Lynn Cullen has been terminated at WPTT for a new "format"

Mr. Antill,

I appreciate your having responded with your preceding paragraphs. After reading and digesting your points in support of the success you feel will be brought with Money Radio, I assume this business decision is one based on following perceived leaders in local talk radio markets. You may even feel you have to leave a market that is saturated. That would be my worst "talk radio" fear. This is because you may not have analyzed much about the liberal and progressive talk radio market. Had you really looked into this, you would have seen that this is a demographic that can outspend anyone who seeks to listen to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, who sit behind some helm beating the mantras to local right wing talk so that we can continue being spoon-fed Republican talking points. If you've ever listened to local talk, you understood what I just said.

The kind of people who are interested in liberal progressive radio are prepared to pay a little extra and have great loyalty to local merchants. This group is key to the growing support of progressive talk over the internet. You could have bridged the "non-internet" based demographic group by examining how to grow into a progressive format, INCLUDING a money-format by using a little vision. I'm hoping by the time you grasp this, perhaps in another year, you are not out on your ass. But, I guess I shouldn't worry about your ass... only my own ass.

I mean this sincerely. It is my hope someone in this burg HAS vision and realizes it in a local progressive talk format. Someone will extend and revive AND finally understand what was beginning to happen on WPTT (sadly, you did not). I will say this- if I had to count on Bloomberg and Lou Dobbs to assure that my radio station survived, I quit that day job NOW.

Oh well, good luck with your future listeners and corporate sponsors and ALL these big names. I think you'll find that they are not so much "big names" as they are "big corporate shills".

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On Aug 21, 2008, at 11:30 AM, Ron Antill (RBC-Pittsburgh) wrote:


In order for AM 1360 to remain competitive in these challenging times, we have decided to change format and move into a new direction September 1, ending our 10 ½ year run as AM NEWS/TALK 1360, WPTT.

We wish to thank our thousands of loyal listeners and advertisers who supported WPTT over the past decade.

Unfortunately, the battle to maintain our niche of the talk radio audience has been arduous. On one side is KDKA, a heritage 50,000 watt "Live and Local" news, talk station. On the other side is a high powered FM talker, 104.7, that features all the big name nationally syndicated talk show hosts. When you also factor in KQV and WORD, you slice the talk radio pie very thin, creating an environment where remaining competitive becomes tantamount to pushing a boulder up a hill each and every day. Thus, we have reached the point where we must say goodbye to long time personality Lynn Cullen and all the syndicated talk programs you hear daily. This is strictly a business decision, and in no way is a reflection of the job anyone has done on the air.

On Monday September 1, AM 1360 embarks upon a new direction as WMNY: Money Radio. This will be a 24 hour business and financial talk radio station, featuring names known within the world of money: Bloomberg, Lou Dobbs, Neil Cavuto, Ray Lucia, The Wall Street Journal and more. Plus, long time weekend host of "The American Entrepreneur, Ron Morris, will bring his insight of our region's economy to Monday - Friday from 3 - 6p each day.

Talk Money with WMNY debuts Monday September 1 on AM 1360.

-----Original Message-----

Subject: Change in WPTT's format


Mr. Antill,

As a listener to WPTT, primarily for the Thom Hartman Show, and secondarily, but significantly for the Lynn Cullen show, my husband and I are also supporters of local WPTT advertisers, and even some of the advertisers mentioned on Mr. Hartman's show. I called your office this morning to have this discussion with you. I would rather have had this "conversation" in person, however, you were already away from your desk at 8:40 AM. My need to directly speak with you comes in the wake of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's article indicating the direction you have chosen in the station's format. We are not pleased.

The idea that your station would steer itself in the direction of financial advice rather than offer the rare mix that includes a liberal and intellectual talk radio format raises this question- How much revenue do you believe WMMY-AM "mixture of local and syndicated financial advice and call-in programs" would yield after the removal of Hartman and Cullen? My gentlewoman's bet with you says that your best market will decide to forgo this 1360 AM format and you will loose much, which I don't think is the goal here. Listeners will either turn to satellite radio or podcast the kind of talk radio they seek by using more of the in mp3 format, or an alternative. I don't think you have to conduct to many focus groups with market research to understand your best audience. It does not come from Laura Ingraham's (twice run?) show, nor anything after the sun sets, due to the downturn in power.
Simply put, you are making an error in judgment. It is unfortunate that people who have little choice but AM talk (no budget or adaptability for the technology OR BOTH) will loose. In the end we ALL loose with these decisions.

My husband and I are well educated, 54-62 year olds who ARE your best market. We do our level best to be informed consumers of local, national and international current events, but we won't resort to using WMMY to increase this baseline of knowledge when there are better products out there to assist "consumers". I predict your station's change in format will begin a slide resulting in WMMY falling flat on its face. This is unfortunate. You have somehow missed the larger point of who your listening audience is and what people want.

Hartman and Cullen WERE distinguishable voices. They offer something to the MSA of greater Pittsburgh. Please heed the advice to expand their kind of talk (either syndicated drive time, or local talent). We all have something to gain as a result of THAT.

Sincerely,