Funny Promotion in Froggy Land

Jon Fox · Post by **Jon Fox** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:18 am

<b>This could fit on either the PA or WV board... but I'm putting it here. 103.5 is in the Wheeling/Stuebenville area.

<i>FROM PBRTV.com

The Pittsburgh area FROGGY stations (WOGI 98.3, WOGG 94.9, WOGH 103.5 & WOGF 104.3) have come up with a last-minute contest for the weekend. "ELIOT SPITZER WEEKEND recognizes the bad behavior of the [nearly] former crime-fighting Governor of New York." Beginning this afternoon and running through Sunday evening, FROGGY fans will need to listen for an audio sounder using the theme from "Dragnet". That's the cue to call in and win the song "Cheatin" on Sara Evans' Greatest Hits CD.

But wait...there's more!

CD winners aged 18 and over will qualify to win the Grand Prize: A Two-night stay at the Super 8 Motel by CHEAT Lake near Morgantown WV!</i></b>

Kitesgot · Post by **Kitesgot** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:06 pm

Theme from Dragnet?

That's all?

Elliot Spitzer weekend is nothing more than listening for the Dragnet theme?-------to win a single from Sarah Evans?

I mean, I appreciate the timing, but----- THE DRAGNET THEME WAS THE ONLY THING THAT THEY COULD COME UP WITH AT ALL?

So-------the deal is----

since Spitzer was found out by the law (but not charged with anything) the "Dragnet theme" is----------supposed to mean------under scrutiny?
And what relevance does Sarah Evan's latest single have to do with it? Is that supposed to be another joke since Sarah Evan's had an affair---and also had a song called, "Cheatin'---or did Sarah's affair have nothing in it, just the song title?
Do they win the entrie greatest hits CD---or just one song?----------Probably just playing up the one song title ---but they get the whole CD.

Other'n that-----two nights at the Super-8 in Morgantown?
Does anyone really want to win that? For what? There's nothing going on, no basketball games to attend, no------nothing.

Do they get any prize money at all so they can eat?

Besides making some jokes, do people that follow Froggy even know who the hell Elliot Spitzer is in the first place?

WHAT THE HELL?

I don't know.

I would've thought there could've been a more provacative sounder.

To be honest, that's about as lame as the jocks using 'frog' names, so I guess it all fits.

I appreciate you posting this Jon, as you can see I've become WAY to worked up about it. I need a nap.

Arp2 · Post by **Arp2** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:06 pm

...and you just know the people in the meeting sat around and laughed like Beavis and Butthead as they were coming up with this idea.....

On one hand, this is "creative" and took effort and work, but.....look, people, we just have to stop programming our stations with the lowest-common-denominator-stuff like we're the sixth UHF station in town.....well, no, I don't know.......

AmpedNow · Post by **AmpedNow** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:43 pm

This is pretty lame.

But, in their defense, they were up against the clock to make a weekend contest out of it. If they waited until next weekend, it would be old news--unless another bombshell drops between now and then.

But yeah, I also wonder how many listeners even know who Spitzer is. Heck, I'm a political junkie, and I vaguely knew who he was outside of NY governor before this...

jag · Post by **jag** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:32 pm

Apart from the former governor's name, where are all the hopelessly unnecessary, if not needlessly annoying, aquatic references with which Froggy seems inclined to relentlessly assail its listenership?

Dr. Whiplash · Post by **Dr. Whiplash** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:37 pm

Speaking (croaking

) of which...

A close friend, a non-radio guy, union carpenter told me last night that he likes the music and announcers on Froggy (that's WGGE Parkersburg) but he and his buds are getting sick of the amphibian euphemisms.

His question: "Why do they keep going on and on with that bullshit?"

Or should that be bullfrog shit?

The People's DJ · Post by **The People's DJ** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:39 pm

Cause it a bad gimmick and they don't get it.

jag · Post by **jag** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:40 pm

Perhaps there are other "themes" that should be considered that would make the Froggy folks realize the absurdity of their concept. Maybe a station based on a desert environment. Or, one based on a rain forest.

Hmmm...I sense seemingly endless possibilities. What say thee?

Kitesgot · Post by **Kitesgot** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:05 am

Sandy 102 THE HEAT--we're hot during the day but so cool at night!

Join Cactus Bob tomorrow morning as he heats up your day!!

Middays it's Dry-Heat Pete at work

and let Tumbleweed Terry take you home in the afternoons!

Sandy 102---The Heat----the hottest songs all day, with no humidity, and never a rainy day!!!

Yeah, this could work.

Lester · Post by **Lester** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:07 am

Best get that copyright in order.

Sincerely,
Heatstroke Hal

AmpedNow · Post by **AmpedNow** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:06 pm

Kitesgot wrote:Sandy 102 THE HEAT--we're hot during the day but so cool at night!

Join Cactus Bob tomorrow morning as he heats up your day!!

Middays it's Dry-Heat Pete at work

and let Tumbleweed Terry take you home in the afternoons!

Sandy 102---The Heat----the hottest songs all day, with no humidity, and never a rainy day!!!

Yeah, this could work.

Maybe in Yuma...

Chris Lawrence · Post by **Chris Lawrence** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:33 am

The contest is lame, but don't dismiss the country audience not knowing Elliot Spitzer. The name is reviled by NRA members. He's the Attorney General that lauched the effort to sue gun makers out of business back in the 1990's. His name and picture was platered like a wanted poster across NRA magazines during the Clinton Administration. They may not have realized he had gone on to become New York's governor, but it's doubtful they've forgotten the name.

Lester · Post by **Lester** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:12 am

Somehow I totally missed that he was elected governor. (Or forgot.)

jag · Post by **jag** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:42 pm

But, then again, Chris, whose name has the NRA not reviled?

Jay Nunley · Post by **Jay Nunley** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:25 pm

I think it's a pretty good promotion. It has a desirable prize, a funnyish hook, and is topical. Plus, it's a weekend thing which means it can't hurt you and will be ten times better than just another weekend with nothing going on.

Dr. Whiplash · Post by **Dr. Whiplash** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:30 pm

Jay Nunley wrote:I think it's a pretty good promotion. It has a desirable prize, a funnyish hook, and is topical. Plus, it's a weekend thing which means it can't hurt you and will be ten times better than just another weekend with nothing going on.

Good points all, but there's the froggy factor - the constant references to frogs, ponds, lilypads - it's relentless.

If they had morning sports and weather people? Croaking Of Sports and Your Froggy Forecast Live From The Swamp - whatever maximally tacky amphibian tagline you can think of. I mean, this shit quit being funny about a week after it started.

Yeah, I'm sure the frog thing bothers radio people a lot more than it does listeners, as evidenced by ratings, and I know that's the bottom line. But I have this feeling that this regional amphibian fixation is getting too much credit for otherwise solid radio programming.

The Parkersburg croaker is mostly live with good DJs who host live request and dedication hours and lots of basic good local radio. They are now kicking CC's predictable and largely VT'ed WNUS in the ratings. But I keep hearing from non-radio friends about how the dumbass froggy theme is pissing them off.

How would Froggy do if it wasn't so relentlessly froggy? I don't know. Are they succeeding bacause of or despite the constant frog references?

Arp2 · Post by **Arp2** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:43 pm

Jay Nunley wrote:It has a desirable prize,....

...Sara Evans' Greatest Hits CD....

CD winners aged 18 and over will qualify to win the Grand Prize: A Two-night stay at the Super 8 Motel by CHEAT Lake near Morgantown WV!

I mean, I suppose CDs always have their fans, but.....

...I mean, it's not like you're going to get those two nights around a game day in the fall....

Jay Nunley · Post by **Jay Nunley** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:41 am

Arp2 wrote:
I mean, I suppose CDs always have their fans, but.....

...I mean, it's not like you're going to get those two nights around a game day in the fall....

It isn't a world beater prize for sure. It's still better than the same old voice tracks and syndicated programming. If you are smart enough to relate it as a weekend getaway at Cheat Lake or a chance to have a weekend adventure with your wife that includes no cooking, cleaning, or going to mom's house it's an O.K. prize.

SPIKE NESMITH! · Post by **SPIKE NESMITH!** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:42 pm

It's a Super-8 motel. Any one of those I've stayed in have required cleaning. =P blech!

Kitesgot · Post by **Kitesgot** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:57 pm

Generally-------I agree with Nunley.

On this one though, I do not.

Yes, I understand the "Super-8" is PART of the promotion because it helps tie in a tawdry extra-marital affair, and Super-8 is a catalyst for that.

But-------a Super-8 an hour's drive away for two nights? To do what?
If it was the Waterfront, or something---at least you could have room-service and I think they have a spa to enjoy there, but----that's not the prize.

I honest to GOD cannot see anyone actually using the grand-prize, especially when they find out they can't use it for a sports weekend.

Frankly------I don't really KNOW of anyone that would want it at all!

Super-8's are reserved for folks that are forced to live in the area do to a job they're doing. NOT as a weekend getaway when there's nothing to 'get-away' to.

Sure------it's a weekend promotion that has undergone far too much scrutiny, and if there was THIS much scrutiny put into any other radio promotion, they would be hacked to death just like this was has as well.

ON THE OTHER HAND!-------for those that understood who Elliot Spitzer was, and understood what was going on----it's not about someone actually USING the grand-prize---it's simply a radio-bit and a few dozen people will wind up with a CD.
No harm, no foul.

(yes, I've softened on my earlier disdain for this promotion, which virtually makes me agree with Nunley sort-of)