Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 17, 1993 TAG: 9312180001
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Melanie Hatter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
J93 has to remember to give weather checks and provide news for Lynchburg listeners, Kincaid said.
The Roanoke station hadn't planned to move into the other side of the market. "It sort of came from out of nowhere," Kincaid said.
Passink, who owns an appliance store in Concord, approached WJLM and asked for permission to simulcast the station. Needless to say, J93 was pleased to oblige. Passink said he is allowed 30 seconds an hour for local commercials. He got his license in 1988 and said he enjoys having his hand in the broadcast business. He and his wife, Shirley, are country-music fans, which is why they wanted J93.
The translator is designed only to rebroadcast another signal and has limited coverage. Passink said it reaches Lynchburg, Rustburg and Appomattox. But it allows J93 to reach a segment of the market it hasn't been able to reach.
"It gives everybody a choice," Kincaid said. "We haven't gone over [to Lynchburg] with a ball of fire." The station has begun advertising to let people know they're in town.
WYYD is not worried about increased competition, says General Manager Barbara Rexrode. "We really don't see it as having an effect on us, because other stations have come in and had no effect," she said.
"I have a lot of respect for WYYD," Kincaid said. "We're not trying to hurt them in any way." Two country stations in Lynchburg could benefit both by attracting more people to country music, she said.
\ If you wondered whatever happened to K92's former morning man, Slam Duncan, and program director, Russ Brown, it turns out they haven't gone far. They're at the new oldies station based in Lynchburg.
Brown is helping to set up the new WLDJ (102.7 FM) in Lynchburg and WRDJ (105.3 FM) in Roanoke, says Jack Alix, general manager. Alix said he has known Brown for 20 years. And Duncan is doing the weeknight 7 -midnight shift. Others on board include former K92 DJ Robbie Thomas as Gary ``Boom Boom'' Cannon and Joe Martin of Q99 (WSLQ) as Brother Louie.
Brown turned easy-listening WLRG into Top 40 K92 (WXLK-92.3 FM), the No. 1 station in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market during the 1980s. Brown left K92 when the station was revamped last December. Duncan resigned in October, citing his disagreement with pending changes in the morning show.
\ WYYD's "Raise-a-ton" campaign surpassed its goal of 28 tons by getting 471/2 tons of nonperishable food.
The Society of St. Andrew's potato project helped bump up the figure, says Kenny Shelton, program director. The organization, which distributes potatoes to those in need, gave 161/2 tons of potatoes to WYYD (108 FM).
Lynchburg Cablevision plus 43 Food Lion stores helped with the campaign, which ended earlier this monthdec. The food will be distributed to Salvation Army branches in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Martinsville, Danville and Covington. Although the theme was raising food during the holiday season, Shelton says, the food will help throughout the year.
\ WFIR (960 AM) and sister station WPVR (94.9 FM) raised more than $33,000 for Jonathan Lawson, the Roanoke County toddler in need of a bone marrow transplant, at last month's talk show event. Syndicated talk show hosts Barry Farber, Gene Burns and Joy Browne helped raise funds when they came to Roanoke for an open forum at Cave Spring High School. Bill Bratton, operations manager, said the stations are still accepting donations.
WFIR also is gearing up for its annual Murphy's Christmas with the Kids. Morning show host Frank Murphy will deliver donated gifts on Christmas Eve morning to children spending the holidays in area hospitals. To donate gifts, wrap and mark them with age, boy or girl, and drop them off at the studio on Hounds Chase Lane. Call 345-1511.
\ Wave-Lengths is an occasional column about radio and television news in Western Virginia. Call Melanie Hatter with news at 981-3251.
by CNB