The TV news this evening had a lead story that the entire staff of Tyler-Longview's "The Breeze" has been fired, including company President, Bill Waller. It seems that since the passing of family patriarch, Dudley Waller, there has been quite a bit of unrest in the Waller family. Since I consider several of the family members and the station's employees to be good friends. I find this to be quite upsetting.
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The Breeze staff fired
- Thread starter Chuck
- Start date
That is an awful thing to do.
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107542/east-texas-stations-lock-out-staff-go-dark/
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107542/east-texas-stations-lock-out-staff-go-dark/
I think either iHeart should come back to the market, or someone should start a petition on this, as this is not fair to the people who were treated fairly before, and they were doing something good.
Leaving the entire market without a Pop station is just not right (Fresno is the largest without one, Y101 is Hot AC and B95 plays more rap than pop music), and the lack of notification that the people were going to be laid off makes Susie Waller a really bad person, and someone else should take control of the stations. I am guessing that everyone who likes the songs on the stations are going to call her, complaining that they took their favorite people and music away without their knowledge and she called all their staff "trespassers" and they work at the station before. This is a very rude act she has done.
In fact, I think this could be a good place to petition, since this is an act of injustice and should not be tolerated. #bringbackthebreeze or #bringbackkompa
I don't know if I should consider this a station "suicide" as they were forced to be turned off, but also, they are not ranked by Nielsen, so maybe it's a station "murder/homicide" (where the station was forced off the air despite good ratings or good reputation, usually by the owner of the station), because they were taken off the air by Susie Waller.
Leaving the entire market without a Pop station is just not right (Fresno is the largest without one, Y101 is Hot AC and B95 plays more rap than pop music), and the lack of notification that the people were going to be laid off makes Susie Waller a really bad person, and someone else should take control of the stations. I am guessing that everyone who likes the songs on the stations are going to call her, complaining that they took their favorite people and music away without their knowledge and she called all their staff "trespassers" and they work at the station before. This is a very rude act she has done.
In fact, I think this could be a good place to petition, since this is an act of injustice and should not be tolerated. #bringbackthebreeze or #bringbackkompa
I don't know if I should consider this a station "suicide" as they were forced to be turned off, but also, they are not ranked by Nielsen, so maybe it's a station "murder/homicide" (where the station was forced off the air despite good ratings or good reputation, usually by the owner of the station), because they were taken off the air by Susie Waller.
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purpledevil
Guest
Sounds to me like these 4 signals need to be "Chalked up" like KEBE was. Keep Forever Rollin' On, Chuck. Imagine, with a purchase of 102-3, KEBE AM & FM could live again in Jacksonville. I absolutely salivate at the very thought...
What a crock of nonsense. I know Dudley Waller wasn't everyone's favorite operator, but his daughter apparently needs to be marched behind the transmitter shack and given a good ol' fashioned east Texas butt whupping.
What a crock of nonsense. I know Dudley Waller wasn't everyone's favorite operator, but his daughter apparently needs to be marched behind the transmitter shack and given a good ol' fashioned east Texas butt whupping.
I am wondering if this might be a family issue or a revenue issue. Still, being out of work is not at all fun. I feel for the staff.
Years ago I knew of a situation where there was a fight among investors over a station. Until things were worked out, the station ran commercial free with minimal staff. The thinking was if there was revenue, it would prolong the battle. In this situation, if I recall, it was one investor that stepped in to put the money up to keep the station from going under and the issue was the percentage of ownership the other investors had. I'm supposing all saw the station's potential but one guy upset the apple cart by putting his money where his mouth was and wanted more control and a greater stake in the company because of that. In the end he was the sole owner.
Years ago I knew of a situation where there was a fight among investors over a station. Until things were worked out, the station ran commercial free with minimal staff. The thinking was if there was revenue, it would prolong the battle. In this situation, if I recall, it was one investor that stepped in to put the money up to keep the station from going under and the issue was the percentage of ownership the other investors had. I'm supposing all saw the station's potential but one guy upset the apple cart by putting his money where his mouth was and wanted more control and a greater stake in the company because of that. In the end he was the sole owner.
I know. I feel the same way as (basically) everyone in the Tyler-Longview market.
Also, Fresno is actually NOT the largest market without a Pop station, because they have Q97 (KSEQ), it's actually this market as of now, because of what happeed.
Also, Fresno is actually NOT the largest market without a Pop station, because they have Q97 (KSEQ), it's actually this market as of now, because of what happeed.
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purpledevil
Guest
I know. I feel the same way as (basically) everyone in the Tyler-Longview market.
Also, Fresno is actually NOT the largest market without a Pop station, because they have Q97 (KSEQ), it's actually this market as of now, because of what happeed.
Um....
Isn't KTYL still on the air in Tyler?
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purpledevil
Guest
http://www.cbs19.tv/mb/news/local/t...n-selling-after-june-death-of-owner/285894868
So...she's selling them. I assumed as much, but what a little piece of work...
So...she's selling them. I assumed as much, but what a little piece of work...
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Unknowable
Guest
Whoever is buying them may have told her to keep quiet on the sale until the last minute? Just speculation.
Not a chance. I have my hands WAY too full as it is.
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purpledevil
Guest
Yeah, I know. One can dream, though.
Usually, during sales, the selling owner keeps it's staff in transition from one owner to the other. With this being an exception with Susie firing ALL staff of Waller Broadcasting, even the president, this is really outrageous. I have also made a petition at change.org, so here's the link. https://www.change.org/p/waller-broadcasting-give-justice-to-the-breeze-kompa-fm-staff?recruiter=349982928&utm_source=petitions_show_components_action_panel_wrapper&utm_medium=copylink
Why would you start a petition? You are not the owner. What is it that gives you the right to demand a company to do what you think it should do? I simply do not understand the thinking, so I'm asking. I don't get how someone not involved feel they have the right to tell a company what to do. I'd like to learn something here.
Some stations actually shut down. Do we know the financials? Granted that usually lowers the asking price. They might not be for sale but the family is working out their issues. I agree it is horrible to disrupt lives in the process. Here today, gone tomorrow is very common in radio. At one station the owner came in and blew out the whole staff, changing format when they took over. Most of us in such a situation have a clue and scramble to get another gig (in my instance I got a job 2 days prior to the event).
I'm not defending anything, just saying we really don't know all the details and we shouldn't since we're not involved.
Some stations actually shut down. Do we know the financials? Granted that usually lowers the asking price. They might not be for sale but the family is working out their issues. I agree it is horrible to disrupt lives in the process. Here today, gone tomorrow is very common in radio. At one station the owner came in and blew out the whole staff, changing format when they took over. Most of us in such a situation have a clue and scramble to get another gig (in my instance I got a job 2 days prior to the event).
I'm not defending anything, just saying we really don't know all the details and we shouldn't since we're not involved.
Anybody have any scoop on what is going on with this situation?
BTW....FCC is not showing any transfer applications filed for any of the four stations as of last night.
BTW....FCC is not showing any transfer applications filed for any of the four stations as of last night.
All the Waller stations are still off the air as far as I know.
Looks like they made it FCC-Official. There are STAs "accepted for filing" dated 10 August. Interesting to see it noted "financial and staffing difficulties" as part of the reason for seeking the STA.
KLJT: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101736240&formid=910&fac_num=57204
KFRO-FM: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101736255&formid=910&fac_num=14755
KMPA: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...ext=25&appn=101736258&formid=910&fac_num=8491
KZXM: https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...t=25&appn=101736256&formid=910&fac_num=170966
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purpledevil
Guest
So...what about Bill? Can't he just outright purchase the 4 from his mother, and tell his sister to take a walk?
That would seem to be the logical thing to happen.
What we don't know is how all this is worded in wills and/or estate plans. I would hope Bill would be able to buy out the equity of the other family members and keep these stations going strong. I suppose we will see in due course.
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