PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag

PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag February 1-12, 2001

Not another Disney outlet!!! They seem to be in my brain, finding out which stations I listen to and ruining them. First, a little soft rock FM'er in Romney, WV falls, then 50kW WQEW in NYC gets gobbled up, and now my Polka fix on WWCS gets taken away . What's a radio listener to do?? Next item: A recent reader was dismayed at not being able to hear Art Bell etc due to weak Pittsburgh signals. I don't listen to these talkers, but a reader of the DCRTV site recently mentioned several Clear Channel (the 50kW type, not the corporation) stations across the dial that broadcast them at nighttime. (February 12, 2001)

UGH! Turn on Ch29 -- look who's back on the air! WBPA TV. I am once again on a mission, to find station licensing information. I will let you know when I find out what the deal is here. Also, Ch35 Successfully made the transition to WONT-LP. It looks like the shoestring operation is sprouting. -Josh (February, 12, 2001)

As of 8:00 this morning, Radio Disney was issuing forth at 540 on the dial. Another sign of the apocalypse! (February 12, 2001)

Eric's Response: I heard it too. First time I've wondered "Who Let The Dogs Out" on AM radio. "BA HA"! Oh come on, we can make a small joke out of it can't we?

At 1:40 p.m. while driving this afternoon (Sunday, 2/11/01), I tuned in to 540 WWCS and surprisingly found a signal. The host of a long-running polka show was playing a few too many records with "Thanks for The Good Times" themes and I had a feeling that the long-anticipated format changes was around the corner. Indeed it was, for when I left the car at 1:58 p.m. I was hearing polkas and when I returned at 2:05 p.m. the local, original, and refreshingly Pittsburgh sound that is all-but-gone from our regional airwaves was overtaken by The Village People's "YMCA" and the national feed of Radio Disney. I thought I had pretty much reached the "acceptance" stage of grief, until I turned on WQED-13 tonight and stumbled upon a wonderful program called "The Pittsburgh Sound" with great clips of the late Mad Mike and others, including Roadrunner Zeke Jackson and others who had made a nice effort with their Radio 1 format. Don't get me wrong, national programming has its place...but when I hear a relatively small station "flip" (via an apparent LMA, no less), it's a sad loss. Let's hope that some day the pendulum will swing back. (February 11, 2001)

Hello my name is Jordan from Lisbon Ohio. I can pick up WDSY 107.9 and WOGH 103.5 and WOGF 104.3. Here in Lisbon we can't pick up WOGG OR WOGI after 11 pm at night i can pick up 98.3 WOGI. A another Froggy station came up at the first of Feb. It is Out of Meadville Pa. The call signs are WGYY 100.3 Froggy 100.3. It is a lower power staiton only about 15,000 watts with a coverage area about 20 miles or less. At night i can get it good. Froggy is OK but why do they play the Country MUSIC the same way on the Froggy stations. Froggy 104 was classic hits 104 but i didn't like classic hits 104. The country staitons are better than the others. The staion out of Salem OHIO is Country they have 88,000 watts they cover about 23 couties in OHIO,PA,and Nothern West Virgina. I some parts of Pittsburgh you can pick it up. The station is owned by Clums Broadcasting in Atlana Ga. There is a staion Akron Ohio that is country and is 94.9 WQMX thats why you can't get Froggy 94.9 in Ohio and Parts Of WV. WICT 95.1 the new cat is out of Hermaige PA. The main offices are in Brookfiled ohio. There singal is not that good. KDKA TV 2 is real good staiton i watch the Three River this moring i think KDKA did a real good job. They came on at 6AM and Went Off 9AM. Here on my cable system we get KDKA and WPGH. WPGH is the FOX Staiton in the Pittsburgh Makert. We also get Cleveland Channels and All Youngsttown Channels.I don't get WTOV NBC 9 Or WTRF CBS 7 at all. Well thanks for your time. (February 11, 2001)

FYI the homoginized Kiss format is on Clear Channels 105.5 in Wheeling. (How can it beat WOMP FM, 105.5 it's only a 6k and my kids don't even listen to it !) I understand the total playlist consists of 87 tunes played over and over and over and over and over and over..... Best Regards T. (February 10, 2001)

radio disney 5 local minutes per hour for advertising sold in combo with weae. It's sad because the oldies format was starting to click. (February 10, 2001)

Eric: First, we were invaded by frogs; now by kisses! Youngstown's 95/9 The Beat has switched to the Clear Channel's "Kiss" format. This cookie cutter station sounds identical to 96.1 in Pittsburgh. They're competing against well established Hot 101, but they'll never win the ratings war. They're playing the same music as they did before the change, the format is very homogenized, and they don't have a strong signal. 95.9 WTNX is a small class A, licensed to Sharpsville, PA, while WHOT 101.1 is a full power class B. Regards, Steve (February 10, 2001)

(Re: WWCS) I noticed them on the air this afternoon driving between sales calls. What knid of format is that...downloaded Ethnic music from NAPSTER? By the way if you are keeping score, 1370 WMJT in Moundsville has been sold to local businessman Dick Mansuetto, The station is now WVLY with new transmitter running at 5k. Howard Monroe is live in the morning(Previous WOMP-AM) and ESPN radio all day, plus a live 4-6pm local sports show. (February 9, 2001)

Eric ~ I saw the name Jennifer Antkowiak in PBRTV yesterday & I recalled her days up here in Erie. She was a field reporter for WJET TV 24's "Action News 24" in the early '90's I believe. It's great to see her doing well & congratulations on her new baby...........Tonight's "Late Show with David Letterman" will have an Erie flavor to it for "The Top Ten List." WSEE TV 35's "NewsWatch 35" Anchor Don Shriver will be helping out with the list. (Don was with WJET TV 24 as their Anchor for many years until May of last year.) He joined WSEE in November of 2000 after the non compete from WJET expired. He recently had a serious asthma attack & has was 30 minutes away from death if he would have waited to go to the hospital.......Also there is word that Keymarket may be trying to block the sale of WJET FM to Regent broadcasting from Next Media. Rumor has it that Myron Jones (President of Jet Broadcasting) May have promised the station to someone from Keymarket. (Hopefully not ANOTHER Froggy.) I'll keep my ears open & see what develops. Tom L. (February 9, 2001)

While I was home for christmas break, I heard Paul Pish say that WWCS was going to be getting the Radio Disney programming. As for Paul, he said that he would probably be getting a show somwehere else in the Pittsburgh area. (February 9, 2001)

Eric's Response: I had a source tell me the same thing, but there is no real definite as of yet.

Eric, WWCS disappeared suddenly from the airwaves at 3:30 this afternoon and has not yet returned (Approximately 8:15 PM). No doubt this is related to the impending format change. Regards, Clarke. (February 8, 2001)

eric, wow! you actually got a wzum alum on your web site/mailbag! very cool...i'm trying to remember who robbie d. was... (February 8, 2001)

It sure would be nice if WPTT had a night time signal. Can't get Micheal Reagan or Art anywhere else.Renda has done a nice job with that station...sure would be nice if WPTT was 50,000 watts non directional 24/7 (February 7, 2001)

Dear Eric, I understand that WZUM AM 1590 plays some smooth jazz hits --- but after 6 hours they repeat the same 6 hours worth of songs. They do sound really good, though. I wonder what are the artists and titles are (i.e. Who sings "When Did You Stop Loving Me/When Did I Stop Loving You"?) And there are plenty of good instrumentals, too.. Do they have a mailing address or a phone number where I can reach them? Thanks --- Patrick (February 7, 2001)

Eric's Response: The Address I have for them is:
WZUM 1590 AM
Box 27
Monroeville, PA 15146
(724) 863-7804

Eric, Not to put too fine a point on it, but the antenna is the device that was replaced. The transmitter would be in the building below the tower. Perhaps they also replaced their transmitter, but it isn't at the top of the tower. Art (February 7, 2001)

Please check out the website of the Connellesville Courier Newspaper for this past Saturday. It will give you all the information of what is happening to WCVI in Connellsville and WPQR in Uniontown. Both stations are off the air. Key Market took WCVI off the air to upgrade equipment. If may be silent for several months. I thought you would like to know. (February 5, 2001)

Ref WQED raising thier antenna height: Does anyone know when this took place? I notice from the FCC database that this change was accompanied with a power reduction from 43kW to 28kW; I guess they had to maintain the same signal strength coutours. The move won't be noticed in strong signal areas but may help fill in holes in the coverage close in. However, here in western Maryland I've just had a feeling that something was different, i.e. the signal seems to have gotten worse. It's hard to tell since their signal is continually changing day-to-day at this distance; however, in my very unscientific observations, I tend to lose it more often while driving and it doesn't seem to be as solid with the outdoor antenna at home. (February 5, 2001)

Eric's Response: If you go to WQED.ORG, you will find a picture of where the new antenna is in relation to the old. (I have decided to share it here as well!) According to the site, the original one working since the station signed on in 1973, was a "side-mount" unit, and despite the ability to radiate all over, the tower caused interferance for points west. The new antenna surrounds the tower and has crystal clear coverage in all directions. As you can see in the picture, the side-mount unit is on the lower left with the new unit up above.

AS A DJ WHO WORKED AT WZUM IN 1969 AND 1970 I CERTAINLY REMEMBER THE PROGRESSIVE FORMAT. I WAS ON LATE AFTERNOONS TO SIGN-OFF WHEN I STARTED THERE, AT THAT TIME WE FEATURED UNDERGROUND SUNSHINE FROM 4:30pm UNTIL 6:00pm. IN THE BEGINNING OF 1970 GOING TO THIS FORMAT FULL TIME WAS DISCUSSED AND HEAVILY FAVORED BY NRM WHO WAS PART OWNER OF THE STATION AT THAT TIME. IN MAY OF 1970 WE BECAME "WZUM THE SOUND OF THE SEVENTIES" FULL TIME. I BELIEVE WE WERE THE FIRST AM STATION IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THIS FORMAT, AT THAT TIME THERE WERE VERY FEW FM'S DOING PROGRESSIVE ROCK. I'LL SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT WE PLAYED SOME CUTS THAT OTHERS WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF, BUT THAT'S WHAT MADE IT NEAT. AS SOMEONE ELSE SAID WHO WROTE IN TO YOUR COLUMN WHAT HURT WAS LOW POWER AND MORE THAN ANYTHING SIGNING OFF AT SUNSET. TOO BAD FCC RULES WEREN'T THEN WHAT THEY ARE NOW, SINCE NOW THE STATION OPERATES AT NIGHTSINCE IT'S RETURN TO THE AIR. TOO BAD IT'S BEING WASTED PLAYING THE SAME 6 HOUR JAZZ TAPE OVER AND OVER. THANKS FOR GIVING US A PLACE TO AIR OUR OPINIONS, YOUR WEB PAGE IS GREAT. ROBBIE D. (February 5, 2001)

eric, "laid back larry allen" from wzum went on to wydd and has been the production guy at 1250 weae for years now...his voice is heard on many of the station's in-house spots...and powerful paul perry from 'zum is the morning man on the boston oldies station...the big one too, owned by cbs/viacom...i forget the call letters... (February 5, 2001)

I Remember the 70's on WZUM. 6:00a to 10:00a the International party Polka's with Jimmy Pol, hosted mainly by Larry Allen. Then UnderGround Sound. WZUM Started the UnderGround Sound in the Late 60's. One Hour a day, then it slowly expanded and became full programing, KQV FM saw this and also added hours of UnderGround Sound. Now it's WDVE. WZUM was ahead of it's time in Every Format it had. WZUM had the best DJ'S the best sound. But low Power and Daytime Only Hours held it back. (February 5, 2001)

wondering if you could help me out i met a pittsburgh anchor a couple of months ago in virginia but unfortunately i forgot her name you wouldnt happen to know who she is she is about 25 blonde hair blue eyes went to george washington majored in communications and journalism if you got any leads they would be appreciated thanks for your time greg (February 4, 2001)

Eric ~ On this Groundhog day, I spotted another Frog in the Erie area. This Frog does not drive a '55 Chevy & Wear a Leather Jacket like the one @ 94.7. The All New Frog @ 100.3 wears a Cowboy Hat & Likes to Boot Scoot. Yes "100.3 The All New Froggy" made it's debut today. Thus officially putting the end to the WZPR era which goes back to '79 or '80. (What's wth that FRO - GEE foghorn sound affect anyway?)......Rumor has it that Froggy 100 witll be simulcasting with WOYL 98.5 in Oil City in the near future. (WOYL was still running as "98.5 The Well" as of today.) Tadpole & Polly Wogg in the Morning? I hope they play a few "Kermit" tunes in the mix. (Suddenly I have a craving for a fly, yuk!) Take Care. Croakin' Tom L. (February 2, 2001)

Eric's Response: Oddly enough, it was about a year ago that the Charleroi/Brownsville stations got sucked up like flies with that format. Perhaps February 2 could be GroundFROG day?

eric, does anyone besides me remember wzum NOT for the oldies in the late '60's, but the progressive rock the station played in the early to mid '70's?? powerful paul perry, kit baron, mark wallace, terry caywood..THAT was cool radio, and never to be heard again ANYWHERE it seems, except in a very select few markets...(February 2, 2001)

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