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

PBRTV Mailbag October 1-15, 2001

Eric, With regard to whether or not an LPFM application will be approved, there is one key criterion: spacing! So long as the proposed LPFM meets the spacing requirements to stations plus or minus 3 channels (in the 89.9 case, that would be stations on 89.3 to 90.5 MHz), the app will be approved. If the proposed site ends up short-spaced to another station - TOUGH! I sincerely doubt any full-power FM will want to allow an LPFM to encroach. Using the FCC's LPFM channel finder, it would appear the Lightning's application does not meet spacing requirements. I'll look into the details very soon. Regards, Dave Loudin (October 15, 2001)
26 years ago I had the same dream, but when I first saw automation in action I knew that I better learn about the sales department.Stations are always looking for sales reps or people who want to seriously learn the sales part of the business.I suggest poking around at the smaller stations, the WEDO's & WKHB's of the world and mention an intrest in joining the sales department. If you can get on try producing spek spots that you will sell to clients. I know the dj shifts that once were plentiful are all but gone, but the good news is there is plenty of money to be made in broadcast sales. Best Regards, Trefdawg (October 11, 2001)

Eric's Response: The money is there, you just have to be assertive enough to go out and make the sale!
Eric: Seeing all this commentary about local talent falling victim to the industry's new corporate machine, I offer the following as wisdom-- Get used to it. It's not going to get better. Much as I love Pittsburgh and am very proud of our radio heritage, my city has always been a tough market to both break into and keep a gig. Ironically, it wasn't until I moved away that I became busy on Pittsburgh radio, though in a freelance capacity, doing imaging, promos-- and commercials for the local agencies (who, by the way, never seemed to notice me while I lived there for the first 26 years of my life; Hell, I worked for agencies in New York and every city BUT Pittsburgh while there!). Remember, Pittsburgh was once a market where longtime air personalities actually still RETIRED from their radio station; turnover was somewhat rare for key positions. Now, it's like any other major market: Corporately homogenized. If there was a gripe from AFTRA members about out-of-market talent getting all the local commercial gigs 15 years ago, I'll bet they're making the drinks for the DJs stronger at the union meetings nowadays. On the air, instead of competing with other local jocks for gigs, we must compete with air talent who have perhaps never set foot in our city, but will work cheaply from Chicago or some other market. Instability has always been an accepted drawback of radio as a career; most people don't have the patience or the independent wealth to devote the years it sometimes takes to earn a respectable buck--bouncing around the country, living off "all the records you can eat." When I was in Pittsburgh, even some of those who were well established were still paranoid: Pranksters used to delight in watching the eyes of a certain late KDKA talk host glaze over when they'd say, "Gee, I'm sorry about that pink slip in you mailbox.."). My heart goes out to anyone trying to break into this racket today. In spite of not doing quite what I wanted back home, I appreciate the time I DID spend there on air--It was still PITTSBURGH radio, not some damn national formula, devised by folks who care not about our city--but only that the receivables outweigh the expenditures. It's tempting to advise aspiring broadcasters who have their hearts set on radio to just move to Covington, KY and get in line closest the power source. Or, look more closely at internet possibilities or satellite facilities.. before Clear Channel buys all that up, too. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I believe that accountants belong behind a desk-- hidden away where nobody sees them until the company Christmas party. Cheers! Ed Weigle (October 11, 2001)
Oops, proofreading mistake. Mine. It is 89.9, not 88.9, Lightning seeks for White Oak. However, in either case, your correspondent in Saxonburg should not worry about losing either West Virginia Public Radio (89.9) from Wheeling or Family Radio (88.9) out of Johnstown. If the weather conditions are right, I can pull in a low-power station out of Murrysville (88.3) in Munhall, my base when I'm not at The Daily News. But I think it would be unlikely that Lightning's 89.9, if the FCC approves, would reach southern Butler County. Of course, as Dennis Miller might put it, that's my opinion, I could be wrong. But I don't think so. Sorry for any confusion ... Pat Cloonan. (October 11, 2001)

Eric's Response: There! Confirmation that the testing has been done and the fact that two people have made their educated guesses that the proposed 89.9 will do well in its little area!
It's 89.9 MHz. (Check the webpage at www.lightningfm.org/index.shtml for information. Also check out the daily news summary at www.lightningfm.org/news). According to www.100000watts.com, the only 89.9's that should be heard in Western Pennsylvania or West Virginia are WVNP-FM Wheeling, WVWV-FM Huntingdon and WERG-FM Erie. Lightning's tests indicate that no signal is receptable on 89.9 MHz in McKeesport or White Oak, but one of the WV stations could be heard in Saxonburg, I suppose. (WV Public Radio booms into the Mon Valley over WVPM-FM, 90.9, Morgantown.) If (it's a big "if") Lightning gets the license for White Oak, it will be for 100 watts at approximately 40 feet above ground level, on a hill that's about 1200 feet above sea level. It should cover White Oak, McKeesport, Duquesne, parts of North Versailles, North Huntingdon and West Mifflin, and not much more. There's no way 89.9 White Oak would be received in Saxonburg, and because of the FM capture effect, any interference listeners experience will be to Lightning from one of the out-of-town stations. (That is the way it should be -- LPFMs are required to accept interference but are not allowed to cause it.) FM radios "capture" the strongest signal and reject the weaker one, unlike AM, where more than one signal can be received simultaneously. Yes, the FM band is crowded, but the NAB and FCC created the problem by allowing too few companies to license too many stations. LPFM is not a perfect solution, but it is a way to bring an FM station to communities that otherwise could not afford one. McKeesport has not had a local FM station since 1953. There is now only one locally-owned radio station in McKeesport, WEDO, and it's a daytimer with mostly brokered time. There are no local news, high-school sports, symphony concerts, etc., being broadcast, even though there is a demonstrated need. Jason Togyer(October 11, 2001)
Eric, Just what frequency is Lightning trying to aquire??? Is it 88.9 which is mentioned in Pat Cloonan's message??? Or is it 89.9??? I live in Saxonburg Pa and I am able to receive 89.9 from West Virginia quite well. I also receive an 88.9 from Johnstown Pa. So which is it??? I could see an 88.9 coming on board in Pittsburgh, but an 89.9 would not be good at all because the signal would be almost useless. All an 89.9 would do is just fight for coverage. I will say this responsibly...THE FM BAND IS MUCH TOO CROWDED AS IT IS!! William (October 11, 2001)

Eric's Response: It's one of the two. Jason Togyer can tell us!
Dear Eric, I love your website!!! anyway I was wondering why radio is so hard to get into job wise??? I applied at WBZZ for a Board-Op position and never received a phone call. All I received was a questionnaire asking me what my ethnic background was. I checked off the box and sent it back. What is up with this ???? William (October 11, 2001)

Eric's Response: Anyone in the business will tell you that it's becoming next to impossible. Believe me, I know! Oftentimes, one will get the "we have filled the position but keep your information on file for six months" report. Or maybe you just don't have the experience. But how can you get it when many of the stations where you used to be able to go and "learn" are either automated or simulcasting? They say, "be a pest and keep calling." Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Now, I also believe that they could have hired from within the company which is common. However, a part of that is that I believe you have to advertise the position just to be fair. Reasons can be as long as your leg!
Fabulous music that has predominated since the 30's and used in more commercials than any Metallica or Emenem pseudo music. Actual lyrics, composition, and mathematical structure by proven talents. We also get the Boys of Summer, Cleveland Indians games. This nostalgia music coupled with rock n roll oldies on Froggy Fm are the mainstream stations in Erie. Nick Palun, Erie, Pa. (October 9, 2001)
Hi. Dave Mason's the name.... worked at 13Q (WKTQ) 1977-1979...Middays and PD (for 6 months) in it's near final days as 13Q.. returned to Pittsburgh in 1985 as Station Manager/Program Director at WTAE/WHTX (Hearst). Left in 1987..currently Ass't PD and mornings at KJQY (94.1FM) San DIego; middays KSBL (101.7) in Santa Barbara, Overnights at 92.1/94.1 WWXQ and WXQW in Huntsville, and soon to be on WTMX in Tampa, and KSMY in Santa Maria. Headquartered out of Clear Channel San Diego, 9660 Granite Ridge Drive 92123. E-mail: davemason@clearchannel.com. Thanks--love the site. (October 9, 2001)
Eric, I don't know how you manage to do it, but the site is still as wonderful as the first day I visited it. Keep up the great work. (October 8, 2001)

Eric's Response: Thank you....
With all due respect to anyone who has or will lose their broadcasting job in the Pittsburgh area, did anyone expect anything less than this to happen after deregulation and consolidation? As automation and syndicated programming services were put in place in the smaller markets years ago, I heard more condescending snickers than outrage, and relative silence as local news departments were either gutted or eliminated. Don't get me wrong...I'm not getting any joy out of seeing solid radio professionals get their walking papers, but the process that led to this started a long time ago. Unless and until big corporate radio starts losing money or making less money directly as a result of these personnel moves, the cuts are going to continue. Any jock who runs a show where the music is the draw is at risk. Is it really that big a leap from "Read the card and play the song" to "Hey, we can have some guy in Chicago read the card a lot cheaper?" (October 4, 2001)

Eric's Response: I think what can be said here is simple. There is no big surprise in the fact that deregulation has caused a major battle between radio companies and its employees. However, it's not a matter of stating the obvious on websites like PBRTV, newspapers, etc. Here, at least, it's a matter of stating who has been affected by such a circumstance. I don't know when, but this mess will change eventually. It will almost have to if these companies expect to stay in business. Let's wait and see.
Eric, I'm in the bizzz, so hold the name.....I was shocked that you missed the latest Clear....flush job...... Bumper ....and Kenny Woods GONE !!! at 3WS......Mike Frazer has been dispatched to afternoon drive on 3WS.....Chris Reynolds is NOW doing mornings on JJJ..... more Voice Tracking in town...........Whats next????? DVE OR THE X??????....... This has too stop......or local radio will become a thing of the past!!!!!!! It's too bad most of the radio public, has NO CLUE that radio "as we know it" is having it's life being sucked away!!!!!!!! (October 3, 2001)

Eric's Response: Actually I did figure it out. The only paper that seems to cover such issues hasn't yet...at least online. I am not too terribly surprised by it. But it's a pathetic shame. I noticed Kenny Woods and Bumper were gone as of Thursday. It seems that they are playing "ping-pong" PM drive host. (You will recall that Bumper hosted the PM Drive before Frazer came on board, then Bumper again, now Frazer!) Also, Kenny's shift of late had been voice-tracked and voice-tracked only by him...it sounded live the other night and was being hosted by Lindsay Cipcic, Scott Alexander, or Shawn Israel.
I am a dedicated listener to your radio station from the tony bruno show to the jime rome show, and the highlight of my day used to be kiley and booms, they are a riot...needless to say i am very upset at the new show that has replace the after 4 pm---please put k&b back on tha speaking of sports guy puts me to sleep (October 2, 2001)

Eric's Response: I would suggest that you contact WEAE.
First of all, I hope the FCC approves Lightning's application, and I hope Jason and his associates can get it on the air. I can't count how many times I've wondered about the condition of "local" radio in our region. (Critical to grave, though there are bright spots, ironically including daytimer WEDO-AM 810 in McKeesport.) If you're on the hills around McKeesport, you can pull in West Virginia Public Radio from Wheeling on 88.9 with a car radio. Clearly, however, it is far enough away to allow a White Oak 88.9 as Lightning seeks. And, to be fair, we're only talking a 3-5 mile radius for a 100-watt 88.9 in White Oak. (If the commission allows 103.9 in the Allegheny Valley, on WLSW's frequency, that would strengthen Lightning's argument.) As for the ongoing KDKA discussion, one might want to compare (for programming and signal) how Clear Channel does with the area's other 50-kw AM fulltimer, WWVA-1170 in Wheeling, a still-fascinating mix of local and ABC news, talk, religion at night, trucker programming in the wee hours, and Jamboree USA on weekends (though it may have had a bit more local flavor when it did country music on a fulltime basis) ... or, for that matter, the service offered by a 5-kw regional powerhouse, ABC/CBS news-talk WKBN-AM 570 in Youngstown ... Pat Cloonan. (October 2, 2001)
I've been reading some of the comments on KDKA's poor local signal. I live in Washington County, about 45 miles south of KD's tower in Allison Park. During the day I get better reception on 1250 WEAE, a 5,000 watt directional station. The signal sometimes is really bad at night with constant skywave/groundwave phasing. Also WBZ (1030-Boston) and CFRB (1010-Toronto) splash over tremendously, especially if they're playing music. KD's modulation seems to be lower than most AM stations. I talked to a KDKA engineer a few years back (before they replaced their tower), and he told me they had a lot of problems with their signal going skyward instead of outward. Maybe they still have the same problem with the new tower. It would seem to me that some engineer (even if they had to bring one in from another city) could figure out how to correct this. I can receive 700 WLW Cincinnati and 760 WJR Detroit any time of the day or night. I'll bet KDKA can't be heard in those cities during the non-skipwave times! Too bad Infinity Broadcasting (who owns KD) can't muster up enough money to buy one of the many fledgeling FM stations in the Pittsburgh market and make night (as well as day) listening more enjoyable. Also, I've addressed this problem before in the forum but nobody has been able to give an explantion on why WPGH Channel 53 and WCWB Channel 22 have such muffled sound. Why aren't more people outraged about this? Can't the engineers at these stations hear how bad they sound? Do a comparison with the other stations and you will hear it too. It's (ith as it would sound on their station) really noticable during sporting events. The sound is very muddy and at least to me should be correctable. (October 1, 2001)

Eric's Response: Infinity owns 3 major FMs in town...I doubt they'll be getting a 4th. The Channel 53 problem has been discussed before. It is noticable, but it's nothing to get too excited about. I don't think it's THAT bad really. Does anyone disagree?
Dear Eric, I was just checking your site and didn't find anything, so I was wondering if you had any info on why Evelyn Hawkins is gone from WDUQ. I certainly haven't heard them say anything about it. Not that I'm disappointed in that, but just curious. Rob Protz (October 1, 2001)

Eric's Response: I haven't heard anything. Nothing in the paper either. Be patient, we're likely to find something out.
  • Return to PBRTV Mailbag Archive