I have been listening to talk radio since the early 70's when I was a student at La Salle in Philadelphia. WCAU (now The Big Talker 1210 WPHT) had an overnight radio show that many insomniac college students listened to... the Bill Corsair Show. He would keep up company while we were doing homework (or doing just about anything else). It was downhill from there. I have always had a great affection for AM radio that continues today.
Here in West Chester, we are obviously close enough to Philly for a wide selection of stations. WPHT does not cut it - far too many nationally syndicated talkers. In the borough, we actually have two AM radio stations, WCOJ at 1420 kHz and WCHE at 1520 kHz.
WCOJ is a 24x7 station with its transmitter out Coatesville way, with mostly nationally syndicated talk programming plus a morning lineup anchored on Ron's Swap Shop, a phone-in flea market (wanna buy my jacuzzi?). Their early morning show has gone down the tubes since the exit of Program Director/DJ Joe Thomas, but the afternoon drive time program, The Big Show with Robert Henson, is usually stuffed with a variety of good local newsworthy topics. But Robert's 3 hours Monday through Friday do little for the rest of the programming. While I do listen to Dave Ramsey and Doctor Joy, I listen to them on XM rather than 'COJ. Why? Their signal quality sucks. While the studios are located in the borough, the borough and surrounding townships have many blank spots for reception. I found it funny that I was literally parked in front of their studio on West Gay Street and I could not hear the station clearly enough to listen to it comfortably.
Further down West Gay Street, in an old storefront (typical, mixed-use, store on first, apartments above building), you will find WCHE's studios. They are a daytimer station which in a nutshell means that they run low power (1000 watts daytime, 500 watts during critical hours around twilight) to avoid interference with two 50000 watt clear channel stations. That is clear channel as in the FCC definition, not Clear Channel as in the media conglomerate which sucked up most of the major commercial AM and FM stations under their canned, automated programming for the masses format starting in the 70's.
But what 'CHE lacks in wattage, they make up in horsepower in a very simple, two-segment broadcasting day during the week. The morning (sometimes stretching into early afternoon) call-in program, The Jay and Randy Show, is... well... different :) to say the least. Some would call it small scale shock jock (hometown Howard Stern?), some would call it self promotion for the 15 or so regular callers to the show. I call it real local AM radio. True, I may not agree with some (or most) of the opinions expressed by the callers, but I find it refreshing to hear the daily banter about borough politics, taxes supporting libraries, or the important question today: Who is Swee'Pea's father? Silly? Damn straight! The last time I looked at why I listen to the radio, one of the key elements that I look for is entertainment. What a concept! Sure, information is ranked high as well - Jay always reads the friggin' news, straight from the front section of the Daily Local Snooze, with interjected interpretation and commentary from Randy and callers. Traffic reports... well, that was a topic of discussion this morning as well. Hello? Who cares about the Mid-County (Montgomery County) Toll Plaza? Come on Eric, tell us about the Route 100 Spur (one of my personal favorites as a Fire Cop) or 322! Nice feature that 'CHE has over 'COJ - online streaming! So even if you are in Coatesville (why?) or St Louis or San Tropez (make a note: go there so I can test the stream), you can get your daily fix!
Rest of the day is filled with a varied collection of rock music. I find myself listening longer every day although I would prefer a bit more 80's alternative in the mix as well. Bottom line is that, in my humble opinion, 'CHE wins the battle for my AM listening in the morning. They are local, they talk local, and, most importantly I can hear them whether it be in the car or at the keyboard.
Editor's Note: No, those are not the official logos for the stations, just some doodling of mine in Photoshop. 'COJ's is self-explanatory (radio for the rest of the county). I decided to include Reddy Kilowatt, the familiar mascot of the electric industry (electricity... static... get it?). Rock factoid - Phil Lesh has adopted Reddy as a mascot! Anyway, they are just idle doodling while listening to the continuing debate and discourse on WCHE.
WCOJ is a 24x7 station with its transmitter out Coatesville way, with mostly nationally syndicated talk programming plus a morning lineup anchored on Ron's Swap Shop, a phone-in flea market (wanna buy my jacuzzi?). Their early morning show has gone down the tubes since the exit of Program Director/DJ Joe Thomas, but the afternoon drive time program, The Big Show with Robert Henson, is usually stuffed with a variety of good local newsworthy topics. But Robert's 3 hours Monday through Friday do little for the rest of the programming. While I do listen to Dave Ramsey and Doctor Joy, I listen to them on XM rather than 'COJ. Why? Their signal quality sucks. While the studios are located in the borough, the borough and surrounding townships have many blank spots for reception. I found it funny that I was literally parked in front of their studio on West Gay Street and I could not hear the station clearly enough to listen to it comfortably.
Further down West Gay Street, in an old storefront (typical, mixed-use, store on first, apartments above building), you will find WCHE's studios. They are a daytimer station which in a nutshell means that they run low power (1000 watts daytime, 500 watts during critical hours around twilight) to avoid interference with two 50000 watt clear channel stations. That is clear channel as in the FCC definition, not Clear Channel as in the media conglomerate which sucked up most of the major commercial AM and FM stations under their canned, automated programming for the masses format starting in the 70's.
But what 'CHE lacks in wattage, they make up in horsepower in a very simple, two-segment broadcasting day during the week. The morning (sometimes stretching into early afternoon) call-in program, The Jay and Randy Show, is... well... different :) to say the least. Some would call it small scale shock jock (hometown Howard Stern?), some would call it self promotion for the 15 or so regular callers to the show. I call it real local AM radio. True, I may not agree with some (or most) of the opinions expressed by the callers, but I find it refreshing to hear the daily banter about borough politics, taxes supporting libraries, or the important question today: Who is Swee'Pea's father? Silly? Damn straight! The last time I looked at why I listen to the radio, one of the key elements that I look for is entertainment. What a concept! Sure, information is ranked high as well - Jay always reads the friggin' news, straight from the front section of the Daily Local Snooze, with interjected interpretation and commentary from Randy and callers. Traffic reports... well, that was a topic of discussion this morning as well. Hello? Who cares about the Mid-County (Montgomery County) Toll Plaza? Come on Eric, tell us about the Route 100 Spur (one of my personal favorites as a Fire Cop) or 322! Nice feature that 'CHE has over 'COJ - online streaming! So even if you are in Coatesville (why?) or St Louis or San Tropez (make a note: go there so I can test the stream), you can get your daily fix!
Rest of the day is filled with a varied collection of rock music. I find myself listening longer every day although I would prefer a bit more 80's alternative in the mix as well. Bottom line is that, in my humble opinion, 'CHE wins the battle for my AM listening in the morning. They are local, they talk local, and, most importantly I can hear them whether it be in the car or at the keyboard.
Editor's Note: No, those are not the official logos for the stations, just some doodling of mine in Photoshop. 'COJ's is self-explanatory (radio for the rest of the county). I decided to include Reddy Kilowatt, the familiar mascot of the electric industry (electricity... static... get it?). Rock factoid - Phil Lesh has adopted Reddy as a mascot! Anyway, they are just idle doodling while listening to the continuing debate and discourse on WCHE.
Jim,
Thank you so much for the kind words about our station. I would be happy to add some more 80's alternative rock to the mix, just let me know what you had in mind. Thanks for checkin' us out.
Take Care,
Randy Dascher