[BC] Making format choices

[WBRadiolists at aol.com]

In a message dated 02/01/2009 12:00:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
glen.kippel at gmail.com writes:

> 100% live and local may be hard to support, dollar-wise.

WIHS in Middletown, CT is doing it, and has been since 1969. They are 
staffed, full-time, 24/7.

IMHO, WIHS has several big "strikes" against it:

#1, they do NOT announce the Titles and Artists. It's against their "rules". 
(The only exception is during two, 1-hour request shows on weekends.) A few 
weeks ago, I heard their morning announcer coming out of a song, talking about 
"this artist" that he had seen in concert before, who was coming to the area in 
a few days. He spoke about "this artist" for a minute or so, and used that 
term: "This artist" at least 3 times. I couldn't believe my ears!

#2, their format is "fractured". They must be playing 5 or 6 "short features" 
every hour. During music segments, you're lucky to hear a segue' every now 
and then, because there are so many "short features".

#3, they are broadcasting in mono.

They do happen to have one MAJOR advantage, though:
They are THE *ONLY* 24 hour Christian station in their whole coverage area. 
There is one other English-language, 24 hour Christian formatted FM, but it is 
well outside their coverage, and it is only an LPFM with a single translator.

Being the *ONLY* game-in-town has (IMHO) allowed them to "get away with" 
doing bad radio ever since they signed-on in 1969. They are good people, doing a 
good work, I give them that... but they are not really doing "good radio". They 
are also stedfastly and immovably resistant to change. (Read: PROGRESS.) 
Based on long-term observations and numerous conversations with former staff, they 
are of the opinion, "We have ALWAYS done it this way."

Thus, still running mono.

>  SkyLight isn't bad, and KHCS did pretty well with it when they were Inspo. 
 But they moved
>  to Christian A/C and that wasn't as good a mesh with our demos here (median
>  is like 48).  If the market can handle A/C, Willie could do live morning
>  drive and maybe afternoon drive, voice-track middays and run SkyLight
>  overnights and weekends.  That might work.

My format will be Inspo... somewhat like Skylight *used to be*, but will be 
theme-driven. That is something unique, that I have yet to hear any other 
station anywhere doing on a consistent basis. I used it on my daily morning music 
program, "Morning Light" at 6am on WFIF, an AM Daytimer.

Talk about having "strikes" against it: The show was only on the air when 
sign-on permitted, and endured many mornings of *severe* interference from WTOP. 
Yet, despite these major setbacks, listeners continued to financially support 
the program. They got *nothing* else in return... no pens, buttons, t-shirts, 
or monogrammed Bibles. The *only* benefit they got from their contributions 
was the continuation of this program... against the aformentioned adverse 
conditions. Year after year, they gave thousands of dollars per year to support it. 
(For almost 20 years!!!)

Now, parlay that into an "interference-free" FM *stereo* station, playing 
this same kind of music 24/7, including live & local announcers, 
interesting/useful *local* information, and community involvement... I think there is a 
significant liklihood of success. :) I believe that with all my heart! Plus the fact 
that I truly believe, with no doubt at all, whatsoever, that this is what God 
put me onto this Earth to do... I believe it WILL succeed... but let God get 
the praise. Not me. I'm just His willing servant. :)

Willie...
www.wphafm.org
(Details about this dream are at my WEBsite!)
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