Sunday schedule changes at WABC

[wadio]

Aaron Klein mentioned yesterday that his Sunday 1/7 show will begin at 6 pm -- then beginning 1/15 the show moves to 7 pm. (I think he said his new permanent hours are Sunday 7-10pm but I'm not certain.  If so, that would mean John Batchelor loses an hour on Sunday nights.)

So that leaves 2-6 pm open.  Will WABC add more local programs, more syndicated shows, or just sell out Sunday afternoon to infomercials?

[wadio]

We got the answer today:  immediately following the legendary Bob Grant, it's Invite Health with Pharmacist-Nutritionist-Pitchman Jerry Hickey.  I thought WOR had the exclusive on that "show." 

In LA, KABC fills its weekends with infomercials while KFI has the integrity to maintain actual programming. The ratings speak for themselves. NY needs a serious challenger to WABC and WOR.

[WNTIRadio]

Wherever pharmacist Gerry Hickey writes the check to has the "exclusive" on that infomercial. 

Yay WABC, way to get that local programming in on the weekends.  Yay infomercials for herbs and ding-dong enhancing medications.

[badjef]

NY needs a serious challenger to WABC and WOR.

That was supposed to happen with WNYM.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

[radioguy39nj]

In LA, KABC fills its weekends with infomercials while KFI has the integrity to maintain actual programming. The ratings speak for themselves. NY needs a serious challenger to WABC and WOR.

New York has the worst local talk in the country!  WABC is a waste of a 50 kW signal!  A well programmed and executed news/talker on FM would destroy both WOR and WABC.

[OC3]

Anyone have any idea what one of these hours on a station like WABC goes for?

[wadio]

WGN in Chicago has apparently decided to take a higher road on the weekends during these tough times by running "best of"  shows from the weekday schedule instead of infomericals:

http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15065373/wgn%E2%80%99s-stars-will-shine-on-weekend-best-of-shows

While live radio is certainly ideal, at least this isn't a complete sell-out or surrender.  It should help hold their core audience on the weekends and promote the weekday shows to all who tune in during the best-of hours.  In other words, instead of selling the weekend hours to a third part who will make money with them, they're using those hours to promote the station.  That might actually be a cheap form of advertising. 

[L.A. Tarone]

“A well programmed and executed news/talker on FM would destroy both WOR and WABC.”
I don’t know if it would destroy both, but it would certainly give them both a damn good run for their money. Both are bland and boring – and, worst of all, in general, not local
“WABC is a waste of a 50 kW signal!”
Agreed.  20 years ago, it was the greatest talk station ever – think of the talent that was there, Lionel, Lynn Samuels, Malzberg, Curtis Sliwa, James “Bo Snerdly” Golden on weekends, Barry Farber and Dave Dawson for a while. Art Rust, a bit earlier. A wide vartiety of viewpoints, interesting callers. And, of course, the King of them all, Bob Grant. NOW?! It’s a syndication repeater. I haven’t listened with any degree of regularity in years. A shame. But I never thought I’d hear infomericals on it during daylight hours. Hard to believe.

[jhguthlac]

WABC has many of the top rated hosts in the country - and they originate from the station.  I live out of the market and listen at least 5 hours a day.

[wadio]

WOR, to their credit, syndicates shows to other parts of the country that they don't air in NY.  Morning and afternoon drive at least are local.