All News 106.7 is Here…Finally [last song, audio, first impressions]

[Rick Rose 2.0]

Since 106.7 continues to upgrade on the air it is also nice to see the web site now has local news coverage powered my WAGA-TV. Also WYAY is doing somewhat regular tweeting when news warrents. The newscaster bios need some updating and schedule being posted would be nice.

[BarryATL]

Rick, I emailed a suggestion about the website and was told they liked my idea and it would be included in the rework of the website.  So, I assume we are going to see the website re-invented at some point.

John Lisk is a little stiff and so is Cheryl Castro.  The really compliment each other.  They both have a dryer sense of humor that seems to work between them.

Melissa Carter and Greg Black really do work well.  I think they are the best team they have on the air.  Melissa and Greg seem to have that balance between fun and serious that works for an all news station.

[gj567]

I don't know if anyone has noticed this-- but 106.7 has "real-time" billboards placed around town as well as permanent ones. The Real Time ones display the latest Headlines as well as which team is currently broadcasting. The permanent billboards display "All News" in yellow, and at the bottom say "Traffic and Weather 24Hours A Day". Same thing with the Marta Buses.  Due to Fred McFarlin's traffic duties at WABD and the other Mobile Cumulus stations, his shift now ends at 11:30pm. Susan Carr then reports till 4am, when Piccianno (talmage) takes over.  I think that Melissa Carter sounds better and is getting better at board operating. Sanjay Gupta's ABC segment is now airing in at mornings, right after the post-business commercials. I do have to say, though, that my favorite anchor team is Andy & Michelle. Probably because of the two's voices and how they match. They also connec really well and obviously were already friends from their CNN days. I really think that Mark Woolsey might need an anchoring partner. He would go well with Pamela Furr. Also, David Hull could do overnights with Maria Boynton. She's good, but there needs to be two anchors always.

Gary

[taylorengineer]

Those "real time" billboards area great idea. Another (somewhat) innovative use of technology by Cumulus.
You may remember the "now playing" billboards a few years back - I think Fox97 had a few in Atlanta. It would tell you the song currently playing on air which I always thought was a great idea. After all.....that's why we push the radio buttons - to find out what's playing. It was fed by the stations RDS title/artist data stream.

[Rick Rose 2.0]

While i prefer the co-anchor approach i would never expect on overnights. We are lucky enough to actually have all news 24/7 because most of the recent "all news" startup do  not stick with the format overnights or most weekend hours. Considering that live jocks in overnight are non existant for the most part the fact that 106.7 has a traffic person, newsreader and editor overnights they are doing good.

[BarryATL]

AN106.7 seems to be finding it's groove.  gj567 commented on mornings, and normally, I am not out and about that early.  I was this morning and when I turned on AN106.7, the voice I heard was Mike Huckabee being interviewed.  After my initial shock of hearing him on *my* (yes, I have claimed the station as mine) news station, I realized it was an interview piece.

As far as the solo anchors go, Mark Woolsey seems to be great because he can make things conversational all by himself.  I guess that comes from talking to himself all those years at the Weather Channel.   :-)

[Kilbasa123]

Those "real time" billboards area great idea. Another (somewhat) innovative use of technology by Cumulus.
You may remember the "now playing" billboards a few years back - I think Fox97 had a few in Atlanta. It would tell you the song currently playing on air which I always thought was a great idea. After all.....that's why we push the radio buttons - to find out what's playing. It was fed by the stations RDS title/artist data stream.

I was wondering earlier this week why AN106.7 doesn't use the RDS to display segment info . . . . . they have automated the stereo signal . . . seems it would be a small thing to update RDS with "Traffic / weather", "Local news", "ABC News" , etc. . as the segments change.  That way, folks who are waiting for a segment (such as a traffic update or ABC news) can have the radio turned down/muted for other car conversations but know when to pick it back up.  Not that my wife rides with me often.   

[Silver Meteor]

I heard Josh Caray in the last couple of weeks.  Doing some Google searches, it looks like this is the Josh Caray who is the son of Skip Caray.

[gj567]

Is this Josh Caray from Gwinett Braves broadcasts? I don't know.


By the way, Matt Dore (sp?) filled in for GT this morning in the traffic center.


Andy Rose and Michelle Wright continue to be great in the morning. Tey really have a good vibe together and their board operating is fantastic. They are a great start to my morning. As for middays, John Lisk and Cheryl Castro do well together. In afternoons, I think Melissa Carter and Kristen Charles sound very similar. I find that annoying.

[gj567]

All News 106.7 is now labeled as "Your Election Station". Ahead of today's GA primaries. They will air extended Election coverage, with help from Fox5, beginning tonight and 6pm and lasting until the different races are called. This is where AN106.7 can find their niche- Balanced Local and National Election Coverage. Whih you cant find on the radio on Atlanta.