> > An Infinity all-news station like WCBS, KNX, WBBM, etc.
>
> I agree, in our little fantasy world, an all-newser would be
> a nice addition, but the reality is that a market the size
> of Cleveland does not support an all-news operration. KQV
> Pittsburgh which barely flies above the ratings or billing
> radar is a rare exception. Part of the problem is that
> there is just not enough happening in Cleveland to generate
> the material or the interest for a 24/7 station. In markets
> like LA, NY, and Chicago, you need traffic reports at most
> hours (you barely need them in drive times in Cleveland)
> which drives audience to the station.
I don't disagree with you in some ways. Remember, this a bit of a fantasy, as explained by the original poster. As far as bearly needing traffic reports in drive time goes....sorry...don't agree....I've been stuck in many a traffic jam at 7:45 AM.
Next, because
> all-news chruns audience much quicker than talk, you have to
> have a huge cume to get you to the kinds of AQH numbers you
> need to survive. In Cleveland, you need shares in the 6's,
> 7's or above to make the big bucks... in New York or LA, a
> 4-share is considered a home run. Finally, the format is
> downright expensive to operate. Your upside potential in
> billing is in the $10-15Mil range in Cleveland....
> $50-$75Mil in New York. In NY you could afford to put $20M
> into expenses and still make a hefty profit. Have that same
> nut in Cleveland and we're talking bloodbath.
Again, you are probably right. But, sheesh, I'd settle for a network all-news
service (to manage cost) with a good local newscast twice an hour. There is virtually no news on any local commercial station which lasts more than a few minutes.
>
>
> > It is a shame that our only commercial "newsradio" station
>
> > is actually:
> >
> > a) Talk most of the time, and network talk yet from 9 to
> 3,
> > with a clown in afternoon drive who wouldn't know where to
>
> > find Iraq on a map.
>
> Reality check again.... while school's still out on
> Springer, network talk has done stellar numbers with Rush
> 12n-3pm for years. Why spend more on a local product for
> less ratings?
Talk and all-news are different formats. I'm not necessarilly asking WTAM to be this fantasy station, by the way.
As for that "clown" in the afternoon... he
> may not be able to find Iraq, but he manages to find a whole
> bunch of listeners every afternoon and that's all that
> really counts.
Not exactly.
I would agree with you in just about every other format. But with a station like WTAM, which is trying to promote a "news authority" image, having a dope like Triv attempting to do politcal analysis and discuss world events kills the station's attempt at overall news credibility. Again, we are not talking about someone who you simply disagree with. We are talking about a guy who literally does not know the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni, has mixed up Iran and Iraq, made reference to the President of France as "dat guy...you know...I can't tink of his name right now", and didn't know what the letters FEMA stood for! This is all on "Cleveland's News Radio". News radio. Yah, right.
>
>
> > c) Often allows substandard and/or inexperienced talent on
>
> > the air as news anchors. Some of these people seem to
> have
> > no idea what they are reading.
> > I couldn't imagine Carman Angelo appearing on a panel at
> > Tri-C discussing news events with legitimate reporters and
>
> > journalists.
>
> Reality again.... how many "legitimate reporters and
> journalists" do we have working in Cleveland.... and I'm
> including other radio stations, the TV stations, and that
> rag that passes for a morning paper???
Other radio stations? CC closed the city's only other radio newsrooms of any note (WGAR and WMJI). There are some actual news journalists on public WCPN and WKSU (like Viv Goodman who gave up trying to do actual news on commercial radio years ago) TV? Probably 5 good people in town. Print? I would love to hear Joe Frolik or a few of the other PD vets (not the puff writers) try radio reporting. The Free Times and Scene have some folks. Don't agree at all that there is not an adaquate journalistic pool in Cleveland. WTAM would rather promote the Metro Traffic girl. By the way, I am sure Carman Angelo is a nice guy. Yes, he reads well and has a fine voice. But, again, I doubt if he could
discuss local, regional, national and/or world events in a roundtable with real journalists.
>
> Having said all of that, here is my wish-list
> WINS -- NY. After almost 40 years, it's still true. Give
> them 20 minutes, they give you the world.
Ironic that you would point out WINS' success with recycling a 20-minute block three times an hour, yet you don't think that we could do that it Cleveland?
We can't come up with 20 minutes of local, regional, national and international?
But you are probably right about the expense and cume issues. Would probably be very possible in weekday drive-times, tho.
> KPLU -- non-com real jazz from Seattle
> KOST -- LA. If you're going to do soft AC.... do it right.
> WDRV -- Chicago. Great understated execution of an "Classic
> Hits" format... a station for guys that grew up listening to
> both AM Top 40 and FM "Progressive."
> KIIS LA -- CHR... done right.
> And if you had asked the question 3-4 months ago, I would
> have added WCBS-FM NY to that list.
> WKXW (New Jersey 101.5) Trenton -- A unique mix of oldies
> and talk targeted to the residents of New Jersey. Up
> against some hot competition from huge markets either side,
> this station has carved out a powerful niche.
>
I also agree that an Infinity owned news station would be quite an addition, seems like WTAM could use some competition. And an actual sports station would work as well. We have 3 major pro-teams, exciting local college football, and a rich high school football tradition.....and yet we don't have a full service sports station, go figure. <P ID="signature">______________