Yet another example of corporate greed??

[OHListener77]

**I know this post here does not pertain to Buffalo, Niagara Falls, or Rochester...but it does pertain to WNY.**

This past Friday, June 20th, listeners to News/Talk 1240 WJTN in Jamestown heard the final broadcast of its local issues-oriented show, "The Hall Closet." The host of the 2 1/2-hour program, Ray Hall, was reportedly fired by the Cleveland-based Media One Group about a week or so before his final broadcast. The local program, which aired 12:35-3:00 weekdays, is being replaced by Ed Schultz.

As a faithful online listener to the program, I am outraged. WJTN management is simply calling Ray's termination "a corporate decision." What that immediately tells me is that it is another example of corporate greed that has thoroughly permeated the radio industry.

If there are any regular WJTN listeners out there that may have a better answer than what management gave me, I would greatly appreciate it, as I realize that there's probably a lot more to this than what I've been told. "The Hall Closet" was my favorite local show to listen to, and to just give it the boot is just plain WRONG!

 

[Element9]

Here's what you do. You WRITE a strongly worded, neither profane, threatening nor angry, letter to management. You tell them what the displaced program provided, e.g., local news content, local service content and how the show served the community of license. You request the letter be included in the station's public file and CC the letter to the FCC, Washington. You ask as many listeners like yourself to write a similar letter, but do NOT send form letters. Better to provide an outline or bullet points to those other letter writers and have them write the letters in their own words. You make sure the letters are free of spelling errors, not long winded (as this post may appear) are typed and use proper grammar and address the letters to the local General Manager of the radio station. Next, you periodically follow up and make individual appointments requesting to view and inspect the station's Public File. You inspect the station's Issues and Performance file and the letters file. You make notes. You discuss the Issues and Perfomance file with management, by appointment. You conduct yourself as a citizen, giving respect and expecting respect in return. You may make copies of certain Public File documents, but the station has a right to charge you for each copy that you make. You contact sponsors and tell them how much you appreciated the displaced program. You do not threaten a boycott, but you make it clear that you know the advertiser benfitted by being on a local program and might not derive the same benefit by being on a satellite delivered program. You become a better informed listener. You do not threaten or antagonize. The loudest man in the room is the weakest man in the room. One consolation, at least the station didn't put on Hannity, O'Reilly or Savage.

 

[cee]

Curiosity got the best of me and I just checked out the website of the other AM station in your town, WKSN. Not much of a website, no daily schedule, air personality pages, etc. However, I noticed the following statement on their homepage:

Welcome to the online home of "The Talk of Jamestown" - TalkRadio 1340 ,,, WKSN-AM!

Do they actually have local talkers on WKSN - or is it just satellite? In any event, perhaps you and other listeners might want to petition WKSN to pick up Ray Hall.

It's a shame bottom line corporate broadcasters are invading even smaller markets.

I hope Mr. Hall gets back on your local airwaves soon.

 

[WCWalker]

Last I knew WKSN only had a local computer show on the weekend. Weekdays is all syndicated. Basically no real local programming.

It's a shame to hear this news about the Hall Closet. While I did not always agree with his views I thought he presented his case in a thoughtful, straight forward manner. And he was willing to listen to differing viewpoints. How much longer before they can Roselli?

 

[cee]

Weekdays is all syndicated. Basically no real local programming.

So when they refer to themselves as "The Talk of Jamestown" they mean they are (1)a radio station in Jamestown and (2)they're format is talk. Live and local talk is not part of the mix though.

WJTN and WKSN were both very good local stations at one time.

The times they are a changin' - and not for the better.

 

[WCWalker]

Jamestown does have a new LPFM station that appears to be offering some local programming. Here's the link.

http://www.wrfalp.com/

The two religious based LPFM's appear to be network clones.

 

[ThePickleReport]

Last I knew WKSN only had a local computer show on the weekend. Weekdays is all syndicated. Basically no real local programming.

That's going to be a mistake. AM radio has its share of issues these days anyway so why make it worse. Removing the local content will drive listeners to another station or medium.

 

[cee]

Geez, when I wrote my first post here yesterday, I didn't realize that Media One owns every station in Jamestown(plus a Classic Rock station in Warren, PA?). And as a youngster, I was taught the importance of competition on our american free enterprise system. I still believe that, but I guess that makes me a relic from the past.

No wonder Jamestown used to be a great small market.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

And as a youngster, I was taught the importance of competition on our american free enterprise system. I still believe that, but I guess that makes me a relic from the past.

Why do you think radio is in the sorry state it is today? That's because a handful of companies own a majority of stations in a market. The first thing these media-monsters do is get rid of on-air personalities in order not to have to pay salaries and benefits. I mean forget about loyality, or the fact these people have maintained an audience in many cases for decades.
Even smaller markets are going through the same thing. Look at the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. WGVA is a perfect example.
I remember during my business dealings with customers in that city listening to that station in the early 90s and they featured local news and personalities. Now GVA, like other small market stations, are just repeating syndicated shows like Ingraham, O'Reilly, and Limbaugh.
What is ironic is that 100 years ago Theodore Roosevelt broke up the monopolies. Today we have regressed where monopolies run broadcasting. You think the airwaves belong to the public? If so, you are dead wrong.

 

[cee]

Why do you think radio is in the sorry state it is today? That's because a handful of companies own a majority of stations in a market. The first thing these media-monsters do is get rid of on-air personalities in order not to have to pay salaries and benefits. I mean forget about loyality, or the fact these people have maintained an audience in many cases for decades.

Ohhh, I know all about that. I went through this twice - at the same station. Eventually I wised up and realized I was being exploited and found other ways to generate an income for myself. As I've posted on this board before, radio is(was) fun, but having some self respect is a lot more important.

 

[WCWalker]

Why do you think radio is in the sorry state it is today? That's because a handful of companies own a majority of stations in a market. The first thing these media-monsters do is get rid of on-air personalities in order not to have to pay salaries and benefits. I mean forget about loyality, or the fact these people have maintained an audience in many cases for decades.

Ohhh, I know all about that. I went through this twice - at the same station. Eventually I wised up and realized I was being exploited and found other ways to generate an income for myself. As I've posted on this board before, radio is(was) fun, but having some self respect is a lot more important.

Cee. This is precisely why I've turned down two sales and one management position in radio. I'd rather do it my way and do it right or not at all.

I looked at Jamestown a couple of years ago as a place to start up a commercial Part 15 AM station. Unfortunately I was not able to find a suitable house at the time and I gave up on the idea. However, now with housing markets all but dead and more people complaining about a lack of local independent radio in Jamestown I may revisit this location again and attempt to develop the idea in Jamestown.

 

[Bob1370]

"I looked at Jamestown a couple of years ago as a place to start up a commercial Part 15 AM station. Unfortunately I was not able to find a suitable house at the time and I gave up on the idea. However, now with housing markets all but dead and more people complaining about a lack of local independent radio in Jamestown I may revisit this location again and attempt to develop the idea in Jamestown."

I don't know if you need or want to go the Part 15 route. You could probably do a little creative engineering and find a way to squeeze in a regular AM signal into the market, or else find a struggling station in a not-too-distant market, buy the license, and move it in--even a move dozens or hundreds of miles away from a former city of license can often be approved by the FCC as a "minor change" these days if it doesn't increase interference to other stations, and it doesn't deprive another community of local radio service. And there are a few dead spots on the dial in Chautaqua County as well, with nothing within a radius of 200 miles operating on them. 580 is one of them, most of the expanded band north of 1590 is another.

The big cost is always erecting a tower or three, and laying down a ground system, on a piece of land near your target community. Used equipment bought on the cheap can take care of the rest. You want at least 500 watts day and night, with a decent directional pattern, to cover a community large enough to provide a decent revenue base.

Good luck.

 

[keystone.doug]

Speaking of 1590, I live in nearby Erie, Pennsylvania (about an hour away) and there is a construction permit for an AM station on this frequency. However, I have no idea what the end result will be. Here's the link to information from the FCC on the CP: http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=160644 - Similar information from REC: http://www.recnet.com/cdbs/fmq.php?call=WCXJ&city=&state=&country=US

Call Letters: WCXJ
Power: 500 watts daytime / 900 watts nighttime
Community of License: Kearsarge (region to the south of the city - signal is being aimed northward towards the city)
Directional signal using three towers, which are supposed to be built near the I-90/I-79 interchange

This station may limited the availability of this frequency in Jamestown. However, it's not on the air yet and I don't know if it will be built.

Here's a couple of AM stations that are somewhat close to Jamestown:
WDOE - 1410 - Dunkirk - http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=49209
WGGO - 1590 - Salamanca - http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=9409

It might be worth trying to prove that use of a specific frequency won't cause any interference and ask the FCC if they will license it.

Just some thoughts in response to the post below.

"I looked at Jamestown a couple of years ago as a place to start up a commercial Part 15 AM station. Unfortunately I was not able to find a suitable house at the time and I gave up on the idea. However, now with housing markets all but dead and more people complaining about a lack of local independent radio in Jamestown I may revisit this location again and attempt to develop the idea in Jamestown."

I don't know if you need or want to go the Part 15 route. You could probably do a little creative engineering and find a way to squeeze in a regular AM signal into the market, or else find a struggling station in a not-too-distant market, buy the license, and move it in--even a move dozens or hundreds of miles away from a former city of license can often be approved by the FCC as a "minor change" these days if it doesn't increase interference to other stations, and it doesn't deprive another community of local radio service. And there are a few dead spots on the dial in Chautaqua County as well, with nothing within a radius of 200 miles operating on them. 580 is one of them, most of the expanded band north of 1590 is another.

The big cost is always erecting a tower or three, and laying down a ground system, on a piece of land near your target community. Used equipment bought on the cheap can take care of the rest. You want at least 500 watts day and night, with a decent directional pattern, to cover a community large enough to provide a decent revenue base.

Good luck.

 

[ThePickleReport]

However, now with housing markets all but dead and more people complaining about a lack of local independent radio in Jamestown I may revisit this location again and attempt to develop the idea in Jamestown.

Jamestown already has a nice LPFM: http://www.wrfalp.com/

 

[Element9]

Go nuts

Maybe I'm not as adventuresome as guys like Fischer and Savage, but I wouldn't throw money into AM at this time. Chrysler's latest announcement is just the first step toward making this more difficult for all operators. Welcome to the brave new world of broadcasting... still doing that ten in a row, voice-tracked jack thing?

Tick, tick, tick, tick...

 

[WCWalker]

Bob1370. That thought had crossed my mind but now the FCC is not taking applications for new AM stations and most likely won't for many years.

Doug Keystone. WDOE in Dunkirk was just purchased by the Finger Lakes radio entity and it not likely to part with it anytime soon. Don't know much about the Salamanca station and never have listened to it.

This does not seem to be a good time to buy or start a station with the economy on the slide. I spoke to a station owner who is planning to buy several more stations but the obstacle he faces is obtaining financing. Right now trying to get a loan for anything is virtually impossible.

Part 15 AM is all that is feasible right now. Using multiple transmitters does make it possible to cover a reasonably good sized area and from a marketing standpoint, with the right programming, you can make some money through advertising on such a station. I know people that have done it and more and more are in the process of doing it.

 

[keystone.doug]

Doug Keystone. WDOE in Dunkirk was just purchased by the Finger Lakes radio entity and it not likely to part with it anytime soon. Don't know much about the Salamanca station and never have listened to it.

This does not seem to be a good time to buy or start a station with the economy on the slide. I spoke to a station owner who is planning to buy several more stations but the obstacle he faces is obtaining financing. Right now trying to get a loan for anything is virtually impossible.

Part 15 AM is all that is feasible right now. Using multiple transmitters does make it possible to cover a reasonably good sized area and from a marketing standpoint, with the right programming, you can make some money through advertising on such a station. I know people that have done it and more and more are in the process of doing it.

I was just taking Bob's idea and running with it. I did not know that WDOE was recently bought.

A couple of Rangemasters would probably cover the community well if they are placed at the right height and good processing is used (like the Inovonics 220 or 235) to improve the range.

Doug

 

[WCWalker]

One unit centrally located in Dunkirk and another in Fredonia would adequately cover the city and village limits. I have a 222 right now which I couple with a DBX 160 x compressor/limiter and Symetrix 422 AGC. New automation software that I have includes some audio processing software.

Doug, check your e-mail. It pertains to your request for membership in the Rangemaster Yahoo Forum.

 

[keystone.doug]

One unit centrally located in Dunkirk and another in Fredonia would adequately cover the city and village limits. I have a 222 right now which I couple with a DBX 160 x compressor/limiter and Symetrix 422 AGC. New automation software that I have includes some audio processing software.

Doug, check your e-mail. It pertains to your request for membership in the Rangemaster Yahoo Forum.

I read somewhere that people have had good luck with the audio processing done in OtsAV Radio/OtsDJ - it even improved the range. The post was actually on your Rangemaster forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rangemaster-Transmitters/message/423

 

[keystone.doug]

Getting back on topic... What I find interesting about this incident is that the show was cancelled. Instead of substituting another local host and show in this time slot, they just replaced it with syndicated programming. Apparently, Media One isn't making much of an effort to continue serving the community with local talk radio.