A sneak peek at WBAL Radio's new morning show
Monday morning, one of Baltimore's longest running radio shows turns the page with a new sound and reconfigured lineup at WBAL as "Dave Durian and the WBAL Morning Team" becomes "Maryland's Morning News."
I have a story in the Sunday "Sun" that includes a preview of the new show and interviews with some of the key players. Here is a bit of it, with a link to the online version to follow. Let me know right here what you think after reading the story today or listening to the new version of WBAL's morning drivetime show tomorrow.
For nearly two decades, tens of thousands of Maryland listeners have been starting their days with "Dave Durian and the WBAL Morning Team" - an easy-to-take mix of news and talk airing on the one of the oldest and most honored local news stations in the country.
Monday at 5 a.m., that Baltimore media institution will be replaced by "Maryland's Morning News" -a clock-driven, harder-news and information-focused program designed for the Internet Age with more and shorter stories, an intensely local orientation, higher production values and much tighter format.(Bill Vanko and Dave Durian -- Baltimore Sun Photo By Kim Hairston)
Instead of one anchor, there will be three. Among other changes, there will be more reporting and discussion of business and the economy - and it will be formatted so that viewers will know they can hear those segments at 20 and 50 minutes after the hour.
Weather, traffic and sports will continue to be featured, but there will be more weather, with Tony Pann returning to Baltimore and joining the new morning show along with WBAL-TV weathercaster Sandra Shaw.
"Primarily what we're doing is we're really beefing up the immediacy and hard news, and backing off some of the lifestyle features," says Mark Miller, the station's longtime news director. "In terms of style and pacing, 'Maryland's Morning News' is going to be very snappy with a format that keeps the story count up. Technology has changed the news business so dramatically, and we have to respond. But we still employ more news people than all the other stations combined, and we still go out and cover the stories like no one else - there's no rip-and-read here."
Here's a link to the full story.
Comments
I am looking forward to the change. I hope they broadcast more local, relevant and helpful topics to educate the public.
Posted by: NotableM | August 30, 2009 11:12 AM
I'm looking forward to it, too. As a former New Yorker, it's disheartening that when I'm looking for straight news reporting on the radio, I've gone from at least two options to none at all. With any luck they'll expand the format to all-day.
Posted by: Claude | August 30, 2009 12:23 PM
I always wondered why WBAL couldn't just have a similar format to WTOP's. I'd like to be able to get news headlines and traffic updates without having to listen to Ron Smith's rants. What WBAL should do is adopt an all-news format on FM and turn 1090 AM into an all-talk format. WTOP did just this a couple of years ago when they moved their news programming to an FM frequency and converted 1500 AM into a talk radio format.
Posted by: MCG | August 30, 2009 1:15 PM
It seems to be a good idea. With some exceptions, they've been stuck in that same morning format since the days of "Jones & West."
Posted by: Greg | August 30, 2009 8:26 PM
Its about time. If I wanted to hear a five minute rehash of American Idol, I would've watched it in the first place.
Posted by: rick | August 30, 2009 9:42 PM
I'm enjoying the new format, indeed. Less commercials, no meaningless bumbling, good news reporting, and meaningful discussion.
Posted by: NotableM | August 31, 2009 7:49 AM
I loved what I heard this morning.
And if this means I'll never hear Steve Rouse's voice in the morning again, well, bonus.
Posted by: JR | August 31, 2009 9:53 AM
I listened this morning and thought the new format was very good....I do miss Dave Durian's soothing voice all morning, but I won't miss (hopefully) most opinions w/a conservative bias on the old format. I can't stand Steve Rouse & would prefer that he not fill in...Shari is ok but I usually don't get to hear her...I think C4 is the most rational of your hosts and will look at both sides of the question...and Ron Smith I turn off & put on Mama Mia!
Posted by: Carol | August 31, 2009 11:20 AM
I LOVE the new morning drive format. WBBM in Chicago is my all time favorite station so this is such a pleasure. Please change the entire day to this format so I don't have to turn off WBAL at 9:00 a.m. Thank you!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Rittenhouse | September 1, 2009 8:28 AM
The new format is okay, but the straight-ahead, "hard news" approach is a bit too stringent and in-your-face for me. I would prefer a more informal, relaxed atmosphere with more conversation among the talent. For instnace, I liked the chat after the sports cast between Durian and Mills and Dave's fun exchanges with Tamara Nelson and Dave Sandler.
I want to relax on my drive to work in the morning. I don't need the hard hitting stuff. I get enough of that the rest of the day.
John from Pasadena
Posted by: John from Pasadena | September 1, 2009 8:28 AM
Does the unrelenting right wing, conservative and Republican tenor of the rest of the BAL am day seep into this early morning broadcast? I'll give a listen and get back to you
Bal radio is a good argument for the return of the fairness doctrine, in my o so biased opinion.
I liked the snow day updates- but now, dut to global warming, we don't even get that.
Posted by: david eberhardt | September 1, 2009 8:38 AM
I hate it! We've been easing into the day with Dave every morning for the last eight years. But if you gotta change it, at least let Dave do all the non-sports interviews. Listening to Bill Vanko interview Carlos Diaz yesterday was painful. Dave has wonderful interviewing skills because he obviously does his homework.
Posted by: JBW | September 1, 2009 12:50 PM
Ugh!
I never thought I would find something more horrible then the annoyance of Media Max but this new format just might be worse!
At least before if you could stand all the American Idol and John & Kate nonsense you would eventually get some quality "culture" like what to do in Baltimore this weekend or what new restaurant to take your significant other to.
Now I feel like someone is sitting at a computer reading the top stories from the internet. I might as well just listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean; I'd have a better chance of staying awake with that in my ears!
What movie should I see this weekend?!? Where are you Media Max?!?
Posted by: Jon from Baltimore | September 3, 2009 5:03 PM
Thank you, I like the change. The news is presented in a normal tone, no one shouting at you or each other. There is more local news now on your station. Congrats to the team in the AM. Could you please extend it through drive time in the evening, like 4- 6 P
Posted by: i. Naver | September 3, 2009 7:08 PM
We think it is awful. We have been waking up with Dave Durian for as long as he has been on. We think he should have the lead.
Emma & John Miller
Posted by: john Miller | September 4, 2009 4:11 PM
Am I wrong or has WBAL listened to its audience and readjusted the format of its Morning Show already?
It sounds like the casual atmosphere is back along with some of the goofey news stories and some of the other programming that we've enjoyed for so long.
Happily, the hard-edged sound of the first few days is gone.
Thankfully, the annoying programming from the old format has not returned: the inane coverage of pop culture, the I-wannabe-a-star television and the not-so-funny monologues from Conan Doyle and that guy on CBS.
This seemingly revised format makes the morning drive to work a lot easier to take.
Am I right, Z, or am I right?
John from Pasadena
Posted by: John from Pasadena | September 17, 2009 9:43 AM
I have never posted anything online until now. However, this disruption to my morning drive has had me change the channel! I suffered through the horrible "Idol" and "Dancing with the Stars" chats without doing that.(except when Steve Rouse was on) The repartee with the team is gone. Dave is now a news reader!? The music that plays behind them as they speak?! Ugh! End the experiment but never, ever bring back the mother /daughter team that offered their opinions on who was going to win Dancing with stars!!
Posted by: Jim of Parkville | September 23, 2009 7:57 AM
I've been listening to WBAL since the days of Gaylen Fromme. Is Dave still a part of the new format? I don't think I heard him on Monday, 5 October or totay and there's usually some reference to the whereabouts, e.g. --- in for Dave who is on vacation.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 6, 2009 8:55 AM