Wilmington Morning Shows

[WTUX]

Due to the fact the morning show crew I normally listen to are on vacation this week, I have been sampling WSTW and WJBR. I really can't stand the music on either station, but WSTW's music is a bit easier for me to handle.

Now to the hosts. I worked with Dana years ago and really like him as a person. But the morning show just seems to drag. The WDEL news breaks are more up beat than the rest of the show! Over to WJBR, I liked Jill when she was with Johnny B, but she and Michael just grate me. But overall, the morning show on the market's AC is more upbeat than the show on our CHR.

Could it be that Dana is just too nice a guy to do morning drive?

 

[MikefromDelaware]

For me, neither WJBR or WSTW offer music I like so I rarely tune in. WDEL and WILM are my morning shows. WDEL has the sharpest presentation that tends to be more rapid fire with a bit of hype. The only real problem for me is that they blow through the weather or promo it rather than giving the actual forecast. They seem to forget folks are in a rush in the morning and not just sitting there listening to the radio, but have it on as they move their house getting ready for work. They make it too difficult to catch today's forecast.

WILM's presentation is slower paced and with no hype. Some might say its bland, but you can catch things there without having to sit and focus on every word, as is the case with the weather. They give a capsule forecast for the day that basically might say, it's going to be sunny and hot today with a high in the 90's. Short, but gives enough info so you can plan your day weather wise. The more detailed forecast is at :15 and :42. Not splashy, no hype, no non-sense, just the facts. So I listen to WILM first in the morning, then listen to Morning Edition from NPR on WHYY-FM, then later in the day, will see what Al is discussing on WDEL, or if in mood for music, might tune into 107.7 WRTI's Wilmington translator.

 

[QzarDE]

IMO, the trouble with the WSTW morning show isn't Dana's fault. I just sense no chemistry with Dana and Nancy whatsoever. When Dana would fill in for Johnny B, there was, at least, some more upbeat conversations. It's not that the two of them aren't trying to make some on-air chemistry..it just doesn't seem to be happening.

I'm still a bit surprised that they didn't give Cristin Daly a shot at the morning show. They had her filling in for Jill, and even some mornings, sitting alongside her, seemingly grooming her for the position..and they take Nancy J. off WXCY? I dunno, it just doesn't make sense.

WTUX, I agree completely about JBR. Jill, although very sweet as a person, never "did it" for me with her on air work, but she and Michael annoy the heck out of me. I can't place my finger on it, but I can't get through a minute or two without changing the channel.

 

[BlueHen]

WTUX, I agree completely about JBR. Jill, although very sweet as a person, never "did it" for me with her on air work, but she and Michael annoy the heck out of me. I can't place my finger on it, but I can't get through a minute or two without changing the channel.

I actually liked her with Johnny B on WSTW, so I looked forward to her move to WJBR, and possibly finding a new favorite morning show where I could just "set it and forget it" in the car. But it didn't take long for me to go back to the seek & scan button.

The impression I get is that there's no denying it's "their" show. It seems too scripted and rehearsed and I feel like I'm intruding on their conversation. The topics are chosen in advance (which is understandable) but they lack spontaneity, with the listener call-ins sounding forced, as though they have to do them. As a team they almost come across as a Howard Stern/Robin Quivers combo (without the raunch) - the star and supporting cast to provide the laughs. I'm sure they put a lot of forethought into the show, so it's hard to criticize, but there's no compelling reason for me to make it my station of choice. It's just one more of what's already out there... jokes in the morning and water cooler gossip for the masses.

 

[radioguruusa]

Now this may sound stupid, But i travel from Milford to Willmington for work & i get a chance to listen to WSTW.

Why is it that and this is from my point of view Eagle 97.7 (which is the sister station to Wstw) there morning show with Petch and Paula is really good, Fantastic on-air chemistry you feel like you are sitting in a room with them, Lots of fun very topical slightly edgy but for me the thing i really like is the fact that i feel i really know these guys. Sadly when i lose the signal i tune to Wstw and there morning show seems really dull, Feels like nothing is there if that makes sense

How come eagle 97.7 which is the smaller station have a morning show that puts there big sister in the dark? I agree with the other posts, sounds like they are trying to hard & not making it.

As a big market station doesn't it make sense to have the best talent on your station as the competition is so much greater, To me it should be the other way round Eagle's morning show on Wstw and Dana and Nancy on eagle.

I'm not people bashing here, Just my 2 cents as im slightly puzzled by this, Im sure Petch and Paula would kill the competition in Willmington

Has anybody else caught eagle's morning show, Do you think its more entertaining than Wstw's or do you think Wstw is better

 

[MikefromDelaware]

If the Milford station's show is that good maybe Delmarva should consider simulcasting the Eagle morning show on WSTW that way it could be heard statewide. Sort of what Clear Channel Delaware did with their Delaware Morning Report which airs on both WILM and WDOV.

 

[QzarDE]

Personally, I love the idea of simulcasting the Eagle morning show on WSTW. Petch was saddled with a less experienced partner before, and now with Paula, I really think they have good chemistry.

Heck, the Eagle staff won't like this, but I'd consider making Eagle and WSTW one station, and have them serve the entire region. Take the best from both, have them kill the rest of the competition. It'll NEVER happen, but creating one big network for Delaware could be a great cost-cutting measure, while strengthening the on-air programming.

 

[radioguruusa]

Yeah, That would be an awesome idea but it would never happen, Would make my ride to work better though.
I wonder why they haven't thought about a move up north for Petch and Paula? Do you think it wouldnt be a good move? Personally i would love it.

 

[Delawhere]

Yeah, That would be an awesome idea but it would never happen, Would make my ride to work better though.
I wonder why they haven't thought about a move up north for Petch and Paula? Do you think it wouldnt be a good move? Personally i would love it.

radioguruusa, AKA Petch: Stop this nonsense. The ridiculous self-promotion is making me cringe and start to feel sorry for you. If they had wanted you in Wilmington, they would have pulled you up there.

Do you really believe The Powers That Be peruse these boards before they make their programming and personnel decisions? We are a bunch of radio geeks who pick apart the business of radio, not people who will take to the streets carrying signs demanding Petch and Paula be brought to town.

You are doing a good job. Keep it up. Expend your energy on other pursuits, because this is a radio message board, not the real world.

I love how optimistic and wide-eyed you Brits are, though. Your charming naievete would be crushed like a delicate butterfly the minute you set foot in Delmarva North.

 

[radioguruusa]

Ha thats funny.
I'm sure if i was Petch Or Paula (Which by the way im neither) i would not waste my time on a radio forum trying to self promote, I like others was just airing my voice.
I am a big fan of Eagle 97.7 and i was just saying my piece, Sorry if i have offended anyone on here.
And even myself being a radio geek knows that the powers that be don't take what other geeks say on here as anything but gossip.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

You might get some reaction from someone who works at a station or even someone in management if you say something extremely negative about their specific station (especially if they feel you've not stated the situation fairly) as some of them do read these posts (especially about their own station or cluster of stations as in a CC or Delmarva, etc), but they generally do not reply or participate.

My guess is, its like anything else. Do football teams listen closely to sports talk and take real serious what the callers are saying about their team? Probably not as they see those folks as "arm chair experts". The radio folks generally see us radio geeks also as "arm chair experts". The one difference is many of us have worked in radio whereas most folks calling into a sports talk show have never played in the NFL. Just like with sports, everyone has an opinion, idea, or way to improve the team, or in our case a radio station. They probably do get tired of being seconded guessed and criticized for what their station is doing. It all gets back to the thing President Lincoln once said, you can please some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all the time.

Bottom line is, their station is in business to make money just as any business is. So even though it torques my jaws that WOGL plays the same 150 songs over and over, they are a top rated station in their primary market of Philly. If I were an owner or stock holder I'd say good job. More often than not, these people, who are running stations or clusters are making decisions based on what they believe will sell rather than what they'd really like to hear their station doing. So my guess is they can get tired of hearing our complaints as they are just doing their job. It's far easier to offer opinions when your paycheck isn't riding on the line.

I'm sure that Petch and Paula would love the opportunity to simulcast their show on WSTW, or move their show from Eagle (small market station) to WSTW (medium market station that rim shots into Philly). Either scenario is a win/win for them. Apparantly, the management of either Delmarva or WSTW doesn't want to make either of those changes at this time, but who knows 6 months to a year from now......Just maybe you've planted the seeds of an idea that in time will germinate and some exeuctive will make a decision to make that move. You never know, if when those guys read these radio boards if they do pick up an idea here and there.

A number of us some time back did discuss the idea of CC Delaware switching 94.7 back to country WDSD and put WRDX on 92.9. Now I'm not claiming CC got the idea from all of us here, but you never know, but sometime later they did exactly as many of us had suggested. The ratings so far have worked out well for WDSD at 94.7 as Wilmington now has back a real solid signal for country. WXCY is a good station, but their signal isn't as strong as WDSD's is now at 94.7. I'm sure that CC Delaware management would say that they got the idea on their own, and they probably did, but then again.....