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WILM LETS GO OF MARK FOWSER

M

Mattjon

Clear Channel is at it again. The PD at WILM, Mark Fowser is let go. It is now Just Ted Efaw, Val Mack and John Watson. If you ask me WILM should just shut the door. UNREAL!!!!! Clear Channel is killing this industry.
 
Mark is a good reporter and a decent person to work for, maybe he too will end up at WDEL. I believe, Allen Kracow (sp) and Nancy Batesta (sp) Lopez are still at WILM. So as the destruction of Delaware's former News Radio leader continues, who of the few left gets to be PD? Let's face it, WDEL's ratings have been growing and WILM's since the CC takeover have been dropping. Sure WILM gets better numbers during Rush, but what about the rest of their broadcast day. It seems WDEL is, or maybe I should say has won the spot of now being Delaware's radio source for local news and information. So it now wouldn't surprise me that some day WILM and WDOV will be totally audiomated from the bird running all Premiere Radio programming, as WWTX does with Fox Sports/Premiere's Jim Rome. Delaware doesn't have that many stations and its a real tragedy to have three stations become simply automated robotic stations with no local content, other than maybe Wilmington Blue Rocks and U of D sports, sort of what Channel 61 ( ION TV became).
 
As a former WILM employee, I am sorry to see what a complete shell the station has become. We all thought it was not a great place to work for 20+ years ago (and it wasn't), but at least we can now thank Mrs. Hawkins & son for sticking with it as long as they did.

While we can give praise to WDEL for carrying the local news torch, their weekend and late nite automation system really leaves something to be desired. I was listening the the CBS World News Roundup early one weekend morning recently and kept hearing these werid "BONK" sounds throughougt the broadcast. Now, what was that sound and why was it there? No one "minding the store," obviously.
 
Live and local talk radio, WGMD Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 92.7 Local host 5:30am-12noon and 3pm to 10pm weekdays, as well as most of Saturday and Sunday including a local weekend Spanish language program. If it can be done by a company with only one station, why can't it be don't by Clear Channel? CC has too many stations, and wants more. Congress got the whole thing started in 1996, that Mike Castle and Joe Biden as well as the other members.
 
WGMD found its niche and is doing well. Thankfully for WGMD, its owner is happy with the profits he/she is making doing a live and local format in Lower Delaware. Delmarva (WDEL's owners) also seem to be doing quite well with their live and local format in the Wilmington Metro Market, so it can work in both small and medium sized markets.

Unfortunately, CC makes its money by selling national spots on their Premiere Radio Network shows (Rush, Hannity, Jim Rome, for a while longer Dr. Laura, Big D and Bubba, etc, etc). Of course the more markets those programs clear, means the more CC (Premiere) can charge to air those national spots. This is a different type of marketing strategy that makes the corporate offices money, but doesn't do much for the local radio business as witnessed by WILM's lack of local spots and the continuing shrinking of their local employee base.

Radio, as with all other parts of industry have the mind set to make the most possible money, even if it means having less employees (employees are a companies largest expense). The Radio business: goes automated computer, satellite syndicated programming, minimum to no local content, voice tracking, etc. Industry: closes American plants, moves those jobs to Mexico, Vietnam, China, India, etc, where they can get away with paying a Chinese worker 40 cents/hr (saw this on PBS Frontline), no pollution laws so a polluting factory is far cheaper to run than one in America where we do have environmental laws, etc. That is the reality of our world today. It's not a pretty picture for American employees of radio or industry, but the excessive greed of these corporations is one of the root causes for what's happening.

I wonder how long it will be before CC and CBS radio, etc, gets the idea that they could produce their programs from a studio in India and pay those on air folks 40 cents/hr as many telemarking, customer service centers have been relocated with India people answering the phone and saying in a heavily accented English, Hi ! This is Robert. I always want to say back to them, yea sure and my name is Harish. So who knows, maybe the next big thing in radio (both talk and music) will be the Indian version of Rush. I can hear it now, Hi this is Ramesh Patel Show, your conservative guiding light for US. We go to phones shortly, but let's listen to sound bytes first, etc, etc.
 
Mattjon said:
Clear Channel is at it again. The PD at WILM, Mark Fowser is let go. It is now Just Ted Efaw, Val Mack and John Watson. If you ask me WILM should just shut the door. UNREAL!!!!! Clear Channel is killing this industry.
Click to expand...

Is this for sure? FWIW, Fowser's bio and blog are still up on the station website.
 
He did get let go. Just listen in the morning's. I do not know why his profile is still up, but people over at clear channel have confirmed this. WDEL IS SO MUCH BETTER ANYWAY. THE WEBSITE IS AWESOME, AND THEY SOUND SO MUCH BETTER. The only thing WILM has going for them is John Watson!!!
 
Just to clear this up. He's gone.

Clear Channel - at least in Delaware - is notoriously slow at posting changes on its websites.
 
Just heard Mike Sommers on WILM filling in for John Watson. For those who don't know, Mike was the former PD/OM for Delmarva Broadcasting, first at WSTW and later at Eagle 97 and Cool. Mike always got great ratings as PD. Could be that Clear Channel will use him at WDSD as they become more live and local in the weeks to come.
 
I should have also noted that Mike spent a couple of years in Philadelphia programming Ben FM after he left Milford. He could also be an asset at CC with their Tom FM in Dover.
 
Bruce Elliott, weekend talk show host (Sat. 5:30am-9:00am) on WBAL in Baltimore is hosting John Watson's show today and tomorrow on WILM. WBAL was once a wonderful heritage "live and local " radio station in the "Charm City" and today , it is just a shadow of its former self. They are syndicated all weekend and at nights. They could sure take some lessons on how to do local radio from WDEL in Wilmington and WTOP in Washington. WDEL has more on air staffers than BAL and WTOP is the best news station in the land with a huge local staff. WTOP's owner (Bonneville-Church of the Latter Day Saints) is the best group owner in the USA.
 
Heard Bruce doing Watson's show. Great show today. He'll be filling in tomorrow too. He's as good as Ted Efaw. Bruce is a conservative whereas Ted is a liberal. WBAL and WDEL are similar. Both are live & local weekdays and Syndicated talk at night/weekends and sports (Phils on WDEL & Orioles on WBAL).
 
WDSD hired back Sky Phillips and he is leading the move of WDSD to the New Castle area studios. The same location when they had that Rock format of 94.7. Pulling WDSD off 94.7 had to be the biggest mistake in Delaware radio, it allowed WXCY to become a real player in the market.
 
Am I reading what you said correctly that WDSD is moving to the New Castle studios and WRDX is moving to the Dover studios ? Will WDSD drop Big D and Bubba for a live and local AM Drive show?
 
From what I have heard is that WDSD IS DROPPING BIG D & Bubba and Sky is going to do mornings. They are now hiring a MD and afternoon drive personality.
 
If jaydog and 3kza are correct, then it sounds like WDSD is going try to retake New Castle County making WDSD their Country Music station. It will be interesting to watch and listen. Will CC Delaware pony up some substantial money for bill board advertising to let WXCY listeners know that the real Delaware Country is Back in town literally, etc. Of course it will be interesting to see what WXCY will do to counter WDSD's moves as I'm sure Delmarva isn't going to just sit back and allow WDSD to take that #3 spot in the Wilmington 12+ ratings away from them. Who'd have thought that country would be that popular in the Wilmington metro that two stations would be battling it out for the #3 overall ratings spot.

If WDSD plays their cards right, they should be able to unseat WXCY as WDSD does have the far stronger signal in New Castle County. With having their studios back in New Castle County rather than Dover and having top talent live and local, look for many live remotes, etc, they'll better be able to be the local Country station. So the battle of the country stations is about to begin, stay tuned.
 
When WDSD moved their country music format to the 92.9 FM frequency, the Rock format that they put on 94.7 did relatively well. As I recall ,they may have had a 5 share. And the country format on the small stick covered Dover and Smyrna and was billing close to 4 million dollars. They should have never put the country back on the big stick. Today, (and I realize that the radio industry is in a depression) they are lucky to be billing just over 3 million on the big stick. If they couldn't sell the rock demo on 94.7 FM, they should have instead, done research, see what might sell on a 50,000 watt radio station, and run with it. Especailly a signal that covers the entire state of Delaware. Perhaps a classic hits format like the two CBS o & o's in Philly (WOGL) and New York (WCBS). With the personal people meter coming to Delaware, this format always scores well in the ratings. Then your hire some personality jocks (Mitch Hill and Keven Fennessy might be avialalbe) try and get the WAMS call letters, some jingles, a little reverb on the mic channel, you get the picture; it might be a hit. Or, if you are really adventureous, TALK on the FM big stick, similar to the format of NJ 101.5 FM; the most successful station in the Garden State. Not Philadelphia not Baltimore/Washington , were DELAWARE 94.7 FM. Unfortunately, Clear Channel has some cash flow problems, and none of what I suggest will ever happen. So much in fact, they own the billboard company, and don't even let their own radio group use the signs that the billboard sellers can't sell. Delmarva however, has deep pockets, no debt, and some local broadcasters who know what they are doing. Can you say WSTW ? Do good, be well and happy !
 
Having worked for/with Mark for several years, I echo the sentiments that he is a good guy to work for and seemed a bit worn down once Clear Channel took over. It didn't seem like CC appreciated WILM at all, even though it was the award winning jewel in the crown when they wanted to package commercial time with the other stations.

I hope Mark bounces back big time and enjoys success soon
 
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