Local Radio Wars
So local AM talk radio host Brad Riter today decided to declare “war” on the main commercial talk stations here in buffalo and laid out all kinds of points about how he hated his job there and comes off as very angry and bitter about being let go from there how ever many years ago. Now most of the arguments he makes comparing and contrasting the two stations/networks are valid. Entercom stations do contain a large amount of syndicated radio programing and yes that means fewer local jobs as well. But lets not forget that these shows cost money to air so I am sure its not a total cost cutting move as I would bet paying for the rights to have Jim Rome on the airwaves and internet stream costs a pretty chunk of change. Also who’s to say listeners wouldn’t drop significantly by running a local sports show as compared to a big draw show like Rome? If you have people that move from out of town and choose that station to hear the national show they love you are more likely to keep them locked in for whatever show you have coming up next after all. Now lets get back to the main issue, taking on the big guy. If I run things at WECK here is how I tackle it, don’t associate with FOX news, I mean really do you want anyone under 30 to think you are relevant? Yes you have Nick Mendola who has done a great job of expanding his brand through social media and with his efforts to organize semi-professional soccer to the queen city. But who do they have other than that? I don’t think I know anyone that listens to the station where as the “war” they are fighting is against a station that everyone knows. Also if you want to really brand yourself as THE hometown station of Buffalo you should really have your offices in the city and not out in the suburbs, but to be honest I am probably the only one that will make that argument. In a few messages I exchanged with Mendola a great point came up that needs to be a bigger marketing push by WECK if they ever want to really make a dent in the WGR audience, college sports. Currently WGR550 talks very very very little about college sports despite having a D1 football program, four basketball teams and even two hockey teams that play at the top level. If WECK made a show that focused on just the college sports scene that could be a major bargaining chip in the sports market. At this point I will just be rambling so let me try and wrap this up. Don’t declare “war” on other stations, that does you no good, if you want to be better than BE better, don’t go on the air trying to play the sympahy card just get out there and do good radio, promote your station, use social media and for the love of god get a website that doesn’t suck, the WECK website makes my eyes bleed. Oh and if anyone from WECK reads this I would gladly come in for a tour, I miss my radio days at Clarkson University for WTSC.
