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What's up at WAYZ
- Thread starter RockofHBG
- Start date
Gone! Without a trace! Will someone explain to me how a station with a monster grandfathered signal pumping out 75 thousand watts ERP and a number one rating can't seem to make it even in this current economic climate. Out of all the stations in the four state region....these guys should be in the BEST shape. It could be just another way to get the older guys out. They have a full stable of young part timers who are probably eager to go full time...for alot less money. In larger markets, the old vets can still thrive in this format. In CHR...John Garabidian, host of "Open House Party" has got to be about 70....and still going strong. of couse John surrounds himself with younger people and keeps up with current music and trends....kind of like the Dick Clark business model.
I never could understand where this 75KW ERP stuff comes from. They are indeed a grandfathered allocation but it is 8.3 KW ERP facility at 1378 HAAT. ERP is calculated by transmitter power output, minus feedline attenuation, times antenna gain, height is not part of the equation. In zone 1, where WAYZ is located, Class B FM's are limited to 50 KW at 150 meters HAAT, when the HAAT is increased the ERP is derated. If they were licensed under the current allocation rules the ERP would be around 6KW at their HAAT. They do have great coverage but in reality they are only about 1.5 db more than a full class B. (50KW@500 feet)
Here's the scoop on Bob Steele: he apparently got another job, because he was unhappy about being demoted and quit on zero notice last Tuesday November 9th. Now there's rumor of splitting up Tiny and Whiny to fill the void. Management not real happy with them. Not sure who stays in mornings and who goes to afternoons.
So, Steele has left the building? Well, people leave jobs all the time--sometimes their choice, sometimes the employer's choice. And like all the rest of these situations, only they will ever know the real story.
But whoever was floating the notion that having trouble with jocks somehow means that WAYZ "can't seem to make it" is dreaming. As has been the case for the past 25 years or so, they still generate more revenue than every other operator in the market by a long shot. It's a damn money machine. John's no picnic, but he knows how to make money.
As far as the 75kw thing goes, this is not a reference to ERP but instead an estimate of "equivalency" at the standard height above average terrain (HAAT) for a Class B. Basically it means that if WAYZ's antenna was at 500 feet AAT instead of 1378' it would need to run 75kw ERP to generate the same coverage. Yeah, it's basically BS, but it's the same BS John Staub used to toss around back in WWMD days--and the same BS they've preached down at WINC for 50+ years. Good stick, but it ain't a Class C.
But whoever was floating the notion that having trouble with jocks somehow means that WAYZ "can't seem to make it" is dreaming. As has been the case for the past 25 years or so, they still generate more revenue than every other operator in the market by a long shot. It's a damn money machine. John's no picnic, but he knows how to make money.
As far as the 75kw thing goes, this is not a reference to ERP but instead an estimate of "equivalency" at the standard height above average terrain (HAAT) for a Class B. Basically it means that if WAYZ's antenna was at 500 feet AAT instead of 1378' it would need to run 75kw ERP to generate the same coverage. Yeah, it's basically BS, but it's the same BS John Staub used to toss around back in WWMD days--and the same BS they've preached down at WINC for 50+ years. Good stick, but it ain't a Class C.
I didn't say that WAYZ wasn't making it. I was just trying to point out that they should be in the BEST position in the market. While realizng the economic reality of today, I still question why WAYZ does things the way they do. Why is the afternoon shift 3-10pm? Is there any syndication available. Perhaps Whitney Allen or Lia could fill 7-midnight with Blair Garner in overnights. A good PM drive guy who could also serve as PD in the 3-7 slot, rather than having the guy from their sister FM active rocker do double duty. Don't get me wrong....I like this station...but I feel it has alot of untapped potential.
John's no picnic, but he knows how to make money.
John used to know how to make money. His formula was simple: put a format on the air that would score top 3 persons 25-54 and then watch the money role in. Over time, he would not maintain the stations, and eventually blow them up and start over. Now, national money is a shadow of what it used to be. Because of John's reliance on national money, his local direct effort is and has always been a joke. They give the stations away!!That's because in the old days, local sales were the whipped cream on the sundae. National money was the ice cream. Yes, WAYZ has always been successful , but with that format and signal, if you don't get a 15 share 25-54, you're coasting. You have to be brain dead to be ranked #4 in that demo on that stick and format, but it happens with them periodically.
John finds no value in people. Ask anyone who has ever worked for him, with the exception of highly successful sales people who butter his bread, people are expendable like a warn out computer. With the heritage of a WAYZ, there's few real long term employees. No on air heritage except Tori who is a joke. John uses, then tosses employees or else people bail before they lose their sanity. John's only real asset today other than WAYZ's stick: no debt
bossjock 56 said:can't seem to make it
No disrespect, but that's precisely what you said.
And, hey, I don't argue that plenty of John's employees and ex-employees think he's an A-hole. But others--many longtimers in programming, sales and management--think he's alright, considering what a pain in the ass he is.
Regardless, it's not just the lack of debt that keeps him going. It's the #1 ratings and the two million-or-so in annual broadcast cash flow ("spending money")--and no debt--that keeps him going.
So 104.7 doesn't always dominate A25-54 in a condensed market with marginal in-tab? What a shocker. But toss 92.1 into the "country combo"--an intentional cannibalization successfully protecting The Mothership--and it's usually a sweep.
Besides, if you think you can whip them at their own game, take a shot. You've got the sticks--gang up on him and run him out of the format. We won't hold our breath, waiting for that to happen.
Like the guy or not, he's a winner at the radio game.
John has been around a long time, but money-wise he's been getting pummeled in both Hagerstown and Harrisonburg the last five years. But he's doing O.K.. he doesn't have a mortgage, at least not much of one, so he can coast. The problem for him now is there is not as much national money and he possesses a weak, revolving door sales staff, save for one. Used to be, he could whore out the local sales rates when national was his bread and butter. Now it's hard to go back to those same clients and get the rate you're worth.
Anu idea where Bob landed?RockofHBG said:Here's the scoop on Bob Steele: he apparently got another job, because he was unhappy about being demoted and quit on zero notice last Tuesday November 9th. .
RockofHBG said:he's doing O.K.
There's something highly amusing about a lifelong small-market jock critiquing a multi-millionaire.
While you're getting your butt out of bed every day at 4 AM to crank out a 5-figure living, his collective properties are chucking 4 or 5 million-a-year directly into his checkbook.
One of you spends his life giving orders and the other spends his life taking orders. One of you made great career decisions and the other didn't. If you're having trouble identifying yourself in this comparison...
But that's enough fun from this subject. Have a nice Thanksgiving!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Can't you feel the love! First of all....I will admit that I used the wrong wording by saying "can't make it". I will try to choose better wording in the future. I don't dispute that John is making money off his properties. Like jackandcoke...I know plenty of John's former employees. Some tell me horror stories, while others tell me that they could get along with him. I've worked for difficult people myself and managed to get along with them. It isn't John's fault or the fault of local management that the PM drive jock left without notice. That is something I don't believe in unless I was ordered to do something illegal. Here's my bottom line.....you don't have to spend a huge amount of money for quality control. In listening to American Country Countdown on Sunday mornings, I seem to always hear dead air following their re-join liner to go back into the show after a local commercial set. Not just a couple seconds here and there....but a good 30 seconds. This has been going on for a year or so. They need to clean this stuff up. The jocks are not bad. Most of them try hard and have the passion. Tiny and Katy do put alot into the morning show and seem to have the passion. They could go places in the future. Get a halfway decent jock for PM drive, clean some things up, and they're OK for a while. I would not recommend breaking up the morning show. Give them a chance...they do alot of interaction with the listeners. Do they still have a consultant? It was Joel Raab at one time....and before that Bill Hennes.
Cougar Michaels has been heard this week doing PM drive at WAYZ. Cougar is a market vet who spent several years on AM drive at 106-9 THE EAGLE. He also worked at WFRE and WGTY. It appears that his new shift is 3-7....with JD moving into nights.
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