Something Brewing? Or VT Run Amok?

[Nu_Roo_2]

I notice that the Brew has had some WLZT air talent on today.  E.g., as I post this at 9:30 pm, Heather is on both stations.

Does this suggest something may be brewing re formats and/or layoffs?  Or just extra voicetracking to cover for, e.g., vacationing talent?  I'd bet on the latter. 

Regardless, I don't recall ever hearing the same jock doing a shift simultaneously on two different stations in the same market.

[willcail]

Both of them are owned by CC. To save cost they use the same people.

WTTE/WSYX DT does the same thing.

[columbus radio fan]

I notice that the Brew has had some WLZT air talent on today.  E.g., as I post this at 9:30 pm, Heather is on both stations.

Does this suggest something may be brewing re formats and/or layoffs?  Or just extra voicetracking to cover for, e.g., vacationing talent?  I'd bet on the latter. 

Regardless, I don't recall ever hearing the same jock doing a shift simultaneously on two different stations in the same market.

They are planning on moving WTVN to 93.3 so they are getting people used to hearing people from WLZT like Heather and Joel Riley on the Brew because when they move WTVN to FM people will already be used to the new people. 

[ThomasBlixa]

This has been going on for sometime now.Actually Heather Williams is on WCOL, TheBrew and 99.3!
There have been some changes since Michael McCoy departed to Detroit.

[Nu_Roo_2]

This has been going on for sometime now.Actually Heather Williams is on WCOL, TheBrew and 99.3!
There have been some changes since Michael McCoy departed to Detroit.

Whoa, you just let some big news slip out -- first I've heard about 99.3!

Seriously, thanks for clearing that up.  I had thought that having the same air talent on two different music stations in the same shift was avoided, but I guess it's just a coincidence that I haven't noticed past occurrences.

[Nu_Roo_2]

They are planning on moving WTVN to 93.3 so they are getting people used to hearing people from WLZT like Heather and Joel Riley on the Brew because when they move WTVN to FM people will already be used to the new people. 

Seriously, the possibility of a TVN-to-93.3 switch was one of the first things that ran through my head.  Not saying that will never occur, but based on ThomasBlixa's response there was a different reason for what I noticed.

Read an interesting science article in the Dispatch recently about how the human's mind tends to seek patterns.  Thus a tendency to want to connect the dots and look for perceived conspiracies.  Certainly would apply to radio moves, where sometimes it turns out to be reality instead of just perception.

[inquisitor]

Seriously, the possibility of a TVN-to-93.3 switch was one of the first things that ran through my head.  Not saying that will never occur, but based on ThomasBlixa's response there was a different reason for what I noticed.

Let's get real, people!

It's one thing to abandon a perpetually floundering AM station with a bad signal like WBNS, and something completely different to abandon a successful AM station with a strong signal.  You have to look at this like businessmen and consider the plusses and minuses.  I'm sure WTVN makes some pretty good coin and is always ranked one of the Top-3 or Top-5 stations in the market.  The only reason to abandon the AM dial would be if you can improve upon that. 

Let's say they did abandon the AM signal.  Let's look at the plusses ... as in how would you make the most additional profit.  Would the station make any more money going to FM?  Hard to see how when it is already a Top-3 station.  Now look at the minuses ... what would you lose?  Is whatever you replace WTVN with going to make as much money as it currently is?  Probably not.  Is the AM replacement going to make more money than what WLZT currently is?  Probably not. 

In other words, from the standpoint of overall profitability it sounds like it wouldn't be the smartest move to me ... but then again, what do I know?

Oh and I might add that the number one and number two stations in Cincinnati are ...  WLW-AM and WKRC-AM!!!  Just like the old days!!!

I will tell you what I think would be two good ideas, though (again, what do I know)  1) Since WTVN is weak to the south, they should get their signal either on 107.1 (which has always been kind of a waste, anyway) or on that 92.7 translator in Chillicothe that rebroadcasts WLZT;  or 2) Maybe go to kind of a combo like what you have in Cincinnati where WLZT has local talk and plays the role of WLW; and WTVN plays the role of WKRC with some local shows but mostly syndicated fare (which it kind of already does.)

[Ohio radio man]

WTVN will be on both 610 and 93.3 by the end of 2010. Done deal.

[Nu_Roo_2]

Seriously, the possibility of a TVN-to-93.3 switch was one of the first things that ran through my head.  Not saying that will never occur, but based on ThomasBlixa's response there was a different reason for what I noticed.

Let's get real, people!

It's one thing to abandon a perpetually floundering AM station with a bad signal like WBNS, and something completely different to abandon a successful AM station with a strong signal.  You have to look at this like businessmen and consider the plusses and minuses.  I'm sure WTVN makes some pretty good coin and is always ranked one of the Top-3 or Top-5 stations in the market.  The only reason to abandon the AM dial would be if you can improve upon that. 

Let's say they did abandon the AM signal.  Let's look at the plusses ... as in how would you make the most additional profit.  Would the station make any more money going to FM?  Hard to see how when it is already a Top-3 station.  Now look at the minuses ... what would you lose?  Is whatever you replace WTVN with going to make as much money as it currently is?  Probably not.  Is the AM replacement going to make more money than what WLZT currently is?  Probably not. 

In other words, from the standpoint of overall profitability it sounds like it wouldn't be the smartest move to me ... but then again, what do I know?

Oh and I might add that the number one and number two stations in Cincinnati are ...  WLW-AM and WKRC-AM!!!  Just like the old days!!!

I will tell you what I think would be two good ideas, though (again, what do I know)  1) Since WTVN is weak to the south, they should get their signal either on 107.1 (which has always been kind of a waste, anyway) or on that 92.7 translator in Chillicothe that rebroadcasts WLZT;  or 2) Maybe go to kind of a combo like what you have in Cincinnati where WLZT has local talk and plays the role of WLW; and WTVN plays the role of WKRC with some local shows but mostly syndicated fare (which it kind of already does.)

Just for the record, I definitely was NOT endorsing such a move.  But if CC did do that it would be consistent with with their local mantra of "format duplication rulez."  But this time it would be a variant where they were literally duplicating one of their own (and to some extent 97.1), instead of cozying up next to a personally-disliked competitor's format to enforce local CC management's radio mafiaso mentality ("oppose my move-in at your own-risk, sucka!").  At least there are no horse heads involved.

[gabigley1]

WTVN will be on both 610 and 93.3 by the end of 2010. Done deal.

WTVN will, in my opinion, simulcast on 93.3 FM IF and when they eventually land on the FM band. Most people here will agree it's WHEN
and not IF they will land on FM. One of the reasons is the lack of coverage the WTVN night signal has to the Southeast and South of Columbus. Here is the coverage area of the WTVN nighttime site:
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WTVN&service=AM&status=L&hours=N

Why can't the move to FM happen before 2010? Corby is going to have a important announcement on his show this Friday afternoon. I think he will
announce the OSU tailgate party, Hineygate moving to a new location. Don't expect him to say WTVN is moving over to the FM band on Friday.