Today, WILM switched from CBS radio news to FOX radio news. Now both WILM and WDOV will be airing the same network newscasts, which will make doing the simulcasted "Delaware This Morning" newscasts a bit easier.
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WILM drops CBS Radio and becomes a FOX Radio affiliate
- Thread starter MikefromDelaware
- Start date
O
odomski
Guest
It's a stupid decision to get rid of CBS Radio...an institution on WILM for many years. But it's CC we're talking about here. Who said they make smart decisions?
I'm not really familiar with the Fox News Radio top-of-the-hour newscasts. Are they six minutes long, just like the CBS newscasts (four minutes of news, two minutes of commercial spots)? Who distributes the Fox News Radio (the syndicator)?
I'm not really familiar with the Fox News Radio top-of-the-hour newscasts. Are they six minutes long, just like the CBS newscasts (four minutes of news, two minutes of commercial spots)? Who distributes the Fox News Radio (the syndicator)?
W
WTUX
Guest
A few years ago, I would have called this a bad move. CBS had the image.
But now, the Fox brand is at the top of the heap for news. CBS is the old folks network, with anchors like the now retired Rather (in disgrace), Wallace and others who were in their prime two generations ago.
A problem is that being a respected tv brand does not always translate well on radio. CNN radio news gave it a try. Running their Headline news on radio was used in several markets; it did not work (anchors referencing a video shot did not help). The 5-minute top of the hour and short form bottom of the hour cast, even when CNN was at the top, was not sellable at the local level. Promoting yourself as a CNN station did not draw more listeners.
The Fox brand certainly ties better with the Rush thing, but that is not a ratings generator in Delaware. I think this is a good move image wise, but it is gong to take a lot more to turn the WILM situation around.
As a side note, is this part of the package with the Fox Sports deal on WWTX?
But now, the Fox brand is at the top of the heap for news. CBS is the old folks network, with anchors like the now retired Rather (in disgrace), Wallace and others who were in their prime two generations ago.
A problem is that being a respected tv brand does not always translate well on radio. CNN radio news gave it a try. Running their Headline news on radio was used in several markets; it did not work (anchors referencing a video shot did not help). The 5-minute top of the hour and short form bottom of the hour cast, even when CNN was at the top, was not sellable at the local level. Promoting yourself as a CNN station did not draw more listeners.
The Fox brand certainly ties better with the Rush thing, but that is not a ratings generator in Delaware. I think this is a good move image wise, but it is gong to take a lot more to turn the WILM situation around.
As a side note, is this part of the package with the Fox Sports deal on WWTX?
Probably the primary reason why they made the switch is because FOX is distributed through Premiere Radio Networks (owned by CC). CBS is distributed through Westwood One.
Clear Channel several years ago made the decision to use primarily their own services on their own stations and thus the contract must have ran out recently.
Clear Channel several years ago made the decision to use primarily their own services on their own stations and thus the contract must have ran out recently.
650AM said:
FOX is Glossy, yes. Edgy, yes. Aggressive? I disagree on that point. CBS Radio News has a real staff of national reporters (Lou Miliano, for example) and makes a serious effort to actually gather and produce news that isn't already all over the wires. Unfortunately, the network remains entrenched in a 1970s style that it is unable to escape. The old heritage full-service stations that have been affiliates for decades don't want it to change -- to the detriment of many other stations who want it to get hip with its presentation. The WILM decision is a real shame; a classic choice of style over substance. Understandable, and a wise business decision. But unfortunate, nonetheless.
OldNumber7 said:
In the past 3 years CC's Wilmington AM radio operation has
1) lost Gary Schofield
2) lost standards
3) lost Loudell's Noon News Hour for Rush
4) lost Loudell
5) lost Sean Green
6) lost CBS
Is WILM's traffic sounder next?
This is no longer your mother's 1290 am or your father's 1450 am. :'(
ixnay
P.S. If only a) I were a true computer geek and b) Kim Komando were single...
ixnay said:
What does she see in the Nearly Bald One anyway? ;D
Oh yeah, he owns Westar (her syndication company).
Actually I think they both own Westar.
C
chuckydoll
Guest
WILM drops CBS for Fox News
Clear Channel has ordered all its N/T stations to run Fox News. That mandate comes from CC corporate in San Antonio.
Fox News is pro-Bush; CC is a major supporter of Bush. From what I understand, CC has executives who think ABC News and CBS News are too liberal.
WTUX said:
Clear Channel has ordered all its N/T stations to run Fox News. That mandate comes from CC corporate in San Antonio.
Fox News is pro-Bush; CC is a major supporter of Bush. From what I understand, CC has executives who think ABC News and CBS News are too liberal.
F
fred flintstone
Guest
Chucky, with all due respect, you don't know what the ____ you're talking about.
Clear Channel's agreement with Fox calls for 100 stations to take Fox News Radio. This does include some of their top news-talk stations but Clear Channel continues to take news from ABC, CNN and CBS - as well as their own news service. It's about money. And demographics, since CBS, in particular, skews old.
And lest we forget, Clear Channel is the largest single operator of progressive talk stations.
Clear Channel's agreement with Fox calls for 100 stations to take Fox News Radio. This does include some of their top news-talk stations but Clear Channel continues to take news from ABC, CNN and CBS - as well as their own news service. It's about money. And demographics, since CBS, in particular, skews old.
And lest we forget, Clear Channel is the largest single operator of progressive talk stations.
Premiere produces and distributes the FOX News updates. They have a good relationship, seeing as they also distribute FOX Sports Radio.
CC wanted to take news in-house, and FOX News sounds better than "Premiere Network News" or "Clear Channel News". My local CC conservotalk station (WISN in Milwaukee) seems to air local news (OK, produced 400 miles away in Cleveland) with FOX actualities.
In markets where CC owns several stations (such as Cincinnati), the other stations pick up the regular news nets such as ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, etc. CC's other station in Milwaukee, WOKY, picked up CBS when rival talker WTMJ dropped that for WISN's discarded ABC (the best of the lot, IMO).
CC wanted to take news in-house, and FOX News sounds better than "Premiere Network News" or "Clear Channel News". My local CC conservotalk station (WISN in Milwaukee) seems to air local news (OK, produced 400 miles away in Cleveland) with FOX actualities.
In markets where CC owns several stations (such as Cincinnati), the other stations pick up the regular news nets such as ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, etc. CC's other station in Milwaukee, WOKY, picked up CBS when rival talker WTMJ dropped that for WISN's discarded ABC (the best of the lot, IMO).
I've been listening to Fox radio news since WILM made the switch and frankly don't see a problem with their news coverage. The style and pace of their newscast is obviously geared to the younger listener which at first I wasn't used to, but now I like. It isn't so stodgy. I've heard negative news stories about the Bush Administration on their hourly newscasts. The difference I hear is that Fox airs both positive and negative news about Bush where as CBS seemed to focus more on the negative. So just maybe Fox radio news IS more fair and balanced.
F
fred flintstone
Guest
MikefromDelaware said:
Oh, oh! You may have to turn in your credentials as an "independent."
News is fair and balanced as long as it supports or confirms what you already think.
As I said, Fox covered both positive and negative stories about the Bush Administration, just as NPR does. My independent credentials are still intact. I would admit though that Fox leans conservative just as NPR leans liberal, but both seem to offer a more pro and con offering that seems more balanced where as CBS seemed to devote far more time in the negative and little if any in the positive where Bush was concerned. That is the difference I'm hearing. So using that criterior I'd still have to say that Fox radio news is more fair and balanced than CBS radio news. I'd also have to say that NPR radio news is more fair and balanced than CBS.
F
fred flintstone
Guest
Mike, you seem to believe that truth lies midway between two opposing viewpoints.
Some people's idea of objectivity is if somebody says the world is round, go out and find somebody to say the world is flat. (Before you say that's ridiculous, look at how radio handles evolution-creationism.)
I avoid CBS Radio but when circumstances compelled me to hear it: (1) I also considered it stodgy (your grandmother's newscast - something that would fit the old Standards 1290); (2) I found it very pro-administration. Their pro-administration stand was typified by their use of the honorific for the president - and no one else. (This is in marked contrast to the authoritative AP style which omits the honorific and the New York Times and BBC which use it for everbody.) CBS Radio kept very close to the administration spin on the so-called "war on terror." Possibly, CBS sounds more negative to the Bush administration now because that is the nature of current events. Both the administration and its war are losing public approval. When news is bad (at least bad for the administration), do you really want a network newcast to seek - or puff - some favorable nugget in pursuit of so-called balance?
Some people's idea of objectivity is if somebody says the world is round, go out and find somebody to say the world is flat. (Before you say that's ridiculous, look at how radio handles evolution-creationism.)
I avoid CBS Radio but when circumstances compelled me to hear it: (1) I also considered it stodgy (your grandmother's newscast - something that would fit the old Standards 1290); (2) I found it very pro-administration. Their pro-administration stand was typified by their use of the honorific for the president - and no one else. (This is in marked contrast to the authoritative AP style which omits the honorific and the New York Times and BBC which use it for everbody.) CBS Radio kept very close to the administration spin on the so-called "war on terror." Possibly, CBS sounds more negative to the Bush administration now because that is the nature of current events. Both the administration and its war are losing public approval. When news is bad (at least bad for the administration), do you really want a network newcast to seek - or puff - some favorable nugget in pursuit of so-called balance?
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