WISE radio switches to all-sports programming [Asheville, NC loses a talk radio station]

Citizen-Times Voice of the mountains ^ | Feb. 6, 2004 | By Tony Kiss, Entertainment Editor

[TaxRelief]

ASHEVILLE - Talk radio took a hit Friday in Asheville, as WISE/AM-1310 made a dramatic format change, dropping all of its chat and call-in programs and switching to an all-sports lineup, the first of its kind in this region. The change leaves Asheville with just one talk-show radio station, WWNC/AM- 570, which was competing with WISE for the same listening audience. In the end, there just weren't enough advertising dollars to support two talk-radio stations in town, said Bruce Law, general manager of Saga Communications, the station that operates and is buying WISE.

[TaxRelief]

Probably a good thing for the region. This will bring a larger audience to Radio, and provide a better outlet for campaign advertising, IMHO.

[Landru]

"The station also dropped its top-of-the-hour newscasts from the CBS Radio Network."

Ouch!!

...*someone* really cares about their community. :o)

[TaxRelief]

Wouldn't it be great if the new thread preview would let you see the Headline? Ashville = Asheville

NC *Ping*

Let me, or MYkdsmom, or Constitution Day know if you want on or off the NCPing list or if you think you've been accidentally dropped or ....

[SamAdams76]

I wonder if the recent success of the Panthers played into that decision.

We have two full-time sports radio talk stations here in Boston. Frankly, I have to wonder about people who listen to that stuff all day long. But as an occasional diversion, especially when your local teams are doing well, the format does have its merits. During the Patriots recent run to the Super Bowl, I listened to WHDH each morning on the drive to work. Discovered that the morning team were conservatives, which kept me tuning in to that particular show.

[TaxRelief]

What did the morning team talk about?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I listened to WHDH each morning on the drive to work.

I miss Eddie Andelman since he went to WWZN am. They have a weak signal in most places.

[SamAdams76]

Mostly sports but they have a segment around 7:45AM in which they talk about the news of the day. It was during these segments that I learned of their political leanings. One member of the team, Gerry Callahan, who is also a sports columnist for the Herald, could be the next Howie Carr if he wanted to go in that direction.

[snopercod]

Over here in Brevard we have our own little station on AM 1240, "WSQL, the White Squirrel Station". (Yes, we have white squirrels over here.) It's run by a man and wife out of their home, I think.

They broadcast Rush, Paul Harvey, local sports, oldies (real oldies, from the 50's), big bands, jazz, bluegrass, and a bunch of music that falls into no category at all.

But NOT ONE rap song...ever.

Eat your hearts out, y'all.

[Tax-chick]

oldies (real oldies, from the 50's), big bands, jazz, bluegrass, and a bunch of music that falls into no category at all.

We have a CD player in the van that does the same thing :-). The only time I turn the radio on is when I'm out at rush hour and want a traffic report ... but of course you only hear commercials when you really want the traffic!

[snopercod]

You can afford CDs?

[Tax-chick]

Well, that's a matter of perspective ... my husband thinks we can, and he's on the loose with an ATM card, for better or worse.

[OldPossum]

I could not imagine anything more boring than an all-sports station.

[billbears]

I doubt it. Spent 7 years in Asheville. The city (and I use that term very loosely) is just not big enough to support two talk radio stations. Heck they just got their second major music station a few years back. Before that the only thing out there was a Top 40 station

[AmishDude]

How can that little station afford Rush's renewal fees? I know a 500 watt station that was one of the early affiliates but went out of business because (1) they couldn't afford the fees and (2) with new talk stations and with other Rush stations close enough, they couldn't compete.

[ForGod'sSake]

The station also dropped its top-of-the-hour newscasts from the CBS Radio Network

*someone* really cares about their community.

The silver lining? I don't suppose the Viacom/CBS/MTV half time self emmolation figgered into the decision? Nah...

FGS

[Landru]

>*someone* really cares about their community.

HA!!
Well FGS, I was just *trying* to show [a bit] more of my optimistic & humorous side. ;^)

"The silver lining?"

Yea, that's it.
They might've even found "God".
Although admittedly such is highly unlikely. :o)

"I don't suppose the Viacom/CBS/MTV half time self emmolation figgered into the decision? Nah..."

BWWWWWAHAAAAAAAAA!!!

No, I don't suppose the embarrassingly tacky display inspired directly from the core of that brain-dead broad running MTV had a thing to do with this decision, either.

Although now that you mention it?
In a fair & just world, it certainly c/would've. {g}

Truth is, the nebulous backwoods station this article speaks of went to an ESPN supplied format; &, we all know who *ownes* ESPN, eh?
I mean it begs the question, "Which is worse, SeeBS *or* ABC?", right?

Of course that wouldn't be a fair question, if only because it's really not a "choice" between two of anything, as it were.

...such is our conundrum, eh?

[Bluntpoint]

Around here, you can go through the dial and get Rush on every other channel.

[ForGod'sSake]

...we all know who *ownes* ESPN, eh?

Hmpfh! I never even thought about the ownership of ESPN. However, it does explain why one can't get any real sports on the "sports" channel any more.

...such is our conundrum, eh?

Indeed. The good news is, since it makes NO difference,we can gather up the Scrabble tiles; draw several out of a hat and tune to whichever station happens to pop up. It relieves some of the stress involved in selecting which of the indoctrination ministries, er, stations to watch ;^)

FGS