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Station shakes up lineup ahead of signal boost
By
Al Myatt
�2005 Bonesville.net
Station manager Henry Hinton of
Greenville-based Talk 1070 (AM) is like a coach looking to get the most out
of his lineup.
With improved ratings in mind and research
indicating that the market is ready for a different morning drive approach,
Hinton has cut Imus from the WNCT batting order, moved Talk of the Town to a
morning slot and brought back former East Carolina football coach Steve
Logan in a Wednesday night role after a year's absence from the station.
And if you can't hear Hinton now in eastern
North Carolina, there is a strong likelihood that situation will be
alleviated after Oct. 1, when the Beasley broadcast affiliate anticipates
powering up to 50,000 watts.
Hinton, who is also a columnist for
Bonesville.net, said five ratings periods indicated the Imus show wasn't carrying its weight in the early morning slot compared to
the station's syndicated and local programming throughout the rest of the
day, so Hinton called his own number by moving his popular Talk of the Town
program to the 7-9 a.m. slot. The shift takes effect Wednesday.
Talk of the Town had been an afternoon program
on the radio and Hinton's Cable 7 television station for more than a decade.
"Actually we're hoping to have our cake and
eat it, too," said Hinton, noting that the 8-9 a.m. segment of Talk of the
Town will be aired again on 1070 and Cable 7 in the customary 5-6 p.m. time
slot.
WNCT will be the third AM station in North
Carolina at 50,000 watts when its power increase is finalized, joining WBT
in Charlotte and WPTF in Raleigh. Both of those stations have live local
community-oriented morning shows � and starting Wednesday, Talk 1070 will, too.
"The question is whether the market is big
enough to make it with live morning drive," Hinton said. "It's somewhat of a
risk. Talk of the Town has been on radio and TV in the afternoon for many,
many years.
"One of my closest friends said, 'If it ain't
broke, why are you trying to fix it?' "
Hinton is hoping that Talk of the Town's
popularity and its informative dimension will address the ratings shortfall
of Imus in the Morning.
"Unfortunately, the area didn't respond to
Imus as we had hoped," Hinton said. "He's had that situation in other
southern markets. ... Additionally, it's simply time for more local news and
information in the mornings."
Logan will be on with former ECU basketball
coach Mike Steele and Hinton from 8 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for the
Chalkboard Chatter show.
Logan and Steele did a local midweek program
during the 2003 football season. Hinton said the show adhered meticulously
to a policy of avoiding subject matter or commentary that could be construed
as criticism of the ECU football program.
Logan's successor at ECU, John Thompson, let
it be known that he was sensitive about the program, so Logan and Hinton
deferred on keeping the show in the station's lineup in 2004.
More recently, Hinton said, Steele ran the
idea of Logan's return to Talk 1070 past Skip Holtz, who succeeded Thompson
last December, and the new Pirates coach indicated he had no objections.
Logan, who has spent the last two springs as
quarterbacks coach of the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, will address matters
relating to the college and pro game on the show, according to Hinton.
"We'll pick his brain and bring in some
college and pro guests," Hinton said. "Because of his NFL Europe experience,
Coach Logan has expanded his pro contacts."
On Mondays, Talk 1070 programming also will
include a replay of Holtz's weekly Monday press luncheon at 6:30 p.m., the
long-running Brian Bailey Show from 7-8 p.m., and "Panther Talk" with
Carolina Panthers coach John Fox from 8-9 p.m. Fox's show is radio only; the
others will also be on Cable 7.
The Taco Bell Tuesday Tailgate with Patrick
Johnson and Geoff Thompson is slated for 7-8 p.m.
Holtz's midweek call-in show will be
Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m., followed by Chalkboard Chatter with Logan, Steele
and Hinton.
Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., Bonesville.net writer
Denny O'Brien will host Pirate Talk, which will be simulcast on Talk 1070
and Triangle Sports Talk 1490 AM and 1090 AM in the Raleigh-Durham market.
ECU football game days on 1070 will feature
extended programming prior to and following the play-by-play coverage from
the Pirate Sports Radio Network.
The station is an affiliate of the radio
networks of both the Pirates and Panthers.
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Al Myatt.
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Copyright 2005
Bonesville.net. All rights rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
02/23/2007 12:33:26 AM
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