Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - July 12 to July 16, 2009 Latest messages listed first..... \/ July 16 Messages \/ Re: Kane & company's destruction of a working studio. I don't know what the complaints this douche nozzle and his posse could have about that studio; unless it didn't have lots of blinkey lights to hypnotize them while "on air". I doubt the engineering crew at CC were so inept that they couldn't keep one of the easiest consoles on the planet to service operating properly. Maybe it was because there were no "sexy curves" in the furniture? Whatever. Wait 'till that jerkoff walks across the carpet one morning, sits down, and static zaps that pretty digital console into oblivion! Those nimrods don't deserve a studio half that nice looking. Cheers, P.A. Cavity, a.k.a. Craven Morehead, laughing, scratching, and pouring gasoline on my monitor 'cause there's a smudge on it, in Beautiful, Hysterical, Downtown, FredVegas. (7/16/09) MikeG you made my day with that story. That sounds like a great bunch of people to work with,which I always thought when listening to them in the first place. Being a music nut since ,well forever, I'd have loved to work at a radio station but never had the guts to even apply for internship. And that's sad because I lived not far from WASA/WHDG. Its horrible what the corporations have done to the close knit groups of people who once got paid to do what they love. On Air Talent was just that-TALENT. Anyone can program an Ipod but what about interesting segues? Songs on a theme? DJs and studio crews have played a huge part of many peoples lives for decades but I guess the future has no personality. Just know that all your efforts weren't wasted as I rigged crazy antennaes and sometimes did some risky stuff to pull in that signal up here at the top of the bay.Thanks to you and the various crews over the years. My jobsites still echo with hfs airchecks and soundbites among the music I have to program myself. Yeah CBS come sue me,you can have my drywall belt and beat up analog radio. (7/16/09) Ok, here's an oddball question... With MTV's The Real World filming in Dupont Circle, will this break the record for THE GAYEST MTV REAL WORLD SHOW EVER ??? Anyone know the over/under? :-) (7/16/09) RE: Rant: "Certainly, Mike deserves better than being shown the door." .... Dave, you're giving CBS Radio and their ilk way way WAY too much credit. What makes you think anyone here *gasp* deserves any sort of kind treatment? Would you show a modicum of surprise if you were hanging out in a cage with an hungry tiger and found that it had decided to eat you? It's the nature of the beast. The recipe for bottom line-driven corporate radio doesn't include as much as a teaspoon of compassion. This is a business model that would program an station running 24-7 Hitler oratories if they thought it would get ratings and book solid sales figures. Or hooting chimps. Or a washing machine motor. It doesn't matter one iota who or what's behind the mic or in the cart machine, it's all about the Benjamins. Show me a DJ whose supervisor who shows them the door with dignity, and I'll show you a jock who needs to rush to the 7-Eleven to buy a stack of lotto tickets on their way home, because that, my weird-beard friend, is one lucky SOB. (7/16/09) Ah me. To the poster of the Orangina reference…Huzzah! I remember that day fondly when Gina spilled an Orangina into the console at ‘HFS and took the station off the air! Aq then bestowed upon her the nom de plume, “Gina Crash” (he wanted her to be known as “Dianne Seven”, which was a great name, but she rejected it). Here’s a fun thread to pursue…All the stuff and goo that made it’s way into the console’s over the years. When I was a producer/engineer at WBAL back in the day, we used to open the console and give it a thorough douching every two weeks. I specifically remember finding rice, peanuts, peas, fingernails, clumps of hair, puddles of coffee, mountains of cigar and cigarette ashes, boogers, pins, paperclips, show notes on toilet paper (Allen Prell, inspiration came at any moment for him), and bits of one of those huge swirly lollipops that you find at Amish markets. I always wondered what drove someone to push, shove, hammer, and slide, all these things into the tiny crevices and holes of such expensive machinery? HFS’s engineer, Randy, used to gather up all the miasma and make a presentation of it to Robert Benjamin and Bob Waugh, and the rest of the air staff. We’d then spend the better part of the day analyzing it and play a guessing game of who was responsible for what. I vividly remember Aq jamming the phone banks with bar-b-que sauce one morning. Looking back, it seems perfectly natural to be dining on bar-b-que ribs at 7:30 AM. Lou Brutus used to punch the console if a cart ran long before the trip tone. He also used to rip the carts out of the machine if they displeased him. Lou broke a lot of equipment. I envied him for his reckless abandon. Weasel and Damien were reverent and respectful, as was Dave Marsh, Allen Scott, Kath, Pat, and Bob. Johnny Riggs made it sing. Neci cursed it, but loved it. Rob Timm saw it’s great potential and caressed into a life-long love affair. But still, I am left to wonder…How the hell did someone, a broadcast professional, manage to squeeze, cajole, and finagle, a half of a flour tortilla into the console? –MikeG. (7/16/09) Here's and idea for a new liner for WJFK.."The Stool...106.7....Shitting on Don and Mike fans since 1988!"...Here's an idea for all the fans of O&D and MOMS...For the next several weeks when ever Mike whatever his name is takes calls...Call up and when you get on the air say.."Hey Chad..Hey Oscar."..or when Chad and LaVar take calls...call up and say "Hi Mike, Hi Robb"...that should drive them batshit..Hopefully they will keep running the spot where Katie says "facial" about 20 times...WB Centreville VA (7/16/09) Calling all DXers and skip junkies... For no good reason, at about 6:25 pm I turned on my handheld Casio analog TV and scanned the airwaves. Down around Channel 2 (this thing has continuous tuning and no good indicator) I got a signal that is the most erratic I've ever seen. Plus, the TV has a real hard time getting horizontal sync; something that was never a problem with this set in the past. The picture will pop in for about half a second at a time; never got color or sound. It looks like a news program; at one point it had what looked like a map of France. I'm thinking trans-Atlantic skip. Is that unreasonable? ~~CA in BC (7/16/08) Unsigned Corporate Suit just pooped out what is called a 'cover'. The heat started to rise on subject of Chad + Arrington, so this suit filed his meaningless unreadable corn syrup cover. (7/16/09) If the mailbag was a real sample of all that makes up the DC radio market then it's doomed. But let's be honest: the DCRTV mailbag is made up of R&TV nerds who like to follow along, or the people actually in & around the business (who are R&TV nerds themselves). Seriously, I think most of us would rather try to stream Don G from OC than watch SportsCenter! While we may find sports talk an unoriginal & repetitive format, the fact of the matter is it can be a real source of revenue. Consider the fact that Comcast Sports Net had some of their best ratings ever when the Caps were in the playoffs. While the Nationals continue to suck, interest in their front office drama is high. And interest in the Redskins is huge because you still have the loyal fans plus the people who hate Snyder so much they revel in anything negative they hear about him (I'm both). I think the DC sports scene is really peaking in terms of public interest. So I'm not ready to condemn CBS's move. I think with fine tuning it could be a steady source of revenue, even though they'll probably never be in the top-5 stations. If they truely take advantage of mobile Internet technologies (Twitter, SMS, Facebook, etc) I think they very well may be proven correct in making this switch. I'm 40 years old and in every job I've ever worked I was the guy who mostly wanted to talk about what hilarious stunt was on D&M that day, but most of my co-workers were talking about the Wizards game I didn't watch or the golf tournament I knew nothing of. Those are the people CBS is targeting, not us radio dorks. (7/16/09) Am I the only one who noticed the choice of liquid to pour on the console at 99.5? Isn't Sunny D alot like Orangina? (7/16/09) Oh the much-beloved FCC and their blunders with DTV. If this were allowed to be a scandal, it would make Watergate and Teapot Dome look as insignificant as the House of Representatives postage fracas. DTV was so badly handled on so many counts it’s pitiful. To show the FCC’s expertise, they initially allocated a DTV in Detroit on channel 9. Duhhhh,,, they forgot about “CBET”, channel 9, just south of the border in Windsor, Ontario. (The old CKLW-TV when it was a CBC-TV affiliate and an RKO General O&O. Talk about a “marriage of convenience”!) Seems they forgot to have their DTV allocation database cross-reference with their border database. Then, they assigned DTV’s to channel 37. Duhhhh… Sorry Charlie, but that channel is internationally allocated to radio astronomy. Not surprising as the FCC has a long history of ignoring international telecommunications treaties to which the U.S. is a signatory. The FCC was also presuming that the overwhelming majority! of citizens around the nation pay for TV service, just like in the D.C. area and other major (and not so major) areas. Duhhhh… the Cable and Satellite people came back and when comparing their numbers to Nielsen’s, turns out only 58% of TVHH nationally pay for TV. Besides the lawyers and lobbyists who are rife in the FCC, don’t forget the consumer flacks who either hate the business in general or capitalism entirely. Which is why, I’m going to say that law allowing CATV and Satellite TV operators is another hidden tax increase waiting to happen, as the law is currently written. Why? Under separate (and long-standing legislation), whenever a pay-TV operator which carries an out-of-market broadcast TV station or a station beyond X miles from the area (the mileage was defined in the analog era and I’ve not had time to see what the current (or most recent) standard is), that operator must pay a monthly fee to the Copyright office based upon the number of signals, the number of subscribers, and the number of signals carried. (And, likely the mileage from the broadcaster…) That fee is the reason the Baltimore stations disappeared from the D.C. area CATV’s. And, why United Video’s carriage of what was WGN-TV Chicago was dropped by a slew of CATV’s back in the early 1980’s. (Yes, Tribune owns WGN. But, a third party uplinks the signal adds additional services, and inserts their own spots… Like “Superstation TBS” what you see on the bird or the wire isn’t what the locals see. Hasn’t been for ages!) That was also when “superstations” like WPIX, WOR-TV/WWOR, and KTVU. KTVT, etc., all disappeared. So, if this bill passes, your cable and satellite bills will likely go up unless this bill is amended. Also, I don’t see what “public good” this law would serve, if enacted. As I live in Virginia, I must say that for the most part, Richmond is likely viewed as an alien place where we send our tax dollars and legislators. And, that’s about it. I know there will be flames, but I doubt if th! ere’s very little that Northern Virginia has in common with Richmond. While I can see the intent of this bill is allowing the opportunity of seeing greater coverage of state legislatures, for the most part, people just don’t care! Watching state legislature coverage is about as exciting as watching those “Government (mandated) Public Access Channels” which seemingly every CATV is burdened with (and their customers pay (and keep on paying) for. Pity the CATV’s lobbyists have lacked the testicular fortitude to say “enough” to government mandated channel carriage and sue localities under the 1st amendment and get rid of that junk. If a government wants to be on Cable TV, let it buy a channel on the cable system at market rates without adding to the public’s tax burden to do it. Enough rant! Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/16/09) Good piece in the Financial Times today on how "almost all" news organizations will be charging for online content within a year. - Paul Brandus (www.guardian.co.uk) (7/16/09) Dave's response: And there will always be someone offering the same news for free. Look, I could put DCRTV behind a subscription "wall" and charge for access and my traffic, ad sales, and influence would decline 80 percent. The only content that people will reliably pay for on the internet is hard-core, extreme porn..... If Mike O’Meara decides to stay in this market when his CBS-enforced embargo ends, here’s hoping he’ll have new partners. Having Robb and Buzz on mic was a mess. The appeal of the Junkies (or Stern or O&A) is that it sounds like friends discussing/arguing the matters of the day. There are multiple mics open but it usually doesn’t sound like people are fighting to be heard (save for EB on the Junkies or Artie Lange on Stern lately). On Mike’s show, there was a constant stream of bad jokes and asides from Robb in response to anything Mike said; and unnecessary confirmations or affirmations from Buzz, who made it sound as if he had to say something/anything to remind the audience that he was indeed in the studio. There was zero chemistry among the three. Mike is capable of doing a good show; he just needs a better supporting cast, not one he inherited. A good analogy is with a sports team. Usually, a new coach or manager will fire the old staff (or most of it) and bring in his own guys. Mike either didn’t do that or wasn’t allowed to do that. He therefore had to use the goofy and hacky former intern favorited by Don as one sidekick and the newsman who was an old friend of Don’s as the other sidekick. (If Buzz was there just for the news it would have been fine. But he contributed nothing but banalities as a sidekick.) I think Mike could do well if he starts fresh with a new show and a new cast. (7/16/09) After the destruction... This Kane didn't even mumble "Rosebud" afterward either. KOF (7/16/09) So. Here are the demo ratings for the April/May/June "book" that came out today for WJFK. It's easy to see why WJFK is having to make some moves. PPM has not been good to WJFK. Note to The Junkies who keep saying that they are not changing anything about their show. You NEED to make changes, your numbers are not good. You are lucky, not talented. 18-34: Junkies 9th, Big O And Dukes 13th, Mike O'Meara 13th... 25-54: Junkies 10th, Big O And Dukes 13th, Mike O'Meara 10th... Good bye WJFK. (7/16/09) Dukes and Arrington? I will give a listen, but something tells me Chad Dukes won't be "Chad Dukes". That husky fucker is entertaining, but I feel if he is constrained to sports talk, it will be some stale shit. He will collect a paycheck, just to collect a paycheck. Can't blame him, but it may suck. But, hopefully, I will be wrong...I admit, this will be some sad shit for me since I rocked Don and Mike way back when...But shit changes...Might be time to move on... (7/16/09) Dave's response: Isn't that what Chad has on his car tags - "HSKY FKR"? Ha ha ha..... I couldn't watch the Kane stupidity. Taking a mallet to something that works and was likely crazy expensive? What is it about society that finds wanton destruction entertaining? It isn't like the Doors when they would destroy their instruments after (sometimes during) a performance. Those boys were totally out of their minds. But these yuppies? The only demons they face is a bad latte. Just one more indication of the sad decline of today's spoiled and coddled youth. (7/16/09) So...now that WJFK is about to flip...When will they wise up and go and hire WEBR's "The Other Guys Show"? (7/16/09) Thank You CBS Thank You for running FM talk radio into the shitter. Thats all we need more sports talk!!!! its not enough just to watch the game anymore, now you have to talk about it until your ears bleed? Thank you CBS for showing me the ways of the uncensored podcasts. now all the talk shows I used to listen to on your stations now they are all doing uncensored podcasts that are 1000 times better that the radio show ever was!!!!! now all I need is to find the "easy ways" to get the Doni G's Podcasts and have Mike O do a podcast and my Talk life would be complete again!!! Once again Thank you CBS radio for being a complete Fucking abortion of a company. (7/16/09) Chad Dukes is a passionate kick baller. Lavar Arrington is a condescending self-absorbed vanilla acrylic corporate POS. This might actually be good. (7/16/09) WMAR TV to delete art and traffic departments... and centralize everything out of Tampa... no traffic department for logs or copy... no art department graphics or events... (7/16/09) Well, WJFK in afternoons is looking like the perfect storm for a disaster. It's not Dad Chukes fault, but it will be Lavar Arrtington's. I really can't comprehend why these radio companies hire former athletes as AIR PERSONALITIES, and think they can win. It seems to me that they always do that w/black guys (african americans for the politically correct), and it never works (think Doc Walker, John Thompson). Why not bring in a radio guy who just happens to be black and can do a great RADIO show? But maybe I'm just crazy. I would hope that WJFK succeeds, but with the lineup they have now, it's basically aiming that revolver at your foot, and let's not forget about the cyanide pills that's required for every WJFK salesperson! Junks, good to go. Mike Wise...we'll see. Arrington and Dukes, it might be compelling just to listen to how bad a sports radio show can be. Going agaisnt The Sports Reporters? Not that that show is so good, it just can't be as bad as what could potentially be the biggest disasater in sports radio history. I can say this though, this is going to be VERY interesting! DC sports radio...what a business! -Billy Sparks (7/16/09) Back, through the mists of time, in more innocent days, Rocky the Flying Squirrel (and his pal, Bullwinkle) could be found on one DC or Baltimore TV channel or another. You may not know that the voice of Rocky was provided by June Foray. Her autobiography, "Did You Grow Up With Me, Too?" has just been published. If you're planning to be in San Diego for next week's Comic-Con International, you're in luck. Ms. Foray will be on hand to autograph a copy for you. For details on that, please visit Mark Evanier's fine blog www.newsfromme.com... For more about the book, check at www.amazon.com (7/16/09) Was it on purpose and will someone face consequences? During the intro to the Mike O'Meara show todau they were playing a clip from Napoleon Dynamite, at one point Napoleon is heard saying "Idiot". Right after he says idiot someone played a voicer saying "This is CBS". The clips from Napoleon Dynamite continued and the show began. Maybe Joe Ardinger, Beth Ann or Rob expressing their opinion? (7/16/09) RE: Kane destroying his studio. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. That equipment could have gone to a high school or college, and used for teaching. At the least, CC could have made money selling off the parts. That's supposed to be good radio? (7/16/09) As of May 14, 2009; "Clear Channel is reaching out to lenders about restructuring the company's massive debt load... One topic being debated is a pre-packaged bankruptcy..." Fast forward to July 16, 2009: Hot 99.5 destroys its air studio live on-the-air rather than sharing the older gear with CC's other 800 stations. That's how to run a fiscally-responsible radio empire? (Totally and completely nucking futs.) (7/16/09) HOT 99.5 employess haven't changed a bit since I was there. They were morons and disrespectful of their equipment and the hard work needed to run it then, and it seems they still are. That console and equipment he destroyed was the cost of someone's yearly salary. The one real problem is that he didn't put his hands near the left side where the power supply meets the console after dumping OJ on it. Then we could have watched them perform CPR on him. Now that would have been fun! (7/16/09) (Dave's response: Or, where's Big Don O'Brien these days? Mike could work with him as "Big Don and Mike".....) If I'm not mistaking, Big Don O'Brien is still at 94.3 (WINX during Morning Drive. Tom in Denton, MD. (7/16/09) Many broadcasters would be happy to work with the equipment that Kane so eagerly destroyed in his old studio. For anyone who has worked hard to maintain such gear, it just hurts, watching that mindless destruction. (7/16/09) Is WJFK going to cut Goss's Garage? Was that the best rated show on the weekends? James in Centreville (7/16/09) Re: "* Cleveland, WCLV-FM 104.9... * Cleveland, WBKC, 1460... *" (commercial classical stations) WCLV had long been at full-market 95.5 FM, until what we in the region call the "Great Frequency Swap of 2001". They then landed on western market rimshot 104.9, licensed to Lorain. 95.5 became Salem's local "Fish" CCM outlet. After the move, WCLV enlisted the help of WBKC/1460 to simulcast WCLV in all but morning drive (and when WBKC had Cleveland Indians play-by-play) to cover parts of Lake County far from even 104.9's upgraded signal. WCLV is still operating at 104.9. WBKC dumped out of the simulcast and is now WABQ, taking the gospel format once heard on Cleveland's WABQ/1540. That station's former owners sold 1540 to the local sports talk radio operator who now also owns WKNR/850 ("ESPN 850 WKNR"), and decamped up to 1460 in suburban Painesville. WCLV is indeed owned by a foundation, that has been supporting both classical music radio and local arts causes. The 104.9 signal is pretty bad in the historic listener base for WCLV, Cleveland's rich far eastern suburbs. The WBKC simulcast didn't really help that, either. (7/16/09) Dave: I had meant to send this link earlier today. Buried in today's Washington Post, in the "Home" section, is a ridiculous article about the way D.C.-area residents are "cutting back" during the recession by doing chores themselves instead of hiring help. It's a real laugher, learning that people with two 12-year-old kids were hiring out their lawn service until recently. You'll no doubt get a good laugh out of the other examples in the article. It's tough when one has to iron their own clothes, etc. Anyway, turns out there's a DC TV angle in the story. Former WJLA anchorman Del Walters is quoted. Christian www.washingtonpost.com (7/16/09) Mike O'Meara goes to WPGC as Donnie Simpson's sidekick. Then we have "Don & Mike" back...though I don't think Robbay would feel too comfortable... (7/16/09) Dave's response: Or, where's Big Don O'Brien these days? Mike could work with him as "Big Don and Mike"..... Re: I do believe Dallas's WRR is a city-owned non-comm, isn't it? -- City owned, yes, non-comm, no. From their web site: "Instead of operating at taxpayer expense, WRR is funded solely by advertising revenue. A portion of its profits is donated to the City's Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA Department) as a funding source for cultural arts groups." (7/16/09) Dave's response: Got it. Kinda like our WHUR, a commercial station owned by an educational institution..... I keep reading about stations being sold, resold and then resold again. Just curious, how much would a station like WJFK cost? Or WAVA? WTEM? They way WJFK turns over shows and formats you’d think radio is pretty cheap. Or that production costs are so low that they can erase the board and try over and over again. Also, can’t stations apply to the FCC for greater signal strength? Or are they stuck with what they have? Thanks; Sal Paradise (7/16/09) Dave's response: The problem with the tight credit market right now, no matter what stations cost, they aren't selling. As for signal strength, with stations so "closely packed" as they are locally, there's really "no room" for a power hike. WJFK on 106.7 is pretty much "jammed in there" with Baltimore's 106.5 on one "side" and Hagerstown's 106.9 on the other, and doesn't have much, if any, possibility to upgrade its signal..... To the WJFK radio analyst: PROPS DONKEY!!! That is a damned accurate description of sports radio in my opinion. Of course the opinion belongs to a guy who will never,ever,ever waste electricity to pull in a station broadcasting guys who talk about guys who play with balls for a living,and guys who argue with other guys who like or dislike how this guy or that guy handles balls and how they themselves would have played with the balls had they the talent to do so. If I want sports I'll crack open a frosty one( AIN'T the BEER COLD?) and kick back and WATCH a game. And I'm more for the mosh pit than I am for 'bonding' with a dude who happens to like the same team I do. So as CBS destroys JFK,keeps HFS in a closet at a tampon factory and ignores the total lack of an audience for El Zol I will continue to load my MP3 with the music I've been missing,and perhaps some airchecks etc of a certain station or 2, and rock out with my.....radio....whatcha think i was gonna say? By The Way CBS: The Spanish workers on the jobsites are listening to WPOC,WXCY and JackFM even though the Lanham signal puts 99.1 further north and east then ever so HA FUCKIN HA you idiots. - Donnie in North Cornfed MD (7/16/09) Re: So, what other major markets still have commercial classical radio stations? -- Here's what I came up in terms of US commercial classical stations... I leave it to you to decide what's a "major market". I noticed quite a few frequency shifts for these stations in recent years. Were they all moves to weaker frequencies? * Albany,WBKK-FM, 97.7... * Albuquerque,KHFM-FM, 95.5/102.9... * Anchorage,KLEF-FM, 98.1... * Boston, WCRB-FM,102.5... * Boston, WHRB-FM, 95.3 (not full time classical)... * Boston, WBOQ-FM,104.9 (not full time classical)... * Cape Cod, WFCC-FM,107.5... * Chicago, WFMT-FM, 98.7... * Cleveland, WCLV-FM 104.9... * Cleveland, WBKC, 1460... * Dallas, WRR-FM, 101.1... * Hartford CT, WTMI, 1290... * Kansas City MO, KXTR-AM, 1660... * Los Angeles, KKGO-FM,105.1 HD-2... * New York, WQXR-FM, 96.3 (for now)... * Kennebunkport ME, WBQW-FM, 104.7; Kennebunk ME, WBQQ-FM, 99.3; Bar Harbor ME, WBQI 107.7; Thomaston ME, WBQX-FM 106.9... * Monterey, KBOQ-FM, 103.9... * San Francisco, KDFC-FM,102.1... * Santa Barbara, KDB-FM, 93.7... * Seattle, KING-FM, 98.1... * St. Louis, KFUO-FM, 99.1... (7/16/09) Dave's response: Not counting HD2s, AMers, or part-time FMers, and limiting it to "major markets," that gives us commercial classical stations in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, and St. Louis. I do believe Dallas's WRR is a city-owned non-comm, isn't it? "Second, I think [Tuesday's] John Thompson Show was as low as it gets..with having Doc interview John and Doc not knowing anything about the NBA makes matter's worse." That show's been nothing short of atrocious over this two week period of Walker going solo while Thompson's away. Heavy duty Redskins/Cowboys trash talk in the middle of July - are you kidding me?? Going to the phones for 40 minutes straight on the Wizards (whose season doesn't even start for another three plus months) but not doing a single caller segment on Manny Acta getting canned by the Nats - how clueless can you be about which local sports topics are timely right now and which aren't? As far as I know, the new all sports WJFK-FM hasn't made any announcement about programming after the LaVar Arrington/Chad Dukes show signs off at 6 PM, so I assume it'll just be the national feed from Fox Sports Radio filling the evening hours until basketball season starts. What about weekends? - all syndicated, all the time (other than play-by-play) or will there be some local content? Inasmuch as WTEM always provided Skins pre and postgame programming even in years when it didn't carry the games themselves, you have to assume that JFK will do the same thing on game days (with Arrington most likely playing a prominent role). Considering that Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban (on 980's Sports Reporters) went head-to-head against Don & Mike for years, they may not exactly be shaking in their boots at the prospect of competing with Arrington and Dukes for the 25-54 male audience. Dan Snyder has a reputation for making splashy, headline grabbing moves with the Redskins (such as signing Deion Sanders and hiring collegiate coaching legend Steve Spurrier) - will he try and do something similar with his radio properties as a countermove to the launch of 106.7 The Fan? Bringing Tony Kornheiser on board may fall in that category - I know he commands hefty compensation but throwing boatloads of money at big name talent is nothing new for Danny Boy. Mike, Fairfax (7/16/09) Let me save everyone the time now of listening to WJFK on Monday, September 14th after the Redskins lose to the Giants the afternoon before on the same station, while the elf-like Snyder fumed at no coverage on Red Zebra. The "Sports" Junkies: The Giants are Silly. The Redskins are donkeys. I’m no longer horny for Zorny. They got powned. Gonna be a long season. Mike Wise: The New York Giants run a world-class organization. Dan Snyder should take a page from their book. Clearly, Jim Zorn is in over his head. This is going to be a long season. Chad Dukes and Lavar: I played for both teams and the Giants were always classy. Snyder still owes me money. Zorn is no Shottenheimer. Gonna be a long season folks. Has the boredom set in yet? (7/16/09) From Metromix.com and WUSA 9: MTV Real World DC photographer issues an apology to local reporter tr.im (7/16/09) Re: "An NPR editor will be sentenced today in a US Federal Court for possessing child pornography, particularly videos of young girls being bound and raped. Will NPR and major news organizations ignore this incident like they did the similar case of Charles Rust-Tierney, a Northern Virginia ACLU Director?" Other than the fact that these guys work for organizations you don't like, what is the newsworthiness of the incidents? Are you operating under the belief that every child pornography case in the country is reported by "NPR and major news organizations"? That said, other than the fact that it isn't news, I'm not sure why NPR wouldn't report the story--the guy is a former, not current, NPR employee, and he is accused, not NPR. But thanks for coughing up your conspiracy theory. (7/16/09) Anyone hear Arrington on the Junkies this morning? Man, it made me realize how painful sports radio is going to be for people like me who enjoyed JFK's talker format. I wonder how Chad is going to play against Lavar... Arrington repeatedly referred to his soon to debut show as 'The Lavar Arrington Show', mentioning Dukes was almost an afterthought. The Junkies were in Kow Tow mode as you could hear their foreheads bang the floor in supplication to Arrington. I can't say that I found Arrington compelling based on his Junks appearence this morning. I can say that he does a hell of a one man circle jerk. Arrington loves Arrington. FYI, he mentioned that during his last season with the 'Skins, NOT ONCE did he appear on the cover of a FedEx Field Redskins Gameday Program. I also learned that BDK thinks that Arrington's penis would be 'silly'. Yes BDK did say this. Well, it is time to wax the dial on my radio, because I'll sure as hell be surfing said dial once again for the first time in many years. SPORTS 24/7/365!!!! Whooptie-freaking-Do. (7/16/09) To the best of my knowledge KDFC in San Francisco and KING in Seattle are commercial classical stations. WCIV in Cleveland is operated by the WCIV foundation so it is somewhat of a hybrid. (7/16/09) Boston does NOT still have a commercial classical station as far as I am concerned. WCRB was sold and frequency-swapped with 99.5 in Lowell, Ma. Their transmitter is nearly in New Hampshire - over 20 miles from central Boston. bob c. (7/16/09) Dave's response: Technically, the signal is aimed at the Boston market. Like the last days of DC's WGMS, when it transmitted from Waldorf's 104.1..... Does anyone know the story with WAGE 1200 AM in Leesburg? I rarely listen to the station anymore but I have tuned in the past couple of days just to see what they are up to. When I have tuned in there have been long periods of dead air, followed by national commercials, some news, back to national commercials and then dead air. The local news is being updated. I am not even sure if a show is even airing, I never seem to catch anything. (7/16/09) WQXR is Being Sold by The New York Times, But Will Remain New York's Classical Station... WQXR, founded in 1936 and owned since 1944 by the Times, is being sold to WNYC and to Univision. The deal will mean the move of New York's Classical Station from 96.3 FM to 105.9 FM later this year, where it will become a listener-supported public radio station. FCC approval is required, so the timetable for the move up the dial isn't yet known, but we'll keep you posted as more details become available... HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART: For now, WQXR remains at 96.3 FM and at WQXR.com. And for the future, WQXR will continue to bring classical music to FM listeners in New York, and online listeners around the world, for a long, long time to come. Cory Haber (7/16/09) Dave's response: We have more on our NYC Page. So, what other major markets still have commercial classical radio stations? Boston and Chicago are the only ones that come to mind..... An NPR editor will be sentenced today in a US Federal Court for possessing child pornography, particularly videos of young girls being bound and raped. Will NPR and major news organizations ignore this incident like they did the similar case of Charles Rust-Tierney, a Northern Virginia ACLU Director?......... Sorry to see Mike O'Meara go, not because his show was listenable, but I believe guy talk radio may be fading out. WJFK used to have D & M, O & A, Big O & Dukes, Howard Stern, Ron & Fez- now if you want dedicated full time, funny talk radio, you have to buy satellite... I love Chad Dukes and I thought his pairing with Oscar Santana was a fine move- Chad the ranter and raver, Big O the "straight man". They worked well together and I wish they stay together. Matching Dukes with LaVar Arrington is untested and may not work on sports radio- Dukes style may not be appreciated by sports fans who've never heard him. WJFK made a colossal mistake in not switching TMOS time slot with Big O and Dukes............. The Obama All Star pitch? About as good as he's handling the economy but deserves a fraction of a fraction the scrutiny the press is giving it......... (7/16/09) I noticed Hearst owned WGAL TV 8 up in Lancaster, PA also filed for a power increase to solve DTV reception problems along with WBAL 11. As a child, I remember being able to get WGAL 8 even in Baltimore city, but I imagine that's quite impossible now. It seems like lots of VHF DTV stations are having serious reception issues. Philly's ABC-owned WPVI 6 also filed for a significant power increase. I wonder how ATSC on VHF in New York is doing with WNET 13 and WPIX 11. I would think with all the huge skyscrapers, it would be even more problematic in the biggest cities like New York, but I've not read about any DTV problems in New York yet. I noticed WCBS, WNBC, WNYW, and even WABC & WWOR both vacated their VHF frequencies even though they probably didn't have to, unlike some DC, Baltimore and Philly stations which were virtually forced back onto VHF due to a lack of available frequencies. Seriously, could the FCC have fucked this DTV switch up anymore than they did? It's hard to imagine really. This is what happens when you have lawyers and lobbyists running the FCC and NOT TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE! (7/16/09) All this whining and crying over the Mike O'Meara show in the mailbag. I understand he was part of a DC staple for years. But his time is over. Not now. Years ago. Radio left him by. Let's actually shed a tear for an current innovative show. The Big O and Dukes show may not have been everyone's cup of tea, but neither was D&M. But at least they try new and different segments (like D&M). Interview REAL celebrities or interesting columnists (unlike booking guests to talk about Lyme Disease *cough* BA *cough*) If they were just given time and a good time slot they could have prospered for years. It's a shame they're going to be going in separate directions. But after listening to the show today you realize how many amazing things they've accomplished in only 2 years at WJFK and less than that on the midday time slot. Hope to hear more from Big O and Dukes in the future. (7/16/09) Not only did WBAL TV 11 file an STA request with the FCC for an increased power of 4X their licensed power, they are claiming to be receiving a significant number of reception complaints since the The Big Switch and are conducting an engineering study to look for possible solutions, including moving off of channel 11 if possible. Although the preliminary study appears to suggest that will not be possible. WBAL is also looking into a power increase with a directional antenna and/or the use of translators to restore their signal to the thousands that have lost it. WBAL claims that they're restricted not by Martinsburg's channel 12, but mainly by Staunton VA's channel 11 and Harrisburg's channel 10. There is more info here... fjallfoss.fcc.gov (7/16/09) I live in Delaware and listen to WGMD occasionally but didn't realize Don was on the air 15 hours a day. (7/16/09) In a bit of irony, convicted Ponzi-schemer Bernard Madoff is in the same joint as two other one-time investment "wizards": John Rigas and Timothy Rigas of Adelphia Comminucations fame, who likewise have guaranteed long-term gigs at the Club Fed branch in Butner, NC ("Conveniently located near I-85") -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/16/09) 1) Note to WTNT: Please stop the annoying 'dead air' that comes multiple times a day midway a Mancow segment, or during Monica Crowley's broadcast. I'm sitting there listening to something hysterically funny that Mancow is talking about, and then there's sporadic dead air here & there, as if the station is 'filtering' the show prior to its broadcast. It's bad enough that Mancow's show was moved by you guys to 3-6pm and Crowley's to 10 pm-1am -- and then we have to deal with this bullcrap! 2) I love the way that Andy Parks and Bryan Nehman interact when Fred's away -- those two make my morning! There's nothing better than my 2 cups of coffee & listening to them at sunrise! -Silvie- (7/16/09) Great WGTB program tonight. Had not listened to WGAY in a while. (7/16/09) The latest Sirius-XM rats jumping ship are jumping now to take advantage of the severance package related to the merger. The merge-related severance package expires a year after the merge date (July 28, 2008). Zellner the Horrible's last day was Monday, a few others left a week earlier and any others leave by the end of the month. (7/16/09) Dave, I, just want to say, after seeing and hearing you, you are a very handsome, educated, well spoken man. NO, i am not hitting on you, just wanted to make you smile. Nor do you have to pay for the compliment. (7/16/09) Dave's response: Thanks. Actually, that pic NewsChannel 8 used yesterday was at least six years old. Since then, I've shaved my head and grown the beard even longer. Way more handsomer now..... Hey Dave, I hope this finds you well, but all I can say is you are the first person I am contacting to let you know we willbe having a special guest (Thursday) on Wyldestyle Radio around 7.30 to 8pm. Its DCRTV's favorite son. Ok well the other one. Thanks. Rocky from the Kevin and Rock show. www.wyldestyleradio.com (7/16/09) /\ July 16 Messages /\ \/ July 15 Messages \/ Regarding whether WJFK would still be WJFK if Don hadn't left a little over a year ago... You have to look at this as the bean counters do... as a business. Had Don not left, they'd be carrying his reported $2 million salary, plus Mike's $2 million salary (he freely admitted taking a massive paycut when Don left). Let's say Don leaving chopped $3 million from the bottom line. The ratings when he left (and likely the billing) stayed about the same. So WJFK would have actually been making FAR less PROFIT if Don had stayed, and I would suggest they would have been losing money hand over fist in this economy. I think they would have flipped 6 months ago when the Free FM in Los Angeles flipped, had Don and Mike's bloated contracts still been on the books. That station can't be billing more than $12 million... you can't have $4 million tied up just in afternoon drive talent costs in this economy, as anyone actually in the business knows. Don leaving bought the station 6 months to a year. (7/15/09) Looks like WBAL DTV has as of yesterday a STA to go from 5KW to 26.2 KW. www.fcc.gov... Bob Fairfax (7/15/09) It seems that Howard Stern leaving for satellite radio was the end of “guy-talk” radio as we know it. Mitch (7/15/09) It suddenly occurred to me that my favorite way of listening to the WJFK “talent” (RIP) that I really liked (mostly The Junks & MOM these days) – via the web site downloads – was probably going to go away and if I wanted any of them I had better download & preserve them somewhere on my computer: too late. Now when one goes to the WJFK web site, it comes up with the old WJFK site and quickly goes to “106.7 THE FAN. After Friday, save the Junkies on occasion (boy were they whoring it up this morning on behalf of the new format) and Redskins games (at last, a strong, FM signal again!), I will never, ever listen to WJFK or “THE FAN”. Amen: been nice knowing ya. (7/15/09) Dave- do you think another local station will pick up Loveline? it's the only thing that's remained consistent on JFK since Geronimo left. Dr. Drew is certainly the smartest and most professional person in radio of any format. (7/15/09) Dave's response: Might fit on 94.7 Fresh FM or on Hot 99.5..... Isn't is ironic that most of the major market FM'ers that carried the Stern show have blown out their formats - some more than once? Meanwhile, Howard is laughing his ass off at what over-the-air radio has devolved into, and he's cackling all the way to the bank. Other than WTOP there's nothing on the FM dial worth listening to any more. Sadly, since the Sirius/XM merger, satrad has gotten somewhat predictable, too. Their 70s and 80s channels are pretty much down to 36-hour or so rotating blocks of the SOS - same stuff in the same order! I guess creativity costs money and Chairman Mel ain't gonna pony up in this economy to anyone but Howard - - - - - Larry in Luray (7/15/09) Like many, I discovered Don and Mike a while ago but was familiar with the format as I spent several years with Steve and Garry in Chicago and cut my teeth with Jonathon Brandmeier in Phoenix and Howard all over. D&M seemed very similar to Steve and Garry, right down to Don (Steve) and his rants about whatever was up his ass that day. As far as who was the 'boss', I remember one day when they were having some sort of dispute and Don said to Mike, "I can do this with you, or I can do this without you." I think Mike left for a few days, but came back and all seemed fine. But that spirit always seemed to be the overriding one. It was Don's show. You could often hear Don's frustrations with Mike. But it was part of the act. Then Freida was lost and Don lost the fire. I remember listening to Mike by himself and he just didn't sound as comfortable or happy. Now I listen to Don by himself and it is like what Mike is alone. No fire. Or the way Howard might be without Robin or Fred. One dimensional. There is nothing wrong with being a team, and they were the best. I guess I will have to pony up the Sirius bucks. (7/15/09) Here is the requested O'Meara podcast RSS feed: www.wjfk.com (7/15/09) OK Dave--now that you and your minions have ruined jfk--just who is on the air in DC that is funny, topical and basically liberal? Eh? What are you recommendations. If you were a supporter of D&M and TMOS, I'm a weasel's wedding packet! What's on DC radio that compares to these? Come on, it's your responsibility to help us O'Meara fans cope, now that you've greased the skids. Pissed in Peoria! (7/15/09) Dave's response: How has DCRTV ruined JFK? Hell, if I ran CBS Radio in DC, Don and Mike would still be on the air here, and WHFS with Cerphe and Weasel would rein gloriously on 94.7 or 99.1. If you liked JFK's old guy talk, my advice would be to subscribe to Sirius XM and tune into Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, and Ron and Fez. They've all aired on JFK, and they're still heard on satrad. Over the local airwaves, there's always Elliot on DC101 if you can stand his horridly girlish cackle, and, for the aging set, WMAL's Grandy and Andy aren't half bad. I would imagine that sometime in 2010 we'll get Mike O'Meara and Don Geronimo back on the airwaves in DC, when their CBS contracts expire. It's CBS, not DCRTV, keeping both off the local radio dial..... (Did you notice that Don Geronimo is now on the air mornings 9 - 12 AM in Lewes, Delaware, WGMD, www.wgmd.com... His twitter account for the show is twitter.com/DonGeronimoShow... Dave's response: Really? Thanks for the tip.....) Now THAT'S funny. (7/15/09) Thanks to whoever sent the podcast link for Big O and Dukes! Do you (or does anyone else) have a podcast link for the Junkies or Mike O'Meara? (7/15/09) Just posted video of your NewsChannel 8 hit - cfc.news8.net (7/15/09) Dave's response: Oh no! The horror, the horror. They said they ran a really really old pic of me..... Here's a link to the WJFK Big O and Duke Podcast, as requested: www.wjfk.com (7/15/09) Everyone can scream it as loud as they can and also knowingly that the CBS DC sutis view DCRTV and probably the mailbag too.Though even though 99.1 comes in pretty much clear all the way up to Hanover, PA in and across the rest of the Southern PA and the eastern shore and all the CBS DC suit's care about is serving a small portion of DC. Yes I guess they are too stupid to see how important HFS was to Baltimore where it's ratings & market base truly were. If you're gonna program for something only someone in DC will be interested in it makes YOU the CBS suit looks stupid for killing a station that is sorely missed in Baltimore because you THOUGHT you'd get ratings from that small portion of DC that 99.1 now serves. Meanwhile ElZol's ratings don't even show up in Baltimore & will less so when the PPM's roll out. Meanwhile Alt Rocker HFS should it have stayed could have carried more than it's own in Baltimore. I know WCHH Channel 104.3 doesn't show much for the format but 104.3 is as cookie cutter as it gets and isn't even no where near what HFS2 was on 105.7 HD-2. Not to mention the morning show on 104.3 is the same thing as something else you hear in Baltimore on 101.1. HFS or 105.7 HFS2 was not the DC101 cookie cutter alt rock bringing lots Chili Peppers and cock rock for teens between 13 years old & 18 years old. While Elliot is a good show DC101 & Channel 104.3 both blows in comparison. 98Rock doesn't even have anything on HFS. Yes Jack is right WIYY-FM is more 98Talk than anything unless you listen between 10-2 to Sarah Fliescher and then it's only the usual rock. I find it rather sad that I have to point out why even with the stupid Channel 104.3 as to why there is a huge void for THE one and only WHFS Alt Roock format on 99.1 in Baltimore. Lord knows it would automatically be my #1 preset. Big O & D moring's and everything else music extensive with Neci who IMO is a geat on air talent for HFS in the 10-2 slot, and maybe a verteran voice Cerphe can find a home in the 3-7pm slot and Spam can fill in the 7pm-midnight shift. As for ElZol put it where it belongs on 1580 & 95.5 HD. Doesn't DC have enough righty AM's that don't get any ratings? 1580 is a waste of airspace while HFS is missing from 99.1. (7/15/09) Hi Dave. In response to all the JFK loyalists, WAKE-UP! The daytime and evening shows were floundering. THANK GOD there now is an alternative to the Danny-Boy Radio network, where there will undoubtedly a sanctuary in the DC airwaves where one can rip into the incompetence and the impotence of the local football team and management without fear of repercussions (ie: brian mitchell, Riggo, etc.) Sergio (7/15/09) Hello- Great Site. You do an outstanding job posting excellent blog entries. However, your 7/15 entry "More Big Changes Coming To DC Radio Dial?" does not make any sense to me. You say at the end of the post that "Word is (WTEM owner Dan Snyder) is pissed. He knows that a quality local/live sports talker will eat syndie sports lunch any day of the week. He wanted to emulate the 'successful' team-owned sports broadcasters in the major markets, something which DC really isn't." If I'm reading your post correctly, are you saying that D.C. is not a major market? Eh? DC is currently the 7th or 8th largest media market in the country, depending on which source you believe. If you combine the DC and Baltimore media markets, it's the 4th largest. The only markets that are measurably larger are NY, LA, and Chicago. Markets 4 through 11 are all pretty much the same size. So my question is, if DC is not a major market. What is? Now if you meant to say that DC is not a "major sports market", then yes, I would agree with you on that. DC is way too transient to be a good sports town. Good football town, not a good sports town. You may want to clarify what you meant in your entry--it's a little vaugue. Othewise, keep up the great work. You've got an outstanding site. -Dan (7/15/09) Dave's response: I didn't say it. The "local radio guru" I talked to said it. I strongly doubt that Citadel will put WMAL on 107.3 and move Mix to 105.9..... Yesterday, Rep. Mike Ross (R-Ark.) introduced the “Local Television Freedom Act”, which if passed, would allow Cable and Satellite TV companies to provide their customers with “non-entertainment” programming transmitted by broadcast stations located in the same state as the customer when they’re not inside the same DMA. The American Cable Association (a trade group of smaller and many independent Cable TV system has given this bill its support, saying “ACA applauds Representative Ross for pursuing with conviction an issue that would provide great consumer benefits not only for his constituents, but also for millions of voters in many congressional districts across the country. In today's day and age, it's undemocratic to maintain regulations that block consumer access to in-state news, local emergency alerts, local public service messages, local political and issue advertising, local sports and local commercials," said ACA President and CEO Matt Polka. "Rep. Ross has identified one of the biggest problems with our overly regulated television market system – namely, that some consumers are unable to receive television stations from their own state. “It's an issue of localism that cable operators hear about from their customers, as well. Cable has the technological ability to solve this problem, and we are pleased to be part of the solution in Rep. Ross' bill." Under current laws, some subscribers are unable to receive via cable local channels from the state in which they live and/or work. D.C. is just one the 47 percent of DMAs nationwide which cross a state line, meaning that millions of subscribers are left watching the local channels of their neighboring state. In a prepared statement, Representative Ross said, “The time has come to stop delivering 21st century technologies with 1950’s business practices.” He continues, saying. “Americans should not be bound by outdated laws that prevent them from receiving their home state programming.” Ross also says “The Local Television Freedom Act of 2009” will bring the DMA system and the Satellite Home Viewer Act into the 21st century. If it passes, the legislation would allow satellite and cable companies the legal means to offer their subscribers not only the local channels within their DMA, but also the local channels of an adjacent in-state DMA. (7/15/09) Can anyone help me get to the podcasts of today's shows on WJFK? Right now, if you try to go to wjfk.com or type in a link to podcasts, you are defaulted to a screen for 106.7 The Fan with no links to podcasts. I'd like to save some of these final shows if possible, so any help would be greatly appreciated. (7/15/09) I am pretty sure I heard WMAL already simulcasting on 107.3-HD2 on my not-really-portable portable HD Radio unit last weekend. -Chainsman (7/15/09) Dave's response: Yes, WMAL's been relaying its talk signal on the HD2 of sister WRQX..... Oh hell yeah! So true!! (FOX5 ..They have the cackling of Holly Morris first thing in the morning along with the rocking "I can't keep still in my chair" Gurvir and the "I want to be a real anchor" Tony Perkins who isn't allowed a remote control to change the weather maps and must depend on Tucker for real weather information. .... they started using TMZ as a source of information, .....Wendy Williams show, THAT was evidence to me that they had reached an all time low..) (7/15/09) I have been listening to WJFK 108.7 ever since I moved here to the Washington DC area almost 11yrs ago. My drive home takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hrs depending on traffic and the only thing that really got me thru it was listening to the Don & Mike Show. I could laugh at some of the things they said and did and it kept me preoccupied even when I wanted to pull the last few hairs I had off my head when so ^$%#&# cuts me off on the 495. Then came the Janet Jackson incident and all jocks became afraid to say or do anything the might provoke the rathe of the FCC. Okay so the Don and Mike show toned down there schtick, but it still got me thru the drive home even tho secretly I was still wanting to hear some chick call in while having an orgasm. We all related to Don & Mike on some level whether it was thru the show antics itself or when they would talk about their homelife or what they did on the weekend. We even made it thru the tragic loss that Don had when losing his wife. In any event we would all be talking about it at work the next day. Then Don left the show, and while Mike is a great talent the show was never really the same. Letting Buzz, Rob and Beth Ann on the mic was like listening to somebody run their fingernails across a chalkboard, I hated it, and everyday it made me reach to changing the dial or just listening to music. I understand needing to make a buck and the ratings, but when I am driving either to work in the morning or driving home at the end of the day what I want is to be able to forget about my work day and get a good laugh and be able to bring that event to work the next day with a “did you hear what Don & Mike did yesterday on the radio?”. I think CBS is underestimating the power of Sports radio and the loyalty the fans have to the WJFK talkradio format. I have even become a fan of the Junkies, but I tell ya when they start talking more about some coach of some team I have never heard of rather then what they did over the weekend, I end up turning the dial and I’m afraid so will a lot of others CBS. “Don The Hypnotist” (7/15/09) PPM debate rages; Arbitron sued again, this time by Guam: www.alltheexcess.com (7/15/09) Any thoughts on what might have happened with WJFK if the "Don & Mike Show" was still in existence? I doubt that CBS would have cancelled that show... Really, CBS should have never flipped 94.7 to "Fresh." They could have kept the classic rock or updated it to an alternative station. Mike and Big O & Dukes would have been a perfect fit. (7/15/09) Dave's response: I agree..... Fox News' new "Breaking News" scare tactic to terrorize the unwashed huddled masses into submitting to their control? "Obama Pentagon Contractor Creates Horrifying Army of Corpse-Eating Robots!!!" www.foxnews.com... Oh well....I guess once you slide down that slippery slope of making Glenn Beck a household name, it's only a matter of time before you lower your standards to the point of becomming the "Weekly World News" of the basic cable lineup. - Jeff in (You just can't make this $#!T up!) Bowie (7/15/09) Tanner Cooley is Chris Cooley’s brother, most certainly not his wife, who is named Christy. (7/15/09) Glad to hear that Mike will continue to get paid through the end of the year after WJFK screwed him. I just hope his staff has the same deal. Even Buzz. WB, Centreville VA. (7/15/09) Dave: I hope you will post this because it is simply facts that you know to be true and opinion which can't be called "innaccurate:" Facts: I sent you a mailbag post in which I disclosed information about the closing of a business owned by a person of DCRTV interest. You posted it, but then removed it at the request of that person who claimed it "innacurate." Opinion: If you're going to remove posts I think you should disclose on the board why you did so. I think you should also contact the original poster to let them know that someone is claiming the information "innaccurate" and that you are removing the post until the claims are substantiated. I have evidence of my claims (which I've shared a piece of with you off-mailbag) so it is frustrating someone can just say "that's not true" and you give them benefit of the doubt but not me, the original poster. (Ideally, I think you should leave all material up including the objections of the other party.) I don't envy you hand-running an active message board that the area's most beloved & despised "celebrities" troll and jump on you about. But I hope you'll consider what I've suggested. I made this as toned down & vague as possible so you will hopefully post it and no other party will get bent out of shape. In the meantime, other media have shown interest in what we have to say about my original posts so I'll no longer write about that person here. (Ironically this just adds to the story we have to tell.) Instead I'll close by saying I love what JFK is doing to Dan Snyder's stress level! (7/15/09) Dave's response: If someone complains to me that a post about them contains inaccuracies and they want it removed, I will pull the post. That's DCRTV's long-standing Mailbag policy. I cannot determine which "side" of a particular dispute is more truthful, only that one side believes they've been wronged..... Not happy about WJFK's slick corporate slide into unlistenable numbnuts sports advertising. If we haven't suffered enough from the consequences of corporate brainpowered decisions over the last eight years, we have yet another brianiac move toward Junkyesque adolescence with this flip into the slime pool of DC sports team marketing. Was it the brain dead alzheimer old folks 980 sports talk that sparked this exciting business model or was it executive golf course heat ? Who cares. I Will miss the O&D show and will miss the MOM crew, Mike, Rob, Buz, and BA. It wasn't much, but for a few months, DC radio enjoyed live voices from the undead. Gone. Welcome the quintessential cardboard character, the self marketing machine, the renaissance man, the surly bug eyed master of the three word post game interview sentence... I give you Lavar Arrington, the underachieving overpaid oozer of underarm corporate sleaze. Just what I wanted out of my radio, more teenage three word wisdoms from Ovechkin millionaires, along with endless envites to the FedEX little man money pit. Well done O&D, well done MOM crew, you will be missed. (7/15/09) Putting aside Limbaugh's degree of fitness, Obama's throw last night did nothing to disabuse the notion that he is an effete elitist. (7/15/09) I won’t have a WYRE sticker for a while…but then there MIGHT be several other stickers too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (7/15/09) "Dave, chriscooley.yardbarker.com... Tanner Cooley, Chris Cooley’s wife, on her blog suggests that she will have a show called “The Sports Hub” (If it doesn’t already exist). She also states that 106.7 is going after the Terrapins, and Capitals, further confirming your posts. Thanks!" Tanner is Chris' brother........ (7/15/09) Did you notice that Don Geronimo is now on the air mornings 9 - 12 AM in Lewes, Delaware, WGMD, www.wgmd.com... His twitter account for the show is twitter.com/DonGeronimoShow (7/15/09) Dave's response: Really? Thanks for the tip..... RE: [ " Riiiight, because those Latinos, they can't figure out a frequency lower than 105......... And, why isn't CBS better off putting on a frequency that can be received in Baltimore and DC a format that otherwise isn't represented on the FM dial in either city? " ].......... Simple answer: Baltimore has one of the lowest Latino populations of any large east coast city, possibly THE LOWEST. Putting El Zol on 99.1 is the equivalent of having more than half of the station's signal over water, because that's about how many Latinos are listening to it in Baltimore & Annapolis, its city of license. Similarly, few students at the U of MD can even receive WJFK 106.7 at Byrd Stadium or in their dorms. Doesn't CBS even do population market studies beforehand? You would think not from their idiotic choices. The previous post is correct. 94.7 should be The Fan, 106.7 El Zol. And even if HFS does not return to 99.1, at least program something that someone from Annapolis to Baltimore would ever possibly choose to listen to. I can think of at least 2 formats that Baltimore does not even have, Oldies or Top 40. I realize the FCC would never take any action in a million years, but isn't Spanish language programming on an Annapolis station that has few to no Latinos technically a failure to serve its community of license? And missed in all the CBS hoopla is the fact that poor old AM 1500, with its 50,000 watt blowtorch signal will be a vast wasteland after the Nats leave. 50,000 watts of Federal News? Geez, the snooze alarm must be going off at Bonneville! LOL (7/15/09) ("That is 12+, you fucking dolt. Nobody relies on that information. Nobody buys on that information. Nobody's career is decided on that information. Your inside people pass better information on to you than that.") You can continue to insist that the moon is just the sun at night, but only a mongoloid like you will believe it. WTEM is an atrocious radio station with pathetic numbers, poor quality shows, and very few listeners. (7/15/09) How incompetent is WMAL? I called them this morning on behalf of a client who is interested in making a large media buy. I'm in a hurry and said to the lady in the sales department "I need to hear from someone right away." She said "One of our account executives will get right back to you in a few minutes." Five hours later and no one has bothered to call. Guess WMAL's not interested in making any money. (7/15/09) RE: [So, Rush Limbaugh...called Obama "girly" because of his pitch last night at the All Star Game.] WTF?...If there is one conversational topic Rush Limbaugh needs to avoid at all costs, it is any discussion of matters involving physical fitness. Just take look at poor Rush-bo... we're talking about a physical specimen who probably exceeds his target heart rate in the dozen step round-trip journey from the barco-lounger to the fridge. I mean, this is a man who looks like he constantly teeters one Ruth's Chris steak and a cigar shy of coronary bypass. Rush needs to learn that insolent comments of this nature only serve to validate the prevailing opinion that he is insanely jealous and angry about Obama's popularity. While President Obama exudes so much charisma that the majority of Americans would love to sit down and have a beer with him, when it comes to Rush, the majority of Americans would clearly rather save the empty bottles to wing in his direction as he waddles away. How sad that there are still people out there who hang on every drug-addled rant that spews from the mouth of this pathetic fool. (7/15/09) Dave's response: I heard that. After Limbaugh spent about 20 minutes calling the prez "girly" because he can't throw a ball like a professional baseball pitcher, he then went into a 15-minute talk today about his kitty cat. I guess he thinks it makes him look personable to discuss such stuff, but, in reality, he just comes off kinda strange..... Great job CBS. What’s next Kirk, Mark and Lop….Shamrock? Wow oh Wow I can taste the bile in the back of my throat now. I’m heading out to Borders later. Where can I find the CBS manual “How to f*** up radio real bad and keep your job” or their best seller “CBS RADIO WHAT THE F***”? Sigh, back to my IPOD. Elkridge Steve (7/15/09) Hey- I'm a long time listener of Don and Mike through syndication and later through podcast, and I've been reading your website ever since the death of Don Geronimo's wife. I was just wondering if you think your local media will eventually cover the cancellation of the Mike O'Meara Show. It seems like it would be more of a big deal, considering how long that guy has been on air in your market. Wouldn't there be enough curious people to justify a newspaper story highlighting O'Meara's career? A twenty year run is becoming a rarity these days. (7/15/09) Dave's response: I really expected a story on JFK in this morning's Post. I guess Farhi's just waiting for a few more days worth of DCRTV stuff that he can repurpose and reheat..... (Well, the fucking retarted Arbitron radio ratings show Snyder's WTEM usually ranking about 20th place among the total radio market. Not good.....) That is 12+, you fucking dolt. Nobody relies on that information. Nobody buys on that information. Nobody's career is decided on that information. Your inside people pass better information on to you than that. (7/15/09) Dave, chriscooley.yardbarker.com... Tanner Cooley, Chris Cooley’s wife, on her blog suggests that she will have a show called “The Sports Hub” (If it doesn’t already exist). She also states that 106.7 is going after the Terrapins, and Capitals, further confirming your posts. Thanks! (7/15/09) Here’s a shot of Ney and Me and Rare71 (my car) in the special interest building at the All Chrysler At Carlisle Event this past weekend. It was a very exciting event for all of us.PLB (7/15/09) Dave's response: You gotta a WYRE bumper sticker on that? What they didn't show you about the new HD portable radio - the antenna.... www.alltheexcess.com (7/15/09) Mike O'Meara & Don Geronimo "Radio Gods"? I guess that is better than what I saw on another site yesterday where some felt that Don & Mike are better than "Jesus Christ".I guess I am getting old as I can remember hearing folks back in the 70s calling then Q107 morning guy Dude Walker & Doug Limerick "Radio Gods", then Howard Stern later became "The Jesus of DC radio".Greaseman...you had to like him..he was a "God", The late Melvin Lindsey, I remember hearing people as call calling him "The Jesus Christ of Washington DC radio". Heck there was Cindy McGuire from Mix 107.3...not only was she called a "Radio God" but even "..if you weren't turn on by her then one isn't a true man".Gee..people in DC seem to have this passion about their radio people with folks going as far as comparing them to Jesus. Interesting in all of my travels over the years, I have never heard anybody be called a "Radio God" in other markets. OK..in Pittsburgh over the years I have heard people call the late Myron Cope that but nobody else. Anyway, the contracts of Don & Mike, I do have to admit it is strange that CBS, once they go sports and CBS has no intention on using themall all ( as in ever ) then why doesn't CBS simply "fire" Don Geronimo and Mike O'Meara and allow them to work at another radio station in the market? Now before I read from others where if one gets fired ( even by CBS ) then that "non-compete" still sticks..OK but why is it different in other markets? Afterall CBS Radio has fired many people at their stations in various markets throughout the US within the last few years from LA to Denver to Chicago to Dallas and many of those who were fired did end up a short time later working elsewhere within the same market without any trouble..why is it different in the Washington market? Just find it strange to keep someone on the payroll and under contract if there isn't any intention on ever using them again. (7/15/09) Re: "Dave, are these the producers on the new jfk shows? Junkies – CK and Brett; Mike Wise – Chris Johnson; Lavar and Dukes – Matt “Drab T-Shirt” Cahill." Yes, those are the new producers. Not sure yet what will happen to BA and Rob. Joe will be on the phones for Lavar and Dukes. The Junkies will never be fired while CK is PD at JFK. Just not gonna happen. Trust. They all know their fates are intertwined. Oscar is going to cohost at PGC within the next few months.--Slaw (7/15/09) Regarding WTEM and Snyder -- he's gained little ratings traction -- I really think you are fucking retarded sometimes. I take that back. It gives retarded people a bad name. WTEM hits their demo consistently. (7/15/09) Dave's response: Well, the fucking retarted Arbitron radio ratings show Snyder's WTEM usually ranking about 20th place among the total radio market. Not good..... So, Rush Limbaugh who has had three or four failed marriages and currently shares his Palm Beach mansion with a pussy cat - and that's the only pussy he's getting, called Obama "girly" because of his pitch last night at the All Star Game. (7/15/09) (Dave, are these the producers on the new jfk shows? Junkies – CK and Brett; Mike Wise – Chris Johnson; Lavar and Dukes – Matt “Drab T-Shirt” Cahill. Are Beth Ann, Joe, and the other associate producers going to be out?) From what I heard from the Junkies this morning, and from Chad Dukes, Brett will continue to produce the Junkies, and Drab will produce the Dukes/Arrington show. As far as I gather from implied rumblings, the MOM crew has been waxed. -matt in sterling (7/15/09) Thank you Dave, for your nice words concerning The Mike O'Meara Show and the crew. CBS should have handled the situation with more class and really should have tried to find a way to keep them on the air in DC, perhaps restructuring contracts and finding a sister station to take them on. There is a (perhaps small in the grand scheme of things) loyal core of WJFK listeners who have kept at it since the Don and Mike days, listeners who will not automatically just start listening to endless sports yak. Appreciate your recognizing us and writing about it, and about the poor treatment by CBS. It means something coming from you, because your job entails posting information AND speculation it often creates the impression you personally are gunning for a certain outcome. The rants feature allows us to hear YOUR opinions on things. Good to hear you say something nice about the people so many of us have grown to love, and are now out there fighting for their careers. (7/15/09) So, any more news on what the fate of Loveline is on DC? Hard to imagine them continuing to run it on an all-sports station. Hoping it's going to be moved somewhere else (I mean, they used to run it on HFS, right?). (7/15/09) Your latest rant referred to "CBS now rolling out a national network of FM sports talkers". Maybe you better take a course in fact-checking. CBS Radio is NOT moving its sports-format stations to FM. SportsRadio 66/WFAN in New York is staying on AM. 670 The Score in Chicago is staying on AM. Both stations transmit 50,000 watts with a non-directional antenna and thus have very large coverage areas. WFAN and The Score would actually lose listeners if they moved to FM. Rumor and speculation are one thing. Getting the story right is another. Charles Everett, DCRTV reader in Bridgewater NJ (7/15/09) Dave's response: My quote was not inaccurate. CBS is indeed rolling out a network of FM sports talkers around the country. Not in every market where it owns stations. And, yes, there are rumblings that CBS will be putting WSCR in Chicago on an FM frequency. Ditto with rumblings about Philly's WIP moving to FM, maybe WYSP's 94.1. NYC is a very strong AM radio market, and CBS doesn't, at the moment, have an available FM frequency in the Big Apple for such a flip..... WJFK has always been the go to station, even when Don was on one of his constant ego-centric rants, Stern had yet another stripper on for the forth time that week, or an old Watergate Nazi was sitting around reading The Washington Times during the middle of the day, it was the station that brought a lot of fans to the talk radio scene, and for now it seems that genre is going the way of the dinosaur (a cliche, but fitting). If you check on it the last full-time FM talk station in the country is possibly WTKS in Orlando, Florida, and even that probably has a countdown clock on it as the FCC continues to wrangle everything anyone can say thus limiting the "shock jock" genre to more of a "tepid amusement jock" genre. It's probably still worth giving the new station a chance, the Junkies are still a local legacy and the Chad Dukes and Lavar Arrington combo is interesting at the least, but it will never be the same. Sports talk is just like political talk, following a big game or major campaign race it's fun, but otherwise it's analysis following analysis ad nauseum 24/7, it's generally useless beyond the occasional tune in. It might just be as a whole radio is dying in general, more than likely every car will have an internet connection within a few years and you'll be able grab your choice of internet stream, podcast, on-demand news, or YouPorn movie right there from your dashboard, all of which makes AM or FM seem trite by comparison. Still it sucks to lose live local talk, as that always was always the one fresh and ever-different sound amongst a sea of music stations that can otherwise be replaced by an iPod. I for one will miss what WJFK was or even talk radio as a whole, including shows I never listened to or hated out of hand (I'm looking at you Leykis and JV & Elvis). WJFK is now gone and a number of reasons could be cited for it, but ultimately if you're looking in the right places there's still enough new content (XM Sirius, iTunes, ustream, etc) and old (it's amazing what underground sites turn up on a Google search) that for those who still want entertainment will be able to find it. (7/15/09) I would agree that the Junks should take this station format change as a chance to re-charge the batteries . . . their act has been sounding a bit thread-bare for a couple of years now. When they're all screaming at the same time, who can listen? Sincerely, TMU (7/15/09) Great Rant about JFK/Mike O today Dave. I’ve been listening to JFK since my days at the University of Maryland, even when the nutty G Gordon was on. Don and Mike were a big part of my broadcast day, even into my professional life. I always tried to listen to their show, either in the car or on the computer. After Don left, Mike and crew did a great job and CBS should have given them the dignity of a full, final show. I understand how radio works but I do think that he got a raw deal. I just hope that he’s back on the air soon. Dave, Hunt Valley, MD (7/15/09) Dave, are these the producers on the new jfk shows? Junkies – CK and Brett; Mike Wise – Chris Johnson; Lavar and Dukes – Matt “Drab T-Shirt” Cahill. Are Beth Ann, Joe, and the other associate producers going to be out? (7/15/09) Dave's response: Anybody know? Sports radio ALL DAY on 106.7 WJFK? Boring, boring, boring. As much as I love Chad Dukes, I will not be able to stand listening to him talk about sports all day. Goodbye Big O and Dukes humor, hello "take ourselves and our sports too seriously" radio. Hopefully the Junks will stay true to their show. -209vaughn (7/15/09) It is a shame what CBS Radio did to Mike O’Meara and his team. However, this is what happens when a corporation runs something. But what this also shows is why radio, as it was, is dead. I can listen to Stern or NFL Radio on Sirius and I can listen to Adam Corolla or The Radio Chick on my iPod. When I listen to the shows on Sirius or my iPod I begin to realize part of the problem. No talk show is really ever able to get itself into a rhythm. If you remember years ago when Don Geronimo would get taken to task because he wouldn’t break for commercials when he was supposed to break or even as far back as Johnnie Walker who would run most of his commercials before people woke up to go to work and then he would run his show almost commercial free. When a show has to break for a commercial every 15-20 or so minutes, you can’t get into a long form interview or talk in detail about a topic. Not to give him a free plug but when I listen to Adam Corolla and his show ends, I am wishing it could last longer. The interviews are compelling, detailed, relaxed and allowed to follow their own course. There is no having to worry about breaks or commercials. I hope that D&M or just Mike or some conglomeration are about to get themselves on Satellite or their own podcast and present a show without the constraints of the FCC or having to stop for commercials. (7/15/09) Any chance that Don Geronimo will take the unemployed Robb Spewak under his wing? I always felt that Robb was like another “son” to him – I believe he’s even the Godfather to at least one Spewak child… (7/15/09) I am so sick of the MOM poo-pooers. Mike is and was always an extremely talented Jock/VO/Character talent. The only thing he’s lost in the past few years is his real identity. This business is full of those that “know it all” NOT, attitude. I had the privilege of working with Mike on many, many occasions. My wife worked with him in Annapolis/Kent Island and both of us feel he’s getting the short end of the stick from all of you. Mike has certainly had some bad time, and he’s suffered in his own personal dilemmas. I, for one, hope from the heart that Mike gets his talent back in the box, gets his demons under control and comes back stronger than ever. And, I for one, think he will. I’m on your side Mike-PLB:0) (7/15/09) Dave enjoy your site, but have to disagree with part of your rant about the new WJFK. You mentioned if the Junkies forte being sports. I was listening on Monday morning and neither Flaim or Bickel were sure when the baseball All-Star Game was. Their interview with Bruce Boudreau was embarrassing with their complete lack of knowledge about hockey. And sports is their forte? Anybody who thinks this will be any different from WTEM will be sadly disappointed. (7/15/09) I was so glad to hear the Junkies repeatedly stress that their show content won't change due to the rebranding of WJFK. Now I can still play my favorite morning commute game of switching stations the moment they use one of their tired catch phrases. "Felted ... salty ... you don't know who/what/where ... don't sleep on it." Usually no more than 1/2 mile from my driveway. Of course, now I have no reason to tune back in around 10:30 for the rest of the day. Guess the CBS suits don't value a 45 year-old male with disposable income to spare who still listens to terrestrial radio all day. (7/15/09) Nothing's ever going to be perfect in this market for sportstalk radio. The much anticipated format change is coming this Monday and I'm sure WJFK will be ready for the roll-out. What Snyder needs to do is quietly sell all of his radio properties and move the Redskins games over to WJFK and not make much noise. Speaking of useless noise, I think Pollin and Czaban are finally waking-up to the fact their product is terrible and they should be getting the demo tapes ready to send-out. Yesterday's 4pm sports reporters show made no sense and was a waste of time. If you're going to point figures, Snyder should remove Bruce and Dennis, just for lack of performance. Second, I think yesterday's John Thompson Show was as low as it gets..with having Doc interview John and Doc not knowing anything about the NBA makes matter's worse. Bottom line, WJFK needs to pay attention to WTEM's pitfalls and not make the same mistakes. If not, they will find themselves around 18-20 in the PPM's just like WTEM and all of this will have been for nothing. (7/15/09) "I have no clue why CBS doesn't put El Zol on 106.7 (which has a signal that Latinos can actually RECEIVE)." Riiiight, because those Latinos, they can't figure out a frequency lower than 105. Seriously, why can't Latinos receive 99.5? Why are they any less disadvantaged by JFK's poor Maryland coverage than non-Latinos? And, why isn't CBS better off putting on a frequency that can be received in Baltimore and DC a format that otherwise isn't represented on the FM dial in either city? (7/15/09) Sean Hannity: How would you know? You've never been one. (7/15/09) I vote for 94.7 The Fan,106.7 El Zol,99.1 HFS and a non CBS Don and Mike Show. CBS DC shooting itself in the foot?? No I do believe they stuck that pistol down the front of thier pants like Barney Fife and blew off some important equipment.....what else would explain these weak,no-risk decisions? (7/15/09) I hear that the Redskins cheerleaders where at the 1067 function yesterday?...is it true? Do you think Danny was pissed? (7/15/09) Dave's response: Yes, and he was. Just got the Front Page blurb up..... As a big fan of Maryland Football and Basketball, what's the story with the Terps on WJFK now that the Wizzards are moving over to the new sports format. There are way to many conflicts to have both on the same station. Will Maryland be switching station's and if so, where might they be going? Shawn, Bethesda (7/15/09) Dave's response: In the past when JFK had sports conflicts, the overflow games aired on sister classic rock 94.7, a male-oriented station. So, what is JFK gonna do future conflicts? Air them on 94.7 Fresh FM, which is geared to chicks? Another good reason for CBS to dump Fresh and put rock back on 94.7. Then CBS could better use it as a JFK overflow. And while you're at it, CBS, how about slapping the WHFS calls on the sucker and make Cerphe PD..... You're a moron..the show was just as good if not better ..and those selfish guys that had to support their families..you IDIOT. Wait till the new fan clutters the weekend with the same piss poor infomercial programming they saddled the station with as the old jfk. (7/15/09) "Mike deserves better than being shown the door" - I disagree.Mike has proven that he is nothing without Don Geronimo. That show was so jumbled and disorganized and poorly produced without Geronimo, that it was seriously difficult to listen to. Don was smart enough to jump off of "radio's titanic" long ago.Too bad to the other guys were too selfish & scared to bail with him. Zero loyalty to the guy who gave you all a career. I doubt we will ever hear from Mike, Rob and Joe again - and for good reason. THEY JUST WERNT THAT GOOD WITHOUT DON. (7/15/09) To the poster in Baltimore: Are you saying there aren't any Redskins fans in Virginia? Are you insane? Plus Redskins games won't even be HEARD on WJFK (save for the Sunday/Monday night games) so why even bother trying to get it at FedEx Field? (7/15/09) Putting WMAL's crap on 107.3 would go down in history as the dumbest move in DC radio, ever. Dumber than the Post donating WHUR, Dumber than Emmis selling WAVA, dumber than setting up and having a protest in front of the wrong building, dumber than hiring Randal Bloomquist to program your station, and dumber than allowing a talk radio host interview Sarah Palin, live, a week before the election. (7/15/09) "Hope this flip means the end to the of WJFK's niche shows like the BDK movie show, and the other crap that no one listened to. But I doubt that the hyper, irritating BDK will be gone completely considering he was invited to the CBS flip event this afternoon, and will likely still be featured on the Junkies show. Why couldn't God take BDK instead of Ed McMahon? Life is not fair. (7/15/09)" From what the Junks said a little after 7 today, BDK will continue to do his reviews on the Junks show. Mike in Alexandria (7/15/09) The Capitals have to realize that they cannot be on the same channel as the Wizards. It's counter-productive. Having the hoops and hockey teams on the same outlet doesn't work for either. Steve in Lanham (7/15/09) I just don't get it, maybe it's because I live in Baltimore now, but I used to live near DC. Why all this interest in WJFK 106.7, a station that few people in Maryland can even receive??? I couldn't get it easily in Beltsville! And no one at FEDEX FIELD can even get the station! So how many sports fans will be listening? NADA! LOL I have no clue why CBS doesn't put El Zol on 106.7 (which has a signal that Latinos can actually RECEIVE) and THEN fix the other 2 stations, one sports, the other maybe something else or FRESH 99.1 or 94.7? The 99.1 signal is a complete waste of bandwidth as El Zol since it has total market coverage of the Baltimore market, yet Baltimore has no Latinos! As WHFS, 99.1 often tied 98ROCK in ratings! DUH! I mean, c'mon what idiot corporate suit would come up with such a stupid idea as to put a Latino FM station on the air in the Baltimore DMA? The CBS DC group is like the gang that can't shoot straight. They keep shooting themselves in the foot with every move over an over! LOL Maybe Mike O'Meara will end up on WGMD 92.7 with Don and they can syndicate a new Don & Mike Show WITHOUT CBS? Wouldn't that be a pisser for the CBS DC team, a crack staff for sure, or on crack, take your pick, flip a coin. :-) (7/15/09) After watching the O'Meara clips in the Mailbag I did some poking around YouTube and discovered the original version of both clips are from 9 months ago. The second clip (below) was posted five days ago. I don't know if you were also under the impression that the YouTube clips were both brand new; I was. (7/15/09) A positive review, from a woman “well over 30”, who enjoys NPR and thinks the show was smarter after Don left, she was right about target demo’s, pre or maybe post menopausal Liberal soccer mom’s loving the show could easily explain their downfall on a “Man Talk” station The show after Don became an ensemble cast, without the feeling of a Captain at the helm. Mike on the original show was a marvelous 2nd banana, in much the same way that Ed wasn’t offered 1st mike when Johnny retired, it probably wasn’t fair to put Mike in the front seat either. Mike was always the nice guy that wandered in minutes before the show, kicked his shoes off and let Don drive the ship. Since I first met Don in Providence, he had an unbelievable intensity. Some have called him an asshole, and he is one, in fact a professional asshole (who wouldn’t love the money Mel paid him to be one of the best. As much as most want to deny it, most successful radio shows have an obsessive compulsive prick at the helm, but if I was building a radio station I’d hire him in a moment. The absolute dedication and surety that you are doing it correctly, regardless of management, consultants or program directors assuring you are wrong is an absolute necessity to succeed . That dog eared determination is rare, and is why CBS is holding Don to every second of his non compete, I really can’t blame them. Would I want the guy that drove a top morning/afternoon show in DC for 20 years, rested, restored and rearing to ream me a new asshole over perceived mistreatment available to competitors one second early? Probably not, it is much more difficult to figure out how to get to the top once, than a second time. I wish Mike and his crew the best, will they land back on the air, I don’t know, they should be applauded for a valiant effort. Be prepared for Don to give the DC market “what fer” as soon as he can, it ain’t over till its over. Gator (7/15/09) Hope this flip means the end to the of WJFK's niche shows like the BDK movie show, and the other crap that no one listened to. But I doubt that the hyper, irritating BDK will be gone completely considering he was invited to the CBS flip event this afternoon, and will likely still be featured on the Junkies show. Why couldn't God take BDK instead of Ed McMahon? Life is not fair. (7/15/09) “ The last year and a half they did an amazing job of providing some excellent local radio moments” Which of course is why their syndication gig was dropped. I don’t normally delight in anyone losing their job. But karma is a beautiful thing sometimes. (7/15/09) Oops, sorry.. Here is a look at the new WJFK logo. Monday will be a sad day. Todd - Alexandria, VA (7/15/09) Watch for CBS to launch all of these sports stations Dallas, Detroit, Boston, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, LA, followed by the launch of a Cable Channel & Web site, more network TV sports rights ---- Move over ESPN .... They have all of the assets just a matter of putting it all together. (7/15/09) "And what exactly makes Robb talented?" His ability to write jokes ass-hat! Even Don himself once remarked "If you heard something funny on the Don and Mike show...chances are Robb wrote it." and I stand by the comment..Buzz is talent-less. WB Centreville, VA (7/15/09) To all the Don and Mike Fans: Sorry your show was cancelled, but you're acting as if you were the first people who have had their favorite show jerked from the air. It happens to everyone. Maybe Mike can do a podcast. Maybe you'll find some other station. It's the end of a program, not the end of the world. Get used to it, and find some other way to amuse yourselves. (7/15/09) /\ July 15 Messages /\ \/ July 14 Messages \/ WJFK. That's it! I'm finally chased to satellite radio except for WTOP. Dumping the Mike O'Meara Show is the most suck-ass move for CBS. Mike ("Don Geronimo") Sorce's leaving improved WJFK in my opinion. Mike, Robb, Buzz, and Beth Ann were class acts. I looked forward to the Buzz-cast News after a day of slaving for the 'man'. It was a light, refreshing bent on the news of the day. Washington doesn't need more sports programs. With only one decent major sports team (The Capitals), what will they all have to talk about? How much the Deadskins, 'Nads, Mistakes, and Whizzers suck? I don't give a rat's ass what people say about Mike O'Meara, I like him and he's a genuine talent. The bastards who say they worked for him are back-stabbing schmucks. Good luck and all the best to Mike O and the gang! (7/14/09) Hi! Respectfully, you need to do a bit of a mea culpa re: the Forrester leaving WNST error. In an earlier mailbag response, you seem to blame someone who sent you a link. But it's YOUR site, and YOU posted it. Again, respectfully, the site is great to read each day!! (7/14/09) Dave's response: So I fucked up. Big whoop. Who do you think I am? Katharine Weymouth? Dan Rather? Sheesh. I accept your condemnation..... Thanks to whoever put up the link to the Ernie Baur interview!! Fantastic!! I was Ernie's and Rick Sharp's intern at Ch 9 in 1978, Working with Ernie, Rick, Sonny and the late great Glenn Brenner was the best time of my life! I've never had laughed so hard and had more fun than that year. Remember the Malt Shop? Many good times there. BC (7/14/09) Here are two links regarding the Mike O'Meara Show.. one of them shows the new logo for WJFK. R.I.P. Todd - Alexandria, VA (7/14/09) Dave's response: In the latter, here's how they should have done it. The setting - the same restaurant. In walk Michael Hughes and Dan Mason, taking seats anonymously in the back. Mike then puts a quarter in the juke and up cranks Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." A few smiles are exchanged with the old crew. Maybe a few onion rings. Then, unexpectedly, a sudden cut to black and dead silence mid-song. The end..... Dave, I think Fox is making the All Star Game pregame show last so long that no one on the East Coast will see the end of the game. They'll all be asleep. Dave (7/14/09) Gee another sports station. With a bunch of loudmouth screaming commentators. Who don't have a clue and with their predictions that are always wrong. I can't wait. Thank God for XM/Siruis (7/14/09) I can honestly report the the former employees of the former "O'Meara's Restaurant & Pub" are abuzz with delight that Mike is getting cancelled. Real comments from these people include: "Outstanding," "Goodbye to the fat old slob," "You know what they say - Karma's a bitch!," and "LOL. I hope he is OOW [out of work]!" I used to love Don & Mike. Grew up on them and to this day still repeat some of their classic inside jokes. But after working for Mike I am "not one of [his] fans!!" His mistreatmet of his own employees & his attitude toward other people in the Manassas area bar business will forever make him hated by many. I wish I had never worked for him because I truly miss the days of enjoying their show. And while I never thought he was very good when Don was out; I'm sure I would have continued listening if he had not turned out to be such a prick in real life. In the end, I hate him more for ruining the entertainer I loved than for all the crap he did to me as am employee. (7/14/09) Has there been any announcement that Shawn Yancey is expecting again?..It just appears that her midsection is expanding..But then again, maybe she's just putting on weight or it was what she had on.. (7/14/09) Dave's response: I've noticed that Bolter's midsection is expanding, too, but it's probably just too many Twinkies. Ha ha ha, gotcha back, Bri..... “ And the three men I admire the most The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost Took the last train for the coast. The day the music died. “ “Damn,Damn,Damn. !!!” FANS OF THE DON/ MIKE —and MIKE O’MEARA SHOW ALL REMEMBER WHEN FREDA PASSED. THANK YOU C B S, FOR CANCELING THE SHOW ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF SAME WEEK. “STAY CLASSY C B S”... I FOUND D&M IN 1995... I STAYED WITH THEM THOUGH IT ALL GOOD BAD AND SAD... THEY CARED ABOUT THEIR CRAFT AND WHAT THEY DID WAS ART. WAS ENTERTAINING... WAS REAL... AS LONG AS THEY KEPT EVOLVING, CREATING... I WAS LOYAL ---I WAS LOYAL TO THE WHOLE STATION ---- IF I WANT SPORTS COMMENTARY I CAN FIND IT ANYWHERE. I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED I WANT TO LAUGH . THIS IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF HORSE HOCKEY THAT C B S HAS DONE!!!!!!! WAS THE M.O.M SHOW AS GOOD AS D&M? FOR ME DON WAS BETTER AT CREATING THE PICTURE THEN MIKE , BUT MIKE HAS IMPROVED THAT ASPECT OF HIS CRAFT SINCE HE TOOK OVER. WE WERE USED TO THE GREATNESS D&M GAVE US FOR OVER 20 YEARS... I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF THAT I CANNOT COMPARE THE M.O.M SHOW TOO... D&M I NEEDED TO COMPARE TO THE OTHER SHOWS ON THE RADIO RIGHT NOW!!!!! AND FOR THAT NO-ONE CAN DO WHAT O’MEARA DOES. -- DEAR MIKE O’MEARA -THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES,LAUGHS, AND TEARS. I HAVE 17 YEAR OLD SON AND YOUR SHOW WAS SOMETHING WE HAVE IN COMMON AND WAS MANY CONVERSATION STARTERS, IF ANYTHING HAVING A LAUGH WITH YOUR CHILD IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS WE CAN HAVE. THANKS FOR THAT TOOL YOU MADE IT EASIER ....... THANKS FOR THE FORUM... G-FORCE (7/14/09) I very rarely rant about individual people in our business. So this will be an exception. If there's a Baltimore or Maryland Radio-TV or Sports "Hall of Fame", Keith Mills of WBAL is earning a place in it as deservedly as my contemporaries Chuck Thompson, Bill O'Donnell, or Vince Bagli have earned theirs. Not just because of what Keith Mills has done on-air. But, because of what Keith Mills is doing both on-air and off-the-air these days. For many years Mr. Mills has been a competent sportscaster. Then, as he admits himself, he made a terrible mistake. A mistake, which while it briefly took his professional life, could’ve easily taken his physical life. I speak of what drug addiction can do to an addict and their family from having watched a cousin sneak a bottle of beer at the reception of his eldest brother’s wedding at age five and hearing his mother say “Isn’t that cute”, to nearly twenty-eight years later and hearing her say, “Frank’s dead. Cirrhosis of the Liver.” He died a few months before what would’ve been his 33rd birthday with me being ten months his senior. He barely finished high school. Never went to college. Never had more than intermittent minimum-wage jobs, let alone a career. Never had a steady relationship, let alone married or had children. Never had a place of his own. And, that was from a drug that some (including the federal government) downplay as addictive. Yet, is as destructive an addiction as Keith Mills is conquering every day. For that ongoing accomplishment, he rates as a hero in my book. It takes a strong man (or woman) to look a drug addiction in the eye and say, ‘Fuck you. My life is mine! Not yours.’ And, to have the greater strength to seek effective help to conquer that addiction. To have the courage to share with others what he has gone through in an effort to help those who are addicted, and to deter others from that path shows leadership, a quality sadly lacking today in our society –let alone the broadcast industry. Needless to say, I’m sharing Keith Mills’ story with my grandchildren. There wasn’t a Keith Mills around in Frank’s time to share his story to seek help from addiction. Indeed, in Frank’s time, alcoholism suffered from the same stereotypes about drug addiction Mr. Mills shares in his “Pressbox” article. It is my prayer that Keith Mills not just continue to survive from his former drug addiction, but strive to thrive. And, write the book! Please. It could be a Godsend to parents to help their kids, kids to help their parents, and to anyone seeking to free themselves from the slavery which is drug addiction. Also, WBAL deserves strong recognition for seeing beyond the courage of giving Keith Mills a comeback chance to re-establish not just a successful individual career but to seize upon a business opportunity to reinforce a legendary broadcast sports operation whose foundation is measured in decades of service and audience loyalty as opposed to mere ratings books like so many so-called “sports stations”. Sorry this ran a bit long… Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/14/09) The Kings beat writer from the Sacramento Bee just twittered that there is going to be a new show in O'Meara's (KHTK) time slot. Just letting you know, love yo site. twitter.com (7/14/09) To the individual who was a regular on Wing Ding until becoming a camera operator for Milt Grant's WDCA... Can you recall what period Barry Richards served as Wing Ding host? His fill-in appearances were more memorable to me than any of the regular hosts, and yet BR's name was never shown in the printed TV listings. (And I'm not referring to BR's music oriented shows at Channel 20 in the '70s.) (7/14/09) Whether it be J.P. Flaim or Oscar Santana, are either the right fit as Donnie Simpson's sidekick??.. (7/14/09) FOX5 has been a joke for awhile..They have the cackling of Holly Morris first thing in the morning along with the rocking "I can't keep still in my chair" Gurvir and the "I want to be a real anchor" Tony Perkins who isn't allowed a remote control to change the weather maps and must depend on Tucker for real weather information. And when they started using TMZ as a source of information, I thought they had reached an all time low..But when I saw the commercials for that Wendy Williams show, THAT was evidence to me that they had reached an all time low..I've not seen the show and will not watch it. Mainly due to the tacky commercials..Obviously the anchors who work there are there just for a job because they certainly can't be proud of what that station is spitting out on a regular basis. (7/14/09) This shift to “the Fan” by JFK is going to make the sucking sound down at Dupont Circle seem like background noise. “The Fan” absolutely is un-effing-listenable here in Baltimore after Norris and Maynard leave the airwaves at 10:00. I literally do not turn it back on until 6:00 the next morning. I make the transition to the Junks as I lose the 105.7 signal on my commute to MOCO, so at least they’re still there. All sports, all the time = B-O-R-I-N-G. And I’m a huge O’s and Ravens fan. Best of luck to Mike, Robb, Buzz, Joe, BAM and the gang. You guys deserve better, and will land on you feet, for sure. Let us know where you end up. Long time listener, never time caller (your favorite kind). John, from Bawlmer, hon. (7/14/09) Not surprisingly, the Washington Wizards have now issued their own announcement about the switch to WJFK. Everett W. www.nba.com (7/14/09) (“Mike and Robb are talented, and will land other gigs. Buzz on the other hand? Creepy liberal news guys are a dime a dozen in this town. And truthfully he won't be missed. He's easily the worst part of the MOMS, contributing nothing.") Probably the single most idiotic set of sentences that I've read in the mailbag. Buzz has one of the greatest radio voices in the business today! He could be the next Don LaFontaine if he wanted! His "creepy liberal news" as you call it, only comes through because that's what he was allowed to do by the show. You can blame the content, but you can't blame the talent. And what exactly makes Robb talented? The ability to annoyingly pun everything that is said by the rest of the cast, to the point where (in the rare moment he's talking about something deathly serious, like his son's health problems) you can't tell whether there's a punch line coming? (7/14/09) I don't think he (Drew Forrester) is leaving WNST. Today is his anniversary. Blog does not say he is leaving. At least I hope not. Chris (7/14/09) Dave's response: You're right. The person who originally sent me the link seemed to read it as if he was saying goodbye..... This is in reference to a posting from way back (2005) regarding the "definitive list of hosts of WDCA-TV's 'Wing Ding'"-- the posting ends with: "Newspaper listings don't indicate who filled-in as weekday host after Kerby's departure on 3/18/67 until Bill Miller arrived on 4/3/67." I was a regular on Wing Ding from the day the show signed on the air until shortly after it became the Jack Alix Show, at which point I became a camera operator for the station, and was behind a camera from that point on. The DJ who filled in was Harv Moore, who was at that time a DJ on WPGC. Although he was only there a short time, Harv Moore was a favorite of many of us on the show. A few of us who were "regulars" on the show were recently reunited at Walt Whitman High School's class of 1969 40th Reunion, and two of us made contact with Harv Moore prior to the reunion, inviting him to the reunion. While he was unable to join us, he remembered us, and enjoyed the brief trip down memory lane. As did we all! (7/14/09) Whatever Citadel eventually decides to do with 105.9, they've got to address the station's appallingly weak signal in upper NWDC. For the last 6 months at least, the signal has been weaker than some B'more FMers across large parts of NWDC, including the neighborhood immediately surrounding WJZW's Jenifer Street studios. Anyone know what gives? (7/14/09) Dave's response: WJZW has the same problem that WJFK has - both are "short-spaced" to adjacent channel FMers in Baltimore. The DC area's 105.9 is technically licensed to Woodbridge VA and must "protect" the Baltimore area's 105.7, and can't send too much wattage in the northeastern direction..... REALLY going to miss Mike, Buzz, Robb, Joe and Beth Ann. The last year and a half they did an amazing job of providing some excellent local radio moments - loved the BYOB Fridays, the connection with the rest of the station, new attempts at games, the oddball interviews, like the one with David Carradine or the one from last summer with Lloyd Kaufman, the way they continued the tradition of shooting the shit and letting us into their lives for the both funny and sincere, the fact that (finally) there was someone on WJFK who could talk about the Caps without coming across as a bandwagon jumper, the three buzzcasts of the day, the audio vault, and the constant continuation of an afternoon tradition that I picked up in the early 90s, when two guys who I wouldn't give two squats about came over from a morning zoo and busted me up with (ironically enough) Mike's impressions of Jack Kent Cooke. Well, I hope the disingenuous douche bags on here are pleased with themselves as they wrap themselves up with "The Fan," or switch over to syndicated garbage and begin complaining about the lack of local radio. FUCK. YOU. ALL. And to claim that you, Dave, haven't taken glee at Mike's expense this year, whether it be photos of him and his girlfriend for no other reason than to be a rat bastard, the up to date info of his restaurant's demise, or the slippery slope of him, Robb, Buzz, Joe and BA losing their jobs, is complete dog shit. (7/14/09) That blog you exposed was just a journal for the academic side of an internship. Of course there were errors. I wasn't trying to be William Faulkner. I only needed as a venue to correspond with my faculty sponsor. Thanks a lot jerks. (7/14/09) As a woman (well) over the age of 30, I know I was never in *any* of WJFK's target demographics. But I listened to the Don & Mike Show, and, after Don left, I listened to The Mike O'Meara Show. And you know what? I enjoyed it more. The show without Don was still fun, but it was smarter. And now it's gone. It was the only non-NPR talk radio show I listened to (and laughed at like a 12-year-old boy). I know that crapping on Mike O'Meara is an Olympic-class sport in the Mailbag, but I for one will miss the show. I hope that Mike, Buzz, and crew land on their feet either together or separately in places that appreciate them. And I hope to hear via DCRTV or Facebook what the future holds for the team. Best, Merujo (7/14/09) I never would've thought Fox5 could sink any lower than TMZ but they've proven me wrong. ''Wendy Williams'' is possibly the vilest, cringe inducing bullshit I've ever seen. Can anyone explain to me exactly how this loudmouth, obnoxious dopey show passes itself off as ''entertainment''? And why is ''Mike and Juliet'' still on reruns if the shows been canned? Doesn't anyone in local TV have A thought in their head? Paul (7/14/09) I'm guessing Rob Spewak will now have time to devote himself to the Hitler Youth Movement. LeVar Arrington is about as riveting as a dead fish. Paul (7/14/09) So, you say that WJZW has am impending format change, to? Better be something good. I will not continue listening to it if Rhythmic AC or WMAL land on it. That Adult rock thing sounds cool, though. It's really getting difficult to find something decent to listen to on the radio anymore in this market.... (7/14/09) I am sorry to see the "True Oldies Channel" leave 105.9. Scott did play a lot of oldies not heard on other so called oldies stations. It might be a smart move to put WMAL on 105.9 and put a local talk format or a live oldies format on 630 AM. (7/14/09) Mike and Robb are talented, and will land other gigs. Buzz on the other hand? Creepy liberal news guys are a dime a dozen in this town. And truthfully he won't be missed. He's easily the worst part of the MOMS, contributing nothing. WB Centreville, Va. (7/14/09) Sorry to see Mike and Buzz go, but that's what radio has become. Good luck to two professionals. Sports radio sucks, but CBS will do OK with income. CBS should talk to Dave about consulting the DC changes. By the way, I listen to Scott and Anita on the way home everyday because I like the tension. Scott (Old School) - Anita (Fox)( ...and not a fossil ). I (a fossil) agree with Anita most of the time. Sports have changed over the years, and the Old School just sounds out of touch most of the time. Only problem with the back and forth is that Mark Zinno seems to talk to Anita like he is teaching a stupid 12 year old about sports. Sorry, Mark, but you sound like your patience is strained. Sports radio has to be more than a discussion of two teams. Scott and Anita seem to be on the right track. (7/14/09) So with all the supposed fanfare that WBCN is going to do in the next month, how much will they spend on kid-touching Mark Parenteau and his Elevator from Hell? Funny thing is you can sum up CBS Radio with his little jingle when the contestant got it wrong… “You…stupid…DICK!!!” Or Charles Laquidara’s infamous “Lick me!!!” (7/14/09) The first few weeks of the Chad Dukes/LaVar Arrington show could be quite riveting. That is of course if they allow LaVar to discuss all of his dealings with the Redskin's. But once the Snyder bashing is over, what do we have left? A guy who barely knows anything about sports (Dukes) and a guy who only knows football. On a day like today where we only have two sporting events (All Star Game and Tour de France), what the heck are these two guys going to talk about? There are a lot of talented sports talkers out there, some unemployed and right here in DC...too bad WJFK didn't take the time to search them out. (7/14/09) RE:"And really, how many of you anonymous terd throwers are competitors, and people that could only dream of being 1/10th as talented as that guy is?" This site is basically made up of terd throwers - although I sometimes substitute turd. I for one don't doubt the guys talent. He just should never have had his own show. Its like if NBC had given the tonight show to Ed when Johnny left - or CBS if they gave Dave's show to Paul if Dave leaves. Ed, Paul (except for his music) and yes Mike O are big ass second bananas...great and well paid side kicks - who can not host the thing themselves...NO biggie - just the truth. (7/14/09) Looks like Drew Forrester is done at WNST 1570. wnst.net (7/14/09) (quote) We're hearing rumblings of something else coming to low-rated WJZW ...1980s/1990s oldies, adult rock, rhythmic adult contemporary... (close) I don't care if they play Gregorian chants or they spin records backwards to hear devil messages. If they don't go LIVE and LOCAL with some decent talent determined to do more than regurgitate celebrity news, they are just shooting themselves in their collective d!(ks. How sad is it that a major player like Citadel (ABC) can't get it together? (7/14/09) From the Twitter page of Chad Dukes: www.snapmylife.com (7/14/09) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. "The Lavar Arrington Show With Chad Dukes." Ouch. But poor old Bill Rohland didn't even get a mention of his co-hosting duties with the wonderous and great Mike Wise. More ouch..... Wow, there are a lot of hateful people that follow Mike O'Meara, and revel in the downfall of his show. What will all of you do now? Continue talking about how much you hated him, until he resurfaces again on another station? Get over yourselves, and turn the channel if you hear something you don't like. And really, how many of you anonymous terd throwers are competitors, and people that could only dream of being 1/10th as talented as that guy is? CBS can cut costs, and cut costs over and over again so that people like Michael Hughes can have boats and Porsches, etc. But much like other industries in our country, the product will indeed suffer, and eventually it will fail miserably. And Dave, sorry man ... but allowing someone to call for a suicide watch on Mike is the classless kind of stuff that gives people ammunition to use against your website. Grow a set people, and realize that these people are performers, with families that they have to support. Hank R. Richmond, VA (7/14/09) Can't believe WJFK is going to all sports talk. I guess they didn't have a small enough group of listeners so they decided to restrict the programming to one subject and one subject only to ensure the station has only limited appeal. How long can someone listen to people talk about sports? I like sports and I have a kid who is playing basketball for a D1 school but I don't want to listen to people talk about it. Games are one thing, talking about them endlessly is quite another. With their ability to kill a product I have to assume the current CBS management came from GM. I guess I'll be spending more time with my Pimsleur Learn a Foreign language CD's. (7/14/09) I'm guessing that the discussion J.P. Flaim had outside the bar was referring to Oscar Santana going to WPGC to do mornings, not J.P. himself. Also, I'm not holding out much hope for Lavar to turn into an engaging personality. His appearances on Comcast for Washington Post Live and Redskins pre- and post-game coverage have been cringe-worthy at times. Many times. Chad's going to have to carry that show, break Lavar down a bit, and get something out of him. (7/14/09) If the rumors we have heard about Oscar Santana resurfacing at WPGC are true, then do the math - only one show was cancelled, and that was Mike O'Meara. Face it, his ratings were way too poor for the expense he was to JFK, and he simply didn't have a market. This shift to Sportstalk looks to me like just a convenient way to can the MOM Show without making it look like they were firing him for low ratings. And honestly, good riddance - his abomination of a radio show was just painful to listen to, especially with memories of how great the Don and Mike Show was in its heyday. Mike's mistake was keeping Robbay, in my opinion. Of course, I am sure all the nostalgists (led by Dave Hughes himself) will cry foul at Mike's "poor treatment" - but let's face it, you don't cancel a guy's show and then give him a week to trash you. No one would do that. But go ahead, claim that the Junkies have terrible ratings, Chad Dukes is a loser, etc. By the way, to the guy who compared the Junkies ratings to Elliot - the Junkies finish third in the demo that matters, ahead of Elliot and behind only NPR and TOP (which will always be 1-2 in this town, so they really finished 1). But you know, don't let facts get in the way or anything. And continue to ignore their product and promotion placement within the show, making their podcast success a bottom line benefit to advertisers (and ultimately the radio station). Continue to live in the past; all fossils do. (7/14/09) My name is Rebecca Tulkoff and I am an Associate Producer at WETA-TV Channel 26, the local PBS station here in the Washington, DC area. WETA TV-26 is currently producing a documentary on the political, social and cultural events that collectively make-up the history of the Washington, DC area during the 1960s. I am writing to inquire whether you might have any audio in your archives, that we may use in the documentary, of Petey Greene's radio show on WOL-AM. His show was called "Rapping With Petey Greene". Thanks in advance for your help! Best, Rebecca Tulkoff, Associate Producer, Local Projects, WETA Public Television, 2775 S. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22206, rtulkoff@weta.org, 703.998.2659 (7/14/09) Dave's ressponse: I don't have anything. Can anyone help Rebecca? Re: O&D. I knew that yesterday, Dave. I was just replying to the guy who made the 'best of today -- and the rest of the week?' comment. :D (7/14/09) Big O & Dukes are only in best-of for today. They'll be live the rest of the week. (7/14/09) Dave's response: That's because they are (Chad anyway) down at the big CBS advertiser powwow for 106.7 The Fan at the Verizon Center this afternoon. Duh..... (Dave said “And let's wait and hear how Chad and Lavar sound together. If they can "click," JFK could do quite well as a sports talker.....”) Dave – They don’t have to click. Garceau/Marks are terrible together yet I think you posted that they had pretty decent ratings last go round at 105.7TheFan. Bob-in-Bmore (7/14/09) ("I was told by J.P Flaim outside of a DC bar on Friday night that he was going to be going to WPGC to do the morning show. Have you heard anything about this?... Dave's response: I've heard the same rumblings.....") Which Popeye's is JP going to be at? Seriously, you're joking here.... Right? (7/14/09) It's a sad day for DC radio as we know it. WJFK is gone as we know it. It's a big mistake in my view but then again.....I have been calling out CBS execs to use their heads for years but they just won't do it. Dave, you are correct that they should move WJFK to where Fresh FM is at 94.7. It won't happen though and we are going to end up with worse ratings for WJFK. (7/14/09) Dave's response: The key to success is gonna be 106.7 drivetime shows. The Junks get OK ratings already. With some better promotion and a focus on what they do best - sports - they could get better numbers. And let's wait and hear how Chad and Lavar sound together. If they can "click," JFK could do quite well as a sports talker..... Simulcasting a radio show has to be one of the DUMBEST ideas ever, please tell me no ones watches that?? (7/14/09) Thank you Mike O'Meara, Buzz, Robb, Joe, even B.A. for so many years of great radio and laughs. I cannot tell you how many times I have nearly driven off the road on my homeward commute, because I was laughing so hard. You guy's, and Don with you for so many years, are what makes radio great. You will be sorely missed. Hope to hear you all again someday. I look forward to when Don's contract restrictions with CBS Radio are lifted, and his show can be rightly streamed worldwide. Alone or together, Don and Mike and their cast are radio treasures. I know you will be back on the air somewhere, I look forward to that day. Chad Dukes: understand why you chose to stick around, a job is a job in this rough business market. But you and Oscar Santana had great chemistry together. Indeed you were a show that deserved syndication. You should consider teaming up again someday. What the Mike O'Meara Show, and Big O and Dukes do, could really work, perhaps better syndicated throughout smaller market regions. The Junkies: I thought your act was getting a little stale, perhaps a return to your roots as a sports show will freshen things up for you again. Honestly though, I don't know how much, if at all, I'll really listen. The Fan 660 am in NYC is one of the few really good sportstalk stations in the country. They are good because they really talk about the games, about what happens on the field, court, ice. And they have good callers who know what they are talking about. . .you don't get that here in DC. The callers to WTEM are for the most part inane, as are the hosts. I think WJFK is making a big mistake doing this switch. DC ain't Philly, Chicago, or NYC when it comes to sports. We shall see. Fare The Well WJFK, once the Talk Superstation. . . (7/14/09) "1067thefandc.com? Really??? I wonder how many people will go to 1067thefan.com and be confused that they're looking at an ESPN station in Tennessee." - The real question is how many people will go to that site and be disappointed that they don't see anyone 1067'ing an f and a c. (7/14/09) Snippet on DCRTV-mailbag: “I'll say it: Who wants in the Mike O'Meara Suicide Watch Pool?” Whoever posted this is one sick SOB. You know even those that have been at the top of their game HURT. Mike, through all of his problems is still a human being, he’s made some bad choices in life, but who hasn’t? I hope he gets his stuff together, gets out of the booze and emotional landslide and realizes just how talented he is. Before he joined forces with Sorce, he was a tremendous talent. Did lot’s of VO work, and was fun to be around. C’mon Mike pull yourself up and move forward. I’m with you all the way. WOW (7/14/09) Very sad to hear of the demise of WJFK. Even though the MOM show was terrible, it is infintely better than lame sports talk with Chad and Lavar Arrington. I love the Skins but who gives a fig about Lavar and what he has to say? The suits at CBS are mongoloids. Are they working for satellite radio undercover? (7/14/09) I spoke too soon. Didn't realize JFK was doing the "big reveal" for the best worst-kept secret in radio at the Verizon Center at noon. And of course, Chad had to be there to meet his new partner. (7/14/09) Looks like Chad and Oscar dropped a few too many hints during yesterday's show. After promising a great week of shows, with some old favorite features returning, they're in "best of" mode today - and for the rest of the week? Derek, Portland, Maine (7/14/09) Wow, I actually watched the Garceau/Marks show on MASN for the first time yesterday (I’ve been a listener during drive time since the show began) because the Derek Mason retirement news was breaking. I actually had to look away while listening because the tension between the two was even more obvious than the vibes you could feel on the radio. It’s obviously not an act and very poor television. Beware DC. Bob in B-more (7/14/09) I'll say it: Who wants in the Mike O'Meara Suicide Watch Pool? Poor Mike. He's such an emotional train wreck, his drinking has smothered any ability to cope with life. Hey Mr. Sorce, step up and hook your friends up. If Mike is removed from the air against his will, does that nullify the no compete clause? Will CBS still have to shell out a paycheck for two years? Seems to me it would be cheaper for CBS to let Don and Mike out of thier contracts and just let what happens, happen. Tim in Warrenton (7/14/09) RE: [ " By the time Brian Donohue graduates, his resume will glorify this summer internship and make it sound as if he ran the station…just as every college intern has done on his/her resume since the days of Marconi. " ].... And what drug are you on again? The kid can't even type or handle the T-shirts for christ sake! LMAO But, I'll admit, I totally enjoyed his blog. And I'm convinced it's probably close to the truth despite the poor kid's bad typing skills. :-) (7/14/09) Looks like they (CBS Radio) are doing (in Boston) what they did in Baltimore thephoenix.com (7/14/09) Are you going to have any Baltimore PPM info on the site? Have you heard anything yet? (7/14/09) Dave's response: I'm not sure of the start date for the Baltimore PPMs. I think they're being rolled out this fall..... Re: "Let me echo the MOM affiliate that CBS can go to hell - but let me also add to that burning pile all of the shitheels (especially on here) who have been lobbying for people to get fired - bunch of low life, mouth breathers." This may be the first time I've stood up and cheered at a Mailbag post. So you think Mike O'Meara's show is boring? So you can't stand Beth Ann? So you wished they were off the air? Dipwad, every radio I've ever seen has the ability to tune to another radio station. And an on/off switch/volume control. No one forced you to listen to that program, and urging someone's firing is just insane. I don't go down to the Burger King where you work and insist they fire you from broiler duty. Anyway, to Mike, Robbay, Buzz, BA, Joe and anyone else associated with the show...it's been a great run, and here's hoping for success for all of you in the future. (7/14/09) Dave: After seeing your Pete and Brenda's ad on DCRTV (I used to listen some to Brenda when she worked in the Baltimore/DC market)..and had heard Pete and Brenda some on KFIS.. hadn't checked them out in a few months, so decided to listen in and see what they were up to! What I found is..they have a guy named Tim Taylor hosting that show now! So what happened to Pete and Brenda? Anyone know? Tom in Denton, MD. (7/14/09) I know some of the morons at CBS/WJFK read this, so let me be clear: Idiotic moves like an all-sports format change and the canning of the Mike O'Meara show are why I PAY for a subscription to Sirius/XM radio. After Friday I'll no longer listen to any terrestrial radio again. Good riddance - all of those suits @ CBS are douche bags anyway. Mike, if you're reading this, come to Sirius/XM. Ditch terrestrial radio - it's old and busted. (7/14/09) Re: "The reality is that Chad Dukes is the future--and O'Meara is the past." That's funny. Chad Dukes is the future of WHAT? An awful station station that nobody listens to? So what? I can never understand the non-stop chat in the Mailbag about WJFK. You'd think it was a popular station or was doing something creative or influential in some way. It's not. The format could be changing to Classical or Urban Contemporary (a format that actually draws listeners in this town, by the way) or friggin' Yodeling -- it wouldn't matter, because nobody outside of the Mailbag would give a damn. It's a dead station. As for Mike O'Meara...I wonder if there's room in WGMD's budget....nah! (7/14/09) Time to take JFK off my presets - I despise sports talk. ~Mala (7/14/09) Enjoy unemployment Big O. How many jobs have you lost now? And Chad, don't let this new job go to your head. You and Oscar did horrible in the ratings, never even got "decent" ratings, let alone good ones. But, I'm sure Chad will walk around feeling like he's a star because he gets to work with Lavar Arrington. (7/14/09) What's the over/under on 106.7's sports format going the way of Free FM? I say it won't last 18 months. One or two stations nationwide will be ok, but the others will move onto the next CBS format du jour. Knucklehead bean counter asshats. (7/14/09) 1067thefandc.com? Really??? I wonder how many people will go to 1067thefan.com and be confused that they're looking at an ESPN station in Tennessee. So while JFK's not changing call letters they're completely removing them from the slogan? Weird. Also, 'The Fan' as a slogan is worn and tired. Original. So, CBS Washington is putting all their faith and hope into the Wizards? The only thing I can see that will keep them afloat will be the Junkies fan will remain and the rabid Big O and Dukes fans that will continue to listen to Chad on the Afternoons (if the show is even listenable with Arrington) (7/14/09) Now Mike gone? Whoever will your drool over now? You give more print to two guys that should have had a stake driven through their "virtual hearts" years ago. It will be nice to see some good gossip again, Lol. (7/14/09) Heh heh ... I just saw the WXTR tower site on a Bing.Com maps "flyover" using the Bird's Eye View feature. I was pretty impressed by the size of the tower and the facility in general, until I looked off to the side and saw the actual POS stick that 730 is using. Like the dude in the locker room who's hung like a hamster. (7/14/09) Well, CBS Radio fucked up big time. This is twice this year now that they pissed me off greatly. First was the demise of Classic Rock 94.7. Now they are getting rid of the Mike O' Meara Show??? From what I've seen, weren't the ratings getting better for TMOS? i hope he will land at a new affiliate once his contract expires. My afternoons are gonna suck for awhile. All i can say for CBS Radio is that i wont ever listen to any of their stations again (especially in DC). Fuck CBS Radio... (7/14/09) I was told by J.P Flaim outside of a DC bar on Friday night that he was going to be going to WPGC to do the morning show. Have you heard anything about this? (7/14/09) Dave's response: I've heard the same rumblings..... As a 20 year fan of Mike O’Meara, Don Geronimo, and the gang, I am disgusted by WJFK’s move to all sports talk. After reports for weeks about increasing ratings, I guess the company thinks that listeners are just going to keep tuning in to support whatever pabulum they are dishing out. Sports talk ALL DAY? Give me a break. Goodbye to WJFK, their mailing list, and anything that had to do with them. I wholeheartedly support Mike O’Meara, Mike Elston, Robb Spewak, Joe Ardinger, and Oscar Santana. Good luck guys … keep us all posted on Facebook about your future endeavors. I am ready to throw my support behind whatever the future holds for you guys. Soon enough we’ll all be hearing about what a huge failure the new WJFK line up is, right here on DCRTV.com. Hank R., Richmond, VA (7/14/09) ...so, what will become of Loveline with the JFK to Fan Flip? A goner as well...? (7/14/09) To add to the previous poster who wrote about Colorworks Promotions' 50% off WJFK sales: (stores.colorworkspromotions.com/WJFK), Big O and Dukes advertised yesterday on air about GIVING away dozens and dozens of Big O and Dukes shirts at their Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse appearance on Thursday. I'm hoping to get one of the universally sought-after, fabled "Club Get Right" shirts. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the odd MOM shirt thrown in the mix...-Yabels. (7/14/09) Die CBS Radio. . Die. . .DIE!!! Viva Mike O'Meara. Come back to us, somewhere somehow, please?!? (7/14/09) (RE: "Welcome to McDonald's! May I take your order?" -- Brian Donohue haha I have to admit, it is funny reading about someone making fun of the lack of intelligence of his bosses with all kinds of typos and spelling errors, then being so smart as to think it won't be found easily.) Quite a leap to surmise that a college intern’s posting of a blog with inside-the-station info (though hardly earth-shattering) will result in a career at MacDonald’s. So the kid’s blog was discovered. So what? He’s an unpaid intern whose summer term will be over in a few weeks. What’s the worst that can happen here? He's let go from his unpaid internship? BFD. Brian Donohue only confirmed what everyone has suspected for weeks: WJFK is rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. And he also confirmed what folks like Howard Stern and Don Geronimo have been telling us for years: most radio bosses are dicks. By the time Brian Donohue graduates, his resume will glorify this summer internship and make it sound as if he ran the station…just as every college intern has done on his/her resume since the days of Marconi. (7/14/09) When the rumors surfaced of the format change at WJFK , Mike O'Meara went on the air and said that whatever happens at the station, "I'm not going anywhere!" He was adamant that his show would still be aired on WJFK. None of the other shows at the station were so confident. Maybe he should have realized that he was way, way overpaid and just not very funny. The MOM show was the same type of show that Don used to mock--jive, boring and forced. O'Meara always sounded like he was in a frantic mode, rushing each interview segment, a stupid game around 5pm, Buzz's recycled "news", and then just glad to get the heck out of the studio at 6:50 each night. The reality is that Chad Dukes is the future--and O'Meara is the past. (7/14/09) Why is everybody crying for Mike O'Meara? Personally, I thought his show was awful. And I am looking forward to hearing something new in the afternoon. I have tried to listen to the show probably a dozen or so times since Don left...And found it just...Well...BORING. As much of an asshole Don was, he provided the backbone for the show and everybody fell in well around him...Including Mike. I actually hope they reunite at some point...But Mike by himself...NO! (7/14/09) The WXTR tower site is owned by Red Zebra. The taller tower on the site is owned by ATC. WXTR does not use that tall tower, it is used by many other communications entities. WXTR is the shorter tower. The site is south of Hybla Valley, so I don't believe the poster is looking at a broadcast stick. (7/14/09) Dave, I hope you report the eventual return of the Mike O'Meara Show with the same enthusiasm and glee with which you are reporting its demise. (7/14/09) Dave's response: First, I've always liked Mike O'Meara and Don Geronimo. Second, so I guess I'm supposed to show my support for Mike by NOT reporting his current predicament? Look, it's the radio biz. Formats change and people get canned all the time. Most radio vets have probably changed jobs and been fired/hired dozens of times. That's the way the biz works. It's not like Mike's got a terminal disease. He'll "sit out" his CBS non-compete contract - get paid not to work and cash the CBS paychecks - and then probably land another lucrative radio deal somewhere else. Or do ad voiceover work or commercial endorsements. And he'll still be making a lot more money and be more famous than you ever will be. Oh, poor poor Mike..... I read the other day that MSNBC just unveiled their new HD-capable Washington studio: www.mediabistro.com... Isn't this located in the same complex as NBC4? I'm hoping that this just might be a sign that WRC is finally preparing to take their news HD within the next decade, but I'll believe it when I see it. I had to laugh when Paul Farhi mentioned in one of his chats that NBC4's news would be going HD in a "couple of weeks." Naturally, this was written a few months ago. (7/14/09) Dave's response: Yes, NBC/MSNBC's Washington bureau is at 4001 Nebraska Avenue, where WRC is..... Is this what it's come to? Hiring air talent via a Popeye's Chicken promotion? I think we've just crossed the Rubicon boys and girls. (7/14/09) Let me echo the MOM affiliate that CBS can go to hell - but let me also add to that burning pile all of the shitheels (especially on here) who have been lobbying for people to get fired - bunch of low life, mouth breathers. (7/14/09) Does the new sportstalk station (WJFK) already have a deal in place with Comcast or MASN? On the "Sports" Junkies this morning, Jason Bishop (aka Lurch), was complaining about his headphones being broken. Their producer, Brett, said no one had been in the studio since the Mike O'Meara show was on vacation. He added, it could have happened when they were installing the camera's in the studio. Could the Junkies be preparing to do mornings on one of the local sports outlets? The foursome has been blogging on MASN's website since December 2008. Or maybe their installing the cameras for the Chad Dukes and LaVar Arrington show??? (7/14/09) Dave's response: I hear that there are plans for MASN to simulcast part of the new Dukes/Arrington show, along with its current afternoon offering, the Garceau/Marks show via CBS Baltimore sports talker 105.7. Might MASN also simulcast the Junks in mornings? Possibly..... Does anyone know if the music from BIG 100 comes from a syndicated source from midnight to 5:00am? Ive noticed them throwing in a few 90s tunes (Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Collective Soul, etc) late at night, but nowhere else during the day. Is this is a local decision to play 90s music or is it just music boomed in from a satellite? (7/14/09) Buzz Burbank's Facebook has this message today: "I want to thank you all again for the kind words and support. I'll be updating my activities here, of course, and now on Twitter, as well. Let's remain friends and have some fun, as we watch to see what happens next!" (7/14/09) From today's Taylor On Radio-Info: Donnie Simpson is fronting a competition named "Next Top Jock" to identify the next co-host of his long-running morning show at CBS Radio's WPGC-FM, Washington, D.C. (95.5). So why not make some money out of this reality series, right? CBS has sold sponsorship of the whole thing to the Popeyes restaurant chain, which has 88 stores in the D.C. area. Talented listeners can register for an audition, to be held at six area Popeyes. Then each of the five finalists spends a day in the studio alongside Donnie, with the winner to be chosen by a vote of the listeners. Winner gets a one-year contract as co-host. (7/14/09) Answer to "MYSTERY TOWER QUESTION". Google Maps indicates that the tower is on the Coast Guard base. (7/14/09) Mystery tower? That sounds like the American Tower site which is used by WXTR-730... (7/14/09) Does anyone know if the Jonas Brothers handed out autographed pink slips at the AOL Picnic? (ooops, another bad joke) (7/14/09) I wouldn't normally revel in the misfortunes of others, but in this case I'll make an exception for Sinclair Broadcast Group. Impending bankruptcy and ruin couldn't possibly be more appropriate and I can't think of a more deserving candidate. (7/14/09) From the Facebook of KCJJ, a longtime D&M and Mike O'Meara affiliate in Iowa City: "We received notice from Westwood One that the Mike O'Meara will be rerun for the next thirty days and then will be no more. KCJJ is hopeful the show will be able to find a new home soon and be available to us again. A special goodbye segment that was taped earlier may be run this Friday. We will carry the show until the network stops sending it. CBS Radio sucks. And they can go to hell. And they suck!" (www.facebook.com) (7/14/09) MYSTERY TOWER QUESTION: There's a pretty solid-looking stick just south of Franconia, visible from Telegraph Road and South Van Dorn St., visible at map coordinates 38.7539 and -77.126. Is that part of Ft Belvoir, a broadcast tower, or what? (7/14/09) In regards to the comment about stationary & business card switchover, there's still a LOT of stuff @ WJFK which still has Free FM 106.7 on it. (7/14/09) Why is JFK flipping to sports if they felt the need to cancel Jim Rome? (7/14/09) /\ July 14 Messages /\ \/ July 13 Messages \/ RE: [It's like the Sci-Fi channel becoming "SyFy," a la "not really sci-fi." Maybe the History Channel should become "Hystori." As in "not really history"] I agree. Also, Discovery Networks should be renamed SCPN. The Shameless Cross-Promotion Network. The Discovery shark was officially jumped when "American Chopper" did a "Jon & Kate" Bike, and when "Ace of Cakes" had the octo-spawn of the unholy J&K union on-set to decorate cupcakes (I threw up a little bit in the back of my mouth on that one). We can only hope that if the disgusting J&K+8 cross promotion trend must continue, Discovery will sell the annoying little crumb-snatchers into indentured servitude working as deck-hands for the opening episode of next season's "Deadliest Catch". Now THAT is an episode I'll watch! Jeff in (See! 86 words and no Sarah Palin!) Bowie (7/13/09) "Welcome to McDonald's! May I take your order?" -- Brian Donohue haha I have to admit, it is funny reading about someone making fun of the lack of intelligence of his bosses with all kinds of typos and spelling errors, then being so smart as to think it won't be found easily. You would think that somebody in college would realize that a blog that mentions something like WJFK would be easily google searchable and possibly easily found. And he hasn't even requested that it be removed from DCRTV.com? Too funny. (7/13/09) (WMAR ABC 2 already has the Baltimore market's WORST morning traffic reporting. Now its gonna be done from TAMPA ???) PLEASE tell me that you're joking here. (7/13/09) I can only assume the "traffic" comment is in jest. The "traffic" referred in the article is "billing and traffic." Again, I assume the comment in jest but never certain. (7/13/09) WMAR ABC 2 already has the Baltimore market's WORST morning traffic reporting. Now its gonna be done from TAMPA ??? Geez, last employee in the ABC 2 news room, please turn out the lights. What a mess that station is. (7/13/09) Notwithstanding some of the decisions they've made in the past, I'm saddened to hear that Sinclair may have to seek bankruptcy as a "safe haven" to get things re-organized. However, as we know, they are neither the first nor biggest to consider this path during this Depression. Two things got Sinclair into trouble: The unfunded government mandate of the DTV transition and paying way too much for way-overvalued acquisitions. The DTV transmission conversion cost the average TV station six million dollars. A lot of that had to be borrowed and that debt is coming due soon. The Congress failed to realize that broadcasting may be big business on a narional basis, but until recently was still very much a local business. Second, station acquisitions... what can I say? We all got kind of drunk, and bid furiously against each other for what would've been in a saner time, considered crap. Every O&O bought otherwise worthless crap TV and radio stations which would've otherwise been allowed to dark or silent were cooler heads to prevail. Not every town needs a "local" radio or TV station. I know it sounds cruel in a Depression to say this, but perhaps the FCC needs to take a hard look at a station's economics when it comes to license renewals. There are some stations which are as much a drag on the economy in a comparative microeconomic sense as Pontiac was from a macroeconmic sense. Having said that, the question begs in examining a station like WAVA. WAVA is such a cash cow and "standout" for Salem that they'll never sell it. However, in a community service (not to mention economic) sense, is the current format the best stewardship of that facility? Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/13/09) Regarding the changes at WJFK-FM -- I could retire in style on the money CBS has spent in recent years, just for updated letterhead stationary and business cards, etc. for their various stations. (7/13/09) Dave's response: Hell, 94.7 alone..... stores.colorworkspromotions.com/WJFK/... Dave, It's easy to see who is staying put and who'll be crying in their beer over at WJFK. The station's store blares "The Mike O'Meara Show Sale 50% Off" and "Big O and Dukes Sale 50% Off" And no Junkies sale. And hey, check out the "Navy beanie with an embroidered TMOS logo on the front and the 106.7 WJFK logo on the back. One size fits most." ...It's next year's winter wear for your favorite house mover. TMOS gear envy!? Get a clue CBS radio. -PureLo (7/13/09) Haha, wow! That guy's (WJFK Blog) has a really low opinion of CK, doesn't he? (7/13/09) Why don't they change WJFK to WCID? Which stands for "Who Cares, I Don't"! KOF (7/13/09) WJFK to change call letters in the flip..... 74.125.155.132 (7/13/09) Dave's response: WPGS? Nah. I think the intern was mixing up the sister WPGC calls. Although, WPGS - "Where People Get Sports." It might work..... WJFK Inside a Intern's Blog 74.125.155.132... junksweb.com... Found by junkies listener DevilFunk. (7/13/09) Here is an interesting link about the Post and Gazette papers making major shuffles, changes in their Montgomery County bureaus. maryland-politics.blogspot.com (7/13/09) Someone needs to give ComcastSports a nudge and tell them the audio's been incredibly bad all day. I agree about the History Channel. All the ''reality'' shows on there are awful. I LOVED the HC. Those western shows were great. Discovery Channel is headed in the same direction too. Paul (7/13/09) Dave's response: The Discovery Channel started out as a documentary channel. I don't have a problem with cable networks transforming themselves to attract an audience. But there comes a time to ditch the name when it no longer even remotely applies. And, the History Channel runs some wonderful science/space documentaries - but it ain't "history"..... Dave, The Google Cache still has the offending blog post... Adam in SLC (7/13/09) It is a new low for JFK to make today’s Mike OMeara Show sound like it back live when it is a tape from last year when he returned from vacation. I tuned in because the Junkies were live and I was curious about MOM’s show. I fell for it in the first break. Now I feel all used and icky. Way to treat your listeners JFK. (7/13/09) O'Meara in best-of. I remember this Mr. Wimplett skit from a while ago.. damn shame they aren't giving him the last week to say goodbye. (7/13/09) Dave's response: Stay classy, CBS! (Listening to the beginning of the Mike O'Meara show. At the point where Mike gives the date, I heard a really sloppy edit for the word "Monday", and no date given (as he usually does.) Obvious re-run for today. Interesting how management thinks that radio listeners are so stupid to not catch such an edit in audio, and re-running the same show near the exact date from last year, just to make it appear live. What is the reasoning behind this? It is the worst-kept secret that changes are happening very soon with WJFK, so stop pretending.) Yeah I'm listening too. . .the opening intro bit (from the Moonlighting?) sounded like a new bit added for the today, but then they cheap cut of out the date made it obvious. Sounds like about this time last year. I recall there was a bit of speculation that the show was on verge of getting cancelled, the ratings were at their worst then, and people thought the long vacation was gonna be the end of them. That explains all the "welcome back" calls they were getting in that first segment. God there were like 3 times during their run where the rumors of their demise were hot and heavy. Looks like this time it may be true. (7/13/09) Beth Ann McBride asking WJFK intern Brian Donohue to re-do the shirts in the Prize Closet that he has just spent an hour carefully arranging. Anybody else think that BAM's assertion of authority is akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? Hope poor Bri will compose a new blog detailing his early dismissal for spilling the beans about the WJFK call letter change. (7/13/09) Is mke o out on wjfk???? Steve please answer this.......... (7/13/09) Dave's response: My sources say yes..... Listening to the beginning of the Mike O'Meara show. At the point where Mike gives the date, I heard a really sloppy edit for the word "Monday", and no date given (as he usually does.) Obvious re-run for today. Interesting how management thinks that radio listeners are so stupid to not catch such an edit in audio, and re-running the same show near the exact date from last year, just to make it appear live. What is the reasoning behind this? It is the worst-kept secret that changes are happening very soon with WJFK, so stop pretending. (7/13/09) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Radio Ad Sales Assistant/Receptionist - Westwood One/Metro Networks in Silver Spring seeking experienced administrative assistant for Director of Southeast Region Metro Sales. High proficiency in MS Excel required; some knowledge of Arbitron/Scarborough Research & audio editing preferred. Duties also include various administrative duties for entire Westwood One office. Email: Sarah_Wichtner@metronetworks.com with resume & references. (7/13/09) Redskins Radio had 5 different frequencies last football season; But they decided to put the Skins games on all five instead of devoting one to the WW1 NFL package. When Washington played at 4pm, only the 2nd half of the Sunday Night game was heard (as opposed to Westwood's tripleheader coverage). Snyder has no one to blame but himself on this one. (7/13/09) Re: TV3 Winchester - Rick Ours works for Winchester Community Television, which is a cable-only channel (Comcast Cable Channel 20) operated by Shenandoah University. "WCT" is in the same building as TV3 Winchester (Gray Communication's TV station), but the two are separate operations. "WCT" was funded by the City of Winchester, but the city was forced to cancel their funding when the city budget was caught in the economic downturn squeeze. Shenandoah University will now have to pick up the total bill. Al McGilvray (7/13/09) Don Geronimo:: Bulldog v. Sorce II: So let's see, former WHFS talker Kirk McEwen is now at Ocean 98.WOCM. Mike Sorce worked at WOCM. Sorce was fired by Bulldog within a month and the radio insults flew. If radio pro McEwen thrives at WOCM, then The Rude Awakening for Sorce AGAIN will be that HE is the virus that infects the radio talent and stations he invades. (7/13/09) Dave, I support your idea for a "Truth in Cable Network Names Act". I get really offended by the current version of BRAVO and remember when it actually tried to be a little artsy and different. A couple of years ago, Biography was showing "Murder She Wrote", for gosh sakes. Of course we also have those nets that skirt their previous heritage by changing the old name to initials, like American Movie Classics to AMC and Headline News to HLN. Howie (7/13/09) ("I think you made a mistake posting the donahue blog thing with all his WJFK format change info. I think CBS could come after you and him for leaking their information and screwing up the debut. If I was you, i would remove that post.") Feeling a twinge of regret for posting that blog Mr. Donahue? (7/13/09) ("Ah pupkin, don't know why I'm shooting this over to you but it's right up your highway. Found it on google blog search: whenjesusfindskittens.wordpress.com..." Link doesn't work anymore, don't think that intern is around anymore. (7/13/09) "Not a bad channel, but it needs a name change to truthfully reflect what it offers." Dave, how about the Almighty Wrath of God channel? Whatever passes for "history" programming on the History Channel these days focuses on theology, particularly prophecy like Revelation. Who runs the station, anyway, Tim LaHaye? I wouldn't be surprised to see the channel show Kirk Cameron in "Left Behind." (7/13/09) Dave's response: It's like the Sci-Fi channel becoming "SyFy," a la "not really sci-fi." Maybe the History Channel should become "Hystori." As in "not really history"..... Headline of the day on CNN.com: "Jackson fans to stage impromptu London tribute." Yes, you read that correctly: according to CNN, Michael Jackson fans are planning an unplanned event. I guess the first thing to go in CNN's recent budget cuts were dictionaries. (7/13/09) Dave's response: Look, I don't much care for Fox News because of its heavily right-wing slant. But when you turn to CNN you get the stupid and silly news from a bunch of idiotic celeb journo suck-ups. Will someone please give us a REAL cable news channel? Is that too much to ask? And while I'm at it, will someone please make the History Channel please change its name. There's no "history" on the History Channel any more, which offers us a bunch of "reality" shows about truckers in the Arctic, sea salvage workers, pawn brokers, etc. Not a bad channel, but it needs a name change to truthfully reflect what it offers. Maybe the government should pass a new law - "The Truth In Cable Network Names Act." Other violators: MTV - Music Television? There's no music on it. It's a teen version of Nick. A&E - Arts & Entertainment? It's all cop shows. TLC - originally The Learning Channel? Nothing but Kate, Jon, and their kids. Sheesh..... Any chance WJFK could lure Peter Rosenberg from his NYC morning show when they flip to sports? I think a sportsy WJFK could use Peter Rosenberg. Bring Rosenberg back to DC!!!!!!! (7/13/09) Dave's response: Rosenberg, who's now on one of the top-rated radio stations in the top US market, to come back to a trainwreck known as WJFK? He'd have to be completely nuts..... Piss off, Susan Boyle: vodpod.com (7/13/09) For those that missed it, Big O and Dukes finally set the record straight on all the rumors and speculation that have been swirling around revealed the big game-changing announcement that had been mysteriously showing up as promos during last week's best-of..... the "Main Street Mafia vs The Predator" is being screened along with the original Arnold flick this Thursday at the Arlington Cinema and Draft House. As Chad put it, if you have EVER wanted to go to a BO&D event then this is THE one to go to. In fact if you've ever been worried about missing on a BO&D event this is probably the one to not miss, no matter what, under any circumstance, just saying. Here's a link with the info www.wjfk.com. - Jason (7/13/09) (Got this tonight at Nissan Pavilion. My quote: "Mike owes me $5k & all I got was this lousy t-shirt." Also "Soon to be a collectors item." twitpic.com ) HA!!! Yeah I ordered a TMOS tee shirt last week as well. . .wanted a piece of the show to remember it with. Hate to see it come to an end. I hope Mike O'Meara and the crew can get picked up somewhere / somehow. Even if I could only listen via online stream or podcast it would be worth it. (7/13/09) I have yet to hear anything mentioned about Big O. Sounds like he is out since you have not mentioned him getting partnered up with anyone. These guys are getting screwed just like when they had "Ed Norris" doing a few guest appearances. Oh well. I will really miss Mike O and Big O and Dukes. I like the Junks but there are other options during morning drive. I love that guy talk format. Sports Talk sucks. I am a transplant so I am not a Skins fan, Nats Fan, or a Ravens fan. I like the O's but they suck. Who the hell wants to hear sports all day and I am a sports fan. Losing Adam Carolla, Frost, Heidi and Frand in LA (Internet) and now Mike O'Meara and also Big O and Dukes made me get a Sirius Satelite Radio. Did not want to pay for what I got for free but now I can not get it. (7/13/09) (RE: Ah pupkin...) I think you made a mistake posting the donahue blog thing with all his WJFK format change info. I think CBS could come after you and him for leaking their information and screwing up the debut. If I was you, i would remove that post. (7/13/09) Dave's response: It is publicly available on the internet in a public blog. I have no problem posting a link to it. CBS can't "come after me" since I didn't originate it. UPDATE: It's now gone, behind a password "wall"..... Ah pupkin, don't know why I'm shooting this over to you but it's right up your highway. Found it on google blog search: whenjesusfindskittens.wordpress.com... Oliver (7/13/09) Dave, In your opinion, what local station DC area radio station, other than WJFK, is totally languishing and would be ripe for a turn around? Pat Malone (7/13/09) Dave's response: Christian talker WAVA's ratings absolutely suck, but I doubt Salem will do anything about it. Citadel's oldies WJZW needs to jettison Imus and reimage, perhaps flip format. Looks like they're playing more '80s tunes. CBS's Spanish WLZL is suffering greatly from the recession, which has been especially hard on the area's Hispanic population. CBS's chick tunes Fresh, WTGB, has a long long long way to go to catch up to WASH or Mix 107.3. Even CBS's urban WPGC is showing signs of weakness and could probably benefit from an Amp facelist. All of the above are ripe for "a turn around," in addition to CBS's WJFK..... /\ July 13 Messages /\ \/ July 12 Messages \/ Re WTEM, WJFK Radio Locator curves are a good start, but not always the full story. At night time AM station coverage is limited by interference to a signal contour that is not shown on Radio Locator. For a station like WTEM this could be the 10 mv contour. I think WJFK's big problem is their tower location and the first adjacent station in Baltimore. (7/12/09) An earlier poster speculates that a WJFK flip to sports is driven by revenue, not ratings. You're in the church, but still searching for a pew. Ratings are nice. Revenue is better. But, profits are best of all. A look at the books pf most "paid religion" stations would reveal the same thing: A great EBITDA showing despite very low ratings. The business of broadcasting is not unlike any other business: You want to maximize the dollars coming in while minimizing the dollars going out. "Jack" is the rock version of "paid religion" with very low expenses although the ratings are usually better. You could run pink noise 24/7 and if it produced profits, your ownership is happy. OK, so it's not radio or even broadcasting per se. But, that's business. Especially in the eyes of your larger ownerships regardless of the size of market. That's why on those rare occasions when I listen to the local WABC repeater in the afternoons and I hear their blabbermouth ranting about "localism", I have to laugh. Guys like him fear local ownership as much as they fear local origination. Why? Because this requires caring about your audience in order to make money. And, in such an environment, the syindicated talkers know that they'd be plowed under the radials in the tower feld. Undigned Corporate Suit (7/12/09) Got this tonight at Nissan Pavilion. My quote: "Mike owes me $5k & all I got was this lousy t-shirt." Also "Soon to be a collectors item." twitpic.com (7/12/09) Being generous, comparing 'distant' curves (the others being local and fringe) lets compare WJFK to WTEM. WTEM Daytime Coverage radio-locator.com... WJFK Fulltime Coverage radio-locator.com... Note how the WTEM curve just crosses into PA, but WJFK barely makes it to Baltimore. Those who recall the difficulty of picking up WJFK at FedEx Field on Game Day know that the poster is correct, WTEM is probably not shaking in their boots. Even the nightime WTEM signal is not too shabby. It covers a good part of the population density in spite of the lower power. radio-locator.com... WJFK will probably pull national ad dollars aimed at the male demo. It may pull barter dollars from shows that need a home. I suspect the format change is based on expecations of improved revenue, not improved ratings. (7/12/09) Cox in Fredericksburg also did a couple of shuffles - the first in June and the second a few days ago. At the DTV conversion, WPXW now has a digital HD channel (clear QAM) in addition to their converted analog channel, and WHUT went to clear digital only (no analog). On July 8, CSPAN 2 went to clear digital and CSPAN 3 was added as clear digital, TCM and MTV2 went to a pay digital tier (only available if you have a converter box). We still get WETA as converted analog and all four digital channels (26.1 to 4), We also still get most Richmond stations in analog including WCVE (PBS) (surprised those didn't move to clear digital). But we finally got Retro TV Network - at first it was on 85.806 but now can be found as 7.3 - as it is a sub-channel of WJLA. Dave in Fredericksburg (7/12/09) ("What happen to COX - Fairfax County expanded basic channels that disappeared? 22 md public tv, 32 whur, 43 cspan-2, 63 mtv-2, 94 turner classic movies. They’re all black with static.") I noticed this as well. I went to cox.com and couldn't find any information about this. I pulled the electronic version of my June 2009 cable bill, (I don't receive my bill via regular mail anymore) looked in the "What's new from Cox" information section on page 2, and saw information that all of these channels were migrated/moved to the digital tier. Cspan2, MTV-2, and TCM just moved there July 8 according to the bill. I think MPT and WHUR moved around the DTV conversion date June 12. In looking at information about the DTV conversion from cox.com, it mentions they will continue to offer analog broadcast signals for at least the next 3 years. I suspect cox will migrate/move other analog channels to digital over the next 3 years discontinuing analog cable. Ric W. (7/12/09) ("Well I'm sure 980 I freaking out") Well - the word is "is", and I can assure you, they are not. Nor will they. (7/12/09) Dave, this may be old, but it’s cute. “What news anchors do during the break.” (7/12/09) Yikes, it's a Sunday morning and the first thing out of the hat in the mailbag is a post from the ol' windbag. Gimme that scroll button, and fast. (7/12/09) 2 things. 1. While the FCC can be chided for being way too slow to allow -10dB for HD FM, they can't take the blame for HD Radio. The FCC did offer the terrestrial broadcasters a new band to start a new digital service. It was refused,,,because,,,drum roll,,the NAB had a conflict of interest in having licensced Musican (Eureka 147),,,which does not work well in FM, requires a new band and cannot be used on AM. So the new band went to XM and Sirius. The HD Radio compromise was designed around the desires of big AM broadcasters. Not much can be done with any AM system due to impulse noise problems on analog or digital. But digital FM works damn well on -10dB, and that has been known for at least 5 years. 2. Interesting how Tucker Carlson compared the coverage of Palin (lets review her personal life) to the coverage of Obama (professional only coverage) during the campaign. As Greta put it, Palin is what the mantra of feminists were yelling about, she has a man, a family and a high profile career,,,and she is happy. That seems to really piss of the liberals who went after her. Tucker noted apparently a woman is not considered to be a proper feminist unless she has that and is pro-abortion. Will someone please tell Letterman the pedophile to STFU,,he is still making comments about her. What a bore. (7/12/09) ("Did Drudge run with the photos of George W. Bush being outright giddy with the US Women's Volleyball team?") Now liberals understand what conservatives go through every single day when subjected to the overt slurping of liberals and socialists by ABC, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the LA Times, etc, etc, etc, etc. And all you're talking about is the Drudge Report? (7/12/09) Regarding someone to "lobby" the FCC for a reasonable DTV system, I would've picked Jack Welch. When he was CEO of GE, he had the government clout David Sarnoff did in an earlier era. Given that Welch was CEO of NBC-TV owner GE when ATSC was being whelped, I'm surprised in a way that Welch and GE didn't get involved. However, for many years broadcasting at GE was something of a bastard stepchild, so maybe it's not too surprising. As for Sarnoff... he was nothing less than a pompous horse's ass who because of his ego, vetoed for use in NTSC a Hazeltine patent for carrying phase correction information on alternating lines of video. That patent was incorporated by Dr, Walter Bruch of the old Telefunken firm into what became the PAL format which was used in most of the world. Also, sad to say that the DTV system Sinclair was championing, COFDM, also carries its cargo of worms. This is very apparrent with the increasing proliferation of "light rail" or tramway (streetcar to us old enough to remember them in the U.S.) systems as COFDM is very succeptable to pulse interference. Ever see a trolley car draw an arc between its pole and the contact wire? With COFDM, that arc can momentarily wipe-out TV reception for a good chunk of a city. However, as a DTV compromise, COFDM was more likely to work as well in Southern Pines as it would in the Inner Harbor. Yes, it's true that most of the rest of the world has better telecommunications than the U.S. And, usually at lower cost. Unfortunately, various government bodies (the FCC isn't the only guilty one here) not just stifle innovation, but have means at their disposal to legally penalize (and punish) those who choose to pursue undesired innovation. A good case in point is the burdensome copyright fees over-the-air broadcasters face if they stream the signal online. That mess will keep several generations of lawyers employed and small to medium -sized American broadcasters from streaming their signals to a waiting world. Why? Because the Board of Broadcast Governors knows that a typical small-market Class IV AM streaming online does a far better job at showcasing American culture, commerce, and freedom than the mighty "Voice of America" (A WWII/Cold War anachronism which has long outlived its usefulness...) ever could... Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/12/09) RE: [Actually, I was hoping that Obama was actually looking at that girl's butt. At least that would prove he wasn't the elistist jackass that he appears to be.] Interesting. Recent studies show that a paltry 0.6% of the population in the United States considers our current President to be an "Elitist Jackass". Coincidentally, 0.6% of the population also answered that they faithfully listen to the Sean Hannity Show "Three Hours a Day". You may be asking, "Where do those figures come from?" I can answer that: Same place Sean gets his statistics. Pulled out of his ass. (7/12/08) MIX Magazine is reporting the classic rock album "Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother & the Holding Company was not a live recording made at the Fillmore -- that it was in fact a studio recording with a smattering of Fillmore elements spliced and woven in. Which explains the absence of audience reaction on the breakout hit "Piece of My Heart". According to the article, the band actually was kinda sucky, so a completely live recording would not have worked. The album was created some 40 years ago, yet I can't help but feel some Milli Vanilli-ish violation of my sensibilities by this. Thanks Janis, ya bitch... (7/12/09) You get stuck with bad technology like ATSC, HD-Radio, & AM Stereo because you have lawyers & lobbyists running the FCC, NOT TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE! Baltimore based Sinclair Broadcasting (WBFF FOX 45), which by the way, was founded by an ENGINEER, not a lawyer or lobbyist, fought for a different DTV standard like the one used in much of Europe which would have had better indoor & city reception. There were numerous studies on this that proved SBC correct, but of course the FCC chose ATSC despite overwhelming evidence it would be inferior to other choices. You see, unfortunately, if I recall correctly, most of the ATSC standard was designed by American companies, & therefor they had substantially more influence over the U.S. DTV standard & our corrupt FCC, even though it's terrible technology as far as viewing area. Whereas the European standard would not benefit American companies. There ya go. And Unsigned Corporate Suit really hit the nail on the head about coverage area: While coverage areas of most stations are pretty close to their analog signals, the viewing area is significantly smaller. Basically, the FCC stated coverage areas are the equivalent of "fuzzy math." Those coverage plots are basically for people with outdoor antennas that are set up pretty damn high AND OUTSIDE, NOT INDOOR. It's almost as if someone at the FCC was high when they designed the calculation for "coverage area." Or everyone at the FCC was lobbied by the cable/satellite industry to make ATSC a failure possibly? Hmmm. If so, the cable/satellite industry succeeded. Money well spent COMCAST, COX, DIRECTV, DISH. You won! I won't go into the debacle of AM Stereo, we all know where that mess went, but look at HD-Radio. Once again, a technology designed by lawyers, lobbyists, & corporate interests, NOT TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE. That's clearly why it sucks and practically nobody can receive it and its not even high quality audio and it's FAILING. HD-Radio was outdated before it was rolled out! The low power signal strength means few people who even have HD-Radios can even receive it. The audio quality from the iTUNES music store is better than HD-Radio. I could (if I wanted to but don't) illegally download a higher quality song than HD-Radio. I can even stream music online at the same or higher quality rate than HD-Radio on an iPhone or iPOD Touch! You can get better quality radio via internet streaming on your PC than via HD-RADIO, I could go on and on about HD-Radio's faults, they are endless. All of the big radio companies are either in bankruptcy or failing or faltering. Clear Channel was a huge lobbyist & investor for IBOC/HD-Radio. Look where it got them. Look at how HD-Radio is doing. Look at the ATSC HDTV fiasco. Why does the FCC continue to pick BAD TECHNOLOGY? And, to add insult to injury, the U.S. is last in the western world in cell phone technology infrastructure, go figure. Does anyone in the U.S. even know they watch LIVE TV STATIONS on their cell phones in parts of Europe and Japan? Can you do that in the U.S.? NOPE! Hell, the FCC couldn't do any worse if they just turned it all over to Steve Jobs@APPLE, INC to figure out a solution. The simple fact that President Obama kept most of the current FCC people who failed on both ATSC and HD-Radio and cell phone infrastructure tells me that CHANGE has NOT come to Washington at all. Sad. I think I'll now listen to a higher quality UK radio station streamed over the internet instead of considering buying an HD-Radio or maybe even a CBS Radio station via AOL Radio instead of HD-Radio. OK, rant over, but what a screwed up FCC we have. They should rename it The Fucking Can't-Come-up-with-shit-that-works Commission. 'Nuff said. -- Joe in Essex (7/12/09) DTV list - for Salisbury area 47.1 & 2 correct, also 47.3 is WMDT Weather (7/12/09) The previous post about Lite 97.5 WLTF and their missing right channel, tonight I was talking to my dad who lives in nearby Waynesboro, PA and he too was telling me that he had noticed the same thing..the right channel is missing and yes he agrees..it does sound bad. As far as them ( WLTF/Prettyman ) getting rid of people, since I can't pick up WLTF from where I live just outside of Frostburg, MD, I did check out their website and noticed that only two local jocks appear on their "meet the djs" remain, Joe Sanchez and Casey Brooks. The others were John Tesh and Delilah. Last time I saw their site about three months ago they had a list of weekenders, but their names are now gone. Did they get the ax or were they simply "overlooked"? Anyway the last time I was in Martinsburg several months back there were rumors going around Martinsburg at the time about some "cuts" that were going to take place at Prettyman but I have no idea who did get cut if there were any cuts at all. (7/12/09) What happen to COX - Fairfax County expanded basic channels that disappeared? 22 md public tv, 32 whur, 43 cspan-2, 63 mtv-2, 94 turner classic movies. They’re all black with static. (7/12/09) Did Drudge run with the video of George HW Bush smacking Terri Hatcher's ass? www.youtube.com... Did Drudge run with the photos of George W. Bush being outright giddy with the US Women's Volleyball team? Did Hannity give anytime to either subject? The answers are, No, No, and No. In light of the ABC News report, Paul Duckworth at WMAL is an ass for defending what Hannity said. (7/12/09) Re: WHSV...Back in 2005 Boradcasting & Cable magazine did a profile on WHSV-TV channel 3 in Harrisonburg, VA not long after WHSV had celebrated their 50th birthday. According to Broadcasting & Cable, GrayTelevision ( WHSV ) had some "BIG" plans for the Winchester area. Among those plans were to make WHSV "must carr"y in Winchester unlike WAZT and WVPT which had failed to do so ( looked at what has happened to those stations ). The FCC had granted that request even though all of the Washington stations and WHAG-TV had protested that move. Also the magazine said that Gray/WHSV wanted the FCC to take Warren/Frederick/Clarke and Shenandoah Counties out of the Washington DC market and have them be a part of Harrisonburg. The FCC also gave their OK to that put then again its Neilsen who does the makets/DMAs and not the FCC. Also in WHSV's advantage was the new rules at the time giving giving both Dish Network and Direct TV the right to add channels to one's local TV package from an adjacent market strictly based on zip coide and what is offered on the local cable system ( Ex: Those with Direct TV in Frederick, MD would be able to receive local Baltimore TV right alongside Washington as if they had cable even though that area falls within the DC DMA ). I assume the part of the Northern Shenandoah Valley counties being moved into the Harrisonburg market those plans were dropped ( though I don't know the story there ) but as far as WHSV making it on Direct TV or Dish to some viewers within the DC DMA, I wouldn't rule that out quite yet ( at least as far as being available only in the valley and NOT market wide ) since I have yet to hear about Direct TV or Dish Network dropping the idea of adding local channels from adjacent markets. TV3 Winchester & Comcast, since TV3 is must carry, the only connection between TV3 and Comcast is as someone had pointed out already..carriage. I got that bit of news from the horse's mouth actually..Gene & Susan Rhodes from Comcast/Winchester..and they told reminded me that TV3 is must carry.... That Now here is the weird part of this story. Even though the whole story about WHSV-TV, must carry, market changes and so forth..all of this was reported back in 2005 in Broadcasting & Cable, The Winchester Star, Martinsburg Journal, Northern Virginia Daily, Harrisonburg News Record and the Quad State Business Journal magazine and of course was reported on the various websites like VARTV and yes even DCRTV had ran a story about it,yet for some reason there are some people who refuse to believe any of this.as if all the media sites, magazines and WHSV had got together and decided to make a joke. Like the person on radio-insight.com some months back calling someone who had asked about whatever became of WHSV's plans on moving some countries from DC to Harrisonburg only to be called "retarded" or that lovely message on TV NewsTalk.net.someone had posted last yearabout how they can pick up TV3 Winchester's signal in Martinsburg only to be called by another poster "... a F*CKING LIAR". Ah before one starts to call people "liars" "retarded" or whatever, do some research and ask around, perhaps make a few calls before you send off that email or post that message. Otherwise you can make yourself look pretty foolish. (7/12/09) Once other DC stations follow WUSA's lead in having reporters shoot and edit their own stories, there'll be times a reporter wished a colleague was still with them in the field! (7/12/09) Steve Dahl to launch daily podcasts in partnership with CBS Radio - "Steve Dahl, more or less silenced since CBS Radio took him off WJMK-FM 104.3 late last year with more than 2 1/2 years left on his contract, is poised to be unmuzzled. Dahl and CBS will partner beginning Sept. 8th for a one-hour daily podcast available on-demand through CBS' iknowjack.com, Dahl's dahl.com and Apple's iTunes site. A Chicago radio personality for more than 30 years whose broadcast style inspired a generation of voices, Dahl has been kept off radio since Dec. 5th because of the CBS contract that will continue to pay him into mid-2011"... (7/12/09) Dave's response: Don Geronimo rejected the chance to do a podcast with CBS because he didn't want the company to be able to review, and possibly reject, the content of each podcast..... Unsigned Corporate Suit. Usually you are dead on. But in championing a David Sarnoff as the way to avoid the ATSC mess, you are dead wrong. Sarnoff was a snake oil salesman with a bad attitude. His interest was purely in monopoly and mass market of a cheap product. He paid his lawyers and lobbyists alot of money to get in the way of advancing technology that he did not own. He stood firmly in the way of FM radio because he would have had to pay for use of patented work and his AM sales were high. He helped the FCC move FM radio to possibly the worst place in the electromagnetic spectrum. While he did champion television, the system chosen (NTSC) was not the system that his team designed. And he had nothing to do with the Titanic either. ATSC needed a Jack Welch, but unfortunately the FCC was not willing to do disrupt the regulatory mess that remains from Sarnoff's influence in trying to disrupt any competing broadcast technolgies. Sarnoff would rather have seen the industry die in analog than have to work with others on a digital solution. (7/12/09) /\ July 12 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....