Bill Handel now states that Dr. Laura was forced out of KFI...

[OCradiodude]

Due to low ratings? That's right. Bill claimed that this morning. The last I knew she was # 1 with females 25-54. Were other demos so low that it didn't make sense to keep her on the air? I smell a fish here somewhere.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Due to low ratings? That's right. Bill claimed that this morning. The last I knew she was # 1 with females 25-54. Were other demos so low that it didn't make sense to keep her on the air? I smell a fish here somewhere.

And now...Two more hours of............

Handel's Messiah!

 

[davideduardo]

Due to low ratings? That's right. Bill claimed that this morning. The last I knew she was # 1 with females 25-54. Were other demos so low that it didn't make sense to keep her on the air? I smell a fish here somewhere.

IIRC, the show was not even top 10 in women 25-54 in June, and in men it was around the mid-20's positions.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

The whole episode smells of rank cost cutting, as they get rid of syndicated product and replace it entirely with in-house talent. This is remarkably short-sided in my opinion as they run the risk of overexposing Handel and John and Ken - six hours a day for Handel, five for John and Ken is simply ludicrous. I know David E mentioned the other day that average daily listening is less than an hour a day combined for the entire station so that means most in the audience will not get more of these personalities since they are on in different dayparts. This may be true, but many talk show listeners park it on KFI and leave it on all day regardless of who is on ( I know several who do this), so without changing the station, they get a little Handel, a little Rush, a little Dr. Laura and a little John and Ken. By reducing the personalities, those folks are being invited to flip the station when they hear the same personality in the afternoon that they heard in the morning.

Clear Channel has already shown it is capable of killing the golden goose with KOST, what is to say they can't do it with KFI as well?

 

[davideduardo]

Clear Channel has already shown it is capable of killing the golden goose with KOST, what is to say they can't do it with KFI as well?

Per the data posted today, KOST is third in LA, so in 25-54 it must be first or second. It seems they know what to do with that station.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Clear Channel has already shown it is capable of killing the golden goose with KOST, what is to say they can't do it with KFI as well?

Per the data posted today, KOST is third in LA, so in 25-54 it must be first or second. It seems they know what to do with that station.

Like the rooster crowing in the morning, I knew you would post this fact back to me David. I admire your tenacious predictability.

Here's the deal. Well established organizations with a reputation for quality don't build their followings overnight nor do they lose them overnight. When the public starts to get shortchanged, it may not be noticeable to many for a long time, as the organization's reputation precedes it. But as the organization cuts quality, service, etc. little by little, it eventually happens. This is because initially the organization sees it can cut quality without any noticeable difference in results, while at the same time, more and more customers become disillusioned and stop providing their business. Eventually the two paths cross a certain threshold and the decline begins.

The changes made at KOST have taken some of its personality away in the name of running a cheaper operation. Most will not notice, but some will feel very cheated that the KOST they knew is changing, and not for the better. One day, that will be reflected in the numbers. No station is guaranteed anything.

 

[radiojomo]

This is remarkably short-sided in my opinion as they run the risk of overexposing Handel and John and Ken - six hours a day for Handel, five for John and Ken is simply ludicrous.

Because that's what we need right? More hate filled AM radio? Dr. Laura at least kept some balance in between all the racism and hate that station faces. KLSX FM Talk was the only talk station I would ever listen to because it was actually entertaining unlike KFI. Obviously, because at least KLSX could reach on more relatable topics to me because I was in their target demo, but at least Tom Leykis's hate towards marriage and golddigging women made a lot more sense than John and Ken hating on Mexicans and Bill Handel hating on Asians.

 

[Shoot From Hip]

Radiojomo- you hit the nail on the head when you say "because I was in their target demo." The fact is, you're probably not in KFI's target demo (which it happens to do fabulously well with), nor will you be in KFWB's target demo. And while you found KLSX entertaining, there simply weren't enough others like you who spent enough time listening to register their support. Stations should only hope their talent get overexposed like KFI is.

And as for KOST: it's a top-5 billing station in Los Angeles this year, last year and the year before...which also (if memory serves) makes them a top-10 billing station in the country (as is KFI). Again...stations should only hope they make the same mistakes as KOST. Of course no station is guaranteed anything, butI don't think I can come up with a single station in the country that isn't making sacrifices and tough decisions because billing is off. At this point, the ratings falloff at KROQ is more of a story than what mistakes are perceived as being made at KOST.

 

[davideduardo]

At this point, the ratings falloff at KROQ is more of a story than what mistakes are perceived as being made at KOST.

And yet July appears to have registered a slight increase for KROQ, and a 12+ decline of a significant size (like 20%) for KYSR. One might say that there has been a possible trend reversal, and that is all the more signficant as the 4 week period contained a holiday weekday, which likely affected mornings-dependent KROQ more than KYSR.

 

[DavidKaye]

Here's the deal. Well established organizations with a reputation for quality don't build their followings overnight nor do they lose them overnight.

Laura Schlessinger is no "overnight" sensation. She's been on KFI for a lot of years and the trend was downward. This shouldn't be surprising for any talkshow host who doesn't freshen their act from time to time. She's gotten stale.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

Anyone know where this rumor started that Premiere/CC may syndicate Handel in weekday afternoons? I read it on T-R-I today. The only correlation to create such a rumor is Dr. Laura is leaving Premiere to go to Talk Radio Network.

 

[musicfan101]

This is remarkably short-sided in my opinion as they run the risk of overexposing Handel and John and Ken - six hours a day for Handel, five for John and Ken is simply ludicrous.

Because that's what we need right? More hate filled AM radio? Dr. Laura at least kept some balance in between all the racism and hate that station faces. KLSX FM Talk was the only talk station I would ever listen to because it was actually entertaining unlike KFI. Obviously, because at least KLSX could reach on more relatable topics to me because I was in their target demo, but at least Tom Leykis's hate towards marriage and golddigging women made a lot more sense than John and Ken hating on Mexicans and Bill Handel hating on Asians.

God, I miss that station! Remember Carolla still hates Asians to this day. When is Bob Moore going to put us all out of our misery and make KLOS into talk. Although, I wonder if they did officially do that they would go for the KLSX call letters just for the heck of it?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Anyone know where this rumor started that Premiere/CC may syndicate Handel in weekday afternoons? I read it on T-R-I today. The only correlation to create such a rumor is Dr. Laura is leaving Premiere to go to Talk Radio Network.

She "left Premiere" some time ago as far as the show's production is concerned. It's been under her own "Take On The Day Productions". Premiere has continued to handle ad sales, I believe.

The aforementioned venture is now (from reports) merging into TRN. I'm not sure if Premiere will continue with ad sales, but TRN will handle affiliation and the like.

 

[michael hagerty]

The whole episode smells of rank cost cutting, as they get rid of syndicated product and replace it entirely with in-house talent.

This is refreshing, since for the last decade, the exact opposite...replacing in-house talent with syndicated product...has been considered "rank cost cutting".

---Michael Hagerty

 

[nmoore6676]

The whole episode smells of rank cost cutting, as they get rid of syndicated product and replace it entirely with in-house talent.

This is refreshing, since for the last decade, the exact opposite...replacing in-house talent with syndicated product...has been considered "rank cost cutting".

---Michael Hagerty

Well normally syndicated is cheaper if you are talking about hiring your own local talent but in this case they are spreading already hired hosts to cover the hole. I doubt that any additional pay is involved, maybe some other compensation like longer vacations. That is why I doubt that KGIL will remain talk now that they are losing their main show(s). Add to that Zig making an impassioned plea to join his mailing list in order to get his latest news speaks of a format change for 1260. Saul even if he siphoned off his KKGO windfall can't afford to mount an all local talk format. It is a shame as they were just getting together a good lineup and starting to creep up in ratings, the most they have seen since the MOYL days.

 

[radiojomo]

At this point, the ratings falloff at KROQ is more of a story than what mistakes are perceived as being made at KOST.

And yet July appears to have registered a slight increase for KROQ, and a 12+ decline of a significant size (like 20%) for KYSR. One might say that there has been a possible trend reversal, and that is all the more signficant as the 4 week period contained a holiday weekday, which likely affected mornings-dependent KROQ more than KYSR.

Or it could be that KROQ has been getting a lot more attention in the programing and promotions department lately to gain a lot more listeners. KROQ held its popular "World Tour" promotion in July/August and they've been adding a lot more new music into the playlist and have actually gone around to playing it, unlike KYSR. Unlike KROQ who is playing new music in all timeshifts through out the day, KYSR only plays them during the night. Comparing KYSR's playlist to KROQ's playlist, if you were to look at KYSR's playlist 2 months ago, it would almost look very alike to right now. Comparing KROQ's playlist from 2 months ago to right now, it looks a whole lot different. I would expect the audience share to grow a lot more in August as well. In addition, Kevin and Bean have been removed from the 5PM to 6PM afternoon drive, and have been moved back to their normal 5:30AM to 10 AM shift. The staff at KROQ has been doing a really good job repositioning themselves as the Alternative Powerhouse in LA and the World.

 

[Gregg]

Dr. Laura's popularity has been falling outside California for years. There's no Chicago affiliate, Miami listeners have to hear her on a West Palm Beach station and Boston listeners have to catch her on a religion station which runs her for one hour a day at 5 a.m. Her NYC affiliate barely registers in the ratings.

Yet she's been on LA's biggest AM station for decades and still gets very good clearances on top California talk stations in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, etc. In Fresno, a new FM talker is airing her.

Is she stumbling in her home market? Was KFI going to tape delay her to a lesser time period if KFWB didn't come along? Did CBS make a deal to pull her off KFI and move her to KFWB? Or was she just plain lucky that KFWB is switching to talk the same time she needs a new LA outlet?

Aren't her fans and callers tired of the same predictable format. Someone calls, telling her about a personal or family problem and she berates them for being either stupid or immoral. Dr. Joy Browne is so much more listenable. She doesn't mistreat callers and is optimistic they can make a positive change.

Or am I being naive? Dr. Laura is popular BECAUSE she is judgemental. And let's not bring her personal life into this... the nude photos, the affair with a married man as she broke into radio, her preaching against divorce when she herself is divorced, her advice to mothers to stay home for their kids when she's a mother and persued her career anyway, her lack of understanding gay callers and anti-gay statements, her degree in physiology--not psychology, etc. etc.





Gregg
[email protected]

 

[nmoore6676]

Dr. Laura's popularity has been falling outside California for years. There's no Chicago affiliate, Miami listeners have to hear her on a West Palm Beach station and Boston listeners have to catch her on a religion station which runs her for one hour a day at 5 a.m. Her NYC affiliate barely registers in the ratings.

Yet she's been on LA's biggest AM station for decades and still gets very good clearances on top California talk stations in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, etc. In Fresno, a new FM talker is airing her.

Is she stumbling in her home market? Was KFI going to tape delay her to a lesser time period if KFWB didn't come along? Did CBS make a deal to pull her off KFI and move her to KFWB? Or was she just plain lucky that KFWB is switching to talk the same time she needs a new LA outlet?

Aren't her fans and callers tired of the same predictable format. Someone calls, telling her about a personal or family problem and she berates them for being either stupid or immoral. Dr. Joy Browne is so much more listenable. She doesn't mistreat callers and is optimistic they can make a positive change.

Or am I being naive? Dr. Laura is popular BECAUSE she is judgemental. And let's not bring her personal life into this... the nude photos, the affair with a married man as she broke into radio, her preaching against divorce when she herself is divorced, her advice to mothers to stay home for their kids when she's a mother and persued her career anyway, her lack of understanding gay callers and anti-gay statements, her degree in physiology--not psychology, etc. etc.



Gregg
[email protected]

You left out that her own mother was found dead, apparently for several days, and that they were estranged despite her "advice" to callers about family and family values. That being said sandwiching Dr. Joy between Rush and John and Ken would be like Mr. Rogers between Mark Levin and Michael Savage. Her abrasive style was the right buffer on KFI but how she will fare on KFWB with a weaker signal and different leading and following material remains to be seen. In the long run it may not matter as she gets an LA clearance which is the real name of the game. If she had lost LA it might have hurt her chances in keeping smaller markets considering that this is where it all began.

 

[JWest]

Despite her past, I tend to think that the advice she gives is totally correct. It's an entertaining show and she's helped a lot of people. It sucks that she's going to be gone, and what's worse is that they're cutting down on the variety. I mean, I enjoy Bill Handel, but the morning show and Handel on the law are enough- another show is just going to make KFI seem a bit more bland. She offered a nice variety, and it's a shame that they're taking her off KFI air waves.

 

[DrLove]

Regardless of what you may think of her, Dr. Laura gets the last laugh. She walks out of KFI with the highest shares she's seen all year in all the key demos. If you don't believe me, check the facts. The numbers are right there in black and white. One company's loss is another company's gain.