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BCN and ZLX Layoffs

B

bostonradiovet

Guest
Well, it struck on Friday. I hear something like 10 people were laid off between the two stations.

'Cause that's the solution for commercial radio, cut staff to save cash rather than give the public a product they actually want to listen to.
 
I could be mistaken but last year I thought a majority of the cbs stations had the highest profit margins in the market....I thought ZLX and BCN had absurdly high profit margins, along with KISS and someone else....although I could be completely wrong
 
Meanwhile I'm guessing there's a connection between Greater Media buying those stations in N.C.
and the laying off of (all but one of) the WBOS airstaff. They may get DJs eventually or could
just do Mike 93.7-style jockless. After all, people with short attention spans don't want to hear
the DJ at all (esp. since it means "Commercials are coming") and they hit the button, or so some people think.
 
"Well, it struck on Friday. I hear something like 10 people were laid off between the two stations (WBCN and WZLX).


Any list of the casualties?
 
raccoonradio said:
Meanwhile I'm guessing there's a connection between Greater Media buying those stations in N.C.
and the laying off of (all but one of) the WBOS airstaff.
Click to expand...

Personally I don't think there's any connection at all. The "Radio [frequency here]" stations are low on the amount of personality that they use, it's a far stretch from the knowledgeable staff that AAA-inspired stations like the former WBOS, WXRV, WXRT, KFOG, etc. have. True, WLNK isn't run on the cheap, but GM isn't the kind of company that would purchase stations only to realize that they can't afford them - at least from my experience.
 
"Be thankful you work here at all...A lot of people would kill to have your job"

Sound familiar to anyone?

Every 5 years, we lose about 20% of the total workforce. Those who can adapt, survive.

What sucks is hearing talented people, who're very good, say they're beaten and done with this industry because they've had their passion killed.

I feel for everyone who've just lost their gigs. It wasn't that long ago for any of us.
 
TravisWMLN said:
I could be mistaken but last year I thought a majority of the cbs stations had the highest profit margins in the market....I thought ZLX and BCN had absurdly high profit margins, along with KISS and someone else....although I could be completely wrong
Click to expand...

Actually, BCN and ZLX sales have been rapidly declining over the past 5 years. I've heard sales are WAY down in both stations and if that's the case the only way they can make their numbers look good is to cut over-head, AKA make cuts and layoffs. Their margins may or may not be OK, I'm not sure, but their sales revenues are horrible. They have sucessfully done their job by cutting costs to trick people like you into thinking the stations are still doing OK. This seems to be an industry-wide issue and layoffs are common practice as a short term solution. I just think it's unfortunate and I'm glad I got away from it all years ago. Best of luck friends who are still trying to make it work.
 
bostonradiovet said:
TravisWMLN said:
I could be mistaken but last year I thought a majority of the cbs stations had the highest profit margins in the market....I thought ZLX and BCN had absurdly high profit margins, along with KISS and someone else....although I could be completely wrong
Click to expand...

Actually, BCN and ZLX sales have been rapidly declining over the past 5 years. I've heard sales are WAY down in both stations and if that's the case the only way they can make their numbers look good is to cut over-head, AKA make cuts and layoffs. Their margins may or may not be OK, I'm not sure, but their sales revenues are horrible. They have sucessfully done their job by cutting costs to trick people like you into thinking the stations are still doing OK. This seems to be an industry-wide issue and layoffs are common practice as a short term solution. I just think it's unfortunate and I'm glad I got away from it all years ago. Best of luck friends who are still trying to make it work.
Click to expand...

guess I was mistaken then....
 
If I were a sales guy I'd be pushing real hard for my station to buy technology which makes my brand sellable in a hi-tech environment. I'd be demanding downloadable listener created playlists complete with commercial spots and DRM. The problem is, for a solution like that, Westinghouse would need to be committed to implementing cutting edge technology. The new radio will be web deployed, with a local flavor due to the obvious economies of scale and client preference.
 
HHH said:
"Well, it struck on Friday. I hear something like 10 people were laid off between the two stations (WBCN and WZLX).
Any list of the casualties?
Click to expand...

From what I've gathered Juanita is the only know airshift in the building effected. Others let go seem to have been peripheral sales or support-related staff. WBCN lost its engineer with a likely sizable salary.
 
redbaron said:
HHH said:
"Well, it struck on Friday. I hear something like 10 people were laid off between the two stations (WBCN and WZLX).
Any list of the casualties?
Click to expand...

From what I've gathered Juanita is the only know airshift in the building effected. Others let go seem to have been peripheral sales or support-related staff. WBCN lost its engineer with a likely sizable salary.
Click to expand...

bill bracken is gone?
 
Wow. If Bill Bracken is gone that is truely a loss for CBS Radio Boston. He oversaw the redesign of studios for both BCN and ZLX.
 
I could be mistaken but last year I thought a majority of the cbs stations had the highest profit margins in the market....I thought ZLX and BCN had absurdly high profit margins, along with KISS and someone else....although I could be completely wrong
Click to expand...

Actually, BCN and ZLX sales have been rapidly declining over the past 5 years.
Click to expand...

While not the sole factor, BCN's ratings took a giant hit after Christmas 2005 when Howard Stern jumped to Sirius...and the hit was compounded by the ill-fated David Lee Roth show. I have to think that event has factored prominently into any alleged loss of sales in the past five years. Don't know how or if that factored into any alleged loss of sales at ZLX...but stations in a cluster don't operate in a vacuum; if one has troubles it will impact the others in various ways both on- and off-air.

BTW, I say "alleged" because I have no direct knowledge of CBS Radio's sales in Boston...but I don't disagree that a bunch of layoffs probably does mean sales are down.
 
Juanita is one of the good guys! or gals as the case may be. That is sad.

WBCN's arrogance in the 1990s has led to this. You cannot put out a less than acceptable product and expect to hold on to past glories when an icon like Howard Stern walks out the door.

The only parallel I see with Greater Media is that the Purple People Eater Meter may change the playing field and - perhaps - they are gearing up to bring on advertising people who are hip to that system. But that's a long shot - the best quickie answer is that some of the staff are paying for the David Lee Roth gamble
 
tjm_pro said:
Wow. If Bill Bracken is gone that is truely a loss for CBS Radio Boston. He oversaw the redesign of studios for both BCN and ZLX.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if that rumor is true but if it is, you echo my thoughts
 
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