PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag January 1-12, 2001

Eric, have you had the opportunity to hear Cigna's latest bit? He's got a thing going about meatloaf. He's going to build a string of meatloaf eating places. OK, most of the on air personalities have a schtick. But this meatloaf is all you hear from him, four hours a day, five days a week. I'm surprised management hasn't told him to knock it off, people don't want to hear the same thing over and over. (January 12, 2001)

Eric's Response: Schtick is good, but it probably shouldn't be constant. Yet, sometimes it keeps people tuned in to find out "What's going to happen next?!"
This correspondent has visited WANTV, undercover. It is based at Eastland Mall in North Versailles, PA (near McKeesport) --- how that serves their community of license, Uniontown, I'm not sure. From my inspection, it is a very, very small, shoestring operation. I think they are rebroadcasting "The Box" video jukebox channel at least part of the day. I haven't tested off-the-air reception yet and I don't know where the transmitter is located. And no, WANTV is not legal .... they must legally ID between :55 and :05 as "W35AW," either aurally or visually, under FCC rules. But they can bury the legal ID or obscure it like WPTT does --- you have to listen ver-r-r-r-y carefully to hear the city of license, McKeesport, which is buried in a music bed that's played after the top-of-the-hour news. Also, the FCC has granted LPTV stations waivers so they can ID with a traditional four-letter W call, like WBGN does. (January 11, 2001)
I have not heard alot about the new 93.9 FM in Fairview / Erie but it may be a Rhythmic Top 40 station. That's the rumor right now but nothing will be known until it comes on the air.......... It is so interesting that WGYY is still calling itself "100.3 WZPR" & WHUZ is now just "Rock 94.3". Now I heard that a 3rd Meadville station has also changed it's call letters. WAQM (Cool 104.5) Is now WXXO. Has Keymarket / Forever also purchased that station? The call letter changes are very interesting there. I am baffled by this but that's radio these days...........I have a few 8 tracks that may be of interest to Pittsburgh radio fans. I found the tapes at a thrift store of all places. Tapes of WTAE, 96 KX, 3WS & WPEZ. They are from about '81. Great radio I must say. If anyone has tapes of WHYP radio or WMDI, Let me know on here. Tom L. (January 11, 2001)
Hi Eric. I've recently started to add old KQV surveys to my website. Could you put a plea on you site for me that I am lookjng for more ? I am looking specifically for the year end Finest 40 for 1963 & 1964 (they were on the back of the surveys for the first week of January. I am also looking as well for as many weekly lists as possible. All lists will be returned to the collectors after I make copies. Eventually I hope to have all surveys on line starting with late 1958 until near the end in 1975. Jeff Roteman ejjeff@pa.net (January 11, 2001)

Eric's Response: Please help Jeff out if you can. His websites are top notch!
Hello Eric. In reply to Tom L's post, CHWO on 740kHz from Toronto, Ontario has a very good signal here in western Maryland most evenings. It's a welcome addition to the AM band (also the FM band since Verstandig Broadcasting trashed WWMD's easy listening format from Hagerstown, Md.). I was sad to see the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. shut down CBL on 740 several months ago, but this is a wonderful replacement. (January 10, 2001)
Eric, according to 100000watts.com, there is a new FM station liscesed to Farview PA, which is near Erie. No call letters yet. 6kw transmitter at 93.9 FM. Thats all the info I know right now. As for the Forever Broadcasting stations in Meadville and Oil city, none of them have switched formats yet. I wonder why they would change their call letters so long before actually making the changes at the stations... very odd. (January 10, 2001)
Eric ~ The Erie market has a Canadian impact as well as a tri state one with New York & Ohio. It gives this area more variety in terms of radio & could be compared to the Pittsburgh market. FM 96 CFPL 95.9 (Alternative) usually registers in the arbitron ratings here. Of course there are alot of canadian stations on the AM & FM dial that people can choose from. A huge station out of Toronto officially went on the air yesterday serving the 50+ audience with it's nostagia format. CHWO 740 (formerly @ 1250) is known as "Prime Time Radio AM 740" and their 50,000 daytime signal across the lake here is unbelievable. Not to mention the impact of their nighttime 50,000 signal already received far south as South Carolina. This station could pick up where WQEW in New York left off when it grew "Mickey ears." What impact this will have on the local Nostagia station WRIE 1260 (Which runs the "Music of Your Life" network) will be interesting...........Also, I would like to see more news from the surrounding markets like Youngstown for example. Thanks & take care. Tom L. (January 9, 2000)

Eric's Response: Very interesting info! Incidentally, I am waiting patiently for info from surrounding markets to come forth from people of those areas. I am hoping to find folks who are interested in doing that for me from those areas. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, I'll post what's available!
Hey, this is the license I found for Ch35 I think its the station, in fact I'm nearly positive. Station Details (Please View) As far as Ch62 goes -- no licenses found. Who knows...maybe they're broadcasting pirate...oh well. --Josh (January 9, 2001)
Eric, Just wanted to let you know more information on WANTV (channel 35), the new LP-TV outlet in Pittsburgh. Apparently, it's going to be a live auction 7 nights a week from 8pm to 1am. Tonight, (1/09/01) I was watching the "preview night" as they called it, and from the looks of this, it's a really small operation. Honestly, the production values leave a little bit to be desired (i.e. No titles on the screen, one camera, hosts that kept tripping over their headset mics, and a graphic between segments that was literally a Microsoft Word document (with the menu, toolbar and scrollbars!) on the screen). The hosts really looked like they were winging it, to varying degrees of success. The really weird part about it was that someone in the background kept breaking in (with a mic apparently turned ALL THE WAY UP) with strange questions/comments for the hosts, and at the end of segments, kept saying to the hosts that they needed to get off to "help answer the phones." After 10PM, it looks like they went from that to some national auction network. From what they kept saying, they're based out of the New Eastway Mall in North Versailles. It should be interesting to see how this station does. BTW, great page. keep up the great work! -Joe (January 9, 2001)

Eric's Response: Thank you! By the way, do you think WANTV is a legal callsign?
word from 5th Avenue is that WQED will be asking the FCC to change the status of WQEX-TV from non-commercial to commercial. They will sell it to a local company Shooting Star for twenty million. Shooting Star will more likely affliate itself with PAX TV. this would be considered an "end around" by bypassing the group that torpedoed the proposed Cornerstone/Pax/QED deal. it's very likely that the group will raise some objections to the deal. There is a similar scenario going on where Buffalo's WNED-TV asked the FCC to change the status of its second TV station WNEQ-TV from non-commercial to commercial,paving the way for LIN Broadcasting (which owns WIVB-TV) to buy the station. Channel 16 hasn't been all-educational.it was WENS-TV in the fifties and was affilated with ABC. the thing was that you needed to get a special box to get the UHF channels on TV (@ the time TV sets weren't required to have both UHF and VHF channels) Naturally,that station died and then its CP was given to WQED,where it became WQEX-TV. (January 9, 2001)
FM talk in Pittsburgh? It's possible. I'm sure that Clear Channel would love to have a full time talker in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh has a shortage of strong, full time AM stations. WEAE, WJAS, KQV, and especially WPTT have lousy signals, compared to KDKA and even the FM stations. Their signals are even worse at night, when they are fighting against dozens of other stations that are sharing their frequencies. The only AM station CC owns in the market, WBGG, just flipped to its sports format, so this station will remain untouched... at least for a while. The next choice for them would be putting a talk format on FM. On another subject: signal quality is one reason (but not the only reason) why KDKA is number one and KQV is near the bottom in the ratings. Nobody north or west of Allegheny County can hear KQV well, especially at night! If KQV wanted to boost its ratings, it should simulcast on a suburban station north of the city, preferably FM, so they can change the call of this station to KQV-FM. 106.7 in Beaver Falls would be perfect for this, if Sheridan would purchase/lease one of the Pittsburgh frequencies (92.9, 101.5?) and move WAMO-FM there. 106.7 would cover the nulled areas of 1410's directional patterns (which would give me a booming signal:-), and 1410 would cover the city on south. Once they do that, they could do more decent talk programming from 7 PM to 5 AM and possibly give KDKA a run for you know what. I suppose WPTT could do the same. 1KW of night power out of McKeesport doesn't cut it! Regards, Steve (January 9, 2001)
Eric ~ Legendary WJET FM is sold to Regent broadcasting. Here is he article from goerie.com. (January 9, 2001)
As much I would love to see a Hot Talk FM with Phil Hendrie, Pittsburgh does seem to love its Jammin' Oldies. Blowing the station up, would anger a lot of people. CCU isn't Infinity (who loves Hot Talk FM's), so I doubt that will happen. With the climate, anything could happen though. (January 8, 2001)
Hi! Hey, do you know anything about these new LPTV stations: 35 and 62? On Ch62 it said "Ch35 WANTV" and on Ch35 it had auction programming, which they said it would be. First, WANTV is not a legal TV call sign, but they probably chose it since they're LPTV. I think the correct call sign for 35 is WA35## or in some combination of that form, but the FCC database seems to only show Ch35 licesned, nothing about 62. Maybe you know more. Please Advise. --Josh (January 8, 2001)

Eric's Response: As for the callsign, I think you are right Josh, but I am not sure about 35 and 62 in particular. Can anyone help?
the big thing will be that B-94 will win a bitter brawl between them and Kiss-FM.reason,Pittsburgh is a very provincial market and the B will empasize localism with the jocks. Tone E Fly (Kiss-FM) may just drive Spank to a nervous breakdown,but that might not be enough. 104.7 may either switch to Urban AC(to wreck WAMO-FM) or go all 80s (to tweak Star 100.7),a wildcard guess is that a hot talk FM could land at 104.7 considering that they could wreck WPTT due to their forced power-down at sunset and Clear Channel would love to get Phill Hendrie in this market. Nothing will happen with WBGG considering that the flagship stations for the Penguins and Steelers are both on the FM. WCVI-AM will perish so that WSTV-Steubenville and WHAR-Clarksburg can get better signals at 1340. WPQR-FM will more likely serve the Mon Valley now that WOGI-FM will target Metro Pittsburgh from Duquesene. Disney finally brings in Radio Disney-but not at 1250, they may LMA with WKHB-AM to bring that format to 620 and they may buy some stations in Pittsburgh.(do I sense that someone may sell that's not Infinity ,Renda or Clear Channel?) as for anyone local at Ardmore Blvd in addition to the Big M,it's the Cannon Brothers plus Randy Cosgrove,Gerry Dulac during golf season and the usual stragglers during Steeler season. It should have been pointed out that Fox Sports Net let WEAE "borrow" Savran while plans were afoot to start up Fox Sports Radio. (January 7, 2000)
620/khb has gone almost full time paid alternative medicine programing. Dr Winer ALL THE TIME. Gone is oldies and replaced with contemporary christian music????????? The station has all the ducks in a row to go 55k daytime and almost ZERO at night!!!! A board opp from 6AM to 2PM, A computer takes over the rest of the day!!!!! WHAT A WASTE OF A POWERFUL AM IN THE TRI-STATE!!!!!!!!! They used to play some great music and tried to bring back that 1250/wtae feeling from the 1980's. PS - I just love this web site!!!!!!! You need to add some air checks!!!!!!!! thanks (January 6, 2001)
I just received an interesting email from KQV AM in Pittsburgh, PA regarding their internet stream. They informed me that because of copyright concerns, they have discontinued providing a stream of their AM signal. As many, many hundreds of stations are currently providing successful internet streams, this is the first time that I ever heard of a station dropping their internet transmission due to copyright concerns. Is this something that is common on the internet? DOUG G. FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA (January 5, 2001)

Eric's Response: Yes it's all too unfortunate. Many stations have clipped their streaming for now because of copyright concerns. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has implemented the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). Basically it means an artist can get more money for music streamed over the net! This does NOT mean that the blanket licences with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC cover it. In fact it's an additional, and supposedly more expensive, fee added on. Why KQV, an all-news station, did that I do not know, but better safe than sorry right? Incidentally, KQV is not alone. Most of the stations that are operated by smaller corporate owners have dumped their internet streaming. They feel that the fee is unjust and redundant. I can't say that I blame them!
Hi! Just wanted to pay you a compliment on your website.. It's always nice to hear what my friends back home are up to! Basically, the only news I get is when I call Porky Chedwick or Hank Baughman (two of my mentors). Keep it up! Best for 2001! Ed (January 5, 2001)
(The Worst) Without a doubt the FOX53 live coverage of the final sporting event at Three Rivers Stadium. In the worst the overall sound of KDKA radio. It's stale and boring. Just think back to the anniversary broadcast this past November: Snappy and creative jingles.......EXCITEMENT !!!!!! something that is missing in radio!!!!! The best???????? You have to look to John McIntyre PCNC... he can deliver a suprise now and again.......May I cast a vote for Doug Hoerth.........20 years in one market.......and a kind of talk show radio big shots would die for in other markets!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP IT UP UNCLE DOUGIE!!!!!!! (January 5, 2001)
ERIC IN YOUR CALL LETTER SECTION YOU DID NOT GIVE WGBN 1150 NEW KENSINGTON THE FORMER WKPA. GOSPEL RADIO THANK YOU. (January 4, 2001)

Eric's Response: Mea Culpa, bestill my beating kidney....
Perhaps WBGG-AM will jolt WEAE's chain? It seems that the addition of Scott Paulsen in the afternoons is a wise move. Stan Savran also moved over from Ardmore Blvd. Is ANYONE local on WEAE? ____Reply Separator_____ Yes! For starters, there's Mark Madden everyday from 4 - 7/8 p.m.. The Cannon Brothers (Ellis and Henry) are on weekends and evenings when Madden is off. Speaking of Madden, Ohio State's firing of Cooper is the best thing to happen to him. The WCW canned him as color announcer for their national TV show on monday evenings. On monday's Madden show, he talked only about the possibility of Pitt's Walt Harris going to Ohio State. Not one question of why he was canned was on his first show of 2001, tuesday evening's. I don't know what happened on Wednesday's show. (January 4, 2001)
WQED/13. Please, next year, don't blot out part of the "Radetzky March" at the end of the Vienna New Years Concert with a promo. Poor form. Thanks. Howard (January 2, 2001)
Check out "ETA Radio" at 1590. ETA seems to have a double meaning of Estimated Time of Arrival, and Expert Traffic Advice. For now, ETA runs daily from 5:00 am to 10:00 am, a traffic overdose if there ever was one. WZUM is also threatening to expand ETA to the afternoon drive time soon. Neal Spence and two others are on this morning. Also, the 1590 signal is unusally strong this morning, audible at 5:30 in the north hills, and easily listenable along the Parkway West. Could their 5000 watts finally got on the air? (January 2, 2001)

Eric's Response: Well let's hope! We've been waiting long enough!
My two cents on the old WNUF-FM. The owner, Milton Hammond, would occasionally bring in a stack of records that he wanted to hear while driving home and order the DJ on duty to play them. He was playing big band music a good five to 10 years ahead of the "Music of Your Life" format. He always wanted to the call letters WFUN but couldn't get them so he went for the next-best thing and spelled it backwards. A lot of people got their first experience at that station (in both announcing and sales) and most look back on it as a unique experience. Hammond was a hands-on, eccentric owner who was on the premises every day -- something that's becoming rarer in these days of conglomerate radio. (January 2, 2001)
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