WLTS - Scoop

[aperson147]

Just heard through the rumor mill that Ken Prell, PD/Morning Drive at Lite 99 gave notice to take a position as a manager at Accuweather. Just another example of the mistake Forever made by taking down Hot and making him go to another station.

Sorry Forever, in my opinion, your losing a good Personality!

 

[shilton]

Not sure I would say moving to Accuweather is not like jumping from the frying pan into the fire if he was that unhappy at Lite. I have not known too many people who worked for Accuweather who had kind stories to tell, but those could all be twisted tales from disgruntled staff also. However, I really think Ken sounded better on Lite than he did at Hot. His voice and delivery were just more fitting to the format.

All the same, if its true...I wish him the best. Always seemed like such a nice guy and quite devoted to the "biz". Happy trails Ken and good luck!

Just heard through the rumor mill that Ken Prell, PD/Morning Drive at Lite 99 gave notice to take a position as a manager at Accuweather. Just another example of the mistake Forever made by taking down Hot and making him go to another station.

Sorry Forever, in my opinion, your losing a good Personality!

 

[mistermicrophone]

Not sure I would say moving to Accuweather is not like jumping from the frying pan into the fire if he was that unhappy at Lite. I have not known too many people who worked for Accuweather who had kind stories to tell, but those could all be twisted tales from disgruntled staff also. However, I really think Ken sounded better on Lite than he did at Hot. His voice and delivery were just more fitting to the format.

All the same, if its true...I wish him the best. Always seemed like such a nice guy and quite devoted to the "biz". Happy trails Ken and good luck!

Just heard through the rumor mill that Ken Prell, PD/Morning Drive at Lite 99 gave notice to take a position as a manager at Accuweather. Just another example of the mistake Forever made by taking down Hot and making him go to another station.

Sorry Forever, in my opinion, your losing a good Personality!

It's a shame for Lite and the State Collge group...Ken is a great guy who has been through a lot there...best of luck Ken!!

 

[yocco]

So how is this company to work for? I've heard mixed stories over the years.

Pay...benefits....staff morale......is the sales force decent?

How much corporate meddling is there from Altoona?

 

[shilton]

So how is this company to work for? I've heard mixed stories over the years.

Pay...benefits....staff morale......is the sales force decent?

How much corporate meddling is there from Altoona?

Never worked for them, but from the folks I know who have...no one goes to the bathroom unless the suits (and skirts) in Altoona give the A-OK first!

 

[mistermicrophone]

So how is this company to work for? I've heard mixed stories over the years.

Pay...benefits....staff morale......is the sales force decent?

How much corporate meddling is there from Altoona?

Never worked for them, but from the folks I know who have...no one goes to the bathroom unless the suits (and skirts) in Altoona give the A-OK first!

With all due respect Steve, you said it yourself...you never worked there.

yocco...if you are up for a job with them, email me...glenturner515(at)yahoo(dot)com...I worked for them for a long time and I'll answer your questions honestly.

 

[Spackler1]

Here's an honest answer. Sales staff turnover is much higher than normal.

 

[shilton]

So how is this company to work for? I've heard mixed stories over the years.

Pay...benefits....staff morale......is the sales force decent?

How much corporate meddling is there from Altoona?

Never worked for them, but from the folks I know who have...no one goes to the bathroom unless the suits (and skirts) in Altoona give the A-OK first!

With all due respect Steve, you said it yourself...you never worked there.

yocco...if you are up for a job with them, email me...glenturner515(at)yahoo(dot)com...I worked for them for a long time and I'll answer your questions honestly.

You are correct Glen, I did not work there...can only comment on what the people I know who did work there told me. Also, I am sure that killing off Hot in favor of QWK's move to 103.1 was your brainchild right? We all know who pulled the trigger on that move...it was Altoona. You had a good thing going and they killed it off. If thats not being meddlesome, I don't know what is, but thats just my opinion.

I will say that it seems the sales force walks through a constantly revolving door (again, second hand knowlege based on what friends of mine who worked there had told me)

 

[mistermicrophone]

So how is this company to work for? I've heard mixed stories over the years.

Pay...benefits....staff morale......is the sales force decent?

How much corporate meddling is there from Altoona?

Never worked for them, but from the folks I know who have...no one goes to the bathroom unless the suits (and skirts) in Altoona give the A-OK first!

With all due respect Steve, you said it yourself...you never worked there.

yocco...if you are up for a job with them, email me...glenturner515(at)yahoo(dot)com...I worked for them for a long time and I'll answer your questions honestly.

You are correct Glen, I did not work there...can only comment on what the people I know who did work there told me. Also, I am sure that killing off Hot in favor of QWK's move to 103.1 was your brainchild right? We all know who pulled the trigger on that move...it was Altoona. You had a good thing going and they killed it off. If thats not being meddlesome, I don't know what is, but thats just my opinion.

I will say that it seems the sales force walks through a constantly revolving door (again, second hand knowlege based on what friends of mine who worked there had told me)

And "hear-say" is inadmissible in court. There is a difference between bieng meddlesome and a corporate decision, Steve...regardless of how much I agreed or - 'cough-cough' - disagreed with it .

 

[Troublemaker]

Actually all the bonehead programming moves come from the director of programming in Meadville. He's mostly known throughout the company as 'hey guy', since he can't remember names. For the most part he sits and listens to Clear Channel Pittsburgh radio stations and models the Forever ones after them. (DVE goes classic so do the Rockys, KISS is more urban so go the Hots, 3WS goes greatest hits of the 60s 70s 80s so does WALY). The man has no clue what the locals want, he only reads the national rags, listens to Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Erie then assumes that the people of Central PA want to hear what works in other areas - thats why Forever takes great radio stations and makes them sound like a photocopier thats totally disconnected from the market.

Also, his wife does the female voicework for many of the stations and is APD for Froggy up there. But forever specifically disallows nepotism - its in the handbook.

 

[shilton]

Actually all the bonehead programming moves come from the director of programming in Meadville. He's mostly known throughout the company as 'hey guy', since he can't remember names. For the most part he sits and listens to Clear Channel Pittsburgh radio stations and models the Forever ones after them. (DVE goes classic so do the Rockys, KISS is more urban so go the Hots, 3WS goes greatest hits of the 60s 70s 80s so does WALY). The man has no clue what the locals want, he only reads the national rags, listens to Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Erie then assumes that the people of Central PA want to hear what works in other areas - thats why Forever takes great radio stations and makes them sound like a photocopier thats totally disconnected from the market.

Also, his wife does the female voicework for many of the stations and is APD for Froggy up there. But forever specifically disallows nepotism - its in the handbook.

If that is true, that is sad since Pittsburgh has not been a market to set the world on fire for the past several years. When B-94 was in its hey-day, it sounded fabulous and DVE has always done well, but for the most part, even the jocks in the market who frequent the Pittsburgh board gripe about how dull things are. However if you are right...I wonder why JACK (er...um BOB) has not reared its head in this area yet?

 

[Hermes]

I'd be interested in hearing of radio chains you guys think are so fantastic - do you think CBS, Entercom, Emmis, Clear Channel, Cox are breeders of fresh and exciting new radio concepts? They do the same promotions, use the same liners, order the same jingle packages, add the same music, use the same 3 or 4 voice guys - it's all comes from the Pillsbury factory. Bankers don't want folks to think and the more money that is involved - so is the need to have even less thinking going on. Most chains look at programming guys as policeman - they're there to make sure the cookie dough is rolled out correctly and that no one gets and stupid ideas that anyone else but Pillsbury can make the dough. Eat up and enjoy.

 

[travist102]

I'm assuming Joe Trimarchi has also departed Forever... just wondering he and I are good buddies from when we worked together at 3WZ.

 

[Becker]

I'm assuming Joe Trimarchi has also departed Forever... just wondering he and I are good buddies from when we worked together at 3WZ.

You assume correctly. Let's just say it was not a voluntary departure.

 

[Snafu]

In certain markets all of the groups you mention can come up with killer programming. Problem is that it might be only one station from a group in the market that works and the rest are swallowed up by corporate stupidity. CBS sounds great in Dallas, Susquehanna was once fabulous in Atlanta. There are still good radio stations out there, just very, very few. It takes a PD with some distance from the corporate office and a regional VP who was either behind the mike at one point in his career or otherwise distracted by his duties to make it happen.

Bob/Jack doesn't show up in this market because the fees are too high to be supported by revenue streams.

 

[Becker]

In certain markets all of the groups you mention can come up with killer programming.

One can come up with killer programming in ANY market. But if you can't sell it and people won't listen to it, then it doesn't matter how "killer" the programming is.

 

[gargoyles]

Adequate would be sufficient.