TALKERS has learned that WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM, Providence morning drive host Gene Valicenti’s
program will be simulcast on Cumulus Media’s New London, Connecticut news/talk outlet WXLM-AM, beginning Monday (5/13). Valicenti has been hosting the morning show on WPRO since 2010. He is also the evening anchor on Sinclair’s WJAR-TV, Providence where he’s been working since 1992.
In this week’s column, consultant Holland Cooke asks veteran broadcasters (l-r) Mike McVay, Jay Philippone, Gene Valicenti, and Paul Gleiser: “How do you keep up this pace?” Clue: They have a genuine love of our craft. Read Cooke’s column here.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
THE Best Bit I’ve Heard This Month was by Gene Valicenti, morning host, WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM, Providence.
Among advertisers he endorses: Pinnacle Discount Center, where TV prices are SO low ya wonder if the merch’ is hot. It was a hole-in-the-wall before Gene tripled its business… not a tough sell when every customer gets to “Spin the Wheel!” on the way out for even-deeper discounts or a FREE bonus TV.
“You’ve got an uncle in the TV business,” Gene says, and “Uncle Bill” gives him TVs to award listeners who chime-in on topic du jour each morning.
As Amazon Prime Days began, Gene spontaneously texted Uncle Bill – not a set-up, I’m told – challenging him to beat Amazon deals. ONE MINUTE later, Uncle Bill replied: “Yes! 15% less for any same-model TV Amazon is offering.” Even if nobody took him up on the offer, the gesture slam-dunks this retailer’s category ownership.
Even if you aren’t making a station advertiser a hero: How can YOU localize The Big Story?
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Spot-On: Commercial Copy Points That Earned The Benjamins,” a FREE download; and the E-book and FREE on-air radio features “Inflation Hacks: Save Those Benjamins;“and Multiply Your Podcast Subscribers, Without Buying Clicks,” available from Talkers books. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke