Comments on: WSB radio woes

By: Bad White Trash Memories

Bad White Trash Memories — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:02:06 +0000

I saw that WABE is looking to hire a breaking news reporter right now.

By: Richard Warner

Richard Warner — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:16:34 +0000

As for WGST letting Boortz and Clark go, the pair certainly wasn’t shown the door on Pharr Road (as I was). Bob Houghton — the man referred to in one of the posts above — certainly shouldn’t be criticized for what happened.

WSB stepped up to the plate with significant offers to Boortz and Clark based on what their research showed about the two personalities, research WGST didn’t have access to.

That was the beginning of the end for competitive news on radio in Atlanta. Middays are the most difficult to program on NewsTalk stations, and both were heavy draws on NewsRadio 92/640.

The end of their tenure and the beginning of the first Braves contract were the modern day ratings peak at WGST: a 6 share, compared to the 1.2s they account for today.

Maybe one of these days, the ratings will dip so low, they’ll just send data over the frequency

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:36:11 +0000

When I lived in Philadelphia several years ago, KYW, the all news station, was consistently the highest rated.

By: Inside the newsroom

Inside the newsroom — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:36:41 +0000

If you think you can’t count on WABE for anything “that isn’t a news conference, a court hearing, a meeting, or a rehash of the AJC,” you’re just not listening to WABE.

Every day our newsroom enterprises fresh stories, furthers understanding of an ongoing story, and aggressively pursues developing news. Notice, I didn’t use the hyperbole–’breaking news.’ If Atlantans want to know about every house fire, fatal car accident, or neighborhood shooting, then no–WABE is not the place to get that. But when the story is important to our community, WABE is just as aggressive and timely as any other Atlanta news operation-print or broadcast. And people (motorists and journalists alike) are noticing. WABE’s recent metro ratings are higher than they’ve ever been, and many times the AJC picks up a story WABE aired on the previous day.

We all lament the breakdown of local news, no matter what the format. But don’t swear off radio news in Atlanta just yet.

By: LBJ

LBJ — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:28:21 +0000

Something else WGST let go over the past 10 years – good local weekend programming. There were great weekend shows to help you fix your car, house, etc. Now it’s one big plugfest with the weekend shows barely answering questions…they are too busy plugging a sponsor/cohost. I hear the shows now are charged over $2,000 per hour to do what is basically an infomercial.

By: it’s all about the billboards « ATLmalcontent

it’s all about the billboards « ATLmalcontent — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:39:47 +0000

[...] 29, 2008 by atlmalcontent via Live Apartment Fire: Speaking of craven radio promotion: WSB even made meteorologist Kirk Melhuish change the spelling [...]

By: Atlanta blogs today | Fresh Loaf

Atlanta blogs today | Fresh Loaf — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:07:41 +0000

[...] seem to relish is the slow death of traditional journalism. And it’s not just newspapers. As Live Apartment News notes, WSB radio just laid off two of its most experienced news reporters. Has anyone noticed that [...]

By: Austin Rhodes

Austin Rhodes — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:38:50 +0000

I doubt the man who let Clark Howard and Neal Boortz leave WGST for WSB is a COMMIE…but he is a damn fool.

By: rptrcub

rptrcub — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:38:30 +0000

Austin, that must make him some sorta commie. [/snark]

By: ifb

ifb — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:55:33 +0000

[[ @IFB: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think WAGA laid off any on-air folk. That's why I didn't write about it. If you've got something you want to say about it, feel free to submit a piece or another comment.-- LAF ]] Your response confirms my comment. And I'm sorry if I outed the stations layoffs. Sounds like it was hard to accept