Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - March 13 to March 21, 2010 Latest messages listed first..... \/ March 21 Messages \/ Can you top these four recent examples of why DC-Balto radio sucks? 1. Sunday 3/14-1:15 AM: WIAD is burying its contest rules in the middle of the night. Announcement ends with "Full contest rules available at Fresh 94-7 offices ... in Lan-HAM, Maryland. (It's LAN-num, folks!) 2. Same day-4:45 AM: Hot 99-5 is running some syndicated program talking about previewing the Oscars. (The ceremony took place the previous Sunday!). 3. Same day-2:20 PM: WBIG is running a spot for the upcoming Wolftrap season. One of the performers mentioned was Luh-VON Helm. (It's LEE-von, like the Elton John song!) 4. Today-9:50 AM: WQSR is playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama", and the "Goddamn" near the end of the song has been cut out ... not reversed to maintain the rhythm, mind you, just edited right out. Wonder if they did the same thing to the Eagles' "Life In The Fast Lane"? Sheesh! (3/21/10) WAGE's path to 1190 is a little confusing, and the last poster has it wrong. Their construction permit for 50kW daytime (BP-20070118AEM) is still in force and has never been canceled. The separate nighttime application (BP-20090106AFY) was dismissed last August for not including an environmental study. Potomac Radio has petitioned for reconsideration and submitted an amended application describing how they'll get the study done. Didn't I write this before? Regards, Dave Loudin (3/21/10) “His regular, daily podcast is still free, and promises to keep it that way. A fan, Tom” - Hey “Tom” (if that is your real name Phony Iowan Fatso Spewak) just try to access the MOS web site and easily (as in readily find) anything other than a pay system to help keep you & Mike in food, Buzz & Joe in pot and sex, and burritos for life for the Mexican. If y’all need bucks: get a real job. (3/21/10) Years ago, (pre-cable) local stations used to sign off of the air to end their broadcast day. Channel 9 used to run a beautiful piece of music during theirs. The graphic simply read "Inspiration". Does anyone remember what that piece was and the artist of the rendition? I remember that film of some very beautiful scenes was run while it played. Rusty Gibson (3/21/10) Why is this stupid WalMart PA announcement story still coming up in the mailbag? I fail to see the local TV or radio angle to it. (3/21/10) RE: Donnie (Wal-mart incident) - Dude, chill out! They have already arrested a 16 year old suspect. It's starting to sound more and more like a "kid" prank! You are making waaaaaaaaaay too much of this. Sure it was stupid but you are trying to tie way too many things into one silly incident. Just let it go before you give yourself a stroke. Please listen to my words, I'm a black man that also shops at "wally world". Before this they have always gone out of their way to accomodate my shopping needs. Just let it go, dude. (3/21/10) So Phase Two of the O'Meara Business Model has begun– start charging a modest fee for unique programs but maintain the free shows as normal. Phase Three would be to increase the number and regularity of the unique programs and curtail the freebies, Phase Four would be to end the freebies altogether and stick with the pay for play option. Phase Five, the final phase, is when all of Mike's belongings are moved from the house to the curb by the sheriff. Even though I wouldn't pay a dime for their product, I like the guys (Rob especially) and wish them all the best. PS– Mike, you might want to leave the plastic on any new furniture you buy in case it rains. – Jamesonain (3/21/10) Mike O'Meara ''Raw'' and ''Adults Only'' is possibly one of the most brain dead ideas I've heard. What are you possibly going to hear that's ''Raw''? Are people that gullible that they'd actually pay to hear nonsense like that? If people are that needy to piss their money away, send it to me instead. I promise you 0 in return. Pretty much like paying for MOM ''Raw''. And is it me or does ''Jiffy Lube Live'' Pavillion sound like a gay dance club? Paul (3/21/10) Mike and the boys WILL always be offered free on their daily show. The RAW shows were special pay-per-listen and were fantastic radio. If your not offended by all things naughty I urge you to partake. $10.99 for three show. "What a bargain!". Rob-- Alabama (3/21/10) On further inspection, it appears the FCC dismissed the WAGE 1190 50kw application for "failure to prosecute", as in they never filed the night time application to complete the full application. fcc.gov... The owners of WAGE/WBIS are now attempting to have the daytime application reinstated by filing the companion night time application finally. It is kind of ironic that the FCC dismissed WAGE's 50kw application while at the same time for 10 years kept giving WBIS 1190 a low power STA extension to not meet its 10kw FCC license and use temporary transmitting facilities. LIke I said, typical government... SNAFU 24/7. (3/21/10) Is WAGE 1190 about to rise from the ashes? fcc.gov... WAGE finally filed its nighttime service application. However, this is getting confusing because their 50,000 watt construction permit for AM 1190 for the location near Dulles has been dismissed by the FCC, yet they reference to that application in this new amendment. Hmmm. Oh meanwhile, WBIS 1190 filed for another STA permit. Like the 2 stations in Delaware, WBIS has probably not had permanent transmitting facilities for at least 10 years. It's just unbelievable that the FCC allows this type of frequency squatting and neglect of technical facilities and just outright laughing in their face abandonment of the terms of an FCC license to broadcast. But, oh well, that's the federal government for you. Meanwhile, just try and upgrade your facilities and see how many nutty environmental hurdles you have to jump over. But, the FCC is just ok with anybody running a station into the ground or barely broadcasting a signal at all, that's just fine. Unbelievable really, but typical government... SNAFU. (3/21/10) The Maryland Terrapins game didn't air on WUSA/9 at its originally scheduled Friday tip time because the previous game at the Spokane site ran long. The station picked up the Terps game when it actually started after 10:30 p.m. EDT. Everett W. (3/21/10) Hi Dave. The 'Raw' pay-per-listens for O'Meara, are a Special Event sort of thing. They're uncensored, Adults-Only podcasts. Mike and crew are calling it their 'Spring Fundraiser'. (they are on vacation last week, and offered these)... His regular, daily podcast is still free, and promises to keep it that way. A fan, Tom (3/21/10) "Im not a Basketball fan. The Washington Post has Maryland vs Michigan State at 2:30. Did Maryland play on Saturday? Maybe that is the reason WUSA did not show the game" MD played on Friday night around 10 PM against Houston. Mike in Alexandria (3/21/10) Im not a Basketball fan. The Washington Post has Maryland vs Michigan State at 2:30. Did Maryland play on Saturday? Maybe that is the reason WUSA did not show the game. (3/21/10) Am I reading this right: the MOM Show is now totally supported via pay per listen in one form or another? Like, was I away in West Virginia or something? “Order & listen at”: MikeOMearaShowRAW.com (3/21/10) OK pick this apart too. All I meant was Racism is stupid ,there are plenty of things to dislike someone over besides skin tone. And Blacks are not the only ones who have ever been denied jobs and opportunity because of what they were born as. The Race Card is pulled every time someone does something ignorant towards a Black person. Yes this was directly towards Black people but not all issues that cause alot of hate are this clean cut. Yes the kid was really stupid. Yes he needs his ass kicked. I'd do it myself. Donnie. (3/21/10) FYI, The university trained journalist made a joke and everybody knew it. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (3/21/10) Has anyone heard if Verizon FiOS will be carrying MASN2-HD? Greg in Reisterstown. (3/21/10) "nearby news" "Mad dog" from the Dog & Dave Morning show on 96.1 WSOX in York, PA seems to have been left go boards.radio-info.com (3/21/10) /\ March 21 Messages /\ \/ March 20 Messages \/ As a pilot myself, I knew the “N1EIB” registration to be bogus when I saw it here in the Mailbag. The FAA has so far issued only 2-letter suffixes to an “N” number. However, I decided to run the “N1: registration to see if I would get a “hit”. There really is an “N1”. And, it is indeed a Gulfstream IV. It’s owned by the FAA National Flight Oversight Office in Oklahoma City. So, it could indeed be at Dulles on Business. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/20/10) I heard Byron Kerr doing sports updates on WJFK today around 4 p.m. Is he gone from WTOP? (3/20/10) OK, I may be a f*ucking idiot, but it was a 16 year old kid who pulled the Wal Mart prank. It was a journalist who cried "run 'em down". Who has more culpability, the kid or the university trained journalist? (3/20/10) "On the same token I have not yet met a person who was owned by a plantation owner in thier [sic] past..." Have you met someone who was denied credit 30 years ago due to their skin color? They therefore could not acquire and pass down wealth like others in society. I am sure you have. Have you met someone that has parents or grandparents denied government employment because of their skin color (remember in the 50's and early 60's just about all DC police and firefighters were White, a fact that didn't change until Home Rule). Saying all Whites need to leave would not bring up souvenirs of a recent disgrace against your race. Also, when did the Moors govern in this country? (3/20/10) As Paul Harvey used to say, "just what, not why." Gulfstream Jet N1EIB on the tarmac at Dulles. You're welcome... Oops. Wrong on the tail number, but the "EIB" marking on the tail is consistent with the aircraft formerly known as N1EIB. (3/20/10) Dave's response: Hmmm, if the head of the GOP is actually flying up from Florida, the party must be really worried about losing the health care reform vote tomorrow..... Hey Dave, Still enjoy checking you out now and again, though I haven't worked in the market for a few years....couldn't resist, though, offering two cents re' "...radio god..." Don Geronimo and his current/ongoing adventures......I don't know Mr. Sorce personally, but I do respect him as a professional peer...that said, I have, for a few years now, held the same opinion I have today...."Don Geronimo" and, for that matter, Mike O' and their running buddies aren't so much incredible as they are inevitable...because nothing succeeds like success and the more things change, yada yada....their "inevitability" is comparable to the way the NFL plays musical chairs with the same couple of dozen head coaches, whether they've still got major league game or not....put another way, their qualifications for the job are, primarily, that they've always gotten hired for the job,again, regardless of their current level of chops...another example....Doug Tracht who, as the Greaseman, redefined terrestrial radio in the 70's and 80's, but simply doesnt have as many pitches in that arm as he usedta.....lest I be branded a whippersnapping young blood frustrated by the roadblocks to getting "in", let me share that I am Don and Mike and Doug's age....am a broadcast vet and, again, don't begrudge anybody a gig....but, maybe, if more guys like Sorce and O'Meara,et al, who, if wisely invested, probably don't have to work anymore moved on to other pursuits and opened up some spaces for the "up and comers", the scent of terrestrial radio would be more "fresh air" and less "old fart".....oh...and that especially goes for Kornheiser...can't help but think of Elaine..."enough about the stupid desert and just DIE!....DIE Already!!......:) keep up the good work, Dave.... -- Scott Edward Phelps (3/20/10) The Old Towne hoofers club Is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a non profit dance co. Washington, DC's premier tap dance company, and its commitment to the communty. The fouding director Charles v. Wyche the "Tapologist" will conduct a free lecture demonstrations on the art & history of tap dancing at the Randle Highland Elementary school 1650 30th St se, Washington,DC. 20020... there will be a guest appearance by Vincent Bingham who starred in the Broadway musical Bringin Da Noise Bringin Da Funk... This event will take place on monday March 22, 2010 at 1:30 in the afternoon and will last for 1(one) hour... The Old Towne Hoofers Club, 506 Longfellow St. NW, Suite T03, Wahington, DC. 20011, (202) 277-9950 tapologist@gmail.com (3/20/10) So, this is how the Washington Times does business? They cut their sports staff, sending them to the unemployment lines during a difficult economy, citing the need to refocus on their core strengths, like politics. Now they're sending an alleged sports reporter, Ted Starkey, down to Viera to cover the Nationals at spring training? Funny, he barely watched Friday night's game, when Stephen Strasburg pitched, and didn't bother to venture down to the clubhouse to speak to the pitching prospect after his night was done. Yet this morning, readers of TWT get a story about the outing, complete with quotes, obviously lifted from other media sources who were there -- Washington Post, AP, MASN, MLB.com, Florida Today, Nats Insider, WTOP. Instead, he attributed his quotes as being "told (to) reporters." So this qualifies as journalism? Barely paying attention and then not doing the legwork to get the quotes? Wonder if his editors know. In fact, wasn't a former Times baseball writer, Brooke Tunstall, fired because he did the same thing? -- No name, just an interested observer ... (3/20/10) First of all you need to look at WHERE this happened. It was not at a high class establishment known for the intelligence and moral fiber of its customers. I,too,remember seeing signs but they said "Whites Only" not "Management Reserves...." and even at 7 years old I knew something was wrong with that. On the same token I have not yet met a person who was owned by a plantation owner in thier past and I certainly did not own any nor did my parents or grandparents...they were too busy being Micks and Dagos and Injuns to buy one...Prejudice does not have any nice boundaries such as color...A few generations back if you weren't of 'distinguished ancestry' you were trash no matter your skin color. This sharp divide is bullshit. Racism goes both ways. I'm fucking tired of being labeled "Whitey" as if I'm part of the problem. I got my brown eyes from Sicilian ancestors who were conquered and raped by the Moors....where do I get in line for some payback for that? Lets just treat morons as morons,and THAT goes for Talk Show Hosts too, and stop all this goddamn nonsense. Personally I'd like to wrap that assholes tongue around his throat but it doesn't really matter if he's White,Black,Brown or Purple to me. Donnie in Cecil ( NOT in the Klan) (3/20/10) Reason; The real tragedy is if the same Walmart [sic] nit-wit had said that all White people needed to exit the store, nothing would have happened. You are right; this country has a long history of discrimination, slavery, brutality, and opportunity/economic prohibitions against White people. Making that announcement would have bought back memories of the harsh anti-white realities of 300+ years. I can remember back in the 1960's signs at stores and diners in the Carolinas saying "Management reserves the right to refuse service to anyone." That was code for "White people stay out." (3/20/10) WJZ 13 cuts Kellye Lynn and keeps the little weasle "Bass the Ass"!!! They are more screwed up then WUSA 9. Go figure that one... Jeff n E'Burg (3/20/10) The two hours post-sunrise and the two hours pre-sunset are when skywave signals fade out/fade in. Hearing both WLW and WDMV in southern Ontario at these times should not be surprising at all, as it doesn't take a whole lot of power to be heard if the path is open. Broadcast engineers refer to these times as "critical hours", and some daytime operations have to cut back power/change pattern in order to protect a Class A station. Local examples include WAVA, WUST, WACA, and WKIK. Regards, Dave Loudin (3/20/10) (yet Kornheiser uses the public airwaves to advocate manslaughter and it's a joke?!?!) You are a f*cking idiot. He didn't "advocate manslaughter" - he made a joke, and an apology. It's over, but people like you want to keep things "viral", and try to ruin a persons life. Nobody (NOBODY!) would say a thing when their heroes D&M would do something like this - they did, and worse. (3/20/10) The real tragedy is if the same Walmart nit-wit had said that all White people needed to exit the store, nothing would have happened. The country is getting more fucked up by the minute and most are too stupid to realize it. (3/20/10) How is it some nit wit gets on the WalMart PA and is now investigated for possible Federal charges, yet Kornheiser uses the public airwaves to advocate manslaughter and it's a joke?!?! (3/20/10) Anyone know why WUSA is not showing the scheduled Maryland vs Houston NCAA Tournament game? Instead, we get Vermont vs Syracuse. ???? (3/20/10) I was just reading another forum. The poster said that he was in Southern Ontario, just south of Toronto last night. H was listening to WLW and could hear WDMV from Walkersville, Md. I hear a lot of far away stations but wouldn't have thought that was possible. I seriously doubt that they are operating on much power. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (3/20/10) The Big Tigger Morning Show kicks off this Monday, March 22nd at 6am. WPGC 95.5 and WPGC.com... (3/20/10) /\ March 20 Messages /\ \/ March 19 Messages \/ I'd like to know how the CEO at Gannet sleeps at night. Budget cuts and layoffs all over their holdings and he gets a raise to 4.7 million. Something is VERY WRONG with that picture! I've always thought CEO's are useless employees anyway. Stephanie (3/19/10) Dave, Big Tigger announced tonight at 5:55 pm that on monday 3/22 "The Big Tigger Morning show" will debut with a 100,000 money give away. (3/19/10) from the WPGC website: 955 PGC has someone big coming to mornings… Who will it be? Get ready!! The countdown is on…. 3.22.10. (3/19/10) I knew the Freedom Alliance was pretty much a scam, but Debbie (who was kicked off the Sean Hannity program after accusing Sean of plagiarizing her), may have a bone to pick, here. It seemed clear from the press release issued by the Freedom Alliance today that the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund funds are handled differently than funds for other programs of the Freedom Alliance. If you donate to the “scholarship fund,” that money goes for the most part into a scholarship fund. If you donate to the Freedom Alliance, your money may or may not be going into the scholarship program. This is the first time the Freedom Alliance, to my knowledge, has ever separated the “Freedom Alliance” programs from the Freedom Alliance Scholarship fund. I suspect this distinction was held back earlier to obfuscate the true business model, and that is exactly why they get along so well with obfuscator Sean Hannity. Does it surprise me that Sean takes private jets to these events? No, he is an opportunistic a$$hole that will lie to protect himself and his clients. Though, I cannot believe, according to the Freedom Alliance’s press statement today, Sean has been paying the tab. In the past, Sean has always claimed he “needed” private jets because he “worked two jobs,” and flying commercial was not an option. He fleeced a college in Utah into paying $35,000 to fly him there in a private jet and to then fly him to Phoenix to do his radio show the next day. He also has charged a group in Iowa over $50,000.00 for “travel expenses.” He charged the Republican Party $16,000.00 to fly him to DC on a charted plane last fall. On his Premiere Speaker webpage, it clearly states “Sean Hannity travels from New York, New York and requires Private Jet.” Remember, Sean Hannity's value is that he is a marketing machine tethered to dumb people. Let us not forget Sean’s endorsements of the “conservative” movies “An American Tale,” and “Expelled.” If you want Sean, got to get the jet. (3/19/10) From the FCC files: The saga of WAGE's upgrade to 1190 continues. A quick review: the permit for 50kW on 1190 daytime at a site just west of the 7/28 interchange, originally granted in October, 2008, is still in force. A separate application for 1.3 kW on 1190 nights from the existing site was filed in January, 2009. The FCC responded in April by giving Potomac Radio 30 days to file an amendment to include an environmental study or have the application dismissed. Citing no reply, the agency canceled the nighttime app in August. Potomac Radio has subsequently petitioned for reconsideration and, this week, has submitted an amended nighttime app that cites the hiring of a company to do the required study. We'll see if the FCC approves. In the meantime, has Potomac Radio started work on the new daytime site? Regards, Dave Loudin (3/19/10) To: Herm and Rayce. Playing unknown bands is a great web service. It won't be long when radios will pick up the web, and when TV will tune in the web. In fact, the TV interface is being sold everywhere. Radio lags behind, but soon there will be thousands of sites playing on your car radio. I'd just like Pandora and Last FM. I've been trying to tell some of the big owners this for years, but they don't care - - just want to make as much as possible, as fast as possible. Herm, sorry I can't listen in my car, yet. Expensive terrestrial radio music flow formats will be killed when that happens. The only radio that will be tuned in will be News or Talk (with great LOCAL personalities), Music (with great local personalities), or any other highly interesting-entertaining format (with great local personalities. This radio will sound nothing like today's radio from the last century. Only a few of the stations in each market will survive. A station like WVIE in Baltimore with a sports format, 50,000 watts, and in 40 something place in the PPMs, will not survive. (don't mean to pick on WVIE, it's just a good example of what I'm saying) When you think of GoDaddy as a free transmission source and then think about the cost of pumping out 50,000 watts...There may be only two to five stations in each market still on the air in 5 years. Some big money stations could ease over to web broadcasting and make even more than they do now. HD radio, not gonna happen. The web is cheaper. Satellite radio costs too much to operate. XM offered me 5 months for 20$ last week. Herm and Rayce work it hard and get established, you are on the right medium. Do it for fun, or be serious about expanding. Exposing new music is not done by the record labels anymore. Shows like yours are the new music distributors. Change is fun, unless you cling to the legacy. Ed Graham (3/19/10) My name is Wayne Watson and I am an instructor at a post secondary school in Calgary Canada. I teach in the Broadcast Systems Technology program; this course prepares students to work as maintenance techs in TV and Radio stations and other like facilities and is certified by the SBE. I am going to be in Baltimore on Sunday March 28 for three days and I was interested in visiting a Baltimore TV station. I will be staying in the harbor front area (Hilton). Could anyone suggest a reasonably nearby station and do you have any contact info for me to request a short technical tour? Thanks all. (3/19/10) What's the deal with WBAL channel 11 shipping Sandra Shaw out of the studio to do those hokey fluff pieces every day. Are they just using her up until her contract is gone and Tony Pann (girly man) takes over completely ? Who would I rather watch, Sandra or Tony - duh.... Why don't they retire John Collins, the ultimate in smugness toward us Baltimore worry weather types, who John knows can't really handle the midwest weather like he can.... I might have to go back and watch channel 13 - nope, scratch that due to Marty Bass. Looks like Channel 2 is getting my viewers rating from now on....... (3/19/10) There's an incredibly crisp black-and-white video of the Beatles' first US concert at the Washington Coliseum that's being prepped for DVD release later this year. It's their entire 35-minute set, and includes their intro by Carroll James. Other local DJ's are on-stage as well, weaing Beatle wigs. It looks like it was shot last week, it's that clear. Sound is pretty good, too, given the era it was recorded. It even includes them leaving the stage - George leaves his Gretsch behind, while the others take their guitars with them. The crowd shots are amazing, too. (3/19/10) Ahhhhh....let the bashing begin eh? Must have struck a nerve with somebody. First an email from PB asking what station we're on (none), what hits do we play (just independent/unsigned artists thank you), how much money we have (don't know, have to ask the wife), we only are entertaining ourselves (possibly), etc. Then an unsigned comment on here about not being on terrestrial radio and using GoDaddy for a web host (guess we're really shitheads huh?). True that and we're proud of it. No corporate pressure, no boss micro-managing us, no traditional playlist, did I mention no FCC?. Oh and the upside is we're giving all those artists out there without a major contract an avenue to have their music played. Making some great contacts and networking with all these great unheard bands. In my twisted mind, I see that as a good thing. Not into personal bashing but I will defend what we're doing cuz we love to do it. And we're doing it totally out of pocket. Are you willing to do that? Maybe, maybe not. It's a free country and you have every right to what you want. The only thing I take exception to is promoting your venture as if it was some glorious, came to me in the middle of the night vision and then indicating that it's the first of it's kind on the shore. Good luck to you and keep playing the top 40 hits that people have been hearing for the past ohhhhh I don't know FOREVER....lol. And just so there's no question, I WILL sign my name....Herm from the cheap, nobody watches, not on terrestrial radio, non-hit playing, using GoDaddy...Herm and Rayce Show. (3/19/10) (From Jerry Hoyt's Facebook page) From HFS: We're helping you relive all your favorite live performances from HFS from recent years. Since midnight last night, until 5 a.m. Saturday morning, we're bringing you HFStival music, Just Passin' Thru's, and other assorted live performances from the HFS archives. Listen on 94.7 HD2 in DC, and whfs.com everywhere else! (3/19/10) To the posters that constantly complain about Comcast's requirement of set-top boxes, you have forgotten one tiny detail that cable companies have had to deal with for decades: cable theft. If Comcast were to leave all their channels as "clear QAM" then neighbors would be able to steal service. For example, I disconnected my Cox cable modem and I have never had television service, yet my HDHomeRun box can still see all of Cox Cable's "clear QAM" channels. Of course this is cable theft. You might agree. The same goes for FiOS where the cable going inside the home is regular old coaxial cable carrying QAM channels, and would also be easy to steal from neighbors, which is another reason FiOS also chooses not to serve clear QAM anymore. -Chainsman (3/19/10) Herm and Rayce - please call us when you are 1 - on a terrestrial radio station. 2 - can afford to use something other than godaddy.com's free web hosting. Thanks! (3/19/10) From TVNewser: On "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart spent roughly half the program last night on an elaborate and detailed send-up of Glenn Beck. Stewart goes after everything from Beck's mannerisms to his chalk board device to his argument style. (3/19/10) The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c Conservative Libertarian www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform Sean Hannity, uses listeners’ “donations” to travel on luxury jets to the Freedom Concerts all over the country! www.debbieschlussel.com... Remember Sarah Palin taking luxury jets for her book tour and then getting on the bus to go to the appearance? Well it appears Sean Hannity uses your donations “for the troops” to finance flying around the country, talking conservative values, and rocking to Charlie Daniels and Lynard Skynard. Will the Freedom Alliance be funding Sean’s Gulfstream for his upcoming book tour as well? Sean Hannity’s crap, plant phone calls, equivocations, projections, and double standards can be heard on 630 WMAL. (3/19/10) Fake emails containing worms have gone out to almost all of XM Radio's users stating that there is an issue with their credit card. Do not click on the link in the email. XM Radio's web site is being hacked at this time and is down. (3/19/10) Credit "Inside Radio" with this story: FCC field agents visited Birach Broadcasting’s two Grand Rapids, MI stations — WMJH (810) and WMFN (640) — in April 2005 and found no Birach employees. When the FCC asked for an explanation, owner Sima Birach said he was overseeing the operations. But the Enforcement Bureau notes his office is in Rockford, MI – about two hours away. Birach’s attorneys argued that given the state of technology, Birach could easily keep tabs on his Grand Rapids stations. The FCC didn’t buy it, and rules that he essentially had an unauthorized transfer of control to the station’s time brokers. It notes the responsibility for providing programming, paying staff, maintaining a public file and meeting FCC rules all fell to the time brokers. “We find that Birach effectively abdicated control of the station,” Enforcement Bureau chief Michele Ellison writes in the ruling. Birach said he had a “handshake” time brokerage agreement, but under FCC rules, a copy of a time brokerage or local marketing agreement must be in a station’s public file. “The Commission requires that there not be ambiguity as to who ultimately controls the station.” After the FCC began asking questions, Birach hired a parttime employee to oversee operations — telling the FCC that should be enough to address its concerns. Ellison calls that a “necessary step” but too little, too late. “Because Birach did not hire enough employees, this eleventh hour effort still fails to comport with the Commission’s main studio staffing requirements,” Ellison rules. Birach is still on the hook for $30,000 in fines – $15,000 apiece for WMJH and WMFN, and the agency warns the company it could face stiffer penalties if it fails to come into compliance. (3/19/10) One thing you can always count on with Korny Tony is that if he's making a joke about a sport, it's probably one he knows nothing about! Oh, that's right, he's ALWAYS making jokes! HAha! Well, I guess that proves a much larger point then, hehe. :-) (3/19/10) "That first game is not a play-in game. it is "the opening round game". Right you are, and we appreciate you buying into the NCAA propaganda machine. And all of the players involved are truly "Student-Athletes", especially the one and done players. And, just like those NFL Games in August really aren't "Exhibition Games", they are "Pre-Season" Games. (3/19/10) KHZTV is NOT a new concept to the Shore as it's being touted. If readers recall, an entry was posted a few weeks ago about The Herm and Rayce Show which originates from Chincoteague, Va. and was started in September 2009. The show features independent and unsigned artists (same as KHZTV) with a live video feed (same as KHZTV). Each show is recorded and archived for playback anytime (waiting for KHZTV). This show also has an interactive chat room for viewers/listeners to "talk" to the hosts as well each other in real time (matter of time for KHZTV). Interesting that KHZTV came up with this "great idea". Maybe imitation IS a great form of flattery. We wish you well......Herm and Rayce (www.hermandrayce.com). (3/19/10) That photo of Michael Graham looks like one you might see on a Sex Offender Watch Website... (3/19/10) Remember when Michael Graham held a Anti-Newsweek rally in front the wrong office? The Tea Party rally at the Capitol this week drew an amazing 300-600 people! WOW! Both these pathetic events were bought to you all or in part by WMAL. (3/19/10) And speaking of WWDC’s Fred Fiske and Art Brown ... ebay.com... prorev.com (3/19/10) Dave: Just following-up Mike/Fairfax's earlier post. First, can I get a little credit? I really do think I was one of the first people to say CSN's Michael Jenkins is too cute for this market. Let's just say he thinks there's a better place at ESPN but his schtick doesn't play there! Second, the whole ESPN980 criticism is getting old at this point. We all know what Pollin and Czaban are all about along with the bad talent. However, with their CFO leaving and a bad management team, there's no way things will be changing. When in bad times, people go into self-preservation mode and that includes the people who run Red Zebra and it trickles down to the talent...can you status quo. Until Snyder realizes these people are paid too much money and really don't know sportstalk radio, things won't be changing anytime soon. It's quite amusing that three month's ago, someone told me that 980's management is scared to talk to Kornheiser...what does that say about a business. Yes, Red Zebra is a carbon copy of its parent company {the Redskins}. (3/19/10) to the poster to tried to correct the other poster about the NCAA tourney, there are 65 teams in the tournament. That first game is not a play-in game. it is "the opening round game" and considered part of the tournament despite the fact that one team doesnt get to enjoy the fun of playing on that first thursday or friday. A few years back, the NCAA added a conference and had to add another automatic bid. Im not saying I agree or disagree, just saying what is. (3/19/10) Note to Lance Armstrong: Kornheiser is right. You're ALL annoying. Paul (3/19/10) Dave's response: Jeeeeeeeeeeez. Korny was just making a joke. He's not really advocating running down cyclists with cars..... Mike, I mean Chad (or Blue shorts or Drub E shirt) - Do what you can to help rock the ratings with the RED! OB (3/19/10) RE: "People on the web should watch and learn from the pro, for his age???" Are you fucking kidding me. When I was watching and listening yesterday, he was on his cell phone. He cut off a top 5 hit ("Sexy Chick") to fade to Michael jackson's Thriller. Really? I give KHZ 5 months until Billy-boy flips WYRE back to Spanish. (3/19/10) Moments ago, a friend called to tell me that Box Tops Lead Singer (& "Blue Eyed Soul" Pioneer) Alex Chilton passed away in a London hospital at the age of 59. I plan to do a tasteful tribute to him on my show tomorrow. All are invited to listen from 5 to 6. This really saddens me. Rusty Gibson, WEBR/RadioFairfax (3/19/10) (regarding a previous post) “WMCA broke the Beatles in the U.S. in December 1963 with ‘Love Me Do’, which immediately bombed in its first U.S. go ‘round.” This article www.usatoday.com suggests that the first Beatles record played on U.S. radio was on December 17, 1963. Silver Spring WWDC listener, Marsha Albert, contacted Carroll James, who got a BOAC stewardess to bring a copy of “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” over from England. However, this article www.beatlelinks.net claims that the first Beatles record was played on U.S. radio, was “From Me To You,” which was played by Marcia Raubach, a DJ at WFRX-AM in Frankfurt, Illinois. According to this version of the story, George Harrison had visited his sister Louise in Benton, Illinois in August of 1963. He had given her a copy of the record and asked that she see if she could get it played on American radio, which apparently happened the following month. Since Fred Fiske is still around, maybe someone could ask him about it. Also, as of five or six years ago, another WWDC DJ from that era, Jack Rowzie, was still around (though quite elderly) somewhere in New England. Maybe he might be able to shed some light on this. (3/19/10) On thursday Washington National's Ryan Zimmerman shot a Geico Commercial with the Caveman at Space Coast Stadium. No date has been set on when the commercial will air ( Doug) (3/19/10) /\ March 19 Messages /\ \/ March 18 Messages \/ ACH is right about Carroll James being with WWDC when the Beatles did their concert at the old Washington Coliseum. At that time, while Fred Fiske was an old fart, he did have a moderately successful column, “Fiske’s Disks”, every Friday in the old Washington Daily News, which was a Scripps-Howard tabloid before the Star bought it. (There’s never been an announcer since who could slug, “Next to a new car, a Chernerized car is best!” like Fred could.) The column was of course a knock-off of the one Eddie Galliher already had running for ages in the Post. However, when the Beatles played the Coliseum, the “old fart” title really belonged to Art Brown. Also, according to my sources, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was not the first Beatles song played on U.S. radio. It was however the first successful Beatles song to get U.S. radio airplay. WMCA broke the Beatles in the U.S. in December 1963 with “Love Me Do”, which immediately bombed in its first U.S. go ‘round. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/18/10) “the mainly anti-Obama Fox News.” Do you refer to other networks as “mainly pro-Obama CNN” or “mainly pro-Obama MSNBC”? (3/18/10) Dave's response: Yes, always..... "People on the web should watch and learn from the pro" -Allow me to correct you. One is not considered a "pro" when they are renting the studio and airtime. Do some research on KHZTV and you'll understand. (3/18/10) I took a couple of hours this morning to listen to Davey Jones on KHZ, I would like to agree with Mr. Graham. He was just having fun. As Mr. Graham said he was a pro having fun, and he was really entertaining. I don't know how anyone could make any decisions in ten minutes? BLAND, hardly! Funny relaxed and doing his thing. I know I'll tune in again. This is the first real personality I've heard or seen in a long time. Mr. Jones, I know you will "push the limits of your medium, radio." People on the web should watch and learn from the pro, for his age??? He's younger than the rest of the pack. Rh (3/18/10) Listening to Chris Plante lately to see what he was shilling... And, it was yet another trip! Perhaps the next Chris Plante "celebrity cruise" will be on the "Mary Celeste" (do some research and I think you'll catch my drift...) -Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/18/10) Writes a mailbagger: "Even I...knows that NCAA Tournament starts with 65 teams, not 64." Actually, I don't think you're right. That extra game is a "play-in" -- meaning neither team is part of the field of 64 until they win that extra "play-in" game. (3/18/10) Dave, i know that i said that i would not comment on WPGC-FM again but your ad numbers from yesterday and today are very interesting. Even for all of 2009 which was the first full year of the PPM they started in the fall of 2008 WPGC-FM was still the 2nd largest biller in the D.C. market and still accounted for half of CBS Radio D.C.`s revenues 23.7 million of 44 million if these numbers are true? WPGC will remain an urban station. Your statement about revenues verses ratings is very true this is a case study for that. (3/18/10) Dave's response: Money makes the world go around. And CBS Radio-DC, despite its not-so-impressive overall audience numbers for 2009, is doing rather respectable in the ad revenue department - third place for $44 million with four major FMers and a pip-squeak AMer. However, you've got to look at WJFK, which was making $25-ish million a year back when it had Stern/D&M/Redskins, and is doing less than half that now. But CBS "recoups" a good bit of that decline by not having to pay big bucks for the Skins as well as huge salaries to Geronimo and O'Meara ($5 million-ish a year just for that one PM drive show???). Ditto with PGC. It's down a bit from where it was a few years ago, but it still makes a shitload of money. Revenue minus expenses equals profits. Even if PGC's revenues/ratings aren't what they were a few years ago, CBS is looking to reduce expenses (goodbye Donnie Simpson) to preserve profits. Yeah, I'd imagine that PGC will stay pretty much urban for the forseeable future. I guess that running a cluster of radio stations is a lot like running a chain of shoe stores, after all..... Note to Ed Graham: I was at the Beatles February, 1964 concert and (hope the statute of limitations have expired) made a bundle scalping tickets. My friends and I bought out the first and second rows by getting in line several hours before they went on sale. The cost was $4 a ticket and we had no problem selling them for ten bucks. Carroll James was the host and (not sure) I believe he was with WWDC at the time. When he said his name there were scattered boos because WEAM was the hot station at the time and the audience was down on WWDC, thinking James and the morning man, Fred Fiske, were old farts. Uniformed cops ringed the stage, and several put bullets in their ears as a plug from the noises of screaming fans. The stage was a half-circle and banked so that it slanted towards the audience. Paul got the loudest screams, but wasn't that always the case. The end. ACH (3/18/10) The only person/station in DC that knows hockey is Elliott on 101. And that's only because he is Canadian. Leave the Capitals to him. No one cares sabout hockey. But those that do are already listening to him. (3/18/10) Even I, who knows nearly nothing about sports, knows that NCAA Tournament starts with 65 teams, not 64. And in comparing FiOS to Comcast: I have had FiOS for 15 months, and only once, ONCE, have I ever had to unplug the DVR, wait 10 seconds, and replug it in to reboot it. Other than that we have had 15 months of perfect reception. And to add my 2 cents about All-News Radio in Washington: I think WTOP's only weakness is they have too many "not quite news" stories and dumb comments from their listener call-back line; otherwise they have the right combination of the longer-form all-news stations like WCBS-880 -- some interviews, lots of medium-length (for commercial radio) reporter's reports -- during heavy listening periods, and being like the headline news stations like WINS-1010 or KYW-1060 during less listened-to hours. Knowing how to do both makes them hard to beat, though some of those idiot things like "What kind of shovel did you use during the snowstorm?" or "Do your let your kids take pictures with their cell phone while driving?" (not really that, but close...) give me agita. -- Carl in Olney (3/18/10) Ed and Rusty's recollections are right. In the '80s, the former Washington Coliseum's high ceiling made it an ideal candidate for a waste recycling facility as truckload after truckload of trash filled the same rafters that once vibrated to the beat of John, Paul, George and Ringo in their stateside premiere. Fortunately, mega-developer Douglas Jamal is currently in the process of bringing the facility (located at 1140 Third St. NE) back from oblivion with plans for an entertainment district complete with shopping, restaurants, night clubs and residences that utilizes the facade of the original historical building. According to a 2007 article in the Washington Business Journal, "Miguel Uline, a millionaire who operated an ice business, built it in 1941 as the home of the Washington Lions hockey team. The arena has also been a skating rink, a basketball stadium, a concert venue and a midget auto race track." When the Fab Four begat the "British Invasion" on February 11th, 1964, the former Uline Arena had been renovated and rechristened as "Washington Coliseum." (3/18/10) RE: "Historically, Major League Baseball has not allowed online broadcasts of games. Is this still the case, or is there a way to hear the Orioles on the Internet?" Go to mlb.com and sign up for Gameday Audio - it's the only way to hear MLB games online. It's a pretty good deal at only $19.95 per season, plus you get all teams' broadcasts and they are archived so you can go back and listen anytime. -BG (3/18/10) Regarding Marjorie Margolies penning an editorial on voter wrath. She ought to know! She was a sacrificial lamb for one of Clinton's schemes. I remember vividly her being escorted to her seat in the House chamber by the then Speaker to cast a deciding vote. (3/18/10) Maybe nothing but I haven't heard a single ID on HFS this hour. Not sure about the TOH Legal,started listening just after 11. (3/18/10) Dave's response: What? 1580 WHFS or the WIAD calls on HFS on 94.7's HD2? I realize that I'm sounding like a grumpy old fart (that I really am), but I was bugged to read in Jeff Miller's AP story from the Washington Post, (quote) "The 1954-1962 'General Electric Theater' tapes, most believed to be damaged or lost, were recently uncovered in the General Electric/NBC Universal archives." (unquote) Miller is likely too young to have ever seen that series, so perhaps he should be forgiven for not knowing that the series was originally produced live, until (at some point) the half-hour shows were filmed in advance instead. (GE Theatre immediately followed Ed Sullivan on CBS Sunday nights for its entire run.) But there are no "tapes", and you can be damn sure that if "GE CEO Jeff Immelt plans to deliver the tapes to Mrs. Reagan at the library," he'll really be handing her a huge set of DVDs! (3/18/10) To Bob in Illinois - The only way to listen to radio broadcasts on-line is to subscribe to MLB.TV and their broadcast package. I've been a happy subscriber for three seasons for their video package at $109 per year for all non-Fox televised games. They have software that let's you watch up to four games at one time. If you only want the radio broadcasts, it costs $19.99 per year for ALL games, and $29.99 per year if you want the option for either the Home or Away broadcast AND you get the ability to pause and rewind live games. (3/18/10) Interesting numbers in Cable Ratings. Surprised to see History Channel beats ESPN!! www.mediabistro.com (3/18/10) "They {Pollin and Czaban] still haven't really gotten the fact that the Caps have become a big deal on the local sports scene." I think it's also possible that most of the talk show hosts on WTEM didn't really want the Capitals to become successful and popular because it makes their job harder by forcing them to pay at least some attention to a sport they know little or nothing about - so even now they're trying to diminish it by suggesting that the bandwagon for hockey would be a lot smaller if either the Redskins, Wizards or Nationals were winning. Tony Kornheiser mentioned something last week about attending a Caps game at Verizon Center for the first time in ages and finding it odd that just about everyone there was wearing team jerseys and really into the game because "this town is much more deeply rooted in basketball than hockey." Since when does hoops having a lot of tradition preclude other sports from attracting sizable followings? - last time I checked, the undisputed kingpin of the local sports scene was a football team. Regarding the speculation about Don Geronimo coming to ESPN 980, Dan Snyder has a reputation for making splashy moves with the Redskins such as signing Deion Sanders years ago and later bringing Joe Gibbs back as head coach - so it's not far fetched to think he'd try to create similar headline grabbing buzz for his station by hiring a local radio legend. Although Geronimo once hosted a Skins pregame show on WJFK, it's unlikely he'd agree to do a program nearly as sports focused as ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike which currently occupies the morning drive slot on 980. Thus the entire morning would be filled by two hosts (Geronimo and Kornheiser) who'd seldom be devoting even half their time to sports related stuff. On the TV side, is it official that Channel 9's Sara Walsh is moving to ESPN? - Dave Feldman alluded to that while guesting on Sports Reporters last Friday. While it seems more apparent every day that Michael Jenkins is using his CSN sportscasts as audition material for the big four letter network in Connecticut, perhaps he should concentrate more on getting his facts straight and less on coming up with new shtick - the Caps are playing the Carolina Hurricanes tonight (the Panthers are in the NFL). Mike, Fairfax (3/18/10) The old Coliseum still "standing"? The last time I was in that area, it was in a very decrepit state. The last I read (from a book about The Beatles first US visit), it was now being used as a garbage dump. I saw a few events there when I was a kid. The circus, Ice Capades, along with the old Washington Caps ABA franchise. That team featured NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry... Rusty Gibson (3/18/10) Paul Farhi should just resign. Here are some great photos taken during the Beatles' first USA concert. ( absoluteelsewhere.net ) Before it was the Coliseum, it was the Uline Arena. When TV was new, I watched wrestling, roller derby, and boxing broadcast from Uline. The WTOP debate has been really interesting. Sure, someone could beat them, but they would have to have a lot of money, be totally different, and spend unlimited ad money. It wouldn't be CBS. Doing an exact copy of WTOP, only better, just wouldn't work. Too much tradition. Still can't understand why radio isn't programming for 2010. Things are very different now. I listened to PLB/DJ on the web yesterday. I don't like to listen to anyone the first week on the air, but I wondered about the comments in DCRTV. It sounded like a pro having fun, and the music mix was interesting (I liked it). If it were a web only show, there would be more freedom, but those who do web only shows and try to sound like radio broadcasts have no excuse. PLB and company is using the web to expand their audience. Web only broadcasters should try to expand their medium and push the limits of the web. Paul will push the limits of his medium, radio. Just read that Ronald Reagan starred in 208 episodes of TV's General Electric Theatre. If he made one every six months, he would be alive today. Ed Graham (3/18/10) Jim Williams writes: "Since we have representatives from every state we are the only city in the United States where there is a fan of ALL 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament!" Somehow, I doubt that DC is the only city with this distinction. Hard to believe there aren't grads of all 64 teams in big cities like L.A., New York, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. And, the first sentence of the article referenced in this mailbag also seems specious: "college basketball might be more popular in Washington than any other city in the country." I lived in both Bloomington and Philadelphia, and I can tell you the intensity of the coverage and interest in this area pales in comparison to those markets...and I suspect many other markets as well. The fact that our two sports stations are Redskins-obsessed year-round doesn't help. (3/18/10) Re: Comcast Switching 3 More DC Systems To Digital... Dave, do you have any info on Carroll county? We have waaaay less HD than Baltimore County and the DVR guide looks like I designed it using MS Paint. Xarias (3/17/10) I think your news blurb about xfinity is seriously incorrect Dave Hughes. Obviously, you got that phony PR directly from COMCAST. As far as I understand it, SUCKCAST is going to give away 3 additional digital devices for free for 1 YEAR. Ultimately, they intend to and legally can charge a rental fee for each and every one of them. Most people don't realize that. The other misconception in the plan is that the digital conversion and increased # of channels & faster internet is what requires these digital devices. ALSO UNTRUE. Every HDTV set off the shelf can receive all of these digital channels, they are simply QAM band. COMCAST IS JUST CHOOSING TO SCRAMBLE THEM ON PURPOSE TO GET MORE MONEY FROM ITS CUSTOMERS AND BECAUSE OF THE DMCA LAW. Content providers are enforcing their legal right to have digital content SCRAMBLED. Of course Comcast could fight for its customers' rights with content providers & threaten to remove their channels, but why bother doing that when you can just SCREW OVER YOUR CUSTOMERS AGAIN INSTEAD & MAKE MORE MONEY? You can thank your Congress too for this epic screw up. Congress in effect basically made Cable-ready TV sets useless for the purposes of receiving digital content. So if that pisses you off, contact your member of Congress. The other bad aspects of xfinity that few people know are that you'll no longer be able to put a TV tuner card in your PC and receive cable TV nor will any cable TV customer be able to record anything directly from their HDTV set on these digital channels. You'll now be restricted SOLELY to SUCKCAST's DVR devices (COMCAST GETS MORE MONEY FROM YOU THERE TOO! BINGO!) The whole way Comcast is marketing this service is basically a complete LIE. Comcast is not running fiber to your home to increase internet speeds or the # of TV & HD channels nor are these converter boxes technically necessary at all. It's ALL a complete lie. They're just taking away the analog channels, which gives them extra bandwidth to play with over the same old cable lines. There's no major upgrade here at all. That's all a phony PR marketing campaign. Finally, anyone remember the COMCAST "Big Switch" TV ad that said "Switch to cable and nothing will change on your TV! We've got you covered!"? I'm surprised a consumer group hasn't filed a class action lawsuit against these scumbags yet. (3/18/10) "They[GE Theater episodes] were believed to have been lost, but were recently uncovered in the General Electric/NBC Universal archives. You'd think that NBC would put their time and resources to better use, given that they lag behind in the TV ratings - and after dropping tens of millions of bucks on the recent Leno at 10/O'Brien on 'Tonight' fiasco. " Actually, I think that reruns of the 208 episodes might do better in the ratings than several of the shows-I'm looking at you, Marriage Ref-that NBC currently runs. Howie (3/18/10) Dave, Something very interesting about Washington. Since we have representatives from every state we are the only city in the United States where there is a fan of ALL 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament! Locally CBS, ESPN 980AM and 106.7 THE FAN DC will have all the area schools covered. Let the madness begin! www.washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (3/18/10) Boston will be More Than Overplayed 1000 times a day until the Earth looks like the planet on the album cover. If I recall correctly it will be followed by either Kansas:Carry On Wayward Son,Wild Cherry:Play That Funky Music or BTO:Takin Care of Business. I was burned out on them when they were spinning on WLPL. Donnie (3/18/10) Did anyone hear ex-CNN Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre anchoring on WTOP Wednesday night? (3/18/10) The Shakespear article in yesterday's Post Style section was very similar to an article on Michael Hayden that ran in February. Looks like they're running out of current stories to cover. Maybe the Post should seriously consider moving this section to a page in the "A" section. Lisa in Ashburn (3/18/10) In celebration of Reagan's 100th birthday celebration, all 208 episodes of television's "General Electric Theater," hosted by then-actor Ronald Reagan, have been restored to broadcast quality, for use in the Reagan Library. They were believed to have been lost, but were recently uncovered in the General Electric/NBC Universal archives. You'd think that NBC would put their time and resources to better use, given that they lag behind in the TV ratings - and after dropping tens of millions of bucks on the recent Leno at 10/O'Brien on 'Tonight' fiasco. www.washingtonpost.com (3/18/10) I remember not only when WAVA was "the" all-news station in Washington (losing 90% of its audience at sunset (FM didn't take off here until the early 1970's)), but the Time magazine story about the then nascent format of all-news which mentioned not only WAVA, but that President Johnson had the Oval Office "wired" for its reception. And, that I remember the complaint WAVA made to the Justice Department against Post-Newsweek when WTOP went all-news, alleging violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, based on the "Post's concentration of media (WTOP AM-FM-TV, the Post, Newsweek, etc.) and the resources it (had) acquired as a result". Needless to say, the suit went nowhere at light speed. And, I also remember not only when, but the how & why WMAL was "the" news station here for ages. And, what killed it. I also have in my collection of tapes, not only the last hour of WRC as a Top-40 station (Last song? "How Long" by Ace followed by "Taps"), but also the first hour of NNIS on WRC with Mike Moss anchoring the first local cut-in at 6 AM... (3/18/10) A friend of mine at Disney Imagineering once said, "Those who dream of being Disney have no idea the cost of being Disney." The same is true for those who covet the success of WTOP. There is a damn good reason that no one goes after WTOP. It's called laziness. The others know that they don't want to climb that mountain, they don't want the Emperor's clothes badly enough to challenge the throne with the disciplined army that it takes. News and Sports Production are the two most expensive formats to produce. You got to spend it to make it. You don't count your money while you're sitting at the table. You do the story. You do your best with the resources you have. Your subject determines how long the interview is, not some idiotic demand like "you get 30 mins free parking at the public lot, so try and cover that story in 25 so you have time to get back before you have to feed the meter." You keep it topical, local and current. It takes equipment, personnel, facilities, outside services and a 'win at all costs, waste is the cost of success' attitude to produce a quality news product. You don't get to be WTOP because your accountant told the GM that he has decided that reporters can do their job with one mic and a recorder shared between two reporters. You get to be WTOP because the GM told the accountant, that after discussing production needs with Jim and how to pay for it with Sales, we are doing this and you can expect these invoices. Unlike music radio that is largely cookie-cutter and consultant driven, where action and finance are largely predictable, news is a put up or shut up business. You are either in it, or you are not. No other aspect of radio requires the 'head in the game' singular and team work that news requires. If you can't stomach parking tickets, repeat repairs to busted equipment and brand new vehciles, unpredicatable cell phone and parking expenses, ISDN lines waiting to be used at reporters homes and managed chaos, you don't belong in news. None of the criticism heard here is valid when discussing WTOP. A J-school grad. (3/18/10) Yesterday, Verizon Communications filed a patent-infringement case with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington in an effort to block Cablevision from importing certain set-top cable TV boxes. According to a Reuters story, a companion suit asking monetary damages was also filed by Verizon in Delaware . Both lawsuits ask that the courts compel Cablevision to stop selling the set-top boxes, which Verizon previously offered to license to Cablevision. Cablevision and Verizon compete for customers in the New York City metropolitan area. (3/18/10) /\ March 18 Messages /\ \/ March 17 Messages \/ Re: "Dave's response: And on 105.9 The Edge it's "More Than A Feeling" all four of those times, plus the same song four more times the next day, and the next, etc....." Wow, you have hit on one of my "classic rock" pet peeves. How many big hits did Boston have? Three, four? Yet on every classic rock stations since the 80's you're gonna hear these same damn songs many times a day. Used to be on "The Edge" one could not listen for an hour without hearing Boston once or twice. I've long wondered about this. I yell at my radio whenever those Boston songs come on. My theory is that somewhere back in the eighties someone did the mother of all coke deals which resulted in some sort of permanent royalty arrangement where Boston would be played frequently and forever. Robert, Arlington (3/17/10) Dave, I live in Illinois now, and can only hear the Orioles when they play the White Sox. Historically, Major League Baseball has not allowed online broadcasts of games. Is this still the case, or is there a way to hear the Orioles on the Internet? Keep up the good work. Bob (3/17/10) Dave, I read your Pressbox article, and I just wanted to let you know that Jeremy Conn was named the new afternoon co-host on 105.7 The Fan. Its going to remain the Scott Garceau Show, but Conn is the new co-host. It was also already published in something last week. Also Jenn Royle from YES is going to cover the Orioles now for 105.7 The Fan. (3/17/10) Dave's response: Yeah, DCRTV broke that news last Friday. My deadline for the PressBox article, which appeared in the March print edition, was the Tuesday before that..... Hi Dave, Funny line about Boston being heard on the stations you mentioned. You might add that their music can be heard on those stations 'two, three, four times a day.' :) Robb de Capitol Heights (3/17/10) Dave's response: And on 105.9 The Edge it's "More Than A Feeling" all four of those times, plus the same song four more times the next day, and the next, etc..... Dave: I can think of at least one problem with your Don Geronimo to WTEM theory. When Dan Snyder's father died in 2003 and Snyder decided to honor his memory by putting patches with Gerald Snyder's initials on the team uniforms that season, Geronimo attacked him on the air relentlessly for doing this. I'm not so sure Dan Snyder would be willing to forgive Don Geronimo for doing this, even if Don now feels bad about doing that in the aftermath of his own wife's tragic death in 2005. (3/17/10) To Tom in Frederick, Verizon Fios is the same way.. Same problem. I called to get my Wireless Router fix, it when down. Took about 2 hours to get the Router working. They are all the same. (3/17/10) "Empires will always fall. Empires will always fall faster when you think you are invincible!" Nobody here at WTOP thinks we are invincible. We all remember what Satchell Paige said! (3/17/10) Empires do fall. They usually fall from within. WTOP's won't fall until Farley leaves. The next news Cesar will sow the seeds of their demise. And be sure - the last thing Jim Farley believes is that he's invincible. Stop being blinded by your WTOP hatred and look at the real world. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it sucks. (3/17/10) Dave - Comcast in Frederick is also switching to digital. They keep sending me notices via mail stating I need my digital boxes ASAP as they're switching May 5. Of course I ordered my boxes on March 4 and was told by "Kenny" in customer service I'd have them "in 3 to 5 business days." Well, here we are 13 days later and I still haven't received my digital boxes. I called today while talking to "Iris" I was disconnected. Another call back to "Danielle" and she has no idea when I'll get the boxes. God, I hate Comcast! FIOS isn't offered in my neignborhood and don't want a dish so, I guess I'm stuck with 'Turd-cast'. Tom in Frederick (3/17/10) Regarding Verizon's home base, it is New York. Bell Atlantic's home was Philadelphia and when they merged with Nynex the headquarters moved to NYC. (3/17/10) UPDATED BREAKING DC WEATHERPERSON NEWS: Previous DCRTV Mailbag post erroneously had Kim Martucci sighting near WRC at Ward Circle. CORRECTION: Kim “Lurch” Martucci IS WARD CIRCLE. mqcdn.com (3/17/10) Link to George Stephanopolous home in Georgetown. Note all the little suits hanging in the master closet and the purple and silver room. www.homevisit.com (3/17/10) Dave, any idea what became of former 9 news (digital) correspondent Nancy Yamada? David in Hyattsville (3/17/10) I love all of the WTOP loyalists who think that no one would ever challenge their precious empire. Empires will always fall. Empires will always fall faster when you think you are invincible! (3/17/10) Donnie G to TEM??...unlikely scenario because of the long standing affilate agreement with ESPN to air the Mike and Mike show in the morning. (3/17/10) Dave's response: Don is really a Mike, so maybe WTEM will reunite Mike Sorce with Mike O'Meara and keep it the "Mike & Mike" morning show. Or, maybe it'll be Czabe & Geronimo in afternoons. Ha ha ha..... Has this long article in Montgomery Life magazine on the Greaseman been mentioned here yet?: www.MontMag.com (3/17/10) Finally, at L-O-N-G last, Versus is back on DIRECTV! The Comcast-owned channel, which hadn't been on DIRECTV since the end of August 2009, finally came back on this morning. (3/17/10) "Verizon is concentrating on LA, NYC, & Washington, DC (except for Alexandria) and its home market Philadelphia." Verizon's home market isn't Philadelphia. It's New York. You may be thinking of Comcast which is Philly-based. (3/17/10) I will try to make this my last comment on CBS radio`s WPGC-FM. LiL`Mo is not on there web site as a jock on their air staff(can we say STOP GAP DJ) this must be another stunt this time for afternoon drive Micheal Saunders PLEASE stop with the stunts and put your air staff together. She is not there today DJ Flexx will be on the air LiL Mo apparently is not under contract to CBS Radio to do afternoon drive at PGC. Herkules has no time slot under his name he should have been named afternoon driver anyway after Big Tigger goes to morning drive. (3/13/10) Verizon FIOS not coming to Baltimore anytime soon and there's a bus ad campaign to embarrass Verizon. (It is available in Baltimore County though) Other cities not getting FIOS include Boston, Syracuse, Albany, & Buffalo, NY. Verizon is concentrating on LA, NYC, & Washington, DC (except for Alexandria) and its home market Philadelphia of course among a few other cities, but not Baltimore at this time. www.baltimoresun.com (3/17/10) It appears that Univision affiliate WFDC channel 14 has turned on the HD. I just noticed this morning that they're now broadcasting 1080i. (3/17/10) Speaking of fantasy radio...several posters think that 'stealing' WTOP's Traffic & weather images is a straightforward simple task. Not so, grasshopper. Every station in the market does traffic. Most get it from metro. Many have decent personalities. WTOP has the strongest and the best. You may not like Lisa Baden but many people do. WTOP has built a franchise around their traffic and weather images. To take that away you have to provide something different, something better , something missing that the listeners want and/or need. What could that be? I guess you could do it two minutes earlier (how's that working WMAL?) You can't get better information. Better personalities - says who? Sorry, but the amount of time, effort and money it would take to TRY to take Traffic and weather away from WTOP - with no reasonable guarantee of success - will prevent anyone from trying. And the longer WTOP delivers - and they DO deliver - the harder the battle becomes. That makes the task for a second all-newser even more daunting. If you can't win the basic image you can't win the war. Now, one could argue that putting on a second all-newser to eff with WTOP ratings to change the rankings COULD work - but the cost is prohibitive. (3/17/10) Is it really Midnight Trucking Radio, or bad, imbecilic right-wing radio ranting that lacks the intellectualism and honesty of even Sean Hannity? Good lord, WMAL. Fucking awful, those two dweeb-ass hosts are. (3/17/10) Dave's response: Exactly..... RE: "I couldn't get the Hitman show in the morning is there a reason for that? It's also on 1590 WKHZ." Because the wind was blowing towards the ocean--and it took the 1590 signal with it. Or, another tower fell. (3/17/10) Doni to TEM could kill JFK. How do we get Junks and MOS there too?????? CBS has slowly killed the Junks, which sucks. They have had some freedom lately but I don't want to hear Lurch do sports highlights. I want to read them on espn.com at my desk at work while he tells how he flashed a Chinese lady when he was a kid, ripped off a wallet from a college pick up, or crashed the extreme car of a wanted felon. I am afraid for their life style changes which will come with their next contracts if Doni eats into their ratings even more. Only Money Cakes is somewhat prepared. Wife works in a solid job. Solid 401k. Sensible cars and home. He can always train people for marathons and has an affordable mortgage. She does not play tennis all day or pose for the cover of “Ashburn Today” like other Junk’s wives. I know what divorce does to both members of the split financially. My prayer, if answered: Doni and Mike reunite with the gang and take either AM or do afternoon with or without a switch with the Sports reporters. Junks Take AM or afternoon. In other words….Drop JT2 and Mike and Mike. Merge in Mikie, Doni, and the Junks on TEM. I know, it’s a dream but it would kick ass in the key DEMOs and prove guy talk, with a major sports slant, works. OB (3/17/10) I was driving to a meeting in PG County this morning when I started to lose 106.7's signal. By the time I got where I was going, it was pretty much unlistenable. Being a Northern Virginian my whole life, and rarely venturing to the other side of the world in MD, I guess I hadn't really realized how weak 106.7's signal was in that area. Yeah, I knew you pretty much lost it the second you got on 95 to Baltimore. Didn't realize the null reached quite so far, though. My question (Scott Fybush, are you out there?) is whether it would make any sense for CBS to simulcast "The FAAAAAAAN" on 1580 AM? Looking at radio-locator.com it seems like the meat of 1580's daytime signal is in PG. I never hear about any ratings on the Big Sucker, so I can't imagine they are too happy with the format. Say what you will about 980's triple x cast, the 3 signals cover the city pretty well, and it seems like they have done a good enough job marketing them to get a pretty good combined number. Would it make sense for CBS to help out WJFK by adding an AM simulcast? What about putting it on 94.7? (3/17/10) Cobbled from an earlier post, “…Do I listen other times - no. But when all hell breaks loose, I know where to go…” In the market which has been a terrorist (domestic and international) target more times over the past century than perhaps any other, that alone explains the foundation for WTOP’s success. There is honestly more to “fear” living here than perhaps any other metro in the U.S.A. As for deep pockets, instead of going for the anachronistic print disaster of the old “Journal” papers, I’m surprised Philip Anschutz didn’t go after the Shitahel cluster. (“WUSA” (the movie) comes to mind though…) He’s the first one I can think of who could buy, build, and sustain a successful competitor to WTOP. Warren Buffett would be the second. However, all-news is one format ill served by an individual O&O. All you have to do is look at the systemic weaknesses of the old WAVA to see what I’m talking about. (XETRA could also be cited, as it was a similar situation with some quirks unique to dealing with things like the “Brinkley clause”, etc.) But, face it. Like the rumored offers Howard University has supposedly gotten over they years for WHUR-FM, we’re playing “Fantasy Radio” here. Where some guys with real careers play “Fantasy Football” (or baseball) while others fret over their “March Madness Brackets”, broadcasters worthy of the name play what I like to call “Fantasy Radio”. Nothing wrong with it when real broadcasters play it. Ask Arnold Zenker. (OK, so he got his first “break” with TV and then went into radio.) The trouble comes when non-broadcasters play it with real stations and real people. With real people being hurt in the process. Yes, WTOP’s suits know when the station sucks. Like when you hear the same voicer or actuality seemingly in “B rotation” over a three-day weekend. Or, see a story on the website for days in a row with comments stretching back three months. The suits at WTOP also know full well how they knocked-off not just WMAL, but also WRC and WAVA along the way. As a result, they know what to keep doing, and what to never do. Another posting quote I loved, “…Bonneville would unleash a marketing torrent of biblical proportions...” Obviously you’re aware of Bonneville’s corporate parent! Being a survivor of all-news radio, I’ll have to tell you that it is the toughest format to work. And, to make a buck at. Even in D.C. (The expenses here can eat you alive!) But, I have to say that when the chips are down, it lets you play the lead role that broadcast radio was designed to have: To truly serve your community. That makes it the most rewarding format to work. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/17/10) /\ March 17 Messages /\ \/ March 16 Messages \/ "9 Editor Fired Over Pentagon Error" - Gee, wonder how the one man band photojournalist experiment is working! (3/16/10) So, there's these two elderly ladies (both lifelong WMAL listeners) having a lovely cup of coffee at the 29 Diner on Lee Highway, right?... so one says to the other, "Mildred, do you have a suppository in your ear?" The second puts her fingers in her ear, and sure enough pulls out a suppository. She looks at it for a moment and says, "Muriel, I'm glad you said something. Now I know where I'll find my hearing aid"! EWW-WWW... (3/16/10) Ref: Ten minutes into the radio comeback of Davy Jones - I listened to about an hour and a half, Sounded fine to me. It sounded like the dj Davy was having a good time & kept the music rolling. 40 years of top 40 one hit after another, What's wrong with that? I listened on-line - I couldn't get the Hitman show in the morning is there a reason for that? It's also on 1590 WKHZ - Chase Landers Salisbury, Md. (3/16/10) Tune in tonight at 8 PM EDT for "The Time Machine" on www.topshelfoldies.com , featuring one of my favorite dee jays! Log on to the chat room for instant requests! -Ken (3/16/10) Seems to me that a certain poster is not only obessessed with Don Geronimo/Mike Sorce, but with Paul Bicknel/Davey Jones. And what's with...(snippet)"Oh, my . . . our own PLB on Donnie G.'s Facebook page"..hey pussy, OUR OWN???....he's his own person, and very happy about it...get a job.NH.... (3/16/10) PLEASE don't call him 'Donnie' his name is MIKE! Donnie (3/16/10) Speaking of WTOP, remember a few years back all the folks writing here in the Mailbag that WTOP was "toast" and "history" by moving off 1500AM? Where are they now? (3/16/10) (RE: Today's Rant about Geronimo going to WTEM) Red Zebra could be right. Don's photo on the page has him in a football helmet. As we all know, Donnie loves clues! (3/16/10) (Working with some emergency agencies as an amateur radio operator, what is wrong with having a go to station in a crisis? Especially in the Nation's Capital. If they make money, so be it. Frankly, in an emergency, I wish WTOP put its signal back on to its clear channel 1500 AM.) In a news emergency, WTOP would simulcast on 1500. Reemmber them putting WTOP on WGMS and Z104 on 9/11? (3/16/10) (Re: WTOP potential competitor: It would take a private company to pull it off though because no public company would go upside down with a signal for the first year.) A year? WINS, WCBS, KYW, KFWB and WTOP all lost money for the first 5 years. All-news is the single most expensive format you can do in radio. But after that 5 year period, all of them became very reliable money-makers. Name one company that would be willing to take losses for 5 years. Just one. (3/16/10) Oh, my . . . our own PLB on Donnie G.'s Facebook page, first wishing him well, and then whining about the comments on this very website! Skin thin? YOU BETCHA! Ego large? YOU BETCHA! Livin' in the past? OH YEAH! Oh, Granny, you never fail to reinforce what everyone on this board under, say, the age of 60, knows about you. (3/16/10) I agree with Mike in Fairfax. I listen to Sports Reporters because I like Czaban's schtick, but they still haven't really gotten the fact that the Caps have become a big deal on the local sports scene. Not to mention that Ovechkin is by far the most dominant pro athlete that DC has had in generations, probably since Sammy Baugh. No excuse for a sports station not covering that story extensively when it broke. On the other hand, that is par for the course for those guys, so it doesn't surprise me. (3/16/10) (Front Page Item): DCRTV welcomes DC and Baltimore radio veteran LaDawn Black as a new advertiser. (end) Dave, did you ever think you'd see the day when DCRTV would have more advertisers than many stations in DC do? (3/16/10) Dave's response: Well, we don't advertise for hearing aids, cemeteries, and erectile dysfynction pills like WMAL does..... (I understand that CNN sent a camera crew to WJFK's studios to cover LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes discussing the issue of Coolidge High School hiring a female football coach last week - clearly a coup for the upstart sports radio station in town) Wow. I watch CNN all the time, and I've never seen it. I'm sure the footage was so compelling from the upstart sports station that they didn't even use it. Oh, and how would CNN know that the story was going to happen? Because the upstart tipped them off that they were going to talk about such a meaningful and national press-worthy topic. Meanwhile, the established sports station didn't talk about the "story". I wonder why. I guess they are crying in their beer that CNN didn't show up, right Mike? (3/16/10) Craig Melvin, I thought I read here that he's going to Dallas? (3/16/10) Very good posting by the guy citing Dana Carvey. And here's reason 7: WTOP would immediately dump the CBS Radio Network, and it would lose their largest affiliate that is not an owned-station. They'd lose an affiliate with huge 25-54 numbers not just in DC, but also showing in the Baltimore, Hagerstown, Fredericksburg and Winchester markets. Dan Mason knows the guys at Bonneville and he'd rather work with them than against them. However, the folks in the WTOP newsroom would probably love some competition. Remember what they did to the once-mighty WMAL. (3/16/10) Aaron Gilchrist and the other new hires at 4 are fine. Not great, but not like fingernails on a blackboard. Why a station that has been at the top of the game for so long would push such a non-talent down our throats is beyond me. Does he have naked pictures of a managers wife? I know he comes cheap but in the long run he will cost them so much more by alienating viewers. The viewers have expressed a strong dislike of his delivery, wacko facial expressions and obnoxious ego. They already blew it by letting Bob Ryan walk away but will further damage their relationship with viewers by not listening to what is so obvious to everyone but WRC management. (3/16/10) Re: Bill Zimmerman...he is on Facebook (along with probably a couple hundred other Bill Zimmermans). He grew up in the DC area and he, along with his siblings, went to Western High School (now Duke Ellington). The last I heard, which was many years ago, he lived in the Atlanta area. -- Bobbie (3/16/10) Re: Rusty Gibson - Congrats Rusty! Luckily for you Tom Gavin was booked this Saturday that you got that "Out of the Past" invite. I'll be eagerly waiting for your expert analysis on how to pull zero listeners week in and week out. Might I suggest opening your segment with a ditty by Coolio or another one of "those people" as you have termed them. We'll enjoy dissecting your interview on our show. And incidently, I've had a private conversation with Paul Bicknell. Water under the bridge. Congratulations again! -John C. (3/16/10) Once again, WTEM's Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban get exposed as clueless when it comes to properly running an afternoon drive sports talk show - about an hour into yesterday's program, word came down that the NHL had suspended Alex Ovechkin two games for his misconduct in Sunday's game and the only mention on Sports Reporters was Czaban saying to Pollin - "we may want to get into that later this week." Inasmuch as the story led the early evening sportscasts on channels 4, 7 and 9 and was even covered in the main news portion of 4's 11 PM newscast, it's flat out bad practice for Pollin and Czaban to stick rigidly to their pre-planned agenda instead of audibling at the line of scrimmage to deal with breaking news. I thought the sports talk format was supposed to be about instant reaction - not putting things off for a day or two. While Pollin claims to be 'on board' with the Capitals and their winning ways, stories of major significance to the team continue to routinely miss the cut in the topic selection for that show. Claiming to be preoccupied with the NCAA mens hoops tournament is no excuse - Holden Kushner somehow found time to comment and take calls on the Ovechkin issue on 106.7 The Fan later that evening and he had an abbreviated show due to being preempted by Terps and Wizards programming. Speaking of the tournament, I don't even bother listening to Kornheiser this week because it's wall-to-wall bracket breakdowns in excruciating detail with just about every guest (even reporters who don't cover basketball). The one mildly entertaining segment is when Nigel's mom (who knows zilch about college hoops) comes on and picks a bracket, but that's obviously a staged bit since "Nigel" is a fictitious Brit voiced by the show's producer Marc Sterne. I understand that CNN sent a camera crew to WJFK's studios to cover LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes discussing the issue of Coolidge High School hiring a female football coach last week - clearly a coup for the upstart sports radio station in town. Mike, Fairfax (3/16/10) Breaking DC weatherperson news: Kim Martucci sighting near Ward Circle! american.edu (3/16/10) Dave, Tiger Wood's return will be marked by the first ever 3-D cable telecast. www.washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (3/16/10) Dave's response: It has been a secret fantasy of mine to see Tiger in 3D. Cool..... RE:"Ten minutes into the radio comeback of Davy Jones...Simply put...Very bland . For a guy who used to come on here and belittle other DJ's and shows, he really isn't backing up his talk" Well--I caught the whole show. Had it streaming while I was doing my taxes. Well, the tax part was more entertaining. If they think people are going to tune into this, they are smoking some really strong weed! The only people that will remotely listen to this crap is radio people. So, belittle other DJs Mr. Jones, but at least other DJs are able to cash their paychecks! (3/16/10) Speaking of former reporters. Anyone know what Gary Reals or Ed Tierney are up to these days? An Inquiring mind wants to know! B/T/W Dave, thanks to you, I too have been invited to appear on FPA's "Out Of The Past." The taping is scheduled for this Saturday morning. And Dave, I owe it all to you and my friend Paul Bicknell (Davy Jones). This will ultimately prove that I have a face for radio! Eat your heart out John Collings! (B/T/W, my Dad can beat up your Dad), Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah. Rusty Gibson, WEBR Radio/Fairfax (3/16/10) Anybody know the whereabouts of former ABC News, CNN and "News 12 Long Island" correspondent Bill Zimmerman? (In the 1960s, prior to his network days, he worked for Channel-9 Broadcast House... then WTOP-TV.) (3/16/10) Interesting debate regarding a potential WTOP competitor. The "Dana Carvey" poster suggests that you can't steal the valuable traffic, and weather image from WTOP.. These images were earned over time, and they are built with content, personality, and frequency. Why can't you steal those images? The content for traffic and weather is already provided by a third party, the frequency could easily be duplicated, and the personalities don't work for WTOP other than the afternoon guy, so they could easily join the new station. Monopolies always fall over time and perhaps now is the time! (3/16/10) Craig Melvin is horrible. Which is exactly why he will make it big, while experienced professional, competent, nice guys like Jim get washed away like the snow in the rain. He can have Vance's chair. I'm just thankful the chair is not my son. Sorry, I'm acting a little crazy this morning after seeing that strangely familiar bright warm yellow object in the sky. KOF (3/16/10) So for those who aren't fans of Craig Melvin, what about the new weekend guy Aaron Gilchrist?..And I thought I heard the new weather guy say that he was just filling in for Chuck Bell.. (3/16/10) Wow: WJFK’s Mike Wise just specifically (11:30 AM) made mention of fear of DCRTV! You have come a long way David Hughes. (3/16/10) Dave's response: Ha ha ha! Ten minutes into the radio comeback of Davy Jones...Simply put...Very bland . For a guy who used to come on here and belittle other DJ's and shows, he really isn't backing up his talk. (3/16/10) remember that those WJFK numbers are for "persons" in the AM/PM. JFK's target demo is Male 25-54, so they could be doing much better there. (3/16/10) Ahhh, sometimes the naivete on this board truly amazes. All this ranting and rumbling about giving WTOP competition. To paraphrase Dana Carvey: "Not...gonna...happen." More to the point - it already is happening. Look at WAMU's numbers in mornings. They are already providing an alternative to WTOP. So, that's reason #1 why no one is going after Jim's baby. Reason #2? Money, baby. WTOP has a large staff - even by major market news operation standards. That allows them to generate a ton o' fresh content. Do you think for a moment that either CBS or the bankrupt one would staff up to compete? And remember, WTOP's staff is LOCAL (that formerly magic word in radio). Sure, CBS and Citadehell could pipe in content from their other info properties - but they would not be local. Reason #3. WTOP is doing a damn fine job already. Someone opined that 'you take away their traffic and weather image'. Well, you can't. That is the backbone of WTOP's success. And, they do it well - or at least well enough. Reason #4. Money - again. Besides the enormous start up costs for staffing the new kid in town would actually have to drop serious marketing dollars to attack WTOP. And if you think Bonneville would stand idly by and let that happen - think again. As soon as they got a sniff that someone was going after them, Bonneville would unleash a marketing torrent of biblical proportions. Reason #5. To attack an entrenched competitor you need to find a weakness. What is WTOP's weakness? I know, some will complain about individual reporters and their styles. But that is small stuff. WTOP delivers on what it promises. What would the new news station do better or faster? Reason #6. Risk. That is really the summation of reasons 1-5. Does CBS or the group-formerly-known-as-ABC have the ability and the signal to go after WTOP. Maybe (CBS - yes. Citadel - no. Sorry, 630 wouldn't compete and 105.9's signal blows). But do they have the balls to roll the dice. You're talking about taking on one of the highest rated stations IN THE COUNTRY. If you attacked them you'd have to assume that you would cut WTOP in half. That means you'd need a 5 or 6 share in a matter of weeks. I'd love to see the corporate drone who would be willing to put his paycheck on the line guaranteeing a turnaround like that. Which brings us to our 7th and final reason - balls. Have you listened to the radio lately? Anyone out there taking any chances? Doing anything new and different. The best (and I use that term loosely) ideas of the last two years have been Fresh and The Edge. Wow, what drama. Radio in this town is, by and large, controlled from afar. No one in the corporate suites in NY or San Antonio or Las Vegas has the balls to risk something like this. Again, as Dana Carvey would say: "It wouldn't be prudent..." (3/16/10) Dave's response: I do agree with you that it's very unlikely in these recessionary times that the ball-less corporate radio suits would OK a rather expensive newsy start-up to compete with WTOP in DC. There are no more risk-takers in the radio biz. The radio biz is run like a chain of discount shoe stores. "Yes, Mr. Mason, do you have a pair of black boots in size 13?"..... WPGC might get flipped to CHR but really would Big Tigger work there he is an urban air personality i do not think that his style works on white radio but we might see. Kane vs. Big Tigger i think Kane would win that he is a CHR air personality Tigger is not. (3/16/10) Much-loved NYC jock Ron Lundy passes away... He was reported back in the hospital last week after a series of mini-strokes, and now the former WABC and WCBS-FM personality has died. Lundy came to New York at WABC (770) in 1965 and remained there until it went all-talk in May 1982. From there he joined WCBS-FM (101.1) and played oldies until his retirement in1997. He moved back to Mississippi but eventually lost a lung to cancer. The affection for Ron Lundy is apparent on the New York Board of Radio-Info.com. (3/16/10) Dave's response: Oh yeah, as a kid in New Jersey I remember listening to Lundy many times on 77. A great jock! Craig Melvin must have written the post about being the heir to Jim Vance's position. I have not talked to a single person that can stand that man on the air. He is HORRIBLE! I've always watched 4 exclusively but now always change the second I see him. He will never make it big in DC. He's nothing but small market material. In fact, I think he needs to find a new career choice. (3/16/10) Better get used to Craig Melvin there buddy, he's the designated heir to Vance's chair. He's going to own this market for decades. 5 years from now, WRC will be leading the ratings with him and Eun Yang at 6 and 11 PM. (3/16/10) WTOP is ripe for the pickin!! If you took away the traffic and weather image you could compete right away with a full signal FM. That wouldn't be that hard because the top two traffic and weather personalities on WTOP work for someone else. The CBS Network is for the 6 0 plus crowd. The ad department at WTOP has infuriated the ad buying community with its lack of flexibility and high rates. It would take a private company to pull it off though because no public company would go upside down with a signal for the first year. (3/16/10) Dan: YOU da MAN!!! The Evolution Revolution should begin with 99.1 WHFS. Can you apply for head of the DC cluster? soon? Donnie (3/16/10) Working with some emergency agencies as an amateur radio operator, what is wrong with having a go to station in a crisis? Especially in the Nation's Capital. If they make money, so be it. Frankly, in an emergency, I wish WTOP put its signal back on to its clear channel 1500 AM. Not because of quality of signal, but it's reach. So why the beef? You have a critical situation going on and you're worried about them making money? Come on Dave - I am not paying for it - who cares who gets the ad revenue? I think it is very important in an emergency that the entire population has got a go to information place. Do I listen other times - no. But when all hell breaks loose, I know where to go. The rant seems more like a personal vendetta. (3/16/10) Competition for WTOP? Remember my rants over the past couple of years worth of B/W? It isn’t going to happen. Especially not from CBS! First, all news is a hellaciously labor-intensive format. Thus, expensive. Very expensive. Keeping it “fresh, tight, and bright” isn’t cheap or easy. Frank Barnako can tell you what the burnout rate is. So can Jim Farley. And others. As for CBS doing it? As Eddie Soprano would say, “Fuhged About It!” CBS going all news in D.C. would so royally piss-off WTOP that it would immediately exercise its option to withdraw its network affiliation and go independent. The loss of WTOP’s numbers alone in the 7AM and 8AM M-F “shows” would so kill the network’s national billing that within a year, it would be in the dustbin of radio history with NBC and Mutual. It could so infuriate the Council of the Twelve Apostles that I could see KSL radio ditching CBS as well, taking “Music and the Spoken Word” with it, ending the run of what is perhaps radio’s longest running network program. (Maybe somebody out there can say if it is?) So, CBS won’t be the one to do all news here. As for $hitahel doing all-news in D.C.? 630 is the best underperforming signal they’ve got right now. But, that stick is so hobbled with its associations with WMAL and nut-job “on-air conservatives” (who probably either can’t spell the word or are libs in their private lives) that both the call and frequency are “toxic” when it comes to journalistic objectivity. If I were so unfortunate as having to be responsible for building an all-news on 630 for $hitahel in D.C., I would take 630 silent for at least a month. If not longer. I would take it silent for as long as the FCC would allow. I would euthanize WMAL. No grand farewell party. No parking the calls. No advance announcement of any kind. I’d have the WW1 voice do the sign-off script after the midnight news, play the Star Spangled Banner (probably for the first time in ages on WMAL! As “pro-American” as WMAL claims to be, how often have they played it in the past five years?), and turn off the transmitter. Let TV news and the “Post” cover a “non-event/business decision”. Not even a press release. Just an FCC filing. I’d sign it back on with a new callsign, intense imaging, heavy promotion, serious investigative stories, localism, and have “traffic and transit on the threes”. As for 105.9? That has such terrible coverage (compared to WTOP, 630, or 107.3) that it’s a non-factor. Indeed, if $hitahel were to move talk to FM to compete against WTOP, it would go almost to the right-hand side of the dial (at 107.3) and put “Mix” on 105.9. If it weren’t for the bucks it costs and the high ROI risk of competing against WTOP, I could almost see Clear Channel doing it. However, I’d do it on 101.1, as that’s their most competitive underperforming signal. I’d move DC101 to 100.3 (euthanize WBIG) and not fool with any other signal. CC actually has markets with decent news departments (D.C. obviously isn’t one of them.) with some actually winning objective awards. So, CC could do it if they wanted to. But, they won’t. It’s not that WTOP is that good. They really aren’t. It’s just that it’s too expensive (and too risky) for anybody else to be at least as good as WTOP.–Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/16/10) Dave - Regarding your rant. You're correct WTOP is the ratings king in town. Their ratings were always respectable but when they put their signal on FM 107.7 about 6 years ago, that's when their ratings started to fly. Now that they're on 103.5, 103.9 and 107.7 there is no place in DC and the suburbs they can't be heard. The only way for a station to survive in DC is to be on FM, pure and simple. If WMAL doesn't turn either 105.9 or 107.3 in to WMAL FM by years end I don't see how they can survive. You can't pick up AM 630 in most buildings around town, not to mention their rotten signal between sundown and sun up. (Oh by the way, 107.3's HD2 broadcast of WMAL also can't be heard in most buildings around town. It's too weak!) Now, will doing what I suggest put them up to number 1 or 2 in the ratings? No. But it will probably bring them up to between 3rd and 6th overall. Citadel changing WMAL to news won't happen. They just don't have the money to do battle with WTOP. It's going to take someone with a big wallet to start up a fresh all news operation and do battle with WTOP. Dan Snyder... Jeff Smulyan are you reading this? Emmis Broadcasting could by a poor performing Clear Channel signal and give it a go. Just my thoughts. Tom in Frederick (3/16/10) Dave's response: Look, you're not going to beat WTOP without a full-fledged news department, but you certainly could take away a decent-sized chunk of their listeners and revenue by doing a constantly-updated "rip-and-read" 10-minute news block featuring one minute of weather, one minute of traffic, four minutes of news/sports headlines, and four minutes of ads. You really could do it on the cheap with a mere handful of newspeople. With a good FM signal like 94.7, and some decent marketing and production, it is definitely doable, me thinks..... Mike from Alexandria paid less than 2 bucks for 6 months of HBO and Starz? And now he's complaining about it? How cheap can you get? Hey Mike, you're missing some great television! Unless of course you DVRed the crap out of those channels before you canceled. (3/16/10) The poster from Washington state gave a good summation of WMAL, "then & now". In becoming what it has become, WMAL has, essentially, told a host of loyal listeners: "Fuck you!". And, it's a two-way street. Many of those listeners have sent the same message to WMAL, simply tuning out. In terms of credibility, relevance and commitment to community, WMAL isn't even pretending to try. And that's sad. (3/16/10) "Only WEPM's Jay Young has had health issues " Sorry, but you are a bit off the mark. Kerri Millay, traffic director at Prettyman, passed away in January after courageously battling cancer for over a year. So, yes, there have been some serious health issues with personnel at Prettyman. My thoughts and prayers are with them, their families and their co-workers. (3/16/10) /\ March 16 Messages /\ \/ March 15 Messages \/ Dave, Just so you'll know, I'm now in Washington state. DCRTV keeps me up to date on the DC-Baltimore doings... About WTOP - as I'm no longer on the East Coast, I don't listen to the stations back there (via the net). Your headline that the station needs competition brings to mind the way it was when I moved to MD in 1980. Now, you may disagree with me, but for what it's worth, here's my opinion. Back then, I got hooked on WMAL - when it was a REAL station (IMHO). There were only two options for me and two radio entities: WMAL and everything else. Again, IMO, WMAL was THE news station. WTOP was number 3 in a market that had two stations that seriously did news - MAL and TOP. However, piece by piece, MAL was systematically dismantled; 1st the entertainment, then the news. By the time the powers-that-were started on the news side, I'd given up on the station. The first blow was getting rid of Diana. I forgot what happened in what order but it was followed by the departures of Tom Gauger, John Lyon, Felix Grant (for what - the umpteenth time?), Karen Henderson, Ed Walker and probably others I've forgotten (like Bill Mayhugh). Then we lost Jackson Weaver. Bill Trumbull retired, as did others. Bottom line is that the station management took a page from the book of the 1960s New York Rangers front office and got rid of everything positive or that performed well. Today I wouldn't be surprised if the station, to borrow a line from Frank Harden, owes the ratings people a few points. I miss what I think of as the great days of MAL. TOP now seems to be the type of news operation MAL was. Perhaps not quite but certainly a lot better than MAL... I realize we have differing political outlooks, but think we might agree that MAL is not the news station it was. Anyway, I appreciate the site and will send a renewal donation soon as I can. It's my daily broadcasting fix and helps me stay close to my adopted home (originally a Connecticut boy - and I'd give a couple teeth to have an Eastern CT grinder. Beats Subway any day.) Take care, live long and prosper. Na-noo, na-noo... (3/15/10) well..... guess the new wpgc lineup is taking shape.....as rumored. Today..... (and on wpgc website).... Anji Corley is doing 10a-2p as rumored...... Lil Mo is doing 2pm-6pm. So only AM Drive is still not launched.... with Big Tigger & TBD Female co-host. I believe Tigger's deal is done - but waiting on sidekick. As for Michel Wright.... only 2 places to put her.... the obvious midday opening on Fresh (very likely) or with Tigger (doubtful as i'm sure a younger/hipper female is desired)... Real question is..... WILL IT WORK? Think both MD & PM are step backwards..... Anji not as good as Michel; Lil Mo not as good as Tigger. Tigger better than Donnie? Not in DC Legend status BUT maybe more PPM friendly - yes. So 2 steps back, 1/2 step forward would sum it up in my mind. (3/15/10) Dave, I think that CBS radio could do us all a favor and just shut down their operations in DC. All of the attempts of trying to get anyone to pay attention to what they are doing in DC have failed. The Globe came in and out with a whimper. WPGC is in the tank, there is no saving it unless there is a major format flip to compete with WWHT. WJFK is getting hammered by WTEM. El Zol is off the radar. So listed below is how I would fix it now. 94.7: Flip it to oldies, it works in New York.......WCBS is a prime example on how oldies stations should operate and it's time that WBIG gets sent to it's proverbial graveyard. If that were to happen, 94.7 could force CC to flip WBIG to Classic Rock(which flounders in DC, we know this). 95.5: WPGC......should go Rhythmic CHR.....time for WIHT to get some real competition. Kane seriously has to be bored with no serious competition to his audience on a daily basis. Would I keep Big Tigger, for now yes until I see what results come out of seeing Kane vs Tigger. 99.1: Remember your rant today, how about putting 24-7 news on 99.1 which could also bring in ratings from Charm City if the station markets itself wisely. 106.7: Should become the next evolution of WHFS unless CBS decides to put WHFS back on 99.1 in which case, make 106.7 the News station. CBS could do these things.......but then again it would snow in hell before any of it takes place! Dan (3/15/10) Dave's response: I now pronounce you head of CBS's DC radio cluster..... I wrote to NBC4 to tell them I could no longer watch their newscast when Craig Melvin is anchoring. I can stomach him as a reporter, but his voice and inflections for anything beyond is grating. I now change the channel to WJLA or even WUSA when I hear him. This is the first time since the early 1970's I've changed from 4's news, and it's not making me happy. (3/15/10) On WBAL Radio a few minutes ago, fill-in host Bruce Elliott denied that he is a "Republican Congressional shill." But isn't that what his business cards say? (3/15/10) Dave's response: Same design of business card that WMAL's Chris Plante uses..... (RE: Today's Rant) Dave: Your business sense is correct, I think, in calling for WMAL to challenge WTOP, but that's yet another good FM signal that would ditch music in favor of talk. I know you don't care for The Edge, but I like it and am not eager to see it go away, low ratings or not. To add to the misery, you advocate that crappy 94.7 also go talk. Look, the AC format is lame and overdone, but really, MORE talk on these prime frequencies? Say it ain't so! Christian (3/15/10) Dave's response: Look, you can get your favorite music niche from so many other places besides local radio, and local radio does a pretty poor job at delivering it anyway. Where's my beloved progressive rock? No one's doing it on the local radio dial. Look, I feel that local radio's future, at least here and now in DC, is more local news and talk. The crazy thing is that WTOP owner Bonneville was on the right track with talker 3WT (post Washington Post Radio), but it couldn't be allowed to live and grow because it would have canibalized, to some degree, sister WTOP - the money cow..... To Frank in Arlington , i could not have said it better. (3/15/10) Re: Red Zebra firings ... so who, by name, got the axe last week at Red Zebra/WTEM? ... (3/15/10) Redding: Washington Post art critic must apologize for comparing empty paintings to black people... As an artist and journalist, I was horrified when I read the recent review by Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik. Gopnik wrote a review of Mark Rothko's rehung black-dominated artworks at the National Gallery of Art. "Of course, when Mark Rothko painted these works in 1964, he didn't have the skin of African Americans in mind. I'm suggesting that we might want to as we look today," Gopnik wrote. He explained how black, as a color, is typically conveyed in the art world as: "Emptiness of Being or some such thing" or a "placeholder for something else." He then opines, "we have an almost moral imperative to go beyond our cliches about what blackness means." "As I stood watching Rothko's works, I noticed that I was being watched in turn -- by two African American security guards, both in regulation blue-black suits and both with notably dark complexions," he writes. "And it suddenly seemed wrong to reduce the complex color of their skin -- or, for that matter, of any color out there in the world -- to a single formulaic reading. These guards, happily protecting the works under their care, certainly didn't stand for existential angst, or for a depressive mood, any more than the pervasive blacks and charcoals in the clothing of many of my fellow visitors -- tones which these Rothkos helped me notice more than before -- said anything about their brains' serotonin levels. If anything, these paintings risk coming off as almost too stylish for their own good: Like an elegant Armani suit on a gorgeous woman, they are more likely to leave you smiling than blue." More: www.reddingnewsreview.com (3/15/10) Does journalistic integrity extend to the web? Example: Ch 4 on 3/15/10 has a story on a police standoff in a Laurel, Md. Giant food store. Along with the story is a still photo (Getty Images file photo) of a swat team from who knows where.(clearly not the incident reported). Does the average reader think that the photo was taken at the incident referred to in the piece? What if the Post or N.Y. Times put a photo along with a story that was not taken at the scene? A valid point, or am I nitpicking? (3/15/10) Dave's response: Very valid point. If 4's reporting about a specific incident, the viewer is expecting the graphics - still or video - to be taken at that specific incident. Or the graphic should be clearly labeled "file footage," "archive," or whatever..... Just looked at the PPM Weekly numbers that came down today. Here is how WTEM does against WJFK. 18-34 Persons - AM drive: WTEM 21st, WJFK 11th... Middays: WTEM 22nd, WJFK 20th... PM drive: WTEM 18th, WJFK 13th... Nights:WTEM 22nd, WJFK 13th... 25-54 Persons - AM drive:WTEM 14th, WJFK 10th... Middays: WTEM 8th, WJFK 17th... PM drive: WTEM 9th, WJFK 14th... Nights: WTEM 17th, WJFK 19th... (3/15/10) Dave, Happy Monday, and all that. I needed to jump in after reading the "Comcast is scum" thread. Yes, they are scum, but the grass is NEVER greener in this corporate-run monopoly world of ours. After the year of introductory FIOS rate in the People's Republic of Arlington, Verizon has added about $60 a month in ancillary charges; you know: cable box $10.95, call waiting, $10.95 etc. etc. etc. Stuff I used to get for free. I live across the street from a CO, so I'm going back to copper and DSL. Luckily for me, I don't watch TV so I won't need to go crawling back to Compost Cable, but, I caution all on this Ides of March to beware! Verizon is every bit as slimy as Compost. There are no deals to be had here. Move along. Frank in Arlington (3/15/10) New weather face on 4 - Washington Weathercaster Revolving Door Continues capitalclimate.blogspot.com (3/15/10) WKYS tied for 7th place Parr 8th must be early post Simpson backlash never remember WKYS being that high with the PPM. WPGC needs to get the ball moving on there "NEW" morning show ASAP. (3/15/10) Dave's response: Ahhhh, it's been almost a YEAR and still no morning show to anchor 94.7 Fresh FM. And major tweaking is needed to JFK's anemic sked. You're so right, CBS is taking way way too long to "fix" PGC. CBS-DC, Dan Mason's most dysfunctional "radio family." Ha ha ha..... And to add to the Comcast ranting....I was getting HBO and Starz for free for six months last year when I got a DVR box. I knew when the six months was up and tried to drop the channels beforehand so I wouldn't get charged on the next bill. Comcast would not do it. When I got the bill, I went online via their chat function and had both channels dropped, but they also charged a $1.99 fee to do this (administrative fee). Mike in Alexandria (3/15/10) Great day of local sports programming on The Fan yesterday.. In the morning, "Parker & Parker" had Rich Chvotkin from NYC on the Hoyas' run in the Big East tournament plus Caps owner Ted Leonsis and that was followed by a terrific Caps-Blackhawks game from Chicago, Caps postgame w/ tons of calls & Jonathan Warner, who does a nice job with that show.. Then we were treated to Phil Wood, live from Viera with Bob Boone of the Nats on "Talkin' Baseball".. Hope this is a regular addition to the line-up.. And then the DC City Championship game from Verizon Center, followed up thorough NCAA bracket analysis from "Kevin & Rock" and John Feinstein as well.. Kudos to Mr. Kinard and CBS for a solid line-up of local programming all day. Lynn in Great Falls. (3/15/10) Having been to Comcast twice in the last week, plus calling them twice let me give everyone the facts, at least as it relates to Reston. You have to have a digital box for each TV set that doesn't have one. If not, your set will go blank in graduated phases, beginning March 23rd. Two, they will charge you a $1.99 (cute!) transaction fee for driving to their offices at 12345 Sunrise Valley Drive and asking for a digital box. Three, the first two boxes are free (except for the $1.99) and each box beyond that, you will be billed $5 a month for each one you require. Four, you have to install it yourself. My Comcast contract expires December 15 and needless to say, I will be canceling at that point. Since FIOS isn't available to me, will probably go satellite. It's the $1.99 that was the final straw. ACH (3/15/10) Dave's response: You'd think that Comcast could waive the $1.99 nuisance fee during the three month digital conversion period for folks who spend an hour-plus of their time to drive over to Comcast's office and get a box and then go home and install it themselves..... Good for the NPR Techs and members of NABET/CWA for having the only back bone in modern media and journalism. NPR is the only media outlet in America that has the brass to stand up for what they believe is right. Maybe other media unions might learn something from this Also, WHFS is dead for a reason and may it continue to rest in peace. If you're that hard off for the friends you made at the HFSTival, tune into WRNR in Annapolis and re-connect with Rob Timm, Rob Timm, yeaahh! Ted, Eastern Shore (3/15/10) Comcast cable is scum. I agree with the earlier email that this is simply a moneygrab by Comcast. It's bad enough that they're sticking it to their customer base with the overpriced basic service but to charge a $2 monthly fee for these adapter devices is ridiculous. How nice of them to give you two for free knowing that most households probably have at least 4 TV's that need this device. At least give customers a chance to buy the devices if they need them. If you pay $2 a month for each device for as long as you have the service, you'll end up paying hundreds of dollars for something that only costs $30-40 in the first place. I called 2 weeks ago to have the devices sent to me and customer service said that I would receive them in 3-5 days. It's been 3 weeks and I still haven't received them so I had to go to pick them up and then when I finally receive the other ones, take them back to Comcast.. Reminds me of when the cell phone companies used to make you lease the phones from them. Maybe if enough people complain they'll change. (3/15/10) ("Robb Spewak is returning to Iowa this week"): hubimg.com (3/15/10) Non-media comment on the writer of "Much is said here about the programming on a “conservative news/talk” station in D.C." This isn't a chop busting. I would seriously consider changing your OS from XP to Windows 7. Windows XP is essentially a ten year old operating system and is not designed for the threats that inhabit the ether today. The slowness most people complain about in Windows XP come from two sources. 1: Updates and patches. These are designed to fix a specific problem and are not designed for performance. Since Windows XP was launched there have been literally thousands of updates produced. Pack all these inefficient patches together and that PC you bought in 2004 with 512 MB of RAM won't cut it any more. Upgrade your RAM to the maximum the system will allow or get a new system. 2. Spyware/Malware: There are a huge amount of hacked web sites out there. It used to be the porn and gambling sites, now many legit sites are hacked as well. There are several tools out there that are effective in removing malware. What I have found is that the longer your system is infected, the worse it will get, up to a point where it may be impossible to remove. Buying an antivirus product doesn't always mean you are getting good malware protection. Several well-known products and one specifically that Cox and Comcast give away are ineffective at detecting and removing malware. Buyer beware, most of the ads today on radio are crap regardless of what they are selling. I doubt 'conservative' stations hold the monopoly. (3/15/10) The mission,should you take it,is to report the sad demise of one Peter Graves. Reports indicate he once based operations in the listening area of one WHFS and quite likely utilized information hidden in the broadcast. Unfortunately this message is not capable of self destruct functions which means you will have to eat your computer screen after reading this. Good Luck and the hopes of the nation be with you. (3/15/10) Dave's response: Yeah, just heard that Peter Graves died. I met and interviewed him in my early days as a newspaper reporter when he was in Northern Virginia doing a TV show about energy efficient homes. Very nice guy. Absolutely loved him in the "Airplane" comedies. "Do you like gladiator movies?" Still funny..... I wanted to drop you a line with a link to the Local TV Now podcast from this week. Our guest was WMAR news director Kelly Groft to talk about the challenges of covering all the snow in the Mid-Atlantic this winter. I thought your readers might be interested. localtvnow.podbean.com..... Local TV Now is a weekly show geared toward television professionals that includes analysis of the news of the week in the television business and usually an interview about either a journalistic or business issue involving local television. In the past, we've interviewed a diverse group of people from journalists (Adrienne Rourk, news director at WFOR in Miami and Aaron Barnhart, television critic at the Kansas City Star) to vendors (Todd Juenger, Vice President & General Manager, TiVo Audience Research & Measurement) to executives (Dennis Wharton from NAB and Bill Burton, Executive V.P. at the ABC station group). Thanks a lot. Michael Bieke, Host, Local TV Now Podcast (3/15/10) Leaning tower of DC ? Watching Channel 5 Weather yesterday, the camera shots of the Washington Monument showed the obelisk a bit tilting to the right. I wonder if it is a result of all the snow and rain causing the ground to give a bit. Or perhaps an attempt to draw tourists away from going to Italy. (3/15/10) "This person also said management has absolutely no clue how to treat their employees with professional courtesy/respect and in my opinion, that's 80% of the game. I don't think Snyder can be blamed but rather blame the people are responsible for hiring others." Snyder is indeed responsible for this situation. Snyder hired these individuals to make decisions for him and his station and to create the hostile and unprofessional work environment he is apparently fond of having at his businesses. Furthermore, your description of the working environment at WTEM is very similar to that of the Redskins. This malignant dwarf is cancer. (3/15/10) Much is said here about the programming on a “conservative news/talk” station in D.C. Pity little is said about its advertisers. I’d like to share thoughts about two. The first is about a high-speed train. Yes, it’s currently in service, but not in North America. The reason for that is that it’s electrically propelled and is thus currently unsuited for the routes mentioned in the spot as the only intercity railroad electrification at present in the U.S. is from Washington to Boston. Additionally, when an earlier version of this train tested on Amtrak’s “Northeast Corridor”, it (the Deutsche Bahn “ICE” (Inter City Express)) lost to a variant of the French TGV (“Acela”) built by a partnership of Alsthom and Bombardier. To electrify the routes mentioned in the spot would require a multi-billion dollar investment by not just the railroads, but by the government. And, the dollars just aren’t there. Unfortunately, the spot mentions none of this. The second spot involves a personal computer product that promises to improve the performance of your PC. Unfortunately, not only did this “diagnostic” product lock-up my PC (requiring me to buy the “corrective “ software to unlock it) it slowed my PC markedly, disabled some of my existing software (including video and audio viewing and production), and also installed undesired (and previously undisclosed) software on my PC –blocking software I’d intentionally installed. Therefore, I’m limited to only e-mail and seb surfing until I can re-install WinXP and rebuild my HD. As one of my clients has on a sign in their lobby, “A Company is Known by the Company it Keeps”, I shall now judge the veracity of all programming and advertising on that station by the standard of the spots mentioned here. Don’t give me that “Nuremberg Defense” of “it’s an agency spot” or “it’s a network spot and beyond our control”. That’s hogwash and you know it. Since its inception, the FCC has held broadcasters responsible for what they’ve put into the public airwaves. And, yes, I’m complaining to the FCC about the latter spot as an example of consumer fraud in advertising on that particular station. (3/15/10) If you missed "Views from the Rough" this w/ Jim Nantz, Fred Couples & Frank Robinsion as featured Guests. Download here: 1st Hour as aired www.facebook.com... 2nd Hour as aired www.facebook.com... Next up: LPGA week on "Views from the Rough". Great guests from the LPGA Tour. Joey D (Singh's trainer), John Lyberger (Congo Dir. of Golf), Robert Ehrlich (Fmr Gov of MD) also, I'm tracking down, "The Big Easy" yesterday's winner Ernie Els. (3/15/10) /\ March 15 Messages /\ \/ March 14 Messages \/ This to to Al McGilvray. Only WEPM's Jay Young has had health issues as everyone in Berkeley County already knew about ( it was in the Martinsburg Journal for goodness sake ). Last I heard Chris Strovel, Rob Mario and John Partington are in great health and Strovel quit Prettyman just like Cliff Maxwell, Cindy McGuire, Tanner Miller and Selena Luther had done within the last number of years, even Gary Michaels for a brief time, they all had quit not fired but QUIT so I am not sure why on earth why you had made the "some at Prettyman Broadcasting/medical problems" remark. Just that the next time you wave the "WRNR Flag" and the awards WRNR had won around on this site and knowing Prettyman has had issues with technical problems plus their staff and the jokes Tom Tucker makes about Prettyman in the mornings ( I actually listen to him so I know )...it is something to think about. Sorry. (3/14/10) Robb Spewak is returning to Iowa this week and we have already sold over 80 hotel rooms for his visit to people from all over the country. He will be doing our morning show with us on Thursday, and Friday along with his regular weekly show and making appearances each night. KCJJ will stream video and audio @ www.1630kcjj.com .. click on KCJJ RAW..or go to www.ustream.tv/channel/kcjj-raw/v3. (3/14/10) According to the jock section on WPGC's website (wpgc.radio.com), Anji Corley is now "officially" on middays. For whatever reason, BT is still listed at the top, as the afternoon guy. Hmm... (3/14/10) Dave: I was out in downtown Bethesda Friday night and ran into a radio "executive" who told me WTEM is slowly being dismantled. This person also said management has absolutely no clue how to treat their employees with professional courtesy/respect and in my opinion, that's 80% of the game. I don't think Snyder can be blamed but rather blame the people are responsible for hiring others. Shapiro should takeover 980 and bring-in new people with better character qualities. Finally, this executive had a great point, he said the sports- talk radio business is so full of "bad" people, the good ones are never hired because they're too good...meaning, miserable people hire other miserable people. (3/14/10) RE: "FYI, any official announcements referring to the launch of KHZTV.com, WKHZ-Ocean City and WYRE-Annapolis will come directly from KHZ Corporate, stand by for news,launching SOON! Corporate" Oh, I didn't know the trailer park had internet yet. Oh wait, they do---you just have to pay the bill! (3/14/10) So, is there any word as to whether WPGC will be pink-slipping any other staff (not on-air) from the station? PR people, sales? And BTW, what's happened to that female DJ Justine Love who used to have a late evening show??..Has she been pink-slipped as well? (3/14/10) And the residence of a Red Zebra executive appears to be for sale. (3/14/10) During the recent blizzards, I answered Ken Skrivseth’s post in dcrtv on 1/18/08 about The Laurel Museum looking for old audio archives from WLMD radio. After trading e-mails, Ken and I met and I contributed to the museum some of my WLMD Radio 900 – “The Talk of the Capital" memorabilia. I am in process of transferring from reel tape to CD an audio collage of the Allan Prell Show recorded in 1974 to give to the Laurel Museum. I am also recording on the CD a brief introduction with the history of WLMD radio from 1965 to 1985 that precedes the Allen Prell audio recordings. Richard Dahms (3/14/10) RE: Big Tigger's PGC move- While I understand BT's got to get what he's worth, the bigger concern for the corporate suits is having a major market morning talent having so much input into the music. BT needs to concentrate on being an entertaining, informative, and professional show. Sometimes listening to his PM drive show, those elements seemed to be lacking. Program Directors and Music Directors as morning jocks may work in smaller markets, but in Top 30's and especially Top 10's, almost never. His complete focus should be on restoring credibility to a damaged brand, and not worrying about record geeks, focus groups, etc. Pre-PPM, it was do-able at urban stations, not now. I mean, as far as I was concerned, Donnie Simpson having on-air listening parties was completely counter productive, and you see how that ended, with a buyout...err, (forced) retirement. As far as Lil' Mo doing PM drive, she in a word...sucks. I truly believe PGC could get better #'s from a jockless PM drive show. All that screeching, with the "around the way girl" vibe, way to change listener perception suits. EZ Street truly is on easy street if Lil' Mo is his competition, and he's BEEN mailing it in! Michel Wright to Fresh 94.7? I don't know if jumping from the Titanic and being "rescued" by the Andrea Doria is in her best interests. Plus, rumor has it that PGC just lost their best salesperson, hmmm. We shall (or not), hear how this all shakes out. Stay Tuned...or don't! -Billy Sparks (3/14/10) RE: Today's WaPo obit for Harold Kaufman...I'll bet most have forgotten that he pioneered the first call-in talk show offered by WMAL, certainly one of the earliest in this market. Probably around 1975. You can read about his amazingly diverse skills in the obit, but he did a weekly psychiatry show for WMAL. I believe it was on Sunday evenings. That was back before the AT&T deregulation and I still remember the engineering staff scurrying around to adapt the Western Electric telephone gear leased from C&P. No Telos hybrid phone systems invented yet. As a station staffer I remember Kaufman treating us to shows at his "Harold's Rogue and Jar" jazz club on N St. near DuPont Circle. (Dr. Joe Novello later did a similar program for WMAL.) - P of the AW (3/14/10) FYI, any official announcements referring to the launch of KHZTV.com, WKHZ-Ocean City and WYRE-Annapolis will come directly from KHZ Corporate, stand by for news,launching SOON! Corporate (3/14/10) (“It's not specifically about DC media, but I wanted to pass this along, in case you hadn't heard. keitholbermann.mlblogs.com”) Okay you Tee Baggers, you Palin Death Panel Believers, you Fox News watchers, you corporate and insurance lovers, you Cheney doctors, you Americans, you, are you satisfied now that Keith’s father has passed: pass “health care reform” now! Keith’s right: www.youtube.com (3/14/10) Comcast happens to be correct about Reston. Remember that Virginia is NOT a State. It is a Commonwealth. Governance is not from the top down, it is from the bottom up. Reston has consistently chosen to excersize all local powers and refuses to play ball with any agreement entered to by the state or county with a private entity. Reston makes Arlington and Vienna look cooperative by comparison. No matter what agreement Comcast, or any other vendor may have with the surrounding area, Reston almost always refuses, as a matter of right and principle, to work with the same agreement. That enclave of legislative fiefdom is very feisty about reminding both citizen and business of their independence, and making you pay for it. Ask Nextel about the 'price' of being 'allowed' to have their cellular service cover Reston. I had a nasty confrontation with a little troll who claimed to be the property mgr at one Reston shopping center who informed me that the FCC has no authority there! Never mind that my client, and her tenant, had the required authorization for a 1 meter dish, hidden on the roof. This woman was determined that I was going to pay her a fee for the privilege of doing work on the premises. When I asked by what right or law did she have power to extort money from a vendor for the privilege of doing work, she rattled off some speil. So I said fine, why don't you call the police if I am trespassing. She said I will do just that,,,and went for her little FRS radio...which I pointed out is not for business use. She told me the FCC has no authority in Reston because it is a sovereign town!! So, I pulled out my phone any my old 3rd class and said, let's find out because I can call the FCC. She stormed off, did not call the cops and I finished my install. Reston, hurbris paid for by your tax dollars. (3/14/10) Nice to see some old fasioned courtesy and sense of honor surviving in this time of backstabbing,doublecrossing and throwing under the bus of fellow businessmen. Although I cross the line with my rants sometimes I was born in an America where you respected your elders ,stood up for the National Anthem and did not trash something or someplace simply because you could. Sandwiched between the 'Free Love and Peace' and the ' Me,Me,Me' generations I have a garbled sense of ettiquette at times but usually revert to what my grandparents(not my Rockin'Rollin' parents) taught me. No I'm not the 'spineless worm' (this time anyway) and I applaud Mr McGilvray for his integrity and sense of compassion for a competitor. Thank You Sir for demonstrating the class our citizens once had in this formerly great nation. Donnie in North East,MD. (3/14/10) Brokaw was marginal on Meet The Press this morning. He seemed very unprepared. (3/14/10) Things not all that great at Red Zebra? 4 sales people were fired from Red Zebra Broadcasting last week and a few weeks prior, Greg Reynolds, the CFO abruptly "resigned." hmmm stay tuned. (3/14/10) To the Comcast 'lover' in Reston--but, but, you're getting XFINITY! We in discriminating Fairfax Co. will never get that. Lucky! It should be just as craptastic as their other campaigns. (3/14/10) It's not specifically about DC media, but I wanted to pass this along, in case you hadn't heard. keitholbermann.mlblogs.com (3/14/10) (snip) I bet Tom Tucker & Al McGilvray over at crosstown WRNR is enjoying this. (end snip) Dear spinless worm who wrote this: No, I do "not" enjoy it when a fellow broadcaster has problems. A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into keeping not one, but three radio stations up and running; not to mention the medical problems that some folks at Prettyman Broadcasting have suffered. I have only best wishes for my friends at Prettyman Broadcasting. Next time you have a negative comment to make, please do not take the liberty of putting my name on it. Al McGilvray (3/14/10) Thanks for including me your list of acceptable shows Fitz (despite the fact that we're friends). Having read many lines regarding Big Tigger lately, I had a chance to meet him in the mid-90's while on an announcing crew from F.P.A.'s Channel 10 Sports. He wasn't a very nice person. As his ego seemed hurt that we wouldn't interview him during the football game we were covering. He also had a horrible odor surrounding him. Had our producer agreed to the interview, I probably would have asked one fundamental question. Are you standing on your head or are you in need of a Certs? Ciao 4 now, Rusty Gibson (3/14/10) HITMAN AND COMPANY on the air and on the web WORLD WIDE - Weekday Mornings 7am - 10 am on the Radio 1590/KHZ Ocean City, Maryland on the radio 810/WYRE Annapolis/Baltimore on TV KHZTV.com (3/14/10) /\ March 14 Messages /\ \/ March 13 Messages \/ When I callled Comcrap to get directions, the guy who told me I'd have to go to Manassas or Dale City to get a converter said that I should be able to get a box by mail. But, then he said, "I'm sorry. that's not an option in Reston." As for Verizon, after many bad rounds with their customer service when I had their telephone service combined with their skyrocketing rates, I'll stay away from FiOS, thank you. The only good thing I can say about Verizon is that they have the courage to take on the local political big shots which cable seems recluctant to do. (3/13/10) Where can I get nude photos of Massa and Emmanuel? (3/13/10) ("Of course WEBR is a hodge podge of various formats and some good talk shows and some bad ones too." -Mike Fitzgerald...Who, in your opinion, would you categorize as good WEBR talk shows? And who would you categorize as bad talk shows?) Well, I listened to a few of them. I like The Midnight Mutants with Adam C. . As far as The Other Guys show goes, I haven't listened long enough to make an opinion. But then, I more prefer the music shows that WEBR has. Such as Night Train with Squire, Eclectic Hours with Paul Porzio, And Rusty Gibson's Magical History Tour as well as Doug Goffus' Goffus Rock Experience. I might also add Deb Sears with The Prog Rock Diner. Mike Fitzgerald (3/13/10) re: Reston/Comcast...You probably could have had the converter box mailed to you. I'm pretty sure that was an option available to MoCo dwellers. Instructions should be inside the converter box. Also, Verizon/FIOS is available in Reston. It is in my cluster. And finally, the Comcast office in Rockville, MD is pretty low key too, so it's not just a Reston thing. (3/13/10) Dave you made an interesting point in your interview back in january that its really about revenues in radio and not ratings i think that is what you said? My question is with WPGC -FM who knows what Big Tigger is asking for as far as compensation at least 1 million a year maybe 2 million who knows but with his salary and with the one hit wonder singer Lil`Mo`s salary at maybe six figures are they saving money with these line-up changes? Also can they support the pay roll? I guess they are going to keep it urban at least the next year or so anyway depending on the ratings in the demo`s 18-34 and 25-54. (3/13/10) "But it is amazing to think that I can still fit into a WHFS 102.3 t-shirt that I got 30-ish years ago...." Separated at birth: Dave Hughes: Root Boy Slim: deaconlight.com... Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top: web.wireimage.com (3/13/10) I’ve been living in Reston since 1982 and have lived with the various permutations of Warner Cable TV, Jones Intercable, and of course Comatosecast, otherwise known as Comcast. And, since the advent of Media General Cable, followed by Cox Cable, I’ve seen how Fairfax County continues to discriminate against Reston by seemingly regarding it as a technological red-haired bastard step-child by allowing Reston’s telecommunications consumers to have to rely on a level of service markedly deficient compared to the rest of the county. Case in point: Comcast is finally “upgrading” its Reston “system”. (How many years ago did Cox upgrade its system in Fairfax? Shows how backward Fairfax County lets Reston get, doesn’t it?) And, if all you want is “basic” cable, you’ve not needed a box on your TV until now. And, that box isn’t the inexpensive little “sidecar” that lets you use your cable-ready TV (like they do in Comcrap’s “home turf” of Philadelphia…), but a regular “converter”. To add insult to injury, when Cox did their upgrade, I remember seeing a big trailer on the road taking converters into the neighborhoods, rather than you having to go to their office to get one. However, Comcast requires you to go to their office to get your box. While they put an address on the letter telling you that you need to get a box, do you think they would provide even simple directions on how to find their Reston office? Hell no! Not even a simple map. What a bunch of losers! Who or what are they afraid of? Their customers? I was expecting to find something at least as easy to find as the Cox office I see every time I’m on Centreville Road! When I used the directions I got off Mapquest, they only showed where I needed to go on Sunrise Valley Drive. So, I called the Comcast 1-800 number hoping to get directions. I found that the only way to reach a live person on that number is to pick the “disconnect service” option. So, when I finally reached a live person, they said that I’d have to go to Manassas or Dale City as he had no record of an office in Reston to get my converters. Knowing that person had to be wrong, I called again. Person #2 gave me the same directions Mapquest gave me, but still couldn’t (wouldn’t?) tell me where the office was, except that it would be closing in 10 minutes. So, I had to go back the next afternoon. This time, I started driving around the buildings in one of those non-descript office complexes once popular in Reston. Finally, behind the last row of buildings, I see Comcast cherry-picker trucks (why they have those in Reston where probably everything is underground shows Comcast’s ignorance if not incompetence!) parked in a row. I start looking for a big sign (Like Cox has on Centreville Road.) but only find a small “Comcast Employee Entrance” sign. I start poking around a bit and find the customer service office. Thankfully, I’d arrived in time as they close at 5:30 (open until 7:00 on Tuesdays), and closed weekends. Perhaps someone who has gone to a Cox office can share with the board what their hours are? No big Comcast sign on the building (and visible from a major road) like Cox has… just a decal in the window. It’s almost as if this is intentional and they are hiding. The Comcast customer area is about the size of my child’s bedroom, and they had only two employees serving customers. (Again, if anyone who has dealt with Cox, I’d like to hear how they serve customers.) When my turn came, and I asked for directions on how to use the parental control on the converter, I was told, “Look at the TV and I’ll have show you ‘cause we’ve run out of instruction sheets.” When I asked for a channel list, her response was, “You’ll have to get that at Comcast.com ‘cause we’re out of those, too.” On top of that, I was charged a $1.00 “transaction fee” because I dealt with a Comcast office. Since you don’t have any option when it comes to getting a converter, this is nothing more than a moneymaking rip-off! You know that old saying about the first thing you see making the strongest impression? What I noticed first about the Comcast office in Reston was a sign reading “Please do not lean on the counter”. Reminded me of that scene in Joliet prison in “The Blues Brothers”! Except, here it was not funny. Please Fairfax County, in the interests of fairness, compel Comcast to treat Reston’s residents equally with what the rest of Fairfax County gets from Cox. Or, condemn the system and force Comcast to sell it to Cox at a “fire sale” price. The kindest things I can say about the Comcast office in Reston is that it’s invisible and inaccessible. And, their personnel are ignorant, incompetent, poorly supplied and equipped. (3/13/10) I see that channel 4 has added a new guy, Aaron Gilchrist from Richmond, Va, to co-anchor with Kimberly Sutters..She seemed quite happy to have him there, which of course she HAS to do on air..However, she was quite touchy feely towards him..O.K..Kimberly..Simmer down, simmer down NOW.. (3/13/10) ".......but 1340 WEPM is all chopped up this morning spewing spurs all up and down the dial into the 160 and 80 meter Ham bands as well. They ought to have somebody take a look at that."....BUT then again does WEPM even have someone now to look at things like this? I too noticed from my house in Hedgesville, Martinsburg's WEPM's problem this morning and its a shame too. Between the technical issues and the loss of just about their entire staff in recent years, the ones who had made WEPM great I might add such as Jay Young, Chris Strovel as well as the questionable bizarre firing of award winning play-by-play announcers Rob Mario & John Partington ( even the local Martinsburg Journal questioned that logic )...well let's just say I bet Tom Tucker & Al McGilvray over at crosstown WRNR is enjoying this. (3/13/10) To the poster who has buffering issues with streaming video from Vimeo and Veoh, you can download the video of your choice at zero cost and then watch it at your leisure on your PC. (If you have fundamental DVD authoring software, you can even create a DVD to watch on your home mega-screen TV.) Vimeo does require that you first open a (free) account, but the sign-up process doesn't take long. (3/13/10) Hi Dave, Saw the latest info about PGC but any news about a tweak or change in format? I think 95.5 would do much better with AMP (its working in LA and NYC). TS (3/13/10) Don't know what happened to Lite 97.5 last night, but 1340 WEPM is all chopped up this morning spewing spurs all up and down the dial into the 160 and 80 meter Ham bands as well. They ought to have somebody take a look at that. (3/13/10) RE: [ " it'll still be called "The Scott Garceau Show. " ]..... What a surprise, NOT! I could have predicted that outcome the day that Anita Marks left 105.7 The Fan & that arrogant prick named Garceau refused to even mention her existence in this world let alone explain why she wasn't there. People in Baltimore always think of Scott Garceau as such a nice guy, but boy did he blow his cover that day. Everyone knows now Scott, you can stop pretending. This also explains why you can't get another TV job too. Say what you will about Anita Marks, but she generated controversy and more importantly ratings, not to mention some of her most controversial Ravens suggestions have turned out true. Can you say Anquan Boldin? Scott Garceau couldn't, at least not sitting next to Anita Marks. But now two-faced Garceau is all over the "great idea" now that Anita Marks is gone and he has the job all to himself. I bet it also pissed off Garceau that he was getting paid less than a woman, but God knows we'll never find that out. I honestly hope his show sinks like a fucking rock! Couldn't happen to a better guy. Finally, I have to admit, while I knew Anita Marks was not a popular figure in Baltimore, even I'm surprised how much she intimidated the so-called "jocks" in the Baltimore sports talk community and in Baltimore in general both on BaltimoreSun.com, Facebook, you name it, she was getting slammed everywhere. What were they so intimidated by? That she could kick Scott Garceau and many others' asses in football or basketball or that she made them feel like they had MUCH SMALLER DICKS than HER? :-) (3/13/10) Some news items & tidbits missed on DCRTV from this past week's Baltimore Media Blog......... Did anyone know that Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock went to high school in Arlington, VA and was a cheerleader on WRC 4's "It's Academic" with local icon Mac McGarry? Who knew? I didn't. There's even a pic of her as a cheerleader too at Baltimore Media Blog. I couldn't believe it myself. Baltimore Media Blog actually found the cheerleading pic!............. Letterman has beaten Leno already at the beginning of Week 2, could impact WRC 4 & WBAL 11......... Conan O'Brien to visit DC's DAR Constitution Hall on his 30 city tour June 8.......... Noon Workout yanked at MIX 106.5....... Oscar winning Mo'Nique from "Precious" is a Baltimore native, who knew?......... The CW 54 programming changes due to the ACC Tournament (I assume a similar thing is happening at CW 50?)............ The Baltimore area high school with the baseball diamond that Babe Ruth learned baseball on as a teenager is being closed by the Catholic church & the story has gotten press up to NYC & even a relative of the Babe has protested the closing in a letter to the Diocese of Baltimore............ Baltimore is awarded a Lingerie Football League team?........... Finally, this wasn't on BMG, but what the hell kinda crazy cat nip did WBAL have Sandra Shaw on Friday morning? They had a State Troopers' Chili cookoff and she was just like bouncing off the walls, nutty, goofy and by comparison making Marty Bass look like a stable minded meteorologist. And then it got more surreal. One of the State Troopers bragged that his barracks had the highest # of DUI arrests in the state of Maryland while cooking. My 1st thought was, is that really something to brag about? It either means one of 2 things, either the area you live in has the highest # of drunk drivers in the state or the state troopers at that barracks are the most aggressive at arresting borderline innocent people. I'm not sure which conclusion is worse, but it's certainly nothing to brag about. I wasn't aware that Arrest #s were an official competition now. As Dave Letterman would say, "As always, please, no wagering." (3/13/10) These HD subchannel relays of out-of-market radio stations are exciting, but nobody knows about them. Not only that, but the radios needed to listen to these stations are virtually nonexistent in new cars (except for a few luxury models) and aftermarket add-ons are prohibitively expensive for the typical listener. Will they work? They'll only work when the FCC mandates that all radios must have HD Radio chips in them. Will this happen? Nobody knows, but until then, it just does not matter!! -Chainsman (3/13/10) Anybody know what happened to Lite 97.5 tonight? They have been silent since around 9:30. I think the transmitter is on but no modulation. (3/13/10) "Of course WEBR is a hodge podge of various formats and some good talk shows and some bad ones too." -Mike Fitzgerald...Who, in your opinion, would you categorize as good WEBR talk shows? And who would you categorize as bad talk shows? (3/13/10) /\ March 13 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....