Comments on: Bill Press on WROC format change

By: David

David — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:51:11 +0000

I agree, who can we contact in Rochester AM Radio to court them into carrying Air America? I have contacted Air America directly and let them know that they should contact another radio station in Rochester as their carrier.

Screw WROC for good. I’m deleating the radio station button setting from all of my radios. Ihpe this all sports decision turns out to be a disaster for WROC … they deserve it. What lousy inexperienced management talent they must have there.

Unfortunately, this very sort of lack of diversity (where other cities in te U>S> exceed that in Rochester), is why many 20 - 30 year olds leave this area.

Thanks WROC for adding to the growing belief that Rochester just ain’t the place to be anymore for being in tune with whats REALLY going on in America!

By: Shop Rat

Shop Rat — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:42:57 +0000

I disagree that Rochester is ill-suited for an ESPN Radio station. This region loves sports of all types, and many follow major-league and college teams. That said, it’s a shame that we no longer have leftie radio here, and I doubt a Madison, WI style s-storm is going to convince 950 to undo their decision. What may be a more productive use of our energy is to select a low-ranking AM (or FM, for that matter - why not?) station and sell them on the idea of picking up the programming 950 summarily dumped. And one more thing: if we do this, let’s make it a station with a better signal than WROC’s.

By: rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate

rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:49:10 +0000

[...] we all know as we told you earlier and were reminded by Bill Press, when RT interviewed him during his visit to Rochester, 950AM WROC is changing its radio format from Progressive talk to [...]

By: rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate

rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:34:08 +0000

[...] with from WROC yesterday said that it would be more like Labor Day. This also corresponds with what Bill Press reported in RT’s interview with him. So we’ve got a little time, but we’ll have to act fast to convince them [...]

By: realgreecer

realgreecer — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:43:30 +0000

I tend to think that visible protest works too. Throws negative light on the station. It’s worked in the past. WE need to get some local media coverage

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:09:21 +0000

The only thing that might work is an organized boycott of local businesses that advertise on the other Rochester Entercom stations. Hit the advertisers where it hurts and let them know why. The businesses will tell Entercom that they are pulling their ads from the other stations because they don’t want to be associated with Entercom’s position of angering listeners. That’s the only way to get the influence to get bring progressive radio back.

By: rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate

rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:01:47 +0000

[...] our friends. So PDA was there with my trusty camera. The same one that that brought you exclusive Bill Press, Obama Girl and Jim Hightower now allows you to meet Sherman [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:39:52 +0000

I only heard about the format change on Tuesday 7/29. I called the local Entercom offices and the national Entercom offices that day. I did not get an answering machine in Rochester. The guy who answered blamed the change on the low transmitter power. He said advertisers weren’t interested. You and I know the station was NEVER promoted locally. They could have told advertisers “buy on station X and we’ll throw in WROC for free” until gradually the ad base was built up.

The only way I could imagine the format would come back would be an organized boycott of ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES that advertise on the OTHER ENTERCOM STATIONS. Then those advertisers would go to Entercom and say “What the heck?!? You did something that’s now negatively affecting my business?!? I’m pulling all my ad dollars becuase my business can’t afford to be associated with Entercom anymore.”

Entercom is all about dollars and cents. That’s the only way to create radio change. Are their enough motivated progessives in Monroe County to make this happen?

One positive note - I am so upset about this change (which incidentally the guy at Entercom told me was tomorrow, not Labor Day) that I was doing an internet search to find more information and found rochesterturning on google. It’s a nice place. I’ll stay here.

By: mallika

mallika — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:37:08 +0000

I have to post to a bunch of threads before I can start my own discussion, so here goes:

Hi, I’m a journalist with the Religion News Service in Washington DC. I’m writing a story on what progressive talk radio needs to succeed, and I want to talk to a listener.

If anyone is willing to talk, my number is (202) 661-0145.

Thanks.

By: mallika

mallika — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:34:47 +0000

Hi, I’m a journalist with the Religion News Service in Washington DC. I’m writing a story on what it takes for progressive talk radio to succeed, and I want to talk to a listener.

If anyone is willing to talk, my number is (202) 661-0145.

Thanks.

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:45:13 +0000

Does anyone know of any organized action designed to get WROC to change its mind about dropping progressive talk? I don’t think a mere protest outside the studios will achieve anything. It’s important that a group of about 3 people, representing the rest of us, should get a face-to-face meeting with station management. Rather than initially going for a complete reversal of their decision, I think it may be very achievable as an interim goal to shame them into postponing a format change until the end of November, on the grounds that shutting down progressive talk just as the election campaign gets into full stride is a gross disservice to the voting public. If we did get a postponement, it would buy time to campaign for the format change to be abandoned completely. If anyone is coordinating something, it would be good to have a e-mail address or phone number, otherwise we will just be a bunch of individuals flailing about.

By: Mary Anne

Mary Anne — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:49:32 +0000

I called them Monday morning 9:15. The operator put me through to an answering machine. I left a lengthy message including the fact that they’re grossly mismanaged; dead air time occasionally; certainly must be bringing in enough advertising revenue - the ads never stop; couldn’t believe that I don’t hear any “green” company advertising - lack of sales smarts. And, I wasn’t nearly as nasty as I have been times in the past when broadcasting was stopped to switch to sports! WE SHOULD BE PROTESTING ON THEIR GROUNDS AT LEAST EVERY OTHER NOON TIME.

By: stlo7

stlo7 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:33:37 +0000

Did you call them up? What did they say?

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:27:01 +0000

I want to help in anyway possible. I love my progressive talk radio. I am in Rochester and every single morning as well as when I go home - I listen to progressve radio. I am so freekin upset about this.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:54:00 +0000

I just happened to hear Bill Press’s show this morning and was sad to hear what is happening to all of you. Is there any way you can pick up the signal from WWKB1520 in Buffalo in the meantime? We have Stephanie Miller at 9am, Ed Schultz at 12pm and Randi Rhodes at 3pm. I would love to help you in your battle if I could. This sucks. This summer for the first time they have stuck us with Buffalo Bisons games when they play at home. Luckily most games are away or in the evening.