Since the press release went out earlier today, I can pass along that Dennis Nakata has officially joined Star 102.3 to co-host mornings with Terry Jonz. I will move to mid-days, and Al Kline remains in PM Drive.

The official start date is 4/30.

You couldn't ask for a better air staff!

Now, 102.3 just needs to program a better mix of AC, compared to Magic. As Randy suggested in another thread, something similar to New York's "Fresh 102.7" could be successful.

Please, Please, Please fix the format and get rid of John Tesh

John Tesh has been successful in many markets. I doubt he'll be leaving 102.3, anytime soon.

I'll have to 2nd that...

If you think Tesh is just light jazz and wimpy, check out his show...really a nice mix of wisdom, inspiration, and entertainment. It IS working in many markets.

Wow.......sounds like a good mix of people....How does the signal compare to Magic?

Probably better since magic is only 49,000 watts

Magic has higher elevation, which makes the two C1 signals about the same.

As it currently stands, Magic's programming is much stronger. Star 102.3 really needs to solidify their programming, first and foremost.

Id rather eat my pet Rabits turds than listen to John Tesh! AWFUL!
Everytime I hear John Tesh talk especially about His concert in Red Rocks I get a physical reaction.

You're still listening, which means he's doing his job.

Magic has an advantage of translators in most outlying towns where a few Eugene diaries are sent.

>>Star 102.3 really needs to solidify their programming,

...and do whatever it takes marketing-wise to inform those who tuned into Star briefly in 2003, and then went back to Magic, that today's Star is not the Star of 2003.

One thing in Tesh's favor is he is not Delilah.

no but he is on 240 stations, which means that 240 other people don't make 8 dollars an hour.

Wonder if Tesh makes 1,900 bucks an hour for his show?

..and before I get hammered for the last comment,

I am not against John Tesh, Delilah, Lia or any of the others, but I am against the fact that I can tune the dial from one end to the other at various parts of the day, and hear Tesh on 3 stations, Delilah on 4, Lia on 6, Rush on 5, Bob and Tom on 4, Noory on 5, Savage on 3, as well as other syndicated shows on multiple stations Locally, Action Jackson on 2, The Green Team on 4, Danger Frog on 4, and countless people live on one station and Vting 2 or 3 others. Yes there are 12,000 plus stations promoting competition and variety, but the case can be made that the time slots are filled with syndie shows, not because of too many stations and too few local talents, but rather mass mediocrity is the easy way to control costs... The trade off is less local accessibility and more passive listening.

Generic broadcasting. If I like Delilah, or whoever, then the station I find them on in the region becomes unimportant. so the local advertiser in those shows might not be reaching their local customer.

So does that mean you're back in radio fulltime Matt or are you voicetracking it?

I would imagine he is VT'd. He would not give up his teaching job.

With all due respect to a couple of GREAT guys,
from a programming standpoint, shouldn't Star
be putting together a younger and maybe hipper morning show? These guys have gotta be in their 50's by now. Why not bring in some new blood to Eugene radio?

Let's remember that Star's target demo is 25-54 Women, not 18-44 Men. I believe Terry and Dennis will fit that demo due to their successful history at KMGE.

I think the bigger point for the show is that it's LIVE AND LOCAL. In today's corporate world, you can't have it all, but I'd want to listen to a local morning show rather than a show from North Carolina or Atlanta recorded or on delay.

Dennis adds instant name recognition and Terry does too! That is something that Star has never had in morning drive. Magic's morning show doesn't have that, no matter how many American Idol commercials they do.

Regarding Tesh, his numbers are great in the markets he is in. He is Mr. Energy compared to the depressing Delilah show.

Lonnie, I love my teaching job, I don't imagine I'll ever come back to radio full-time. Perhaps in the summer I'll do some full-time work. Right now, I'm having fun doing what I'm doing.

It's all how you relate to your audiance.

Let's hope the boys can avoid too much golf talk.

Again, with all due respect, one of the problems with radio in Eugene is the recycling of air talent from station to station. Many people on-air have worked at just about every station over the years. This potentially tells listeners that
it's the same old, same old instead of injecting new ideas and styles into the market. Some of the talent in Eugene goes beyond market equity to perceptual baggage in the listener's minds.
I've seen the research. That said, I DO wish them well.

"Dennis adds instant name recognition and Terry does too!"

As a non-Eugene resident, even I knew of these guys long before I even came to this board.

Name recognition? That can be good or bad.
It's not about name recognition, it's about content and doing a compelling show. Nothing personal, but speaking strictly as a 30+ year veteran air talent, PD and consultant (currently in a major market), this is the WORST thing Star can do. I've heard these guys together many times, and the chemistry is simply not there. IMHO, Star can't succeed by recycling KMGE's old airstaff and putting an inexperienced PD at the helm. To succeed, Star MUST have a PD with programming "chops" who understands the format and lifegroup. Star needs a contemporary
sounding morning show and they need a promotional budget. Again, nothing personal, but
I'm sure the competition is jumping for joy
if this is the way Star's programming strategy
will unfold. I'm SO disappointed, because I'd love to see Star succeed. KMGE is ripe for the taking, but this is not the way to do it. First and foremost, it's about the right programming and content. I'll be watching the ratings from afar with great interest. Nice guys, bad decisions. 'Nuff said.

I completly diagree....'nuff said

Dennis Nakata could easily grab a sizeable audience, IF Star 102.3 improves their format, and gets the word out.

You mean get the word out kinda like how the underdogs of Eugene radio do over at the 99 watt peanut whistle?

99 Watts of radiated power on the tower, 99 radiated Watts, You take one down and pass it around, 98 watts of radiated power on the tower....

everybody sing!

Lonnie,

What station and what market are you a consultant for? That must be a great gig!

I can assure you that Mysterydj is not Lonnie, who's known here as Bestdj.

You're right... my bad.

I knew that too.

Thanks guys! But I do take care of about 25 to 30 west coast clients (Pepsi, Clairol, Cingular.) for the alex jones radio show they rebroadcast it three times daily. I also am promoting and producing voice overs for a couple of stations.
Oh and putting together the annual Rhody Fest. in Florence and the annual relay for life at LCC this summer and the Dexter-Lowell fourth of july celebration. Other that that I am not very busy at all.

Dennis, I wish you luck, but you have been sucked into the black hole that is Cumulus. Get ready to work with non-professionals, on equipment that works only occasionally. With a beautiful view of a mall. (Surrounded by empty studios.)

They still have the KEHK call letters. How long has it been since the Hawk? That's typical Cumulus all the way. Just confuse the hell out of anybody who might consider putting you in a diary...

wow.. sounds like someone had a bad Cumulus experience.

Mine so far as been good. Sure, I don't make the money I want, but it isn't my full-time job.

There are some great people in the building, working as best they can with what they have. I have seen worse.........right here in Eugene. (sorry, I had to duck a flying CD and 200 F-bombs in my ear).

I have to wonder; why doesn't Cumulus change 102.3's call letters to KVSR?

Matt, I'm surprised Tilson has not demanded he take anger management classes. He probably still smokes like a chiminy

While we're talking about KMGE - where is Charlie Van Hall working these days?

Last I heard, Bi-Coastal in Eureka in '05, not sure since...he's a good guy, hope he is doing well.

In regards to John Tesh....Does anyone know how he does (ratings wise)in other markets ?

He does very well in other markets. I think the thing that Tesh does that others don't, is provide the ability to program your own music into the show, and just use his content. Tesh is also not just on nights. His show can be plugged into any day-part. We have had great feedback from listeners so far, but it's early.

Could 102.3 begin programming their own music into the show? The mix of AC being played during the satellite-fed show, sounds too much like Magic!