What's that Dayton Ohio Big Lite?

[Lamont Lester]

Has anyone else noticed 106.5 is playing the Christmas heavy hits? The same Christmas heavy hits as sister Lite 94.5. Title for title and in the same Premium Choice order - God bless 'em!

Can someone please help this seemingly cynical old timer understand. Back in my day, I thought you didn't want to compete head to head with a sister station. But I know that this is radio's new normal and I'm from a primordial time when radio had live weekend shifts and wacky stunts. So please...someone...anyone...help me understand why this programming tactic is a smart competitive move on the part of CC / Dayton.

And playing the Amazing Criswell game. (Google him if you don't know Plan 9 from Outer Space.) Easy money says new format at 106.5. But is it Smooth Jazz...Buckeye Country...Jammin' Oldies or something even more Premium Choice ground breaking? How about Disco or Beautiful Music or the long anticipated return of WDRK-FM?

How I miss Stan Coning's homemade automation.

 

[Donald_WBWH]

If I had to guess, I would say that CC wants to take advantage of WDSJ's Northern Miami Valley Coverage (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WDSJ&service=FM&status=L&hours=U). They probably miss this as 94.5's coverage area is so small (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WLQT&service=FM&status=L&hours=U), remember they used to be able to take advantage of the North with 99.9's coverage area (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WCHD&service=FM&status=L&hours=U).

It's not so out of the ordinary that an oldies format station would flip to Christmas music. Oldies 93.3 (owned by CC) out of Columbus is also doing Christmas music, but they are not competing against a sister station, rather a rival AC station owned by Saga (Sunny 94.7).

It is weird to me that CC Dayton is doing this, but I think they just want to take try getting the Christmas ratings boost on both WDSJ and WLQT.

 

[Donald_WBWH]

If both station's playlists are in the same order, then they should at least change that up.

 

[Lamont Lester]

Sounds like Greenville's Biggie FM is back to hit after hit of the classic kind today.

So I guess we can chalk that one up to a badly executed weekend stunt. Premium Choice is truly the discerning listener's friend.

Perhaps Donald was right though 106.5 in place of 94.5 was sure not gonna help me hear the holiday joy while I buy my gifts in Dayton's south suburbs.

And I was so looking forward to that format change come the new year too.

So nothing to read here. Carry on and "War is over over if you want it. War is over now... "

 

[xmusicmatt]

Sounds like Greenville's Biggie FM is back to hit after hit of the classic kind today.

So I guess we can chalk that one up to a badly executed weekend stunt. Premium Choice is truly the discerning listener's friend.

My guess wrong log loaded into automation if that's the case... Unless the imaging was specifically "106.5 Christmas-y"

 

[Donald_WBWH]

Could have been a log mistake, or they may be doing Christmas on weekends up until the holiday.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

I think they only do it on weekends, I remember that from a year or two ago. I think CC will keep BIG because it's doing the best that the frequency has seen. But I do agree, Premium Choice is a waste especially when CC is paying local PDs to run their stations.

 

[MTHBSTR]

Jammin do you see the paradox in your statement? You say that this is the best 106.5 has ever done, then you say Premium Choice is a waste. How is it a waste if it's performing so well?

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Because Premium Choice sounds like crap. It's the format. If it was programmed by a local PD, it would get the same ratings.

 

[MTHBSTR]

You say it's crap, but it gets great numbers. Hmmmmmm. I think they know what they're doing.

 

[partymarty]

hey guys... We are working our hardest to make great radio at BIG---what are your concerns?

 

[MTHBSTR]

I don't think he knows any different. That format can be programmed well or it can be programmed poorly. PC.sounds good to the Dayton audience, so they must think it's programmed well. If I recall Jammin isn't even in the Oldies demo.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Obviously MTH works for CC.

I'll never be a fan of radio being programmed out of LA when there's plenty of talent to do it here. I don't care how good it's programmed. Yeah I get that's the way radio is these days, but why in the hell does CC have you there, Steven Lewis, Dent and all of those other talented guys if they're just putting PC on?

 

[Limp73]

How I miss Stan Coning's homemade automation.

Not only his homebrew automation but Stanley himself. I met him in 1981 at his little AM station at Glenwood just one month before he hit the airwaves. The WCTM programming unit (using a "pegboard" with actual pegs) he bought off of WPTW (which switched to a Gates "thumbwheel" programmer)...which interfaced with a network of A/B switches in the equipment rack.

The big Ampex reel to reels look similar to the ones used at WDRK. He was the only one who knew how to program his automation. No one else did.

The last time I talked to him was Memorial Day weekend 2010 when he told me that the old FM tower was made from the three shorter towers used to block WLW's signal from going into Canada during the Crosley era..He was a great 'ol dude...and miss him. I always prayed for him and his station. I hung up a rosary on one of the front doors to his vintage Collins transmitter.

His grave (next to his wife Helen) is located at Sugar Grove Cemetery just a mile north of West Alexandria.

 

[zburns]

I cannot disagree about the disappointment of the cuts Clear Channel has made due to it's financial situation. But they are doing what they must to save the company. Will it work, the jury is still out and there a lot of if's.
But if I were an owner, I would do something similar as Premium Choice to save the almighty dollar. Maybe not 24/7 but potentially 50/50.
It is what it is and so far listeners have not revolted. But then again if left with no choice, do they know better? Their own music habits back up the changes made.
Time will tell if this new radio revolution is to become the norm or another fad. I think once smaller owner operators find a niche to carve and if it is successful others will follow. But we will see.