Anybody Got the Straight Dope on Why Riley Lost His Additional Hour?

[del_griffith]

Just doesn't seem to make sense. Had it for only a few days and then gone. Seemed like he was getting calls. Yeah, it needed some work, but it was what people were screaming for......local.

 

[redsfan1966]

Corporate told TVN to give back Beck's first hour after listeners lit up facebook, twitter and phone lines.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

Ha! This was obviously a well-planned conspiracy to try to rebuild interest in Beck. Anyone who thinks there was really a spontaneous uprising is just burying their head in the sand.

 

[justhere]

I find it hard to believe that listeners lighting up phone lines and exploding on facebook would cause them to rethink the extra hour. More likely, Beck's team said, "WHOA...nothin' doing. We'll jump ship just like last time." That's my completely uninformed and uneducated guess. They'd give listeners time to adjust to the change to see if it worked- more than 2 days. It's always about the money. But why they would have attempted it without approval from Beck team and CC corporate is beyond me.

 

[Mr. Glimps]

I think this cluster has always had a little envy of the freedoms sometimes enjoyed by the Cincinnati cluster. WLW has, for years, let their talent create and execute a few embarrassments for CC. But, they keep doing it. I think Columbus' group just wanted to make their own adjustments, driven by the PD and talent, and it blew up in their face. Cincinnati doesn't have a talk-host AM drive talent like Riley. No, just good old Jim Scott...part of Cincinnati radio for over 40 years. He does a terrific local show...maybe Elliott ought to give it a listen.

 

[schmave]

I find it hard to believe that listeners lighting up phone lines and exploding on facebook would cause them to rethink the extra hour. More likely, Beck's team said, "WHOA...nothin' doing. We'll jump ship just like last time." That's my completely uninformed and uneducated guess. They'd give listeners time to adjust to the change to see if it worked- more than 2 days. It's always about the money. But why they would have attempted it without approval from Beck team and CC corporate is beyond me.

My guess is this is what happened. Incidentally, WTAM also pre-empts the first hour of Beck for "The Spew," a roundtable of rants with Bob Frantz and Mike Trivisonno. Good listen. Must be OK to pre-empt him in Cleveland and not Columbus. Who knows.

 

[OhHiThere]

I find it hard to believe that listeners lighting up phone lines and exploding on facebook would cause them to rethink the extra hour. More likely, Beck's team said, "WHOA...nothin' doing. We'll jump ship just like last time." That's my completely uninformed and uneducated guess. They'd give listeners time to adjust to the change to see if it worked- more than 2 days. It's always about the money. But why they would have attempted it without approval from Beck team and CC corporate is beyond me.

My guess is this is what happened. Incidentally, WTAM also pre-empts the first hour of Beck for "The Spew," a roundtable of rants with Bob Frantz and Mike Trivisonno. Good listen. Must be OK to pre-empt him in Cleveland and not Columbus. Who knows.

THIS and since Beck brings in more billing to the station than Riley...TVN said...No problem.

 

[mxyzptlk]

THIS and since Beck brings in more billing to the station than Riley....

Nope

 

[Ryder]

just good old Jim Scott...part of Cincinnati radio for over 40 years. He does a terrific local show...maybe Elliott ought to give it a listen.

I lived in Cincinnati for a long time listening to Jim Scott, and came to Columbus just as Riley took over. I'd take Riley over Scott any day. Jim Scott is so 80's and scripted. Riley's not afraid of controversy.

 

[Mr. Glimps]

Controversy...do you want it in full-service NewsTalk morning drive?
Historically, the best morning drive hosts for that format are men and women who share several important distinctions: They are solid broadcasters, concise, literate, well-informed, and glib. They support the collective efforts of the citizens of the market. They cheerlead and front important fundraising efforts. They support the local professional sports. They support the local schools and institutions. They are always out and about and accessible to the fan base. They know that they have a listener for 20 or so minutes each day and pattern their work with consistent and compelling content. They are reflectors...offering insight and commentary on happenings and events that their listeners share. They are a part of the community fabric. They are not politically driven or polarizing. They create interest in their conversation by emphasizing information not controversy. They would make terrific neighbors, not necessarily drinking buddies because they don't deride people and things, but build them up.
Maybe times have changed and the formula is old and tired...but maybe its also just a role that many dj/announcers aren't cut out to be. The best, and Scott and Conners were 2 of them, are a rarer breed.