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WHAM programming

C

CJ Giant

First of all..I am new to posting on these boards, but I have enjoyed reading them over the years.. not a pro, just a listener.

Re: WHAM.. my most listened to station...
Lonsberry was recently teasing about upcoming program changes next year at WHAM. Anyone like to speculate on just how extensive this would be?
 
"Reliable souses" report they're moving Lonsberry to run live after dumping Beck, and Rush will air live, or at least mostly live. Rush's people have been pushing to get a live clearance for the show in Rochester.
 
It can't help WHAM any that WLKK ("WBEN-FM") is now putting a city-grade signal over the western half of the market with Rush live at noon. I've long suspected that the decent fringe numbers WBEN was already drawing in Rochester came in large part from listeners seeking out a live Rush two hours ahead of the delayed WHAM carriage, and the addition of the strong FM signal can only have accelerated that trend.
 
I still firmly believe that eventually WHAM 1180 will start airing all their local news from Channel 13. There are what, two full time people left in the radio news department now? ( Smith and Gorbman).

How in hell are these two folks suppose to cover news stories in a city the size of Rochester? Even with interns and part-timers, WHAM's radio news department has been decimated over the years with the firings of Bill Lowe, Brendon, and Bill Flynn.

Besides we are all aware how Cheap Channel corporate bean counters work. By having Channel 13 (WHAM TV) carry all of their local news, WHAM 1180 would still be able to air a credible news product while CC trims their radio air staff even more to save corporate money.
 
I also wondered how much Ch 13 infiltration would occur in the news/local entertainment area. My old neighbor growing up was Bill Givens who did programming and sports back in the mid/late 60's. He's probably rolling over in his grave if he saw what happened at WHAM over the years... CJ
 
At the close of another year, so nice to read a post mentioning my mentor in this business, Bill Givens. The old saying goes: a radio station tends to assume the personality of whoever programs it (or at least a good one does.) WHAM was a class act in the era of Bill Givens 1965-1974. Bill was a true gentleman and a valued friend, and Rochester radio is poorer for his untimely loss.

Back at the beginnings for WYSL, we were proud to air (with WHAM references edited out) on summer evenings, 1960s airchecks of "Saturday Night Dance Party" on the Big 1030.
 
Very cool Bob, seeing that you remember Mr. Givens. As you know, he didn't drive a car and many evenings he would grab a ride home with my Dad who worked across the street from the studio. He was also an avid swimmer, and we owned the neighborhood pool. He loved to do serious laps in the pool to relax.. He introduced me to the inside world of radio and also Hockey!..alot of years have passed but the memories are good ones.

CJ
 
I guess I have to address this to Mr. Savage since his station has a relationship with WHEC-TV. What would be in it for Ch. 13 WHAM to provide news for 1180 WHAM? Obviously, it would have to be a $$$ advantage for 13. I just don't see it.
I think that some people here don't realize that WHAM & WHAM -TV are not owned owned by the same company but 13WHAM does provide some audio news feeds for 1180 WHAM.
 
therealjm12 said:
...What would be in it for Ch. 13 WHAM to provide news for 1180 WHAM? Obviously, it would have to be a $$$ advantage for 13. I just don't see it...
Click to expand...

That big AM signal reaches a lot of cars during the afternoon commute. If you could get listeners interested in stories you'd be covering on TV when those drivers get home, the amount of extra tune in to 13 might make a real difference. TV stations seem to find a great value to their sales efforts in having the number-1 rank, even if the actual shares are not much different. This could be one way to gain an edge.

The only question is, would 13 want a bunch more viewers over 45? A number one ranking achieved by attracting older demos is like kissing your sister.
 
Paul Warren asks, "would 13 want a bunch more viewers over 45? A number one ranking achieved by attracting older demos is like kissing your sister..."

13 doesn't need WHAM Radio's help to rank number one, they're already doing it without a simulcast.

Of course, none of this addresses another question--if Beck goes, Lonsberry starts three hours earlier, and Limbaugh airs live at noon rather than being time-shifted two hours later, what does WHAM do between 3 and 5 PM? They'll either have to hire a new local host or find some other syndicated material to plug the hole in the schedule. Anyone want to guess what their choice might be?
 
what does WHAM do between 3 and 5 PM?
Click to expand...

Turn off the transmitter! Power savings alone will save an employee everyone is complaining about. I'd bet it doesn't touch the almighty "ratings"...and it's still back on the fabled "crucial" drive time. (let's face it...there is no "real" drive time anymore)

Ok...don't take me serious...but how many times have YOU heard that somewhere in your careers?? ;)

HDBG
 
Chet just announced it will be Lonsberry 9-1, Rush 1-4 and an expanded news from 4-6. No word on what the expanded news program will be made up of.
 
And there are more changes in the offing as well. Not to be cryptic but that's all I can say for now.

CJ and all: it was unusual how Bill Givens never drove. I would come home from Ithaca College to visit my parents in Livonia, and would time my visits so I could head into Rochester late in the afternoon. I would pick up Bill and drive him home to Pittsford, so we would get caught up during the ride.

Bill never had a problem with my calling him, even at home. When at age 19 I was tapped to do middays at WIBG Philadelphia I called him on a Saturday, apologizing if I was interrupting him with the exciting news. "No problem," he said placidly in that buttery baritone. "I was just reading a book. That's great work; good for you. Go get 'em, Tiger," he told me.

One day in December 1971, my last year at IC, the phone rang in my apartment in Newfield south of Ithaca. It was Bill Givens: "Savage! Gannett is selling 1460 to a bunch of WBBF guys including John Sayre. Need a job after graduation? They're gonna do WFIL rock." (Bill, a WIP alumnus, was always enamored of WFIL's job knocking off WIBG in the great Philly rock wars.) And thus my career at the fabled WAXC (first callsign proposed was WAXI) was launched.

As I said: a terrific, lovely guy.
 
Bill Givens was a wonderful human being. He actually cared about people, which is rare in any business these days.

I felt fortunate to have met him.
 
Looks like Savage (not our esteemed Mr. Savage ;) ) is gone, Hannity moves up and Beck takes Hannity's slot.

Monday - Friday
5 am - 9 am
WHAM Morning News W/ Chet Walker
9 am - 1 pm Bob Lonsberry
1 pm - 4 pm Rush Limbaugh
4 pm - 5 pm WHAM Four O'Clock News W/ Joe Lomanaco
5 pm - 6pm WHAM Five O'Clock News W/ Joe Lomonaco
6 pm - 8 pm Bob Matthews
8 pm - 11 pm Sean Hannity
11 pm - 1am Glenn Beck
1 am - 5 am
Coast to Coast AM

Read more: http://www.wham1180.com/pages/schedule.html#ixzz1hwhczFbC
 
Compare WHAM's remaining on-air personalities (especially the loudmouth talkers) with those it has lost through retirements and firings over, say, 25 years. That's all you need to know about the state of WHAM in particular and news radio in general.
 
Considering the origins of WHAM and the many distinguished broadcasters like Bill Givens who have been associated with the station over the years, I have always felt horrified and discouraged whenever I tuned in at night to hear Michael Savage on 1180. I understand the nature of the entertainment business and the need to 'give the people what they want', but in my opinion the Savage Nation has been nothing but a stain on the station's history and a blot on the consciousness of the community that WHAM is supposed to serve. This deletion from the schedule will be a great improvement, regardless of the underlying rationale.
 
Lonsberry is not only working 9am-1pm on WHAM but I understand he's also doing a talk show on Syracuse radio afternoons. Add that to his program in Utah and CC is making sure the guy earns every bit of his salary.

In regards to the Lonsberry shift on WHAM, I thought that with WBEN's FM translator beaming into the western portion of Monroe County that the decision was already decided to air Limbaugh live at noon on WHAM. So what gives?
 
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