Wanted to confirm that last message, thanks for the heads up, I listened this morning about 8-9am and yes WVOT is on the air, don't know if they are doing short time sprints or if they are back on as before. I didn't hear any commercials but they ran a program called, "Inspirations across America", somethng they usually did on Fridays anyway. I did hear a voice from the studio, so they seem to have personnel there too. Now that they are back on...can they make money to stay afloat?
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WVOT 1420 Wilson is Silent
- Thread starter ToddJenkins
- Start date
Hmmm, interesting. Today I checked to see if the VOT was on, and I didn't hear a signal from them, but rather heard a familiar, but odd signal...from WLLY.
I'm tuning in to 1420 at about 8 this morning, and I checked again just before adding this post, and VOT isn't on at the moment, seems they are off again. But I am getting a fairly decent signal from WLLY, as I listened for a moment to try to figure out if it was them or not.
I knew it was when I heard the "live remote" from Wilson Hardware, which is always on the morning "Good Neighbor Guide" programs that WLLY has. We'll see what happens next.
I'm tuning in to 1420 at about 8 this morning, and I checked again just before adding this post, and VOT isn't on at the moment, seems they are off again. But I am getting a fairly decent signal from WLLY, as I listened for a moment to try to figure out if it was them or not.
I knew it was when I heard the "live remote" from Wilson Hardware, which is always on the morning "Good Neighbor Guide" programs that WLLY has. We'll see what happens next.
M
Marathon Don
Guest
Saturday around 5pm, VOT was on the air (barely). The audio was very distorted and the signal was only covering a few blocks downtown. If this is all the FCC requires to be considered "broadcasting", something is wrong with their definition.
Someone with deep pockets needs to rescue this historic station or it will soon be history itself. Not that I need anything else to do, but I'd be willing work there for min wage for 6 months (OK, maybe 4) to help get it back on track. Seriously, I'll help for 2 months. With time off.
Someone with deep pockets needs to rescue this historic station or it will soon be history itself. Not that I need anything else to do, but I'd be willing work there for min wage for 6 months (OK, maybe 4) to help get it back on track. Seriously, I'll help for 2 months. With time off.
You know, I do believe there are a lot of radio guys out there that would like to help a station like the VOT, but I think one of the biggest problems with helping such religious stations is pride. There is no doubt that the people running WVOT KNOW they need help, but they won't accept it unless a person is willing to "do it for charity". I kinda call that a "non profit mentality", where a business or organization believes that people should help them either free, or very, very cheap since they are "doing the work of the Lord". I say this because this was what I got when I talked to the station a few years ago. If you are willing to work for free, or under minimum wage, they can certainly use you. If you are willing to write the ads to the house, they can use you. But the station has a very big problem trying to be professional because they don't want to pay for talent.
Months after my colleague (a former professor) asked if they needed help, they have still not gotten in touch, even though he has called many times. I remember several years ago, when I suggested the same colleague to help the station, they said, and I quote, "will he work for FREE"....
I agree with you Marathon Don, they need help, as do all 4 stations here, but until they put a fair value on employment, rather than looking for cheap labor, they will continue to spin in circles.
Months after my colleague (a former professor) asked if they needed help, they have still not gotten in touch, even though he has called many times. I remember several years ago, when I suggested the same colleague to help the station, they said, and I quote, "will he work for FREE"....
I agree with you Marathon Don, they need help, as do all 4 stations here, but until they put a fair value on employment, rather than looking for cheap labor, they will continue to spin in circles.
I think most stations don't seem willing to accept even free help.
It's like they can't believe anyone would do it for free/charity/kindness, then it's also got a "I'll be edged out of my $150 a week job if THEY come in" kind of mentality. So nothing gets done.
It's like they can't believe anyone would do it for free/charity/kindness, then it's also got a "I'll be edged out of my $150 a week job if THEY come in" kind of mentality. So nothing gets done.
Does the FCC know how bad WVOT is doing and if WVOT is really broadcasting? All 3 Wilson radio stations are in the sewer and need new owners to bring them back. This reminds me that they are the 3 Stooges. All 3 have owners that know nothing about serving the public interest and really not qualified operators. Is the market that bad that someone couldn't do something - Wilson use to be a great place and had good people in radio. So sad to see it this bad.
Hi Jim, Hope things are well. There is a lot that is not commonly known about the WVOT issue. Seems they were forced from thier xmtr site and equipment held hostage from someone who wanted the licence. These folks worked really hard to get back on and have a licence for a longwire they have installed. I hate to see what has become of radio in Wilson, You know both of us share a love for that city and know that things could be better, Sad it was raped of the FM's to fill the Bigger city's. I would love to get any one of the three am's left. I just do not know what damage to the market all of this neglect has had or if an am is ever going to make it without a niche format. I fear the end of radio as we know it is going to happen sooner than anyone expects. With the death of analog TV, now there will be enough bandwidth for mobile broadband.
I am an AM radio junkie. Grew up listening to AM, worked in AM and now still enjoy AM. I listen to AM DX at night. Sometimes I can even get an HD signal to decode for a while. I listen to a lot of AM stations in eastern NC when I'm in the car and at home. One station had a strong carrier with no modulation for over a week. This station was also at full power at night. I finally emailed the owner and asked if he needed some assistance. He replied, thanks but no thanks. His station was back in regular operation the next day. Another station has continuous problems with it's automation and either has long stretches of "dead air" or ends up running the wrong satellite feed for hours at a time. They do NASCAR races with no ID for hours. There is no one minding the store. I don't think the FCC really cares about whether a small AM station is on the air or off the air or how bad it sounds just as long as it is not causing any interference complaints.
Could someone make a go of it with an AM in Wilson? Probably, but it would have to be a unique format and be a low cost station. Four tower DA? WGTM not cheap to keep. Does WVOT have any real coverage at night with the 500 watt DA?
Some small town AM stations are still making a go of it but I have to agree with RFGuy that broadband and other technology are leaving AM in the dust. Also, some of the formats that have been money makers on AM, such as talk and sports are now showing up on FM. I have a real hard time listening to some cell phone calls on an FM talker. Digital audio mismatch with my analog ears. -Bill
Could someone make a go of it with an AM in Wilson? Probably, but it would have to be a unique format and be a low cost station. Four tower DA? WGTM not cheap to keep. Does WVOT have any real coverage at night with the 500 watt DA?
Some small town AM stations are still making a go of it but I have to agree with RFGuy that broadband and other technology are leaving AM in the dust. Also, some of the formats that have been money makers on AM, such as talk and sports are now showing up on FM. I have a real hard time listening to some cell phone calls on an FM talker. Digital audio mismatch with my analog ears. -Bill
AM radio is fading, although it's good sometimes to listen on this side of the band, but with sports and talk formats migrating to FM,
most notably 94.1 in New Bern changing in the last several weeks, and WTKF increasing power to 48,000 watts late last year, also
the internet playing a larger role of listenership, you will see this trend continue, especially in larger markets.
most notably 94.1 in New Bern changing in the last several weeks, and WTKF increasing power to 48,000 watts late last year, also
the internet playing a larger role of listenership, you will see this trend continue, especially in larger markets.
I started to listen to WVOT back in 1976 with great personalities such as Captain Midnight who did nights and the equal to Venus Flytrap of WKRP. His real job was working at a used car lot in the 5 points ares. He knew me when I called up as the Yo Yo Freak. (Yo Yo's were popular back then) Skip Carney did mornings. Is he the same guy who owns the ad agency in Rocky Mount? and Jones Fuquay who did weekends, (who was GM when I joined later). It was a thrill to meet him. I told him so. I still have cassette tapes of the jocks and the jingles they used back them. I used the same jingles in the '80. I used to hit the jingle and could hear the song "Silly Love Songs" in my head instead of what I was really playing which was "She's like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze.
I've started working at the Wilson's Voice of Tobacco in 1987 and left in 1991 and rejoined back in 1997 to 2000. I was with Pastor Smith when the station was sold. I agree with most of you. He is a nice man but is clueless on how to run a station. His first act was to get rid of the Carolina Mudcats who was paying and a religious show on Sunday morning that was paid programming. Now how many of you out there (a show of hands please) could replace over $5000 of revenue at night on a local AM radio station in the summertime? I don't see any hands. I asked him what kind of format was he planning to put on and he said religious and I pointed out to him that WLLY and WGTM was already using that format why are you going to do the same thing? He told me that was the format he knew. He told me all the black churches were going to support him. I wished him good luck and headed to Greenville.
The previous owner (who is in Hawaii now) did a Major Upgrade to the inner works of WVOT but did not hire any salespeople...he did it backwards. Again nice man couldn't get into the mindset of Wilson people. (my pencil is better that yours because I bought mine in Raleigh).
The sports guy you are referring to is a great guy Alton Britt. The man knows HS football inside and out. He could tell you what kind of breakfast the kid liked..he is just that knowledgeable. He was doing HS football over at WLLY but now is doing the PA at the Wilson Tobbs baseball team in Historic Fleming Stadium.
When Voyager took over the station in the 80's that was when WVOT has it's second life with people like Andrew Scott Honeycutt, who was at WRDU and promised a "promotion" if he took ops manager at VOT. Bill Bunn did mornings a ole (not old) WTGM alumni and Michael Buscemi did nights. I honestly thought that I could offer a million dollars for the first phone caller at nights and no one would call..that 7pm to 12m shift was a lonely one. I moved up to afternoon drive after Bill Benjamin went to 100% sales. Bill Benjamin did afternoon drive and is in Plymouth now. The last I heard of Andrew he was selling cleaning supplies in his father's company. If I know Andrew he is probably running the company now.
thats all for now
I've started working at the Wilson's Voice of Tobacco in 1987 and left in 1991 and rejoined back in 1997 to 2000. I was with Pastor Smith when the station was sold. I agree with most of you. He is a nice man but is clueless on how to run a station. His first act was to get rid of the Carolina Mudcats who was paying and a religious show on Sunday morning that was paid programming. Now how many of you out there (a show of hands please) could replace over $5000 of revenue at night on a local AM radio station in the summertime? I don't see any hands. I asked him what kind of format was he planning to put on and he said religious and I pointed out to him that WLLY and WGTM was already using that format why are you going to do the same thing? He told me that was the format he knew. He told me all the black churches were going to support him. I wished him good luck and headed to Greenville.
The previous owner (who is in Hawaii now) did a Major Upgrade to the inner works of WVOT but did not hire any salespeople...he did it backwards. Again nice man couldn't get into the mindset of Wilson people. (my pencil is better that yours because I bought mine in Raleigh).
The sports guy you are referring to is a great guy Alton Britt. The man knows HS football inside and out. He could tell you what kind of breakfast the kid liked..he is just that knowledgeable. He was doing HS football over at WLLY but now is doing the PA at the Wilson Tobbs baseball team in Historic Fleming Stadium.
When Voyager took over the station in the 80's that was when WVOT has it's second life with people like Andrew Scott Honeycutt, who was at WRDU and promised a "promotion" if he took ops manager at VOT. Bill Bunn did mornings a ole (not old) WTGM alumni and Michael Buscemi did nights. I honestly thought that I could offer a million dollars for the first phone caller at nights and no one would call..that 7pm to 12m shift was a lonely one. I moved up to afternoon drive after Bill Benjamin went to 100% sales. Bill Benjamin did afternoon drive and is in Plymouth now. The last I heard of Andrew he was selling cleaning supplies in his father's company. If I know Andrew he is probably running the company now.
thats all for now
JimA said:
Is WVOT off the air? When did it go silent?
Mark Tillery
J. M. Tillery & Associates, P. A.
New York - Orlando
Online: www.jmtillery.com
Blog: http://jmtillery.blogspot.com
E-mail: [email protected]
M
Marathon Don
Guest
WVOT was off the air for several months due to a lack of ability to access their transmitter site. They are now back on, but with greatly reduced coverage.
This morning, about 8:30ish, I heard WVOT for a few minutes, clearly, in Fayetteville. I don't think I've ever heard it here before.
They didn't sound that bad, actually better than most AM stations around these parts.
I would've thought it was some other 1420, but they came on with an ad for a tire place in Erwin, then I heard them ID with the call letters, which is rare.
They didn't sound that bad, actually better than most AM stations around these parts.
I would've thought it was some other 1420, but they came on with an ad for a tire place in Erwin, then I heard them ID with the call letters, which is rare.
Whew!!!Am I blown away by this VOT info. I literally stumbled on your website and found this story. About five years ago, I met with MK to present a very resonable LMA propsal to him. That proposal was backed by my 30-years of radio broadcasting expereince (to include management of 4 stations in the southeast), a successful 20-year stretch in sales, etc. I showed him records of my $300,000 plus annual sales awards with a FM Gospel station that went to #1 in the market. I must have met with him and his "board" five or six times to explain the fundamentals of radio programming, marketing, public and community service and how that all would translate into $$$$$$$$. I shared my radio experiences beginning in Los Angeles and moving thru Orlando, Florida, Columbia, South Carolina (WKWQ/WKSO), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (WCKN)Raleigh, Norh Carolina (WNNL 'The Light), Virgnia Beach, Virginia (WXEZ, PRAISE/STAR 94.1). ALL TO NO AVAIL. I agree with somebody's assessment that PRIDE is playing a mean trick on MK. Turning that property around would only require professional attention. I'm still interested. Anyone else? Rick
[email protected]
[email protected]
I read on Wikipedia that WVOT's license has been deleted. What a shame. Anyone know the story? Now all that remains is 1350 ... and most of the time from the sound of things that station is a CD player on random play. (No IDs is a fine waiting to happen). How's that serving the public? The FCC has not been doing its job and thus Wilson radio is a wasteland.
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