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Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Discussion pertaining to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Port Huron and SW Ontario
CK-722
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by CK-722 »

WOHO wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:39 am Drove thru Saginaw area back in 1989, and my Delco radio cranked out AM Stereo rock tunes from a station up there- audio quality was smokin as were the tunes; it was quite a nice surprise near Frankenmuth.
That was WDLZ-Rock 1330. Colonel Flagg is an expert on this. After "Z-Wreck" (the Colonel's word invention) failed after 15 months, it took 3 1/2 years to come back with regular programming.

The station was Top 40 WTRX from 1960 to 1968, which although usually second to WTAC, like WKNR and WCFL usually were to CKLW and WLS, was legendary. NAB Hall Of Fame member John Records Landecker got his first Top 40 over air (nor carrier current, and he did news on WOIA) gig there in 1966, as Dow Jones. It's in his book, "Records Truly Is My Middle Name". The Jones Boys monikers were the brainchild of Mike Shaw (may have used Mike Ryan on air), who later used it on WGLN 105.5 Sylvania, in his native Toledo Market.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

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Willie108
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

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I think the late Les Root was a Jones Boy.
Mega Hertz
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Mega Hertz »

Wasn't our Z-Rock at 102.7 at least partially local? Or did someone just license the name? It lasted here for about 4 years until it switched The Bear. In it's last year or two it was pretty much Z-Rock in name only, though.
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Ben Zonia
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

MWmetalhead wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:55 pm WJR to All News???

There is absolutely ZERO chance of that occurring.
So, Casper Milquetoast Talk in the short term on WJR. When the ratings reach 0.1, K-Love will buy it.
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Ben Zonia
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

Cumulus tried all news at 810 KGO in San Francisco several years back in an attempt to compete with 740 KCBS.

It was a total flop.

I don't think you understand the financial resources necessary to make an all news radio station work.
It would probably have to be a national network for Cumulus for national and world news. And a state network for state news. And a local news staff.
You are wrong about Cumulus abandoning conservative talk en masse. Ain't happenin!
It all depends on what you mean by "en masse". And people aren't going to listen to talk radio with topics censored.

Look, they already replaced the Talk format on WWCK 1570, with a Classic Rock format that you have all trashed on this board. There are probably others and there will be more. Some of the hosts on some local Cumulus stations have indicated that if censorship is happening at a corporate or government level, they will pursue other options.

And look at you, bowing to pressure to censor posts about a certain sportscaster, and ridiculously banning a word for a decade and to this day. Is this how it will roll in the shire?
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CK-722
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by CK-722 »

I measured the WJR field strength near where the 5 mV/m predicted contour approximately is in Flint. I measured it at about 3 mV/m.

In 48503, near where the CBD and Municipal Offices are located, V-Soft Zip Code shows 5.23 mV/m based on M-3.

In 48505, the North part of Flint, based on M-3 on V-Soft, WJR is 4.62 mV/m.

I'd say that WJR is more of a habit, but Cumulus no longer even subscribes to Neilsen there anyway. I'll tell you for a fact, that people inside the GM plants couldn't receive the 1968 World Series on WJR with most radios. With access to a window and a better transistor radio, it was still noisy. If a Flint AM like WFDF, WTRX, or WKMF had had the Tigers, it would have been easy. Better than 100 mV/m in the center of the 48503 area Days. WJR is easier in homes and in outlying areas.

I did an experiment probably 10 years ago with a radio inside a steel building in 48313. WUFL, with over 100 mV/m outside, predicted and measured with a real FI meter, was the only AM station that was listenable at all. WJR at about 22 mV/m outside was like struggling to hear DX. I was able to improve it slightly with about a 12" X 16" metal picture frame with much fiddling around, using it as a crude loop antenna. WWJ was next to impossible after the "upgrade", even with the loop.
Last edited by CK-722 on Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.
CK-722
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by CK-722 »

Mega Hertz wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 5:15 pm Wasn't our Z-Rock at 102.7 at least partially local? Or did someone just license the name? It lasted here for about 4 years until it switched The Bear. In it's last year or two it was pretty much Z-Rock in name only, though.
WDLZ 1330 was apparently largely local, and actually had some responsible adults like the late great GM Ted Johnson and late great CE Don McComb to keep the air staff "grounded".

I never realized it at the time, because I never liked the music, and it was difficult to receive to monitor from my RL, but most of the people have now matured into responsible adults, despite their "Bad Boy" personas.

https://www.jeffholbrook.com/radio-gallery-04.html
Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

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Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

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Art Van Damme
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Art Van Damme »

WJR will never switch to all news. Period.
The goal would have to be to surpass/pummel/take-down WWJ.
#2 ranking would not be good enough for WJR to get any agency buys. To succeed, it would take a $ignificant inve$tment in talent and marketing. None of which Cumulus is in position to accomplish successfully.

And really now. Who are you going to attract? People 50 and under? Nope. They’re already gone to other media.
Mega Hertz
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Mega Hertz »

Art Van Damme wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:32 pm WJR will never switch to all news. Period.
The goal would have to be to surpass/pummel/take-down WWJ.
#2 ranking would not be good enough for WJR to get any agency buys. To succeed, it would take a $ignificant inve$tment in talent and marketing. None of which Cumulus is in position to accomplish successfully.

And really now. Who are you going to attract? People 50 and under? Nope. They’re already gone to other media.
While that may hold true for most of the populace, I would definitely be a listener. WWJ, while one of my more listened to stations, is really only digestible in 15-20 minute increments, unless there's breaking news. I can safely say I would be tuning in.
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Bobbert
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Re: Will WJR Soon Drop Talk For All News?

Unread post by Bobbert »

This whole discussion reminds of the spectacular failure of Mark Scott on WWJ in 1987, which lasted two whole weeks. In that case, a station tried to go from all-news to a mixture of talk and news. Much of the audience didn't like it. Not only was five hours (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) changed from news to talk, it was done with a very controversial host.
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