PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag
PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV
PBRTV Mailbag March 13-31, 2001
WDIG (WLIT from 1972-1982) is owned by a local Pentacostal church for the past 10 or so years. Before that it was owned by the late Fred Staffillino jr. who owned the Chairman Of The Boards billboard company located on rt 22 between Robinson Township and Weirton.Before that ,when I was there it was owned by a group in Parkersburg. Beleive this, in 1978 a wind storm took two of the four towers donw the next day upon inspection it was noticed that the sections of the towers were tied together with coat hangers. The station was put on the air in 1972 by a group out of Charelston WV> Yes they are running a soft RB /Old school oldies automated format. I do not know if they currently have a sales staff or not. When I drive past the station on the way to or back from WTOV9 where I work no cars are in the parking lot! At one time WLIT was a nice money maker. From '77-82 I served as morning drive /PD/Sales Manager/GM until it was sold.During that time we billed between 15,000-25,000 per month. (Not bad for a daytimer!) WDIG is 500 watt
pre-sunrise 1,000 watt day and yes does have a 35 watt post sunset
authority. The current owners do not use the post sunset, but it was used in the mid 80's. With the 4 tower directional south array it puts a listenable signal over Steubenville and Weirton. The 35 watt nighttime signal could be heard south of Mingo Junction. I am curious to know if they are still using the original Gates transmitter or have they installed a new unit. Since they switched from Gospel to the current format about a month ago, the signal sounds very crisp and rock solid all the way to Wheeling. Best Regards, Trefdawg (March 30, 2001)
B94's Born to be a millionaire contest that starts Monday morning... is not a national contest. It's completely local.
Just thought you'd like to know. You may wanna research a bit before you suppose you know what is going on. regards Ryan (March 30, 2001)
Eric's Response: Well I was certainly aware of the contest being local, but the "DEAD" thing was NOT as I understood it.
eric, i can't be sure of where terry lee is now, others probably know, but in the '80's i believe he was phoenix arizona doing an oldies show of some sort on what i think was KOOL FM...i don't know how long he lasted out there...maybe it was the late '70's into the early '80's... (March 28, 2001)
Eric:
Good "Musings" piece! Indeed, it seems to be the trend as fewer entities buy up more radio stations to expand their on-air contests to include several-- or all-- markets. While at Cumulus in Lexington, KY, we encountered-- and exploited-- the same practice by the Clear Channel stations there. It definitely does limit the odds of winning.. But I still believe that most people who enter a contest to win a valuable prize just say "What the hell" and enter-- just in case they actually win. I don't think it will deter anyone from actually entering or holding out hope. The thought of competing with not only the population in Pittsburgh, but perhaps with St. Louis, Denver and Sarasota (in fact, where a Clear Channel outlet is that I used to image) is annoying, though. It also smacks of being somewhat cheap, when you have an empire of more than 1000 stations. It's signifigantly less expensive than giving away more than 1000 SUVs in as many markets. Their logic is probably, "SOMEONE will win." Remember: Radio is more a business today and less an honored tradition. The biggest problem I've always had with putting together station promotion is that most of what a station can possibly do has already been done in some form or another (The Bible even gives the "nothing new under the sun" wisdom). The promotions which keep the audience guessing-- even asking "What does that MEAN?," such as the "Joe Said It Would" campaign WTAE-TV had some years back-- are almost always successful. There are a million old ideas which will keep being recycled infinitely. Hopefully, supposedly creative people (weirdos) like me can always find a fresh way of presenting them. By the way, one of the most creative--and funny--contests I ever heard was on Tampa's WFLZ, back in its "Power Pig" days. But first, some background: Randy Michaels, the CEO of Jacor (now Clear Channel) has one of the most delightfully warped minds in our industry. His assasin-like tactics displaced the long-time leading CHR station in that market, with brilliant promos, such as a one that said, "For the most MUSIC, listen to the Power Pig.. For the most commercials, listen to Q-105. Don't believe us-- We'll Wait (Dead air) See what we mean?" In the dead air, if you were to tune to the competitor, sure enough, they'd be running spots! WFLZ even had a contest where listeners would guess who the next jock on Q-105 would be to be FIRED! It was great! Susequently, jocks dropped off Q-105 and the station went country, as I recall; WFLZ shot to the top spot in the market (I don't know where they are today, but, technically, it's got a signal sound quality which should mean a knighthood for its engineer!) Now the contest I promised to describe: Each morning, the station would call a random number from the phone book of a guy whose first name was Richard. A caller would ask "Richard" a series of questions and determine if he went by the nickname "Dick." The name of the contest? "Dick or Not a Dick," of course. It was shock radio, but probably some of the best executed of the genre!
(Of course, that stuff is old hat now. But aren't Howard Stern and Bob and Tom today little more than a big phallic joke? Our business could use another creative shot in the ass, I'll be the first to admit it. I think I'll listen to some airchecks from the '60s and see if there's a new idea I can use). Take care, pal! I enjoy the web page!
Ed Weigle (March 28, 2001)
Eric, just to let you know, WDIG 950 Stubenville is airing the Smooth Touch with the Del King behind the controls. This Format was on WRBP Warren Ohio until it was replaced by a Sports Format. WDIG is 1,000 watts day 35 watts night Using a 4 Tower Directional System, with a weak but reciveable Signal in the North Hills During Daylight Hours.
(March 27, 2001)
To the poster who replied to my post: I am positive that WPTT was
cranking out the full 5,000 watts Saturday night. On other nights when
there was no skip, 1360 went to almost dead air when the night facility
was switched on. It was the weekend, so maybe nobody was at the station to make the switchover. I live in the suburbs so trust me, I know all about how skywave interference obliterates weak groundwaves. WJAS and KQV go from useable here during the day, to unlistenable an hour or so before sunset... and before they change over to night pattern. WEAE, while also interfered with, tends to hold up better here than the aforementioned stations. Regards, Steve (March 27, 2001)
Eric's Response: WPTT and WJAS automatically change over by themselves if memory serves me correctly.
Ref: Steve's posting about WPTT's signal. When skywave propagatiion in minimal, nighttime groundwave signals will usually be heard at greater distances since other skywave signals aren't interfering with them. This is somewhat evident on the Regional Channels (such as 1360) but is really obvious on the Local Channels (1240, 1450, 1490 etc.). When there is no skywave propagation, these Local Channel stations can be easily heard 30 miles away as opposed to 5 or so miles when there is skywave propagation to obliterate them beyond this distance. (March 26, 2001)
Well, I remember when WJOI died low those many years ago! So,B94 is serious about giving away $1,000,000.00. I read an article on the web last week that Infinity is getting into the "Shared Contesting" is this a shared deal? As always, Peace and long live Jammin Oldies. Trefdawg
(March 26, 2001)
Eric's Response: The "Dead deal" is a shared deal. However, I think the "Shared Contesting" idea with Infinity is different from Clear Channels idea of such. You might recall last summer when several stations around the country shared a contest and aired the "call-in now" announcement at the same time. It seems that Infinity at least shares the idea and lets the station decide when do air it.
In reply to the ratings message... Central PA Radio & TV got ratings from http://www.rronline.com/. Jeff
(March 26, 2001)
In regards to the topic of studios where the public could see the
DJ. There are a few pictures of the KQV studios on the website. Click on the KQV Studios link in the menu on the left. I am still looking for old KQV surveys to add to the site. I am now starting on 1969. There are a few weeks still missing from 1968. Also I am looking for many pre- 1968 surveys. Jeff Roteman http://14kqv.musicpage.com. (March 25, 2001)
Hey Eric:
The Keymarket Stations have a new contest the Froggy Pay Roll. Didn't they have that back in October OF 2000. WOGF 104.3 has new people in the morings the Bullfrog left Froggy 104 so did Lepein Liz. Steve Kile was at WOGH 103.5 now he is at 104. Farrah Frogget is still there she works from 5:30 am To 11:00 am. Will this madness ever stop. On Feb 26,2001 WXKX 99.1 FM Parkersburg WV went to Froggy 99. I think Forver/Keymarket owns stations in Parkersburg. Keymarket gave 99.1 FM new call signs {WGGE}. They also bought 102.7 WTUS Fairmout WV. WGYE "Froggy 102". Soon or later they will buy WKWS 96.1 in Charleston WV. I think Keymarket is going overboard with buying all of these stations. I hope Keymarket buys WKWS 96.1 in Charleston WV the Froggy handle is nice but it is going overline for now. Take a break buy more stations away from Ohio,Pa, any New York state. WOGG,WOGI have the lowest watts about 6,000 and WOGH has about 17,000. Out of the Ohio And Pa Stations WOGF 104.3 has the most 50,000 watts. Thanks Eric for everyone writing in about Radio/TV. (March 25, 2001)
Re: B-94 is dead: answers...1.it's the return of born to be a millionare
2.B-94 will proclaim themselves to play no rap(oh well,they're conceding to Kiss and WAMO) 3.it'll make them become a WXDX-lite
oh well,praise the lord and pass me the CDs and mix tapes as B-94 pulls another ho-hum stunt. (March 24, 2001)
As I write this (7:45 pm 3/24) WPTT is still operating with full day power. I am way up here in Beaver Falls and the signal is coming in as strong (or weak) as it does in broad daylight. Coincidentally, as I scan the band, there appears to be very little skywave skip tonight. Could they be keeping the power up with the notion that they will not get caught? Regards, Steve (March 24, 2001)
Hello Eric, The Central PA radio/TV site used to have a link to a ratings page ( you could look up radio station ratings by area name or number). Could you please find out what that address is from the person that used to maintain that site (or maybe you know it also). Thanks. Howard (March 24, 2001)
Eric's Response: I don't think it would be Allaccess.com. Anyone have any ideas?
I see in a mailbag link that WKTW in Jeanette is attempting to move from 1530 to 770 due to interference from WSAI. But as far as I can tell, the late afternoon propagation from WABC is just as bad as for WSAI. I can pick it up in my car on Washington Rd. as early
as 3:30. Dosen't it make more sense for them to look at the expanded band? Also, could somebody PLEASE tell the music director at 3WS to just play "Good Lovin'" by the Rascals straight through? They never, ever play this song without inserting some goofy sound effects into the break (tookey bird, chimpanzees, old movie clips, etc.) If the record industry is having a cow over Napster, I can't believe they allow this to go on. JC (March 24, 2001)
Eric's Response: I would imagine that expanded band would be logical, but there are probably any number of reasons why that doesn't happen. As for 3-W-S, I am sure there is a reason/tradition as to why they put the sound effect in the song...unless you listen overnight when they don't. The pause in that song is plenty long too. Therefore, there might be a dead-air reason to throw that in there.
Just wondering if you knew what was up with B-94, checked your web page but didn't see any info. Thank you (March 23, 2001)
Eric's Response: I had no idea! Their website says that "B-94 is Dead". The Friday night mix sounds pretty typical for them. Sounds more like a contest to me. I don't think we need worry about our trusty Bee.
Eric, I was visiting your site and noticed you don't have a link yet for WPTT-1360. They now have a website. They webcast, and they have a chatroom where listeners can participate in the conversations by typing text to the hosts during the shows. Here's the URL. http://www.1360wptt.com/ BTW, I'm glad I found your site. It's a treasure trove of information. George E. (March 23, 2001)
Eric, in response to the query in your Mailbag, the FCC web site shows that WRKY is now assigned to an AM station in Murray, Kentucky, and that WELA is presently available. Also, in case you haven't yet heard the news, WWSW/WJJJ Operations Manager Chris Ostrander is leaving to accept a position with Walt Disney World in Florida. Regards, Clarke. (March 21, 2001)
I'd be curious to know where legendary call letters WRKYand WELA are these days. Who knows with Key Markets divine intelegence (?) they could through away WSTV, WOMP and WOHI if they are not careful!
Peace & Long Live Jammin Oldies. Trefdawg (March 21, 2001)
Eric: I'll be anxious to know if anyone comes up with the whereabouts of Terry Lee. His ill-fated foray with WRUA in McKeesport was the last I heard of him-- and that's been close to 15 years! I remember an engineer telling me once that he walked into the studio and found Terry Lee on the air with the lights turned off and a bunch of candles burning-- to get him "in the mood" for his trademark "Music For Young Lovers!" When I was doing the "slow groove" portion of my doo wop show, I tried it once. Word to the wise: If you've got poor eyesight like me, DON'T try it-- especially if you like to drink hot coffee! I thought my ass was on fire! Take care! Ed Weigle (March 20, 2001)
Eric's Response: The ole Venus Fly Trap and WKRP candle routine...one would end up like Les Nessman and have band-aids all over them!
ERIC, IN REPLY TO THE "WHAT HAPPENED TO TERRY LEE?" REQUEST FROM ONE OF YOU READERS, THE LAST I KNOW HE WAS RUNNING A RECORD SHOP IN THE MON-VALLEY SOMEWHERE AROUND CHARLEROI. THIS WAS BACK IN THE LATE 80'S AFTER HE LEFT AS PD OF 1510 IN MONROEVILLE. MIKE P. (March 20, 2001)
Eric ~ Keymarket launched yet another simulcast this morning. 99.3 & 104.5 Kiss FM is now a Top 40 Simulcast from Frankiln & Meadville. It seems weird that they are running a simulcast since 99.3 in Franklin can be received well in Meadville & even southern Erie County. They should have left 104.5 as an Oldies outlet in order to at least have some variety in the area. Still this could have an impact on Star 104's numbers after being the only Top 40 station in town. Now they are surrounded by 2 different Kiss stations including the one in nearby Jamestown, New York. Oh well, there's still Froggy 94 & 970 WFUN for Oldies in the area. Tom L. (March 19, 2001)
Does anyone know what happened to Terry Lee, the former WMCK/WIXZ DJ who also hosted "Come Alive" on WIIC (now WPXI)? The recent WQED "Sound of Pittsburgh" mentioned him and featured some old photos but he was one of the few DJs of that era who was not interviewed. He was popular with the "T.L. Sound" in the '60s and '70s but I haven't heard anything about him in a long time. He seems to be something of a mysterious figure. Vic (March 19, 2001)
Eric ~ The Froggy simulcast is now on between Meadville & Oil City.
Froggy 100.3 WGYY is now being retransmitted on Froggy 98.5 WGYI In Oil
City, Pa. Well there goes another great Country station I could pick up
south of Erie. Who's next? WKNB "Kinzu Country 104.3" In Warren Pa? I
mean how far has this spread so far? Very puzzling indeed..... Also
there is a new Top 40 station out of Lakewood, New York (Near Jamestown) WKZA 106.9 "106.9 Kiss FM." Serving Jamestown / Warren. They do have a decent signal in the Erie area but I have to listen & see how they are received in the City itself. They could get some of Star 104's listeners in the eastern half of Erie County. The numbers will tell down the road. Tom L. (March 16, 2001)
Mr O'Brien, I hereby bring you surprising results in our poll. We asked which newscast do you watch and the surprise is that out of 420 people that answered 33% said they watched the FOX 53 Ten O'Clock News. KDKA-TV News was second with 31%. WTAE Action News had 7%. The poll ended on March 13th and a new quesiton is up. Thanks to everyone who participated in the poll and thank you for your continued support of The first and only Pittsburgh TV News. Watch out for Stacy Smith pre-KDKA. P. Kenny Burns Pittsburgh TV News (March 15, 2001)
i know that 1430 weir is carrying the weirton madonna basketball game today at 1:30... can you give me the internet site where i can listen to the game on my computer since i am at work.... thanks (March 14, 2001)
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