AM"? Have you ever LISTENED to that? Probably not. Most of the people who go up there have been up there in the past and can make their own judgements. New York and Vegas...Visitor Info Radio could work, but otherwise, it is a lazy move by Nassau...cutting budgets and creativity :(


> I'm not around the Lakes Region at the moment but I
> understand that WEMJ Laconia has done a bit of a reverse
> flip.
>
> Abandoning their Talk Radio format and going Tourist Radio
> in the fall.
> Now the word is that Rush and Howie Carr are back weekdays
> with Tourist info on weekends.
>
> Anyone know what is happening at WEMJ and why? What made
> them flip, and flip back? What can we expect this summer?
> No one knows radio better than some of you on this forum, so
> what's the scoop folks?
>
> Uncle AL
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
> New York and Vegas...Visitor Info Radio could work, but
> otherwise, it is a lazy move by Nassau...cutting budgets and
> creativity :(
>


Can't say I'd call syndicated talk all that creative either, but it looks like they realized they'd made a mistake and corrected it. Gotta give them credit for that.
 
> Well having been in New Hampshire for a while...I can
> definitely say Visitor Info Radio is LAZY broadcasting.
>
> An example. Anyone ever driven through Boston and seen
> "Traffic/Airport info on 1610AM"? Have you ever LISTENED to
> that? Probably not. Most of the people who go up there have
>

Ahem! I beg to differ... VIR is NOT lazy radio! A lot goes into keeping the survival information(weather, ski and board reports, river reports, etc) and informative bits(traffic info, area history, etc) current. A visitor information radio station can be very very successful, if it is done in the right market. It has to be an area where there is tourism year round, not where only the summer or only the winter yields income from visitors. It works well in areas like Mt Washington Valley... Key West FL would probably be a good fit as well.

AFAIK, Boston's 1610 AM is NOT an example of visitor information radio. That, based on the moniker and freq sounds like a DOT traffic and weather info station. If I am wrong, please correct me.
 
If a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise? Same breath, if a radio station for Visitors exists, but the only people who know about it are people who live there, will anyone listen?

There is a reason why New York, Vegas, Miami, Orlando and all of those high-traffic-year-around cities dont use a VIR format...because the visitors don't know any frequency on the dial, and if they ARE going to search, chances are it'll be the FM band.

VIR was, I'm sorry to say, a 24 hour commercial. "Like italian food? Go here. Like Skiing? Go here." It is nothing a website couldn't tell you.

It IS lazy broadcasting. Not on the local level where they are producing all the pieces that it takes to make the station, but on the corporate level. They got rid of their newsman and saved themselves from having to pay another salary. It's cost cutting. That's all it is.



> > Well having been in New Hampshire for a while...I can
> > definitely say Visitor Info Radio is LAZY broadcasting.
> >
> > An example. Anyone ever driven through Boston and seen
> > "Traffic/Airport info on 1610AM"? Have you ever LISTENED
> to
> > that? Probably not. Most of the people who go up there
> have
> >
>
> Ahem! I beg to differ... VIR is NOT lazy radio! A lot
> goes into keeping the survival information(weather, ski and
> board reports, river reports, etc) and informative
> bits(traffic info, area history, etc) current. A visitor
> information radio station can be very very successful, if it
> is done in the right market. It has to be an area where
> there is tourism year round, not where only the summer or
> only the winter yields income from visitors. It works well
> in areas like Mt Washington Valley... Key West FL would
> probably be a good fit as well.
>
> AFAIK, Boston's 1610 AM is NOT an example of visitor
> information radio. That, based on the moniker and freq
> sounds like a DOT traffic and weather info station. If I am
> wrong, please correct me.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
> AFAIK, Boston's 1610 AM is NOT an example of visitor
> information radio. That, based on the moniker and freq
> sounds like a DOT traffic and weather info station. If I am
> wrong, please correct me.
>

It's actually 1650 (1610 would never work next to WUNR 1600). I've never really payed much attention, but I do know that it just talks about the airport. I think it might mention which parking lots are full, etc. It certainly wouldn't be any help for Boston tourists.
 
> There is a reason why New York, Vegas, Miami, Orlando and
> all of those high-traffic-year-around cities dont use a VIR
> format...because the visitors don't know any frequency on
> the dial, and if they ARE going to search, chances are it'll
> be the FM band.


In The Mount Washington Valley, there are many signs directing travelers to the frequency of WBNC(I think 1050).



>
> VIR was, I'm sorry to say, a 24 hour commercial. "Like
> italian food? Go here. Like Skiing? Go here." It is nothing
> a website couldn't tell you.
>
> It IS lazy broadcasting. Not on the local level where they
> are producing all the pieces that it takes to make the
> station, but on the corporate level. They got rid of their
> newsman and saved themselves from having to pay another
> salary. It's cost cutting. That's all it is.
>
>

Have you ever heard the broadcasts on WBNC in the MV Valley? I have. Don't call it Lazy broadcasting. It is well produced and there is a variety of topics and up to date weather and community events. WBNC HAS done an excellent job of putting this together. Give it a listen when you are in the area instead of sitting at your computer criticizing it without hearing it at first. They replaced Oldies off the bird If I recall correctly. That was no cost cutting measure.
 
> > New York and Vegas...Visitor Info Radio could work, but
> > otherwise, it is a lazy move by Nassau...cutting budgets
> and
> > creativity :(
> >
>
>
> Can't say I'd call syndicated talk all that creative either,
> but it looks like they realized they'd made a mistake and
> corrected it. Gotta give them credit for that.

Locals don't even know WEMJ exists never mind tourists! I lived there for 20 years and the only people that ever listened to EMJ were Rush fans and people who wanted to listen to the Sox! It won't work in Laconia and it IS laziness on behalf of Nassau! It may work for WBNC but it will be a failure foe WEMJ! I promise you! WEZS, bring on the news talk..this is Gary Hammond's oppurtunity!
>
 
Hate to break it to ya, I have heard it, and I'm closer to the situation than you might think. If I hadn't heard the station, then you'd have a point.

Where is there a billboard for EMJ? Nowhere. Ask 1000 visitors to the Lakes Region "what station gives Visitor Information", and none of them will know because there is no marketing for it whatsoever. And there wont be.

When they dumped their news guy, Nassau had a cheaper formula in mind. This is the cheaper formula. The same PD of WLNH is PDing EMJ...because its CONSOLIDATION. It is lazy broadcasting. They wanted the existing employees of the station to be able to run EMJ without having to pay someone else for it.

It is CHEAP broadcasting...and it is a format that doesnt work in any major metropolitan area...it would/could never work in the Lakes Region. It has bitten Nassau in the ass, and now they are backpeddling...thank God.


> > There is a reason why New York, Vegas, Miami, Orlando and
> > all of those high-traffic-year-around cities dont use a
> VIR
> > format...because the visitors don't know any frequency on
> > the dial, and if they ARE going to search, chances are
> it'll
> > be the FM band.
>
>
> In The Mount Washington Valley, there are many signs
> directing travelers to the frequency of WBNC(I think 1050).
>
>
>
> >
> > VIR was, I'm sorry to say, a 24 hour commercial. "Like
> > italian food? Go here. Like Skiing? Go here." It is
> nothing
> > a website couldn't tell you.
> >
> > It IS lazy broadcasting. Not on the local level where they
>
> > are producing all the pieces that it takes to make the
> > station, but on the corporate level. They got rid of their
>
> > newsman and saved themselves from having to pay another
> > salary. It's cost cutting. That's all it is.
> >
> >
>
> Have you ever heard the broadcasts on WBNC in the MV Valley?
> I have. Don't call it Lazy broadcasting. It is well
> produced and there is a variety of topics and up to date
> weather and community events. WBNC HAS done an excellent
> job of putting this together. Give it a listen when you are
> in the area instead of sitting at your computer criticizing
> it without hearing it at first. They replaced Oldies off
> the bird If I recall correctly. That was no cost cutting
> measure.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
I don't know too much about the WEMJ situation, but i was commenting on WBNC. That format is working for them with the North Country's year-round tourist attractions. I just know that WBNC is not lazy broadcasting.

Thanks.


> Hate to break it to ya, I have heard it, and I'm closer to
> the situation than you might think. If I hadn't heard the
> station, then you'd have a point.
>
> Where is there a billboard for EMJ? Nowhere. Ask 1000
> visitors to the Lakes Region "what station gives Visitor
> Information", and none of them will know because there is no
> marketing for it whatsoever. And there wont be.
>
> When they dumped their news guy, Nassau had a cheaper
> formula in mind. This is the cheaper formula. The same PD of
> WLNH is PDing EMJ...because its CONSOLIDATION. It is lazy
> broadcasting. They wanted the existing employees of the
> station to be able to run EMJ without having to pay someone
> else for it.
>
> It is CHEAP broadcasting...and it is a format that doesnt
> work in any major metropolitan area...it would/could never
> work in the Lakes Region. It has bitten Nassau in the ass,
> and now they are backpeddling...thank God.
>
>
> > > There is a reason why New York, Vegas, Miami, Orlando
> and
> > > all of those high-traffic-year-around cities dont use a
> > VIR
> > > format...because the visitors don't know any frequency
> on
> > > the dial, and if they ARE going to search, chances are
> > it'll
> > > be the FM band.
> >
> >
> > In The Mount Washington Valley, there are many signs
> > directing travelers to the frequency of WBNC(I think
> 1050).
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > VIR was, I'm sorry to say, a 24 hour commercial. "Like
> > > italian food? Go here. Like Skiing? Go here." It is
> > nothing
> > > a website couldn't tell you.
> > >
> > > It IS lazy broadcasting. Not on the local level where
> they
> >
> > > are producing all the pieces that it takes to make the
> > > station, but on the corporate level. They got rid of
> their
> >
> > > newsman and saved themselves from having to pay another
> > > salary. It's cost cutting. That's all it is.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Have you ever heard the broadcasts on WBNC in the MV
> Valley?
> > I have. Don't call it Lazy broadcasting. It is well
> > produced and there is a variety of topics and up to date
> > weather and community events. WBNC HAS done an excellent
> > job of putting this together. Give it a listen when you
> are
> > in the area instead of sitting at your computer
> criticizing
> > it without hearing it at first. They replaced Oldies off
> > the bird If I recall correctly. That was no cost cutting
> > measure.
> >
>
 
>
> Locals don't even know WEMJ exists never mind tourists! I
> lived there for 20 years and the only people that ever
> listened to EMJ were Rush fans and people who wanted to
> listen to the Sox! It won't work in Laconia and it IS
> laziness on behalf of Nassau! It may work for WBNC but it
> will be a failure foe WEMJ! I promise you! WEZS, bring on
> the news talk..this is Gary Hammond's oppurtunity!


Well, if "no one knows WEMJ exists", why did Nassau put the talk format back? My guess is quite a few people not only knew the station existed, but complained that the talk format was gone. Gary missed his chance, guess he's stuck with the old folks music.
 
See, I don't know Jack about 'BNC. And I know you are a smaller company and you are making a concerted effort to make that station great...that I respect.

However, Nassau is not a small company, and they have the money to make things happen in this market. Instead, they fire the news guy and put a 24 hour commercial on the air. Thats what bothers me. It's lazy, cheap broadcasting for Nassau...




> I don't know too much about the WEMJ situation, but i was
> commenting on WBNC. That format is working for them with
> the North Country's year-round tourist attractions. I just
> know that WBNC is not lazy broadcasting.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> > Hate to break it to ya, I have heard it, and I'm closer to
>
> > the situation than you might think. If I hadn't heard the
> > station, then you'd have a point.
> >
> > Where is there a billboard for EMJ? Nowhere. Ask 1000
> > visitors to the Lakes Region "what station gives Visitor
> > Information", and none of them will know because there is
> no
> > marketing for it whatsoever. And there wont be.
> >
> > When they dumped their news guy, Nassau had a cheaper
> > formula in mind. This is the cheaper formula. The same PD
> of
> > WLNH is PDing EMJ...because its CONSOLIDATION. It is lazy
> > broadcasting. They wanted the existing employees of the
> > station to be able to run EMJ without having to pay
> someone
> > else for it.
> >
> > It is CHEAP broadcasting...and it is a format that doesnt
> > work in any major metropolitan area...it would/could never
>
> > work in the Lakes Region. It has bitten Nassau in the ass,
>
> > and now they are backpeddling...thank God.
> >
> >
> > > > There is a reason why New York, Vegas, Miami, Orlando
> > and
> > > > all of those high-traffic-year-around cities dont use
> a
> > > VIR
> > > > format...because the visitors don't know any frequency
>
> > on
> > > > the dial, and if they ARE going to search, chances are
>
> > > it'll
> > > > be the FM band.
> > >
> > >
> > > In The Mount Washington Valley, there are many signs
> > > directing travelers to the frequency of WBNC(I think
> > 1050).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > VIR was, I'm sorry to say, a 24 hour commercial. "Like
>
> > > > italian food? Go here. Like Skiing? Go here." It is
> > > nothing
> > > > a website couldn't tell you.
> > > >
> > > > It IS lazy broadcasting. Not on the local level where
> > they
> > >
> > > > are producing all the pieces that it takes to make the
>
> > > > station, but on the corporate level. They got rid of
> > their
> > >
> > > > newsman and saved themselves from having to pay
> another
> > > > salary. It's cost cutting. That's all it is.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Have you ever heard the broadcasts on WBNC in the MV
> > Valley?
> > > I have. Don't call it Lazy broadcasting. It is well
> > > produced and there is a variety of topics and up to date
>
> > > weather and community events. WBNC HAS done an
> excellent
> > > job of putting this together. Give it a listen when you
>
> > are
> > > in the area instead of sitting at your computer
> > criticizing
> > > it without hearing it at first. They replaced Oldies
> off
> > > the bird If I recall correctly. That was no cost
> cutting
> > > measure.
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
-TheGuy...InTheRadio</P>
 
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