Ben Bennett out at WBMQ

[TheMusicMan]

Interesting. According to Savannah Morning News, he got the boot yesterday morning immediately following his show after over six years in the post.

I guess we'll be reading about it Monday in All Access, but there's an article up at the SMN website.

So I guess it's a question of what WBMQ will end up doing in AM Drive? I wonder how his ratings were relative to Edwards.

 

[RadioInsultant]

Waaaaay overdue. No ratings. They blew up Neil Bortz, who had respectable numbers for a local show with very little entertainment value. This move shouldn't surprise anyone. Well, maybe it should, Cumulus finally made a decent decision about something.

 

[DJTHOMAST2001]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions. All though Clear Channel's WTKS has a better signal the BMQ. :

 

[Caveman]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions.

For example?

 

[radionut925]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions.

Huh? WBMQ replacing Ben Bennett with CNN Headline News? Sounds like a bad decision in this case.

 

[RadioInsultant]

Go back to Bortz or extend Laura Ingrahm for god sake! Do something Cumulus! Come on! Impress us for a change?

Is there a new market manager over there yet, or are they flying by the seat of their pants?

 

[russ973]

Boortz is on WTKS.

 

[wkrp]

Ben Bennett knows infinitely more about local, national and world politics than Bill Edwards. (Ben) Bennett's show was far superior in intellect and content, and IMHO, without Rush moving over to TKS, Edward's show would have been in the basement.

Plus, Ben kept the spotlight on local politicos, and made them accountable for everything they did.

His candor annoyed many, but they always wanted to know if he was talking about them. That means something.

Best wishes to him.

 

[HurricaneIII]

Let's see, Ben Bennett knows infinitely more about everything than the guy (Bill Edwards) who clobbered him in the ratings. Wonder why Cumulus fired such a smart guy?

The 'Cane Man

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions.

For example?

Um, how about euthanizing WZAT (Z102)? Someone at Cumulus still thinks they can challenge CC's WAEV (97-3 KISS FM). It's been almost five years yet Cumulus keeps flushing money down that toilet, never facing the obvious.

 

[upstate29651]

Let's see, Ben Bennett knows infinitely more about everything than the guy (Bill Edwards) who clobbered him in the ratings. Wonder why Cumulus fired such a smart guy?

The 'Cane Man

Remember, Bill Edwards is "Old Savannah", from a broadcasters standpoint. He will win by default. Kudos to Ben for lasting as long as he did. It was refreshing for someone to stand up to the GOB's in Savannah politics. I think the move was purely a financial decision by Cumulus.

G

 

[Caveman]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions.

For example?

Um, how about euthanizing WZAT (Z102)? Someone at Cumulus still thinks they can challenge CC's WAEV (97-3 KISS FM). It's been almost five years yet Cumulus keeps flushing money down that toilet, never facing the obvious.

According to your logic, Rock 106 should get put to sleep too...They consistently get fisted by i-95.

 

[wkrp]

Let's see, Ben Bennett knows infinitely more about everything than the guy (Bill Edwards) who clobbered him in the ratings. Wonder why Cumulus fired such a smart guy?

The 'Cane Man

If you've followed Cumulus' decisions, you'd see how they make changes that defy logic. Don't forget how TalkRadio's ratings are directly related to which station Rush Limbaugh is on.

 

[Caveman]

Let's see, Ben Bennett knows infinitely more about everything than the guy (Bill Edwards) who clobbered him in the ratings. Wonder why Cumulus fired such a smart guy?

The 'Cane Man

If you've followed Cumulus' decisions, you'd see how they make changes that defy logic. Don't forget how TalkRadio's ratings are directly related to which station Rush Limbaugh is on.

The reason Limpballs is not on WBMQ has NOTHING to do with Cumulus.

 

[upstate29651]

The reason Limpballs is not on WBMQ has NOTHING to do with Cumulus.

...and everything to do with Cumulus not being part of Clear Channel.

G

 

[wkrp]

I know why Limbaugh moved to Clear Channel, and that it had nothing to do with Cumulus.

I only cited him as being the reason Edward's show had better ratings. 'BMQ would get a similar boost if Limbaugh was on 630 (though it won't happen.)

Either way, IMHO, (Ben) Bennett's show was intellectually superior.

 

[russ973]

Does his firing have anything to do with the departure of his new wife... Senea... formerly on Z102? Who knows what's going on there.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Great !! Now if we can just get Cumlulus Savannah to make some more good decisions.

For example?

Um, how about euthanizing WZAT (Z102)? Someone at Cumulus still thinks they can challenge CC's WAEV (97-3 KISS FM). It's been almost five years yet Cumulus keeps flushing money down that toilet, never facing the obvious.

According to your logic, Rock 106 should get put to sleep too...They consistently get fisted by i-95.

Amen. Rock 106.1 is an Active Rock station masquerading as an Alternative yet gets to report as an Alternative station. Of course I don't listen to either I-95 or Rock 106.1. I prefer Wave 104.9.

 

[rcombs]

No Russ, it had nothing to do with Senea. We are a little more professional than that.

You guys know there is no way anyone from Cumulus can say, especially on this forum, why Ben was let go. We do wish him the best. It would not matter anyway, you wouldn't believe anything that was said. YOu would still make you own opinions and statements. Half of you would want us to switch WBMQ to new rock, which will not happen in this market until there is a way to make money on the format.

 

[DJTHOMAST2001]

As far as the Cumulus issue, things will probably never change. Cumulus has several formats they can use on WZAT 102.1. Top 40 would work only if they would play a CHR format. They have been playing a CHR format during the day and after midnight more of a Hot AC format. Whats up with that??? As far as for AM and WBMQ, the signal sucks which is also a big win for WTKS. Clearly Clear Channel has alot of advantages AM and FM.