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Changes at KFWB and KFI

E

emailfailed

The one and only Don Barrett reported this afternoon KFWB is dropping Rodger Hedgecock, who was an rather awful talk-show host, and replacing him with... news.

I am willing to bet the afternoon news is temporary until an replacement can be found.

Oh yes, at 3 p.m. KFWB will be playing "The Best of Dr. Laura."

Over at KFI Brian Suits is out and Tim Conway, Jr is as evening host in beginning January 18.
 
Bummer about Suits leaving. Why do all my favorite people drag up all the time?
I like Hedgecock. I used to listen to him on KOGO quite a bit. I guess I will again now since KFWB didn't work out. He was always really into San Diego stuff so maybe he's better off...although I guess he's syndicated these days.
LARadio is suddenly a much better site now for cheapskates like me.
 
Ironic isn't it? Now all they need to do is replace Laura Ingraham with either someone better or go local with an FM simulcast.
 
emailfailed said:
The one and only Don Barrett reported this afternoon KFWB is dropping Rodger Hedgecock, who was an rather awful talk-show host, and replacing him with... news.

I am willing to bet the afternoon news is temporary until an replacement can be found.

Oh yes, at 3 p.m. KFWB will be playing "The Best of Dr. Laura."

Over at KFI Brian Suits is out and Tim Conway, Jr is as evening host in beginning January 18.
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It is long overdue for Tim Conway to take over. The best thing in the slot since the ousting of John Ziegler whom they prudently left in place until his contract was over after exiling him to the Sherman Oaks studios of Premier following John Kobylt's tirade. I suspect Suits was accorded the time left on his contract as well after the departure of Kennedy who was the only good part of the show.

One has to wonder why they ever threw over Phil Hendrie who probably had more listeners than anything else they've tried. Maybe Tim Conway Jr. will bring back their audience to the previous levels.

As for KFWB they would have been better off with the line up from the now defunct News-Talk experiment on KGIL-1260. Since they poached Ingraham which apparently put Saul Levine into a snit with her syndicator they may as well have taken the rest of lineup from 1260. The shows would have done better on a wider coverage signal and were better overall than what CBS has tried. Rumor has it that Ziegler was expecting a syndication deal with TRN which evaporated when they pulled the plug with KGIL which left Saul with only Glenn Beck and Lars Larson. I am still shaking my head over them having put Fred Thompson on for only a couple of weeks. They could have gone automated with the music until they had the new hosts in place.

If Hedgecock was so good they would have likely put him on KFI instead of Handel in The Afternoon and adding an hour to J & K. The fact that he was not already on in LA should have told them something given the CC connection between KOGO and KFI. Who knows, maybe Ziegler or McIntyre will show up at 980, I'll stream either of them if they do.
 
nmoore6676 said:
One has to wonder why they ever threw over Phil Hendrie who probably had more listeners than anything else they've tried.
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In reality, Hendrie had a brief period of reasonable numbers, but over the longer term was the lower performing of the several things they have tried.

Since night listening to radio (total rating for the medium) in LA is only about 40% or less of the peak mid-day level, super performance at night is not critical in the overall picture.

For reference, LA morning rating is around a 12, middays around a 14 and afternoons are about a 14, too. Evenings are under a 5, generally on the lower side. weekends are in the mid-8 range.

As for KFWB they would have been better off with the line up from the now defunct News-Talk experiment on KGIL-1260.
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My guess is that, since KFWB puts CBS over market cap, that station is one they don't want to invest in.
 
DavidEduardo said:
nmoore6676 said:
One has to wonder why they ever threw over Phil Hendrie who probably had more listeners than anything else they've tried.
Click to expand...

In reality, Hendrie had a brief period of reasonable numbers, but over the longer term was the lower performing of the several things they have tried.

Since night listening to radio (total rating for the medium) in LA is only about 40% or less of the peak mid-day level, super performance at night is not critical in the overall picture.

For reference, LA morning rating is around a 12, middays around a 14 and afternoons are about a 14, too. Evenings are under a 5, generally on the lower side. weekends are in the mid-8 range.

As for KFWB they would have been better off with the line up from the now defunct News-Talk experiment on KGIL-1260.
Click to expand...

My guess is that, since KFWB puts CBS over market cap, that station is one they don't want to invest in.
Click to expand...

You kind of counter your own point in that you say that Hendrie was not producing the numbers but then go on to say that not that many people listen anyway. So as long as Phil Hendrie had listeners he was doing what was needed. Only if he drove people away would he be detrimental. I found that his shows were amusing if not outright hilarious.

Ziegler was a loose cannon so often he could be highly entertaining too, if I was bored with TV, which happens more and more these days, I'd tune into KFI to see what Zig was onto that night. Later thanks to the economy I had time to catch him middays on KGIL. Unfortunately Phil Hendrie is on too late now for me and here in the frozen tundra of Iowa he isn't on at all and I just haven't bothered to find him streaming because I've heard that his new show just isn't as good.

Suits is like being forced to put up with your boring uncle who rattled on, in blissful ignorance, about anything and everything at the annual holiday gatherings. At least Kennedy could ease the pain while she was there.


Your final point though is likely the real reasoning at KFWB. They are just holding on and if they were forced to sell, given the economic times could seek a deferral for better times so as not to sell at a much less than fire sale price.
 
I have always wondered why KFWB didn't just take the lineup from the old KGIL. KFWB should add Michael Savage and Glenn Beck to their lineup. They could just move Ingraham live into morning drive and then air Beck against Rush. Maybe replace Smerconish with Savage?

And, why doesn't KFWB try to hire Ziegler?
 
The reason KFWB didn't take the lineup from the old KGIL is that it did not generate ratings or revenue. And I don't for the life of me understand the fascination with Ziegler.
 
nmoore6676 said:
You kind of counter your own point in that you say that Hendrie was not producing the numbers but then go on to say that not that many people listen anyway. So as long as Phil Hendrie had listeners he was doing what was needed. Only if he drove people away would he be detrimental. I found that his shows were amusing if not outright hilarious.
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Hendrie underperformed the market share compared to all other occupants of the shift.


Your final point though is likely the real reasoning at KFWB. They are just holding on and if they were forced to sell, given the economic times could seek a deferral for better times so as not to sell at a much less than fire sale price.
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All AMs, save the ones with full market coverage (570, 640, 1070) are not going to get much money if sold. AM is dying and the available format poistions in LA are taken.
 
Shoot From Hip said:
The reason KFWB didn't take the lineup from the old KGIL is that it did not generate ratings or revenue. And I don't for the life of me understand the fascination with Ziegler.
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Probably because it didn't reach all of the market. To that point KGIL should have been left a Valley Station where it was the strongest signal. However given what they chose to put on KFWB they aren't likely generating all that much in ad revenues either. People would tune in for Glenn Beck and like him or not Michael Savage, if they could hear them. Unless KFI implodes no one is going to beat them and you have all of the music stations that appeal to the cherished demographics.

Posted by: DavidEduardo
Insert Quote
Quote from: nmoore6676 on Today at 07:59:04 AM
You kind of counter your own point in that you say that Hendrie was not producing the numbers but then go on to say that not that many people listen anyway. So as long as Phil Hendrie had listeners he was doing what was needed. Only if he drove people away would he be detrimental. I found that his shows were amusing if not outright hilarious.

Hendrie underperformed the market share compared to all other occupants of the shift.
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So T.C Jr might do and should do better than what happened between?


Quote
Your final point though is likely the real reasoning at KFWB. They are just holding on and if they were forced to sell, given the economic times could seek a deferral for better times so as not to sell at a much less than fire sale price.

All AMs, save the ones with full market coverage (570, 640, 1070) are not going to get much money if sold. AM is dying and the available format poistions in LA are taken.
Click to expand...

Given that why not just sell it, even at a loss to some special interest broadcaster or a religious broadcaster. True it would be at a loss but better than shutting it down, which IS happening elsewhere. If I had a choice between a LPFM and an AM that would reach my intended audience I would take the AM anyday. They are plopping in so many LPFMs that the FM band is going to sound like the old Class C AM frequencies.

I would like to see the AM band survive because it could be the best way to contact large segments of the population in event of a major catastrophe. All of our new gadgets, including the internet and cell phones, could well go silent in a disaster. This was the original intent back in the original setup of the AM band with the old clear channel stations, like KFI, WLW, WLS, WSM, and so on and the primary reason why WLW was granted experimental authority for 500,000 watts. That transmitter was occasionally used during WWII to broadcast to Europe, even after they were reduced to the 50KW for their normal operation.
 
Rudy Canoza said:
Hendrie underperformed the market share compared to all other occupants of the shift.
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That's crap. Hendrie is far better than Suits, kennedy, or any other twinkie KFI has had in the 7pm slot.
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His numbers, after an initial peak, dropped so much the show was dropped, also. Much less than any of the recent hosts.
 
IIRC, Phil had a good, strong run that begun in the mid 90's. I still remember a hand-off between JandK and Phil when KFI used to go directly to Phil at seven with no news. JK where interviewing a legitimate, but somewhat crazy newsmaker. Phil took over as both new interviewer AND as the guest (flawlessly mimic'd to great comedic effect). For those that got his bit, Phil was radio theatre of the mind and the perfect nightcap to a day of seriousness. KFI did well and somehow had a cooler rep with Phil at nights. Lots of funny promos during other shows (and I'd be remiss to not mention the perfectly executed promo lines from the late great Mark Denis).

Then 9/11 and Phil went non-comedy (appropriately so), but never pulled out of the hard-core commentator role and thats when the ratings fell. Too much anger. Seems it wasn't long before the show was pulled from KFI. I just heard him briefly on 1150 and it sounded like he was back to old form. Didn't have a chance to listen long enough if the schtick still works (and I get that a lot of people don't get him in the first place).
 
I've never understood why CBS has insisted that KFWB lean so heavily on Dr. Laura. Ever listen to her show? It's horrible! Just rotten dreck! Dr. Laura is screechy, judgmental, rude and basically darn near impossible to listen to! Yes, I've listened to Roger Hedgecock and while he is not the greatest talk show host on Earth, he's FAR easier to listen to than Dr. Laura. And, even if he's a flop - replace him with someone else for cryin' out loud.

Yes, Savage is an excellent suggestion. As much as many of you may not like Savage, at least he's somewhat entertaining and provides a variety of topics to discuss. Dr. Laura has none of those attributes. Hour after hour of that high-pitched noise? Who's running the ship over there anyway?

Perhaps they need to post the PD position at KFWB on Monster. Educational requirements? Sixth grade or higher. It would be an improvement.
 
gcreedle239 said:
IIRC, Phil had a good, strong run that begun in the mid 90's.
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I think you will find that, comparing Hendrie on a multi-book average in that period with Suits's last book, Suits beat Hendrie in 25-54 by a quite comfortable margin.
 
DavidEduardo said:
gcreedle239 said:
IIRC, Phil had a good, strong run that begun in the mid 90's.
Click to expand...

I think you will find that, comparing Hendrie on a multi-book average in that period with Suits's last book, Suits beat Hendrie in 25-54 by a quite comfortable margin.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with the numbers but it begs the question as to why? Suits was an abysmal host, always stuttering hemming and hawing showing that he was clueless and misinformed on the subject at hand most of the time. I get that Hendrie was a novelty and maybe that a lot of people tuned out once they were onto the joke. Ziegler was to a lot of people too stubbornly opinionated but he was mostly well informed on what he chose to speak about, just that his personal bias often showed too much and when it did it flew in the face of reason. Nevertheless he was far more entertaining that Suits.

The only one less informed and unlistenable than Bryan Suits in LA would be KRLA's Kevin James. However KVI. his old station in Seattle is, taking Suits back so he will not be unemployed so for that he is lucky and perhaps he is good enough for Seattle, at least somebody must think so.
 
For how long will Bill Handel do 2 shows a day? It's not humane and he is the star of the station. Don't they run the risk of burning him out?
 
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