WXLW 950 AM

[dfwrunner]

Even worse with the CBS affiliation was you had to carry all those crap shows like Dear Abby...you couldn't just delay the spots.

I was a head banger that also liked those old CBS theatrical broadcasts (e.g. Mystery Theater). Most people aren't so limited in their interests.

 

[gr8oldies]

There's a place for everything....just not always the same place. I used to listen to radio dramas from the CBC. Didn't mean I wanted them to be on CKLW.

 

[Indy Legend]

Is WXLW getting ready to change formats? I can't imagine anyone is still listening to what's left of sporting news radio and Derek Schultz. I was a pretty loyal listener even after they lost ESPN radio but I checked out when Rakestraw left. Not much left there. Todd Wright is about it. Everything else is prety much unlistenable.

 

[KeithE4]

I was a head banger that also liked those old CBS theatrical broadcasts (e.g. Mystery Theater). Most people aren't so limited in their interests.

I liked those broadcasts as well, although I was in college in Phoenix by the time they began. But I certainly didn't want to hear them on my favorite rock stations. The CBS Radio Network was totally out of place on WXLW beginning in 1972.

Trouble was, there was no place for the network to go. WNDE & WIFE were rockers, WIBC could have taken them, but I think they had Mutual at the time. WIRE was NBC, IIRC. WATI was a peanut-whistle, while WBRI & WGEE (WNTS by then?) were religious. Network affiliation on FM was a non-starter at the time, except for ABC's FM network, which was WTTV-FM in those days.

 

[MacOConnor]

I liked those broadcasts as well, although I was in college in Phoenix by the time they began. But I certainly didn't want to hear them on my favorite rock stations. The CBS Radio Network was totally out of place on WXLW beginning in 1972.

Trouble was, there was no place for the network to go. WNDE & WIFE were rockers, WIBC could have taken them, but I think they had Mutual at the time. WIRE was NBC, IIRC. WATI was a peanut-whistle, while WBRI & WGEE (WNTS by then?) were religious. Network affiliation on FM was a non-starter at the time, except for ABC's FM network, which was WTTV-FM in those days.

Wasn't WIRE ABC-Information affiliated with Paul Harvey broadcasts? WFBM was NBC until they became WNDE. WATI Beautiful Music (not a good fit for heavy network coverage) was often in the Top 10 back then despite only 250W as they were they only Indy station broadcasting on "AM Clear Channel". 1590 was WNIR after being WGEE and were later WNTS News Talk Sports (affiliated with NBC-NIS?). 1590 was discussed a year ofr two ago on this board.
The 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook would have the details but 1977 is the oldest edition I have...

 

[KeithE4]

Wasn't WIRE ABC-Information affiliated with Paul Harvey broadcasts? WFBM was NBC until they became WNDE. WATI Beautiful Music (not a good fit for heavy network coverage) was often in the Top 10 back then despite only 250W as they were they only Indy station broadcasting on "AM Clear Channel". 1590 was WNIR after being WGEE and were later WNTS News Talk Sports (affiliated with NBC-NIS?). 1590 was discussed a year ofr two ago on this board.

You're probably right. My memory's fading a bit here.

The 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook would have the details but 1977 is the oldest edition I have...

Might have to check the Old Gringo's Basement for a memory refresh. ;D David's got a wealth of information.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Before the end of WXLW I had a chance to get the original Lyman Ayres blueprints for the studio and transmitter. They are on the wall at WJCF these days. I had them laminated as the prints had faded a lot. The original aerial photographs of multiple bean fields before they were the site for the 3 towers and strip malls looks so prehistoric. Nothing for miles.

When WNDE was the only rock station at night locally their signal wasn't great. And after the rock wars when they beat wife and wife went wacky then they put Hans on in the morning.

I always liked XL because it was over the top. Classic Shirk. Jingles were better than any of the other Indy stations. "Space Station Shuuurk" (sonovox)

Keith - did you work in Rushville and in Columbus years ago?

 

[cspotrun]

the reason CBS was on WXLW, MONEY, not alot of Money, they probably got a Buck for every network commercial that ran during the newscasts and features. (hardly worth what it cost in terms of Ratings)
one thing that really PO'ed CBS was, shirk delayed the hourly CBS newscasts to 9 past the hour so he wouldn't loose the first quarter hour. i guess he realized CBS was a "Liability" but not enough to dump it.

 

[KeithE4]

Keith - did you work in Rushville and in Columbus years ago?

Nope, never worked in broadcasting anywhere - my career is in electronics manufacturing and test engineering. I'm just a listener who grew up in southern Indiana. Never lived in Rushville and haven't lived in Columbus since 1957, when I was too young to remember it. ;D

I think there's another Keith on this board that's worked in Indiana radio, though.