WSRY has changed formats.

[goodjock]

Just noticed that 1550 AM is no longer ESPN Radio. New format is Christian. Sounds like it's carried nationwide. I guess it's syndicated. Nothing against religion, but how disappointing. Used to listen to Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Rusillo - Very sharp and entertaining. And not as egotistical as many other hosts are. I guess there's a Baltimore station carrying ESPN but it probably doesn't get into Cecil County, MD. Of course, I never heard but two spots on that station so I'm thinking there's no revenue.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Can you pick up 97.5 ESPN from Philly? They may have those same programs. I can understand why 1550 went back to Christian programming as Faith City Church owns the station. Maybe they were getting complaints from their congregation about funding a sports station rather than a station that is trying to reach Cecil County for Christ, which, if you think about it makes sense.

 

[jhguthlac]

Cecil County already has WOEL-FM, so airing ESPN made sense on 1550. Since they had no paying ads, they threw in religous messages for spots. Not a bad approach. Reel them in with ESPN, then hit 'em with a soft pitch. I liked it.

But ESPN is expensive. So cost wise, a change probably made sense.

 

[Porky Hooton]

It really doesn't matter what they program on WSER, as they will never have enough listeners to make any real money. It's sad that these small stations have died. Most of us started our careers at AM stations like these in Elkton, West Chester, Coatesville, Wildwood, Pottstown, Norristown, Newark, Chestertown, Bel Air, Havre de Grace and towns like these all across the land. Today, stations like WSRY are worth no more than the appraisal of the real estate that the towers sit on. The licenses' are worth zilch. You might also be able to make a couple bucks on the scrap from the towers and whatever copper has not be stolen from the ground systems. If the real estate has a building on it, even better. You can open up a quilt shoppe or some other small business, that blends in with whatever zoning laws are currenlty in place Do good, be well and happy.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Using the soft approach, maybe have WSRY go country gold (that way it's different from WXCY) and try to sell spots and mix in some religious messages as a form of PSA.

What sort of Christian music are they playing? If it were me, I'd pick Country Gospel - The Gathers, The Happy Goodman Family, etc, as I'd think that would sell well in Cecil County rather than CCM.

 

[ILOVERADIO2]

My guess is money is very tight at the Reach. Lots of expansion and not enought donations. Now they have to deal with the new 25,000 watt 88.7 FM. Cut the loss and turn off the translators down south and save some money on tower rent. Focus on your LOCAL broadcast area.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

The Reach FM (WXHL) may have happen to it, in Lower Delaware, as what they did to WNNN a number of years ago. As Lower Delaware now has two of their own CCM stations, it is possible that WXHL's ratings and donations may drop off significantly, which is sort of a repeat of history, except from the other direction. I remember when WXHL first came on the scene at Christiana (tower and studios at Faith City Church across from the Mall) which took a sizable part of Salem NJ's WNNN's listenership, especially from Delaware. Today WNNN is no more as the station was eventually sold and is now today an Urban station with its tower in Canton/Salem NJ and the studios now are in Downtown Wilmington.

My guess is, as long as the Reach FM gets donations from Lower Delaware, they might keep those translators operating, but if they become a drain on their bottom line, then sure, I could easily see WXHL turning off the Lower Delaware translators to focus on other areas that don't have a CCM station, which I believe is how they've been choosing where to put a translator. Who know, maybe what the Reach FM offers is better than the other two and will be the #1 CCM station down there. Kind of an interesting thing to see, a three way competition for the CCM listeners in one small market, yet a larger market like Wilmington only has WXHL.

 

[jhguthlac]

I like some of the Reach-FM music, and I usually hate CCM. To me, there is nothing Christian about it. But on WSRY, it is not souonding that bad.

But as another guy who got his start in radio at 1550, I find it sad that these stations are dead. But they have no listeners. The current format will not work, since it is available on FM. I would concur that putting country gold on the station, drop in the soft pitch Gospel spots, and you would have a potential winner. Maybe bluegrass gospel with Southern Gospel Quartet music on Sundays. That music has long been popular in Cecil county, and there is even still an audience for it in NCC.

ESPN didn't have a chance since you couldn't hear Mike & Mike until 7:15 or 7:30am some months.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

I think you've got a good plan with Country Gold, soft sell gospel messages and yes Southern Gospel Quartets and Bluegrass Gospel Music on Sundays as yes, why listen to the same music on AM when FM stereo is available.

You might want to contact, whomever the PD is at WXHL, as I doubt 1550 is more than a relay station for WXHL's programming probably all computerized, about such a format for 1550.