Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - July 17 to July 23, 2009 Latest messages listed first..... \/ July 23 Messages \/ Richard Marcus talking about "a station with poor signal that never made a ratings peep"? Doesn't he still work for WKHZ? Pot... kettle... etc... (7/23/09) Checked out the Wilmington, Delaware numbers. 1) WDAS, 2) WJBR, 3) WXCY, 4) WSTW & 5) WWMR.... A philly station is number one and a station broadcasting from Havre de Grace is number 3, what's wrong with this market? (7/23/09) Dave's response: Geographically, Wilmington is pretty much a "suburb" of Philly. And, I do believe that WXCY pretty muchs "aims" its signal toward Wilmington. Its country format doesn't do as well in Baltimore, to the west, because of WPOC's market dominance..... "Vincent in Triangle... I think you didn't get it. There's no pro team in D.C. because they're so BAD they should barely be considered a team." I agree they are bad, and horribly run; I've criticized the Lerners and Kasten as much as anybody. But it's one thing for fans to do it, another for an out-of-towner to act like a smug bully and kick sand in their faces. Especially by referring to the favorite of the educated elites, the New England Evil Empire, er, Boston Red Sox. -- Vincent in Triangle (7/23/09) "I'm listening to this new 106.7 the Fan online, and it sounds bad. Mark Buehrle pitches a perfect game during afternoon drive, and they're talking about the freaking UFL. " One guesses that Mike Francesa on WFAN probably had batter-by-batter updates from the seventh inning on, and I wouldn't be surprised if WIP in Philly did the same thing. A word to the D.C. sports media (again): YOU PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT. -- Vincent in Triangle (7/23/09) Plotkin: WH Press Corps "Enablers"- he just now notices this? where has he been since 1/20 (or the last 2+ years in general)? the one time our messiah was asked some tough questions (apr. 08), he stammered and looked lost without his teleprompter and the rest of the MSM had a coronary over the questions being asked. (7/23/09) I'm listening to this new 106.7 the Fan online, and it sounds bad. Mark Buehrle pitches a perfect game during afternoon drive, and they're talking about the freaking UFL. Lavar can't even say a sentence properly, as he said about the NFL players coming from smaller leagues, "far and few between" at least four times. 105.7 the Fan is much better sounding with Scott and Anita. Joe (7/23/09) Don Geronimo:: ALERT! WGMD 92.7 to Broadcast the Don Geronimo Show LIVE from the Delaware State Fair? The Delaware State Fair opens today for 10 days of fun and entertainment. Hey Jack Renault [GM] & Dan Gaffney [PD] [we] all want to hear that Geronimo is, for at least one day, going to broadcast live from the fair - PROMOTE HIS NEW SHOW. You can set-up his broadcast table between the 4-H pygmy goat exhibit and the funnel cake trailer. DCRTV, if you want to see Geronimo broadcast live from the fair, email jack@wgmd.com and dan@wgmd.com After all, WGMD proclaims to be The Voice of Delmarva and [we] all know, Sorce is a "team player." Lobster bibs for everyone! (7/23/09) Vincent in Triangle... I think you didn't get it. There's no pro team in D.C. because they're so BAD they should barely be considered a team. And when's the last time WTEM did anything on the Nats. The Fan has talked about them a lot this week. I don't think Colin Cowherd talked about the Nats too much this morning... (7/23/09) Mark Plotkin is crazy! The White House press corps is much improved in this new administration! I didn't see one person there who operated a gay outcall escort/prostitution service as a sideline! (or was that little online "news" blog he was running the sideline?!?) (7/23/09) Earlier this week I went looking for something in my garage and came upon a box full of pictures. As I sorted through I found a treasure trove of pictures from WPOC and WCAO. I have posted these pictures in a photo album on my Facebook page. The WPOC years represented in these photos were the years Larry Clark was the PD (Larry passed away at the age of 62 in San Francisco in December 2007) and Tom Cheche was News Director (I found Tom at this address - he is an author - www.goodreads.com). Larry was like an eccentric, moody director but he was brilliant and the sound of the station was something we were all proud to be a part and he taught us well. Tom Cheche and the entire news department shined. They were as talented, awarded, exceptional and investigative-savvy a group of true news journalists as any of the heritage news stations in town. At that time it was unusual for a music-intensive station to compete at that level, but they did without question. The WCAO era represented in these photos was during WCAO's tenure as a Country station. We had fun at WCAO and participated in a number of promotions, the likes of which we rarely see anymore. It's no accident that Sheila Silverstein is still doing great work. It's amazing when I look back now at both WPOC and WCAO, the number of truly legendary and exceptional radio talents I had the pleasure of working with in this industry; Johnny Dark, Bob Bartel, Ron Matz and R.C. Allen to name just a few. We were lucky to be on that cusp where good radio depended on good prep, hard work, brainstorming, creativity and a lot of energy. We learned well. I am grateful for my experiences. I am now on a mission to find more pictures because there are some important faces missing. Maybe some of you have other pictures you could share. Anyway, I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I enjoyed finding them and posting them. Brenda Bissett (7/23/09) THANK YOU, MARK PLOTKIN!! Some people are finally waking up to how the press has gone completely "goo goo ga ga" over the President - and the drooling continues. Last night's press conference was such an obvious example of this behavior and the result as we now know it was a complete disaster. The last question about race was the icing on the cake... it was so obvious that the question was designed to come last, in the last 2 minutes of the show, so that the President could answer it quickly and get it over with. He knew that specific question was coming. Everything in this WH is planned. Everything. (7/23/09) Can you tell me how to apply for one of those White House Press Corps jobs? I'm tired of Florida. Thanks. Signed, Bubbles (7/23/09) Turned on Laura Ingram's show this morning, and low and behold, I'm listening to her former competitor in this market, Chris Plant substituting for the vacationing host. Frankly, it was great to here Plant again railing against the absurd tyranny of our liberty and freedom by the out of control federal government. (7/23/09) Dave's response: We predicted it in a Front Page newsblurb yesterday. By the way, it's "Ingraham" and "Plante"..... I agree that WFED has done a good job with the Caps. If, in fact, that Nationals do leave, the Caps would be the only pro sports team on the station and that is probably important to them. As for the signal problem, an affiliate would seem to be an easy answer. Barring that, the Caps DO stream the radio broadcasts of all their games over their website, www.washingtoncaps.com..............And there is always XM, which the radio feed for all NHL games, including the Caps......... (7/23/09) Inside Radio is reporting Wendy Williams is leaving her syndicated radio show at the end of the month. I hope not to concentrate on her television career. I'd rather have my pancreas pulled out through my ass than sit and watch her show. She is awful. (7/23/09) Dave's response: Yeah, we got it covered on DCRTV's NYC News page, since her radio show originated on WBLS..... Mike Wise evidently has never read "How To Win Friends And Influence People," if this item, taken from a response to an entry in the Post's Nationals Journal today, i accurate: "I was in my car at lunch time, and I thought I'd give the new sports radio station a try given that 980 is so brutal on baseball. Mike Wise is on there interviewing Chris Cooley (a Redskin of course in the off -season talking about fishing no less) and Wise says, 'we're the official station of the Boston Red Sox since we don't have a professional baseball team in DC.' Somebody should tell the carpetbagger Mr. Wise to take his surf board and pineapple back to Hawaii. That's a ridiculous statement for somebody to make in DC on sports radio station even in jest. I don't mind a little team bashing when they're bad, but 'the official station of the Red Sox'? And they wonder why their ratings are so low." I realize there are a lot of Ivy League yuppies in town who root for the Bosox, but as someone wrote yesterday, most people in the area were born or grew up here. And the reason there is no baseball culture here is because there hasn't been an honest-to-goodness pennant race in Washington since 1945 -- [ut a so,o;ar drought of bad (or no) baseball in Philly, Boston, Detroit or St. Louis and the same thin would happen. One reason D.C. hasn't become a multifaceted sports market is because so many in the media don't want it that way; it's easier if things stay one-dimensional. I was hoping to give 106.7 the benefit of the doubt, but based on this, expect merely an FM version of WTEM. -- Vincent in Triangle (7/23/09) Mark Plotkin's real complaint about the "enablers" at the President's most recent press conference is not that nearly all the questions were about an issue currently under intense national debate, but that no one in the national media asked about DC voting rights. (7/23/09) Every once in a while I agree with Plotkin, and this time ("Last night the president had a press conference. But where was the press? ...These guys, and women, are not journalists. They're enablers") is one of them. The White House press corp--with the exception of Helen Thomas--went comatose after 9-11 and has never snapped out of it. I'm in Obama's corner, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be questioned by reporters. If they're only there to take notes, what the hell? Any trained monkey can do that job. (7/23/09) I've been listening to the Fan106.7. I have to admit..it's more boring than I could have imagined. If you combime WTEM and the Fan, you still wouldn't have a full days worth of programming. (7/23/09) "So, in the future when you hear about a person not having a contact renewed, think about how they really feel.." OK but what about those in the biz who are NOT under any contract of any kind. The idea that EVERYONE in broadcasting is "under contract" is very stupid thinking....kinda like those who believe that Buffalo, New York gets snow every single day of the year. Actually one may be surprised at the number of people on air and behind the scenes who are NOT under any contract and unlike those who are, they must deal with at-will employment meaning the can be fired at any time for any reason. Its those people who are actually the ones to worry about the most. Besides just because Don & Mike are under some contract, that doesn't mean everyone else on the air in the region is "under contract" as well. (7/23/09) Radio rights fees for sports teams are all but non-existent these days. Teams either buy the time from the radio station, or joint venture something with spot avails. That the Caps would stay on 1500 likely means what another poster pointed out - the exposure on WTOP in drive time as well, even if only highlights. However, it also means that Bonneville offered a better deal along economic lines. 106.7 has a weak lineup at the outset, but they'll figure something out eventually or die. But living in th Maryland suburbs, 106.7 has signal issues, too. They'd be better served trying to be a network affiliate for the Caps and Nationals as well, if they can't originate the games. I remember many moons ago the Caps' games being broadcast on a tiny NoVa outlet that covered a void in 1500's signal. It can't be totally impossible to pull that off. (7/23/09) Once upon a time the Easterner was THE paper of eastern Loudoun County because it had very strong connections to the community, but it collapsed when it was bought by Landmark Community Newspapers and let most of its staff go, including its longtime editor, its news reporter and its advertising staff. The Easterner spelled its own name wrong on the front page of its next issue and, just to prove how out of touch they remained three years later, they STILL have Loudoun spelled wrong on their web page---the name of the page is "Loudon Easterner." If you can't get your own name right, it's hard to make anything work right. (7/23/09) Dave's response: Ditto with the Reston Connection, which started in the 1980s as a newspaper in touch with its community thanks to original owners Tom Grubisich and Paul Clancy. Now, from an office in distant Alexandria, it's merely a pamphlet-sized shopper. Sad. At least the newly Washington Post-purchased Fairfax Times (formerly the Reston Times) is beginning to look like a newspaper again after so many years of neglect by Arundel Junior..... Dave: Ok, I can't holdout any longer, here's my initial take on our newest sportstalk competition between WJFK and WTEM. Give CBS some credit for trying to builed a solid talent line-up and for getting the Wizards' contract. I just spent the last two hours listening to both stations and ESPN980 is just a tough "listen." Kevin Sheehan sounded like he was interviewing Jim Zorn for the first time and his questions were of amateur standards at best!!! I guess the WTEM people are starting to realize things could change with a blink of an eye. Furthermore, Czaban's morning show needs to be replaced by someone/something that appeals to today's sports fan. Fox Sports Radio is better than this and doesn't realize he a bitter, arrogant person who needs to move-on. Finally, the Sports Junkies still seem uneasy about their new format and need a tune-up. Overall, I think WJFK did well with their launch but I wish we can all stop talking about Don and Mike. (7/23/09) Don Geronimo:: Kirk McEwen 1. Mike Sorce 0. " I would put him and Don on the opposite ends of the spectrum, because this guy [McEwen] is just so cool," proclaims Dave "Bulldog" Rothner Ocean 98. Ok, [we] know that the Telecommunications Act of 96' destroyed radio but the Mike Sorces' of the world, are doing their fair share in destroying radio too.Analogy: Forrest Gump. After his college graduation, he enlists in the army, where he makes friends with a black man named Bubba, who convinces Gump to go into the shrimping business with him when the war is over. They are sent to Vietnam, and during an ambush, Bubba is killed in action. Gump ends up saving much of his platoon, including his platoon leader, Second Lieutenant Dan Taylor, who loses both his legs as a result of injuries. Gump is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Case in Point: In his 30 plus year radio career, Sorce's negative 'shock & awe" campaigns have carpet-bombed more networks, studios, affiliates, owners, sale teams and colleagues that a B-52. When radio started to get rough and bodies lay prone across the battlefield, the last thing the self-serving Sorce did was run-in and rescue those that helped him build his career. His highly dysfunctional personal life aside, there are now 2 fat guys wallowing at the beach - O'Meara in Florida and Sorce in Ocean City. As for Mike "Forrest Gump" Sorce, he's no radio "team player" hero. Never has been. Never will be. Run Forrest run...all the way to WOCM where you have sold your personal, political, religious and radio soul. As Shaq says "how's [our] ass taste - ass?" Support DCRTV Advertisers! (7/23/09) I worked with Jeff Beauchamp on several occasions, and just want to take a moment to wish him the best. Jeff, you had quite a run at WBAL. Hope all goes well. Ed Graham (7/23/09) Over the coming days and weeks, we are going to see some very familiar faces leave the airwaves of Washington. The loss of a job is not only heartbreaking, but often a life changing event. Being on–air only makes it more difficult, because you have to publicly show a smile and nod your head like nothing is wrong; even though your world is crashing down around you. So, in the future when you hear about a person not having a contact renewed, think about how they really feel: Shitty, lost, worried and unwanted. It absolutely stinks. Be kind. (7/23/09) Could someone at WMAL please adjust whatever you use to play commercials on your web stream, so that it doesn't plays spots while shows are on? Limbaugh starts his monologue and then suddenly a 60 second spot begins to play. Direct requests to the station don't appear to have done any good. You would think someone at the station would occasionally listen to the content they are streaming. (7/23/09) The WCBS Radio website is also streaming live video of the Cronkite services. (7/23/09) (snip) Re: Caps to WFED. This is a poor move for Northern VA Caps fans as all of Bonneville's AM signals die at the Western edges of the Beltway after dark. (end snip) Hell, I live in central Arlington and 1500 sounds like it’s coming in on the sky-wave at night. (7/23/09) Dave's response: Same signal problem with 1500 here in Reston at night. Sounds like a skywave signal, with big changes in signal strength from moment to moment. Perhaps Bonneville could buy 1310 AM in Fairfax as WFED's Fairfax/Arlington relay..... Re: Loudoun Easterner. One less paper in my mailbox but I never really read it anyway. It was handy for finding painters and folks would could do maintenance on your house. That was clutch. In five years I wonder if we will even have print papers anymore. Sad, as I used to buy the Washington Post daily. It *was* a great paper. Now the print edition is condensed crap. (7/23/09) Two more reporters have gone "missing" from the Loudoun Times Mirror. According to the blog DullesDistrict.com the paper has always listed its reporters and the various beats they cover in a box on page A-2, in addition to the editors, general manager, etc. Two names that have been in that box for decades – Shannon Sollinger and Eileen Carlton – are no longer listed. The Times Mirror also eliminated its general manager position two weeks ago, as Jules Molenda’s name has disappeared from the masthead. Loudoun Times-Mirror sportswriter Jason Rufner also wrote on his own blog that his time with the Loudoun Times-Mirror is extremely limited. "Very, very limited," he wrote. "As in, in a few hours I'm out of here like a manager arguing balls and strikes." More here... www.dullesdistrict.com (7/23/09) What happened to Priestly? He was voice tracking the 7 to 12 midnight shift at MIX1065. The Billy Bush Show is now in that time spot. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (7/23/09) To Richard Marcus re: The Good Doctor and Rayce. No self promotion here and you're correct in that WCTG is a small local station at only 6000 watts. But the signal does cover a geographical area that is pretty much out of reach and ignored by the larger stations in Salisbury/OC. Arbitron books are distributed on a very minimal and limited basis (if at all) to that area. So it's very easy to say that no rating have been noted. As for The Good Doctor and Rayce, they maybe were not for everybody but they were very popular while at WCTG even if the audience size was limited due to the coverage area. It's only logical that when they return, albeit on BayRock, they will re-establish a loyal following in the area. Cynical or not, good, localized radio personalities are few and far between in today's radio. (7/23/09) Matt Anderson who has been doing the 3 - 7 slot on Praise 104.1 has been removed from the website praisedc.com. Could this mean more financial trouble for the Lanham Based Corp? (7/23/09) Ocean 98 station manager David "Bulldog" Rothner comments on the new "night guy" on Ocean 98,Kirk McEwen...Our last experience with a big market guy was (former nationally-syndicated host) Don Geronimo, and it was a total disaster. He came in with the wrong attitude," Rothner said. www.delmarvanow.com (7/23/09) So no Caps for 1067 The Fan? Well there's one nail in the already made coffin of our new "sports" station. Way to let the only successful team in the city slip through your fingers, CBS. So, no Redskins and no Caps. Only thing left is the Nats. And really, if they can't get 20k people to watch them on TV what makes you think they'll flock to listen to them on radio? The Wizards, in my opinion, will be a huge vacuum for the ratings too. WJF... I mean 1067 The Fan should be thankful they have the westwood NFL syndication deal. Otherwise they would be dead in the water as far as credibility goes. But honestly, coudln't they have ran the NFL on the old format? Seems like it would have fit pretty well. Chad Dukes is three weeks away from snapping and walking out. Mike Wise is 2 weeks from getting canned. And the Junkies, as they said on air two days ago, just signed a new contract and are there to stay. (7/23/09) " Hmm, sounds like you have a bone to pick! Oh, and they're British terms? Awesome, even better!" - You've got to be kidding me. "Axe to grind" in terms of meaning having a grievance or dispute is not solely a British term - one of the sites on the origin of the phrase was from the UK but covered its use in both UK and American english, and the second one was generic (pointing out that in American English it is "ax". Here's another one, with definitions from both the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of AMERICAN Idioms and Phrasal Verbs and from the Cambridge Dictionary of AMERICAN Idioms: idioms.thefreedictionary.com - seriously, you're being absolutely ridiculous. Shapiro's use of "ax to grind" in this context was not incorrect as much as you insist it is so, and it is commonly used for exactly the purpose you keep claiming only "bone to pick" is appropriate. And it is a common AMERICAN idiom as well as in the UK. Give me a break. (7/23/09) A private funeral will be held for Walter Cronkite this afternoon at St. Bartholomew's Church in midtown Manhattan. Andy Rooney, Chip Cronkite, and longtime Cronkite producer Sanford Socolow are scheduled to speak. WCBS Radio www.wcbs880.com will have live audio.... (7/23/09) "The widely popular Good Doctor and Rayce"? Excuse me, but where exactly were they "widely popular"? On a station with a poor signal that never made a ratings peep? Sounds like self-promotion to this cynic, --Richard Marcus (7/23/09) That 'ton of open jobs' at 9 have been advertised all year long. On their jobs page they would just change the date of when they were made open, until recently they finally removed those dates altogether. I was told by someone at Gannett that the job opnings are done that way so people (and potential shareholders) still think the station and the company are financially stable. HR simply collects the resumes and files them away. Fine attempt to be slick... (7/23/09) Word on the street is that there is a new entry in the lower Eastern Shore radio landscape. Bay Country 97.9 FM is in the process of hatching BayRock on 97.9 HD2 and 95.5 FM. The High Def channel seems to operating at optimal power with a very clear, dynamic signal, the 95.5 FM portion has experienced some minor transmitter start-up problems which are currently limiting the signal power and coverage area. The current playlist indicates that BayRock will be just that, a clear rock station (desperately needed on the lower shore) featuring music from the 70's, 80's, and some 90's. A recent five song set included both hits and deeper cuts from Bad Company, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top and Cinderella. Also heard were sets including Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as well as the obligatory Jimi Hendricks tunes. BayRock will be a welcome edition to the airwaves and provide another music choice in the listening area. It also appears that WCTG 96.5 out of Chincoteague Island is taking this new entry rather seriously. The self defined AAA formatted station, known for it's eclectic playlist has definitely increased it's classic rock music to the point where AAA may no longer describe the format. It may not help WCTG that the widely popular team of The Good Doctor and Racye, who had a 4 year run at 96.5 but were let go by WCTG management for unknown reasons, are being brought onboard BayRock as the signature show in their familiar drive home slot of 4-7. A battle for supremacy could be brewing and the winners will be the listeners who have been clamoring for more rock on the lower shore. (7/23/09) To the shrink� that's evaluating Mike O'Meara. You are a sniper. O'Meara lasted a LONG, LONG time without a blip on the radar in his career. He was an accomplished PD, a terrific VO talent, great at characters, and long ago a really nice eager broadcast student both in college and in the profession. To accomplish what he did accomplish took drive, ambition and emotion. He's won a few and lost a few. Stop being his shrink. And if you are, stop analyzing an unknown entity. You, at least to me, seem pompous, arrogant and sarcastic. As am I-WOW (7/23/09) Hi there ... I'm an editor at the News & Mess in PWC and used to be a web editor at Channel 9. Yesterday, 9 twittered a ton of open jobs -- producers, assignment ed, reporters, PAs ... I'm wondering what's up over there. How can they be hiring so many people when everybody's suffering furloughs and lay offs? It's Gannett for chrissakes. Know anything? (7/23/09) Dave's response: Well, if 9 is hiring, they can't be paying much. Maybe something to do with those co-called "one man bands," where reporters do their own camerawork? Anybody know? i really miss the Big O and Dukes Show. i have been a fan since the beginning, they really had me all in since they came back from Phoenix. the inclusion of Drab, and all the interns gave it a feel of something fresh and new. i would tune in to hear what would happen next, there was nothing predictable about it. they would talk about anything, we don't have that anymore. i love sports, but to listen about sports and people who think they know about sports all day just sucks. i was a fan of wjfk, i gave the new format a listen, just can't do it anymore. everything, sounds like wtop now. they have to break into the same crappy news update that does not change all day. no more crazy stories that we can all relate to. Arrington was compelling on the first show. reason why, he hates Dan Snyder. now the problem is he loves to take over the show, there is no chemistry between Chad and LaVar. it is just really hard to listen to. mike wise should not be on radio, he sounds like he has a speech impediment. junkies are who they are, station loves them, even though lurch and cakes are the only ones that know sports. i am really going to miss wjfk, Mike, Robb, Buzz, ............. (7/23/09) whoever is programming hfs2 actually knows what they're doing. i've heard very few of the "alternative hits", meaning the overplayed nirvana and pearl jam. heard more deeper cuts from them which is good. heard songs i haven't heard in forever, school of fish - "3 strange days". got some great 80's hits and deeper cuts. just good alternative songs that aren't the overplayed ones we get stuck hearing on dc101 or 98rock. whoever is programming, well done. now just get hfs2 back on as HFS, no hd, no sub station, get it to be the powerhouse it used to be. alternative rock needs HFS very badly right now. (7/23/09) Home Town Fan is right. Washington is a town where many transients come to live, but most of the people in the Washington area were born here and grew up here. We have our own institutions and traditions. Redskins football is the strongest of them - either you love them or hate them. We don't want to follow the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, or Mets. IF WJFK thinks locally, they should rise in the PPM. How much, I don't know. All six Mike O'Meara fans tuned into another station, but others who want to hear local sports will turn in. I hope they get a relay signal for the north/east of D.C., though. GAB in the Airless Cubicle. (7/23/09) Re: Caps to WFED. This is a poor move for Northern VA Caps fans as all of Bonneville's AM signals die at the Western edges of the Beltway after dark. Clearly the Caps believe they get greater publicity from WTOP's replays of Kolbe's goal calls in morning drive than from people actually listening to the games in real time.--nokesvillejr (7/23/09) Re the comment about prior WTFX owners possibly owning the transmitter site property that was recently sold out from under Clear Channel: I worked at Q102/AM610 back in the Holt and Benchmark days (late 80's/early 90's) and remember the PD telling me that eventually AM 610 would be forced to relocate its tower site or go dark, because the towers were on land being leased from one of the prominent businessmen in Winchester, and his long term plan for the land was to build a shopping center on it, once Winchester grew far enough westward to make it viable. So, as strange as it might sound, station owners prior to Clear Channel didn't own the tower site land either. (7/23/09) Since when did MIX 106.5 start airing Billy Bush? (7/23/09) "Seriously, when you're going to correct people on their use of a phrase, try and make sure you actually know what you're talking about..." Hmm, sounds like you have a bone to pick! Oh, and they're British terms? Awesome, even better! I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I'm reading quotes from English newspapers rehashed by English bloggers on a website devoted to TV and radio in a UK province. In the meantime, I'll just stick to Dave's site, and I will talk about whatever I want because this is AMERICA. Sheesh. (7/23/09) I write this note at 9:45.00 PM. Note to Grandy and Andy, and Paul Duckworth; don't spend all morning tomorrow blasting the President for say the Cambridge police acted "stupidly" in the arrest of a man inside his own home. We don't need you grandstanding to protect and defend our men in blue. Last year, when police targeted the wrong house and shot a dog, owned by a White mayor, you stood ground with the Mayor (against a mostly Black police force). For Cambridge Police to arrest a man because he got mouthy towards police arrogance was absolutely wrong. You cannot have it both ways. Don't show your racist colors by disguising it as support for our men in a blue uniform, like Hannity loves to do. (7/23/09) Dear Dave: A poster writes: "Glad to see the Caps are staying at 1500. I think the station has done a very good job with the team over the past two seasons, and it is nice to see good work rewarded." While that might be the case, you wouldn't know it outside the Beltway in Northern Virginia. The fact of the matter is that WTOP's nighttime signal out here stinks and AM 820's is worthless outside of Frederick. Perhaps they didn't have many options, but I would think that the Caps management would have done something to ensure a better signal for game broadcasts, especially here in Ashburn where the Caps practiced for several years before moving to their Ballston location. I think I speak for a lot of hockey fans living in a good part of NoVa that the announcement was a great disappointment. Again, Dave, a great site! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (7/23/09) /\ July 23 Messages /\ \/ July 22 Messages \/ Dave it is not Savage Nation. It is Weiner Nation . His real name is Michael Weiner (7/22/09) RE: "Glad to see the Caps are staying at 1500. I think the station has done a very good job with the team over the past two seasons, and it is nice to see good work rewarded" --- Unfortunately the Capitals won't have the same production team in place as they've had for the past two years. I doubt very seriously the games will sound as tight, the in-game updates & interviews will be anywhere near the same or that they'll have the type of people who encouraged fans to call, sometimes for two hours in the postgame. I expect the Nationals to go elsewhere IMHO after this season is over. (7/22/09) WTF is The Leebo Show, and why should we care that Bruce Laird is gonna guest? (7/22/09) Ref: 106.7 callers talk about losing teams in normal accents. 105.7 talk about winning teams in accents that make you want to fill your ears with rotting blue cheese. Boston, New York, Atlanta & Baltimore all have their accents - it's part of the charm of each city. In DC they have no accent - nobody is from DC, they have a political accent but your can't hear it - you can smell it and it smells like pompous bullshit to me. Baltimore born HON, living is thee OC, the land of pleasant living. J.J. Hitman McKay (7/22/09) Why wasn't Joe Collins in Kennedy's car..along with the programmer genius at WJFK? (7/22/09) What's the over under on Chad Dukes quitting the Arrington show (or going "postal")? He sounds miserable... (7/22/09) Big news for "The Leebo Show": Bruce Laird has confirmed he will DEFINITELY be on tomorrow night's show. It doesn't matter how much money he wanted. We hunted him down and we got 'em. Another aggressive move from me. Leebo's agent, Cochise Caplan (7/22/09) Karma. Gotta love it. The Washington Post is barely treading water. And what made it famous is now 'under water'. When apartments in NYC still go for $25M,,,the entire Watergate Hotel got how many bids at the starting price of same,,,ZERO!! Both the hotel and the newspaper have traded for too long on this scandal. May the WP find the same end,,,foreclosure. It proves that when you lack substance, you can only ride the coattails for so long until the empty suit falls off. May this go down as the end of the generation of liberals who look for scandals and only realize economic ruin. Same for the City Paper. Karma. (7/22/09) Glad to see the Caps are staying at 1500. I think the station has done a very good job with the team over the past two seasons, and it is nice to see good work rewarded. (7/22/09) Hey guys, here's the new Linkedin page www.linkedin.com/in/carsonontheradio (7/22/09) Granted, it's "news" from awhile ago, but it's "news" not known to the vast majority of people. 40 years ago this week, Ted Kennedy left a woman to suffocate to death. She DID NOT DROWN. Radio interview clip with the Diver here - www.fatboy.cc... - She was alive for at least 1 hour, after the accident. - His taxes were audited 3 times in 1 year. - And much more. The ONLY way Kennedy was able to get away it, was because his accomplices in the media liked him and the family. Today, I cannot envision it happening the same way. The "New Media" does not allow for the details/cover-up of such a blatant crime, to go unreported. Thanks, Joe Collins (7/22/09) (Huzzah for John Meyer at WFED! Way to break the top 36! Go get 'em, little guy!!) Lisa Wolfe is the PD of WFED, not John Meyer... (7/22/09) RE: [ "Dave's response: I wonder why CC's "parking" the "Love" calls on a dark AMer?" ]......... Simple answer........ The FCC WILL NOT TAKE ACTION TO YANK THE WINCHESTER AM 610 LICENSE FOR PROBABLY 10 YEARS JUST LIKE THE DARK/STA AM STATIONS IN DELAWARE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! It's called WAREHOUSING Dave, think about it. The license might have resale value in the future, so obviously somebody would want it and CC probably wants to hold on to those calls for awhile and probably have an agreement that they can get them from that company at any time in the future. I'm certain the non-profit will now file a phony construction permit application that will never in a million years be built and the FCC will say, YAY, WE LOVE YOU LONG TIME, WE SUCKY SUCKY! The FCC protects companies that WAREHOUSE SIGNALS against the public good, a dirty little secret, but so true. It's like government sanctioned public airwaves SQUATTERS' RIGHTS. This is how the FCC works. It's a broken system and pathetic. Couldn't WCAO AM 600 in Baltimore expand its signal towards parts of DC if this station were gone (at least daytime)? C'mon, what good does it serve the public to have all these failing AM stations on low power or dark but yet still with licenses when they're not even received in the their city of location well and basically just mucking up the AM dial and creating interference to successful AM stations that are making money, ummm, like WCAO 600 Baltimore and WIP 610 Philly. I totally agree with the Dave Hughes plan of few AM stations in every market at higher powers. If that's not eventually done, the AM dial WILL have to be moved to FM or all the AMers will fail. There's just too much interference out there. The FCC is supposed to serve the public's interest and it just keeps failing and failing and failing. Finally, you'll never hear ANY NEWS ORGANIZATION criticize the FCC (well unless they're already involved in a dispute with the FCC). Have you noticed that? No dog is stupid enough to bite the hand that feeds it, duh. Rant over. :-( (7/22/09) I just got home and tuned to Channel 4 and saw Jim Hanley. Finally, he looks great. I am glad that he is back. Welcome back Jim. (7/22/09) I noticed Christy Anne Klien on an episode of "Emeril Green" today. What happened to her that she changed everything after leaving WJLA-7. She looks and acts like a totally different person (7/22/09) Huzzah for John Meyer at WFED! Way to break the top 36! Go get 'em, little guy!! We all believe. (7/22/09) Radio is Dead:: Can you remember the last time you were driving in your car, listening to terrestrial FM radio and heard something that made you TURN IT UP? Me too. Which reminds me, when will Dave Hughes morph DCRTV into a daily one-hour podcast with timely and topical radio guests? Think Adam Carolla. Now for a little history. Us old vets (35 and up) can remember a time when FM radio still carried vestiges of its hairy, free form past. The days when stoner DJs with names like Johnny Fever and Wolfman Jack spun entire Jethro Tull sides while they rolled another jay on the mixing console. The forces of corporatization were definitely on the march throughout the ‘70 and ’80s, but right up through the early ’90s, there were still a few stations where the local program director or star DJ like Geronimo made the playlist decisions.Then came the big bad 1996 Telecommunications Act, which removed the caps on how many stations a single entity could own in a given market. Suddenly, corporations like Clear Channel went on massive station buying sprees, all the while spewing disinformation about “market efficiencies” and “streamlining.” What it really meant was the death of localism and regionalism in mainstream radio.Fast forward to the present, when nobody with a fucking pulse listens to terrestrial radio, and the consolidators can’t find buyers for their failing stations because their stock is worth pennies on the dollar. Some respectable radiofolk like O'Meara who was forced out of the business can now be found walking around the beaches of Florida - make it a regular point to say “I told you so.” to complete strangers as they walk by. (7/22/09) "this latest debacle might just be the wake-up call he needs to make his return to the business a tremendous success" You hit the nail on the head with the use of debacle. The guy is who he is. Nothing wrong with that. But feel free to keep dreaming. "He’s been more of a successful broadcaster than you have" Well I have to admit you got me on this one since I'm not a broadcaster. But personality traits are the same whether in broadcasting or any other profession. Some people just don't have the drive and passion to be successful in their field over the long haul. It doesn't make them bad people. He had the perfect chance and just didn't have the drive or skill to capitalize on it. (7/22/09) Talk Radio Network has cancelled the Monica Crowley daily show (heard locally on WTNT). Monika paved the way for female political plagiarists all over the world. As we all know, Monika has never added anything to the conversation that Karl Rove didn’t write. We will miss you Monika; thank heavens we still have your weekend radio show, and your embarrassing performances on the McLaughlin Group, to look forward to. (7/22/09) "Baltimore MD: I am guessing the 106.7 The Fan is different from the 105.7 The Fan in the Baltimore market?... Steinberg: That's right. 106.7 callers talk about losing teams in normal accents. 105.7 talk about winning teams in accents that make you want to fill your ears with rotting blue cheese" Really, Dan Steinberg? Has anyone heard Dan on the radio? Talk about a voice that makes you want to fill your ears with rotting blue cheese! Everytime I hear him on the Junkies, I immediately turn it to another station as his voice is absolutely horrible. Stick with blogging, Dan... Chris in DC (7/22/09) Here is the official announcement from Ed Kiernan: "Our good friend and colleague Jeff Beauchamp will be changing his involvement with WBAL Radio. Jeff has accepted an offer from the company to be a consultant. Jeff has invested almost 34 years of his life with Hearst Radio and it shows. WBAL Radio is the most influential voice in Maryland and one of the most honored stations in the country. Jeff’s track record of success is second to none. There is no way to overstate his leadership in the formidable history of WBAL Radio. On a personal level Jeff and I have worked together for over 18 years. He’s opinionated, loud and proud with outstanding instincts. His attention to detail is legendary. Jeff taught me, and many of you how the job should be done and I am eternally grateful. Thank you for everything Jeff." (7/22/09) re: WLVE... According the present rules WLVE would be able to get an FM translator that is aready on the air or had a construction permit on or before May 1st of this year. (LPFM's are not translators and are non comm.) They would not be able to file for a new translator at this time, also they would have to have WLVE on the air for the FM rebroadcast on the translator. It is true that that they could file to change the status from class B to Class D (daytime, with nightime secondary service) it appears to me that it would still have to be a 2 tower directional even at the minimum licensed power of 250 watts. Non directional operation at the FCC minimum efficiency of 141 mv/m would exceed the limits of protection for co channel and 1st adjacent stations, plus to acheive the minimum field of 141 mv/m would require a tower of 250 feet or more with top loading. The nightime service would be limited to less than 10 watts due to the strict protection levels towards Philadelphia and Roanoke. They could probably get an STA grated at 125 watts into a long wire or some temporary mast, and the FCC has let some stations operate in this limited manner for years, it would probably depend on how much complaining Philadelphia, Baltimore and Roanoke would do to the FCC. Sorry without a tower site, I don't this has much of a chance. Given the cost of real estate in the Winchester area who would spend a half a million dollars or more to put this back on the air??? (7/22/09) Snippet from DCRTV-“The best is yet to come." O'Meara said that several times on his farewell and has reiterated that on his Facebook page as well.” Will you give it up, for God’s Sake Mike has been through the mill, this latest debacle might just be the wake-up call he needs to make his return to the business a tremendous success. You that play God should just stand still for a while. Let’s face it….snippet: He doesn’t have the passion, energy, or staying power to put together a good show on a daily basis. That’s not going to change. He’s been more of a successful broadcaster than you have, that’s at least what I observed from you desire to SLAM him every chance you get. WOW (7/22/09) Having Chris Plante sub for Laura Ingraham for two days is a cynical radio stunt. It's a ploy to leap frog WTNT out of that 3-way dead heat for 42nd place in the Arbitron PPMs into--dare we say--a powerhouse 41st place. This means listeners in the hundreds instead of the dozens. Go Chris! ACH (7/22/09) “The best is yet to come." O'Meara said that several times on his farewell and has reiterated that on his Facebook page as well.” His statement is laughable. He had the perfect opportunity to show his stuff when he took over the show on JFK. What happened? The show had little entertainment value and he fell flat on his face. He doesn’t have the passion, energy, or staying power to put together a good show on a daily basis. That’s not going to change. (7/22/09) A blogger for Examiner.com (www.examiner.com) questions the Loudoun Times Mirror for purposely leaving a wanted suspects race out of an article regarding a Sterling, VA robbery. The blogger called the newspaper and spoke with a staff writer who wished to remain nameless, who told him that the paper follows the AP Stylebook and that “all mention of race must be taken out of every story.” According to the blogger, the latest edition of the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook allows the identification of someone by race if it is important to the story. The guidelines state: "the term 'black' is acceptable for a person of the black race." When offering a description of a dangerous suspect still at large, race is definitely important. (7/22/09) Dave, I have been getting plenty of feedback on my column today on ESPN's Erin Andrews. I would love to see how the Andrews story plays in your mailbag where people seem to always have a way of giving interesting feedback. So if you have the room and the time i would love to see what the mailbag gang think of this issue. Thanks as always... www.washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (7/22/09) From a previous post : "Is WLVE Winchester (the Clear Channel AM freebie given to the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council) eligible for an LPFM license? Cuz low power FM doesn't need a gigantic piece of real estate like an AM antenna field - one of those antennas could just be bolted to the roof of the local firehouse..."...that is true and in the past there were two examples of priates right there in Winchester who did more/less just that. Bolted their antenna on top of a building and despite the small size of that tower they were still able to blanket the city if Winchester. Back in the early 1980's one such tower was located on the corner of South Loudoun and Pall Mall streets on top of then and now defunct Shobes Food Market ( the station was on 98.1 and played top 40 rock ) and then there was that spanish station that the FCC had shut down some years back that was on 93.7. They were coming from the corner of Bellview and Valley Aves from the basement of some insurance company. As I recall that tower was really not that much taller than one's average TV antenna but still it put out a good signal that reached as far north as Martinsburg and as far east as Berryville..and they were even in stereo. I believe it was WINC-FM who had teamed up with the FCC to have this "station" shut down. (7/22/09) ("710pm - and AM 1050 is nothing but a dead carrier. Bennett programs yet another DC winner.") At 7:10 PM AM 1050 is still contracted to carry Nats' baseball. Any snafu after 6:30 on most nights has nothing to do with the new programming on the station. Howie (7/22/09) "The best is yet to come." O'Meara said that several times on his farewell and has reiterated that on his Facebook page as well. Could it be more than just a figure of speech? Could it be CBS already has plans for him and he quite simply can't talk about it? Makes me wonder. Here's a win-win for 94.7 Merge the best of HFS with the best of JFK guy talk. Mornings with O'Meara. Long talk bits w/ music breaks. Weasel on middays. And Big O' and Dukes on afternoons, same deal lots of talk w/ music breaks. Move Chad over after Lavar gets comfortable on the Fan. Evenings and overnights it's back to music. Makes sense to me. To bad the CBS execs are too busy listening to consultants. (7/22/09) Re: Winchester's WTFX AM 610...while it is true that Clear Channel didn't own the 610 transmitter site, for some reason I believe the previous owners ( Benchmark, Holt and Shenval ) DID own that land. Of course there is that local "story" about local radio announcer Warren Gosnell and how his family owned the land where the old Q102/WTFX ( WHPL ) was located on, how part of that lease was that Q102 must keep Warren employed at all times. No I don't buy it either and neither did anyone else for that matter but still that didn't stop Warren from talking about it on the air a few times in the past. Warren's wife Dana and daughter Hannah I believe still repeats this story to those who care ( there arent many ) to this day. But anyway, I am pretty sure the previous owners before "Cheap Channel" did own that land, if they didn't for a station that was around for almost 50 years and they didn't own the property, to me that is a bit strange. I agree with you Dave, sounds like this "deal" is strictly for PR and a tax break. After all Clear Channel could had donated WTFX to local Shenandoah University which I believe does have their own radio studio. Perhaps move the transmitter there even if that would mean a reduction of those 500 watts to protect the other 610s like Philly's WIP 610 and Roanoke's 610. (7/22/09) Going back to July 20th.’s news, I can’t believe that NBC would even consider farming out local weather reporting to TWC. Most of their people can’t even pronounce our local area names, let alone know what’s important to people who actually live here. Except for that Alexandra Steele, who did a short stint at Channel 7 a few years ago, I can’t think of ONE of their current on-air faces who EVER had any experience in the Mid-Atlantic, let alone D.C. area. What jerks – that’ll take their current # 1-rated newscasts down to # 3 or 4 in a hurry. (7/22/09) "Having an ax to grind is absolutely not the same as ''having a bone to pick,'' which is what Shapiro seems to really mean." - Actually, the phrase has multiple meanings. The one you described is only one of them. The other one is "having a dispute to take up or point of view to express", and is commonly understood in both the UK and US. See www.phrases.org or www.usingenglish.com - honestly, it seems especially silly to complain about Shapiro's "use" of the term when it is commonly understood and commonly used. Seriously, when you're going to correct people on their use of a phrase, try and make sure you actually know what you're talking about. (7/22/09) Is WLVE Winchester (the Clear Channel AM freebie given to the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council) eligible for an LPFM license? Cuz low power FM doesn't need a gigantic piece of real estate like an AM antenna field - one of those antennas could just be bolted to the roof of the local firehouse. And if there's no studio *but* there is some donated equipment available as part of the deal, this has the possibility of a real hike-up-yer-pants pioneering effort. Lots of DCRTV posters have been of the mind to "give radio back to the people", right? This gift horse may yet prove interesting to watch. (7/22/09) Dave's response: I wonder why CC's "parking" the "Love" calls on a dark AMer? (Re: There are at least 8 update anchors I would hire right away, (including Pete Medhurst, Craig Heist & George Wallace), who can present the kind of live updates from a variety of venues that would draw people to listen"...) Right... because there are SO MANY breaking news stories and scores in the middle of the day every day. And you can't get that stuff on your computer or phone at this point. I love that they don't interrupt the shows for updates. I don't like The Fan nearly as much as I liked WJFK. But I have to say I'm surprised how good all 3 of the new shows are, and I think they're going to easily beat WTEM. Wise and Rohland sound really good today, especially for their 3rd show. And Lavar and Chad are going to be the next big afternoon show in D.C. I caught the guy at night last night and was pretty impressed too. Meanwhile, WTEM was running the O's game... pathetic. (7/22/09) Dave, I think you missed a local angle on teh Gaffney radio show. I had noticed, when WTNT did its umpteenth lineup shift recently, that Gaffney's show, which I've yet to hear, can now be heard on AM 570 from 9 to 10 p.m. www.freedom570am.com... Gaffney's site also promotes his 9 p.m. slot on WTNT www.securefreedomradio.org... So maybe this will pull the station out of 42nd place in the latest PPMs? I kid because I love, even though I'm the only person, apparently, who listens to WTNT. But not to Gaffney. Not yet, anyway. Christian (7/22/09) The Frank Gaffney show, Secure Freedom Radio, is also heard weeknights on WTNT from 9 to 10pm. (7/22/09) Dave's response: The Front Page blurb has been updated..... "Arrington definitely has an axe to grind with Snyder..." Len Shapiro, being, y'know, a professional writer, ought to know better -- that this misused cliche really means ''someone who is using your assistance to forward their own surreptitious agenda or gains.'' For example: Oh, hey, Dave, I see you have an ax grinder, can you show me how to sharpen mine? And then Dave shows me, using my dull ax, and I walk away with a nice sharp ax without actually sharpened it myself. See how that works? Having an ax to grind is absolutely not the same as ''having a bone to pick,'' which is what Shapiro seems to really mean. (7/22/09) Today is one of those odd days the Universe likes to throw at you now and again to keep you on your toes. In the Weds July 22 Washington Post obituaries, you will find announcements of the death(s) of a Short, Quick, Brown-and-Gray Wall Painter. (7/22/09) What is the appeal of Lavar Arrington as a DC area radio "personality". He was a highly paid, underachieving player on a slew of mediocre to poor Redskins teams. He left disgruntled (and perhaps poorly treated by Redskins management), and finished his career with the Giants. Why would I be particularly interested in his take on Redskins football today and football in general, let alone any other sport? (7/22/09) Hey Cartoon Nerds: larryfire.wordpress.com... This is going to be the creepiest thing you will see all week. (7/22/09) so I listened to a bit of Dukes and Lavar on 106.7 the last couple days. not too bad. I'll definitely keep listening, But...were they really replaying the sports junkies at 6pm? I gotta say, thats very disappointing. no reason not to have a live program even if it's syndicated... (7/22/09) Dave's response: I'm told that JFK is working on something "live" at 6 PM. Maybe Brian Mitchell..... Dave, Clear Channel didn't own the WTFX transmitter site -- the towers were on leased land, and the landowner sold the property for a housing development. (7/22/09) Dave's response: I don't know. The deal to donate a Winchester radio station that has no transmitter site, and probably no studio either, to a minority group is primarily for (1) the PR and (2) the tax break..... I just reviewed the latest Arbiton numbers for the DC market. The CBS radio group doesn't show up until rank #15. That is rank # 15!!!! Are you kidding me? How in the name of Marconi does that market manager keep his job? People are getting fired in the broadcasting business today for having a bad quarter and this guy keeps his job?? This guy must walk into his office everyday and be genuinely surprised when his key works! (7/22/09) Dave's response: CBS's PGC did jump up to 10th place in the latest weekly PPMs, for the last week of June. Probably due to the fact that they were doing a lot of Michael Jackson tribute stuff. Also, El Zol continues to sag. Maybe it's time to put HFS back on the frequency! Make it musically-intensive with Cerphe in charge. Put El Zol on 1580. No one's listening to the righty talk..... To all those suddenly coming out of the woodwork to proclaim the Junkies "terrible" and "unlistenable," I wanted to offer an apology on behalf of all of their fans: I apologize for the Junkies being original. I know being original is a real problem that is infecting the radio airwaves today. There aren't enough slickly produced shows with contrived, scripted banter and made-up "outrage" on the air today. We need more Mike and Mike Shows, obviously! You all remind me of my Grandpa, who had a real point when he complained that his new HDTV is "different." I should go apologize to him too . . . (7/22/09) Good morning - I'm pleased to let you know that our new website has been launched: www.caroljoynt.com. It has everything the old website had plus more. Please give it a look. By the end of the week I hope to have a new email address, too, and I will send that when it is set up. It will be carol@caroljoynt.com when it is active. Please remove nathansgeorgetown.com from your bookmarks, if you have bookmarked it, and replace it with the new website address. We will shut down nathansgeorgetown.com at the end of the month. The same web designer, Teri Murphy, created the new site and I'm grateful to her and recommend her. Also, I have a new column on New York Social Diary. It's called "Jobless But Not Afraid?" www.nysocialdiary.com... For now, let me say as clearly as possible: THANK YOU SO MUCH for the contributions, the support, the affection, the kind words, the encouragement and loyalty. I hope over time to thank each of you personally. I may be deeply in debt and jobless, but I am one fortunate woman to have people like you in my life. All best, Carol (7/22/09) Do you think that the child porn sentence was ''fair and balanced''? Paul (7/22/09) It's already been mentioned, but I think Red Zebra and Salem would be smart to do business together. I like the idea of Salem giving 105.1 to Red Zebra and receiving all of their signals and some cash in return. That gives Snyder a nice stick for his team and to compete with 106.7. It's pretty well-known that Salem is looking to expand its cluster in DC. They also need cash, so a swap makes sense. How could they then use their 7 (!) signals? 980 takes over the WAVA-FM programming. 730 becomes Spanish religious talk and teaching, which Salem is already running that format in 6 or 7 markets. 780 can become the second-tier English talk and teaching station. 570 remains conservative talk, with an infusion of Salem products (Bennett, Medved, Prager, etc.). 1260 becomes busisness talk, which Salem has launched in San Francisco and several other markets. That leaves 92.7 and 94.3, which can become the Fish CCM format. That gives Salem clearance of ALL of its formats, both core and secondary. Seems like they'd be better able to utilize those sticks than Snyder currently is. -- Matt (7/22/09) It's only been two days, but let's evaluate 1067 The Fan so far. The Junkies are the same mess they've been since 99.1. You can't understand a damn thing that's going on. Has ANYONE tried to enlighten them about the "Talk Pyramid"? Maybe not. Not too many programmers understand this concept, not alone, trying to enforce it daily on an out-of-control morning show. Mike Wise and Bill Rohland... Since when does a "Writer", not a broadcaster, get to run a show. Mike's a talent, like Howard Cosell or John Madden. Bill Rohland is the Pat Summerall or Al Michaels, who has the experience to take the show from segment to segment, into and out of the commercials. Why does CBS allow a newspaper guy run the show? Chad and LaVar. A small glimmer of hope. LaVar is cutting his chops. He'll find that broadcasting is BRUTAL. He'll come to either hate it or love it, depending on his attitude. If he lowers his expectations of US, he do fine. We're okay brother. If he doesn't., he's doomed in broadcasting. Chad is a Baby DJ. He's like a sponge. He started absorbing at 99.1 and continued through Live 1057 to Phoenix to 1067 The Fan. If he continues and improve his skills by listening, he and his show will be a huge sucess. In conclusion, Junkies need basics explained and enforced. Let Bill Rohland be the conductor and Mike Wise be the symphony. Grow Chad, be patience with LaVar. He's a Redskin, who might become a "Broad-Cast-Kin-Er. Good luck to you all ! (7/22/09) RE: "To all the haters of the JFK switch, I say this with the utmost respect....SHUT THE HELL UP! You are the transient freaks that provide the image that DC is not a sports town." --- Sorry my respectful wordsmith, but I was born here, grew up here and have been involved with the local sports scene directly for the past 12 years & quite frankly WJFK does suck. They recycled a group of talentless hacks who had marginal success on other stations into a steaming pile of unlistenable dreck. There are at least 6 people I can think of right off the top of my head that have more credibility, more overall sports knowledge & infinitely more personality than the line-up they have on WJFK today. There are at least 8 update anchors I would hire right away, (including Pete Medhurst, Craig Heist & George Wallace), who can present the kind of live updates from a variety of venues that would draw people to listen. Don't measure yourself against WFAN in NYC, we're an entirely different town, but for christsake take a page out of the playbooks of the most successful sports network feeds & develop a better hourly programming clock, more capitvating & energetic production values and grab some of the better producers in town with a deeper Rolodex than the retreads they hired. The Wizards effectively lockout the Caps going there because there are too many conflicts in the schedule. I actually dread the idea of the Nats or Caps ending up on WJFK because of the lack of knowledge and lack of respect they've shown those teams so far. And finally, if you're going to hire ex-athletes at least get someone who can fire up the audience like MASN's Rob Dibble. LaVar Arrington is a decent guest to rotate into the line-up, but he's not ready for prime time. If this is CBS Radio's idea of a hot new way to present sports, then I can't wait until Bonneville or Citadel or Clear Channel or even some enterprising guy with the bucks to back the effort like Ted Leonsis steps up and kicks both WJFK AND WTEM's ass with a real sports outlet for DC. - Signed, Home Town Fan (7/22/09) This Thursday, June 23, EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN (everyotherdayishalloween.wordpress.com), the documentary on Dick Dyszel's career as Washington, D.C.'s "Bozo," "Captain 20," and "Count Gore De Vol," screens at the one and only San Diego Comic Con (www.comic-con.org). This will mark the west coast premiere of the film that packed the AFI Silver Theatre last month, and will begin a continued run of festival screenings across the country for the next several months. The legend "Count Gore De Vol" and local favorite "Karlos Borloff" are both going to attend the screening, as is nationally syndicated horror host "Mr. Lobo." Here's the trailer.... (7/22/09) UC Suit wrote, in part "Here's a thought I'd like to toss to the group for discussion: Have the FCC re-allocate TV channels 5 & 6 to FM radio. That would yield 60 new frequencies." Why? I am so frustrated with the almost lack of anything on the existing channels. I used to enjoy a large variety of radio in DC on AM and FM. Now there is almost nothing on AM. And consolidation of FM frequencies under a few corporations continues to remove anything of listening value on that band. The big three broadcast companies weep "We will only put programming that no one will want to listen to on our radio stations. And because of that no one is listening to our stations. Therefore we are going broke and have to put even more unappealing programming on etc. etc." Reminds me of an exchange with the snack vending machine guy at work. We asked him why he didn't put peanut butter crackers that everyone wanted in the machines. He replied "because everybody buys them and they don't buy any of the other less popular things." Well duh... Robert, Arlington (7/22/09) Listening to this audio tweet ( tweetmic.com) from Don Geronimo makes me think of a revised version of The Shining. Don, isolated from civilization in a small resort town, becomes desparate for attention. His wife, seeing he is going crazy, attempts to run from him in a beach cleaner tractor. In his rabid attempt to locate Janet, Don gets lost in the dunes never to be seen or heard from again. We miss you in DC, come back before it is too late!! (7/22/09) Re: "To all the haters of the JFK switch, I say this with the utmost respect....SHUT THE HELL UP! ..." /// It's not that I don't value your opinion, but you are one redundant Mfer. But, maybe your post is the best example of the difference between a fan of the old WJFK, and those who prefer sports babble 24/7. I guess it will all pan out in the numbers. (7/22/09) Re: "...but I find it kind of odd that Chad Dukes doesn't even get a "marquee billing" in this new show, even though he steers much of the show direction..." /// Yeah, that is interesting, he is now the sidekick of the "star" Arrington , who is a complete radio neophyte. But, Arrington is the "name" that adds that old smelly jock strap cache to a show that is going to be all about the Redskins and football. The thing about Dukes, listening to him in the new constrained format while in essence wet nursing a newbie through a radio show; it simply doesn't allow for much free flow off-topic dialogue, of which we know he is capable. I guess the need to pay the rent trumps the creative step backwards he has taken in accepting his new gig. Kinda like returning to dial-up after having broadband. (7/22/09) Redskins Report - any rumblings abt a regroup of Sonny, George M, Riggo and Michael - that show will be seriously missed....thanks, ba (7/22/09) Not spoken, unfortunately, but shown. Was just watching the Fox 5 news, and the second story, about local kids being quarantined in China for swine flu, interviewed what I think was a mother of a kid from Walter Johnson HS now in China. She was sitting at her computer using a webcam to talk to her daughter. On her mouse pad was an American flag and, plainly visible (at least in HD) was the all-caps slogan, FUCK YEAH! Wonder if they'll post the video on their site? ... www.myfoxdc.com... Yep, they posted the video. Check the mouse pad at the end of the clip. It much more apparent on a decent sized TV, and perfect in HD. (7/22/09) /\ July 22 Messages /\ \/ July 21 Messages \/ Any idea why our local NBC affiliate has been showing nothing but a black screen for the past 10 minutes (and counting)? (7/21/09) Here's a thought I'd like to toss to the group for discussion: Have the FCC re-allocate TV channels 5 & 6 to FM radio. That would yield 60 new frequencies. I think it would be much more successful than the failed "X Band" AM expansion. Oh yes... second thought... have the FCC go back to comparative hearings to determine suuitability as a licensee. The current system of "bidding" is a sick joke and has produced not only some of the worst broadcasters in the nation, but in the world. Capitalization is not a singular determinant of capability and suitability as a broadcaster. Some of the worst broadcasters are very well-capitalized (considering the current economy) while some of the best are what some would call "almost broke". -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/21/09) No Vance on evening news..Craig Melvin filling in..Maybe Vance isn't fully recovered from his surgery..Man, take the rest of the summer off..You deserve it.. (7/21/09) We absolutely don't need Brian Mitchell on the air. Regards Biff. Nor Kornheiser for that matter. (7/21/09) To all the haters of the JFK switch, I say this with the utmost respect....SHUT THE HELL UP! You are the transient freaks that provide the image that DC is not a sports town. Just because you're crying because you can't lush over Big O or Huge Mike, that doesn't mean you should trash "the fan" without due justice. Just because you say you "love" sports, but really can't name a player from the team you claim to follow, doesn't mean you should be allowed to attempt to put down a station so you can get your way. And before I read the comments saying, "oh this guy works for them", "I'm a sports fan and the fan sucks", "if you don't like my opinion, don't listen to it", let me say this...when was the last time the DC area was able to listen to local sports talk after 7pm? What makes sports radio stations in NY, Boston, Philly great? If you don't like sports, why are you listening in the first place? No, I don't work for them. I'm a 26 year old, life long resident of the DC Metro area who is an avid sports fan and proud to show it. When I heard that DC would once again have another option for sports radio, and it would be a station I could listen to after 8 pm, I was in love. Why does "the Fan" mean so much to me? Because it gives me what you all felt with the old JFK. A station for me. I love sports and want to have a place to hear it 24/7, especially when it's live and local. I'm sorry you lost the station you loved, but that doesn't mean you should trash what replaced it just so you keep your hope alive that JFK will switch back to "man talk". Regardless of the responses I receive, let me steer you to a station that I feel is more appropriate to your liking...94.7 Fresh FM. (7/21/09) 710pm - and AM 1050 is nothing but a dead carrier. Bennett programs yet another DC winner. (7/21/09) The new WJFK is what it is, Sports Talk. It keeps some past ties in that the Junkies have hardly changed, the midday show and "The Lavar Arrington Show" are something entirely different. I loved BIg O and Dukes together, but I find it kind of odd that Chad Dukes doesn't even get a "marquee billing" in this new show, even though he steers much of the show direction and adds the zestier comments. Lavar was great on the field and may become great on the mic with a little time, but with football the only sport I really get excited enough to hear about on the radio, I don't know if I will just have to move on in January. Dukes is great, a unique talent, a local gem and the man to watch. (7/21/09) Not much news coverage on the ex-Fox News kiddie porner who was sentenced this week in DC, a crime that I think always warrants public exposure. What was the sentence? I don't know, maybe he skated in a similar fashion to the NPR Science Editor who faced 5-6 years but somehow got probation. Sick, sick world..... (7/21/09) (regarding a previous post) “Dammit, if we're the greatest country on earth, why shouldn't we have the greatest healthcare system around?” And while we’re at it, let’s also make ourselves a fair and rational justice system, too. I’ve seen the recently arrested Dr. Louis Henry Gates, Jr. on various PBS programs over the years and I cannot imagine a more unlikely candidate for this kind of harassment and abuse. He is an acclaimed historian, author & scholar of African-American history - not to mention, he a 5’7”, 150 pound man, who’s nearly 60! www.washingtonpost.com (7/21/09) So Chris tool kinard was brought in to bring and end to wjfk, see. as cbs radio turns more and more of it's stations into generic fodder easier to control the ad buyers and get there bonuses, wink wink straight to nyc instead of messing with all them sales peeps on local level. is lavar working on cheap? is that restaurant of his still open? still riding a motorcycle? I find lil' danny a pain in arse but i'd be pissed too if nfl networks ended up on a different station I'd be pissed too...and the redskinettes showing up at the 1067 Duh Fan blow up fest at Phone Booth Centre does seem a bit odd.....redskinettes get treated like sh8t by redskins management and they figured what the hell? i must admit chad dukes did make me moist with his speech at end of the last Big O and Dukes show last fridee....end of an era and all Funny the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse went belly up right after the Big O and Dukes get together last Thursday night.. Methinks O'Meara career over for regular everyday radio show. Still don't think he gets it. Did Buzzito and Robbay my boy my boy just want to get away from the blowhard so they really didn't want to go through a last week putting up with O'Meara dominating the conversation as he always did And in the end Baba-Boey Baba-Boey And one last clap for Tommy WATCH IT! (7/21/09) RE: [ " CC To Give Tower-Less VA AMer To Minority Group " ]....... Does that mean the FCC will now protect THE NOT BROADCASTING AT ALL WTFX AM 610's SIGNAL CLEARANCE STILL? This station will never get back on the air under current market conditions at its licensed power, and if ever at any power other than STA status. If I were WIP 610 Philadelphia, I'd protest this on so many levels, and so should Clear Channel's WCAO 600. This is unbelievably ridiculous if true and borders on the Hope Christian Church of Marlton NJ FCC screwup/fiasco among bad FCC decisions of giving out more low power FMs than supposedly allowed. I mean c'mon, WHEN IS THE FCC GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING? Protecting failed AM facilities that haven't had licensed transmitting sites for long periods of time is a LOST CAUSE, HELLO FCC! If there is any hope of saving the AM dial, these are the types of stations that need to go to reduce interference. Do they even have engineers who work at the FCC? Sometimes I wonder. If the FCC allows this, it just shows its BUSINESS AS USUAL, NOT CHANGE! (7/21/09) I can't say the same for over-the-air, but I certainly heard sh*t from BMitch on the webstream. Been a looong time since I've heard a curse word come over any webstream. Hell, the stream delay from WJFK was around a minute to a minute & a half some days. Though I was informed they were having some issues with it as I heard them go into commercial in the middle of a sentence, only to come back while LaVar was still talking. Same with Mike Wise earlier. (7/21/09) Just wondering again if anyone has found out anything about the new home (if any) for Loveline? The show's station finder still only lists WJFK: lovelineshow.com (7/21/09) Dave's response: Hell, CBS should put it over on 94.7 Fresh FM..... To the commenter who wrote that the "The Fan" at least gives the DC area a new sports voice, seriously needs to check himself. The guy talk format of WJFK already WAS that "new voice". People are forgetting that WJFK handled sports news talk just fine! The Junkies were always focused around sports, as well as trashing Synder, as did Big O & Dukes. True, the MOM show didn't talk much sports, but that's it! You also had MMA nation AND fox sports on weekends, not to mention Terps games and Caps playoff hockey, which was the most anyone cared about DC sports in years! Despite sports, WJFK was growing it's audience daily because of a diveristy of programming. They've now both succeeded in isolating their non-sports fan base as well as further fragmenting the already small non-music, non-news talk radio listening audience in the DC area. People like guy-talk or hot-talk because it's something you can't get from ESPN or CNN or virtually any other medium. The death of WJFK will be the harbinger of the death of interesting terrestrial talk radio. -Yables (7/21/09) Moon Week - Every morning at 9 am this week on Rise & Shine, WTHU will interview, live Paul Rafford Jr. former Communications Officers working at NASA and Houston Mission Control. Mr. Rafford began his career at NASA during the early years of space exploration with the Mercury space program and concluded with the Apollo program and the final launch of Apollo 17 in 1973. This series of interviews is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the historic astronaut moon walk on July 20, 1969. Please tune in for this fascinating interview. Find out what really happened! (7/21/09) I gave the new JFK two days, and I'm out. The station is completely jive, even as sports talk stations go. If the station was a good sports talk station, I'd stick around. I love sports. But it's not good, it's terrible! Everything from the hosts to the rejoiners is completely ridiculous. I gave the new station a chance because 2/3 of my favorite show (Big O & Dukes) were sticking around. Unfortunately, Drab has no role and Chad's only role is to tell Lavar Arrington how great he is. If I have to hear Lavar yell "Chad Duuuuuuukes" one more time, I might have a stroke. I realize the new format is in its infancy, and the shows need time to get some momentum, but the setup at JFK is so bad that there probably won't ever be any momentum. Do they really think they can survive forever bashing Dan Snyder six or eight hours a day? I'll be counting the days until Don Geronimo is allowed to post podcasts. (7/21/09) (regarding a previous post) "Classy. I hope Mailbaggers remember this comment the next time they jump on the comments of Silvie or other conservatives here." On the other hand, I hope they also remember that it's tough to come up with a more classy way of putting it, when talking about obstructionists. I mean, it's not a very classy thing, ya know. Dammit, if we're the greatest country on earth, why shouldn't we have the greatest healthcare system around? (7/21/09) Day 2 of WJFK, and I was waiting for disgruntled ex-WTEM host Brian Mitchell to come on. And lo and behold, here he is on the Lavar Arrington show. Right away we hear "sh*t" out of BMitch, and of course... not dumped. Great job WJFK. (7/21/09) Looking over today's Metro section, I saw a blurb at the bottom of its front page, listing a (belated) obit for Gordon Waller, half of Peter and Gordon, on the inside (B5). The blurb says Waller went on to produce James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt recordings. The obit on the inside had it right...that Peter Asher did indeed produce Taylor and Ronstadt. Whoever wrote the blurb didn't read the obit very carefully, and obviously doesn't know their rock history very well. So much for proofreading. (7/21/09) ("It's not surprising that audience members reportedly threw Oreo cookies at Steele, at a Maryland gubernatorial debate, in 2002!" Classy. I hope Mailbaggers remember this comment the next time they jump on the comments of Silvie or other conservatives here.") Minus the fact, of course, that THIS DID NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I was there, at Morgan State, for the debate, with a friend of mine who worked with Bob Ehrlich during his administration. Nothing like a fact or two to ruin the day of a neo-con. What color is the sky in your fictious universe? Marc (7/21/09) For the second time today, someone wrote in the Mailbag "Give WJFK time and if it fails so be it, but two days is not enough time to evaluate a station." I completely disagree. Why should I be patient with a station that I don't want to listen to? It stinks. The concept is flawed and the on-air are pathetic. I'm not going to listen, now or ever. Don't like my opinion? Tough luck! (7/21/09) Two things. First, Michael Steele is right about the health insurance fiasco. Second, Lavar is right to call Snyder out. I just wish it was coming from someone with more credibility than an over-rated, prima donna like Arrington. (7/21/09) “On discussing what team Michael Vick will end up with, Doc Walker is calling just about every caller "Dawg" Nice!” – How Rick Walker has a show is beyond comprehension…and for those of you that are not pleased with the WJFK flip, then don’t listen. No one is telling you to listen, at least this gives the DC area a new sports voice for those fans that can’t tolerate listening to the same garbage on WTEM. The Sports Reporters in July is awful, over half of their topics are not sports related , it’s almost like they want to do guy talk with sports mixed in. Give WJFK time and if it fails so be it, but two days is not enough time to evaluate a station. (7/21/09) "It's not surprising that audience members reportedly threw Oreo cookies at Steele, at a Maryland gubernatorial debate, in 2002!" Classy. I hope Mailbaggers remember this comment the next time they jump on the comments of Silvie or other conservatives here. Christian (7/21/09) Dave, Do you know why we haven't seen Jim Handly on News 4? Does he have the summer off like Doreen? First impressions of the new WJFK: Not enough sports talk. Too much BS. The station needs to add Phil Wood and Al Koken ASAP (7/21/09) OK.I tried the new WJFK. Guess what?? It sucks. I listened for a good portion of the afternoon. I couldn't take it. I was so starved to be entertained I watched a 3 Stooges movie on TCM. AND it wasn't the funny Stooges. It was rather sad actually. Anyhoo, I feel no need to ever turn my Sirius off ever again. Well..Until it finally goes out of business. Oh...3 Stooges movie was ''Have Rocket, Will Travel'' with Curly Joe. Very sad. Paul (7/21/09) Rumor has it Tony Pann’s contract wasn’t renewed at WUSA and he’ll move back to Baltimore to be on WBAL. (7/21/09) So day two of 106.7 The Fan. The Junkies are the same boring, unlistenable show they've always been, no real change there except the greater redundancy on sports of course. I did notice though it seems they're playing more music under their banter bits like they did when they first appeared on JFK however many years ago that was. Guess to totally keep you from falling asleep on your ride to work. The Mike Wise show, what a joke. Complete rehash of topics from the Junkies. In all fairness though, how much can one talk about sports and make it sound different? Not to mention Mr. Wise's voice sounds like he's choking down a male member. What a rubbish mumbly voice....this is radio ya know? We have to be able to understand what you're saying MW!! Really awful stuff. The Lavar Arrington Show w/ Chad Dukes. Possibly the only bright spot in the whole lineup. I don't like the fact that Chad has to play second fiddle to guy that is not his radio equal, but it's obvious he's there to hold Lavar's hand while he gets used to being on air. I like Arrington and I like Dukes, this show might actually have some legs if they can get some chemistry going and don't totally focus on sports. It's still very green, but of all the shows this one may have some hope. New liners, jingles, bumpers etc...sound really low budget to me. Don't like them at all. I personally felt like a bit of minor tweaking could've saved guy talk on JFK. BO&D the couple times they subbed the afternoon slot were hilarious and that's where they should've been all along. O'Meara should've been on midday. Mike O'Meara is one of my radio heros, so it's sad not hearing him since I've listened since WAVA. The MOM show wasn't the greatest, wasn't all that funny, but I think many of us would rather have the MOM show back on JFK than the experiement they have running now. It at least had some chemistry and some energy. Quite frankly, I got the impression that Mike was handcuffed by management at JFK and CBS and couldn't truly do the show he needed to be doing. I give it a year or so and as the ratings drop like a stone on this joke of a station, it'll be time for the suits to come up with another brilliant plan. Hopefully it will involve restoring guy talk to its former glory....but this is CBS...I'm not optomistic. -The Magus (7/21/09) On discussing what team Michael Vick will end up with, Doc Walker is calling just about every caller "Dawg" Nice! (7/21/09) Game on... WHAT: Softball game... WTOP Newsroom vs. WTOP Sales... WHEN: Friday August 7th from 3pm-5pm... WHERE: Norwood Field (4700 Norwood Drive)... Drive on Wisconsin avenue north for about 2.8 miles until you take a left at Norwood Drive (just before Bradley Blvd). Drive to the end of the road... WHY: To give you bums a chance to get revenge for last year's spanking. (7/21/09) Last night I watched in amazement, a replay of Republican National Chairman, Michael Steele’s, remarks about Health Care Reform at the National Press Club in DC. Said Steele: “It's too much, too fast, too soon”. His sentiments are reminiscent of the kind of resistance that White supremacists displayed against Civil Rights, in the Deep South 50 years ago. It's not surprising that audience members reportedly threw Oreo cookies at Steele, at a Maryland gubernatorial debate, in 2002! (7/21/09) Sinclair to file bankruptcy? According to the below nwfdailynews.com article, it's being reported that bankruptcy could and might be inevitable for the Sinclair Broadcast Group (parent company of Baltimore TVers channel 45/WBFF and channel 54/WNUV). Mentioned in the story... low advertisement revenue, a debt of approx. $34M, and the possibility of one of its minority stake holder Cunningham Broadcasting defaulting on a loan. Story: www.nwfdailynews.com... Thought I'd share this bit of info with DCRTV. (7/21/09) Dave's response: We got a Front Page blurb up on 7/13..... Lavar and Dukes addressed the Snyder buying WFAN rumor but they didn't dismiss it. They just invited people to call in about how much of a control freak Snyder is. Hmmm... (7/21/09) (In Northern VA, a mere 8 miles from DC, and hardly a "fringe" area for local DC AMers, I cannot receive any of our local AM stations after sunset.) Buy a new radio. 20 miles south, west, north, and east of DC - I have no problem with most of the DC stations. (7/21/09) Dave's response: I don't have a problem with most DC AMers during the day, but at night at my location in Fairfax County (hardly out in the sticks) I can get only two local AM stations reliably - WTNT/570 and WMAL/630..... Two questions regarding WJFk. I noticed the Mike Wise show is re-running an interview that occurred this morning with Michael Wilbon. Why? And second, what is the deal with the hard breaks into commercials? (7/21/09) It's kind of odd, considering the economic pinch all newspapers are feeling, to see Loudoun County's oldest paper, the Times-Mirror, shedding staff even as the county's newest paper, the Independent, is hiring writers. Both Jacks and the Independent's old staff writer, David Bradley, have been showing up in the Independent in recent weeks. Don't think they've let anybody go, either. (7/21/09) The posts on the passing of Walter Cronkite have been every good so far. Certainly, his talent as a journalist was top flight. There are a lot of good journalists now, but there are no Walter Cronkites in the electronic media today. I'm sort of disappointed that there has been no mention of a program called "The 20th Century," which Cronkite narrated. It ran during the 1950s and early 1960s in approximately the same time slot as "60 Minutes." It was a fascinating compilation of film footage on world history. Cronkite's authoritative voice was critical to its effectiveness. I would bet these shows are as informative today as they were then. Walter Cronkite, scripted or spontaneous, was solid gold. Marty Madden, Prince Frederick (7/21/09) Please re-read my post again, I think you missed my point... I wasn't complaining about WPGC having poor reception in the DC area. Almost all of my points were regarding WIHT 99.5 and reception of DC stations in the Baltimore area. I only mentioned WPGC's short stick because it seems to impair its signal PAST Baltimore's downtown skyscrapers. WPGC is quite strong everywhere else. Since I live on the northeast side of Baltimore and often travel from Towson to even Dundalk and to Harford county, trust me I'm right on that part, but you are probably also correct on how well built the WPGC transmitter is. But let's face it, It was built for Washington, DC ONLY which has few tall buildings and skyscrapers. DC 101 clearly has the best Baltimore signal and always has even back when I was in college. It's debatable who's 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th. WASH, WRQX, WPGC, WKYS, and WETA all are all very similar in signal on the northeast side of Baltimore, they all fade in and out occasionally. 94.7 and 99.5 are much worse because of the Delaware stations. Sometimes I pick up them instead. There is nothing wrong with my Alpine unit, trust me. I can often pick up Dannyboy's 92.7 even though I shouldn't really be able to, not that I ever want to though, hehe. :-) (7/21/09) WPGC's signal isn't going to matter when it flips to AMP Radio soon. Oops. (7/21/09) MSNBC typo last night... (7/21/09) I can understand CBS, ABC, & PBS carrying every Presidential news conference since none of those news organizations has its own news channel, but really, what's the point of NBC or FOX? They both have their own news channels. It's redundant really, well except for the fact that NBC does sort of pretend to be slightly less biased than MSNBC, but that's about it. In this economic climate, I'm shocked NBC hasn't made the same decision as FOX, if for no other reason, just to save money and increase ratings. I think what those 2 networks should do is run regular programming, BUT give their affiliates the OPTION of running the cable news networks' feed instead as long as they replay the regular network fair within the next 24 hours. I bet if they did that, few if ANY FOX stations would run it, and I'd be surprised if many NBC stations did either. (7/21/09) Dave's response: Unless it's for a really big nation-threatening issue or earth-shattering event, I don't know why the major broadcast networks feel obligated to carry presidential news conferences. Even if they're in primetime. I have no problem with the big four nets passing on them. Obviously, the nets are trying to "win favor" with the Obama administration. I don't often agree with Rupert Murdoch, but I agree with his decision not to carry Wednesday's press conference on his Fox broadcast network. It's a shame that CBS, NBC, and ABC don't have the same "balls." Look, I'm a big supporter of Obama, but he's obviously just "using" the networks to push his political agenda. They should push back..... Re: "To all the 1067 haters - It's not a fair assessment to bash a show based on its first day on the air. Give Mike Wise and Chad/Lavar some time to adjust and get comfortable with radio before you judge. I'm sure the Junkies, Big O and Dukes, Ron and Fez, Don and Mike, or other WJFK legends weren't amazing on their first radio show either. Sheesh." Too bad for 106.7FM that that's the way LISTENERS behave, huh? Do you really think the average dial spinner is going to think 'hey, I know that station sucked when I listened before, but I need to be fair -- I'll give them a few more listens!' Hell no. You get one chance. That doesn't make disgruntled listeners "1067 haters" -- it makes them part of the crowd running to the competition. It's called ratings, it's called business and it's called another CBS self-immolation. And, by the way...of the "WJFK legends" you list, only one -- the Junkies -- is actually still on WJFK; CBS screwed up all the rest. I'm guessing you're a CBS executive...? (7/21/09) "WTEM needs to get rid of Mike and Mike and Cowherd. They should put Czaban's national show on in the morning and then get Tony K. to follow." My understanding is that as part of its agreement with ESPN Radio, the station's not allowed to air any competing syndicated sports talk programming. WJFK's new evening show hosted (on a temporary basis) by Chris Russell is a welcome addition to the DC sports radio scene inasmuch as WTEM hasn't provided local talk in the 7-10 PM timeslot since Bram Weinstein left three years ago. That fast paced, high energy approach makes John Thompson's show seem like a snoozefest by comparison, not to mention the fact that Russell fielded far more calls than anyone at ESPN 980 has done in some time. For the permanent evening gig, how about Al Koken on nights when it doesn't conflict with his CSN duties (such as Caps games) and Phil Wood as regular substitute host? The fact that LaVar Arrington's competing directly with Thompson from 2-4 PM is somewhat ironic considering that he was a weekly guest on the latter's program during football season over the last few years of his Redskin career. Of course if Red Zebra hires Tony Kornheiser for the 10 AM to noon slot on 980, he'll be going head-to-head against his former Post colleague Mike Wise. Apparently the Junkies don't intend to make any major concessions to the switch from guy talk to sports talk at WJFK, but they should realize that the station's getting an entirely new audience not all of which is okay with the frat house shtick they seem to revel in. In particular, many older sports fans and parents driving with kids will turn off the radio or flip over to the safe and sane Mike & Mike show the second they hear any scatalogical or 'hot babes' talk coming out of the Junks' mouths. Although the new sports talker spent a lot of time bashing the old one (especially on Arrington's show) yesterday, the WTEM hosts seemed dead set on avoiding any reference to the fact that a rival product was being launched. When Channel 4's Dan Hellie began his guest appearance on Sports Reporters with "I smell some competition in the air!", Czaban and Andy Pollin reacted as if he'd just ignited a stink bomb in the studio. Mike, Fairfax (7/21/09) The poster complaining about WPGC's signal has it all wrong. Maybe he has car radio trouble. That stick may be a bit short for a Class B, but the power math provides a transmitter output and antenna gain that kicks the full 50kW H & V, and then some with the cleanest possible signal (speaking from RF, not AF perspective) and no apologies. When Milford Smith built that stick, he took advantage of 'words have meaning' and constructed what is effectively a 100kW stick. That antenna atop the stick is not called an 80kW Jampro Penetrator for no reason. The FCC has since learned the difference between '&" and "/" and corrected the error in how they describe circular polarization. The stick is short for several reasons, but has no chance of being taller due to the proximity to Andrews AFB. There is little chance of the site moving North due to the proximity to WPLJ 95.5 NYC. A more 'favorable' site was built at American University, but it is directional and only improved coverage to the NW while cutting coverage virtually everwhere else. But back to why the poster must have a car radio problem. That antenna system was designed to maximize throw and car reception. It does tend to favor vertical radiation rather than horizontal. Some car radios may indeed have pooer reception in some urban terrain if they have windshield antennas or other low profile antennas. Of all the DC signals that make it into Baltimore, WPGC is among the top 3, and may be the #1. Its' signal covers Baltimore to Fredericksburg like no other. All the way out in Manassas, its field readings are still in the 50-60dBu range. Even at half power it makes it quite far and usually gets no complaints within the greater DC area. It has probably the highest TPO (40kW) and lowest antenna gain of any FM in the market. That makes for excellent multipath performance. The only place I am aware of where multipath is, and will always be a problem is along the DC waterfront, especially near G'town (and thus the site at AU was built). That's just the laws of physics when you see the terrain change from that site. Increased height would not help. Increased height, and the lower TPO tradeoff would actually make the signal overshoot Baltimore and make it to NJ much better. The WPGC HD signal even makes it a fair ways up 95/895 until you get to the tunnels. The HD signal goes farther into Baltimore than any other DC HD. WPGC has no technical problems of the nature of the posters complaint. Rest assured that if money could fix the problem, CBS can and would have spent it by now as they have for other properties. I don't know what the agenda is of the poster, but stop spreading misinformation. WPGC Former CE. (7/21/09) KHTK was always sports talk with O'Meara's show working very well on it. (7/21/09) And that's the way it is...today. (7/21/09) Re: "AMC Loew theaters are no longer listed in the [Washington Post] Style section." The Washington Times' listings are now actually much more comprehensive than the Post's. Maybe the Times is printing them for free, just as they print the daily TV listings on the adjacent page without charging the TV stations for advertising. (7/21/09) oh, C'mon Dave, post the WJFK vs WTEM signal coverage pic I sent in the mailbag, I think it's an interesting comparison open for debate... I'll even shrink it in size if necessary even! it's now only 20k in size and smaller in size also! LOL (7/21/09) Dave's response: Musta got nabbed by the junk filter..... Just to let you know - The PPM survey in Baltimore started on June 25th and the first data will be released on August 14th. (7/21/09) To all the 1067 haters - It's not a fair assessment to bash a show based on its first day on the air. Give Mike Wise and Chad/Lavar some time to adjust and get comfortable with radio before you judge. I'm sure the Junkies, Big O and Dukes, Ron and Fez, Don and Mike, or other WJFK legends weren't amazing on their first radio show either. Sheesh. (7/21/09) Local casting call…. New HGTV Program Seeking Homeowners Who Need to Sell Homeowners who are hoping to sell their homes and are uncertain of their house’s value may be interested in working with Edelman Productions, which has produced several programs for HGTV including Curb Appeal, Designed to Sell and Get it Sold. Edelman is searching for energetic homeowners who need to sell their home for Real Estate Intervention, a new real estate advice show on HGTV. The program provides a snapshot of what it takes to sell a house today. To apply, e-mail casting@edelmandc.com. (7/21/09) RE: [ " So why exactly does Baltimore need it's own CHR? Maybe CC should think about double branding 99.5 as a Baltimore & DC station. " ]....... I don't know what kind of expensive radio you have in your car, but I've always had trouble getting WIHT 99.5 around the Baltimore Beltway from Parkville to White Marsh to Essex to Dundalk to Sparrows Point. And you can't get Hot 99.5 at all in any part of Harford county. Not to mention, especially during the summer, ducting causes even more interference from Beasley's Wilmington, DE WJBR 99.5 signal anywhere near the bay, sometimes even to AA county. I honestly think that when Baltimore gets PPM, some of these DC stations with not so good signals or interference issues will disappear from the Baltimore Arbitrons, possibly even HOT 99.5. Stations like DC 101 will probably be less affected since they actually do have pretty clear signals all around Baltimore (DC 101's only issue is slight interference near the WLIF tower on the beltway, otherwise damn good all around town). I can't wait for PPM in Baltimore to see if this will happen or not. It will be an interesting test case. I noticed PPM in DC removed practically every Baltimore station that ever showed up in the DC ratings. I think the same thing will happen in Baltimore, but on a smaller scale due to the lack of certain formats in Baltimore. Now if WJBR 99.5 were able to move closer to Philly (and I'm sure they'd love to but can't), 99.5 would be a perfect frequency for both markets. And if CBS built a taller stick for WPGC 95.5, wow would that have great Baltimore coverage, probably better than even DC 101! But that short 351 foot WPGC tower very much causes there to be too much multipath interference anywhere on the other side of Baltimore's downtown, since Baltimore has skyscrapers, unlike DC. It's really amazing to me how many of DC's FMers are on short sticks compared to Baltimore, a smaller market. It amazes me that a CBS DC station can be on a 351 foot stick and a comparable and co-owned CBS Baltimore station like WWMX can be on a 1200+ foot stick. Makes no sense to me, especially with DC being the much larger market. (7/21/09) The jury is out on the new 106.7 The Fan, but at least they don't have the annoying sports updates every 20 minutes like 980 does. It might make sense on weekends or evenings, when there are actually games taking place, but during weekdays, the updates are totally useless. (7/21/09) The demise of WPGC 955(urban) would be a major blow to the D.C./Baltimore region,but with WERQ and WKYS being the only hip-hop stations in the region could CC(Baltimore) flip WCHH to hip-hop urban and WQSR to CHR top 40 could this happen Dave? (7/21/09) Dave's response: The problem is that while urban stations get big audiences, they don't bill ad-wise as well as other formats. CBS might tweak PGC in more of a contemporary hits direction to better compete with Hot 99.5 and make more ad revenue, but it would still play a good amount of urban stuff..... I'm even more distraught than usual about the fate of AM Radio these days. It's so bad that CBS Radio has decided to launch an all-new FM sports talker on FM in the Washington DC area for obvious reasons: nobody can hear 570/980/1260 in DC after dark. Radio World magazine at www.radioworld.com talks about a new proposal using lower-FM frequencies as the replacement for the AM band, that is, those at channel 6 and lower, since human-created interference and skip have all but destroyed the AM radio market. In Northern VA, a mere 8 miles from DC, and hardly a "fringe" area for local DC AMers, I cannot receive any of our local AM stations after sunset. The lower FM band in all-digital is going to be the answer. I hope someone is listening, because after dark in DC nobody is listening to AM. -Chainsman (7/21/09) Dave i thought the hiring of Chris Russell an experienced sports broadcast journalist was excellent. also enjoyed Mike Wise and Bill Rolland who i think will do a solid if not spactacular job. I thought Lavar was full of sour grapes over his treatment by the redskins and it seemed that was about all he could talk about. Chad dukes did an excellent job trying to cary him but i don't think anyone can. They'll have to do better in the afternoon. I'd put chris russell there and find another redskins reporter. Arrington would be gone. I Wish jfk good luck. Also i find the junkies act a little tiresome and stale and would probably try to get brian mitchell for the morning slot. (7/21/09) Listened to the first 30 minutes of the Mike Wise show today on the FAN. I know he's a great writer, but DAMN!!!! Tighten this thing up, have some chemistry, figure out who's gonna talk. Couldn't hang around for Joe Gibbs, it was un-listenable. There is no standard for going in/out of breaks, he stutters, and seems to be in a different studio form his co-host. Do they have a producer? Was he in the building? The Arrington/Dukes show just as bad. Now that the whole Skins dissing thing is over, what will they talk about? It's a 4 hour show, and even though most of us think Snyder is an idiot, I don't need to hear it all afternoon. Phil (7/21/09) I'm a long time WTEM fan and gave a listen to The FAN. Hard to tell really after just one day but you can get a read on talent and chemistry. Junkies are better than Mike and Mike but not by much, Wize and the other guy have nothing to say, can't understand half of what Arrington says but Dukes sounds like he is up to the translating. WTEM needs to get rid of Mike and Mike and Cowherd. They should put Czaban's national show on in the morning and then get Tony K. to follow. Sheehan could use a partner but is probably the only one other than Czaban who can carry a show by himself. They should put him back with Walker or consider pairing him with Riggins again. If they ran him and a partner for 3 hours instead of 2, they could eliminate the Thompson train wreck and let the Sports Reporters do the rest of the day. Also, WTEM should run an evening show like The Fan and bring back Phil Wood to host it. Sports radio can be good but it needs to be intelligent in a city like DC. From what I heard on day one of the FAN, they've got a ways to go to match WTEM. (7/21/09) If Mike O'Meara was that great, then why was WJFK so low in the PPM ratings? I suspect that if PPM existed in the days of Don and Mike the PPMs would also be shockingly low. Don and Mike tried to game the Arbitron diary system to keep their name in the public eye. They obviously have fanatic listeners yet but how many who are less fanatic? - GAB in the Airless Cubicle (7/21/09) /\ July 21 Messages /\ \/ July 20 Messages \/ Dave, With the way that Lavar and Chad totally dissed Snyder & ESPN 980 this afternoon, would you say that Snyder isn’t going to pursue buying 106.7? Thanks, Eric (7/20/09) Dave's response: I dunno. If he's angry at the way JFK's treating him, he might be more likely to buy it..... Hey Dave tried to listen to the new 1067 The Fan today up here in Baltimore, but at 7pm the webcast went down. Just PSA spots like "Don't pass gas". Still just PSA spots at 8:20. Steve (7/20/09) I didn't get a chance to listen to the (Sports) Junkies this morning, although I see that they didn't post the podcast for today. Not a good sign. I did log some time with Chad Dukes and his new partner, LaVar Arrington. What I heard was an absolute train wreck. I loved Big O & Dukes. I figured Chad Dukes would transition well. Also, the Junks hyped Arrington to the point where I was ready to believe. Oh. My. God. Arrington has no business being the radio. He has no personality to speak of and is totally devoid of any presence on the air. There is no chemistry between Dukes and Arrington and it seemed to me that Dukes was trying his best to carry Arrington and failed miserably. Not that the things Arrington were saying weren't interesting, but he is an absolute bore to listen to. I am so distraught. MOM is a sports fan. They could have paired Dukes with O'Meara. That would have at least been interesting to listen to. This dreck they're putting out that they claim is captivating sports radio is crap. Way to go, CBS. I agree with the guy who suggested that Chad Dukes run like the wind. You're riding on the Titanic. Maybe they should have sucked up to the SiriusXM suits and gotten themselves a spot on O&A's channel. Big O & Dukes was a great show. Dukes is a talented and funny guy who is being handcuffed by this new format and a partner with no appreciable radio talent. What a suckfest. (7/20/09) Dear Oscar Santana, Please come back to WJFK now! You took it like a man Oscar, but honestly, you deserve better. Big O and Dukes was a kick ass show. Your dry humor, along with Chads slap-stick was radio gold. You guys were also just interesting people to listen to. I personaly don't understand how wall-to-wall sports talk is going to be any generate any more revenue than the old format. But whatever, it will fail soon enough, and maybe CBS will pony up the cash to try again. If CBS could not make this incarnation of WJFK work, the "Hot Talk" format is officially dead. They had some great talent on JFK. The only improvement I could see would have been a local evening show, and some more weekend shows. Chad is a good dude, his emotional out pouring on Friday was legit. WJFK is legandary and he feels like some of it is his fault. I'm here to tell Chad, that I've listened to talk radio all over the country, for years, and he's as talented as Howard Stern, Don Geronimo, Anthony Cumia, Ron Bennington, Tom Leykis, Eric Bickel, Adam Corolla, Tom Griswald, Jason Ellis, or any one else in the format.. - Vaughn, California (7/20/09) Ted Leonsis reports on the strange sad death of a DC media executive - www.tedstake.com: "A great man passed away this weekend. His name is Ray Shaw. He was stung by a bee and died from complications related to the sting. My friends and many business associates are stunned by this news. Ray is well known in media circles. He was a long time senior executive at the Wall Street Journal and then - post retirement - acquired and managed the string of business journals called American City Business Journals. The Washington Business Journal is as an example. He also owned and operated Sporting News which he acquired from Paul Allen at the time Rick Allen(no relation to Paul), our CEO of SnagFilms, ran Sporting News and was chartered with finding a good home for the publication. I have met Ray many times. I was invited to Charlotte NC a couple of years ago to address his assembled executive team on new media and leadership. He was collegial and kind, a visionary and a great family man. He will be missed... The media business is losing giant after giant of late. This is indeed sad news. RIP Mr. Shaw." (7/20/09) (regarding a previous post) "And speaking of San Diego -- Chip Franklin sucks! (Dave's response: And so does Roger Hedgecock.....") Hell, Hedgecock INVENTED sucking! (7/20/09) Thank God for Chad Dukes. Without him the LaVar Arrington show would be a rocket with no direction. LaVar has tons of energy (complete 180 from Mike Wise's crew) but Chad Dukes keeps it going in the right direction. While I miss BOAD, I can't complain as much as I was. (7/20/09) And speaking of San Diego -- Chip Franklin sucks! (7/20/09) Dave's response: And so does Roger Hedgecock..... (regarding a previous post) "discussion with Geoffrey Darby, executive vice president of programming for The Weather Channel (TWC), leaves open the possibility of the company replacing meteorologists at NBC-owned stations" Out here in San Diego, KNSD (the NBC-owned station here) has axed or reassigned weather reporters on the 4, 5, 6 & 11 newscasts and they're piping-in long-time KNBC/Los Angeles weatherman, Fritz Coleman. I think the station still uses a local weather guy on their early morning (5a-7a) show, that is a lead-in to "Today". On weekends, they pipe-in somebody from the Weather Channel. (7/20/09) Mancow might have been the most conservative of all the WTNT talkers. And he had great guests. This station is nothing but shooting darts at a lineup. (7/20/09) Guess Lester Holt wasn't really getting a break since I just read that he's filling in for Matt Lauer..He seems to have a grueling schedule and I don't see anyone else on that network pulling that kind of duty..I'm thinking though that he's somewhat glad to be away from working the weekends with Jenna Wolfe and Amy Robach..And although I'm glad that Amy is a local anchor done good by going to the network, Lester doesn't seem like a happy camper co-anchoring with her or Jenna. (7/20/09) The only 96.1 I've ever caught between Wye Mills & the 50/301 Split is York, PA's WSOX on my way home from Ocean City one time. It actually came through pretty darn well between that area and up til you cross the bay bridge in which it caught heavy interference from 96.3 on the Western shore. I've actually caught the WSOX signal coming through that way a couple of times on my way home from OC. I was really impressed the the signal made it pretty darn well to that area. I think it's odd that WJFK 106.7 The Fan is using an Burgandy & Yellow logo considering it's the color of the Redskins yet the Redskins will not air on 106.7. I just think if you're trying to attract new listeners you wouldn't be just trying to get under Daniel Syders skin. It'd be like 105.7 in Baltimore to do their logo in Purple & Black. Though I have to admit for 105.7 not carrying the Ravens Games, the Ravens on air content found on the Scott Garceau & Anita Marks show during NFL season is some of the best talk radio I've ever heard that you'll obviously will never hear on WBAL or 98Rock. The lone problem is that 105.7 or 1300 can't be heard too far north of Baltimore unlike 1090 & 98Rock. CC should just give it up already with Channel 104.3. Until they steal the HFS ways and become a more Baltimore station 104.3 will continue to suck in the ratings. Once again in making a trip to Baltimore this past weekend I found the 99.5 is a clear signal even in Downtown. That makes Downtown, North West to Westminster, North to Padonia if not further, North East 95 between the Beltway thru the southwest 95 & 695 interchange that 99.5 comes in clearly. So why exactly does Baltimore need it's own CHR? Maybe CC should think about double branding 99.5 as a Baltimore & DC station. I wouldn't be surprised to see 99.5 with decent ratings in Baltimore once the PPM's show up as well as jumps for WQSR & 98Rock, with 99.1 ElZol being non exsitant though if it had the HFS format would probably have high B-More ratings with PPM's. (7/20/09) Lavar Arrington is slowly sucking the life out of my radio.....He's DJ Kevorkian......and why is HIS name on the show when Chad is really running it? old 56 is nothing but a third banana. He's as talented as....EMMIT SMITH!!!!! This show is a floating turd. F you and your stupid eatery too LaLame.......RUN DUKES RUN BEFORE HE DOES AN AIKMEN ON YOUR CAREER!! "The 4th of July is like one super-slow home run trot around the bases as the English stare us down from the mound. Suck it, England!" Bill Simmons, The Sports Guy (7/20/09) Dave, I actually gave WJFK a chance today. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt and listen to their new shows. For Lavar Arington, a guy who has ZERO experience in this business to openly bash 980, the Redskins, etc. is ridiculous. Hey Lavar, how would you like it if a High School football player with no experience and no credibility criticized you and other professional athletes. I don't think you'd like it all, would you. You've been in this business for 1 day now (yeah, I know you've done a few hours on Comcast TV, big deal). You and Mike Wise both have the idea of "filling the time" for 4 hours. You can't do it. You'll never do it. Poor Chad Dukes. He had a great show with Oscar, now its gone. Don (7/20/09) Goodbye Bob Ryan? Spotted at CapitalWeather.com: "MediaBistro.com reports (mediabistro.com ) that a discussion with Geoffrey Darby, executive vice president of programming for The Weather Channel (TWC), leaves open the possibility of the company replacing meteorologists at NBC-owned stations with those from TWC. NBC owns 10 local stations throughout the U.S., including Washington's WRC-TV (NBC4). While Darby said there is no plan currently in place for TWC to replace local forecasters, he also stated, 'I can tell you we're looking at that opportunity.'" (7/20/09) Dave, thanks for providing a site where people can let me know what I'm not missing by not tuning in to WJFK all day. Am I to understand that Loveline is gooooone too? That just sucks. I am going to try to see how long I can go without tuning in. Made it through Day 1 just fine. CBS management, YER MOM'S BOX!!! --- ThePenIsMightier (7/20/09) Dave, are you new to satrad? Your tweet about SiriusXM having "cool dance channels" would be challenged by customers of both services, many of whom are super angered post-merger with two half-assed "current" channels, a watered-down classic channel and one chill channel when each company had five channels EACH, with each set of channels taking a different approach to the music and jocks. Check www.facebook.com, (one channel's official Facebook fan page) to see paying customers roast that remaining channel over its nosedive into FM hell. If you never heard XM's dance channels pre-2008 you missed the peak of dance on satrad. (7/20/09) Hey Dave, Whats the deal with 947 Fresh FM?? Are they going to have on air talent soon or is CBS still deciding what they are going to do with it? By the way I totally agree with 95.5 switching to an "amp" format like L.A. to compete with Hot995. Also take that fresh crap out of 947 and move HFS over there. (7/20/09) Dave's response: I guess CBS is just taking the "cheap route" with 94.7 Fresh FM. Try to get an audience and sell as much advertising as possible by spending as little money on the station as possible - a la no on-air staff. That might work if you had a killer morning show, which 94.7 doesn't. Since CBS is paying Mike O'Meara to sit on his ass through, at least, the end of 2009, why not put him on 94.7's morning and see how it goes. If he doesn't generate ratings as the "Fresh version of Jack Diamond," cut him loose when his contract ends. Why not?!?!..... I agree with Sergio about Riggins and Sheehan back together. I thought that show was getting much better. WTEM should pair them again on Monday Morning Redskins Show without Pollin. Sheehan's show is much better than I thought it would be without Walker. It was painful when he was on vacation last month and WTEM ran Cowherd for 4 hrs. If anything, they should cut Cowherd and go with more Sheehan or a combo of Sheehan and Walker and Riggins. (7/20/09) LaVar may be doing better than some thought, but I suspect they set the bar pretty low. Three times he has refereed to quarterbacks throwing "heir apparent" passes. Given the context, such as it was, I guess he meant "errant." Then again, maybe he was talking way over my head ... are there indeed certain types of passes that go off target yet somehow show a QB is the next guy to get the starting job? (7/20/09) (This station needs to stick with a lineup or GTFOH) Wow...that was adult. Mancow doesn't belong on a conservative talk station. I'm glad he is gone from afternoons. Want Mancow? Listen to him at night. (7/20/09) Does anyone know what 96.1FM is in Wye Mills, MD? When you are near Rt. 50 and Rt. 213 you get a humming sound on the frequency and are not able to use an FM modulator around the area. I did a search and WGTS comes up as does some other religious station from NJ. Is there something in the works for this frequency? Seems like an odd place to put a low power signal, without the college there are very few people in the area other than those driving through on Rt. 50. Maybe it’s a way for WGTS to pick up people stuck in traffic on the way back from the beach? (7/20/09) Listened to some Lavar Arrington and whats-his-name on WJFK this afternoon. Don't remember the exact words, but I'll paraphrase: "You're really great." "Yes, and you're great too." "And this is a great station." "Yes, it is. That's because you're so great." "Look, I really think you're doing great." "Thanks. Man, we sure are doing great." "Yes. We are truly great." "That's great." etc etc etc. Who the hell is going to listen to this shit?!? (7/20/09) Jerry Doyle on WTNT? The station has been there, done that. Didn't do much for the station the first time around. Why would now be any different? Christian (7/20/09) Out of curiosity I tuned into the morning show on 106.7. I have never listened to this station before but wanted to hear what they had to offer as opposed to WTEM which I do enjoy. Five minutes later I was surprised to hear two morons discussing the smell of their "farts". I am not a prude but if this is what is called adult humor then this new format won't get far. (7/20/09) "CBS has decided to continue to use the recording of the late Walter Cronkite to introduce the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric." This just in... Capitalizing on the public's deep trust of deceased Uncle Walter, CBS replaces Katie Couric with "The All New CBS Evening News with the late Walter Cronkite". Effective immediately, the program will consist of a computer animated image of the revered journalist, aided on the audio track by an unpaid intern reading stories from the AP Wire. Laid-off with years remaining on her multi-million dollar contract, Katie is reportedly heading to Maryland's Eastern Shore where she will do news for Donnie G on Ocean 98. (7/20/09) KHTK Sacramento: For DCRTV loyalists who thought the launch of 106.7 Fan was nauseous, try being well-connected to all-sports talker 1140 KHTK - a longtime D&M & MOM Show stallworth. Today @ noon, the Jim Kozimor Show debuted with the moniker "your sports talk sandwich...what do you want on your sports sandwich MMA? Kings? Golf?..." I need a shower and a salad! (7/20/09) "crisis in journalism" Oh great! Another trumped up "crisis" for the Obama administration to meddle in. What next? (7/20/09) RE NBC4 questions: On the 4:00 news today, Craig Melvin said he's "in for Jim Handly," so it sounds like Jim Handly is still with Channel 4. Also, the woman anchoring the weekend evening news on Channel 4 was Kimberly Suiters. She's also filled in for Barbara Harrison in the morning recently. I think she's been with Channel 4 for at least a year. She's been doing news and feature reports on the morning and afternoon news for a while. -- Bobbie (Lester Holt filled in for Matt Lauer this morning on the Today Show, and he'll probably be there all week..I guess that's why he wasn't doing the weeked Today Show or the evening news. He really does work hard.) (7/20/09) Re: Savannah Guthrie filling in for Lester Holt, it's about time they gave that brotha a break..He works the weekend morning Today show and then the evening news and then I think does news for MSNBC during the week.. (7/20/09) LaVar has done a lot better than I thought he would do, especially after seeing some of his appearances on Comcast. At least he has some energy, and Dukes is showing better than expected, too. I'm pretty certain LaVar knew what and who Andy "Polley" was. Now, we just need some Nationals, Caps, Wizards, United, Terps, etc. talk. Pretty sure I haven't heard any of them mentioned once. (7/20/09) Cripes. I turn on WTNT at 3 to listen to Mancow, who has only been in the slot for 3 weeks, and its place has now been taken by The Jerry Doyle show which WTNT cancelled from this time slot a year ago. This station needs to stick with a lineup or GTFOH. (7/20/09) Some observations after listening to Wise for several hours and Arrington and a guy that I have never heard of for their first hour. Mike Wise really needs to stop talking overtop of his guests. He gets Joe Gibbs on his first day and all he did was interpupt him! When you go out of your way to get a guest you let him talk. Arrington and whoever spent the first ten minutes reading two emails that they suspected came from WTEM or Redskin Park. They did not seem to know that Andy "Polie" is a nickname for Andy Pollin. Very amateurish start for those two. (7/20/09) Eating my hat. I called Lavar surly, bug eyed, and self important. I take it back. Early impression is that Lavar has game, and the hookup with straight man Chad might be one of the few winners this losing sports town has. (7/20/09) WJFK has changed its call letters to YAWN-FM “The Snooze”. Cripes it’s like broadcast Ambien. (7/20/09) CBS News with Walter Cronkite coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing July 20, 1969. Tonight on the History Channel 8:30/7:30C www.history.com (7/20/09) The Associated Press reported this afternoon that CBS has decided to continue to use the recording of the late Walter Cronkite to introduce the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. Al McGilvray (7/20/09) Listening to the Mike Wise show got me thinking about Riggo. What's he doing these days? I might have been the only one, but I really enjoyed his afternoon show that he did with Sheehan which was simulcasted on MASN. He was a bit rough around the edges, but still was a PERSONALITY, something Mike Wise and the other guy are not. There is no chemistry between the two and I don't think it gets any better. Neither is interesting or appear to be able to bring anything different from their own life experiences or backgrounds to the table. I like Sheehan on ESPN980 but his show is not as good without a good co-host. Bring back Riggo and Sheehan! Talking about 980, the PD should reunite Doc Walker with him and expand it to 3 hours since Doc and the coach is not interesting and not working either. BTW-What's up with their breaks to commercial on the new 106.7thefan? It's abrupt and amateurish. Is it so hard to say, "We'll be back?" Maybe because they themselves aren't sure if they will be back...LOL. Anyway, initial thumbs down on the mid-day show. It's runs long for being uninteresting radio. BRING BACK RIGGO! Sergio (7/20/09) I see WJFK will have a Redskins beat reporter, but will they have one for the Nationals, Capitals and Wizards, too? Or are they going to be as one-dimensional as WTEM? -- Vincent in Triangle (7/20/09) Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade apologized this morning for comments he made earlier this month about Americans not having "pure genes" like Swedes because Americans "keep marrying other species and other ethnics." Here's what he said earlier this month - from TVNewser. (7/20/09) RE: AMC listings dropped by Wash Post print edition. This isn’t the first time a theater chain has pulled out of the Post’s print edition of the Style section because they have to pay to be listed but eventually they came back. I hope AMC does the same but with everything migrating to the web maybe they think print is dead and will stay out. Well, if anyone from AMC is reading this, I go to the AMC Shirlington Theater a lot. Not listing Shirlington show times while Cinema Arts show times are still in the paper edition will usually mean I’m going to Cinema Arts. And the same goes true for Regal Theaters over AMC theaters when I want more mainstream fair. (7/20/09) Dave's response: I also notice that some National Amusements theaters, like the ones in Reston and Centreville, now only run a smaller "call theater for showtimes" ad in the Monday through Thursday Post movie listings..... Congrats to Luke Thomas and MMA Nation. He's worked long and hard to make that show unique, interesting, and fun to listen to for MMA fans and non-fans alike. I wish many years of success to him, and anyone that assists with the program! (7/20/09) Gordon Waller of the pop duo Peter and Gordon, who were part of the 1960s British Invasion and had a string of hits including several written by their friend Paul McCartney, has died. He was 64. Here is his obituary from the NY Times www.nytimes.com (7/20/09) [Wow, it's weird how only after the change are you able to remark on what you lost] I know what was lost… but I was, and currently am, willing to give it a chance before spouting off about it, but after a few hours now, I just cannot listen to the same sports news and stories over and over and over… and I’m A LOCAL SPORTS FAN! I’m going to listen to Chad Dukes and Arrington later in hopes that Dukes can provide some much needed entertainment value. (7/20/09) Dave's response: Joni Mitchell got it right many years ago in "Big Yellow Taxi" - "You don't know what you've got 'til its gone"..... Now that is funny. The Pulse 'not a real FM station' 87.7 begathon. Real dance music exists in NY, on FM, on a real FM channel. It existed before you, and it will exist in one week after you are gone. Thank God you didnt make it to DC. Darwinism at its finest. (7/20/09) Tuned in for a few minutes of the "new" 106.7FM all sports talk this morning...and it was the same mindless, marble-mouthed Junkies crap. What kind of idiots scream and holler about the big changes they're making to their station and then opens with the same losing crap they've had on in the ratings-dead months preceding it? Oh, that's right -- CBS! The "new" 106.7FM was a failure the moment it came on the air. They'll try to ride it out through the NFL season, thinking Redskins-mania will somehow bail them out, but by February they'll be moving on to another format. And the Junkies, finally, will be out of a job, as they should have been years ago. (7/20/09) FYI, Jones was NOT yanked off the air, he discussed the situation with Bill Parris, and opted NOT to continue on the air for a few weeks. PLB/Davy Jones (7/20/09) The thing about WJFK prior to this format switch to sports was that you could turn it on and leave it on all day. It was entertaining to have on in the background at the office. The topics varied from show to show. Jim Rome’s show, while boring, was a change of topic. Now it’s like listening to a local only version of ESPN Sportszone. DC sports – what a bleak landscape that is. And this is the worst possible time of the year for sports, at least for any sports people care about. WJFK is now tolerable only in small doses, and then I want to tune it out. I think the novelty of this format will wear off quickly. (7/20/09) Just something I've noticed. Priestly is no longer voice tracking during the night at MIX105. Billy Bush is now on during the 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight shift. When did this happen? Ed Jones, BEL AIR MD (7/20/09) Does low-power TVer on channel 6, also on 87.7 FM broadcast any video? I live in Arlington at one time I did see video on ch. 6, but no longer. If no video is this legal? (7/20/09) MMA Nation - which as profiled by the Washington City Paper - will continue on and is looking to expand in the coming year on 106.7 The Fan. Luke (7/20/09) There's some interesting discussion at washingtonpost.com right now, in an unfolding chat with two managing editors. For instance, did you know that AMC Loew theaters are no longer listed in the Style section because those were paid listings, and the chain no longer wants to pay for print movie listings in the Post? I had no idea. Anyway... www.washingtonpost.com (7/20/09) The Fan is going to be a disaster of epic proportions. Shitcanning Mike O'Meara in favor of wall to wall sports talk would be one thing if it was actually interesting sports talk, but these ham-n-eggers (a) won't talk baseball, (b) won't talk hockey, (c) talk too much fantasy sports and (d) are not compelling radio personalities. It's so sad to think how close WJFK was to getting it right after Stern left: Don and Mike (6-11); Ron and Fez (11-3); The Junkies (3-7); The Hideout (7-11); Loveline (11-1) - oooooh, well. First time in 17 years I didn't have 106.7 on a preset. ((click)) (7/20/09) Who was the new female news anchor this past weekend for NBC4? Is she a permanent replacement or just filling in? (7/20/09) This JFK flip is already proving to be a disaster. The Mike Wise Show is discussing the exact same topics as the Sports Junkies were talking about 2 hours ago. I realize that there is not a monopoly on a topic but is there any new take on the subject? No, not really. Instead the Mike Wise show references the Sports Junkies in the conversation. I understand that Tom Watson is the hot topic of the day and Redskin training camp is around the corner but there is NO NEW OPINIONS. They just say it in a softer tone than the Sports Junkies. What's next more conversation on how the Nats suck? Will Arrington and Dukes discuss the Erin Andrews video too. I'm really looking forward to their take on the situation because twice is not enough. (7/20/09) I love one of the tag lines for 106.7 The Fan, "sports from the cheap seats, not the owners box". I would say one thing for those that have been fired by Synder and are now on 106.7. Shut your mouth and let it go. If the rumors are true and Synder is able to buy 106.7 will be out of a job again. (7/20/09) @ "George Allen": The notion that "nobody wants to play for an owner" like Dan Snyder...in theory, that might be true. But as long as he is willing to shell out millions of dollars, the agents of some of those players are at least compelled to make a phone call to the offices in Ashburn. Everything else you said, however, is spot on. It's likely Gibbs skedaddled out of here because even he was tired of all the BS with Snyder and Cerrato--he's classy enough never to say that, but...considering that Gibbs hasn't resurfaced as an "advisor" to the team since his departure... (7/20/09) Am I supposed to listen to f*cking sports all day!!? The same sh*t rehashed? Jesus christ...This is gonna be a TRAINWRECK! (7/20/09) Wow, it's weird how only after the change are you able to remark on what you lost. Even after the BOAD and TMOMS did their sign-off's Friday it still didn't seem real, almost just like that was the new "schtick" as it were. Well, no more this morning. I too like sports and all but talking at it until there is nothing left to talk about is too much to handle, I've never flipped between stations so much in my life. I'm hoping WJFK/The Fan gets their act together and works on the podcasts, sticking with the segment form they had previously so at least we'll all be able to pick and choose what we want to hear. As of right now the only thing on their podcast page is something called the "Woody's Daily Show", check that out www.cbssports.com. Hopefully the station gets their act together and fixes that, for a lot of us whether it's talk or sports, most radio we hear is on our iPods. - Jason (7/20/09) 25 minutes? I couldn't even make it 5 minutes listening to Mike and Bill on JFK just after 10:00 this morning. Low energy, halting delivery, unpleasant voices. Moved over to TEM to hear Colin Cowherd talking about the same thing: the British Open. Much more compelling presentation. So amp it up, guys, you're on sports radio! (7/20/09) News from the KHZ network: Expansion is on the way. There is a totally new concept being put together by Bill Parris and others. On or about August 15th KHZ plans to launch a multiple station network with a totally new concept in broadcasting. At this time they have lined up 4-6 stations including several FM signals. The network plans to blanket the DC, Baltimore, Ocean City and other locations with a new and exciting multi-media format. Operations will be conducted at their new state of the art production facility in Pasadena MD.. By the way legendary rocker Davy Jones returns to the airwaves soon. Stay tuned. (7/20/09) I'm willing to give 'THE FAAAAAAAAN" a chance, but they have GOT to get rid of that horrible music station-ish bumper music. It sounds like I'm listening to WASH-FM instead of a Sports Talk station. (7/20/09) see the web site - xtras.pulse87.com... lots of on air announcements pleading for donations. they say they only have enought cash for 1 more week. dj dave (7/20/09) Hey Dave. You know who would also be cool as Katie Couric's announcer, Johnny Holliday. If I'm not mistaken wasn't he the announcer for ABC's This Week with David Brinkley and This Week with Sam and Cokie? At one time both Johnny and Katie worked at WMAL. Shawn, Bethsda (7/20/09) Dave's response: Hey, I could do it. I'm told I sound like a cross between Fez Whatley and Quentin Tarantino..... Funding p Problems with Pulse 87.7 pulse877.com (7/20/09) ("I’m a Junkies fan but after about an hour of all sports...") You're dedicated...I made it 25 minutes. Uck. (7/20/09) Start up or Shut Up stays, saturdays at 10am.. Studio's and offices are painted burgundy and gold. Again another f/u to dan snyder. (7/20/09) Dave's response: Just about every promo JFK's running today is a dig at Snyder. Stuff like, we side with the fans, we're not owned by the team's owner. Definitely, the burgundy and gold "106.7 The Fan" logo is a slap at the Skins owner.... I’m a Junkies fan but after about an hour of all sports… I had to go to Elliot for some entertainment. I hope the Junkies get to put some other content in their programming soon. (7/20/09) Cronkite's voice on CBS News opener: For years, until Katie Couric left for CBS, the voice of the late Fred Facey was heard each morning ("Live, from Studio 1-A in Rockefeller Plaza") at the beginning of The Today Show so his family could collect the residuals. Al McGilvray (7/20/09) Dave's response: CBS should get Letterman's announcer, Alan Kalter, to do the intro for Couric's show. That'd be cool..... It's nice to see that CBS has been so thorough with the WJFK changeover that they got the website set up for the expected onrush of new lsiteners. Oh, wait,t hey didn't: As of 7:45 Monday Morning, it ends up with a nice error message on a CBS Sports News site. (7/20/09) If the family of Walter Cronkite requested it, I could understand immediately retiring his voiceover. But, if the family or Walter himself before his death did not request it, that's kinda dumb. His voice gives dim bulb DC media pixie Katie Couric the only bit of hard news credibility she has! LOL (7/20/09) People keep referring to this better stronger FM signal and what it will do for a sports talk radio station in DC as if WJFK has such a superior signal to WTEM. In some ways & certain areas it does at night, but in some other ways it really does not have as much of an advantage as you might think. I took the liberty of comparing the 2 stations' signals with an edit of the WJFK signal plot to take into account the two 1st adjacent stations' (106.9 & 106,7) severe interference in parts of WJFK's local viewing plot (see the black oval in pic #1). This represents a more fair comparison of the 2 stations' signals and you can see both have weaknesses and also that WTEM has a far stronger daytime signal over the entire DC market. WTEM may have lots of nighttime interference in the form of static and poor coverage at night in NoVA, but you could argue WJFK's problem is slightly worse, since 1st adjacent FM interference often means complete non-reception on many insensitive or portable FM receivers. This is why so many U of MD people have trouble getting WJFK even at Byrd Stadium. This pic is also a good example of why I just don't understand why CBS doesn't put El Zol on 106.7 and The Fan on 94.7 and FRESH or something else on 99.1. (7/20/09) So far, is WJFK following the all-sports kickoff tips from this noted consultant? Read and decide.... www.alltheexcess.com (7/20/09) re: Aljazeera/MHz 5 - It comes in fine via OTA (30.5). I watch it regularly, right now as a matter of fact. I wonder, does RCN carry MHz 4, Russia Today? (7/20/09) Comcast now has a TV ad where a bunch of people say "Comcast Cares" but when you hear those words over and over or in unison, it sounds like they are saying "Comcast Scares". -Silvie- (7/20/09) /\ July 20 Messages /\ \/ July 19 Messages \/ Ahhh! Even after asking MPT onair on Direct Connection about aspect errors they r airing everything wrong 4 2nd wknd in a row! wrong! (7/19/09) Dave's response: I've also noticed that MPT can't seem get aspect ratios right. I watch the "Afternoon Tea" batch of Britcoms and they too often stretch the standard-def shows, which makes them look very awkward on the basic (mostly-analog tier) cable signal, which chops off the sides of the pic. How difficult is it to run high-def stuff in wide mode and standard-def stuff in regular mode, with black bars on the sides? In HD mode, you put your station logo at the lower right of where the corner of the SD pic would be, so it "works" in both modes. Most other stations and cable nets do it, why can't MPT get it right? The viewer can always stretch a standard-def aspect pic if he/she wants to..... Another imbecilic and illegal signoff: 1030 AM WWGB Indian Head MD. Sunday night, going from music right to program cutoff, after which WBZ bombed right in. I know, nobody listens to them and nobody cares about AM radio anymore, so it "doesn't count". Sheesh... (7/19/09) My apologies... I was having a senior monent. I was getting Jack Kent Cooke confused with someone I hold in equal esteem: Rupert Murdoch. Both of them became U,S. citizens via "private" bills,,, Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/19/09) Dave's response: That's Keith Rupert Murdoch. Now put a shrimp on the barby..... I thought Jack Kent Cooke got a Private Bill through Congress making him instantly a US Citizen. bob c. (7/19/09) In early July, one of the MHz channels (MHz channel 5) started broadcasting al-Jazeera English - on RCN, this is channel 34. However, RCN mysteriously dropped the channel at the same time al-Jazeera English was supposed to start in DC. The early press releases (up to the date of the network's new programming) indicated RCN would carry it. Thus far, it is still unavailable. It is being discussed at Broadbandreports.com. Someone wrote in to MHz, who said replied that RCN was offered MHz 5, but declined it. I wrote RCN for their side. They told me that MHz took the network off the air and to ask MHz. So, everyone is getting the runaround on this issue. We can't say for sure what the real problem is here, but it would be nice to get MHz 5 back (and with it, al-Jazeera English). (7/19/09) To Mr. Unsigned Corporate Suit: With all respect regarding Jack Kent Cooke and radio stations, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. For the record, JKC bought, sold, and managed dozens of radio stations in the 1930s and 1940s, beginning with CJCS in Stratford, Ontario. His crown jewel in Canada was CKEY, which, at 630 am, was for years one of the top ten billing radio stations in North America. After he was laughed out of Canada for promising to deliver opera and ballet in primetime if he was awarded a license for Toronto's first private TV station (not to mention charges of radio piracy and falsifying logs) he came to the U.S. in 1959. The Los Angeles radio station,KXLA, was purchased in his brother Donald's name but it wasn't necessary because Cooke used his clout to get a Pennsylvania congressman, Tad Walter, to jam through a bill (HR 8156) that gave him almost instant citizenship even before he could get a visa. He changed the call signals to KRLA, bumped the power to 50,000 watts, and went top 40. But what really brought the FCC down hard on him was a series of sleazy, illegal contests. The first one was a "find the DJ" search for $10,000. Cooke had some star radio guy in Buffalo he had hired and was bringing to L.A. to work for him, but before he could put a week's worth of clues on the air, two competing DJs figured it out and flew to Buffalo, tackled the guy (Perry Allen) and claimed the cash. Cooke wouldn't pay and the two DJs complained to the FCC, and said the few clues given out were misleading and phony. Cooke had to pay and the two DJs had a ball ragging JKC on the air at the rival station (KFWB). The contest though that really did the Squire in was one for $50,000 which involved a buried key. The scam was that after a few clues the station would drop the dollar amount a few grand and Cooke had planned to keep moving the key until the amount was about $5000, which he figured was about right. Cooke got caught in a scoop by Broadcasting magazine, and to make this story short, the station was ordered off the air by the FCC. Cooke had to sell the station at a distressed price. The buyers were Bob Hope and Art Linkletter. One last thing: Cooke was a genius as well as an S.O.B.. You had to be to put up tens of millions in the early 1960s to buy into something called cable television whose only benefit was to provide rural areas with better reception and that most of America didn't know existed. Not to mention buying his first stake in the Redskins in 1961--25 percent--for $350,000. You can't even get a decent townhouse for that today. ACH (7/19/09) To all the people at CBS Radio. Thank god for Satellite radio. Howard Stern, Scott Ferrall, Miserable Men on Sundays nights. Great radio!!! Trestial Radio dead! (7/19/09) The Redskins will never be successful as long as Dan Snyder owns them. Jack Kent Cook could be an SOB but he was totally engaged with the Skins. On the sidelines at practice, and in the locker room cajoling with all of the players. He reveled at being interviewed. Snyder seems totally disengaged. But what do you expect from someone who is not known for his cordial personality or friendly demeanor. And therein lines the problem with the Skins: nobody wants to play for an owner like that. Snyder regards the Skins as his little billion-dollar playtoy. He knows little to nothing about successfully running an NFL franchise. The days of a front office with the likes of a Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly in tow are long over. We’ll never see their likes again as long as Dan Snyder owns the Skins. Vinnie Cerrato is a joke and can’t begin to hold a candle to Beathard or Casserly. Even poor Joe Gibbs couldn’t finish out his contract and his departure had nothing to do with wanting to be near his ailing grandchild. Go Ravens. /s/ George Allen (7/19/09) COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF CHANNEL 9 IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THEM SINCE THE DIGITAL CONVERSION. MAYBE THEY DON’T WANT US TO WATCH CHANNEL 9 ANY LONGER. WE ALWAYS WATCHED THEM UNTIL THE CONVERSION – NOW CAN’T GET THEM ANYMORE. THANKS A LOT. (7/19/09) Mike O' Meara was scheduled to appear on Wyldestyle Radio with Kevin & Rock July 16th, but was advised by his lawyers that it might not be prudent until the rest of his severance was paid out which runs through the end of November. He still came to hang out with Kevin and Rock who has has known for years, to shoot the crap after their show. He will be appearing on the show and giving them on the skinny and answering questions from all fans wanting to call in. A Farewell show where you can actually talk to him. What a notion. (7/19/09) Even if the dollars were attractive, Salem would be highly unlikely to do a deal with Dan Snyder for 780, let alone 105.1. Their corporate culture wouldn't allow it to even be discussed beyond "not interested". Same thing with Bonneville and Family Stations. A deal for Snyder would have to be with CC, CBS, Citadel, or even Howard University before anything would happen with any of the others. Also, even with these times being what they are, of the three I mentioned which have occasionally been in the marketplace of late (I don't think there's enough money in circulation within the known universe(not to mention gold and silver reserves) to get Howard University to ever part with WHUR-FM), they've only sold signals almost universally regarded as "crap". As for Dan Snyder's liquidity, it's possible his only major significant asset left is what the Washington Redskins used to be -not what they are today. Given the "performance" of Six Flags and Johnny Rockets, he should be thankful that the NFL has never compelled an owner to sell a tem "for the good of the league". Indeed, given the NFL's experience with an unsuccessful buyer of the Redskins after the passing of Mr. Cooke, I seriously doubt the NFL will take any action to save the team from Dan Snyder. Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/19/09) "What happens to all the new shows when Snyder buys the joint?" Although most contracts have a clause covering the possibility of new ownership, couldn't CBS shift those shows to a different station before selling 106.7? Of course, I imagine Dan would demand a promise from CBS that they would no longer compete locally with Red Zebra. (7/19/09) Gee... look at the new WFAN logo... all burgundy and gold, not very wizardee friendly at all! What happens to all the new shows when Snyder buys the joiint? (7/19/09) Washington Post - Last week for receiving Sunday TV Guide in Fairfax County unless you _call_ and 'opt in'...Post's reasoning: 1) Reducing costs, 2) Available online, and 3) It's the green thing to do...Reasons to cancel subscription: 1) Yes, 2) Yes, and 3) Yes (7/19/09) All this buzz about Dan Snyder stalking another DC frequency just reminds me to look-up "napoleonic syndrome". (7/19/09) How do you know Snyder has the cash to even buy WJFK? His investments in 6 flags and Red Zebra haven't done well and who knows how liquid he actually is as his midas touch seems to have run out. Scott (7/19/09) Here’s something I didn’t realize, according to the NY Times, “Walter Cronkite lent his voice to the ‘CBS Evening News’ in 2006. He was the announcer — the one who said “this is the ‘CBS Evening News with Katie Couric’” — for the program he had anchored. After Mr. Cronkite died Friday evening at the age of 92, CBS said his evening news voice-over will be retired, effective immediately.” (7/19/09) If the NFL allowed it, Snyder would buy every team and win the Super Bowl every year. If he does buy WJFK, whatever he put on there would probably still finish in 20th place. (7/19/09) you state "...will probably mean the eventual demise of WTEM, which currently ranks an anemic 20-ish place in the radio ratings..." and by doing so, you continue to show you have no fucking clue about the business side of radio. Drek, David. Absolute drek that you slop around. (7/19/09) Assumption: Religious stations make money by brokering air time. If I am correct, and if I were Dan Snyder, I'd try to buy WAVA FM 105.1. It's a great signal, superior to 106.7. I'd give WAVA some cash, plus all my other stations with the exception of AM980. (I'd use AM980 if there are 2 conflicting sports broadcast events--move the current conservative talk on AM 570 to AM980.) Why would WAVA take the deal? With 92.7, 94.3, AM1260 and AM570, WAVA would have 4 weaker stations to broker programs and could simulcast or broker separately. Even though the hourly rates might be lower, 4x the hours, even on weaker stations should increase the revenue! Meanwhile, here's what I'd put on 105.1: 6-9: Mike & Mike; 9-12: Tony K (pay him what he wants!); 12-3: Sports Reporters; 3-6: The Mike O'Meara Show; 6-9 (or 6-whenever the game starts--Local Sportstalk. The combo of Tony's shoe & Mike's show with sports & sports talk would likely beat anything CBS has to offer...(at least in 25-54)--Mike from Silver Spring (7/19/09) Dave's response: If I was Snyder, I'd trade all six local signals, including 980, for Salem's 105.1. Salem could then put WAVA on 980, 92.7, and 94.3, and still have three other sigs to sell preacher time or put righty talk on - 570, 730, and 1260. And Snyder would get an FMer that has a better signal than JFK's 106.7..... To correct an earlier poster: While it's true taht Jack Kent Cooke never found it necessary to own even one radio station in the D.C. area, he did own (for a brief time in the 1960's) a very legendary radio srarion: KRLA-1110 in Pasadena, via Oak Knoll Broadcasting which was a "shell" that didn't take long for the FCC of that era to see through as an attempt to scam them and their rules and regs. One (of the increasingly fewer) rules that the FCC still enforces is that the licensee of a U.S. broadcaster must either be an American citizen, or be controled by a majority of American citizens. (The latter is the reason why the LDS church's "Council 12 Apostles" (their governing board) will always have a majority of U.S. citizens on it. Or, it will as long as there is Bonneville!) Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian citizen, and when the FCC forund out that he'd very deliberately put one over on them, they yanked KRLA's license. It's one thing to willfully violare the FCC's Rules and Regs, but to deliverately do so by subtrefuge earns the FCC's equivalent of "termination with extreme prejudice" -License revocation. However, no such rules exist for Cable TV and Cooke made a fortune in that business. But, then again, you either have to be patently stupid (or own a bunch of obsolete absolute crap systems (or be crooked)) not to make a ton of money in that business. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/19/09) Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) "The Most Trusted Man in America"... That's one phrase I'll bet we never hear being said about anyone ever again. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/19/09) Dave's response: A little revisionist history, perhaps. No question that Cronkite was a stellar journalist, but he was a human being, had faults, and was not universally loved or trusted. After coming out publicly against the Vietnam War, a lot of righties disowned him. Go back and watch some "All In The Family" reruns and listen to Archie Bunker's tirades about "Uncle Walter." I think he called him a "pinko" a few times. A good journalist is not afraid to stir things up and make enemies, and not afraid to being not universally loved or even "trusted." Despite all the "mush" coming out of the glib pieholes of today's "journalists" on the tube this week praising Cronkite, he was not universally liked - in the industry or among the public. And that is to his credit - proof that he was a tough, unflinching journalist. The passing of time seems to have faded those more negative memories. He wasn't a "corporate suck-up" or a "carnival barker" like too many of today's TV news anchors are. He did his very best, but he wasn't perfect, either. I just hope that Cronkite doesn't have a "state funeral" this week like the one for Tim Russert last year. That's not a fitting tribute to a real journalist. In many respects, the often-reviled Cronkite successor, the flawed Dan Rather, is every bit as solid a journalist as "Uncle Walter" was. No hate mail, please..... My Rant, Cox Cable... What may be the most historic British Open ever is on and POOF!! Out goes Cox Cable...Perpetual busy signal at Cox "24/7" support (i.e. wait 24 hours for support 7 days later)...Finally got online support ... "we're aware of a problem...no estimated time for it to be fixed"... And this company wants my telephone business too? Gimme a break...Bigggggg F up Cox.... (7/19/09) "WTEM-FM"? Sure, why not? No big fat loss if the WJFK calls were lost to the 106.7 FM position. Those calls were originally held by a worthless AM'er on Cape Cod, Mass., during the mid 80s and no one's still crying up there from that loss. (7/19/09) It's amazing how computer-stupid people are in 2009... If you just click on the STOP button on your browser, you can access www.TheMikeOMearaShow.com BEFORE it bounces to the new website. HELLO! LOL All of the content, at least for the moment appears to still be there, but watch it while you can today. I assume they just haven't gotten around to deleting it yet and just have it temporarily bouncing rather than just being gone altogether until they can get some unpaid intern to delete it all this week. I seriously doubt there's a salt in the wound conspiracy here, just quick and fast simplicity on the cheap by CBS. What else would you expect really? (7/19/09) I was proud to call Captain Jim Whittemore a broadcast partner for many years - but more importantly I was honored to call him my friend. The Eastern Shore has lost a great man, and I will miss him. He loved this area, and he loved making things better for his fellow man. I hope that's a lesson we all can learn from Jim. To borrow a line from the song "Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis: "...it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go." Jim Whittemore has left us all something to remember and cherish for years to come. Rest in Peace, my friend. Brian K. Hall (7/19/09) /\ July 19 Messages /\ \/ July 18 Messages \/ Small correction to your history of 106.7. It went from Top 40 to an eclectic rockish format for a while. Then, it switched to NAC (New Adult Contemporary) the precursor to the Smooth Jazz format. Lots of new ageish stuff and off beat vocal performers like China Crisis and Basia. Then when Howard came on board it became WJFK (the assassination station) with Howard and classic rock going up against WCXR at 105.9. Then it eventually morphed into talk when they couldn't win the classic rock battle. During the NAC phase Cerphe was afternoons but not the Program Director. That was John Sebastian who was succeeded by Bob Brooks. The classic rock PDs were Mark Chernoff and Ed Levine. Cerphe may have taken over after Ed left. (7/18/09) "Also, if I remember correctly, wasn't 106.7 Thunder Country at one time? JohnnyuinHanover,Pa." To correct Johnny, 107.7 was Thunder Country after it dropped the WMJR calls and the oldies from high atop the bank building out in Manassas. (7/18/09) RealWorldDCNEWZ: Tune in to @wusa9 at 5pm to see my reporter colleague @lindseymastis follow up on MTV Real World apology by Ryan Romkema! #RWDC #rwdc about 2 hours ago from uTweetMe (7/18/09) 106.7 would make a nice fit for Danny. Only thing is, he has nothing to trade for it. And, CBS isn't going to want to do cash because of taxes. Although... if Danny can scrape up enough cash...WTEM-FM? If the numbers are right, CBS would do the deal with Snyder that neither Bonneville or Salem would. However, if CBS were to sell 106.7, you can bet Joel and Jim will be in the bidding, too. And, Bonneville has a longer-term relationship with CBS (not just in D,C,) than with Snyder. A CBS sale of 106.7 to Bonneville would make much more sense than to Snyder. CBS doesn't dare piss-off Bonneville, If Bonneville were to drop CBS from WTOP, the CBS net would lose serious national billing clout. WTOP doesn't need CBS to do all-news successfully. However, CBS does need WTOP. And, you can bet CBS is scared shitless of this. They've already been bent-over so much by Bonneville, it isn't funny. Just remember... D.C. is the closest thing to a major market that isn't really one. What would Bonneville do with 106.7? Very likely something either nobody's presently doing or doing well. However, I can't see Bonneville turning down a chance at another FM stick in the market. (7/18/09) Montreal on channel 2 makes no sense via Es as it's "too close" for skip. Tropo is possible, depending on time of day, weather and other factors. However, how about a CBC O&O or affiliate from the Maritimes? Or, how about from either western Ontario or Manitoba? Likewise the channel 4. As for the Casio not locing in sync, Es mangles a video signal so badly that sync is very unstable on any TV. Also, when there were multiple stations to receive on a cgannel via Es, it wasn't uncommon to have video from one station and audio from another. Or, no intelligble video, but an audio signal. Or, vice-versa. The 1957-1958 sunspot peak was probably the best Es I can recall for distant TV reception: Hawaii made it to New York; Each coast was visible on the other; BBC and French TV audio were audible here just about daily, and BBC-TV (what later became BBC1) made it Australia! -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/18/09) Al McGilvray.......I don`T know you ,but from what I can surmise your a" know nothin pompous ass".There's plenty of us at Broadcast House who know who Walter Cronkite is.......RATSO (7/18/09) You are absolutely correct, sir. I was totally confused. 107.7 was Thunder Country not 106.7. This is not the first time I screwed up and I am sure it won't be the last. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (7/18/09) In the Washington Post, Howard Kurtz notes: "From the JFK assassination to the moon landing, from his Vietnam visit to the Iran hostage crisis, the old UPI guy was a reliable narrator of national and world events." Isn't UPI run by the Moonies now? Come to think of it, same goes for the Washington Times. (7/18/09) I believe 107.7 was Thunder Country some 10 years ago prior to Bonneville acquiring them. I don't recall 106.7 ever being country in the last 20+ years. (7/18/09) Dave's response: I thought he was referring to the Harrisburg PA area's 106.7, which is a country outlet. Yeah, the Manassas/Fairfax 106.7 was easy listening WEZR for many many years. It eventually became adult contemporary and then contemporary hit B106 as WBMW. CBS then bought it and it became an eclectic AAAer (NAC) for a short while with Cerphe programming, and then talker WJFK with Stern, Liddy, and Don/Mike by day, and smooth jazz at night. And then all guy talk. Warrenton's 107.7 has had many formats over the years, including rockin' country WRCY. My earliest memories of it was progressive rock WEER back in the 1970s..... Interesting... A visit to www.TheMikeOMearaShow.com briefly shows you his old website, then suddenly redirects to the new "The Fan" page. Why bother allowing the old site to load before redirecting? Seems like a little salt in the wound! (7/18/09) I hope that Snyder does not acquire WJFK. Everything that dwarf touches turns to feces. He accomplished what I thought was impossible: to lessen interest in the Redskins and in becoming their owner transforming himself into a magnet for hatred. If he acquires WJFK thenit will go the way of the Skins, Johny Rockets, and Six Flags. Hopefully he will contract ebola. (7/18/09) Here's a link to watch the first of 12 segments of NBC and ABC News coverage of Apollo 11's flight to the moon, 40 years ago. www.youtube.com (7/18/09) Back around somewhere in 1992 or 1993, I had to pick up my youngest son at football practice. That was before he got his driver's license. I can remember waiting for him and scanning the radio dial. I seemed to remember listening to Don & Mike on WOYK in York. I didn't like them and didn't listen anymore. Also, if I remember correctly, wasn't 106.7 Thunder Country at one time? JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (7/18/09) MSNBC can't get Cronkite's name spelled right... www.newsfromme.com (7/18/09) Oh, my word. Dan Snyder has got to be the biggest narcissist this side of Donald Trump. Question: is buying yet another radio station going to make his football team any better? I mean, we've sat through all his shenanigans for exactly 10 years now, and the product on the field is milquetoast at best. Yet, Snyder feels compelled to try to ward off competition by usurping any possible competition--check that, any possible criticism of the Redskins--by buying potential competitors? Look, Dan; you aren't going to make that team any better by buying every other station on the dial. Focus on the product on the field; Jack Cooke never had to own one radio station to figure that much out. You, sir, have five, and they're failing as much as the team is. Put the checkbook down, Dan. I don't need you owning yet another mediocre radio outfit; I need you to put a winning club on the field. (7/18/09) Dave: This was one of those weeks where I just sat-back and read all of the posts regarding anything and everything, the good or bad, about the sportstalk format change that's going to occur on Monday. You know I've always been a strong editorial supporter of yours and love the site. A couple of points that haven't been directly mentioned. First, let's not single-out WJFK for having a poor management structure, it's everywhere!!! However, what a friend of mine told me at WFAN/New York makes perfect sense...in general, radio managers and executives have their own ideas of what a producer or talent should be like and there's no changing that opinion. We're kind of at a cross-roads....the new generation thinks they know what works with the sportstalk audience and they have no respect for the older-school thinking. Problem here is that there's no compromising or middle-ground and it's either or...rather than a mix of both worlds. Kevin Sheehan thinks he should be the next star on ESPNRadio and Doc Walker is the resident NBA expert. WRONG on both fronts and any true radio executive, who knows anything about the business, should have the sense to take both talent off of ESPN980 and hire better personnel. Regarding WJFK, they've always hired the younger, know-it-all people and I really see problems ahead for their newest venture. Yes, the initial talent line-up is much better than ESPN980 but let's see how the shows run. Dave, I though it was very un- fair to say WJFK won't be talking about baseball just because Phil Wood's "sour-grapes" were being spewed!!! Phil wouldn't have said those things if he was working for a station and had his own show. I respect Phil's baseball knowledge but his track record with employers is quite suspect. Since WJFK hired producers like Chris Johnson, a WTEM re-tread and someone who needs helps with his people and business skills, it's loud and clear there are going to have editorial issues. Look, there's bad management structures everywhere and lets not single-out WJFK. Washington, DC was never known as a power- house sports market like Philly or New York and lets not try to copy the sportstalk greats like WIP and WFAN. If Snyder buys WJFK that's fine. Talk to me when there's a fresh goup of people running these stations and a sportstalk station breaks into the top 10 in the PPM's. (7/18/09) There's a great photo of Walter Cronkite, circa 1952, standing in a "modern" mobile unit at Lee Shephard's excellent WTOPtv.com site: lookoutlee.blogspot.com... The photo is courtesy of former Broadcast House director Woody Robertson who was recently interviewed by Lee and Chuck Langdon on their "Out of the Past" television/internet program. See what's shakin' with Woody here: www.truveo.com (7/18/09) Required reading for anybody in broadcasting: Scott Fybush's recollection of Walter Cronkite. fybush.com (7/18/09) If he has the deep pockets, Dan Snyder's wisest move might just be to snuff any competition by buying "The Fan". Remember when Ted Turner did that very thing in 1983 by purchasing and shuttering the Satellite News Channel? Here's a video tribute to SNC's last day. Watch for WTOP-TV vet Charles Crawford around 4:40. WJZ-TV's Deb Stone and WRC-Radio's Ken Alvord also pop-up during the proceedings... (7/18/09) Looks like the A Team has left the sinking ship. I know Doreen left for the summer for "family reasons" which means someone is sick usually. But what about Jim Handly; his name isn't ever mentioned anymore. Has he been let go? (7/18/09) It's a sad time for the radio industry. This is a day marking the end of what radio once was -- AWESOME. WJFK had an unique blend of talent that finally ran its course. WJFK was a station that people could listen 24/7 ten years ago, even half a decade ago. That changed... yes the change happened after Howard Stern left the airwaves. Whether you love Howard Stern or hate him, we all know if he was still on terrestrial radio, WJFK along with his countless other stations would have survived any attempt at a format change. Make no mistake about it, if Stern was still the morning show this wouldn't of happened to WJFK. Without Howard, all of his old stations flipped format or failed a few times, and now we can include FREEFM - 106.7 WJFK. WJFK lost a lot of its mystique and power when Stern vanished, but Don and Mike still held on to the brand even though censorship took a big bite out of their creativity. After Don left, that officially solidified the danger WJFK was really in. Suddenly, everyone forgot that WJFK used to be a station we listed to all the time. Why? The content suffered. The shows' sucked. The shows on WJFK were vapid - oh yeah, the major reason - BAD MANAGEMENT. It doesn't take brilliance to realize why WJFK is no more. It's not just bad management on WJFK, it must be a philosophy at CBS to suck. Opie & Anthony took over the Stern network which was at the top of the mountain and they sank it faster than a toilet flush. The Junkies did what most of Stern's replacements couldn't do, and that was sustain an audience to some degree. You have to give credit for that even though they were on these airwaves in this area for a decade unlike the other replacements. The Junkies are great in doses, but as far as talent and creativity, they hold nothing to what was WJFK in the past. The Junks were a piece of the action on JFK, but they couldn't carry it on their backs. Not that they wanted to anyway. They seemed to be fine falling behind Elliot in the ratings. You think Stern & Don & Mike would have been so tranquil about losing to Elliot? The Junks weren't good enough to keep WJFK intact like Stern & Don & Mike, but now they will be the best show to listen to on 106.7 The Shitfan. It should be great. A four hour sportspage segment everyday! Do we really care what Lavar has to say? Does he know who was on that microphone for decades? It's not his fault like it wasn't David Lee Roth's fault, but who are we kidding here? This is a dead-end road. Talk about crashing and burning -- sports all day? Don't we have that in this market with ESPN 980? How's that working? I guess Lavar is better than ESPN, with all due respect. Hey, even funnier, Lavar must be better than JIM ROME, because he got shitcanned on 1067 the fan (no pun intended). So WJFK knowingly changes to sports and planned this a while ago, but still dumps JIM ROME. He would be ranked probably the 2nd best behind the Junkies if we look at this lineup on paper. Perhaps even #1 when it comes to all sports talk because he can get the guests & he's ESPN. Hell, no offense Dave, but dcrtv is off my list of places to websurf now, because it doesn't matter what happens on the Shitfan, no offense. This site is awesome and I enjoyed reading about the radio business surrounding a few stations, and now it's come to a close. I recommend everybody buy siriusXM because it's what WJFK once was, a 24/7 listening experience. Perhaps we'll all meet again soon on siriusXM. Mike O'meara, I'll miss you. You are one funny and entertaining personality. You'll be missed, but work things out with Don and come back with fire. You live once, and man you helped us continue to live through all the traffic jams, along with the tough and happy times. It's going to suck without you. But don't give up like the pussy management at WJFK did. Knowing CBS, they'll probably keep the morons managing who caused WJFK to flip to run the new format, and yet you the listener are being marketed change! Sounds familiar, like what's happening in Washington, DC! It"s probably CBS suits running the country down the crapper as well. My last thought goes to Chad Dukes in his final moments on the BOAD show. I felt what he felt. Chad feels like I, and many other listeners feel like right now. This station that was once the king of the castle is now DEAD! It's as dead as Michael Jackson. Thanks a lot for the great memories, but this should have never happened and Chad knows it like we all do. At least he has true feelings about this rather than the other lunkheads who completely towed the company line and kissed everybody's ass saying goodbye but wished the shitfan goodluck. What ever happened to the battle & the fight. Sometimes you need to speak out and ask yourself, whatever happened to balls? I guess he left for sirus end of 2005 and once again he is the last man standing. Go figure why? The answers are in this post. Yes it is official the titanic sank. The once all powerful MIGHTY WJFK is now dead. THE END... (7/18/09) Photo of Walter Cronkite at WTOP (7/18/09) If Dan Jong-Il buys WJFK, I will truly have seen it all. The depth of that little man's insecurities is mind boggling. I'm almost at the point where I don't want the Redskins to win because I don't want Snyder to feel happiness or to succeed. I don't want him to feel validated in anything he does or the way he operates. Given his recent track record, it appears I don't have much to worry about. (7/18/09) Dave's response: Look, CBS's launch of sports talk on 106.7 will probably kill Snyder's WTEM. His only option is to buy 106.7 from CBS and (1) either move WTEM there, (2) run two separate sports talkers in the market, or (3) keep 106.7 guy talk to "protect" WTEM. Maybe Snyder's a secret fan of Don and Mike. Maybe, as part of the deal to buy 106.7, Snyder could get CBS to also sell him the contracts for Geronimo and O'Meara and get both back on the air before 2010. Snyder has a pile of money and slumping CBS has announced that it will sell radio stations. CBS may be thinking - if we can't fix 106.7, maybe we'll sell it. Plus, with fewer radio properties in the DC market, it may be easier for CBS to buy Channel 4/WRC next year from NBC. Hello CBS4 and Gannett's NBC9. The possibilities are rather fascinating..... The Post runs a correction on p. A2 of today's print edition for its "500 Days of (Love)" blunder yesterday. The correction also appears atop the review in the Post's online edition. Christian www.washingtonpost.com (7/18/09) Dave's response: Interesting to see that Desson Thompson's condensed review in the Friday Weekend section, which has an earlier deadline than the Friday Style section, had the correct title of the movie. An editor at Weekend should have let the Style section know that the title needed to be corrected in the longer version of the review. Hmmm..... I'm exactly the same age now that Walter Cronkite was when he did the play-by-play of the Apollo 11 moon landing with Wally Schirra. That's my lasting memory of my Moment with The Man. -ap (7/18/09) Dave's response: As a kid, I was glued to the old round-screen color console watching all the coverage of the space missions, from the Ranger probes crashing on the moon, to the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. I remember very clearly 40 years ago this week. I was 11 and we were living in Woodbury, NJ, watching Walter Cronkite's coverage of Armstrong and Aldrin landing on the moon. Plus Jules Bergman and Frank Reynolds on ABC and David Brinkley on NBC. There was a certain "can-do" optimism about America and our technology back then. Something you just don't feel today. Sure, today we've got HDTV and iPhones, but back then we were exploring the universe. Everyone back then thought we'd have a moonbase by 1980 and be on Mars by 2000. Little did we know that the last time we'd walk on the moon would be in 1972..... The last time I checked, I was still news director. Since Jay Young is dealing with personal health issues, I do not feel it is appropriate for me to comment. That should come from his family or employer (Prettyman Broadcasting). I saw him recently, and he still has his sense of humor. Al McGilvray (7/18/09) Looks like I'm going to have to break down and get cable installed on the t.v. that's now hooked up to a converter box..I can't watch an entire show or newscast without losing a signal or the picture freezing..I've adjusted the antenna and I guess maybe the outside antenna needs to be adjusted as well..But don't know if that's going to have to be an ongoing thing..Oh well, going to watch the t.v. that's hooked up to cable.. (7/18/09) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) 42 years of engineering experience sitting at home not doing anything right now. Strong on AM directional work, transmitter upgrades and/or repairs, build outs and upgrades, studio set ups, internet broadcasting. Reasonable rates. Lets talk! Dave Schmidt, New Freedom, PA 717 227 5482 or oldiesradio1620@aol.com(we can make your station loud and proud on the net too) (7/18/09) First CBS kills the Mike O'Meara show..then to save even more money, kills Cronkite to cut health insurance costs. (7/18/09) Words cannot express how bad I feel at this moment, Captain "Jim" or "And Company" as he called himself who passed away Tuesday he was the MOST professional guy in radio that I ever met over my 40 years in the business. When I hired the CAPTAIN and asked him to join the HITMAN & COMPANY morning show on 100 KHI in Ocean City. He accepted - left a few minutes after our lunch meeting and called me back and asked who the NEW sports guy was, he heard that we had hired a CAPTAIN, and I said yes, Captain Jim will be your air-name and I could hear the smile over the phone. I had stopped by the afternoon show and was promoting the new SPORTS GUY on 100 KHI. Jim was the best, I would give him 2 1/2 minutes per hour in the morning to get 10 minutes of sports on air....and back in the day he would slice and dice and make his deadline, then after the sports he, Brian K. Hall and Phil Dirt and I would shoot the shit for ten minutes on air about whatever and CAPTAIN JIM would ask me after the show why he was given 2 1/2 minutes for sports and why we would burn the extra time talking about nothing.......I told him that people wanted to hear their sons and daughters names and hometowns on-air, anything after that was a bonus, he got it and DELMARVA got too......parents would tune-in to hear their kids names on air and how well the did the night before in whatever game they played. The towns got a mention the kids got a mention and we made sure we hit all of the important zip codes if ya get my drift (arb) It was like the old PRELL shampoo commercial....The CAPTAIN got it and never forgot it...like a pro he loved hitting the air with us in the morning and helped to make it one of the most listened too morning radio shows on DELMARVA, I hope that Brian K. Hall, Craig Heist, Phil Dirt and other guys will get up with me and take a couple of minutes to salute the CAPTAIN on July 27th at Shorebird stadium. God Bless my friend Captain Jim and much love to his wife Ellen and his sons and daughter....your husband and dad was the best and you know that I will miss him very much. J.J. "HITMAN" McKay Ocean City, Md. (7/18/09) www.suntimes.com - BY ROBERT FEDER... Special to the Sun-Times... Every day of my working life, I knew that Walter Cronkite was looking over my shoulder. Literally it was true, since I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a giant picture or two of him hanging on the walls of my office or propped up on my desk, peering down at me through those wise, sympathetic eyes and bushy eyebrows. But it was also true figuratively, since I considered him to be the inspiration of my passion for journalism, the guiding force of my career and the gold standard of the business. Walter Cronkite was, as the tributes attest, “The Most Trusted Man in America” and the preeminent television newsman of the 20th century. In fact, the word “anchorman” was first used to describe his role in covering the 1952 political conventions in Chicago for CBS. He also was my hero, my role model, my mentor and my friend. At the age of 14, I wrote to him for the first time, expressing my respect and admiration for his work and declaring that I’d formed a fan club in his honor. About a week or so later, I received a letter back from him, bestowing his blessing on my effort. “I am humbled in the face of, but grateful for, your kindnesses toward me,” he wrote, “ . . . though I know that in reality you are paying tribute to all the men and women of CBS News who deliver the news fairly, without fear or favor.” Thus was born the one and only Walter Cronkite Fan Club. For years after that, operating out of my bedroom in my parents’ house in Skokie, I enlisted more than a thousand members (including many prominent figures in broadcasting, entertainment and politics) and published a monthly newsletter featuring items of interest about the great man. With their boss’s approval, Walter’s assistants often passed along tidbits for the newsletter. Every year just before his birthday on Nov. 4, I would send him a tie, which he would wear that day on “The CBS Evening News” as a signal to the club. He acknowledged each one with a gracious note. Among my most prized possessions is a photo he autographed to “Fan No. 1.” Whenever he visited Chicago, as busy as he was, Walter would make time to see me. Sometimes he’d invite me to sit nearby on the newsroom set — just off camera — and watch him as he put the finishing touches on his newscast and imparted it to tens of millions of Americans. It was as close to an out-of-body experience as I will ever know... (7/18/09) After reading Mike give very similar excuses for his show's failure as he did for another venture of his that failed (It might even be in the DCRTV archive), I loved that Farhi called him out on it: "Well, yes, that is a bit of oversimplification. According to people at CBS, the company effectively decided that O'Meara wasn't successful enough to justify keeping him on the air." Sometimes I envy Mike's ego. I'd be beating myself up and trying to figure out what I did wrong.... he just points fingers and pats himself on the back. (7/18/09) I was privileged to interview Cronkite once, as well as perform with him. It was the retirement party for Russell Train as head of the World Wildlife Fund in DC, and Cronkite was the MC. I was the announcer, and you'll see a picture of us flanking the WWF mascot, a giant panda, on my website, www.jimbotalk.net... Click on "community", click on "photo gallery", and click on "jim bohannon photo set". It's one of the more unusual pix you'll ever see. Jim Bohannon, Westwood One and 1500-AM. (7/18/09) I'm a big fan of Baseball and a fan of the Washington Nationals. I catch as many games as I can on MASN and am constantly amazed at how the hosts' of Nat's Xtra Johnny Holiday and his partner Ray Knight, night after night, can put on shows that fans like me can actually relate to. I know the frustration must be there with so many losses. But Johnny and Ray somehow are able to gives Nats fans hope for that next game. The feeling comes across that the next game might be the start of some nice little winning streak. Talk about a tough job!! I salute you gentleman for a job well done. Keep up the good work. I do think that Jim Riggleman will have the team performing much better in the 2nd half of the season. It sure would make Bob and Rob and Johnny and Ray's job a lot easier. Shawn, Bethesda (7/18/09) At the WUSA9 website, there is a video tribute established to celebrate the career of the most trusted newsman in America. www.wusa9.com (7/18/09) Oh that Dave does it again. It is now after midnight and still no word on the most trusted newscaster's death! CBS, NBC, ABC--even WRC had Brian Williams live but nothing in DCRTV about Walter Cronkite. No wonder DCRTV had little respect from the mainstream media. (7/18/09) Dave's response: You know what, I actually have a life and don't spend 24/7 doing DCRTV. Yeah, I was "out and about" Friday and didn't get back until well after midnight to hear about Cronkite's death. And what were you doing while I was out partying with some cool dudes on a Friday night? Sitting at home alone, checking out DCRTV with a monochrome monitor on an old Packard Bell..... Walter Cronkite, who died Friday at his New York City home at the age of 92, was a legendary news anchor. He will be missed by many who knew him, including his successor, Dan Rather, who anchored the "CBS Evening News" from 1981-2005. (7/18/09) Cronkite's title, "The Most Trusted Man in America," will be safe forever! (7/18/09) Re 107.3: I think it would be the dumbest decision to 'blow up' Mix and make it into a news/talker! Mix has better ratings than WMAL. Why sabotage a good station? The ratings while not stellar are decent. To exile Mix onto 105.9 would pretty much marginalize the format and I think it would likely be the end of Hot AC for the station, at least Citadels carrying of it. Those of us north and east of town have difficulty getting the station! I would say if WMAL's current programming MUST be exiled onto FM, then do it on 105.9! (7/18/09) What's going on with the analog channels on Comcast? Right now (10:00pm 7/17/09) Newschannel 8 is sort of scrambled, ESPN and TNT are frozen, and Fox 5 has audio but no video. Last week Animal Planet was frozen for nearly three days, even though I don't really watch that channel. What are they doing? (7/18/09) Since he is/was a radio news director in Martinsburg, WV maybe Al McGilvray might have the answer to this question but does anyone know how former WEPM-AM and WINC-FM/AM Program Director Jay Young is doing? Some months back someone had posted on here where Jay had a stroke which in turned forced him off the air from WEPM earlier this year. Is he doing better? My girlfriend worked at WINC-FM back in the mid 80s and she has many of memories of Jay Young. Nice guytfrom what she was telling me though him turning WINC-FM into more of an oldies station with "more classic hits..92.5 WINC" wasn't exactly a smart programming decision. (7/18/09) Walter Cronkite, 1916 - 2009. I was thinking about "Uncle Walter" just this week, what with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on Monday. He was a giant in the world of journalism and we shall never see his like again. Sad. (7/18/09) /\ July 18 Messages /\ \/ July 17 Messages \/ RE: "possible bad blood between Don and Mike" One thing I've found interesting is I've been following Don's Twitter feed and (though I haven't ready every single post) I've only seen 2 mentions of Mike: at the 1 year anniversary of the MOM show and then this past week after the cancellation news. Otherwise, he's mentioned Dennis Murphy more than Mike! (7/17/09) Here's the music that DC area radio listeners were hearing, in August, 1970 ... www.amandfmmorningside.com (7/17/09) Mike O'Meara did a nice farewell speech, maybe one day he will be able to bring the MOM show back to the airwaves- as for me I will still listen to the Junkies until they sign off. 106.7 is no longer on my presets, as it has been since 1991. Good luck to Mike and his crew, hopefully, as the song sings, indeed "the best is yet to come". Stephen (7/17/09) I wonder if channel 9 has any kinescope of Walter Cronkite during his local days? I wonder if anyone at channel 9 knows who Walter Cronkite was? Al McGilvray (7/17/09) The final segment of Big O and Dukes today, and the final segment of O'Meara, were radio moments I will never forget. You could tell that Dukes and the others really bled for WJFK, and it was killing them to see the station flip. It was great radio, it was real radio, and it'll be harder and harder to find in the future. God bless em all. (7/17/09) Chads tears and regretts that he couldn't save WJFK 'on his watch' sounded Geronimo'esque when Geronimo cleared the station to deliver another slobbering self -absorbed introspection. Get a hold of yourself Chadusquie else you will have surpassed both Don and Lavar on the self-absorbancy creep meter. (7/17/09) THE Shorbird's did a tribute and moment of silence for Jim WHITTEMORE @ TONIGHT'S GAME. (7/17/09) Listened to MOM's farewell, and I have to say it was handled with complete class. Even on O&D today (incidentally, I realized i'm going to miss that show too) MOM could have savaged the horrible mismanagement of 106.7 The Stool. But he didnt. He was a class act all the way, and actually seemed to be kind of relieved that it was over. I'm sure that working in the horrible conditions that prevailed at 106.7 The Stool would take a toll on anyone. I will continue to listen to the Junks, but after 10am, that station is dead to me. Enjoy your break Mike, find that beach, have a good time and find yourself. But next year, be ready to get your gang back together and get back on the air here in DC soon. I have a feeling that all too soon, we're going to missing you real bad. WB Centreville VA (7/17/09) Re: "That long-distance Channel 2 with a map of France could have been CBFT in Montreal, where they have NOT converted to all digital. This is just an alternative theory to the one about it being from Cuba." Thank you, and thanks to the others who theorized about Cuba. I had sent in an update saying that I did eventually catch a CBC logo, but it didn't make it to the mailbag. I still don't know why I was having such a hard time with horizontal sync on the portable TV. It's picked up plenty of weak signals in the past without such problems. Being able to DX in the now empty TV channels is pretty cool stuff, and it makes me want to get a monster-size antenna to see what else I can catch. And BTW, I also got Channel 4 for a few seconds, also with a CBC logo. They were showing Jeopardy. ~~CA in BC (7/17/09) I'm not angry at WJFK for changing formats but I will be pulling them off of my radio presets. A one trick pony like sports talk doesn't interest me. in fact this would bore me to tears, it just isn't important enough to spend my my drive time listening to. Oscar, I wish you luck in your future endevours. You have been a joy to listen to. Mike, Buzz and Robb, I'm sure we'll hear you back on Washington radio soon. Until that time, I leave you with the words sung by Vera Lynn a few decades back.. "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when... But I'm sure we'll meet again some sunny day... Keep smiling through, just the way you used to do... Till the blue skies chase the dark clouds far away..." (7/17/09) Dave's response: That song plays at the end of "Dr. Strangelove," as the world is being blown up in a nuclear holocaust. Kinda like what happened at JFK today..... R.I.P. Mike O'Meara Show. While I wish Bradley Fukerton and the other friend all the best, my busy schedule will not allow me to listen to the Thug and Dukes Show, as I will be searching out new places to spend my disposable income while I sit in my shower, slathered in Vicks Vapo-Rub and awaiting the inevitable quick demise of "The Fan".. Shake yer boobs. Beth Ann is box. And Katie, you're box too. --- ThePenIsMightier (7/17/09) Wondering were Terrapin Football and Basketball ranks on the new 1067 Da Fan? Have heard no mention of there status on the new format? Can this new format on ye olde WBMW/WJFK be a half hearted effort. The junkies overall knowledge of sport's ain't all that, Mike Wise and Levar Arrington are radio amateur's and making the big announcement of your new format at the Phone Booth Centre over getting the broadcast rights of the Bullets don't seem like a big deal to me. Bullets have been a mediocre basketball team for over 20 years now and likely won't change much till Mr. Pollin leaves. And I remember when Archie Clark and Gus Johnson were Bullets. How many people listen to radio for pro basketball games anymore? Seems like a uninspired attempt by suits who have no creative ability. I would have jettisoned Mr. O'Meara and moved Big O and Dukes to afternoon. Frankly, still not a fan of the tiresome Chunkies but somebody must love'em a lot. Keep giving that half hearted effort Lurchy, the new Golden Boy at 1067 Da Fan. Is Beth Ann McBride already back to selling houses? Hey CBS toddle a. Hey DCRTV Dave , is DCRTV still your full time job these days or are you thinking of moving on? (7/17/09) Dave's response: I'm seriously thinking about resurrecting my military porn career..... Could have possibly been a joke or said in jest but I remember Lurch thinking out loud that he'd like to do a baseball show on the weekends. Of course, how is the laziest broadcaster in the industry going to get motivated to come in on a Saturday to do work? (7/17/09) Regarding the topic of the place of baseball on WJFK. I'm generally a fan of football, baseball, basketball and hockey, so I'd like to hear a sports station capable of covering all of these (not to mention people knowledgeable in more "fringe" topics like soccer, etc. so that you can have someone discuss things like the World Cup or other big events from time to time. On the subject of baseball - it's worth noting of course that having baseball guys around doesn't mean you talk solely about the Nats (other than I expect them to discuss teams besides the Wizards, Caps and Redskins). Also, in terms of actual games, I personally find baseball to be one of the most enjoyable to actually listen to on the radio (as much as I like football and hockey, for example, I find listening to them on the radio to be mind-numbing...... although I do like listening to the Redskins broadcasts while watching the TV game with the sound off). But either way, I think I'd agree - WJFK should have some baseball knowledge in its stable. - Justin in McLean (7/17/09) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) WJLA-TV Account Executive - ABC 7-TV/WJLA in Washington DC has an opening for an experienced Account Executive. New direct business development must be one of your strengths. You must also bring strong communication and presentation skills, experience in revenue development for the internet and the personal drive and passion to succeed. We'll give you all the tools to become a sales star. A minimum of 2 years successful television sales and experience is required. Send cover letter and resume to Abc7/WJLA-TV Attn: HR/AE 1100 Wilson Blvd. 6th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209 or Email to: HR@wjla.com EEOC (7/17/09) A fond farewell to Vasco Bramao…my boss for several years while I was at CC. Vasco, thanks for the laughs, the pep talks, the MZQfests. WMZQ will not be the same without you. Now, please, for the love of God, enjoy the money you’ve made over the years. Sell the house in DC and move to the beach like you’ve always talked about doing. Best wishes to you and thanks for the many years of stellar service at WMZQ and in DC radio. (7/17/09) Why wouldn't WJFK avoid baseball? The Nationals are the worst team in the majors! DC did not need a MLB team, and nobody cares about them! The Orioles have been pathetic for 10 years now. Baseball talk is not what people want right now. This is not New York City where the Yankees and Mets are the talk of the town... (7/17/09) Long ago WJLA used to have a 6:30AM news show with Greta Kruez who had THE greatest legs I've ever seen. I saw her co-hosting that dreadful gabfest on ''News''Channel 8. She STILL has fantastic legs. Greta Kruez- Underrated hotty! And am I crazy for thinking there's something sexy about Rebecca Cooper too? OR do I need to get out more often? Paul (7/17/09) I'm glad to say that I got the chance to work with Captain Jim. I'll always remember him as one of the nicest guys in radio. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone and never complained about anything. He will be missed. Ron Hall, Delmarva Broadcasting Company (7/17/09) And with that. . .at 3:25pm. . .I turn off WJFK for the last time. CBS Radio: Pinch it and curl it. Viva Mike O'Meara!!! (7/17/09) Paul represents antiquated thinking about the DC sports market and I trust he is not a programmer. The Caps are an "acquired taste"? Perhaps, but based on all those sellouts and the radio and television ratings of this past season, a helluva lot of people are acquiring that taste. No one cares about the Nationals? Yeah, they suck and the MASN deal is a screw job. But they still get around 25,000 people to their games on average. That ain't no one. And when they are good, where will the numbers go? Paul represents the old time thinking of only the Redskins matter. I think anyone who is stuck in that view is destined for a surprise. This isn't 1988 during the height of the Gibbs/Beathard/Cooke era. Partially based on their mediocrity over the past 17 seasons and partly based on dislike of Snyder personally and his business practices, the Skins aren't what they used to be. They are still the big gorilla, but not as big as they once were, and the small gorillas are bigger than they used to be. And I say that as a life long Redskins fan. Local sports outlets who think only the Redskins matter are living in 1988, and do so at their peril. (7/17/09) Uniwatchblog has Griffith pix with WWDC www.uniwatchblog.com... Scroll down to find links to old Life mag pix from Griffith in 1956. Some pix suggest that WWDC was broadcasting the games then. (7/17/09) (regarding a previous post) "Just caught the tail-end this morning of Lurch's revelation about his bud Osama. Can someone re-cap that? Thanks." Again, with the goddamn nicknames! Who the hell is "Lurch"?!? (7/17/09) Dave's response: Junkie Jason Bishop..... The CBS Radio chirp is dead??? www.cnyradio.com (7/17/09) "I am happy to hear someone with some balls (EB) actually say that Oscar from Big O and Dukes was getting SCREWED by the station. EB even stated that he "went to bat" for Oscar, but it just didn't work out. After I hear Mike's 30 minute "last show" at 3pm I will never listen to that station again" How is Oscar getting SCREWED? He doesn't know sports and he is not interesting. "While I'm glad to see that CBS is finally going to flip WJFK to all sports, the way they have treated Mike O'mera is WRONG. Mike deserves as much of a shot at the sports talk format as Chad Dukes and Lavar Arrington... Big mistake to let him go... The CBS suits need to realize how much talent Mikes has. I think he'd do just fine in the AM drive with the right co-host." How is CBS treating Mike WRONG? They allowed him to stay after the talented half of the Don and Mike show left and then they gave mike 3 months of vacation a year and allowed his show to stay on for 9 months longer than it should have. (7/17/09) Jim Whittemore followed me at 100 KHI, but several months later when I came back to the area in 1988. When I would go back down to visit friends or catch a game, I would always see Capt. Jim at the games. Yes, he did indeed run the Gold Coast Mall and that is where I first met him. The A&P store was in the Gold Coast Mall and thats where the summer job was at the time (had to work my way through college showhow). Pete Medhurst is correct, Jim was a great guy and a good firend and I am sorry to hear of his passing. Craig Heist (7/17/09) Three small comments: 1) That long-distance Channel 2 with a map of France could have been CBFT in Montreal, where they have NOT converted to all digital. This is just an alternative theory to the one about it being from Cuba. 2) When The New York Times sold its FM radio station, it got $33M for moving from 96.3 to 105.9 MHz from Univision, and got $11M for selling the new frequency to WNYC, a station which says it doesn't even have the money to purchase it, since it's going to start begging for donations to pay for it. Wasn't $33M enough to help get them out of debt? Did they really need the extra $11M that badly? They could have continued to try to run their radio business on 105.9 (since clearly they have known how to program and bill classical music for over 60 years) and would have only lost listeners in Suffolk County and near Trenton, and Times people don't care about them anyway, they just want to be heard on the Upper West Side and Scarsdale ;^) Plus a couple of more repeaters in addition to the ones they already have would have worked out well. A change in frequency clearly makes sense moneywise. Selling it to a non-profit that can't quite afford it just sounds panicky. 3) The Washington Times's American Morning on WTNT actually is an interesting idea, an aspiring-to-be-national all-news-and-opinion morning program where the personalities have personality. Yes, sometimes they are predictably opinionated, but the idea itself (and the way it's done here) is a good one; it's like the NBC Today Show with no cooking segments and on the radio. BBC Radio 4 (and its predecessor, the Home Service) has been doing it since 1957. -- Carl in Olney (7/17/09) Captain Jim was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Whether it was covering the local high school game, talking about the Orioles on the radio, or helping support a local cause. Jim was always the one that was supporting it. Not mentioned is all of the work he did over the years with the local Optimist Clubs....He made the high school athlete feel like a Professional with the coverage he gave. He was one of a kind and extremely talented. I will miss hearing his voice at Shorebirds stadium and on commercials on the radio. Jim is a class act and will be missed....Rich Drake (7/17/09) Dave is right; they moved the show to Rockville to get [Don] away from JFKer’s. Dave didn’t mention there were lawyers, subpenas, and a lawsuit involved. (7/17/09) I am very sorry to hear of the loss of Captain Jim Whittemore. Captain Jim as of the last few years was also apart of the Salisbury University Football broadcasts with Bill Reddish on WICO-AM. Captain Jim also did sports reports in the early 90s for HVS Partners-A/C-Q105, Oldies-The Wave and All-sports The Game. He also worked for Cumulus for a brief time when it bought those HVS stations. I had the pleasure of meeting Captain Jim albeit only once on my ESRTV Radio Tours. I have always heard nothing but great things about him. Yes I do believe Whittemore was manager of Gold Coast Mall. As Dave pointed out Jim was apart of the 'Hitman in the Morning' Show on the old 100 KHI along with Brian K Hall which was one of the top 3 morning shows of all time in this market. Captain Jim will definitely be missed. -Michael Popovec (7/17/09) ("Dave's response: Or, where's Big Don O'Brien these days? Mike could work with him as "Big Don and Mike".....") Does Big Don do his morning show from his home or is he really at the WCEI/WINX studios in Easton? (7/17/09) God bless to Captain Jim. He was a marvelous man and many athletes on the eastern shore woke everyday too hear Captain Jim on KHI. I know Craig Heist and I who started out on the Shore can't say enough good things about him. Prayers to his family as an Eastern Shore Icon is gone....Pete Medhurst (7/17/09) In the print edition of today's Washington Post delivered in Alexandria, the title of the movie reviewed by Desson Thomson, "(500) Days of Summer," is correct. I guess the error occurred in earlier editions, but was corrected for later ones. -- Bobbie (7/17/09) Dave's response: We here in Reston get the "EPEE" version of the Post - the "Error-Plagued Early Edition"..... Don moved the show to Rockville for a couple of reasons - he wanted to get some new surroundings to try to help deal with the memories the old studio had. He also was sick of the CBS corporate crap and wanted to get as far away from it as possible. My guess is Mike didn't move the show back to Fairfax on his own accord. He was probably told to do it and it just so works out that Fairfax happens to be closer to Manassas. Mike didn't go to Don's wedding because, GUESS WHAT, only Janet's parents attended the wedding. Bart had just started a new job in California and they either wanted to have no one or everyone. So since it was Janet's first marriage, they had her parents and that is it. Don contractually couldn't guest on Mike's show and why would he want to? He got out to get away from it, plus him appearing would undermine Mike's attempt at establishing his new show. As for not meeting at the Caps game, Don got his tickets at the last minute, plus Mike was broadcasting live from the arena (which Don couldn't have been on). So stopping by wouldn't have interupted the show. But the conspiracy theories are fun to read! (7/17/09) In today's print Washington Post, Desson Thomson's review of "(500) Days of Summer" refers to the film as "(500) Days of Love" throughout the review. The Post has fixed this in the online review, although the Style home-page link still uses "Love" in its headline and summary sentence. Christian www.washingtonpost.com (7/17/09) Dave, There’s not much sentiment for it in these parts, but I’m going to miss the True Oldies format on WJZW. Scott Shannon has done a nice job programming the service, mixing the moldin’ oldies with some things I haven’t heard in a while. I should have known its time was short, since I liked it. I have that effect on radio stations. After True Oldies is gone, that’s probably it for the oldies format around here, at least on any listenable frequency. It will now be relegated to 50-watt AM stations like Big Band music is. Back to the iPod, I guess. Chris, Bethesda MD (7/17/09) Anyone waiting for a Don and Mike reunion anywhere is in for a long wait. I don't think that ''magic'' is ever going to happen on local radio as long as corporate guys who know 0 about the business are in charge. The suits in charge at Clear Channel AND CBS know nothing about a ''hometown'' feel. The only thing they really have a ''feel'' for is how much money they can get their greedy mitts on while cramming stale, lifeless shit down listeners throats. Look at WJFK's jump to sportstalk. OK, it's close enough to football season so they'll have something to talk about. What's going to happen next March or April? The Caps are a acquired taste and no one gives a shit about the Nationals. What's LeVar really going to talk about? Harry Potter movies? Latest fashion trends? Paul (7/17/09) In checking with my sources, the station on channel 2 which the poster saw was likely CMBA-TV in Havana. It's the key station for Cadena Tele Rebelde and reportedly runs 132KW visual. It;s also known to call itself "Tele Habana" on-air. There are a few other channel 2's in Cuba but they would be called LPTV'a here in the 'States. The Cuban networks we're likely to see via Es are: Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Canal Educativo, and Canal Educativo 2. One thing DTV took away is the reiprocity of Es. When the Cuban stations were seein in the U.S. during the analog era, U.S. TV's were being seen in Cuba. Very interesting place to DX from... (7/17/09) Regarding Lurch's revelation about Osama. Now that the FBI is involved, Mr. Bishop may be getting a visit from some agents after some of the statements he made this morning. Lurch said because of all the text's from listeners and the fact the story finally became public yesterday (www.washingtonpost.com), he felt he could talk about it. Lurch would not condemn Osama for what he did and said he has been in contact with people who know where he is and have talked to him (this I am sure will peek the interest of the FBI since Osama has apparently fled the country). Lurch said he would not condemn him because he didn't know any of the victims, some of whom have been financially ruined. Lurch said he last talked to Osama in late May or Early June (the shit was hitting the fan about this time) and has been trying to text and e-mail him in recent weeks but has not received a response. EB called Osama the Bernie Madoff or Ashburn. (7/17/09) I was pretty disgusted with Lurch's reaction, and comment on the El-Atari fiasco. Lurch basically defended him. Called Osama's shenanigans "brilliant'. Said that he wanted to talk to him again and that he tried several time. Lurch was in awe and covets Osama's lifestyle. The junkies tried to get Lurch to admit that El-Atari was a thief, and his dealing dubious. Lurch would not budge, instead reminisced about the good times with Osamas cars and throwing money around. I think EB or JP pointed out to Lurch that Lurch had several times caught Osama in lies. Lurch refused to comment. My opinion of Lurch has flipped. I thought that he was level headed though admittedly lazy, but now? Defending a thief? Friend or not El-Atari took many people for millions of dollars, and then fled. How can you defend that? If you need advice on doing just that ask Lurch. The other junks also mentioned that when Osama would travel with the to an appearance say in L.A. he would have his cars shipped there. JP and EB also said that when Osama was in tow, Lurch would blow off his workmates in order to hang out with Osama, and the other junks were not even invited. Lurch it disappoints me to see that deep down, you are a shallow, shallow individual. (7/17/09) Concur with the Robb/Buzz/B.A./Katie overload on TMOS. I really do hope Mike gets back on the air, but I think he needs to get back to the D&M show model with a strong on-air partner(which Robb Spewak is NOT) and maybe one other bench player ala Buzz in a more restrained "newsman" role. And constantly bringing B.A. ("B.A. to the air studio" was often my cue to change the station") and Katie in and out was fatiguing. (7/17/09) Dave, In a previous post, you mentioned possible bad blood between Don and Mike. Can you speculate on the reason(s) they might be at odds? Do you anticipate them re-united for a "Don and Mike Show" in the future? Thanks! (7/17/09) Dave's response: It's based on a whole bunch of rumblings I've heard from sources at JFK. I would say that a reuniting of Don and Mike on the radio dial next year or in 2011 is unlikely. Not impossible, just unlikely. Look, Don moved the show to Rockville to get away from the JFKers, while Mike moved it back to Fairfax to be with the JFKers. Mike and Don didn't meet even though they both attended a Caps' playoff earlier this year. Mike didn't go to Don's recent wedding. Don never guested on Mike's JFK show, not even a call-in. Ditto with Mike on Don's new WGMD show. Both will probably be heard again in the DC radio market, but probably they'll be doing separate shows. That's my guess..... Just caught the tail-end this morning of Lurch's revelation about his bud Osama. Can someone re-cap that? Thanks. (7/17/09) While I'm glad to see that CBS is finally going to flip WJFK to all sports, the way they have treated Mike O'mera is WRONG. Mike deserves as much of a shot at the sports talk format as Chad Dukes and Lavar Arrington... Big mistake to let him go... The CBS suits need to realize how much talent Mikes has. I think he'd do just fine in the AM drive with the right co-host. Anyway, here's to sports talk WJFK kicking Dan Snyder and his ass kissing employees ( except Doc Walker and John Thompson) in to submission and making them choke on all of the Redskins coverage that the real sports fan don't want... (7/17/09) I am happy to hear someone with some balls (EB) actually say that Oscar from Big O and Dukes was getting SCREWED by the station. EB even stated that he "went to bat" for Oscar, but it just didn't work out. After I hear Mike's 30 minute "last show" at 3pm I will never listen to that station again. (7/17/09) Sorry to hear about Jim Whitamore. Wasn't he also the manager of OC's Gold Coast Mall for a time? (7/17/09) Re: "If Mike O’Meara decides to stay in this market when his CBS-enforced embargo ends, here’s hoping he’ll have new partners. Having Robb and Buzz on mic was a mess. ...." Bullseye ! Couldn't have said it better. The MOM show was a cadre of second and third bananas, with a lot of forced dialogue and without much chemistry. Still, hate to see MOM and the rest of the JFK format flushed for Sports. I certainly won't be tuned in for the redundancy of what surely will be Redskins 23/7. But, perhaps others will. As many have already said, the WJFK format from it's glorious heydey to what was left at it's dissolution is now firmly in the realm of Satellite radio. (7/17/09) Yes Big Don O'Brien is the morning host on 94.3 WINX. The station is staffed for the rest of day by 2 of the DJs from sister station WCEI, Kelly, then late afternoon by Matt Spence, morning guy on WCEI. (7/17/09) (RE: the TV DX on channel 2:) Odds are it was Cuba... (7/17/09) if Citadel is to put WMAL on FM and move Mix over to 105.9, i will stop listening to local radio completely, except for EITM. There have been so many terrible format flips this year, each one of them pissing me off greatly. Now that TMOS is toast, and WJFK is sinking into a boring sports radio format, I am ready for the end. Man FUCK DC terrestrial radio...thank god for streaming. (7/17/09) Ever since MTV quit playing music I quit watching. But I am curious about their alleged "apology" to the local TV crew. In this sentence: "A camera instruction was given to document the situation and it was too much." Just please, what is a "camera instruction," and does it involve profanity and/or physical intimidation? And how much is too much? (7/17/09) 'THANK GOD FOR SATELLITE RADIO" and Scott Ferrall. He is real spots talk. (7/17/09) Dave, What have you heard regarding any move to Satellite after the (Don and Mike) contracts expire at the end of the year / post April 2010? I believe that Mike's contract was 2 years starting last May 1 (day 001 of The Mike O'Meara Show)...yes? Scott (7/17/09) Dave's response: Look, Sirius XM is having severe credit crunch and financing problems like the rest of the recessionary broadcasting biz is. Yeah, Don and Mike could move there whenever their contracts expire, but both "radio gods" have primarily local, not national, followings. And I can't imagine that either would get anywhere near the dough they made during their JFK days. I do know Don's CBS contact expires in October 2010. Not sure about Mike's. And, honestly, their relationship has cooled over the years. Would they want to work together again? Jim Whittemore dies - Jim was an outstanding cameraman and floor manager at WTTG Channel 5 and WBAL Channel 11 in the 1970's and then moved to Ocean City to pursue his dream... a radio career. He was best known as "Captain Jim" - the sidekick to Hitman McKay on WKHI/Ocean City in the late 80's and early 90's. Jim was also heard on WRXS, WTGM, WJDY and WKHZ. Jim called the Delmarva Shorebird games for quite some time, and was also the stadium announcer at Delmarva Downs. He also had an unsuccessful mayoral bid in the late 80's. I'll miss my uncle Jim... (7/17/09) Back when news mattered to radio stations (and to their listeners), ABC Radio News offered four newscasts an hour, each tailored to the four kinds of affiliated stations - Information, Contemporary, Entertainment and FM. This network "split" began in January, 1968. This link is to the first of three segments that provide an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at how it was all done, and was produced in late summer, 1969. I'm not sure how this presentation was used. I imagine that it was presented to local station representatives at an industry gathering. If you were around a radio that was tuned to an ABC radio affiliate back then, you'll probably recognize many of the names and faces in this promotional film. I'm pretty sure that these were three of the DC area ABC-affiliated stations: WMAL-Information, WWDC-Entertainment, WMAL FM-FM. I'm not sure who the local Contemporary affiliate might have been (or even if there was one). Later, in the 80s, ABC added a fifth network, Direction. Here's a link to a tribute website to those long-gone days of ABC Radio News ABCNews.andmuchmore.com (7/17/09) Nationals are back and so is their inept TV play-by-play guy. Carpenter talked about the Elton John-Billy Joel concert at Nationals Park. He said there was a minor electrical problem and that other than that, the concert went very well. Oh is that right, Carpenter? What about Elton's piano pedals that didn't work at the beginning of the concert? And Elton using expletives (and I don't blame him)? That's doing your homework, Carp. Or, that's sucking up to the owners of the Nats, and they don't even own the ballpark. Hey Carp, the city owns it. (7/17/09) /\ July 17 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....