Terre Haute

[nuffsaid]

Well it appears the ratings in Terre Haute did not produce any big surprises.  Emmis remained king of the hill , Midwest was about the same, and Crossroads is just there.   Seems to me the Crossroads folks would do something to try and improve themselves instead of just waiting from some ego driven LMA or buyers to come along and think they can do it better.  However,  they do need help and maybe a new owner or LMA with broadcast experience could produce a winner.  Sorry to see these properties just flounder like this.

[MightyFrenchman]

Terre Haute? But what about Kokomo?

[buttonpusher812]

Ego driven, why,  whoever could you mean?

[PTBoardOp94]

buttonpusher: Surely the reference is to Randy Micheals's  Merlin Media? :-)

[umfan]

I'm pretty impressed with the number of stations and formats Terre Haute has for a market its size. At some point the Crossroads assets will likely change ownership but I don't see a lot of change. They'll remain almost completely automated with syndicated content. I think TH radio is a little too CHR oriented especially with 104.3 and WMGI basicially broadcasting the same thing.

It's been downhill since WMGI flipped on 01/01/95 but TH radio still offers a lot more than comparably sized communities elsewhere.

[MightyFrenchman]

Terre Haute has always had way too many radio stations for a market as small as it is.

[buttonpusher812]

i will agree, way too many stations for the size.  It didn't seem so bad back when they were all live and there was real competition,  but now... just lots of boring.  Not that it will happen, but if crossroads went dark would that be an improvement for the market by reducing the number of stations?

[RO77]

When it comes to being live, I'd be willing to bet Crossroads has just as much, if not a little more live and local programming each weekday than Midwest.  Of course, Emmis undoubtedly still leads everyone when it comes to being live, as they should with what they bill.   As far as weekends, I have no clue.


Without a doubt I prefer live shows, but I also believe if you are talented enough, you can make a pre-recorded show sound entertaining and live.  Not a whole lot of that happening in the Terre Haute market though.

[umfan]

I have to backpedal a little and agree with RO77. WBOW is almost all live. That said, only Jules probably makes any decent money. I'm surprised they don't carry Ryan Seacrest. It would fit with their demo. Not my thing, but the kids like him.

I don't think Crossroads demise would be a good thing, it would just mean fewer stations for the market. I doubt that any additional revenue gained by the survivors would represent an improved product. It might result in NPR picking up one of the stations leading to a better signal for that in TH. A standards format would be well received.

I'd like a station that was what WMGI was betwen 1992 and 1995, true AC with national top of the hour news and talented local DJs. I've not heard a station programmed too much better than that was anywhere.

[RadioGM44]

Just an FYI...WMGI is live all day (& night) long except 2 hrs in the midday.  As for looking at stations that are live, I agree that is the best thing.  One station that hasn't gotten noticed in any of this talk is WIBQ.  You can't see it in the 12+ numbers but the truth is, that as far as men 18-49, during the workday...it's #1.