Just a host change. Not what a certain former denizen of these parts so passionately suggested. Stigall out of mornings. Interesting this morning I punched it up at 6 am to a steady stream of PSAs in lieu of the first segment. A fill in was on by my next fly by at about 7:30.
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1210 Change (For Real This Time)
- Thread starter AbrahamJSimpson
- Start date
Here's what AllAccess says about it:
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/184600/chris-stigall-exits-wpht-philadelphia
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/184600/chris-stigall-exits-wpht-philadelphia
This sounds more like Entercom getting historically high CBS salaries in line with their own preferences.
They lost "Bean" from "Kevin and the Bean" at KROQ this week, also.
As one politician is fond of saying, it's about the benjamins.
Maybe, however from the sound of the OP, they weren't exactly prepared for the way things went.
From the sounds of some comments, it looks like they also parted ways with the morning "news" person/sidekick, which makes sense, given she was a former part of the Kansas City show as well, just coming to Philly a bit later.
And that was a wrong read. She’s still there.
The Entercom ax strikes again, this time in San Francisco:
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/...alt-105-3-san-francisco-morning-co-host-elvis
Obviously a virus going around the company this week.
Realistically, in Philly’s case, I’m sure they can find a more cost-effective approach. A new host who may not be looking at the same salary someone with a decade (or so) was looking for. Perhaps switch up some dayparts and fill in a syndicated option in the process.
Larry Mendte is probably available.
Larry Mendte is probably available.
IQ106.9 attempted it. Really didn't seem to gather much tune in or media attention.
True enough. I don't see "media attention" for who a talk radio station adds in mornings, and him having been essentially out of the public consciousness for years doesn't boost those chances. Sure, a blurb online from Philly Mag perhaps, but beyond that? Meh.
That said, I heard some of him on IQ...and fully realize subjectivity enters in. Dear lord, though, I found him wretched.
That's not saying much. Nothing they did seemed to gather much tune in or media attention.
They went from obscurity into obscurity.
Merlin had some success with the Premiere-based syndicated talk on 106.9, beating PHT in at least one rating period 6+ during its brief existence, I believe. PHT had the stronger morning show by far. WWIQ's Al Gardner, a format veteran who served as morning co-host and PD was okay, but Mendte was indeed awful. To be fair he was new at talk radio and may have improved in NYC. But IQ returned to obscurity due to Merlin running out of time with its investors, rather than the ratings. Quoting myself:
And as BigA points out in the quoted thread, CBS wasn't in buying mode at that point, as they had divestment plans on the horizon.
I'll admit that I only hear him in New York and am impressed. Nice production at the top of his showw, good with callers and WABC people seem to love him. So, as you say, maybe he grew into it. As for WPHT, don't get to listen a lot, Stigall never was impressive. They seemd to never be able to recover from Smerconish leaving. I heard the afternoon guy has got something going.
Meh.
The afternoon guy's voice grates on me like nails on a chalkboard, and I, personally, can't respect someone who relies on name calling and mockery of appearance/speech/etc. (not to mention the hypocrisy of doing that for just one side). His rants are short on accuracy and intellectual integrity.
But hey, if that works, more power to 'em.
I enjoy Rich Zeoli's show. It's entertaining and informative. He doesn't take himself too seriously.
Larry Mendte would be a good hire for WPHT in mornings, if he's interested. He is known in the market, and despite the stuff that happened ten years ago, I think he'd draw in listeners. If people in Philadelphia can forgive Michael Vick and especially the likes of Meek Mill--Larry deserves a medal compared to Mill.
Plus, he's informed on issues, and good at talking to people. His WABC show was really good.
But--my guess is that Entercom isn't sure right now what it wants to do.
Larry Mendte would be a good hire for WPHT in mornings, if he's interested. He is known in the market, and despite the stuff that happened ten years ago, I think he'd draw in listeners. If people in Philadelphia can forgive Michael Vick and especially the likes of Meek Mill--Larry deserves a medal compared to Mill.
Plus, he's informed on issues, and good at talking to people. His WABC show was really good.
But--my guess is that Entercom isn't sure right now what it wants to do.
As already pointed out, it was tried on 106.9. And failed. He didn't draw in listeners. If Entercom thought Mendte would be a good hire for WPHT mornings, they would have hired him instead of leaving the position unfilled for what, a month?
Seems like about a month at this point. I’m trying to be fair here, it’s also not like anyone on 106.9 was going to light the world on fire. It was a dumpster fire pretty much the whole way. I mean, I’m still meh from what I heard back then, but it’s not like he was the sole weak link.
IQ 106.9 pulled Rush and Hannity from WPHT. You'd think that'd draw SOME attention. Now they've been sent back to the AM dial, (and Hannity banished to the late late late show)
My political opinions aside... if you pull two of the biggest conservative talkers for a conservative talk station, and barely make a blip... something's wrong.
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