[BC] AM Daytimers

[Bailey, Scott]

Jovial,
    Sometimes, I wished we could go back to being a "daytime only"
operation, where we signed off a local sunset. WMRO-AM, Gallatin, TN, is
the station my dad and I own and we are at 1 KW daytime, and 3 watts at
night. I go head and stay on at night at the low power. Believe it or
not, we cover the little town with that power at night fairly well.
Actually, when we go to the 3 watts at night, I sort of feel we have
signed off for the night anyway and I just let the computer run through
the night. Doesn't cost nothing anyway. Even if I turned the transmitter
totally off at sunset, the studio equipment stays running all night
anyway, so I don't know extra cost on the AC bill!
    Anyway, back when we signed of at sunset, I felt like the day was
over, turn it off, go home and get some rest! Be ready for the next day.
Like all small town stations, most of my business is made during the
daytime. Sundays is my big day! We sign on (go to high power) at 5:30 PM
and we have PAID, Church broadcast, Preachers, Sponsors of Gospel Music
on Sunday Afternoon, all the way until 8 PM! On Sundays, it kind of
kills us during the winter, when we have to go to the PSSA power at
4:30/5 PM in the evening. On Sunday evenings at 6 PM, we carry the
Sunday Evening Worship Services from the Hartsville Pike Church of
Christ, which has tons of listeners in our town. 
    Monday thru Saturday, WMRO is automated with Westwood One's Oldies
Channel format, but we do local news and local features during the
satellite breaks.  The station is just 3 people, me, my wife, and one
part-time sales guy that works full time for Clear Channel during the
week. 
     The church hates it when we are on low power during the winter
months for Sunday Evening Services, but they have been understanding
about it all and still they get a large audience in town at our PSSA
power of 30 watts during the winter time of the year.
    After reading your comments about Jess, I feel like Gallatin's Jess
Tatum!  But, not as old....I'm only 42 and my wife is 37. Oh by the way,
my station is fully paid for...my dad owns the property the station sits
on, and I own the building and the station itself. All equipment is paid
for and we just install this week a brand new Wheatstone/AudioArts
Console and paid cash for it.
    I enjoy being an AM Daytimer. After working for corporate and being
on call for a 24/7 FM operation, fighting for arbitron ratings, the OM &
the PD on my butt 24/7, calling me at home at night over silly stuff
that didn't amount to a hell of beans, I now feel with a Daytimer, I
have returned to the simple life!
    This list and Barry Mishkind has been supportive of keeping the
daytimers alive, and I salute him for that!

Scott




I'll never forget the late Jess Tatum, who owned WKSC/Kershaw, SC. 
The station was a 500 watt daytimer on 1300, with a small studio in 
Jess's backyard (I swear). He signed-on everyday at 6:00AM, and 
signed-off at 12:30PM (after the Noon news and Paul Harvey) on 
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (so he could go out and sell 
advertising), at 6:00PM (or local sunset, if earlier) on Thursday and 
Friday (because those were the "heavy" days...advertising Saturday 
sales and such), at 12:30 on Saturday (so he could go fishing or 
watch a ballgame on TV), and 12:00Noon on Sunday ('cause a feller 
needs a little time to rest). He told me he did about $5k a month, on 
average (in 1984). He was the only employee (with his wife keeping 
the books), everything was paid for, so he made a very comfortable 
living. Sounds crazy, but hey...it must've worked, 'cause it was that 
way for years.


Jovial Jay




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