It seems the storm knocked down the power to both the Studios and the FM Transmitter site yesterday. My buddy had to call a technical consultant to get them back up and the back up power generators running. Direct and intense lightning strikes even damaged the backup electrical generators. They were only off the air a short time. But the lightning burned up the entire remote control at the transmitter site and blew several computers at the studio site. Radio towers get hit with lightning hundreds of times a year, but this time it was really intense. My friend hadn't had any sleep at all last nightan and had completely forgotten about his appointment. He showed up about a half hour late.
His Program Director had left at the end of June so he has been swamped with out the lightning damage. There was no problem with the PD . He got a job offer to be support director for a major computer game company. That is unreal a PD to computer software support. That is a career change. He has also been the morning Male on a Dominate Female/Subservient Male morning show. He actually wrote the skits where she always won. I heard the replacement, I don't think is quite as good as the guy who originated the role on the station. I had to explain to the replacement that it is important that he not like it that she always wins. I explained that it does not work, if he likes for her to win. The fun is when he loses and can't do anything about it but take it in supressed anger. He can say he does not care,but everywoman listening has to know he cares.
It is sort of a funny situation. They have a morning show with a female and a male host. And then one day there is a new male and this one is just as big a loser as the previous one. The dominate female morning show does attract a large female audience.
I got to look at all the latest Nielson's.
DollyCali, Glenn Becks numbers are up in Columbus. Rush is steady.
One of my former employees tweaked an oldie format on an AM-er that was doing well in Columbus ( 3.1 rating Number 10 in 18 to 64+). The station is now less than 1. He will no doubt be job hunting soon.
Clear Channel continues to dominate Columbus. The Wolfs with the WBNS stations are just not able to compete. They brought in a hot shot programmer to do WBNS-FM and he spent a year doing a new format. In the books since thenew format start it has dropped from #4 to #5 to #6 in the rankings.
I still can't understand how they lose sight of the fact that one has to define the target audience, survey their desires and then pander to those desires better than the competition. Some of these guys are just doing what they like. That is dumb city.
I was amazed at some analysis tapes of the Clear Channel Shock Jock shows on the air in Columbus. They use the F word on the air and say the most crude things. But it works.. they are getting listeners.
I am glad to be actively out of radio. I still do some market analysis and some program consulting. ... but what it takes to win today makes me very uncomfortable.
My software projects are coming along nicely. I told my buddy that I wanted to run through at least one more fortune before I die... the look on his face was priceless.
Mike Trivisanno, I can do without!
The HUGE news in n.e. Ohio tonite is the Tribe's win over the Yankees (YEEEESSSSSSS!!!), and LeBron James professional debut down in Florida in some summer league...
Anyone wanting info about those 2 events will tune into WTAM.
"I've been rich, and I've been poor. Rich is better."
Always a great quote. R. Anson added... "And it's easier to be rich..."
/john