Comments on: Deep Background for Sept. 7-13, 2008

By: JIMBO

JIMBO — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:17:39 +0000

APARENTLY WJET IS NOT INTERESTED IN RATINGS OR VIEWERS, IF THEY CONTINUE THE LAME EXCUSES POSTED ABOVE AND/OR POINT FINGERS AT EVERYONE ELSE’S FAULT EXCEPT THEIR OWN.

By: Jim Griffey

Jim Griffey — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:18:38 +0000

The only possible problem with my idea is the ability to sell advertising for a format like this. Many advertisers usually do not want their ads to target an audience that is old in age. However, WRIE was able to make it work, so why can’t WPSE.
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I can tell you that while WRIE had very respectable Arbitron numbers under the MOYL format, sales wise it was always a tough road getting the local/direct and agency buys. However, since they switched to ESPN, the Arbitron numbers may have come down, but the amount of local/direct advertising $$ has increased significantly. And in the end, those are the “numbers” that really count.

By: Doug

Doug — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:30:09 +0000

I have recently posted this on pbrtv.com and thought I would share it here.

On September 1, 2008, Pittsburgh AM radio station WPTT 1360 switched from a news-talk format to business news and information with the WMNY call letters.

Here in Erie, we already have a business news format on WPSE 1450, which is owned and operated by Penn State Behrend as a commercial radio station. The business news format targets a very limited audience, therefore, WPSE rarely appears in the Arbitron ratings.

And this got me thinking:
“WMNY does seem like Erie’s WPSE. 1450 has a pretty good non-directional, 24 hour AM signal. It’s a shame that it isn’t being put to better use.

Since WRIE AM 1260 switched from adult standards to sports on Jan. 29 2007, the local area has been without a “Music of Your Life” format. Often, this format would produce about a four share in the Arbitron ratings, making WRIE the top rated AM station in market 168.

Would it be a smart move for Penn State Behrend to adopt an adult standards format? There was once a loyal audience out there in the Erie market. Plus, WPSE would likely appear in the ratings, too.” (http://www.pbrtv.com/blog/entry_704.php)

By: Shag

Shag — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:43:33 +0000

Joel, or how about a better question. Why can’t WJET pass their HD signal through cable like WICU does. 12 does not broadcast it. They put it on cable. That way viewers will at least have some HD option from WJET.

By: joel

joel — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:38:55 +0000

Re: WJET-HD…it begs the question: how did everybody else put their digital antennas up while their analogs were functioning (I don’t mean that they didn’t power down while the climbers were on the tower to limit RF exposure)? Is this a matter of too much RF on the ground with both JET antennas on?

By: Tom P.

Tom P. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:28:19 +0000

Here’s an update I received from WJET regarding their switch to HD:
“No promises before Feb 2009…but could likely be much sooner. However, we for sure won’t be full power on JET until February because we can’t put our digital antenna up on our tower until the FCC allows us to turn off our analog transmitter and take the analog antenna down. That will happen in February. “

By: Tom P.

Tom P. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:30:26 +0000

Just a suggestion for the blog – I know it’s new, but it seems like this open comment section is not being found by many people. Maybe you could give it a more prominent place at the top of your page, with more of an explanation of it’s purpose.