Posted by Jim Hammill on August 04, 2007 at 23:43:52:
In Reply to: CBS-FMs' NY Radio Greats vs. WABCs' SNO posted by Jallen on August 04, 2007 at 03:48:41:
Interesting questions and observations, Jallen. My two cents ...
1 - There is a niche they are trying to fill and the show helps the station's imaging. I'll grant you that they might not have recognized all of that on day 1.
I think the success of WABC Rewound for the past 9 years and WLS' execution of "Rewind" this past May (live radio legends in the studio all day) both helped. That PLUS listener input - this board most notably - helped identify the opportunity. Put that together with their stated goal to bring personality radio back to NYC and their "keep them guessing" programming philosophy and the feature defines itself. Once they saw it for what it could be, they jumped all over it. Good for them.
2 - Sunday night is ideal specialty programming time. Plus, here's another theory: CBS-FM may be deliverately avoiding counter-programming against SNO. If they were to counter-program, they would run the risk of negative publicity among the "loyalists" who want to listen to both shows. They would take this hit with no possible upside since WABC and CBS-FM are not direct competitors anyway. From that perspective, counter-programming against SNO doesn't make much sense to me.
3 - As far as Dan, I'm not prepared to say "never"; that's a long, long time :-) Wounds heal, and I hope this one does (or did). As far as any of them saying something derogatory, it's possible I guess, but I think it's highly unlikely. These people didn't become NY radio greats by bad mouthing former employers on the air. Consummate pros are above that kind of thing.
Just to go on the record, my bet is on George Michael as the first Sunday night NY Radio Great. He's recently retired (in a very classy move), a NYC / Philly legend, the best jock from a technical, "hitting the posts" perspective I've ever heard, and the mid to late 70s nighttime voice of WABC. I think he'd be the perfect mix of nighttime energy, nostalgia and demo appeal to kick this off.