Went to the Amtrak station in Toccoa this week. And there across the street is the studio location for WNEG. What a refreshing and hopeful surprise. I knew that Mr Sutton had increased the power on this full service station at 630khz...but never would have imagined how well laid out, and compelling the station is to not only listen to, but to see. A storefront street level studio outfitted with a real well equipped studio, and (what was that in the window?)...a real..LIVE PERSON, RUNNING THE STATION!
Just the type of operation us old dinosaur radio types envision when the thoughts of owning a local radio station cross our minds. Just amazing!
The station runs LOCAL content, and talks about community topics, and plays non offensive music..the commercials are well produced, and overall WNEG should be the defacto example of a well operated AM station in a smaller market...and I would assume that Art's company is actually making money with this terrific station. The community loves them, the station loves the community. No losers here. His operations in Clayton, GA, Franklin, NC, and Sylva, NC are also following this template. Local sports..involvement with the local merchants, and chambers of commerce..and a direct connection with the listeners who HAVE a reason to listen to local radio..
In an industry where the trend is to just barely keep the transmitter on to keep from losing the license, and program the whole outfit with an off the shelf Walmart computer, and no other involvement..these stations are the welcome exception.
Just the type of operation us old dinosaur radio types envision when the thoughts of owning a local radio station cross our minds. Just amazing!
The station runs LOCAL content, and talks about community topics, and plays non offensive music..the commercials are well produced, and overall WNEG should be the defacto example of a well operated AM station in a smaller market...and I would assume that Art's company is actually making money with this terrific station. The community loves them, the station loves the community. No losers here. His operations in Clayton, GA, Franklin, NC, and Sylva, NC are also following this template. Local sports..involvement with the local merchants, and chambers of commerce..and a direct connection with the listeners who HAVE a reason to listen to local radio..
In an industry where the trend is to just barely keep the transmitter on to keep from losing the license, and program the whole outfit with an off the shelf Walmart computer, and no other involvement..these stations are the welcome exception.