Re: AM Radio
We just don't see it the same way. I believe Wilmington has two solid AM radio operations WDEL and WILM. If WAMS plays it's cards right, it too could become a solid AM radio operation here also. AM1290 has a great signal, but needs a realistic product. You say content is important rather than the distribution technology. Having only a few high powered AM stations around wouldn't improve the content as the big AM's like Philly's 50,000w WPHT airs mostly satellite shows with only a some local content, yet you complain that that's what the small 1000w and smaller 250w stations do. By some of your comments, 1210 is acting like small time flea powered 250w 1260 WAMS. Yet based on what you said, that's ok for 1210 WPHT, but not ok for 1260 WAMS.
My point is, each of these radio stations are businesses. They each have their own product(whether or not we think it's worthy to be on the air, one man's music is another's noise). They stay in business by selling spots, or brokered showes, etc. If they are able to meet their payroll, pay their taxes, and make a profit that makes them happy, why should any of us complain? That is market driven supply side economics that the conservatives love to espouse. There are plenty of FM stations that cater to the kids. The kids won't listen to AM anyhow, so if the AM stations can find a niche that pays their bills by catering to the older ears, minority ears, ethnic ears, religious ears, the forgotten ears, etc, so what.
AM radio has evolved since it's start 90 years ago. From local content of recorded music and live local musical talent, etc, to network radio with dramas, comdies, live music remotes, etc, and then when TV came along taking that market AM evolved again to local music which ushered in rock and roll. Then Talk radio, at first local, then Larry King, Jim Bohannan on the old Mutual network and later Rush Limbaugh on satellite created another evolution in AM radio. AM radio will continue to evolve, just as any business must do to stay in business. One of the oldest companies in the world is the DuPont Company. They too have evolved over the years, they started out making black gun powder, today they are a very diverse bio-chemical company. They changed and are still in business. If they had not changed, they wouldn't be here today. Western Union just announced that they are stopping their telegraph business and have other businesses they now do. That is AM radio. It too has changed greatly. As long as their is a market for it AM will survive in one form or another. It's listeners will change as they evolve obviously.
Someone is making money with these AM stations and the related satellite programming that many do air or these shows and stations would go bankrupt and would go off the air. The market will decide.
I still believe, especially in an market like Wilmington that doesn't have many of it's own FM's only 2 full powered stations WSTW and WJBR (WVUD, WXHL,and WMPH are all non-comms with limited signals) that AM still is viable here. Sure they may not make as much money as their FM cousin's, but if they fill a niche, the local advertisers will buy time. Restauarants, supermarkets, drugs stores, bakeries, etc, do advertise on Wilmington AM radio. I understand your point of view, I just don't agree with it.
> You have not been paying attention.
>
> I'm a realist. You are an optomist and often your optimism
> does not seem founded in other than wishful thinking or your
> own personal preferences.
>
> I admire good radio operations. I abhor bad radio. I want
> good radio to thrive and I want bad radio to go away. The
> issue for me is not whether I like a format; it's whether
> the format is done well.
>
> I also consider any audio programming to be radio. FM.
> Internet. Satellite. AM is an obsolete technology. It had
> a great run but 90 years is a long time. What's important is
> the content, not the distribution technology. Newspapers
> use off-set rather than hot-type presses; they are still
> newspapers.
>
> A big part of AM radio's problem is all the small sticks
> that do nothing but cause interference. They can't compete.
> They can't thrive. The garden must be weeded. Can AM
> survive. Only by taking advantage of what is unique to the
> technology - a high powered station can be heard over the
> horizon. A small number of high-powered stations can
> thrive; a large number of low power stations can not.
>
> Wilmington has one solid AM radio operation (although not as
> solid as it was), which I have praised and which you
> routinely dismiss. You say these are matters of personal
> preference. That's fine for listeners, but you say you work
> in radio and radio does have critical and objective
> standards for (to use a phrase from someone you don't like)
> "broadcast excellence." Again, I admire good radio; maybe
> you have a fondness for underdogs.
>
> >
> > I think the WILM/WDOV similcast is a good idea and
> hopefully
> > will be a ratings getter and a spot getter for both
> > stations. It does seem that WILM's spot load has been
> > increasing, which is a good thing as that will improve the
>
> > bottom line.
> >
>
> You keep saying it's a good idea. Why?
>
> Any increase in WILM's spot load is because advertisers who
> buy time on Clear Channel's FM stations can get bonus spots
> on WILM, and because Clear Channel will negotiate rates with
> advertisers (unlike the Hawkins' who drove away potential
> advertisers by insisting on full card rates). Kent County
> is not in the Wilmington MSA market. Any cumulative gain in
> audience with a simulcast will not be captured in the
> Arbitron numbers ad agencies see. And a local Wilmington
> advertiser is not likely to be interested in having Dover
> listeners hear his spots - or to want to pay extra for those
> Dover listeners (and the other way around). I can also
> envision Wilmington listeners tuning away from the increased
> Dover local news. (I can hear it now: "Only one Wilmington
> radio station brings you Wilmington's news - just for
> Wilmington.")
>
> I notice when you post about WAMS you talk about your
> enjoyment of it. (That's fine but business realities are
> another matter.) When you talk about WILM you use phrases
> like "good idea." One is having dessert. The other is
> eating your vegetables. People say they want Mikey D's to
> have a healthy menu and they order the Super-Size fries.
> People are impressed - even proud - that this little
> hometown radio station has all this news and wins awards and
> calls India. They even forgive a somewhat amateurish
> product and sloppy production. But all that good will is
> not reflected in audience or revenue figures.
>
