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WKMT 1220 am---Danny Fontana?

Yeah, he doesn't have a clue what he's doing with it.
Even when he gets it all sorted out, he's still at a loss
because he doesn't know how to manage his money.
He does a great job with financial minutes on WBT,
but that's about it.
Not opinion, closer to fact.
 
spindoctor1 said:
Yeah, he doesn't have a clue what he's doing with it.
Even when he gets it all sorted out, he's still at a loss
because he doesn't know how to manage his money.
He does a great job with financial minutes on WBT,
but that's about it.
Not opinion, closer to fact.
Click to expand...

That's both sad and funny at the same time! I hope he gets it together.
 
That IS funny. Ever since he worked for JC Bradford and they asked him to do their spots, which were :60 of "advice", then he started believing his own publicity, parlayed that into a gig at WBT - he was okay in short bursts, but not for an entire shift!, I guess he thought that made him qualified to run a radio station...How hard can it be, right?
 
From the engineering world- WKMT has some BIG changes in the works... details coming soon. Management wise, he's hired one of the most successful managers in Charlotte radio history- Dave O' Donnell was GM of WWMG-WEND under Bill and Sue Dalton, and anyone who knows Charlotte radio knows those stations printed cash under David's leadership.
 
Should be fun to see how much money WKMT and O'Donnell print this time around! Even with Fontana's money,
your engineering prowess and Dave's management skills - going up against WBT would appear to be a formidable challenge. By the way, you didn't mention who'll be doing the programming. Is Danny bringing back
Randall Bloomquist? Just kidding!

How many medium markets are there in the country with more than one competitive and highly rated AM station?
 
I give WKMT credit for trying. WBT has some weaknesses, if WKMT can take some audience away from the Big 1110 while giving us more choices then I say go for it!
 
Who ever said Danny's going head to head with WBT? There's only so many ways one can bash Pat McCrory, Ron Tober, Peter Gorman, Norman Mitchell, Parks Helms, light rail, the baseball stadium, et al...and 'BT does that VERY well. However, there are any number of other formats that are viable, but not currently airing in Charlotte. Michel Bloomberg's financial talker in NYC is a prime example, and when one considers that Charlotte IS the number 2 banking market in the US...... Now mind you, I don't really know what they're gonna program, and as I'm just a hired gun, it doesn't really matter to me...but it does make for great gossip.
 
Mike, I guess it depends on your definition of "viable". In my mind, it means the format is
competitive from a ratings and revenue standpoint. In other words, it garners many listeners
and makes plenty of money!

The formats you mention, in many cases, haven't been successful or "viable" on the FM band,
much less on AM. (There's a notable "oldies" example in the northeast that we're both familiar with).

I can't wait to hear what Danny and his gang come up with. I hope there's a huge publicity
campaign involved so I don't miss a minute of it!
 
Knowing the way he operates right now, I can't possibly imagine anything will be happening anytime soon. AND when it does, I dare say it will be lacking in many areas. The new GM will be grea, but not when micro-managed.
 
There are a number of viable AM's in Charlotte now- the aforementioned WBT, WFNZ, WHVN, The Disney AM, to name just a few. No one reasonably expects the typical AM to pull 10 shares in today's environment, but then again- what rulebook says that big ratings is a prerequisite to being viable? Most would agree that a profitable station, regardless of rating share, IS a viable station. As evidence- in several of the largest US markets, the number 1 billing stations are- yep, AM's. I'd say it's a safe bet that a properly programmed big signal AM can easily be profitable in this market.
 
Gary, I agree with you most of the time but from a tatings standpoint on AM there is only WBT. WFNA is typical of most sports stations, no big ratings there, usually a 1.5 share. I don't know where the money comes from but there must be some money in it.

WHVN is play for pay so ratings don't come into it there. I'd have to say that most people listen to either WMIT or WRCM.

Few even know that WGFY 1480 our Radio Disney station even exists. I don't know what the Disney organization gets out of it.

Part of the problem is people are used to static free FM. There is more static than ever on the AM band from power lines, computer monitors, and even the new LED traffic signals.

I love AM I just don't see much of a future in it anymore. I really hope that I'm wrong about that!
 
Mike,

A well known consultant recently quipped that "According to the experts, AM has been dying ever since TV was invented- and that was 50+ years ago!" In today's world, there are more programming choices than FM signals in most markets, and all the FM'ers want to go for the easy money-ie popular music formats. When one considers that most AM listeners are generally mature, well educated, more affluent, and tend to listen for a reason, usually a specific programming or ideology that the FM's don't provide, it's easy to see why national advertisers spend big bucks on that prime, captive audience. By contrast, if one strictly goes by "ratings", some of the highest rated FM'ers have as 80% of thier audience immature, unemployed kids who have to beg for gas money, if they're even old enough to drive!
I stand by my earlier statement- if a station is making money, regardless of programming choice or rating share, then most would consider it a viable business.
 
Hmmmm. I smell a return of some form of oldies.
Whatever it is, you know it will be as clean and as loud as it can be with GH at the bench.
I'd better stop there, though, coz thst's all the nice stuff I can think of
 
This probably doesn't mean much, but is the WGIV frequency available? When stations move to the new AM band, they have five years to simulcast the old frequency. Is WFNA's old frequency considered to be 610 or 1600? Either way, I can't imagine the current situation being allowed to continue, even if a lot of the programming is separate.

I remember seeing WKMT described as classic country, and I don't know of any other Charlotte area station that does this.
 
If there was room from an allotment standpoint, 1600 could be re-applied for in Charlotte. The problem is that 1590 has filed to increase to 10kw, so any 1600 application would have to locate so far out of Charlotte that nightime city grade requirements would be impossible to meet. I'm afraid 1600 is done for as a Charlotte station. WFNA is the reassignment of WGIV to the expanded band. They are simulcast for programming purposes only.
 
Call Me Sherlock said:
The formats you mention, in many cases, haven't been successful or "viable" on the FM band,
much less on AM. (There's a notable "oldies" example in the northeast that we're both familiar with).

I can't wait to hear what Danny and his gang come up with. I hope there's a huge publicity
campaign involved so I don't miss a minute of it!
Click to expand...

I was just trying to be funny...so much for that!

But seriously now I'd like to see some way out formats, something that is different rather than the same old thing. I don't know about now but the one thing I always liked about going back to Buffalo was there was always some little station playing Polkas! Not that I think it would be right for North Carolina. You could also count on the CBC in Canada for something different on the radio. This is why many people really enjoy WNCW so much, it's a one of a kind radio station. There is nothing else quite like it.

There is a group in Illinois that has the rights to adapt "The Twilight Zone" for radio. I love that idea! Especially great when traveling late at night and I'm tired of listening to music. If it's on a 50KW clear it carries for miles. WGN Chicago carries it by the way.

I don't know Danny Fontanna but from listening to him on WBT, I feel like I do. That says alot, he's a good communicator, informative and entertaining. I hope he does well with WKMT.
 
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