Sad to read that Cheap Channel is readying up the buzzsaw for Tuesday, where they plan to cut $400 million from their nationwide budget...and on Inauguration Day, where it will get conveniently buried in the headlines. I hate to see this happening. Hopefully all the people that will be effected by this will land on their feet eventually. Godspeed to you all. :'(
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CC starts up the buzzsaw Tuesday
- Thread starter alans613
- Start date
alans613 said:Sad to read that Cheap Channel is readying up the buzzsaw for Tuesday, where they plan to cut $400 million from their nationwide budget...and on Inauguration Day, where it will get conveniently buried in the headlines. I hate to see this happening. Hopefully all the people that will be effected by this will land on their feet eventually. Godspeed to you all. :'(
Its the end of local radio. NY Post reports that the firings will move Clear Channel towards a national programming philosophy. Ownership limits need to return to radio back to pre-96 levels.
Guys, Circuit City just cut 40000. You really think that if it wasn't Inauguration Day Clear Channel laying off probably less than a thousand nationwide would be plastered all over the front page? It'd be lucky to get a small paragraph in the business section.
What makes anyone think that if the government really could seize and redistribute all these broadcast licenses, that new owners could find enough financing to fill all these new standalone stations with bodies? In an advertising depression, no less, that's affecting all media. I seriously doubt that the Proctor and Gambles or Progressive Insurances of this world would be interested in buying 7 stations in 7 far flung markets. It wouldn't make any business sense.
Having said that, CC Cincy is already losing two stations worth of staff. On WLW, Jim Scott, Mike McConnell and more than likely Slaon and Eddie and Tracy are in long-term contracts. If you're working in radio and agree to "employment-at-will" don't be completely shocked that you don't have guaranteed lifetime employment.
In Dayton, I don't know where they have left to cut.
Then finally, outside of people who work or used to work in radio, how many people REALLY care about "live and local DJs". Ask your non-radio friends some time. Mine universally could care less.
What makes anyone think that if the government really could seize and redistribute all these broadcast licenses, that new owners could find enough financing to fill all these new standalone stations with bodies? In an advertising depression, no less, that's affecting all media. I seriously doubt that the Proctor and Gambles or Progressive Insurances of this world would be interested in buying 7 stations in 7 far flung markets. It wouldn't make any business sense.
Having said that, CC Cincy is already losing two stations worth of staff. On WLW, Jim Scott, Mike McConnell and more than likely Slaon and Eddie and Tracy are in long-term contracts. If you're working in radio and agree to "employment-at-will" don't be completely shocked that you don't have guaranteed lifetime employment.
In Dayton, I don't know where they have left to cut.
Then finally, outside of people who work or used to work in radio, how many people REALLY care about "live and local DJs". Ask your non-radio friends some time. Mine universally could care less.
According to published reports, the figure of 1,500 layoffs has been mentioned, mostly it was said, in sales, but I guess we'll see what happens Tuesday.
This has gotta be a rough time for all involved. Nobody wants to see this kind of thing happen. So, I hope the disruptions, if any, to people's lives will be a small as possible.
But, for those of you hoping for a massive re-regulation to happen...don't hold your breath. It's just my opinion, but I do not expect major changes in those areas. Some tightening, perhaps, to discourage massive buying at ridiculous multiples leading to humongous debt service when the buckets of cash don't flow as expected (which, when you think about it is really what is crippling some of these companies.) But, no return to 7/7/7...the NAB (and the many lobbyists now employed by broadcast companies) would fight that one to the death.
On the other hand, I suspect "localism" will be the thing that could be zoomed in on. But, I'm not talking about a return to live 24/7 - I think it could be more along the lines of having stations prove they are operating in the public interest, convenience and necessity and showing that they do provide a reasonable amount of programming aimed at local issues. (Which seems to be lip service from some broadcasters).
And, Gr8t's right about one thing - no one in the general public gives a hoot about voice tracking. None. And, as I've said all along, if it's done right, it sounds live.
This has gotta be a rough time for all involved. Nobody wants to see this kind of thing happen. So, I hope the disruptions, if any, to people's lives will be a small as possible.
But, for those of you hoping for a massive re-regulation to happen...don't hold your breath. It's just my opinion, but I do not expect major changes in those areas. Some tightening, perhaps, to discourage massive buying at ridiculous multiples leading to humongous debt service when the buckets of cash don't flow as expected (which, when you think about it is really what is crippling some of these companies.) But, no return to 7/7/7...the NAB (and the many lobbyists now employed by broadcast companies) would fight that one to the death.
On the other hand, I suspect "localism" will be the thing that could be zoomed in on. But, I'm not talking about a return to live 24/7 - I think it could be more along the lines of having stations prove they are operating in the public interest, convenience and necessity and showing that they do provide a reasonable amount of programming aimed at local issues. (Which seems to be lip service from some broadcasters).
And, Gr8t's right about one thing - no one in the general public gives a hoot about voice tracking. None. And, as I've said all along, if it's done right, it sounds live.
gr8oldies said:Guys, Circuit City just cut 40000. You really think that if it wasn't Inauguration Day Clear Channel laying off probably less than a thousand nationwide would be plastered all over the front page? It'd be lucky to get a small paragraph in the business section.
What makes anyone think that if the government really could seize and redistribute all these broadcast licenses, that new owners could find enough financing to fill all these new standalone stations with bodies? In an advertising depression, no less, that's affecting all media. I seriously doubt that the Proctor and Gambles or Progressive Insurances of this world would be interested in buying 7 stations in 7 far flung markets. It wouldn't make any business sense.
Having said that, CC Cincy is already losing two stations worth of staff. On WLW, Jim Scott, Mike McConnell and more than likely Slaon and Eddie and Tracy are in long-term contracts. If you're working in radio and agree to "employment-at-will" don't be completely shocked that you don't have guaranteed lifetime employment.
In Dayton, I don't know where they have left to cut.
Then finally, outside of people who work or used to work in radio, how many people REALLY care about "live and local DJs". Ask your non-radio friends some time. Mine universally could care less.
Great post. I couldn't agree more on all of your points.
Mine universally could care less.
It's "couldn't" care less.
As far as CC hoping not to make the news with its layoffs, why shoould THIS year matter? You really think they suddenly care what the listener thinks? IT's about the bottom line. Period. They really think the listener has no where else to go. Same philosophy as their employees. It's why they pitched such a fit when some found life inside the Tribune. It killed CC management to let the rank and file see an opportunity beyond the scraps they mete out.
It's "couldn't" care less.
As far as CC hoping not to make the news with its layoffs, why shoould THIS year matter? You really think they suddenly care what the listener thinks? IT's about the bottom line. Period. They really think the listener has no where else to go. Same philosophy as their employees. It's why they pitched such a fit when some found life inside the Tribune. It killed CC management to let the rank and file see an opportunity beyond the scraps they mete out.
gr8oldies said:Guys, Circuit City just cut 40000. You really think that if it wasn't Inauguration Day Clear Channel laying off probably less than a thousand nationwide would be plastered all over the front page? It'd be lucky to get a small paragraph in the business section.
What makes anyone think that if the government really could seize and redistribute all these broadcast licenses, that new owners could find enough financing to fill all these new standalone stations with bodies? In an advertising depression, no less, that's affecting all media. I seriously doubt that the Proctor and Gambles or Progressive Insurances of this world would be interested in buying 7 stations in 7 far flung markets. It wouldn't make any business sense.
Having said that, CC Cincy is already losing two stations worth of staff. On WLW, Jim Scott, Mike McConnell and more than likely Slaon and Eddie and Tracy are in long-term contracts. If you're working in radio and agree to "employment-at-will" don't be completely shocked that you don't have guaranteed lifetime employment.
In Dayton, I don't know where they have left to cut.
Then finally, outside of people who work or used to work in radio, how many people REALLY care about "live and local DJs". Ask your non-radio friends some time. Mine universally could care less.
Gr8t:
Got news for you. Even the contracted guys don't have as "iron clad" of agreements as you might think. Yeah, there's a little more security, in that if you have the contract, you know what you'll get financially if the company decides to turn you loose. You may have some ratings bonus incentives (which are nice...I missed the extra $1,000 every quarter for being #1 mid-days 25-54 when I was in Columbus.) But, a lot of those agreements are written more to the benefit of the company than the employee. Not in every situation - longevity can give you a certain amount of bargaining power, but don't assume because someone has a contract that it's necessarily as tight as you think.
Woah....that hit like a ton of bricks. Could be shocking changes tomorrow at CC. Wow!
The Wall Street Journal article on this says that Clear Channel will look to cut underperforming local content and syndicate successful local shows around the country. I wonder if CC will look to syndicate Bill Cunningham more than just Sunday nights. I'm also wondering about the morning show on 55KRC. I don't know how well Brian Thomas is doing, but if he isn't doing well, I could see CC putting Quinn & Rose there.
a year ago McConnell was in Syndication. but they pulled him back to local level since he wasnt getting many outside of CC Affiliates.
gr8oldies said:Don't see that because every station they would potentially syndicate Cunningham to already has Rush, and even the occasional second tier talker has a plethora of choices.
Well, maybe if he moves to a different time slot. I guess the talk radio world is crowded enough already, but if some local hosts on other CC stations aren't doing well, who knows.
Do you think they will cut any of the On air staff from WEBN?
Didn't they try to syndicate Burbank back a few years ago? Was that a deal he brokered or was it CC? How long did that last? I heard Cunningham do a WLW Id on the Sunday night show this week!MikeStandardsFromIndiana said:a year ago McConnell was in Syndication. but they pulled him back to local level since he wasnt getting many outside of CC Affiliates.
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