Whats up with WHAM??

[TheBigA]

What would you know about Buffalo, Michigan? 

I'm simply responding to someone from Rochester.  To him, if a station isn't #1, then it doesn't matter.

Meanwhile, WHAM is doing just fine, warts and all.  People are listening for Lonsberry, not technical goofs.  As long as Bob has a pulse, so will WHAM.  When he leaves, kaboom.

[SirRoxalot]

So, LONSBERRY is the key to WHAM's success. Thanks for the tip, "A". Your local knowledge is amazing.

[The Voice of Reason]

And pray tell what happens when the bean-counters at Clear Channel decide that Lonsberry makes too much money and its time to cut more personnel? 

Lonsberry is no dummy. Why do you think he's been promoting his FUBO business? That's a cushion in case he does lose his job at WHAM.

No one in the Rochester media, with perhaps the exception of Don Alhart, has a secure future.

As for the subject title: What Happened to WHAM?; the answer is obvious.

1. Clear Channel decimated WHAM's local news operation with the firing of several key people.
2. WBEE and WDKX have established themselves as Rochester's premier radio stations.
3. WYSL has offered an alternative to WHAM's programming.

[TheBigA]

1. Clear Channel decimated WHAM's local news operation with the firing of several key people.

They also bought Metro Traffic about a year ago.  Metro Traffic came with staff who handle local news and traffic.  Metro created a business over 25 years ago by providing local content for radio and TV stations. 

[SirRoxalot]

1. Clear Channel decimated WHAM's local news operation with the firing of several key people.

They also bought Metro Traffic about a year ago.  Metro Traffic came with staff who handle local news and traffic.  Metro created a business over 25 years ago by providing local content for radio and TV stations. 

And look what they've done to Metro Traffic. "Decimated" would mean only 10% of it was cut. It's WAY more than that, and the quality of the product reflects it. CC can't even seem to get the automation to run right on WHAM. You'd think that the slick suit at the top of their foodchain in Rochester would tune in once in a while, and at least keep enough competent staff to program the automation correctly.

[John C]

I do listen to WHAM in the morning and a couple weeks ago the Metro Traffic guy must've forgot what station he was talking to.  His report was a bunch of non-Rochester traffic and I can't remember the call letters he used at the end of the report.  Honestly, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.  I bet Chet wishes he still had Barry doing traffic.  I imagine he probably misses Beth and Bill too.  Such is life in modern radio.

[Philip_Airtime]

I have to weigh in on this discussion in regards to Metro Traffic.  Even when Metro had an operation in Buffalo, it was no replacement for a station's own news department.  At its peak, Metro did a good job at providing traffic information.  But its news consisted of ripping off newspapers.  At the beginning, you'd see the Metro mic flag at news events.  But that didn't last long.  So, i don't hold Metro News in high regard.  And if that's what WHAM is depending on, I'm sure the quality of WHAM News is not what it once was.

[TheBigA]

Clear Channel isn't in the news business.  Really, they never were, even when they only owned a handful of stations.  Look at their station list, and you won't find an all-news station in the bunch.  It's not their thing.  They own a syndication company, but they don't offer any news or sports programming.  Just talk and music.

[Mark_Giardina]

How many radio stations do you know that are in the news business today?

WHAM's reputation was built in large part because of its on-air personalities and its news department.

Speaking as a WHAM news alumnus I can answer the question about the quality of news on 1180.

It is not what it once was; noting that it is not the fault of the current news staff. After all a news operation can only do so much with so few bodies ( Sound like Churchill don't I?)

But on a serious note; if Clear Channel doesn't give a damn about local news, and most if not all commercial radio stations in Rochester (that bother to carry news in the first place) depend instead on having TV news anchors, or morning jocks reading from the newspaper, perform such duties, then why should anyone be surprised at the demise (excellent choice of words) of radio news.

[TheBigA]

How many radio stations do you know that are in the news business today?

Quite a few...just not many in Rochester or Buffalo.  A lot of the public stations have built their current reputations around news, but a lot of that flies below the radar of some folks.