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Worst blunders in Cincinnati radio history

N

nocece

Inspired by a posting in the South Carolina board, what are the worst blunders ever in Cincinnati radio? This could be a format change, a morning show, a contest, or anything!

I always felt that switching 96 Rock to Beaver 96½ was a blunder.

The old WRBZ (The Breeze) was a blunder. That was an FM signal that could have been put to much better purposes than "new AC", especially since Cincinnati had just lost one of its 2 top 40s.

Any format on WCVG in the late '80s/early '90s was a blunder.

The quasi-AC format on Q-102 around 1994 was a blunder, as were the homemade song edits it played.

WSAI-AM changing its calls to WWNK-AM was a blunder, especially because they were required to stop simulcasting the FM.

The loss of jazz on WNOP was a blunder. Even though jazz didn't have that many listeners, I don't think the formats that replaced it had ANY listeners!

The militia crap WTSJ had around 1995 or so was a blunder.

It was a blunder when 96.5 called itself The Eagle, when another station was already called that.

Up in Dayton, the ruination of WDJK so it could simulcast another FM station was a blunder.

I always felt that the change of WBLZ to WGRR happened before its time, especially because Cincinnati already had 2 oldies stations then (although both AM).

The fact that there were always so many AC's was one big, long, continuous blunder.

Almost forgot one: The loss of 97-X.

Down in Lexington, the changing of WFMI to Fox 100 was a blunder. As was the changing of Power 94.5 to Mix 94.5.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by nocece on 06/24/05 03:51 PM.</FONT></P>
 
What about 55KRC changing its call letters to WLWA back in the 90s?

Killer Q-102 back in the 90s?

> Inspired by a posting in the South Carolina board, what are
> the worst blunders ever in Cincinnati radio? This could be a
> format change, a morning show, a contest, or anything!
>
> I always felt that switching 96 Rock to Beaver 96½ was a
> blunder.
>
> The old WRBZ (The Breeze) was a blunder. That was an FM
> signal that could have been put to much better purposes than
> "new AC", especially since Cincinnati had just lost one of
> its 2 top 40s.
>
> Any format on WCVG in the late '80s/early '90s was a
> blunder.
>
> The quasi-AC format on Q-102 around 1994 was a blunder, as
> were the homemade song edits it played.
>
> WSAI-AM changing its calls to WWNK-AM was a blunder,
> especially because they were required to stop simulcasting
> the FM.
>
> The loss of jazz on WNOP was a blunder. Even though jazz
> didn't have that many listeners, I don't think the formats
> that replaced it had ANY listeners!
>
> The militia crap WTSJ had around 1995 or so was a blunder.
>
> It was a blunder when 96.5 called itself The Eagle, when
> another station was already called that.
>
> Up in Dayton, the ruination of WDJK so it could simulcast
> another FM station was a blunder.
>
> I always felt that the change of WBLZ to WGRR happened
> before its time, especially because Cincinnati already had 2
> oldies stations then (although both AM).
>
> The fact that there were always so many AC's was one big,
> long, continuous blunder.
>
> Almost forgot one: The loss of 97-X.
>
> Down in Lexington, the changing of WFMI to Fox 100 was a
> blunder. As was the changing of Power 94.5 to Mix 94.5.
>
 
How about the most recent flip of 97.7/99.5 to "Bob" for a bit...then the name gets dropped....and the owners refuse they ever used the "Bob" name?
 
> What about 55KRC changing its call letters to WLWA back in
> the 90s?

I forgot about that. They had this robot voice counting down from 55,000 when they did that, which took a whole week.
 
WDJK never had any ratings or revenue, despite almost monthly format changes.



+> > What about 55KRC changing its call letters to WLWA back in
>
> > the 90s?
>
> I forgot about that. They had this robot voice counting down
> from 55,000 when they did that, which took a whole week.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
> WDJK never had any ratings or revenue, despite almost
> monthly format changes.

WDJK stayed top 40 from 1990 to 1993, and did a good job of it. And I do believe that it did get up to a 1 share once, which is actually pretty good, considering how bad the signal was. They had just about the worst signal in Dayton, and probably no promotional budget either.

A decent station got ruined when they started simulcasting WCLR, which already covered all of the area WDJK covered.
 
The biggest blunder in Cincinatti radio history HAS to be the time the Big Guy dropped all those live turkeys on the Pinelake shopping center parking lot. Oh the Humanity!! God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
 
It was the Pinedale Shopping Mall that was "bombed" with live turkeys

Where is that anyway? I always thought it was on the west side near Glenway & Parkcrest.

After watching many episodes of that show, I got some clues to where the characters lived. I always pictured Mr. Carlson living in Hyde Park. Andy lived in Mt. Adams, Johnny lived in Northside, Venus lived downtown, Bailey lived in Oakley, Les lived in Western Hills, Herb lived in Springfield Township/Colerain area, and Jennifer lived in the Queens Tower in Price Hill (you could see the bridge out her window) until she moved to an old house in Kentucky. They called it Landersville, which I kind of pictured as being Mansion Hill Distric of Newport. Mama Carlson lived (of course) in Indian Hill where she and Marge Schott played tennis.

OK. I'll get a life now.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Oscar on 06/25/05 03:16 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> , which already covered all of the area WDJK covered.

Not really, at least with a strong signal. WCLR (now WDPT)'s tower is in Shelby County, and WZLR got a strong signal into some pretty good zip codes. WDJK couldn't have been doing that well if they sold the place.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
Re: It was the Pinedale Shopping Mall that was "bombed" with live turkeys

Interesting!


> Where is that anyway? I always thought it was on the west
> side near Glenway & Parkcrest.
>
> After watching many episodes of that show, I got some clues
> to where the characters lived. I always pictured Mr.
> Carlson living in Hyde Park. Andy lived in Mt. Adams,
> Johnny lived in Northside, Venus lived downtown, Bailey
> lived in Oakley, Les lived in Western Hills, Herb lived in
> Springfield Township/Colerain area, and Jennifer lived in
> the Queens Tower in Price Hill (you could see the bridge out
> her window) until she moved to an old house in Kentucky.
> They called it Landersville, which I kind of pictured as
> being Mansion Hill Distric of Newport. Mama Carlson lived
> (of course) in Indian Hill where she and Marge Schott played
> tennis.
>
> OK. I'll get a life now.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
<The militia crap WTSJ had around 1995 or so was a blunder.>

WOW!!!! Those call letters brings back some memories. I was PD there in 1993 and the GM there was going in the "militia" mode with Randall Terry, Bob Larson and company. I left a year later because I couldn't put up with it. Maybe the blunder was that I was PD of that mess.
 
The militia crap WTSJ had around 1995 or so was a blunder

WOW!!!! Those call letters brings back some memories. I was PD there in 1993 and the GM there was going in the "militia" mode with Randall Terry, Bob Larson and company. I left a year later because I couldn't put up with it. Maybe the blunder was that I was PD of that mess.
 
> WOW!!!! Those call letters brings back some memories. I was
> PD there in 1993 and the GM there was going in the "militia"
> mode with Randall Terry, Bob Larson and company. I left a
> year later because I couldn't put up with it. Maybe the
> blunder was that I was PD of that mess.

Seems like they used to play Christian rap music in the early '90s. By 1995, they replaced the music with right-wing talk. They kept broadcasting all this anti-Jewish propaganda and defending Timothy McVeigh. I think Salem put a stop to that, because it was too extreme even for them.

Did Fred Phelps have a radio ministry? I remember how back around 1995, WTSJ kept running some anti-gay ministry that was based in Topeka, but this was before anyone outside Topeka ever heard of Phelps.
 
Re: Just one word:

> Luka.
>
The chick with the British accent that inspired vehemently mixed emotions on Birmingham's WRAX-107.7 (now 100.5, she was dumped right before the freq switch)?

Was she in Cincy before going to Alabama or is she there now?
 
WTSJ was actually pretty good through the 80s when Jacor owned them. Although there were a few clunkers, it was mostly a nice blend of down-to-earth Christian teaching programs with Christian AC in the afternoons and evenings. Good job of imaging for a Christian station back then too.

Things seemed to go downhill when some nut from California bought them around 1990 or so. His name was David something or something David if I recall. The extreme pentecostal and militia mentality began to creep in at that point. Salem has since cleaned it up.
 
Re: It was the Pinedale Shopping Mall that was "bombed" with live turkeys

> Where is that anyway? I always thought it was on the west
> side near Glenway & Parkcrest.
>
> After watching many episodes of that show, I got some clues
> to where the characters lived. I always pictured Mr.
> Carlson living in Hyde Park. Andy lived in Mt. Adams,
> Johnny lived in Northside, Venus lived downtown, Bailey
> lived in Oakley, Les lived in Western Hills, Herb lived in
> Springfield Township/Colerain area, and Jennifer lived in
> the Queens Tower in Price Hill (you could see the bridge out
> her window) until she moved to an old house in Kentucky.
> They called it Landersville, which I kind of pictured as
> being Mansion Hill Distric of Newport. Mama Carlson lived
> (of course) in Indian Hill where she and Marge Schott played
> tennis.
>
> OK. I'll get a life now.


Excellent post. Perfect. I think you nailed each one of them perfectly.
 
How about when 1320 WCLU went all Elvis all the time. Of course, Sirius sat radio has an all Elvis channel now. Equally stupid.
 
> WTSJ was actually pretty good through the 80s when Jacor
> owned them. Although there were a few clunkers, it was
> mostly a nice blend of down-to-earth Christian teaching
> programs with Christian AC in the afternoons and evenings.
> Good job of imaging for a Christian station back then too.
>
> Things seemed to go downhill when some nut from California
> bought them around 1990 or so. His name was David something
> or something David if I recall. The extreme pentecostal and
> militia mentality began to creep in at that point. Salem has
> since cleaned it up.

I didn't know Jacor ever owned WTSJ (I thought Jacor owned WLW and WEBN, which met the 1 AM/1 FM limit). I don't ever remember knowing about WTSJ's existence until about 1989. I think the David guy's name was Richard David. He did this show on WTSJ called "Conservative Forum" in the mid-'90s.

Another nutty thing they had on WTSJ was their tirade about how zip codes were part of a communist plot.

I was told that WTSJ used to be WZIP, which was a very popular station in the '70s. I don't remember WZIP at all.
 
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