The announcement of a radio format change at WFGO 94.7 FM to a new format called Bob FM would normally create something of a sensation in Erie. The idea itself appeals to me -- a playlist of 1,200 songs, covering pop, rock, funk, soul and more.

Operations manager Joe Lang said reaction to the new station was about 50-50, which doesn't seem too shabby. Bob FM replaces Froggy 94, which not only appealed to a loyal oldies crowd, but it also featured longtime disc jockey Captain Dan Geary and his sidekick, Alan Carpenter. The pair, and especially Geary, have been mainstays on morning radio for a generation. And therein lies the rub.

When Erie Times-News reporter Robb Frederick called Geary Friday for a comment about the station's format switch, Geary said he learned about it while listening to Froggy on his drive home.

Radio is a volatile business and changes happen in a hurry, but it's still stunning that a veteran like Geary would not be pulled aside at the end of his shift and given the news. I think this will set Bob FM back, at least initially. At the very least, it's stirred up a hornet's nest among Froggy's former listeners.

In time, if the the format proves successful, this serious slight against Geary will likely be forgotten. But, in Erie, courtesy matters, and the way Geary was treated was discourteous.

-- Kevin Cuneo